Back to School

A few days later, after staying home because of the changes in his family, Ning Xue returned to school once his father had been buried and his mother's health had improved somewhat.

But on the way to school, those who recognized him could clearly see that he seemed even more... gloomy and cold than before.

When Ning Xue stepped into the classroom again, the chatter abruptly stopped. Quite a few people turned to look at him, but after seeing that it was Ning Xue, some of them resumed their own conversations.

"Seriously, what was that? I thought Iruka-sensei had arrived."

Those were the ones who did not care.

"Hey, don't you think Ning Xue looks... colder than before?"

Those were the ones who noticed and discussed it with their companions.

The old Ning Xue had merely seemed somewhat quiet and withdrawn, but now he carried an additional air of melancholy and chill.

He silently walked to his seat, ignoring the various looks cast his way—concern, curiosity, and undisguised gossip.

As usual, he quietly sat down, took out his notebook, and read it in silence.

"Hey, Ning Xue, why haven't you come to school these past few days?" a classmate he was usually on decent speaking terms with asked cautiously.

Ning Xue did not look up. He merely stared at his book and gave a nearly inaudible "Mm" as an answer. There was no emotion in his voice, and its coldness made the other student shiver before awkwardly falling silent.

But there were always people who did not know when to stop.

"Hey, Ning Xue! I heard your dad died? Died in the line of duty, too? Tsk, tsk, how glorious!"

The boy's tone was contemptuous, carrying the punchable arrogance of someone who had never experienced the hardships of life.

"But you skipped school these past few days. Don't tell me you were hiding at home crying? Hahahaha!"

The few lackeys behind him joined in with mocking laughter.

If it had been the old Ning Xue, he might have ignored them. But today, they had provoked the wrong person.

Before their laughter had even died down, Ning Xue abruptly raised his head, left his seat, and leaped in front of him.

Those deathly pale eyes stared at him coldly.

Seeing Ning Xue suddenly appear before him, the boy had not even had time to react in shock. Neither had anyone else in the class.

In an instant.

With a bang, Ning Xue slammed the boy's head down onto the hard wooden desk, making the desk let out a thunderous crash.

The immense impact instantly plunged the entire classroom into dead silence.

The desk shook violently. The student's face was pinned hard against its surface, twisted out of shape, and blood immediately poured from his nose. He did not even manage a scream before passing out.

The classroom fell utterly silent, and everyone sucked in a sharp breath.

They had not expected Ning Xue to suddenly strike, much less with such ruthless force. In that instant, everything they thought they knew about him had been overturned.

Because all they had seen in him before was isolation. Now, all they saw was violence—pure violence.

Ning Xue still maintained his pressing posture, but his icy gaze swept toward the few who had mocked him earlier.

The moment they met Ning Xue's cold, pale eyes, they collapsed to the floor in terror, watching Ning Xue's every movement fearfully.

Ning Xue said nothing. There was only pure killing intent.

"Stop! Ning Xue!"

An anxious shout came from the doorway. It was Iruka-sensei, who had rushed over after hearing the commotion.

His expression changed dramatically when he saw the scene before him. He rushed forward in a single stride and pulled the two apart.

But before Iruka could touch him, Ning Xue had already released his grip and silently stepped back, as though the one who had attacked was not him at all.

His expression remained blank, but the chill radiating from him made even Iruka's heart tremble.

The student who had been pinned to the desk slid limply to the floor, his nose still bleeding heavily. He was already unconscious.

After examining him, they found that he had only suffered a damaged nasal bridge and a slight concussion.

"Quick! Take him to the infirmary!"

Iruka hurriedly called for the other students who had gathered at the door to help, while looking at Ning Xue with a complicated expression.

"Ning Xue, you... come to my office."

Ning Xue did not resist. He simply followed Iruka out of the classroom in silence, leaving behind a room steeped in silence and countless uncertain, startled gazes.

Once the two had completely disappeared from everyone's view, the discussions began.

"Oh my god... was that Ning Xue just now?"

"He... how could he..."

"What a terrifying look. I almost couldn't breathe just now..."

"Hey, hey... are you serious? Ning Xue... he slammed that guy's face onto the desk and knocked him out?"

Inuzuka Kiba held Akamaru in his arms, his face full of disbelief, though a hint of wariness flashed deep in his eyes.

He was usually arrogant, but he knew just how vicious that blow had been.

"S-So scary..." Sakura's face turned pale as she instinctively edged closer to Ino.

Their usual attention was focused on Sasuke, and they had barely noticed the quiet Ning Xue before. Now, their impression of him had been completely overturned.

"Hmph. Childish. Boring." Uchiha Sasuke stood with his hands in his pockets and gave an apparently indifferent assessment, but his gaze flickered slightly.

He had noticed the speed and strength Ning Xue had displayed in that instant. It far exceeded what he usually showed during taijutsu sparring. That contrast stirred a trace of suspicion within him.

Uzumaki Naruto was somewhat dazed. He looked at the small stain of blood on the floor, then at Ning Xue's empty seat, and scratched his head.

"That guy... was angry, right? Because those people talked about his dad..."

Though he was usually thickheaded, he still instinctively empathized with the pain of losing family.

Nara Shikamaru, seated in the middle, still looked lazy as ever, but his eyes were clearer than usual.

Resting his face on one hand, he muttered softly,

"Yeah... so he really was deliberately hiding his strength... What a pain."

Choji, sitting beside him, merely said, "This scene feels strangely familiar."

The atmosphere in Iruka's office was solemn.

"Ning Xue, I know something unfortunate happened to your family, and that you're in a bad mood.

"But it is absolutely unacceptable to hurt a classmate that badly!"

Iruka tried to make his tone harsher, but as he looked at the boy before him with his head lowered and a cold aura around him,

he simply could not bring himself to say those words of reproach.

In the end, he merely sighed and said helplessly,

"The school will issue you a disciplinary demerit for this incident. You need to reflect on your actions properly. Now, go back to class first."

Ning Xue gave a slight bow without saying a word, then turned and left the office.

When he returned to the classroom, the room, which had still been filled with whispers, instantly fell silent. Every gaze focused on him, filled with fear and curiosity.

Ning Xue ignored every look and walked straight back to his seat, taking out his notebook as though nothing had happened.

Only the icy aura that warned others to stay away had grown even stronger around him.