That afternoon.
The joint class between the two classes, eagerly anticipated by many, began!
Neji Hyuga was the most popular of all.
His formidable strength and outstanding looks made him even more popular than Sasuke Uchiha.
Shihui Aburame and the others arrived at the training ground.
From a distance, they could already see a ring of students surrounding Neji Hyuga.
He remained unmoved by everyone's attention, looking utterly aloof.
"Hinata."
Shihui Aburame glanced at Hinata Hyuga.
She walked with her head lowered, her small hands tightly clutching the hem of her clothes, nervous and preoccupied.
"Yes?"
Hinata Hyuga instinctively raised her head.
When she realized it was Shihui Aburame, she shyly averted her gaze again.
"Radishes."
Shihui Aburame reminded her.
Warmth involuntarily welled up in Hinata Hyuga's heart.
So Shiki-kun had been watching her all along.
For a moment, she inexplicably felt calmer.
"I heard Neji Hyuga is even stronger than a Genin."
Kiba Inuzuka looked curious.
"Really?"
Ino Yamanaka looked surprised.
"I don't know whether it's actually true."
Kiba Inuzuka shook his head as he spoke.
"Hinata, you should know, right?"
Sakura Haruno looked at Hinata Hyuga and asked, "Is Neji Hyuga good?"
She did not know how the two were related, but they both had the surname Hyuga, so they had to know each other.
"It isn't a question of whether he's good."
With her head lowered, Hinata Hyuga said softly, "He's the kind of... very special genius."
More than once, she had wondered how happy her father would have been if Neji had been born into the Main Family.
Sakura Haruno sucked in a breath of cold air, contributing to the warming of the Shinobi World.
She instinctively looked at Sasuke Uchiha, worry appearing on her face.
"He'll lose to me!"
Noticing her distrustful gaze, Sasuke Uchiha immediately declared firmly.
An Uchiha was inferior to no one, ever!
"Sasuke."
Naruto Uzumaki gave him a thumbs-up, his teeth gleaming as he said, "This is youth! I'm rooting for you!"
"..."
The corner of Sasuke Uchiha's mouth twitched.
I'm glad you're rooting for me, but I don't like the way you're doing it.
Shihui Aburame instinctively looked away.
He had undergone professional training. No matter how funny something was, he would never laugh.
But keeping the corners of his mouth down really was harder than controlling an AK's recoil.
In his judgment, Sasuke Uchiha was currently no match for Neji Hyuga.
But if he wanted to ask for a beating, Shihui Aburame would not stop him.
Sasuke Uchiha turned to glance at him.
When he noticed the smile on his face, he had a bad feeling.
After two crushing defeats, along with personally witnessing Shihui Aburame's Superhuman Strength, he was temporarily convinced of his superiority.
It was only temporary because he believed the Sharingan was invincible.
Once he awakened it, he would rub it right in his face.
Sasuke Uchiha hesitated.
Compared with approaching Shihui Aburame himself, losing to Neji Hyuga would undoubtedly be more embarrassing.
Having weighed the two, Sasuke Uchiha took that step.
"What is it?"
Shihui Aburame noticed Sasuke Uchiha approaching him.
His expression was conflicted yet grave, a very complicated look.
"Can I beat Neji Hyuga?"
After a few seconds of silence, Sasuke Uchiha asked.
Shihui Aburame was a little surprised.
He's actually started using his brain?
"No."
Shihui Aburame answered honestly.
"Impossible!"
Sasuke Uchiha instinctively objected.
But seeing Shihui Aburame's expression, he could not help wavering.
"Then listen with your ears and watch with your heart."
Shihui Aburame pointed at Neji Hyuga.
Sasuke Uchiha froze briefly, understanding what he meant.
He fell silent again.
Just then, Umino Iruka walked up in front of everyone.
After looking around, he turned his gaze to Neji Hyuga.
In the office, he often heard Mizuki bragging about this genius student.
