The instant the match began, the upperclassman charged forward and threw a punch at Uchiha Rìtiān's face.
But with a light slide of his feet, Uchiha Rìtiān dodged the punch at an incredibly strange angle. While his opponent stood stunned, Uchiha Rìtiān had already circled behind him, raised his foot, and kicked him square in the butt.
Bam! The upperclassman stumbled and nearly fell flat on his face.
Everyone fell silent for a second, then burst into laughter. "Hahaha, he got kicked in the butt!"
The upperclassman's face flushed bright red. Enraged by the humiliation, he charged again, this time with all his strength.
Uchiha Rìtiān remained unhurried, weaving left and right like a slippery loach. His opponent's fists came within a hair of hitting him every time, but never connected. Not only that, Uchiha Rìtiān occasionally slipped in a slap or a kick, targeting only embarrassing spots.
Before long, the upperclassman was panting with exhaustion. "I'm done, I'm done! I give up!"
Uchiha Rìtiān dusted off his hands and said with a grin, "Well... Grandpa?"
The upperclassman's face alternated between red and white. Finally, he gritted his teeth and squeezed out the word, "Grandpa..." Then he slunk away with his companions.
Applause erupted all around. Uchiha Rìtiān smugly cupped his hands. "Thanks for going easy on me!"
Watching from the crowd, Hyūga Huǒliè's face was livid. "Hmph, just a few cheap tricks." Hyūga Huǒliè snorted, turned, and left.
After this match, Uchiha Rìtiān became even more famous at school and gained a group of young admirers. Every day after class, a bunch of children followed on his heels. Uchiha Rìtiān was happy to take them on as his followers, occasionally bringing snacks from the general store to share with them.
During lunch break one day, Uchiha Rìtiān wandered around with a few followers and eventually reached the upperclassmen's classroom building.
"Rìtiān, what are we doing over here?" one follower asked.
"Making a few friends." Uchiha Rìtiān smiled mysteriously. He remembered that Asuma and Kurenai should be in this year. As a Naruto fan, he felt a little excited just thinking about seeing these future celebrities in person.
Sure enough, as soon as he reached the edge of the schoolyard, Uchiha Rìtiān spotted two familiar figures. A boy with a little mustache leaned against a tree in a careless slouch, a blade of grass between his lips. A girl with long red hair sat quietly nearby, reading.
Asuma Sarutobi and Kurenai Yuhi!
Uchiha Rìtiān's eyes lit up, and he hurried over. "Hello, upperclassmen!" Uchiha Rìtiān put on an innocent smile.
Asuma glanced down at him. "Who are you, little brat?"
"My name is Uchiha Rìtiān! I'm a first-year!" Uchiha Rìtiān looked full of admiration. "Asuma, you're Lord Hokage's son. You're sure to become an amazing ninja!"
A little embarrassed by the praise, Asuma scratched his head. "Hehe, of course I am."
Beside him, Kurenai closed her book and looked curiously at Uchiha Rìtiān. "You're the Uchiha Rìtiān who started school at five? I've heard of you."
"You know about me too, Kurenai?" Uchiha Rìtiān's eyes shone even brighter. "What an honor! You're really pretty!"
Kurenai immediately blushed. "You little thing, you're such a sweet talker..."
Asuma laughed heartily. "Kid, you've got good taste! I think Kurenai's really pretty too!" Kurenai shot him a glare, her face growing even redder.
Uchiha Rìtiān secretly chuckled. I'm definitely shipping these two!
Just as they were enjoying their conversation, a discordant voice rang out.
"Hmph, do Uchiha Clan members only know how to flatter people with sweet talk?"
Uchiha Rìtiān turned and saw a boy in Hyuga Clan clothing standing a short distance away, looking arrogant. The boy was about eight or nine, with slightly protruding Byakugan eyes, and looked like he was asking for a beating.
"Who are you?" Uchiha Rìtiān demanded bluntly.
"My name is Hyūga Huǒliè." The boy lifted his chin. "The Hyuga Clan's genius and the top student in the third year. But you? A little first-year brat thinks he's worthy of talking to Asuma?"
