Konoha Rookies' Common Enemy

After making a round of Konoha, Yue and his group of four moved into the "guesthouse" Minato had arranged in advance and agreed to meet at the Ninja Academy tomorrow.

The formal "academic" exchange was about to begin.

This was not a time of peace, and Konoha had limited energy to spare, so they could not delay too long for a so-called "study tour."

Minato had also explained the upcoming schedule. On the first day, they would attend classes at the Konoha Ninja Academy and experience its learning environment and curriculum. On the second day, teachers from the two villages would switch places and lead the other side's students through some training. In certain events, the young students would also engage in tentative competitions.

On the third day, they would follow their teachers to complete village missions of the same rank.

This way, everyone would gain an initial understanding of one another.

Then came the main point... the fourth and fifth days were rest days, while the sixth and seventh days would host a two-day "friendship competition."

At that time, Konoha's Rookies could freely choose one of the three students from Kusagakure to challenge.

Likewise, Yue and the other two could call out Konoha's contestants by name.

That competition was the real main event!

"Doesn't seem like much... these Konoha people."

"I couldn't tell what was so impressive about them... though this village really does have a lot of people."

"That Kakashi is the Konoha White Fang's son, right?"

"Obito Uchiha... he's from the Uchiha Clan. Come to think of it... I don't think I saw many Uchiha Clan members on the streets."

"And that Hyuga Clan girl, her eyes really are unusual."

In the room, Ryuga and Yoshitaka were still discussing girls like Rin and Kurenai Yuhi, while sharing their opinions on the new friends they had made in Konoha.

"Yue, what do you think?"

Ryuga looked toward Yue, who stood by the window and gazed down at the street outside.

"They're all strong."

Yue gave a short reply.

"Really?"

Ryuga looked skeptical. "Even that stupid Obito Uchiha?"

"This is their village, their own territory, so they're in their everyday state... completely different from how they are in battle. I don't need to explain that, do I?" Yue drew the curtains. Although Minato Namikaze had already left, Yue was certain that Konoha was still watching their every move.

"That makes sense, but I don't believe they're that much stronger than us just because this is Konoha."

Yoshitaka echoed him.

"Whether you believe it or not, you'll know the day after tomorrow."

Too lazy to explain, Yue lay down directly on the bed.

Setting aside the backgrounds and training of the various clans, Konoha's basic educational resources alone left Kusagakure far behind.

The reason these Konoha Rookies seemed innocent and possessed happiness appropriate for their age—

Was because Konoha's environment was good and the village protected them well... but that did not mean they were weak.

"You two... have you ever thought about becoming village elders?"

Yue suddenly asked.

Ryuga and Yoshitaka looked at each other, then both shook their heads.

Yue could not guarantee that every child at the Konoha Ninja Academy aimed to become Hokage, but at least most of them had grown up wanting to become the village's "mainstay."

Mentality, ideas, and goals... determined a person's drive and also affected the limits of their growth.

Ninjas from small villages tended to think more about their own personal problems. There was nothing wrong with that; it was simply the result of reality.

But the difference in "results" would eventually show in the future.

Their Jonin teacher was not sharing a room with them.

Ryuga and Yoshitaka could not sit still and went out together to look around again. Yue did not go. He turned in early instead.

The next day, the three of them arrived at the Konoha Ninja Academy.

The size of the Konoha Ninja Academy and the completeness of its facilities once again opened Ryuga and Yoshitaka's eyes.

The three entered a classroom and became "new" students.

This class had clearly been put together temporarily. Everyone they had met yesterday was seated in the classroom now, and some had obviously already graduated.

The substitute teacher was naturally Minato Namikaze.

Kusagakure's Jonin had temporarily taken over other classes.

The material Minato taught clearly exceeded the level of ordinary students. Most of it involved Chakra and ninjutsu.

With simple, easy-to-understand explanations, he left Ryuga and Yoshitaka enlightened. Back in Kusagakure, the two often could not understand the theories their teachers discussed, but after Minato Namikaze's guidance, everything immediately became clear.