He said the boy rivaled Kakashi Hatake and Uchiha Itachi before him.
Umino Iruka had been full of envy at the time. But now, his thinking had changed a little.
Could Shihui Aburame beat him?
As a teacher, Umino Iruka had some grasp of his students' abilities.
That included Sasuke Uchiha.
But Shihui Aburame alone seemed shrouded in a veil of mystery, his true strength unknown.
Probably not, right?
Umino Iruka could not help shaking his head.
Neji Hyuga was a year older than Shihui Aburame, and he also had the Byakugan and Gentle Fist.
That would be a tall order.
"Is everyone here?"
Umino Iruka clapped his hands and asked.
"Sir, Shinnosuke took leave. He isn't here."
Someone answered.
Shinnosuke was a student in Class A of the second year. His grades were good, but he had a nasty disposition.
He claimed to be taking leave, but he was actually skipping class.
Since he was not his own student, however, Umino Iruka did not dwell on it.
The Taijutsu class officially began.
Umino Iruka taught at the front, and the students followed along.
The material was still Konoha-Style Taijutsu.
Shihui Aburame looked around and finally spotted Rock Lee.
Without the green jumpsuit, he had not recognized him at first.
At this point, Rock Lee had yet to meet Might Guy.
Shihui Aburame had a favorable impression of him. Perhaps he could lend him a hand.
Besides, it might even trigger some achievement.
Rock Lee did not have an active achievement, but Neji Hyuga did.
[Neji Hyuga.] [Current achievement: Gears of Fate.] [Passive achievement: Unknown.]
In the original story, Neji Hyuga often spoke of fate.
It obviously had something to do with the Branch Family.
But Shihui Aburame was not quite sure of the specifics. In any case, there was no rush.
Sasuke Uchiha deliberately chose a spot in the back row.
Following Shihui Aburame's advice, he began observing Neji Hyuga.
But the more he watched, the quieter he became.
His movements were practiced and precise, without a single flaw to pick out.
Before he knew it, Sasuke Uchiha had come to believe Shihui Aburame's words.
He might not be able to beat Neji Hyuga.
When the first half of the lesson ended, it was time for free practice.
Umino Iruka could not help feeling surprised.
Why hasn't anyone asked to spar?
He instinctively looked at Sasuke Uchiha and found him practicing with utmost seriousness.
What's going on?
Not only Umino Iruka, but Sakura Haruno, Kiba Inuzuka, and the others were also very surprised.
Only Naruto Uzumaki perked up.
He was not afraid.
I could do it too!
But the moment he stepped forward, Shihui Aburame grabbed him.
"Now isn't the time."
Shihui Aburame said calmly, "Learn the Konoha Whirlwind first."
"All right."
Naruto Uzumaki scratched his head as he replied.
Other people's words might not work on him, but he still had to listen to Shihui Aburame.
And so the two classes' first joint practical combat lesson drew to a peaceful close.
Hinata Hyuga watched Neji Hyuga, not daring to approach.
She had originally thought the two of them would interact during class, but instead, she had been completely ignored.
"Hinata."
Shihui Aburame called out.
Hinata Hyuga quickly came back to her senses and trotted over to him.
Shihui Aburame headed outside.
The two returned to the wooden cabin.
Hinata Hyuga suddenly noticed several new pieces of equipment in front of the cabin.
There were horizontal bars, parallel bars, a balance beam, and the like.
"They're for Sasuke."
Shihui Aburame explained casually.
Sasuke?
Hinata Hyuga looked puzzled.
"Come on, come inside with me."
Shihui Aburame did not explain further.
Not long after they left, Sasuke Uchiha appeared.
He had actually been following them all along.
But judging by what Shihui Aburame had just said, he had already been discovered.
Sasuke Uchiha looked at the equipment.
He prepared these for me?
Looking thoughtful, he ran forward.
In front of the dirt pit, he leaped up, cleared the crossbar, and completed a perfect high jump.
There's another chapter at noon.