Skipping class

Ba Uchiha and Shingao Uchiha landed on the ground after Tianyun Hyuga threw them out. They lay there groaning softly a few times before slowly climbing to their feet, glaring at Tianyun with ugly expressions.

Tianyun curled his lip and said, "You two aren't bad. At least you didn't cry about the pain like that little fatty. Stop asking for more punishment and find a doctor to patch you up! I'm sure you've realized you're injured by now!"

Shingao stared at Tianyun, giving him a hateful look before saying to Ba, "Hachiro, let's get treatment first. We'll settle this score sooner or later. Let's go!"

"But what about class...?" Ba asked, looking torn.

"To hell with class! You want everyone to laugh at us? Hurry up and come with me!" Shingao snapped angrily at Ba.

Ba froze for a moment, then hurried after Shingao. They dashed out of the classroom and vanished in an instant.

"Tch, how boring..." Tianyun muttered, then turned to Tenten. "Hey, beautiful, interested in playing with me now? I'm number one now..."

Tenten was surprised by Tianyun's strength, but she didn't want to agree so easily. She pointed at the other students in the class and said, "They haven't surrendered. You're not number one yet..."

Tianyun was speechless. This little girl was pretty hard to deal with. After thinking for a moment, he stood up and swept a fierce glare across the entire class before saying, "I'll give you five minutes. Either surrender and admit you lost to me, or I'll beat you out of here like those two from the Uchiha Clan."

With even the Uchiha boys defeated by Tianyun, the other students naturally didn't dare provoke him. But they had their pride and refused to surrender. Once someone took the lead and ran out of the classroom, the rest of the children swarmed out after them, leaving Tianyun utterly speechless.

Within just five minutes of Iruka's departure, the only students left in the classroom were Tianyun, Tenten, and Neji Hyuga, who refused to admit defeat and leave and wanted to fight Tianyun to test the power of that martial art.

Tenten was stunned. She hadn't expected a single remark from her to send every classmate fleeing. Looking helplessly at Tianyun, she said, "What do we do now? If Iruka comes back, won't all three of us be in trouble?"

Tianyun said dismissively, "Only bad kids who skip class get scolded by their teacher. We haven't skipped class, so why would we be in trouble?"

Tenten was instantly at a loss for words. She glanced at the utterly relaxed Tianyun and said, "Fine, I'll play with you. Just don't cause any more trouble. I don't want Iruka-sensei blaming me..."

"I never cause trouble..." Tianyun said calmly.

"Weren't you causing trouble just now...?" Tenten asked in confusion.

Tianyun curled his lip. "Then tell me, did I ever strike first? I only fought because I had no choice. You can't blame me for that."

"Uh..." Defeated by Tianyun's shamelessness, Tenten simply stood up and said, "Everyone's already gone home. I think I'll go home too. Otherwise, Iruka will definitely be furious when he gets here."

With that, Tenten scampered toward the door.

"Hey, don't go! Didn't you promise to play with me...?" Tianyun ran out after her.

Neji was suddenly the only one left in the classroom. Unsure whether to leave or stay, he sat there looking bewildered.

After Neji had sat in the classroom for five minutes, Iruka returned with Heigui Inuzuka, who had finished receiving treatment. Staring blankly at the empty classroom with only Neji in it, he asked in a daze, "Neji, where did the other students go...?"

Neji still wanted to learn that new Gentle Fist technique from Tianyun, and he didn't want to offend him. He said calmly, "Iruka-sensei, they said they all had things to take care of at home today, so they went back..."

Iruka was so angry he wanted to curse. Neji was clearly lying. How could everyone in the class have something to take care of at home? Unable to contain himself, he shouted, "Damn it! Those brats are out of control! I'm reporting this to Lord Hokage. They've made me furious!"

After his angry outburst, Iruka forgot all about Heigui and Neji. He turned and left the classroom to report to Lord Hokage.

Heigui stared in bewilderment at where Iruka had disappeared, then asked Neji blankly, "What do we do now?"

Neji glanced at Heigui and picked up a book. "Whatever you want. Go home if you want, or stay if you want. It has nothing to do with me. There won't be any classes today anyway..."

"Uh..." Heigui froze for a moment, then suddenly brightened. He turned and ran out of the classroom, ready to go home and play, enjoying this rare day off.

As for the incident with Tianyun, the very young Heigui had already forgotten about it for the time being.

In the Hokage Office, the Third Hokage listened somewhat helplessly to Iruka's angry report, then reassured him. "Iruka, I already know about this. Take the day off and get some rest. I'll handle it, so you don't need to worry about it anymore."

Since the Third Hokage had said as much, Iruka couldn't very well ask how he intended to punish the students who had skipped class. As he took his leave, he said, "Lord Hokage, I don't mind too much when a few children skip class now and then, but this time the entire class did it. This is completely out of line. Please teach them a proper lesson, Lord Hokage, or I won't be able to do my job as their teacher..."

"All right, all right, Iruka, I understand. Go home for now!" the Third Hokage said, somewhat helplessly sending him on his way.

Iruka had no idea what the Third Hokage was thinking. Only after grumbling a little more did he leave the Hokage Office, still seething.

After Iruka left, the Third Hokage took out his pipe. He took a few puffs, then said, "Does this Tianyun Hyuga really know a new form of Gentle Fist? Can you confirm it? Could it be a secret ninjutsu passed down within the Hyuga Clan?"

Another person's voice rang out in the Hokage Office, where only the Third Hokage was visible. It answered coldly, "Lord Hokage, if the Hyuga Clan had such a fighting style, they probably wouldn't deliberately conceal it. I believe Tianyun Hyuga used a new form of Gentle Fist. It seems to be a technique specifically designed to counter strength-based ninja..."

"I see!" The Third Hokage fell silent for a moment before continuing, "Keep watching Tianyun Hyuga. Also investigate whether he's been in contact with anyone unusual lately. He might have learned this new form of Gentle Fist from someone else."

The mysterious voice replied, "Lord Hokage, that new fighting style couldn't have been created by an outsider. I believe someone within the Hyuga Clan developed it. People from other clans would have difficulty understanding the Hyuga Clan's fighting style, let alone creating a new form of Gentle Fist."

The Third Hokage nodded. "I think so too. But we can't interfere with the Hyuga Clan. That would disrupt Konoha's peace. I'll have to ask you to put in the effort to investigate whom Tianyun Hyuga meets with, then identify the person most likely to have created this new Gentle Fist."

"Understood..." the mysterious voice answered, then fell silent.

The Third Hokage put down his pipe and walked to the window. Looking out over the sprawling village of Konoha, he murmured to himself, "These really are troubled times..."