School Begins and Conflict

In the blink of an eye, two days had passed.

People had seen off Frost Moon and welcomed Shiwasu. According to old traditions, members of great clans would invite monks into their homes to pray for blessings. Even ordinary families would visit temples to pray for peace and safety.

However, with the arrival of the ninja era, especially after the establishment of ninja villages, the people of Leaf Village had gradually abandoned this tradition.

Moreover, monks often no longer came to Leaf Village at all!

Yet as a ninja clan with a thousand-year history, the Hyuga Clan still retained many of its traditions. On the last day of Shiwasu, they would invite monks from the Fire Temple to recite sutras and chant prayers, seeking peace in the coming year.

Come to think of it, there was only one month left until the New Year.

Today was the first day of school. When Hyuga Iwa learned of it, he was genuinely surprised. Were ninjas really this unconcerned about such things?

It was the final month of the year, and school simply started whenever it pleased. They really did not care about omens of fortune or misfortune. No wonder most ninjas did not live long.

Hyuga Iwa grumbled helplessly for a while, then followed his mother to the Ninja Academy under Hyuga Yuko's arrangements.

Since it was the first day of school, nearly every child had come to register under the guidance of an adult.

In truth, the recruitment of civilian ninja students had been underway for some time. After all, not everyone possessed ninja talent, and selecting gifted children from among civilians could not be accomplished in a single day.

But for children from ninja clans like Hyuga Iwa, today really was their first day reporting in.

Before coming to the Ninja Academy, what clan had not taught its children in advance in order to determine whether they possessed ninja talent?

Speaking of school, he wondered how Guy was doing. He had heard that Might Duy had spent the past two days running around for Might Guy's enrollment, but things had not gone well.

Hyuga Iwa did not know much more than that, since he had not seen Guy in two days either.

After Might Duy took Guy away from Hyuga Iwa's home that night, Hyuga Iwa had not seen either of them again.

Just as Hyuga Iwa was lost in thought, a cheerful voice came from ahead. "Iwa, you're here! Hurry up—we can train together again!"

"Guy!" Hyuga Iwa looked at him in surprise. "You got in too?"

"Yeah, I can attend the Ninja Academy too! I don't know why, but yesterday a ninja suddenly came to tell me I could start school. This is wonderful! Now I can become a ninja too! One day, I'll surpass Kakashi Hatake!"

"Congratulations!"

Hyuga Iwa was sincerely happy for Guy, but several children passing nearby, who appeared to be Ninja Academy students, burst into mocking laughter after hearing him.

"You think you can defeat Kakashi Hatake?!"

"That's right! The son of the Eternal Genin can only ever become a genin at best, no matter how strong he is. Stop dreaming."

"Haha, that's the funniest joke I've heard all day."

"..."

Guy clenched his fists in humiliation, his face filled with unwillingness, yet he did not dare argue back.

"Hmph, what dogs are barking here? Just because you can't do something doesn't mean others can't. You people really are frogs at the bottom of a well," Hyuga Iwa retorted.

"Hmph, and who are you? Oh wow, it's a cataract patient! Hahaha! Hey, white-eyed freak, can you even see anything? Do people have to lead you around when you walk?"

Clearly, this was a civilian student with no sense at all. He did not even recognize the Byakugan, the Bloodline Limit of the Hyuga Clan, one of Leaf Village's only two dojutsu clans, yet he was still flaunting his shallow knowledge.

But not everyone was like him. At least his companions seemed to know better. They tugged at the child who had spoken, but when he ignored them, they quietly moved away a few steps before fleeing into the school gates as though running for their lives.

"Idiot. Guy, let's go. Ignore brainless fools like that. Otherwise, we'll look just as stupid as him."

Hyuga Iwa grabbed Guy and gave a slight tug, pulling him past the boy.

"Oh, and there's one more thing I forgot to mention. These eyes of mine are called the Byakugan, the unique Bloodline Limit of the Hyuga Clan. And now, you're screwed. Bye-bye. See you never..."

With a mocking smile on his lips, Hyuga Iwa waved his hand and swaggered away.

