"Uncle, how much will you pay for this pile of ore?"
Outside the ninja tools shop, Hyuga Satoru pointed to the ore he'd packed into a sack.
"These are good-quality pieces, and there's quite a lot. I can give you 5,000 ryō."
After inspecting the lot, the man named a sum that made Hyuga Satoru's heart stir.
5,000 ryō!
That was a pretty good price.
He was one step closer to having an Electromagnetic Cannon made to order!
After what had happened last night, Hyuga Satoru had decided to sell off the ore he'd been stockpiling and lie low for a few days.
He didn't know what Uchiha Rin would make of last night's events.
The blunt version: he'd gone near the Uchiha Clan Territory last night and beaten someone up.
The tactful version: amid the evening glow, beside the scenic Naka River, he and Uchiha Rin had engaged in an elegant and courteous contest.
Although, in the end, she'd wound up drenched!
Hyuga Satoru had also considered the worst-case scenario.
At most, he'd show up at school the next day to find the class buzzing with stories about how he and Uchiha Rin had fought three hundred rounds beside the woods.
Hyuga Satoru's eyes flickered.
It was clearly unrealistic to keep his Electromagnetic Force ability hidden forever. He had to prepare for what was coming, especially when it came to the Main House.
"Hey, kid, what are you thinking about?"
The man from the ninja tools shop handed Hyuga Satoru a stack of bills. Seeing him lost in thought, he asked with a smile.
"I was thinking you're a really good person, Uncle. I asked around at other places, and they'd only offer me 4,000 ryō at most."
Hyuga Satoru looked up, his pure-white eyes bright with an innocent smile.
"Is that so?"
The man scratched his head.
"Why don't you come work for me as a blacksmith? You seem talented, and I'd pay you!"
A dark line appeared across Hyuga Satoru's forehead.
"Hahaha... I'm just joking! Just joking!"
The man laughed awkwardly.
Good grief!
Why had he said something so stupid?
Those eyes made it obvious the boy belonged to that prestigious clan. Someone of such noble status wouldn't take a job with him just because he needed money.
Even if he was mining ore...
He was probably doing it to test himself, right?
When Hyuga Satoru arrived in class, the discussion he'd expected never happened.
The room was strangely quiet. Everyone was busy with their own things, and no one paid him any attention.
He glanced at Uchiha Rin's seat. She didn't seem to be planning to approach him; head bowed, she appeared to be preparing for something.
Hyuga Satoru let out a sigh of relief and sat down.
"Satoru, why do you look so listless again?"
Anko winked at him.
"Because I've been training hard every night."
"Really?"
Anko gave him a lecherous look.
Hyuga Satoru couldn't be bothered to humor her. What he needed to think about now was how to come up with a perfect explanation for his ability.
"By the way, Satoru! Are you ready for the practical exam later?" Anko suddenly asked.
"Practical exam?" Hyuga Satoru stared at her in surprise.
"Wait, seriously? The first semester's almost over. You still don't know?"
Anko stared at him in shock, her mouth gaping wide enough to fit a tangerine.
Good heavens!
Had my slacker desk mate really slept through the whole semester and not even realized it was time for the final exams?
"If you hadn't said anything, I really wouldn't have known. It's time for the final exams already? I guess I can't keep slacking off like this."
Hyuga Satoru looked enlightened.
No wonder the class had been so unusually quiet when he walked in.
The final exams were here, and everyone was cramming at the last minute!
"You realize you've been slacking off?" Anko rolled her eyes.
This wasn't that kind of slacking off.
But Hyuga Satoru couldn't be bothered to explain.
Anko sighed and carried on talking.
"You're going to embarrass yourself big time. Quite a few people are hoping you'll fail, since you're a member of the Hyuga Clan!"
"Do you know how many people in class make fun of you for being lazy? You sleep through every lesson. You're a slacker just like Obito..."
Anko continued to complain.
Hyuga Satoru said nothing. His eyes flickered as he pondered something...
Soon, their homeroom teacher, Fujino Daikichi, arrived. After explaining the arrangements, he led the students to the training field for the practical exam.
He proudly surveyed the students on the field, as if they were a patch of lush green chives.
Under his guidance, many of the students had made great strides. They all had bright futures ahead!
But when his gaze landed on two of them, his expression turned complicated and helpless.
One was Uchiha Obito. That kid was definitely the oddball of the Uchiha Clan. Fortunately, Uchiha Rin had restored the clan's reputation in class; otherwise, the students might have changed their opinion of the Uchiha.
And the other was Hyuga Satoru...
Obito might have been a bit dense, but at least he didn't slack off. He paid attention in class!
But Hyuga Satoru...
He was too lazy!
He slept in class and went to pee during breaks!
All he did all day was slack off!
Fujino had never seen him pay attention in class!
Just look at Hyuga Iroha. They were both Hyuga, so how could they be so different?
Fujino Daikichi was getting a headache. Were there really so many oddballs in this year's clans?
One Uchiha? One Hyuga?
Before you continue