The warm glow of the setting sun shone through the windows and onto the desks.
Ding-dong-dong-dong!
The crisp, lingering sound of the school bell marked the end of class and the final burst of energy in the classroom.
"Alright, that's it for today's lesson," Iruka said from the podium, closing his lesson plan with a gentle smile. "Everyone, get some rest and review for tomorrow's class."
"Yay!"
"School's finally out!"
"Sasuke! Wait for me."
"Shikamaru, Ino! Let's go get some yakiniku!"
"Kiba, tell Akamaru to stop licking me!"
The once-quiet classroom instantly erupted. Students, like birds released from a cage, cheered and laughed, hastily stuffing their books into their bags.
Uzumaki Naruto withdrew his consciousness from the sealed space. He lowered his head and unhurriedly packed his things, a stark contrast to the surrounding commotion.
He stood up, slung his bag over his shoulder, and prepared to leave the classroom alone, just as he always did, to return to his small "home."
However, just as he took a step, a boisterous voice came from behind him.
"Naruto, where are you going?"
Naruto paused and instinctively looked back. He saw Chiba Ryosuke, who had been packing up his things, now looking at him with a confused expression.
"Didn't we agree to get something to eat?" Karin reminded him.
Naruto was stunned for a moment.
His reaction wasn't because he was surprised to be invited. He had casually accepted Chiba Ryosuke's invitation during their break.
It was perfectly normal for classmates he had just met on the first day and his deskmates for the entire semester to have dinner together after school.
The real reason for his shock was the first thought that popped into his head.
—Refuse.
Yes, his first reaction was to refuse.
Because...
'I still need to buy groceries. The discounted fish for today is probably almost gone...'
'I have to go home and make dinner. I also bought some cat food for Kuro; I wonder if he'll like it...'
'After dinner, I have to enter the sealed space. After class, I can watch an episode of anime or play a game...'
His after-school schedule was packed.
If he went out to eat with them, it meant he would miss out on the daily discounted items, have to cut into his cooking and study time, and even sacrifice his precious leisure time...
This sudden invitation disrupted his carefully planned, calm, and fulfilling rhythm.
Refuse the invitation.
This thought surprised Naruto himself.
When did he stop craving, or even humbly begging for, the company and acceptance of others?
Was it because he didn't want others to know about the giant fox inside him and his mysterious teacher?
That was certainly one reason.
But on a deeper level, it seemed to be because he had found his own fulfilling and peaceful world.
In that world, he had the company of the giant fox, the guidance of his teacher, a regular routine, clear goals, the satisfaction of gaining knowledge, and even the anticipation of entertainment.
He no longer needed to rely on external validation and companionship to fill the emptiness in his heart.
This self-sufficient peace made him subconsciously want to refuse any "accidents" that might disrupt it.
Just as Naruto was hesitating, a calm and serene voice sounded directly in his mind.
"Go, Naruto."
Otsutsuki Yunshi's voice was as calm as ever. "Interacting with others and personally experiencing the true nature of this world is a form of learning that books can't replace."
"Isolating yourself will only narrow your perspective and make your heart arrogant."
Otsutsuki Yunshi's words extinguished the slight irritation and resistance in Naruto's heart caused by his disrupted routine.
He looked up at the boisterous Chiba Ryosuke and the gentle-eyed Karin, then slowly nodded and smiled. "I know a ramen shop that has great food."
"Ramen? What are we waiting for! Let's go!"
Chiba Ryosuke took the lead, excitedly heading for the classroom door with a light, bouncy step. Karin and Naruto followed with smiles.
Meanwhile, in the classroom behind the trio, Uchiha Sasuke, surrounded by a few girls like Haruno Sakura, subconsciously turned his gaze toward them.
"...Uzumaki Naruto?" he murmured softly.
"Sasuke-kun?" Haruno Sakura, who was closest to him, looked up, confused. "What did you say?"
Uchiha Sasuke snapped back to reality, a smile appearing on his face as he shook his head. "Nothing. I was just thinking about where to go for dinner."
Hearing this, the girls began to chatter again, while Sasuke's gaze returned to the window.
Lately, he had been living with Uchiha Shisui, getting used to his new Sharingan, learning ninjutsu, and being influenced by Shisui's perspectives.
From Shisui, Sasuke learned many things, including how the Uchiha clan's arrogance and pride had isolated them in Konoha in the past, and also about the Nine-Tails attack.
In his bones, Sasuke was still as proud as Uchiha Shisui. However, for the sake of continuing the Uchiha clan, he was able to hide that pride very well.
In his eyes, Uzumaki Naruto, as the son of the Fourth Hokage and the Nine-Tails' jinchuriki, would be his only rival in the future.
He would be his rival not only in strength but also for the position of Hokage.
Of course, this was just his own reasoning for why he cared about Naruto.
In fact, he didn't know why he instinctively paid attention to him.
This was the bond between the reincarnations of Indra and Ashura's chakra, a connection etched into their very souls. No matter where they were, they would be involuntarily drawn to each other, forming bonds and clashing ideals.
However, this time, it was Uchiha Sasuke who would take the initiative to approach Uzumaki Naruto...
"Right," Uchiha Sasuke's brow furrowed as he thought of something. "There's also someone else, that older student, Hyuga Neji."
