The next morning, sunlight streamed through the window. Ning Xue woke up on time, washed up, ate the breakfast his mother, Xue, had prepared, then picked up his schoolbag and lunchbox and got ready to leave.
"I'm heading out."
After saying goodbye to his mother, Ning Xue hurried toward school.
He didn't greet anyone on the way, and no one greeted him either. He walked silently all the way to the classroom door.
The moment he opened the classroom door, he felt as if his ears had been assaulted.
The classroom was unbearably noisy: girls chatting, boys making grand boasts, and students running around and roughhousing.
The rowdy atmosphere was truly uncomfortable for Ning Xue.
But he couldn't exactly tell everyone to be quiet, so he silently returned to his seat from the day before, opened his bag, and took out the earplugs he'd prepared yesterday, along with his notebook.
And so, in the noisy classroom, he might as well have been in another world.
No one disturbed him as he quietly studied his notes.
Ring, ring.
The bell for first period rang.
During theory class, he kept up the same routine as yesterday. He looked as if he were listening attentively, but most of his thoughts were occupied with working through his own problems, or quietly jotting down ideas in his notebook for creating improved ninjutsu of his own based on his chakra nature.
Water Prison Technique and Ice Prison Technique, for instance.
He planned to use Water Prison as a base, freeze the target from within to kill them outright, or alter its shape to create a means of defense or attack.
If he could activate the Byakugan and gain a 359-degree field of vision, he could take it a step further and make something like a suit of armor.
Wherever an enemy appeared around him, he could quickly defend against them, counterattack, or kill them with that part of his body.
Or he could use Wind Release Ninjutsu. He was already able to skillfully layer wind-natured chakra over ice-natured chakra.
He could also use the C-rank technique Gale Palm to coat Ice Needles, Ice Cones, and other projectiles, making them faster and more lethal.
Or he could use a bow?
But for now, he needed to focus on developing and improving his ideas.
Theory class passed slowly as Ning Xue lost himself in thought.
During the break, he still didn't leave his seat. He only took off his earplugs and stretched his stiff body after sitting for so long, his keen ears picking up fragments of all kinds of sounds around the classroom.
Every so often, he jotted down a few keywords or sketched a rough diagram in his notebook. To anyone else, it looked like nothing more than a diligent student's class notes.
But only he knew that the notes contained his ideas for turning the known C-rank Water Prison Technique into something more lethal and practical: Ice Binding Armor Prison. (Of course, he wouldn't realize this idea for several more years.)
Second period was basic ninjutsu theory.
Iruka-sensei explained the fundamentals of Chakra Nature Transformation at the front of the classroom. Most students found the topic rather abstract and dull, but for Ning Xue, it offered just the theoretical support his current ideas needed.
He listened more attentively than he had in the previous class. In particular, when Iruka-sensei discussed the fluidity and shape control of Water Release chakra, as well as the sharpness and acceleration of Wind Release chakra, a thoughtful glint would appear in his eyes.
"Looks like I'll have to give it a try," Ning Xue murmured. (Of course, he wasn't capable of it yet. He would only be able to start again someday in the future.)
At last, the morning classes came to an end. At lunchtime, the classroom was once again filled with lively chatter.
Just like yesterday, Ning Xue picked up the lunchbox his mother had prepared and slipped out of the noisy classroom, heading straight for the rooftop where he could find some peace.
He pushed open the rooftop door, and the breeze and wide-open view lifted his spirits. He headed to their usual spot, but in the shade he saw a familiar figure: Hyuga Neji was already sitting there, quietly opening his lunchbox.
Just like yesterday, they sat down, chatted, ate, and left.
That afternoon's physical training was different this time. Instead of sparring, they did basic exercises like push-ups, running, sit-ups, and crunches.
At the end of the afternoon's classes, Iruka-sensei praised the students who had performed well, especially Sasuke, and encouraged the others as well.
Ning Xue's grades were above average, earning him a comment from the teacher.
"Hyuga Ningxue, your fundamentals are solid. Keep it up." It was just what he'd expected.
The dismissal bell rang, and the students poured out of the classroom. Ning Xue took his time packing up his Ninja Tool Pouch and left the classroom last. He headed to the fork in the road again to wait for Neji.
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