Uchiha Rìtiān understood. So this guy's jealous? Wait, he's called Hyūga Huǒliè too? The same name as that first-year?
Asuma frowned. "Huǒliè, how can you talk like that? Rìtiān is my friend."
"Friend? Asuma, you're actually making friends with an Uchiha?" Hyūga Huǒliè looked disdainful. "Everyone in the Uchiha Clan is an arrogant fool. That Sharingan isn't even fit to carry our Byakugan's shoes!"
Uchiha Rìtiān's expression instantly turned cold. Insulting me is fine. Insulting the Uchiha Clan isn't.
"Hey, Byakugan boy." Uchiha Rìtiān stepped forward and tilted his head up to look at Hyūga Huǒliè. "What did you just say? Say it again."
"I said the Sharingan is trash!" Hyūga Huǒliè looked down at him, his gaze full of contempt. "What, you have a problem with that?"
"A problem? You bet your damn ass I do!" Uchiha Rìtiān rolled up his sleeves. "Dare to make a bet? We'll have a match, and whoever loses has to say their clan's eyes are trash in front of the whole school!"
Hyūga Huǒliè looked as though he had heard a joke. "A little first-year brat like you thinks he's worthy of betting with me?"
"What, scared?" Uchiha Rìtiān taunted. "Figures. The Hyuga Clan is all talk. When it comes to actually fighting, you probably chicken out."
"Who are you calling a chicken?!" Sure enough, Hyūga Huǒliè was enraged. "Fine, I'll take your bet! Tomorrow afternoon, in the schoolyard! The first one knocked out of the circle loses. Taijutsu only!"
Hyūga Huǒliè sneered. Taijutsu only? Then you'll lose even worse! Our Hyuga Clan's Gentle Fist is no joke!
"It's a deal!" Uchiha Rìtiān agreed readily.
Asuma looked a little worried. "Rìtiān, are you really going to fight him? Hyūga Huǒliè is the strongest third-year."
Kurenai nodded too. "Yes, the Hyuga Clan's Byakugan can see chakra flow clearly. They're very hard to handle in taijutsu."
Uchiha Rìtiān chuckled. "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. Just wait for a good show tomorrow!"
Come on, he was a man with a system. How could he fail to handle a little brat from a Hyuga branch family?
That afternoon, news that Uchiha Rìtiān would fight Hyūga Huǒliè spread throughout the school. Everyone thought Uchiha Rìtiān was certain to lose.
Uchiha Rìtiān paid no attention to the chatter. He ate and drank as usual, and after school, he even stopped by the general store, took a few things, and stuffed them into his schoolbag.
Watching him, Itachi frowned. "What are you up to now?"
"Hehe, it's a secret." Uchiha Rìtiān smiled mysteriously. "Big brother, just wait and watch your little brother show off tomorrow!"
Itachi rolled his eyes, but inwardly, he felt a faint sense of anticipation. This little brother of his never played by the usual rules.
The next afternoon, the schoolyard was packed. Almost every student in the school had come.
In the center of the grounds, Uchiha Rìtiān and Hyūga Huǒliè stood facing each other. Hyūga Huǒliè looked arrogant, as though victory were already his. Uchiha Rìtiān looked relaxed and even yawned.
"Hey, brat, there's still time to surrender," Hyūga Huǒliè said coldly. "Just kneel, kowtow three times, and say the Sharingan is trash, and I'll let you off."
Uchiha Rìtiān picked at his ear. "Are you done talking? If you're done, hurry up and start. I still need to get home for dinner."
Teacher Yamamoto walked over. "All right, all right. Let me repeat the rules. No going too far, and the first one out of the circle loses. Do you both understand?"
"Understood!" they answered in unison.
Teacher Yamamoto sighed and stepped aside. "Then... begin!"
The moment the words left his mouth, Hyūga Huǒliè activated his Byakugan. His eyes, surrounded by bulging veins, looked somewhat frightening.
"Die!" With a low shout, Hyūga Huǒliè charged at Uchiha Rìtiān. His Gentle Fist stance could not have been more textbook-perfect.
Everyone held their breath. Could Uchiha Rìtiān... withstand this move?
Before you continue