Had thought about it

Hinata thought for a moment, then said earnestly, "I hope I can become stronger. Strong enough to protect the people who matter to me."

Toru Kujyo nodded, a glimmer of anticipation flashing in his eyes. He believed that, before long, Hinata would awaken the legendary Tenseigan and become truly powerful.

Soon, spring arrived in Konoha Year 55, and the third term of the Ninja Academy's first year officially began.

This term brought significant changes to the curriculum. Alongside their continuing taijutsu sparring classes, the students began formally learning basic ninja skills: the Three Basic Techniques, the Konoha Body Flicker Technique, and the Invisibility Technique.

"Today, we'll be learning the Substitution Technique," the chunin instructor said from the podium. "It's one of the fundamental skills a ninja needs to survive."

The students in the classroom listened intently, but Toru Kujyo's seat remained empty. These days, he rarely attended classes in his real body except for taijutsu sparring.

"The Substitution Technique uses chakra to switch places with an object instantaneously," the instructor continued. "Once you've mastered it, you can evade fatal attacks at critical moments."

Hinata took careful notes. Although she had already learned these basic ninjutsu at home, the school's teaching methods gave her a fresh understanding of them.

Besides ninjutsu classes, the school also added survival exercises. The students were divided into teams to conduct simulated combat training in designated areas.

These changes have made the school's training more practical, Hinata thought. Kujyo should be very pleased with them.

Toru Kujyo's real body arrived in the classroom on time for the afternoon taijutsu sparring class. He looked around and noticed that his classmates had all grown noticeably stronger.

Looks like the third term's training is working well, Toru Kujyo assessed. At this rate, they'll have a better chance of surviving after graduation.

After class, Toru Kujyo and Hinata went to Training Ground No. 3 as usual to continue their special training. After all this time, Hinata's strength had taken a qualitative leap. She was no longer the girl who could only passively take a beating.

"We'll practice something new today," Toru Kujyo said. "I'm going to teach you how to use the Strike the Ox Across the Mountain technique you just learned in actual combat."

Hinata nodded, her eyes full of anticipation. She knew that every training session with Toru Kujyo would make her stronger, and the process of growing stronger left her feeling immensely fulfilled and happy.

Time flew, and March arrived in the blink of an eye. The final term of the Ninja Academy's first year was also nearing its end. As the year-end exams approached, Toru Kujyo's real body appeared in the classroom noticeably more often. His handsome yet somewhat aloof face always drew the eyes of many girls, including, of course, Hinata's gentle gaze, which followed him wherever he went.

"Top student, huh?" Resting his chin on one hand, Toru Kujyo watched the last few cherry blossoms drift past the window, the faintest hint of a smile tugging at his lips. To him, that title's greatest value might be convincing that old stubborn fool Hyuga Hiashi to put fewer obstacles in the way of his relationship with Hinata. After all, finishing his first year at the top of his class would be enough to prove his potential.

His confidence was not unfounded. He clearly remembered that in Konoha Year 55-this very year-the Uchiha Clan would face annihilation. That secret hung over him like a sword, leaving him no room to slack off. At the same time, he had to act cautiously to avoid drawing the attention of the "Shinobi World's biggest simp," Obito Uchiha, too soon. That man's desire for the Byakugan was no laughing matter.

Nothing can be allowed to happen to Hinata's Byakugan. Toru Kujyo's gaze sharpened slightly. To be safe, he decided to temporarily ease off their intensive training at the abandoned training ground until the dust settled from the Uchiha Clan Massacre. The decision left him feeling somewhat helpless, but for the sake of the long term, it was a necessary sacrifice.

On March 20, the year-end exams arrived as scheduled. Morning sunlight streamed through the classroom windows, falling across young faces tinged with nervousness. Toru Kujyo entered the classroom and immediately spotted Hinata sitting by the window. She had tied her hair into a neat ponytail today, giving her a more spirited look.

"Hinata." He walked over to her.

Hinata looked up, and delight flashed in her eyes when she saw him. "Good morning, Kujyo."

"Do your best today," Toru Kujyo said quietly, his voice carrying unwavering confidence. "The top spot is mine. Second place is up to you."

Hinata's cheeks flushed slightly, and she nodded firmly. "Yes!" She knew how strong Toru Kujyo was; the top spot was practically his already. As for her, she would give everything she had to claim that second place.

The morning's academic exams were a breeze for Toru Kujyo and Hinata. Through systematic study and Toru Kujyo's "extra tutoring," they had long since mastered all those complicated theories and historical accounts. Both handed in their papers early, drawing a chorus of amazed reactions.

After lunch, the afternoon's practical assessments officially began. The events included shuriken throwing, taijutsu sparring, and team survival exercises.

Under Toru Kujyo's attentive guidance, Hinata's taijutsu had long since surpassed that of her peers, and was even stronger than that of some older students. However, the morning's academic exams and overall evaluations had already opened a gap between her score and Toru Kujyo's. Competing for the top spot was no longer possible, but outstanding practical results would still give her an excellent chance of taking second place in her year.

Among the first-year students, only Sasuke Uchiha and Shino Aburame besides Toru Kujyo had maintained undefeated records in regular taijutsu sparring classes. But Sasuke's abilities were too uneven, and his academic scores were only average. Shino's personality, meanwhile, left him with mediocre results in teamwork and assessments requiring initiative. Neither boy's overall score posed a threat to Toru Kujyo. Thus, as long as Hinata earned full marks in the afternoon's practical assessments, her place as second in the year would be secure.

The shuriken-throwing assessment came first. The targets were divided into stationary and moving targets, with the difficulty increasing as the test progressed.

When Toru Kujyo's turn came, he casually took ten shuriken from his ninja tool pouch. His movements flowed smoothly, without a single unnecessary flourish.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh-

One sharp whistle after another cut through the air. As if they had eyes of their own, all ten shuriken struck the bull's-eyes with perfect accuracy. A few even split shuriken thrown by earlier students straight down the middle before embedding themselves deep in the centers of the targets.

"A-all bull's-eyes! Full marks!" The examiner recording the results could not help drawing a sharp breath, his gaze filled with shock as he looked at Toru Kujyo. That level of precision and power was already far beyond anything expected of a genin.