The morning classes passed by in the blink of an eye.
In class, Oshima-sensei gave a detailed, easy-to-understand explanation of how to refine chakra.
Riku couldn't help but sigh inwardly. Being born into a major clan really had its advantages.
The major clans like the Uchiha, Hyuga, and Sarutobi provided their children with a systematic foundational education, ensuring they had basic knowledge and abilities.
Take Katsuya, for example. While ninja from civilian families could only fight with kunai in close quarters, Katsuya could already unleash a Great Fireball at Riku on the training grounds.
That was a level of skill no child just starting at the Academy could hope to achieve.
This advantage wasn't just in the transmission of ninja techniques, but also included a deep understanding of the shinobi world's history, culture, and more.
In contrast, children from minor clans or civilian families, lacking that foundation, were likely to lose right from the starting line.
Since Riku was already familiar with how to refine chakra, he decisively chose between listening to the lecture and slacking off... and picked training!
And so, Riku spent the entire class focused on refining his chakra.
Over these ten days, he had been surprised to find his chakra reserves slowly increasing.
Riku guessed this change was closely related to the "limit-breaking" training he'd been doing. This training not only strengthened his physique but also stimulated his potential.
Riku's chakra reserves were now double what they used to be.
Before, after using the Three Basic Jutsu, he would be exhausted after casting just one more ninjutsu.
But now, things were different. Riku could now cast a whole... two ninjutsu in a row!
"Figures. When you're at rock bottom, any little hop is progress," Riku muttered to himself.
Still, he diligently continued to refine his chakra, hoping to solve his problem of insufficient reserves sooner rather than later.
"This class is so boring! He's just going over stuff I already know. If the combat drills this afternoon are just as dull, I'm going to have to seriously consider sending a Shadow Clone to class for me." Riku thought as he refined his chakra, looking around out of boredom.
Most of the students in the classroom were listening attentively to Oshima-sensei's lecture, their faces filled with curiosity and a thirst for knowledge. A small minority, however, looked just as bored.
Just then, a figure caught Riku's eye.
Because he was sitting in the back by the window, Riku could only make out the silhouette of a girl with a high ponytail. Her jet-black hair was glossy, shimmering in the sunlight, and below it was the nape of her fair neck.
As Oshima-sensei lectured, her head bobbed up and down with the regularity of a ticking clock.
"She's listening so intently, even nodding along from time to time."
"But judging by her clan crest, she must be from the Nara clan. Since when is this generation of Nara so diligent?"
"Huh? What's that shiny thing on her desk? Is that drool? She's asleep after all!"
Riku grumbled internally. Yep, all members of the Nara clan were like this.
By the time he snapped out of it, the morning class was coming to an end.
With the chime of the bell, Oshima-sensei left the classroom. Next up was lunchtime.
The students took out their bentos, gathering in small groups to eat heartily.
The chubby kid from the Akimichi clan, in particular, polished off three bento boxes in one go and still wasn't satisfied, tearing open a bag of snacks and stuffing them into his mouth.
Familiar faces like Asuma and Ebisu also took out their lunch boxes, chatting with friends as they ate.
Obito and Riku, on the other hand, were slumped over their desks, looking as if life had lost all meaning.
"You idiot, Obito! Being late is one thing, but what gives you the right to steal my rice ball? That was my lunch, you know!"
At those words, Obito shot up as if he'd been injected with a stimulant, his face beet-red as he yelled back.
"You're the idiot, Riku! If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have eaten an expired rice ball!"
Perhaps Obito's voice was too loud, because the classroom fell silent for a brief moment.
This was the second time Riku had become the center of attention, the first being when Guy made his public declaration of youth.
"Ah, this familiar feeling, this toe-curling embarrassment... it's all coming back..."
Before Riku could recover from his awkwardness, a gentle voice spoke up.
"Obito-kun, Riku-kun, did you not bring lunch? If you don't mind, you can have some of mine. I haven't eaten yet."
It was Nohara Rin.
Riku knew Rin through Obito.
Looking at the modest amount of food in her lunch box, Riku was filled with emotion.
"She really is a kind girl."
Having Rin see him in such a pathetic state, Obito wished he could find a hole to crawl into.
But he couldn't ignore his rumbling stomach, so in the end, Obito accepted Rin's kind offer.
Riku, however, didn't take any of Rin's food. For one, they weren't that close. For another, he didn't want the person doing a good deed to go hungry herself.
Watching Obito cheerfully trot off with Rin, Riku could only slump back onto his desk by himself.
Suddenly, a lunch box slid over to him. On it was a large Uchiha clan crest.
"This is for the liniment. We're even," Katsuya said quietly.
Riku was stunned for a moment. After confirming that Katsuya had already eaten, he said, "Thanks," and accepted the kind gesture.
The afternoon arrived in a flash, bringing with it the main event all the students were looking forward to--combat practice.
Oshima-sensei was still in charge. The first half of the class was for practice, and the second half was for sparring matches.
During the first half, Riku focused on practicing his kunai-throwing technique.
Although Riku was an orphan and had never received hands-on instruction, his diligent training had caused his kunai accuracy to skyrocket.
"Next step is to touch an Uchiha clansman and try to get the Uchiha Kunai Throwing Technique."
Obito stuck to Riku, insisting they train together, but halfway through, Obito's stomach started to gurgle loudly.
"Didn't you eat a bento? Are you hungry again?"
"I'm not exactly hungry, but my stomach feels a little weird... Anyway, forget it! C'mon, Riku, teach me how to train!"
The second half of the class was for sparring, with students pairing up for matches.
The first pair was Uchiha Katsuya versus Kojima Genta.
Katsuya stood on the training ground, looking as if he wanted to say something but was holding back.
Riku could tell he wanted to challenge him. But to Riku's surprise, Katsuya didn't voice his dissatisfaction directly like last time. Instead, he ended the fight quickly.
"Looks like Katsuya has really changed a lot."
Next up was Shiranui Genma versus Ebisu.
Asuma versus Kamado Tanjiro.
...
"Next match: Uchiha Obito versus Hatake Kakashi."
"Heheheh~" Obito let out a weird laugh and nudged Riku with his elbow. "Watch your big bro Obito save up for something big."
But he had barely taken a step when a loud *GURGLE* erupted from his stomach.
The color instantly drained from Obito's face.
"I can't hold it! My stomach hurts so bad!" With that, he sprinted toward the restroom in full view of everyone.
"Riku! I hate you!"
"So much for saving up for a big one. Looks like he's letting out a big one instead."
Oshima-sensei just facepalmed, speechless, before making an announcement.
"Due to Obito's absence, we'll move to the next in line. Uchiha Riku versus Hatake Kakashi."
Riku was dumbfounded. He pointed at himself.
"Me? Against Kakashi?"
Hatake Kakashi was without a doubt a genius among geniuses. He had graduated from the Academy at age six and mastered the Hatake sword style. At this point in time, he could probably wipe the floor with every other student in the Academy.
To be honest, Riku didn't want to face Kakashi right now. He wasn't at all confident he could win.
But Riku didn't feel like backing down. On the contrary, a fighting spirit surged within him.
He wanted to see the gap between himself and a genius, to test the results of his ten days of training.
Stepping onto the training ground, Riku observed Kakashi up close for the first time.
Kakashi had a bored look in his eyes, as if the opponent before him couldn't stir the slightest bit of interest.
The two exchanged no trash talk. After forming the Seal of Confrontation, the battle was ready to begin at any moment.