Inside the Hokage's office, Kushina was excitedly recounting Uchiha Hayato's fight with the boys. From the look on her face, she half-wished she'd jumped in herself.
Then, as if catching herself, her expression dialed back a notch. The fight had started because of her, and getting visibly thrilled about a school brawl while standing in front of the Third Hokage was like a lamb trying to pick a fight with a wolf.
"Lord Third, what kind of punishment will Uchiha Hayato and the other boys receive?"
Kushina shifted uneasily. Hayato had stood up for her, and that's what sparked the whole thing. She might have been blunt by nature, but her heart was just as sensitive as any girl's. She didn't want him getting punished on her account.
Once this blows over, she'd thank him privately. The girl made up her mind.
Sarutobi Hiruzen rested his chin on his hands, his gaze deep in thought. This incident didn't just involve Kushina. It touched the Uchiha clan as well. While Sensei was still alive, the Uchiha had remained stable. But after Uchiha Setsuna's release from prison, the militant faction had regained the upper hand within the clan, pushing hard for the Uchiha to produce a Hokage.
He shook his head internally. In the end, he'd need to make contact with Uchiha Hayato first.
"Yohei, go fetch... actually, never mind. I'll go myself."
Sarutobi Hiruzen arrived at the Academy. What greeted him was a pile of boys sprawled across the ground. Only three were still standing. Namikaze Minato was one of them, though his face was a bit swollen. He stood off to the side, wincing sympathetically at the two still going at it.
Chimchar had already joined Minato as a spectator, fists clenched and raised high, feet tapping rapidly on the ground like a little dance, cheering Hayato on.
"Chi-chi!"
Hayato had to admit he was impressed by the tenacity of the boy in front of him. His name was Dekai, if he remembered right. Dark-skinned with white hair, he could've passed for someone from the Land of Lightning.
Hayato had already knocked him down several times, and the kid kept dragging himself back up to attack. It was starting to feel like Hayato was the villain here.
He had a clear sense of his own strength now. Aside from the clan's trained shinobi, nobody at the Academy could match him. And thanks to the Leftovers from the system, he actually felt like he was getting more energized as the fight went on.
[Stamina recovering.]
Dekai staggered to his feet, knees still shaking, and threw another straight punch at Hayato.
Hayato frowned slightly, sidestepped the blow, and drove his right fist into Dekai's stomach with blinding speed.
He put real force behind that one. Dekai let out a choked grunt, dropped to his knees, drool dripping from his mouth.
"Why? Why? Why? Why can't I just beat you?"
Listening to Dekai's desperate shouting, Hayato smiled calmly. "You lost completely from the very start. I have a bond with Chimchar. I have a bond with Minato. And all of you? You're just a bunch of kids who get off on picking on your classmates. We were never on the same level."
[Mission complete: The Arrival of the Red Hot Habanero]
[Items obtained: TM: Cut x1, Exp. Candy XS x5]
Clap. Clap. Clap.
Hayato froze, then turned toward the doorway. A middle-aged man in long robes was applauding him. Hayato recognized him instantly.
"Lord Third."
As expected of the Hokage. Hayato hadn't even noticed Hiruzen's approach. The young Professor of Shinobi was not to be underestimated.
Everyone immediately greeted Sarutobi Hiruzen. Even Dekai struggled to his feet, looking at the Third Hokage with respect.
"I've heard about what happened." Hiruzen's expression was stern. "This village is home to all of us. And all of you are Konoha's future. So no matter what, you must value one another. Never turn your strength against your own comrades."
Dekai's face fell. He knew the Hokage's words were aimed at him. Meanwhile, Hayato was quietly celebrating. Mission complete. He'd scored both the TM and the Exp. Candy.
"However, resorting to violence to protect a comrade, even with good intentions, is also wrong. This village belongs to everyone. Every single person here is a comrade. You're all still students. When problems arise, that's when a teacher needs to step in."
Hiruzen cast a pointed glance at Yamaue Yohei beside him.
Hayato frowned slightly. "Lord Third, Koen didn't hurt anyone seriously. We just wanted to teach those guys a lesson."
The Third's words were clearly designed to land on both sides. The smooth politician at work.
"Hayato, was it? It's admirable that you stood up for Kushina on her first day. But you should register your summoning beast with the village. No one here has ever seen one like it before, and it would be a problem if it caused any harm."
Hiruzen could sense Chimchar's youth, but at the same time, he detected a powerful life force flickering beneath the surface. If this creature ever matured fully, it would become a formidable summon. The thought made him smile. "Everyone take the rest of the day off. Hayato, go with Yohei and register your summoning beast. And from now on, if you have issues with your classmates, you can settle it through an official duel. Don't drag others into it. Just look at the students around you..."
Hayato glanced around the room. A few of the shyer girls flinched when his eyes passed over them. But far more of them were staring at him with sparkles in their eyes, like he'd just gained a fan club. Minato was leaning against the wall, looking at Hayato as if seeing him for the first time. When their eyes met, Minato broke into a bright grin.
Hiruzen took it all in, then spoke evenly. "If something comes up that a teacher can't handle, you can come to me. Any of you. Dekai, walk with me."
Hayato didn't spare a glance for the boys he'd beaten. He shot Minato a thumbs-up, then followed a very uncomfortable-looking Yamaue Yohei to go register Chimchar.
"Hayato, I owe you thanks. If you hadn't stepped in, I don't know how long Dekai and his group would've kept it up." Yohei scratched his cheek, looking embarrassed. "But like Lord Third said, from now on, if you and Dekai have a problem, settle it with an official duel after class. Dekai's like you and Minato. His parents are gone too. He used to get picked on himself, back in the day. Who would've thought he'd end up..." Yohei sighed.
"Is that so?" Hayato raised an eyebrow, then promptly rolled his eyes. He didn't care what Dekai's story was. Right now, the fact was that Dekai and the other boys had mocked and bullied Kushina and other students. Even if Kushina could fight back, the damage they caused didn't just disappear.
Still, if Dekai could change, it wasn't too late.
With that thought, Hayato had just finished registering Chimchar's information with Yohei when a group of figures in dark coats appeared in front of him. The Uchiha Military Police.
"Uchiha Hayato? Elder Setsuna wishes to see you."