The start of school, part 3

It was the first day of school at the Konoha Ninja Academy, and many parents had brought their children to wait outside its gates.

Tianyun Hyuga and Naruto Uzumaki were among those waiting.

Since Tianyun Hyuga was even younger than Naruto Uzumaki, anyone who did not know him would surely have assumed he was a student too.

Of course, here in Konoha, hardly anyone would mistake Tianyun Hyuga for a student. His name had already spread throughout the village, and there was practically no one who did not know him.

Naruto Uzumaki stood at the school gates, excitedly watching the new students come and go. But their parents all steered their children away from him, leaving a touch of dejection mixed in with his excitement.

Tianyun Hyuga paid Naruto Uzumaki no mind. He was watching the students arriving at the school, looking for anyone familiar or anyone he knew.

"Hey... what are you looking at?" Someone suddenly clapped Tianyun Hyuga on the back. He recognized Tenten by her voice alone.

Turning around, Tianyun Hyuga said, "What are you doing here so early, little girl? It shouldn't be time for your Elite Class to start yet, should it?"

Tenten pursed her lips. "Our Elite Class has been disbanded. Iruka-sensei is taking a new class, and the seven of us who are left have to stay at the Ninja Academy as temporary teaching assistants for a year before we can graduate."

Tianyun Hyuga noticed the obvious irritation in Tenten's voice when she mentioned staying another year as a teaching assistant. Thinking about it, he could understand why. After the few secret enhancements he had given her, she was strong enough to hold her own against Neji Hyuga. Naturally, she did not want to remain at school.

As for why Tianyun Hyuga had enhanced Tenten, he hardly needed a reason. He had received hundreds of millions in wealth from her father, so giving her strength a little boost was only fair.

After letting his thoughts wander for a moment, Tianyun Hyuga asked Tenten again, "I asked why you came so early, not why you're still at school."

Tenten glared at Tianyun Hyuga, sounding thoroughly disgruntled. "It's all because of Lord Hokage. He insisted we come welcome the new students, saying we needed to set an example for them."

Tianyun Hyuga was a little speechless. "Why are you taking it out on me when it was that old Hokage's doing? I didn't tell you to come..."

"Isn't this all your fault? Otherwise, why would our class have been disbanded? Why would I have to be a teaching assistant?" Tenten said angrily.

"Fine... I'll leave you alone, then. Hurry up and go welcome your new juniors!" If Tianyun Hyuga could not handle her, he could at least avoid her.

"Don't go! Stay here and talk to me so I don't have to welcome the students." Tenten grabbed Tianyun Hyuga as he tried to leave.

"Damn, you really know how to slack off. You're even dragging me into it as your scapegoat..." Tianyun Hyuga stared at Tenten, utterly speechless.

"What, you don't want to?" Tenten demanded, her brows drawn and her gaze cold.

"Not particularly..." Tianyun Hyuga answered bluntly.

"Hmph... whether you want to or not, you're keeping me company today." Tenten held on to Tianyun Hyuga and refused to let go.

"I..." Tianyun Hyuga was at a loss. He could hardly get into a fight with Tenten. She was only an eight-year-old girl, after all.

While Tianyun Hyuga was feeling frustrated, Naruto Uzumaki, who had been watching the other students, ran over to him and Tenten. Seeing her clutching Tianyun Hyuga's clothes without letting go, he asked curiously, "Big bro, is she going to be my sister-in-law?"

"Sister-in-law, my ass!" Tianyun Hyuga brought his fist down hard on the top of Naruto Uzumaki's head, making him crouch down with both hands over it.

"If she isn't, she isn't! Why did you have to hit me?" Naruto Uzumaki sounded rather aggrieved.

After Naruto Uzumaki's interruption, Tenten felt too embarrassed to keep holding on to Tianyun Hyuga. She let go and said, "Forget it. You two should get going. I'll put in the effort today and welcome the new students..."

Tianyun Hyuga pointed at the crouching Naruto Uzumaki and said to Tenten, "He's a new student too. Why don't you take him inside? That way, you'll have something to do and won't have to stay here welcoming new students."

Tenten glanced at Naruto Uzumaki and said disdainfully, "Let this blond kid go in by himself. I'm only welcoming girls. The boys aren't my problem..."

"Uh, you're pretty willful..." Tianyun Hyuga shook his head helplessly, then told Naruto Uzumaki, "Go inside by yourself. Looks like more and more students are arriving now..."

At the mention of starting school, Naruto Uzumaki grew excited again. He stood up and waved to Tianyun Hyuga. "Bye, big bro! I'll come find you tonight. I'm heading in now."

With that, Naruto Uzumaki dashed into the school.

After Naruto Uzumaki left, Tianyun Hyuga remained at the school gates. He had yet to see the other male lead, Uchiha Sasuke, so he leaned against the entrance and continued watching.

Five minutes later, the parents of the three Ino-Shika-Cho families arrived at the Konoha Ninja Academy gates with Shikamaru Nara, Ino Yamanaka, and Choji Akimichi.

Shikamaru Nara's father, Shikaku Nara, had met Tianyun Hyuga a few times at the Third Hokage's office. When he saw Tianyun Hyuga standing at the gates, he made a point of nodding to him in greeting. This prompted the three children to give Tianyun Hyuga curious looks before their parents ushered them into the school.

Over the next ten minutes, Tianyun Hyuga saw Sakura Haruno arrive with her mother. Kiba Inuzuka and Shino Aburame also came with their mothers. Finally, Uchiha Sasuke appeared.

The one accompanying Sasuke Uchiha was, surprisingly, his older brother, Uchiha Itachi. Tianyun Hyuga had been in Konoha for ten months, but this was his first time seeing that mysterious figure.

According to Tianyun Hyuga's inquiries, Uchiha Itachi was still working in the Anbu and rarely returned to Konoha. Now that he had suddenly appeared, Tianyun Hyuga lost all interest in watching Sasuke Uchiha and turned his gaze to Uchiha Itachi instead, staring so intently that Itachi frowned.

As an Anbu member, Uchiha Itachi naturally knew something about Konoha's new genius, Tianyun Hyuga. He simply had not had an opportunity to meet him.

Yet the way Tianyun Hyuga was looking at him now made Uchiha Itachi feel as though the boy knew him very well. Unable to make sense of it, he stared back at Tianyun Hyuga for a while.

Standing beside Uchiha Itachi, Sasuke Uchiha noticed his older brother staring at Tianyun Hyuga and asked in confusion, "Big brother, who's that guy? Is he a new student too?"

Uchiha Itachi lowered his head and said, "That's Tianyun Hyuga, the one you said you wanted to surpass. He's already graduated. He probably came to have a look..."

Sasuke Uchiha had always lived within the Uchiha clan. Although he knew Tianyun Hyuga's name, he had never seen him before.

When Uchiha Itachi told him that the boy leaning against the wall across from them was Tianyun Hyuga, he immediately pulled his brother over and said, "Tianyun Hyuga, I'll surpass you sooner or later..."

Tianyun Hyuga glanced at the extraordinarily cocky Sasuke Uchiha and said flatly, "Once you surpass your brother, Uchiha Itachi, you'll be qualified to compare yourself to me. Right now, you're still far too green..."

Furious at being looked down on, Sasuke Uchiha wanted to argue with Tianyun Hyuga, but Uchiha Itachi quickly held him back. "That's enough. School is about to start. Hurry inside!"

"Hmph... consider yourself lucky..." Sasuke Uchiha snorted coldly and stormed into the school, bristling with anger.