Unexpected Orochimaru

Hayate still listened to Teacher Mitsui. He walked over to Uchiha Iwa, crouched beside him, and held out his index and middle fingers.

Uchiha Iwa looked up at Hayate, who was staring down at him, and felt like swallowing him whole. But with Teacher Mitsui still nearby, he did not dare act out. He could only reluctantly form the Reconciliation Seal with Hayate.

Once the seal was complete, he did not want to stay there for even another second. The mocking looks from the surrounding students—at least, that was how he imagined them—made him wish he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

Struggling out of Teacher Mitsui's arms, he had one of his clansmen support him as he headed for the infirmary.

As the clansman named Uchiha Yang helped him toward the infirmary, he hesitated before saying, "Iwa, you saw that guy's strength too. He's not someone we can handle. And he has Jiraiya and Sakumo with him. We won't even get a chance to corner him alone.

We're classmates. We see each other every day, so this can't go on forever. If you ask me, just forget it. From now on, we can just pretend that guy doesn't exist."

Uchiha Yang meant well, but his words only stirred up Uchiha Iwa's rage. Uchiha Iwa had completely forgotten that he had been the one provoking Hayate from beginning to end.

Ignoring the pain in his backside, he shoved his lackey away and hysterically roared at Uchiha Yang, who had been pushed to the ground, "If you're scared, then get lost! Even without you, I can deal with Hayate Hoshi! That bastard humiliated me like this today, and you're telling me to forget it? Let me tell you, from now on, either he stays in Class A or I do! There's no room for both of us!

If you trash won't help me, I've got other ways! My grandfather is the Third Elder of the Uchiha Clan, and my uncle is the Deputy Captain of the Police Force.

That bastard can only act cocky at school for a little longer. Just watch what I do to him after class. I won't stop until that guy voluntarily transfers classes—I, Uchiha Iwa, swear it!"

After saying that, he did not even look at the Uchiha Yang he had shoved down. Limping, he made his own way toward the infirmary.

Uchiha Yang lay on the ground, watching Uchiha Iwa's retreating back as his fists unconsciously clenched. He was furious too. He had clearly tried to kindly persuade Uchiha Iwa not to make things worse, yet not only had the guy refused to appreciate it, he had treated him like this.

He was utterly disappointed in Uchiha Iwa. Still, as a fellow clansman, he did not want Uchiha Iwa to keep courting death. Since he could not get through to him, he could only go speak with Hayate Hoshi instead.

He did not chase after Uchiha Iwa. Instead, he dusted himself off and returned to the training ground. While the other Uchiha clan members were not paying attention, he passed by Hayate Hoshi and quietly said behind him, "Uchiha Iwa plans to have his uncle, the Deputy Captain of the Police Force, target you. Watch yourself."

After saying that, he returned to the crowd without even looking at Hayate.

Hayate watched Uchiha Yang walk away and quietly committed him to memory. Compared to that Uchiha Iwa, this guy was much more likable.

Still, Hayate did not take Uchiha Yang's warning too seriously. He knew all too well how children who could not win a fight would call in their parents.

If Uchiha Iwa's family made a fuss at school today, Hayate would still have the moral high ground.

It would not be easy for them to cause trouble for him outside school, either. What great clans like the Uchiha valued most was their reputation, and the Uchiha were the proudest of them all. They would not tear off all pretenses and send an adult to bully Hayate outright.

At most, they could use the authority of the Police Force to dig up dirt on him. As long as Hayate behaved himself, they would have a hard time finding an opportunity to target him.

Shaking his head and casting those thoughts aside, Hayate turned his attention back to the Combat Assessment.

Jiraiya was about to take the field. One student with mediocre results had clearly underestimated him and actually chose Jiraiya as his opponent.

Jiraiya did not refuse, and their match began.

There was not much to say about the fight itself. His opponent had thought he could restrict Jiraiya with thrown kunai, but he had not expected Jiraiya to be so nimble.

Once he ran out of kunai, he had nothing left to offer. After a brief stalemate of dodging and pursuit, Jiraiya caught up and pummeled him with a flurry of punches until he fled in panic, surrendering on the spot.

Not long after Jiraiya won, Class A's Combat Assessment came to an end.

Teacher Mitsui named ten unlucky students, stating that they would undergo a second ranking match against the top ten students of Class B. He then told the other students who wanted to go home that they could leave.

The moment Teacher Mitsui finished speaking, more than half the class left. To them, nothing was more delightful than getting home early.

Hayate had originally planned to take Sakumo and Jiraiya to train, but just as he was about to move, he saw the teachers of Class B and Class C leading their top ten students onto the combat grounds.

Hayate swept his gaze over them and spotted Orochimaru among Class C's top ten.

His interest was immediately piqued. He tugged on Jiraiya and Sakumo, signaling them to stay and watch for now. He was curious how much Orochimaru had improved over these past two months.

What he had not expected was that staying behind would let him witness quite a show.

According to the arrangement, Class A's bottom ten were supposed to first undergo the second ranking matches against Class B's top ten. But before the teachers could say anything, Orochimaru hesitated for a moment, then abruptly stepped forward.

He first bowed to the homeroom teachers of Classes A, B, and C before speaking.

"Teachers, may I ask something? If I can directly defeat the tenth-from-last student in Class A, can I enter Class A directly?"

His words made the three teachers pause in surprise, and even Jiraiya and Sakumo had their attention drawn to him.

Jiraiya's mouth formed an O as he poked Hayate. "Hey, isn't that the Orochimaru you mentioned before? Did this kid not wake up properly? He actually wants to challenge the tenth-from-last student in our class directly."

Hayate looked at Orochimaru's determined gaze and did not find it strange at all. He glanced at Jiraiya and teased, "Don't underestimate him. He might even be stronger than you."

After thinking for a moment, Sakumo spoke as well. "I think this guy is different from ordinary people too. Maybe he really does have confidence in himself."

Hearing his two best friends say that, Jiraiya could not help getting a little angry. Even the way he looked at Orochimaru turned unfriendly. He snorted.

"I don't believe it. I remember that guy was the Dead Last of Class C when school first started. If he can charge from Class C into Class A in just two months, wouldn't that make him even more impressive than you, Sakumo?"

It was not just Jiraiya. Even the teachers of Classes A and B doubted Orochimaru, unable to tell whether he genuinely had what it took or was simply overconfident.

Class C's teacher had said that this child had risen from last place in Class C to first place in only two months, but jumping directly from Class C to Class A still seemed a little too exaggerated.

Just as the three teachers were unable to make up their minds, the tenth-from-last student in Class A flushed red and accepted Orochimaru's challenge.

"Teacher, I accept his challenge! I'll show this guy who doesn't know his limits the gap between us!"

Ye Zhi hadn't seen a single book review today. These past two days, this book has even started slipping down the signing rankings. Everyone, please give me some recommendations, comments, and investments to encourage me. Please, please, please.