It was not that Minato's teaching methods or way of breaking down knowledge were particularly clever. It was simply that his attainments in these areas were exceptionally high. He knew exactly where little brats like them would run into trouble and could cut straight to the heart of the issue to help them sort it out.

And it was not just him... the entire Konoha Ninja Academy had strong teachers with seasoned teaching experience. Even those without Minato's strength could easily guide these little brats.

One look at Kakashi and the others' expressions made it obvious... Ryuga and Yoshitaka looked suddenly enlightened and overjoyed.

The other students in the classroom, meanwhile, remained completely calm.

Apparently, what Minato Namikaze taught was perfectly normal to them.

From time to time, Minato would also ask questions for the students to answer.

Aside from Obito, who looked around blankly and stammered without being able to answer, nearly every other student solved the questions with ease.

Even someone like Might Guy, who "specialized in Taijutsu."

Guy had merely chosen the path of physical cultivation. It was a choice, not proof that he was clueless in every other area.

Yet whenever Ryuga and Yoshitaka stood up, they found themselves speechless... constantly blinking at Yue beside them for help.

They had already started embarrassing Kusagakure.

The three of them were Kusagakure's top students, but after coming to Konoha, Ryuga and Yoshitaka suddenly seemed to have become the "dead last" students, aside from Yue.

Seeing fine sweat appear on Ryuga's forehead, Yue raised his hand under everyone's gaze and rescued his companion. In just a few sentences, he easily gave Minato the answer he wanted.

"As expected of Yue. Simple and direct, without a single unnecessary word."

Minato applauded.

Some of the surrounding students did not think much of it.

It was obviously such a simple question. Why was "Teacher Minato" praising him so much?

As Minato continued explaining lessons on various subjects, Ryuga and Yoshitaka were called on increasingly often. After all, this was a study exchange. Minato knew perfectly well what level Konoha's Rookies were at, and today's academic lessons were mainly for the three children from Kusagakure.

So Yue kept raising his hand to answer as well.

Because he knew Ryuga and Yoshitaka definitely would not be able to answer.

He had always studied academics and theory. Moreover, during his time in the Akatsuki Organization, the amount of knowledge, insights, and perspectives he had acquired had been considerable.

Minato was not deliberately trying to embarrass Ryuga and Yoshitaka. He genuinely wanted to teach them. He only hoped that they would remember these points of knowledge and deepen their impressions of them.

As time passed, a strange scene appeared in the classroom. Teacher Minato seemed to be asking Ryuga and Yoshitaka questions, but every time, Yue was the one who answered.

Gradually, the way all the students looked at Yue changed.

Because Yue had begun displaying the air of someone "extremely knowledgeable." He could solve every question Minato asked... and even expand upon it.

Some questions stumped the other Konoha Rookies, yet Yue could still answer fluently.

This gradually made the others vaguely understand why Minato Namikaze kept praising Yue and treating him differently.

Later on, the difficulty of Minato Namikaze's questions began rising noticeably. They were no longer things Genin could figure out... exceeding the knowledge of every student present. In the entire room, only two people could still exchange answers with Minato.

One was Kakashi.

The other was Yue.

Minato kept applauding without any sign of tiring.

He was creating an atmosphere... and Yue sensed that atmosphere clearly.

Because of Ryuga and Yoshitaka's performances, the Rookies' gazes toward him had changed from disdain, to surprise, to seriousness, and then... hostility.

At least in terms of academics, Yue had demonstrated a level far beyond theirs... earning Kusagakure plenty of face.

He had not disgraced them.

Kakashi had also seen through Minato's intentions. He originally had not wanted to get involved in this troublesome matter, but he had no choice. This was Konoha... and he was one of Konoha's people. He could not let someone from another village swagger around in "their" place. He had no real desire to compete... but when it came to defending the village's honor, he would still step forward.

Minato's smile remained warm and gentle, but Yue's gaze grew increasingly dark.

Sure enough, no one who became a Kage was a good person.

Minato was deliberately building up hostility between the youths of the two villages!