Hyuga Neji's scores in both theory and practical combat were the best in the entire school among the upperclassmen.
According to Shisui's guess, Hyuga Kawa was a strong candidate for the next Hokage.
If Hyuga Kawa were to truly become the Fifth Hokage, the equally talented Hyuga Neji, who was also from the branch family, would likely become a strong candidate for the Sixth Hokage.
At the same time, Hyuga Neji, whom Uchiha Sasuke considered a rival, had no idea that he could also become a Hokage.
Hyuga Neji, also leaving school, was walking home when he noticed many students running toward Training Ground 3.
What's going on?
Just as confusion arose in his heart, a few younger students hurried past him, their excited voices reaching his ears.
"Hurry, hurry! It's just up ahead!"
"A battle between the Hyuga main family and branch family! This is gonna be so cool!"
Hearing this, Neji's steps halted abruptly, and a look of shock flashed in his Byakugan.
A battle between the Hyuga main and branch families, and in public?
Snapping back to his senses, a bad premonition welled up, instantly wrapping around his heart.
His expression changed slightly. He didn't care about anything else and ran toward the training ground.
Using his Byakugan's insight, he skillfully weaved through the crowded people, quickly pushing his way to the front row of the training ground.
In the center of the circular field, two figures stood silently facing each other.
One was the indignant Hyuga Takashi.
The other was the smug Hyuga Yamato, a member of the main family whom Hyuga Takashi was in charge of protecting.
"Hyuga Takashi," Hyuga Yamato said with a cold smile, looking at Hyuga Takashi. "If you kneel and apologize to me now, it's not too late. I can pretend nothing happened. What do you say?"
Hyuga Takashi's face was grim. He didn't respond.
The reason for this situation was simply that while chatting with Iroha, he had complained that the branch family had to live and die in battle, yet they weren't allowed to learn the Gentle Fist secrets.
Meanwhile, the main family members, who didn't need to take on missions and were simply provided for by the branch family, could freely learn all the Hyuga clan's techniques.
He didn't expect Hyuga Yamato to overhear these words.
Then, Hyuga Yamato immediately challenged him to a duel. The hot-blooded Hyuga Takashi, of course, couldn't back down, but he didn't expect the guy to set the location in an open training ground.
With villagers and ninjas watching, their duel was no longer just a matter between two people; it was about the honor of both the main and branch families.
In truth, even within the entire Hyuga clan, Hyuga Yamato was considered a genius because he had mastered almost all the Gentle Fist techniques except for the Eight Trigrams Palms Revolving Heaven.
For example, the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms, Gentle Step Twin Lion Fists, and Eight Trigrams Empty Palm...
In contrast, the only technique Hyuga Takashi had mastered was the "Gentle Fist Technique: Eight Trigrams Thirty-Two Palms," which the branch family was allowed to learn.
This was by no means a fair fight.
But Hyuga Takashi couldn't kneel in defeat.
If he knelt before Hyuga Yamato in front of everyone, the branch family, who had just managed to stand up, would have their legs broken again.
"Stop with the nonsense." Hyuga Takashi stared intently at Hyuga Yamato and said coldly, "Don't forget, if you lose, you have to kneel and apologize too!"
Hearing this, Hyuga Yamato's eyes grew cold. He said nothing more, his body slightly sinking as he assumed the starting stance for the Gentle Fist.
"Since you're so stubborn..."
Veins popped around Hyuga Yamato's eyes, and he spoke with a chilling tone. "I'll make you face the reality of the gap!"
Whoosh!
Before he even finished speaking, Hyuga Yamato's figure vanished like a ghost, moving so fast it left a blur behind him!
He instantly closed in on Hyuga Takashi. His right index and middle fingers were held together, with condensed chakra wrapped around the tips, making a whistling sound as it cut through the air.
This strike was vicious, aimed directly at the Jianjing pressure point on Hyuga Takashi's right arm.
The target was clear, and the move was so malicious it was meant to permanently cripple one of Hyuga Takashi's arms.
Hyuga Yamato's speed was so fast that his figure was barely visible, but in that instant, Hyuga Takashi's pupils moved.
Veins also popped around Hyuga Takashi's eyes. His pupils contracted slightly, following Hyuga Yamato's movements.
At the same time, he turned his left hand into a blade, wrapping it with chakra, and diagonally sliced at the inside of Hyuga Yamato's attacking wrist.
Tear!
Hyuga Takashi's palm narrowly blocked Hyuga Yamato's fatal strike, but the stray chakra wind from the fingertips still tore a hole in his sleeve.
The two were now close together, their stances resembling a "horse stance," their leg muscles as hard as steel and rooted firmly to the ground.
They stared at each other, both with the same Byakugan.
"Good reaction," Hyuga Yamato scoffed. "Unfortunately, the gap between the main and branch families is not something you can close. Face reality."
As he spoke, his assault continued. The wrist that was blocked twisted in a strange way. His five fingers instantly spread into a palm, and a more powerful torrent of chakra surged and converged in his palm.
Gentle Fist: Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms!
I only share the most exquisite and beautiful novels. Don't forget to check out my other novels!
p@treon DaoistWujinzi