Not long after Hyuga Iwa and the others left, a pig-slaughtering scream came from behind them.

"Cataracts? Hehe, this is the first time anyone has dared speak to me like that. You're asking for death!"

"Ah! I won't do it again! I'll never do it again!"

"Hmph! You insulted the honor of my Hyuga Clan. How do you want to die?"

"Please, spare me!"

"Ahhh!"

The little incident at the entrance did not trouble Hyuga Iwa, but Guy seemed to have suffered quite a blow and remained dejected.

Hyuga Iwa could not be bothered to comfort him, because he knew Guy would not be defeated by something like this!

The two entered the classroom, where a group of children had apparently already gathered. They chirped noisily like a flock of sparrows holding a party.

Hyuga Iwa casually pulled open the wooden classroom door, and the room instantly fell silent. But when they saw that it was only two children rather than a teacher, the chatter resumed, though much quieter than before.

At that moment, an unpleasant voice rang out. "Yo, it's a cataract patient and the son of the Eternal Genin. You two really are a perfect match."

The moment those words were spoken, the classroom fell silent enough to hear a pin drop. Almost everyone turned toward one corner of the room, where two members of the Uchiha Clan sat. The flame-like fan crest on their clothes made their clan obvious to anyone familiar with it.

Hyuga Iwa was somewhat surprised that someone in the classroom still called the Byakugan cataracts. But after seeing that they were Uchiha, he no longer found it strange.

Ever since Hyuga Hiashi boldly declared that the Hyuga Clan would become Leaf Village's number one clan, the relationship between the Hyuga Clan and the Uchiha Clan had plummeted.

As one of the two great clans that founded Leaf Village, the Uchiha Clan had not said it outright. But since another clan wanted to challenge the honor of the Uchiha Clan as Leaf Village's foremost clan, there was no way they would let the matter go so easily—not even if it was the Hyuga Clan!

After Hashirama Senju and Tobirama died one after another, and the Senju Clan faded into Leaf Village, the Uchiha Clan could be considered Leaf Village's greatest clan without exaggeration, even after Madara Uchiha defected from the village!

And now the Hyuga Clan wanted to challenge the Uchiha Clan's status?

Not a chance!

During this period, conflicts between the Uchiha and Hyuga Clans had been constant. Reports of their members fighting each other were common.

And the adults' disputes had extended to their children as well.

If Hyuga Iwa had not usually avoided acting together with his clansmen, he would have encountered Uchiha provocations long ago instead of being surprised by someone challenging him verbally for the first time today.

"Yo, red-eyed people. Hello there. Oh? You don't even have red eyes yet? How pathetic..."

"Oh, they're red now, they're red! Too bad you still can't awaken them!"

Hyuga Iwa looked at the two Uchiha whose eyes had reddened and continued mocking them.

How could the two of them endure such provocation from Hyuga Iwa? Their flushed faces burned with rage.

One of the Uchiha could no longer restrain his anger and charged forward.

"Don't insult the honor of the Uchiha Clan!"

He pushed past several future classmates, his furious fist flying straight toward Hyuga Iwa's cheek, intending to make him pay!

However, Hyuga Iwa had trained for quite some time, and he possessed the mind of an adult. He was not someone an ordinary child could compare to.

Hyuga Iwa tightened his fist and calmly sidestepped the straight punch. In the instant he avoided it, one hand struck the boy's back while the other caught his fist. With a light sweep of his foot, he pulled and twisted backward at the same time, effortlessly pinning him to the floor.

He lifted the arm he held, and the pain in the Uchiha boy's shoulder made him unable to offer any further resistance.

That Uchiha had actually been subdued by a Hyuga in an instant!

The classroom erupted as the two fought. No one had expected their conflict to begin and end so quickly.

Seeing her clansman defeated, the other little Uchiha girl tried to rush forward to help. "Let Shin go!"

Before she could charge over, the classroom door opened again, and a tall figure stood in the doorway.

Hyuga Iwa glanced at him, then lightly leaped back and released Uchiha Shin.

