Ino, What Do You Like About Uchiha Setsuna?

[At age 6, after entering the Ninja Academy, you learned quickly, displaying a genius demeanor and attracting everyone's attention.]

[At age 6 and 1 month, you learned the Three Basic Jutsu.]

[At age 6 and 2 months, Naruto challenged you, and you thrashed him.]

[At age 6 and 3 months, Kiba Inuzuka challenged you, and you thrashed him.]

[At age 6 and 4 months, Yamanaka Ino confessed to you, but received no response, leaving her deeply disappointed.]

[At age 6 and 5 months, you trained hard.]

[At age 6 and 6 months, Hyuga Hinata developed a strong curiosity about you.]

[At age 6 and 7 months, you trained hard.]

[At age 6 and 8 months, Uchiha Sasuke challenged you, and you thrashed him.]

[At age 6 and 9 months, you gained the attention of the Uchiha Clan.]

[At age 6 and 10 months, you met Fugaku Uchiha, displayed the Sharingan, earned Fugaku Uchiha's favor, and he gave you the Genjutsu: Sharingan scroll. You learned Genjutsu: Sharingan.]

[At age 6 and 11 months, you trained hard.]

[At age 7, on the Night of the Uchiha Clan Downfall, you hid in the shadows. When Uchiha Itachi emerged, you used Genjutsu: Sharingan on him, but it was easily broken by Uchiha Itachi. You died!]

[This simulation ends.]

[Please choose one of the two benefits below.]

[1: Genjutsu: Sharingan.]

[2: The object you were holding in your hand at the moment of death.]

"I choose 1!"

A surge of information flooded into Uchiha Setsuna's mind.

"An ordinary genjutsu exclusive to the Sharingan, named directly after the Sharingan itself."

"Compared to the Fox Heart Technique and the Hell Viewing Technique, Genjutsu: Sharingan is indeed far superior."

"It activates more quickly."

"Its control effect is stronger."

"And it's harder to break."

"A Kekkei Genkai truly is blessed by heaven."

"No wonder the Uchiha make so many people wary."

"Even if it's not a Mangekyo-level genjutsu, just an ordinary Sharingan genjutsu, it's on a completely different level from the ordinary genjutsu of other shinobi."

"But still, it couldn't affect Uchiha Itachi."

Now Uchiha Setsuna had already learned three Fire Release techniques, three genjutsu, and possessed chakra at the level of a Genin.

Uchiha Setsuna's next goal was chakra at the Chunin level.

"With my current strength, facing Uchiha Itachi, I still have no chance of winning or even escaping. Next time I simulate life, I can try fleeing earlier."

"Only by escaping the Night of the Uchiha Clan Downfall can I have the opportunity to obtain Chunin-level chakra."

"Otherwise, no matter how many times I simulate, I'll only ever be a Genin."

"Those hundreds of simulations would be meaningless."

After finishing breakfast, he headed to the Ninja Academy and entered the classroom.

This morning's class was academic studies; the afternoon was Chakra Extraction and Control Basics.

The curriculum was essentially fixed.

Divided into three areas.

Academic studies, chakra studies, and physical training.

Academic studies took up half, while the other two subjects shared the remaining half.

Academic studies in the morning meant chakra studies in the afternoon.

Academic studies in the afternoon meant physical training in the morning.

Today, Uchiha Sasuke received more attention.

Previously, everyone's impression of Uchiha Sasuke was just that he was the son of the Uchiha Clan Head, good-looking, good at playing cool, and had a genius older brother.

During yesterday's physical training, Naruto and Kiba Inuzuka started things off, but afterward, it was entirely Uchiha Sasuke's show.

Leaving everyone in the dust.

More girls who liked Uchiha Sasuke, just like Sakura, had appeared, almost forming a fan club.

"Hmph, he's just relying on his Uchiha background."

Seeing this, some boys were unconvinced and annoyed with Uchiha Sasuke.

"You're just plain jealous."

"Your own incompetence, and all you can do is envy others."

"In our class, there's more than one person from the Uchiha clan. Why is Uchiha Sasuke the only one who's so outstanding?"

Uchiha Setsuna was caught in the crossfire for no reason.

But as for these remarks, Uchiha Setsuna paid them no mind.

Uchiha Sasuke?

The current Uchiha Setsuna was far stronger than Uchiha Sasuke. Ten Uchiha Sasuke's wouldn't be a match for Uchiha Setsuna. Inside the Life Simulator, Uchiha Setsuna had even trounced Uchiha Sasuke several times.

Yamanaka Ino shot a glare at those few people.

Hyuga Hinata's voice was very low.

"Setsuna, don't mind what they said. I believe you'll definitely become a true ninja. Your hard work will surely pay off. Don't take their words to heart."

"Thanks, I know."

Uchiha Setsuna replied in an equally low voice.

But that was all—no more was said.

Toward Yamanaka Ino, Uchiha Setsuna only gave a grateful look.

Yet that alone made Yamanaka Ino happy.

Sakura looked at Yamanaka Ino, hesitated for a moment, then finally asked the question on her mind.

"Ino, why do you like Uchiha Setsuna?"

"What 'why' is there to it? Isn't it just the same as you liking Uchiha Sasuke?"

"It's different."

Sakura shook her head and said, "Uchiha Sasuke is handsome, cool, and outstanding. There are so many things to like about him. But as another Uchiha, Setsuna comes across as much more average."

"I don't think Uchiha Sasuke is better-looking than Uchiha Setsuna."

Yamanaka Ino said, "Besides, Uchiha Setsuna has a kind of aura that Uchiha Sasuke doesn't."

"An aura? What kind of aura?"

Sakura was taken aback.

"Hard to put into words, but it just makes you feel comfortable."

"I don't feel it at all."

"Then that proves you and Uchiha Setsuna have no fate, while I do."

Sakura nodded.

"I see."

Sakura didn't really understand.

But Sakura didn't want to continue this topic.

Because Sakura felt that if she kept pressing for answers, Yamanaka Ino might get angry.

Sakura muttered a few words in her heart.

—No matter how you look at it, Uchiha Setsuna can't be more handsome or more outstanding than Uchiha Sasuke.

—But since Ino likes him, I have to support Ino.

—I can't say anything bad about Uchiha Setsuna.

Uchiha Sasuke was serious in all his classes.

By now, Uchiha Sasuke had decided that he would be the best student in the class—no, in the entire grade.

Leading the Uchiha back to their peak and restoring the Uchiha's glory had to start at the Ninja Academy.

"It's a pity I can't apply for early graduation now."

"Otherwise, I'd follow in my brother's footsteps."

"My brother only studied at the Ninja Academy for one year before applying for early graduation."

Uchiha Sasuke had set Uchiha Itachi as his goal.

He desperately wanted to catch up to Uchiha Itachi.

The bell for the end of class rang.

Uchiha Setsuna was the first to leave the classroom.

This once again dashed Uchiha Sasuke's intention to return to the Uchiha compound together with Uchiha Setsuna.