Chapter 20: The Instigator's Gambit
Watching the tense standoff that wasn't escalating into an actual fight, Hyuga Shinra felt a twinge of boredom. It was all posturing and no action.
"Judging by your expression, you really can't stand this guy either," he murmured to Mikoto. "How about I teach him a little lesson?" He made as if to stand.
Mikoto quickly reached out and grabbed his sleeve, her voice laced with anxiety. "Shinra, no! Please don't. He's obnoxious, but he's not weak. He's considered a real genius in our clan."
"Oh?" Shinra's eyes softened as he looked down at her. "Is Mikoto worried about me?"
"I... I just..." Her face flushed a deep crimson, making her look like a perfectly ripe apple, utterly tempting.
"Don't worry," he said, gently patting her hand before finally rising to his feet.
His voice cut through the tense silence. "You know, Hiashi, I'm starting to think you're not fit to be the future clan head at all."
The statement was a verbal kunai, instantly drawing the gaze of every student in the room. All eyes locked onto Hyuga Shinra.
Hyuga Hiashi, in particular, stiffened. Though his pupil-less white eyes couldn't convey emotion, the anger was plain on his face. "What did you say?"
"Getting angry, are you?" Shinra continued, his tone dripping with mockery. "You looked like a frightened quail when he was strutting around, too scared to make a sound. Now you want to act tough with me? You only became the young patriarch because of your birthright. Without it, you're nothing."
His words were a masterful provocation, perfectly calculated to ignite Hiashi's pride.
"You think I'm afraid of him?" Hiashi snarled, pointing a trembling finger at Uchiha Ken.
"Isn't it obvious? If you weren't, you'd beat him to a pulp and prove your worth," Shinra replied with a nonchalant shrug.
"Fine! I'll make you, the clan's trash, understand exactly why I am the heir!" Chakra flared around Hiashi. He slammed his palm on the desk, splintering the wood, and stormed toward Uchiha Ken.
"Tsk, tsk. That desk never did anything to you," Shinra mused aloud, folding his arms. "It's a pity it had to be your punching bag. I feel sorry for it."
"I, Hyuga Hiashi, challenge you! Do you dare to accept?" Hiashi's voice was icy.
"Why wouldn't I dare?" Uchiha Ken retorted, his arrogance undiminished. "I'll show you that the Hyuga's Byakugan is worthless compared to the Uchiha's Sharingan!"
The insult to his clan's pride was the final straw for Hiashi. He held the Hyuga's honor above all else.
"Hold on a second," Shinra interjected, his smile sharp. "Uchiha Ken, was it? You claim the Byakugan is worthless before the Sharingan... but you don't actually have the Sharingan yet, do you?"
Uchiha Ken faltered, his confidence cracking. "I-I don't need the Sharingan to crush trash like you under my heel!" he blustered.
That single sentence, "trash like you," was the final spark. It wasn't just an insult to the Hyuga; it was an insult to every non-Uchiha in the room. If not for Nara Shikaku's quick thinking in holding him back, Akimichi Choza would have charged forward.
"Nawaki!" Shinra called out, fanning the flames. "Look at how arrogant he is! Can you really stand it? Let's all teach him a lesson together. After all, they say it's hard to punish an entire mob."
With Shinra's encouragement, Hyuga Hiashi was already moving. He lunged forward, his palm striking Uchiha Ken and sending him stumbling back.
Nawaki, his blood boiling, needed no further prompting. He rushed in and punched the off-balance Uchiha Ken squarely in the face.
Seeing the two most prominent clan heirs lead the charge, and remembering Shinra's words about "the mob," the entire class—save for Shinra, Uchiha Mikoto, Namikaze Minato, and Nara Shikaku—surged forward in a wave of righteous indignation.
Shinra watched the spectacle with a satisfied smile. He had been confident in the outcome. While the Hyuga were often sidelined in the grand narrative, at this age, before complex ninjutsu entered the equation, their Gentle Fist taijutsu made them nearly unbeatable in a straight fight.
Nara Shikaku, the only one who had remained both seated and analytical, turned his calm gaze to Shinra. "Stirring up trouble like this will definitely anger the Uchiha clan. What was your goal?"
"No particular goal," Shinra replied, his arms still folded as he enjoyed the show. "I just felt like it."
It was a lie, of course. If he were weak, he would never act so brazenly. But Shinra was no longer weak. He had the power to be audacious. This was Konoha, and while the Uchiha might be displeased, they wouldn't move openly against a Hyuga over a schoolyard fight, especially not one involving their own insufferable member. From his conversation with Mikoto, he also knew there were internal factions within the Uchiha; this Uchiha Ken was a rival to the current clan head's faction. Retribution was far from certain.
"WHAT IS GOING ON HERE? STOP THIS INSTANT!"
A thunderous voice echoed through the classroom. The brawling students immediately froze and scrambled back to their seats, leaving a bruised and unconscious Uchiha Ken on the floor.
Their teacher, Ueno Kuri, stood at the door, his face a mask of fury. "What is the meaning of this?" he demanded, pointing at the motionless Uchiha boy.
He rushed over, checking Ken's pulse and breathing. Finding only superficial injuries, he let out a sigh of relief. A serious injury on the first day would have been a catastrophe for his career. Still, the incident was severe enough to stoke his anger.
"Everyone who participated, stand up! I saw you all. Don't even think about hiding!" Ueno Kuri's tone left no room for argument.
At his command, most of the class reluctantly rose to their feet. Only four remained seated: Shinra, Uchiha Mikoto, Nara Shikaku, and Namikaze Minato.
The collective gaze of the class slowly turned to settle on Hyuga Shinra.
"Why is everyone looking at me?" he asked, donning a mask of pure innocence. "I didn't do anything."
The sheer audacity! The entire class itched to strangle him. He was the mastermind, yet he played the blameless spectator.
Ueno Kuri surveyed the standing students—a collection of heirs from Konoha's most powerful clans—and felt a headache coming on. This class was a management nightmare.
"All of you, outside! Now! You will stand in the hall for the remainder of the period as punishment!" It was the only safe disciplinary action he could take.
"Teacher!" Hyuga Hizashi spoke up, pointing an accusatory finger. "Hyuga Shinra provoked all of this! You can't let him get away with it!"
Shinra rubbed his chin thoughtfully. It seems my previous lessons with Hizashi weren't thorough enough.
"Who is Hyuga Shinra?" Ueno Kuri roared.
Under Mikoto's worried gaze, Shinra stood up with an exaggerated sigh of resignation.
"You too! Outside, now!" the teacher barked, too furious to care about the boy's unusual lack of Byakugan.
"Teacher, Shinra didn't participate!" Uchiha Mikoto stood up, her voice firm as she tried to defend him.
"Oh? Defending him, are you?" Ueno Kuri snapped. "Fine! You can join him! Go stand in the hall together!" With that final order, he scooped up the unconscious Uchiha Ken and hurried out, needing to get the boy to the infirmary for a proper check-up.