He was laying the groundwork for them to bring out their true abilities in the later competition.

And it was an open scheme, impossible to break.

It was all for the sake of bringing glory to their villages.

Yue might not like Kusagakure, but the fact that he was from Kusagakure was already set in stone.

Besides, he had come this time precisely for the competition.

There was naturally no need to pretend or hide anything.

"..."

The room fell silent. Kakashi had been standing for a full half-minute before he finally closed his eyes and sighed softly. "Sorry, I can't answer."

Then he sat down.

Even for him, a Chunin, Minato's latest question was extremely difficult.

Everyone's eyes instinctively shifted toward Yue.

"..."

Yue frowned slightly as he considered the combat situation and enemy type Minato had described, along with the control and variations of a special ninjutsu. Without much hesitation, he opened his mouth.

And gave his answer.

Once his voice faded, the room fell utterly silent.

The smile on Minato's face faded slightly.

His sky-blue eyes stared at Yue.

Yue's answer made him realize something.

He had underestimated this boy from Kusagakure!

After all, when they had been at the border of the Land of Grass, the two had only fought side by side for a brief time.

What Minato had seen and observed might have only been one part of what Yue had revealed.

Clap clap clap.

Suddenly, Minato smiled again and applauded. "Although it differs somewhat from the answer I had in mind, Yue, your answer is also correct. It's excellent."

"Everyone, give Yue a round of applause!"

Minato said cheerfully.

Seeing this, all the students began clapping. Sparse applause joined into a single wave.

But every person looking at Yue had a different expression in their eyes.

The ease and familiarity were gone. There was hostility, but also admiration and respect.

Yet Konoha's Rookies all reached the same consensus.

Yue... had become a "common enemy" in a certain sense!

In any case, Minato's goal had been achieved.

"Since I came to help you... I might as well play along with you, then..."

Sensing the strange atmosphere spreading through the classroom, Yue's thoughts stirred and the corner of his mouth lifted.

Before the applause had even ended, he suddenly stood up.

He had answered the question while seated.

"There's no need to go through these routine formalities. The real highlight is nothing more than the competition a few days from now."

Yue spoke.

The moment he spoke, everyone else instinctively fell quiet.

"I won't be participating in the activities over the next few days... do as you please."

After saying that, he did not call Ryuga or Yoshitaka. He left his seat alone and headed toward the door.

Minato Namikaze's smile did not change, and he did not stop him.

Clearly, Konoha's Rookies were shocked and angered by Yue's attitude and rudeness.

"You all..."

When he was nearly at the door, Yue suddenly turned around and looked at the faces throughout the classroom.

"Don't interest me in the slightest."

Mockery. Naked, undisguised mockery.

After saying that, Yue gave a cold laugh, turned around, and left before the Konoha group could react.

"..."

Silence. Deathly silence.

Only after a full seven or eight seconds did Konoha's Rookies finally react, shouting furiously.

A few even wanted to rush out immediately to settle things with Yue, but Minato stopped them all.

"Idiots!"

The only person present who could see a hint of what was going on and remain calm was Kakashi, who rested his chin on his hand.

He quietly cursed at Obito, whose face was red with anger.

He had figured it out. This Fuma Yue was acting out a scene with Minato.

Teacher Minato was deliberately stirring up their competitive spirit, and Yue had noticed it too. That was why he had intentionally added fuel to the fire and pulled this stunt.

He was not actually being arrogant.

Even so, Kakashi was somewhat annoyed inside.

Because... even if it was an act, the way Yue had looked at them just now had truly been rather arrogant.

"Let go of me! I'm going to teach that brat a lesson and show him what real strength is!"

"My father said this is youth! My blood's boiling!"

"Hmph, what is some country bumpkin from Kusagakure acting so smug for?"

"Don't let me run into him in the village!"

"Alright, alright, everyone calm down... I'm sure Yue didn't mean it like that." Minato Namikaze deliberately played dumb, smiling as he soothed the rowdy children before him.

He had helped Yue... and this time, Yue was returning the favor.

Minato enjoyed it immensely.