By the river, baiting hooks, setting up fishing rods.
This small river is not far from Konoha Village and at most times, almost no one comes here, and even if a spy from another village is encountered, a slight disturbance will attract the Uchiha Military Police Force.
It was one of the few training spots for Hyuga Mirai, but after today, this place can be abandoned.
In the coming days, Hyuga Mirai must try his best to dissuade Kiyomi-sama from accompanying him, otherwise, Hyuga Mirai will have fewer and fewer places to train alone.
"Aren't you here to train?"
Kiyomi-sama looked at Hyuga Mirai skillfully baiting the hook and casting the rod, asking with some anger in her heart.
"I expended a lot of stamina at Konoha Hospital this morning, and our food reserves at home are also low. Uh, if Kiyomi-sama is planning to train, I can be a sparring partner."
Hyuga Mirai unceremoniously exploited the sympathy that only children possess. First, he said he was tired, then he said fishing was for survival, and then he blocked Kiyomi-sama's mouth by offering to spar.
If Kiyomi-sama still insisted on him being her sparring partner, then she would be showing no sympathy for those around her, and Hyuga Mirai would also lose to Kiyomi-sama with superb acting, and incidentally suffer a minor injury, making Kiyomi-sama feel even more guilty towards him, thereby aiding the upcoming brainwashing.
Dealing with a little girl with such cunning made Hyuga Mirai feel a bit of guilt, but this feeling was cast aside after less than three seconds.
Seeing Hyuga Mirai clap his hands and come to the open space by the river, truly preparing to train with her; Kiyomi-sama's small face flushed slightly. She hadn't intended to force Hyuga Mirai, only to ask!
"No need. Since you're not in good condition, then rest for half a day."
After speaking, Kiyomi-sama came to the river and sat on the small stool Hyuga Mirai had prepared.
Hyuga Mirai also sat beside Kiyomi-sama, but observing the etiquette of the Main Family and Branch Family, he did not sit too close or too far.
"Speaking of which, that genius, Hatake Kakashi, in Kiyomi-sama's class, seems to be applying for graduation?"
When Kiyomi-sama heard the name Hatake Kakashi, the dignified expression she had tried to maintain immediately became unnatural.
Hatake Kakashi is a recognized genius at the Nin school. Apart from his slightly weaker theoretical scores compared to Hyuga Mirai, he is excellent in all other aspects, even able to use several elemental Ninjutsu, and his combat ability has already reached the level of a Genin.
No matter how unwilling Kiyomi-sama was to admit defeat, she couldn't possibly claim to be stronger than Hatake Kakashi.
"Why are you asking about him?"
"I saw him on the street two days ago…" Hyuga Mirai began, "He has already become a Ninja; I saw his forehead protector."
However, Hyuga Mirai and Hatake Kakashi were merely nodding acquaintances. Although both had the title of genius at the Nin school, Hyuga Mirai's genius was more of a jest and not acknowledged by Hatake Kakashi.
Even when they met on the street, it was only to the extent of a mutual nod.
"That guy is indeed very powerful."
Kiyomi-sama pursed her lips tightly, speaking with a hint of unwillingness, but she had to admit that no one in her age group was a match for Hatake Kakashi.
Even her grandfather, the Fourth Elder of the Main Family, had said that she was not a match for Hatake Kakashi at present.
"I heard he wants to apply for the Chunin Exams."
"Chunin Exams?"
Hyuga Mirai's expression froze for a moment upon hearing that, then he immediately asked,
"He just became a Genin, right? Is he applying for the Chunin Exams right away?"
Kiyomi-sama shook her head and said, "It's been two months, but very few people at the school know about it. I only found out through my grandfather."
Oh, it probably wasn't publicized.
Hyuga Mirai usually focused on studying at the Nin school, barely interacting even with his classmates. In terms of being isolated, he could rank first in the entire school.
Later, he took leave to intern at Konoha Hospital, further reducing his interaction with the school, so the information he received was probably second or third-hand.
"I didn't expect Hatake Kakashi to be so amazing, becoming a Chunin at only six years old."
Although Hyuga Mirai showed an envious expression, he was quite dismissive in his heart.
Chunin are already the backbone of Konoha Village's mission force. A large number of B and C-rank missions require Chunin to lead a team, and a six-year-old Hatake Kakashi cannot possibly take on the responsibility of leading a team.
To become a Chunin at six years old, Hatake Kakashi must have spent most of his time training. Even the rare free time he had must have been dedicated to the theoretical classes taught at the Nin school, but even so, his theoretical scores were not as good as Hyuga Mirai's.
Hyuga Mirai has mastered all the knowledge taught at the Ninja School, and has learned a lot from the library, yet he still lacks the ability to lead a team.
If Konoha truly allowed Hatake Kakashi to pass the exam, that would truly be an eye-opener.
"Kiyomi-sama, what do you think of the fire will?"
Hyuga Mirai suddenly grinned at Kiyomi-sama. His smile was very bright now, his face seemingly filled with hope for the future.
"The fire will, you ask?"
Kiyomi-sama stared blankly at Hyuga Mirai's bright smile, only coming back to her senses after two seconds. She turned her head and pursed her lips, saying,
"Naturally, it is very good. It is the spirit expounded by the First Hokage who pacified the chaotic world and founded Konoha Ninja Village."
"Yes, where the tree leaves dance, fire will burn. The firelight will continue to illuminate the village and allow new leaves to sprout."
Hyuga Mirai is not an ignorant child; he has his own judgment and a mature worldview.
Sometimes, one should not look at what the other party says, but what they do.
Konoha was founded to provide children with a stable home, far from the battlefield, but after two Ninja World Wars, this original intention was completely lost.
Once the Third Shinobi World War begins, these students from the Ninja School will still go to the battlefield, and the fire will will become an empty phrase.
During the Warring States period, there was indeed frequent slaughter. The battles between the Senju Clan and the Uchiha Clan would even send children to the battlefield; but this was only a corner of the Warring States period and could not represent the entire era.
Aside from these two major clans, the Hyuga Clan rarely went to war with other Ino-Shika-Cho Formation. This clan had financial resources, adhered to noble etiquette, and would not easily let children fight; the Ino-Shika-Cho were also like the Hyuga Clan, having their own industries and rarely going to war with other Ino-Shika-Cho Formation during the Warring States period.
The Senju Clan and the Uchiha Clan are unpredictable. Although they have their own industries, they also accept commissions from the nobles of large countries.
Where there are commissions, there will be conflicts, and where there are conflicts, there will naturally be slaughter!
The Senju Clan and the Uchiha Clan seemed to be naturally opposed, often taking on commissions that would lead to conflict with each other, and thus the hatred between the two clans was forged.
These are not Hyuga Mirai's conjectures, but records from the Warring States period found in Konoha's library. Among them, the miscellaneous books of the Senju Clan are the most detailed, presumably all donated and with no other place to store them, so they were simply placed in Konoha's library.
The Hyuga Clan also has some, but they are all publicly available miscellaneous matters. More secretive information is likely family secrets passed down through generations of the Main Family.
Hyuga Mirai has read more than half of the books in the library. Through the scrolls left by various clans back then, he learned about some events that occurred during the Warring States period, and gradually came to understand the root cause of the Ninja World War.