The morning classes flew by in the blink of an eye.
In class, Mr. Oshima explained the method of chakra extraction in detail, making it easy to understand.
Lihuo couldn't help reflecting that being born into a great clan really did come with obvious advantages.
Great clans like the Uchiha, Hyuga, and Sarutobi gave their children a systematic basic education, ensuring they had fundamental knowledge and skills.
Take Aotian, for example. While civilian-born ninja could only fight hand-to-hand with kunai, Aotian could already launch a Fireball at Lihuo on the training ground.
That was something a child who had only just entered the Ninja Academy couldn't do.
This advantage wasn't limited to learning ninja techniques. It also included an in-depth understanding of Shinobi World history and culture.
By contrast, children from minor clans or civilian backgrounds might start at a disadvantage because they lacked that foundation.
Since Lihuo already knew how to extract chakra, he decisively chose... training over listening to class or slacking off!
And so, Lihuo focused on extracting chakra throughout the lesson.
Over the past ten days, he'd been surprised to find that his chakra reserves were slowly growing.
Lihuo guessed this change was closely related to the "pushing past his limits" training he'd been doing over the past ten days.
This training had not only strengthened Lihuo's body, but also awakened his potential.
Lihuo's chakra reserves were now twice what they had been before.
Previously, after using the Three Body Technique, he'd be exhausted if he tried to use even one more jutsu.
But things were different now. Lihuo could actually use... two whole jutsu in a row!
As expected, when you're already at rock bottom, even a little bouncing around counts as progress, Lihuo muttered to himself.
Still, he dutifully continued extracting chakra, hoping to solve his chakra shortage as soon as possible.
"This class is so boring! Everything he's teaching is stuff I already know. If this afternoon's sparring practice is just as boring, I'll seriously have to consider sending a Shadow Clone to class in my place." As he extracted chakra, Lihuo gazed around listlessly.
Most of the students were listening intently to Mr. Oshima's lesson, their faces full of curiosity and eagerness to learn. But a few looked bored.
Just then, someone caught Lihuo's attention.
Since he was sitting by the window in the back row, Lihuo could only make out that it was a girl with a high ponytail. Her hair was glossy black, shimmering in the sunlight, and beneath it was a slender, fair neck.
As Mr. Oshima taught, her head bobbed up and down with the steady rhythm of a ticking metronome.
She's really paying attention, even nodding along from time to time.
But judging by her clan crest, she's from the Nara Clan. How come this generation of the Nara Clan is so diligent?
Huh? What's that shiny stuff on her desk? Drool, maybe? So she really did fall asleep after all!
Lihuo grumbled to himself, figuring that Nara Clan members were all like that.
When he came back to himself, the morning class was already drawing to a close.
The bell rang, and Mr. Oshima left the classroom. It was time for lunch.
The students took out their lunch boxes and eagerly dug in, gathering in groups of three or five.
The chubby kid from the Akimichi Clan was especially impressive. He wolfed down three lunch boxes, still unsatisfied, then tore open a bag of snacks and stuffed them into his mouth.
Familiar faces like Asuma and Ebisu also took out their lunch boxes and ate while chatting with their friends.
Meanwhile, Obito and Lihuo lay face-down on their desks, utterly despondent.
"Obito, you idiot! You were late, fine, but why'd you steal my rice ball too? Do you even know that was my lunch?"
At those words, Obito sprang up as if he'd been injected with adrenaline, his face flushing as he shouted:
"Lihuo, you idiot! If it weren't for you, how would I have ended up eating an expired rice ball?"
Obito's voice was so loud that the classroom fell briefly silent.
After Guy's public declaration of youth, Lihuo had once again become the center of attention.
Ah, that familiar feeling. That toe-curling embarrassment. It's back. It's all back...
Before Lihuo could recover from his embarrassment, a gentle voice rang out.
"Obito, Lihuo, did you forget to bring lunch? If you don't mind, you can have some of mine. I haven't eaten yet."
It was Rin.
Because of Obito, Lihuo and Rin knew each other.
Looking at the modest amount of food in her lunch box, Lihuo felt a rush of emotion.
What a kind girl.
With Rin having seen him in such a pathetic state, Obito wished he could crawl into a hole.
But his stomach was growling, and in the end, he accepted Rin's kind offer.
Lihuo didn't take any of Rin's food. For one thing, they weren't close enough for that. For another, he didn't want someone who'd done a good deed to go hungry herself.
Watching Obito scamper off with Rin, Lihuo could only lie face-down on his desk by himself.
Suddenly, a lunch box slid over. A large Uchiha Clan Crest was emblazoned on it.
"I'm returning the favor for the bruise wine," Aotian said quietly.
Lihuo was taken aback. After confirming Aotian had already eaten his fill, he thanked him and accepted his kindness.
Before long, afternoon arrived, bringing the main event all the students had been looking forward to: sparring practice.
Mr. Oshima was still in charge. The first half of class was for practice, and the second half was for sparring.
During the first half, Lihuo focused on practicing his kunai throwing.
Although Lihuo was an orphan and had never received any hands-on guidance, his hard work had made his kunai accuracy improve rapidly.
"Next, I just need to touch a member of the Uchiha Clan and try to get the Uchiha Kunai Throwing Technique."
Obito stuck close to Lihuo, insisting on training with him. But halfway through practice, Obito's stomach started rumbling.
"Didn't you eat lunch? Are you still hungry?"
"I'm not hungry, exactly. My stomach just feels a little weird. Never mind, never mind, Lihuo. Hurry up and teach me how to train."
The second half of class was sparring practice, with the students paired up.
The first match was Uchiha Aotian against Kojima Genta.
Aotian stood on the training ground, looking like he wanted to say something but couldn't.
Lihuo could tell that Aotian wanted to challenge him. But to Lihuo's surprise, Aotian didn't voice his dissatisfaction like he had last time. Instead, he quickly finished the fight.
"Looks like Aotian really has changed a lot."
Next was Shiranui Genma against Ebisu.
Asuma against Kamado Tanjiro.
"Next match: Uchiha Obito versus Hatake Kakashi."
"Hehehe!" Obito let out a strange cry and nudged Lihuo with his elbow. "Watch me hold it in and take a massive dump!"
But he'd barely taken one step when a loud rumbling came from his stomach.
Obito's face immediately turned several shades of color.
"I can't take it! My stomach hurts so much!" Then, in full view of everyone, he sprinted to the bathroom.
"Lihuo! I hate you!"
Obito hadn't held it in and taken a massive dump. He'd just taken a massive dump.
Mr. Oshima could only rub his forehead in exasperation before announcing:
"Since Obito is absent, we'll move to the next match. Uchiha Lihuo will face Hatake Kakashi."
Lihuo stared blankly and pointed at himself.
"Me? Fight Kakashi?"
Hatake Kakashi was undoubtedly a genius among geniuses. He'd graduated from the Ninja Academy at six and mastered the Hatake Sword Technique. At this point, he could practically beat every student at the Ninja Academy with ease.
Honestly, Lihuo didn't want to face Kakashi yet. He wasn't confident he could win.
But he didn't feel the slightest urge to back down. Instead, a fighting spirit welled up inside him.
He wanted to see how far he stood from a genius and test the results of his ten days of training.
As he stepped onto the training ground, Lihuo got his first close look at Kakashi.
Boredom showed in Kakashi's eyes, as if the opponent in front of him couldn't stir the slightest interest.
Neither of them wasted time talking. After they formed the Seal of Confrontation, the fight was about to begin.
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