Hyuga Clan's Shame?

"Sir, how much will you pay to buy back this pile of ore?"

Outside the ninja tool shop, Hyuga Satoru pointed at the ore he had packed in sacks.

"This batch is of good quality, and there's quite a lot of it. I can give you 5,000 ryo."

After inspecting it, the man named a figure that made Hyuga Satoru's heart stir.

5,000 ryo!

That was definitely not a low price.

He was one step closer to customizing an Electromagnetic Cannon!

Because of what had happened last night, Hyuga Satoru decided to sell off his stockpiled ore first and lie low for the next few days.

He didn't know how Uchiha Rin would view what had happened last night.

The low-EQ version: last night, he had gone near the Uchiha clan compound and beaten her up.

The high-EQ version: beneath the lingering sunset glow, beside the scenic Naka River, he and Uchiha Rin had engaged in an elegant yet perfectly courteous contest.

Though in the end, she had become a drenched rat!

As for the worst possible outcome, Hyuga Satoru had considered that too.

Nothing more than arriving at school the next day to find the class full of stories about him and Uchiha Rin battling for three hundred rounds beside the grove.

Hyuga Satoru's eyes flickered.

It was obviously unrealistic to keep the power of electromagnetism hidden forever. He had to prepare for how to deal with it, especially when it came to the main branch.

"Kid, what are you thinking about?"

The man from the ninja tool shop handed Hyuga Satoru a stack of bills. Seeing him deep in thought, he smiled and asked.

"I was thinking that you're really a good person, sir. I asked around elsewhere too, but they only offered me 4,000 ryo at most."

Hyuga Satoru raised his head, a pure smile appearing in his pale eyes.

"Really?"

The man scratched his head.

"Then why don't you forge with me from now on? I think you've got talent. I'll pay you wages!"

A black line appeared across Hyuga Satoru's forehead.

"Hahaha... Just kidding! Just kidding!"

The man laughed awkwardly.

Seriously!

How could I say something that stupid?

With eyes like those, he was obviously a member of that powerful clan. With such a noble status, how could he possibly work for me just because he lacked money?

Even mining—

He was probably only doing it to train himself, right?

When Hyuga Satoru arrived in the classroom, the scene he had expected did not appear.

The classroom was unusually quiet. Everyone was occupied with their own business, and no one paid attention to him.

He looked toward Uchiha Rin's seat. She didn't seem to have any intention of approaching him, her head lowered as though she were preparing something.

Hyuga Satoru breathed a sigh of relief and sat down in his seat.

"Satoru, why do you look so listless again?"

Anko blinked at him.

"Because I train seriously every night."

"Really?"

Anko looked at him with a lewd grin.

Hyuga Satoru couldn't be bothered with her. What he needed to consider now was a perfect explanation for his abilities.

"Oh, right, Satoru! Have you prepared for the practical combat assessment later?" Anko suddenly asked.

"Practical combat assessment?" Hyuga Satoru stared at her in surprise.

"No way, no way! The first semester is about to end, and you seriously still didn't know?"

Anko stared at him in shock, her mouth open wide enough to fit an orange.

Oh my god, oh my god!

My dead-last deskmate had slept through the entire semester and didn't even know it was finals???

"I really didn't know until you told me. Is it already time for the final assessment? Looks like I can't slack off like this anymore."

Hyuga Satoru looked enlightened.

No wonder the classroom had been so unexpectedly quiet when he came in today.

So the final exams had arrived, and everyone was cramming at the last minute!

"You know you've been slacking off?" Anko rolled her eyes at him.

This kind of slacking off was not the kind of slacking off he meant.

But Hyuga Satoru couldn't be bothered to explain.

Anko sighed and continued chattering away about something.

"You're probably going to embarrass yourself badly this time. Quite a few people are hoping a Hyuga Clan member like you gets unlucky!"

"Do you know that lots of people in class laugh at you for being lazy? You sleep in class every day, and they say you're dead last just like Obito..."

Anko kept complaining nonstop.

Hyuga Satoru said nothing. His eyes flickered as he wondered about something...

Soon, homeroom teacher Fujino Daikichi entered the classroom. After explaining the relevant matters, he organized the students and led them to the training field for the practical combat assessment.

He looked proudly over the students on the field, as though he were looking at a lush crop of green chives.

Under his guidance, many students had made tremendous progress. They all had bright futures ahead of them!

But when his gaze swept over two people, his expression turned strange and helpless.

One was Uchiha Obito. That kid was absolutely an oddball among the Uchiha. Fortunately, Uchiha Rin was in the class to restore the clan's dignity. Otherwise, the students' impression of the Uchiha might have changed entirely.

The other was Hyuga Satoru...

Obito might have been a little foolish, but at least he wasn't lazy. He was always energetic in class!

But Hyuga Satoru...

He was too lazy!

He slept during class and went to the bathroom after class!

All he did all day was slack off!

Fujino Daikichi had never seen him listen seriously in class!

Look at Hyuga Iroha. He was a Hyuga too, so why was the difference so huge?

Fujino Daikichi had a terrible headache. Why were there so many oddballs among the Lineages in this class?

One Uchiha? One Hyuga?