The newcomer looked at the Uchiha on the floor, then at the Hyuga clansman beside him, and his heart twitched.

He had only arrived a little late, yet members of these two clans had already started fighting!

But when he thought of the current conflict between the two clans in the village, he no longer found it surprising.

Still, when he remembered that he would be this class's homeroom teacher from now on, he sighed inwardly.

Though he felt his future was bleak, the newcomer still spoke. "Go take your seats. Fighting at school on the first day—don't you know students are forbidden from dueling privately at the academy? Do you want your parents called in for a talk?"

"Hello, Teacher. I was wrong. I won't do it again," Hyuga Iwa said politely, bowing. He glanced around the classroom, pulled Guy along, and found seats for them both.

"Mm." The teacher nodded. Seeing Hyuga Iwa take the initiative to admit his mistake, he felt considerably relieved.

"Hmph." Uchiha Shin climbed to his feet. With the teacher present, he could not act up again, so he turned and returned to his seat.

But before sitting down, he still said furiously, "Just wait. One day, I'll return the humiliation you gave me twice over!"

Hyuga Iwa looked at him and chuckled. He silently cursed his own loose tongue. Why had he provoked the Uchiha for no reason? They were a group of proud, sensitive people who were truly difficult to deal with.

Speaking of the Uchiha, Hyuga Iwa recalled that older Uchiha brother. He wondered how he was doing now.

The teacher walked to the podium, cleared his throat, and said, "Hello, everyone. My name is Yamada Kawa, and I'll be your homeroom teacher from now on. You may call me Teacher Yamada. My favorite food is ramen, and my wish is to teach outstanding ninjas. That is all."

"Alright, now that we know each other, it's your turn to introduce yourselves. Just say something like I did. Hmm, let's start with you in the first seat of the first row."

Yamada Kawa pointed at the first student in the front row, signaling for him to introduce himself.

The student who was called on seemed nervous, and his words came out haltingly. But he gradually became more fluent. "H-Hello, everyone. M-My name is Aoki. My favorite food is also ramen, and my wish is to become an outstanding ninja."

"Second."

"Hello, everyone. My name is Haibara Rin..."

Soon, it was the two Uchiha's turn.

"My name is Uchiha Shin. I swear I'll defeat you!" Perhaps because he had embarrassed himself before his classmates earlier, he did not introduce himself much. He merely gave his name and stepped down from the podium.

"..."

What a troublesome brat! Honestly, Hyuga Iwa was already deeply regretting it.

Next came the other Uchiha.

"Hello, classmates. My name is Uchiha Kureha. I like grilled meat. I want to become someone as strong as Lord Madara, I hate Hyuga people, and I hope to awaken the Uchiha Clan's supreme dojutsu!"

"The Uchiha Clan's supreme dojutsu? What's that?"

"I don't know either. Does anyone know?"

"No idea."

Hyuga Iwa rolled his eyes at Uchiha Kureha's glare. Wait, how was someone with the Byakugan supposed to roll their eyes...

They were all still children. Most of the time, children did not know what they truly wanted, so after hearing those before them speak, the ones after simply introduced themselves in similar fashion.

Soon, it was Hyuga Iwa's turn.

"My name is Hyuga Iwa. My dojutsu is the Byakugan. I like all delicious food, reading, and research. I dislike trouble, so it's best not to bother me. Hmm, and I'll become the strongest person!"

Amid the enthusiastic introductions, everyone introduced themselves. Homeroom teacher Yamada Kawa then went over the school rules in detail, especially emphasizing that students were strictly forbidden from dueling at school. Serious offenders could even be expelled from the Ninja Academy.

Clearly, Yamada Kawa had little confidence that the few members of the Hyuga Clan and Uchiha Clan in his class could peacefully make it through their school years.

But he also knew that he had no better way to handle those great clans. He could only hope they would restrain themselves in the future. As long as they did not go too far, he would turn a blind eye.

As the dismissal bell rang, the first day of class came to a successful end. The students gathered in groups of two and three, chatting, joking, and playing. It was incredibly lively.