As the dismissal bell rang, the curtain fell on the very first day for the new students at the Ninja Academy.
Hinata said goodbye to Sakura and Ino at the school gates with a touch of regret, then began a leisurely stroll back home.
However, before she even reached the corner just past the school gates, Hinata paused in her tracks.
Her casual expression shifted into one of satisfaction.
Looking at the three or four people blocking her path ahead, she spoke with a smile.
“I didn’t expect you to be so impatient.”
“I remember…
hmm, you’re the one who plays with dogs, right?”
The boy leading the group had black hair and dark eyes, with red, fang-like markings painted on his cheeks.
His entire demeanor oozed arrogance.
The person blocking Hinata’s way was none other than her future teammate, Kiba Inuzuka.
“Woof!”
Akamaru, perched on top of Kiba’s head, let out a sharp bark.
“Hmph, at least you have a little bit of observation skills!”
“You’re just a girl, so don’t think your status as the young mistress of the Hyuga clan means you can do whatever you want!”
Kiba crossed his arms, looking at Hinata with a thoroughly displeased expression.
He was just like those random lackeys she had run into this morning.
The prestige of being a ninja clan heir didn’t mean a thing in Konoha.
In Konoha—no, in the entire ninja world—fists did the talking.
Sometimes, even if your fists were strong enough, people still wouldn’t respect you.
Case in point: the White Fang of the Leaf.
But compared to other places, Konoha still retained a bit of human warmth, like the Will of Fire.
“Hey, Boss Kiba, why is it just a girl?”
“Did you really call all of us out here just for this?”
Kiba was flanked by three or four lackeys who appeared to be from the Inuzuka clan as well.
“Don’t worry about it.
I only called you guys over today to be witnesses.
I don’t want people saying I enjoy bullying girls.”
Kiba spoke with absolute confidence.
This only made Hinata’s smile widen.
She had deliberately provoked everyone for a reason.
Aside from seeking a bit of entertainment, she had another goal.
In the future, Naruto and Sasuke would both end up as underdogs.
If she wanted to carry the future of the ninja world on her shoulders, she naturally had to be unrivaled in this era.
If she couldn’t even conquer a mere Ninja Academy, then she might as well start looking for a burial plot with good feng shui and prepare for her own funeral.
As for getting married and settling down?
Not a chance.
And Kiba Inuzuka standing before her?
Nothing more than a stray by the side of the road.
Since it was right after school, the street was crowded.
As Kiba blocked Hinata in the middle of the road, pedestrians began to stop and watch.
“Lady Hinata…”
Just like the Inuzuka clan, there were plenty of children from the Hyuga clan attending the Academy.
No matter how much trouble Hinata usually caused back home, seeing several members of the Inuzuka clan blocking their young mistress with clear ill intent prompted them to step forward without hesitation and flank her.
Besides, Hinata’s “troublemaking” within the clan was strictly limited to pushing Hiashi Hyuga’s buttons; she was actually quite friendly to the rest of the clan members.
This was obvious from the time she voluntarily cut her own food allowance for the sake of the Branch House members.
“Lady Hinata, what’s going on?”
Neji Hyuga squeezed through the crowd at that moment, stepping up next to Hinata to ask in a low voice.
“Hey, hey, hey!
You’re not planning to gang up on me, are you?”
Kiba said hastily, eyeing the unfriendly glares of the Hyuga clan members gathered around Hinata.
In terms of raw combat power, he was the only one among his peers who had brought his ninken along, leaving them at a clear disadvantage.
Furthermore, the Hyuga clan’s taijutsu had long been famous throughout the ninja world.
If a brawl broke out, he would undoubtedly suffer a massive beating.
Even if all of his companions had brought their ninja hounds, they probably still wouldn’t stand a chance against this group of Hyugas.
“It’s fine, guys.
This fellow wants to challenge me to a one-on-one.”
Hinata waved her hand dismissively, pointing at Kiba.
Neji looked utterly dumbfounded upon hearing this, before his expression quickly shifted to one of profound sympathy for Kiba.
It wasn’t just Neji—the rest of the Hyuga clan members were all staring at Kiba as if he were a complete idiot.
Outsiders might not know how terrifying Hinata’s combat ability was, but how could they not?
Before Hinata even started sparring with Neji, she had already beaten practically every single peer in the clan to a pulp!
What is up with these guys’ expressions?
Kiba glared at Hinata.
Noticing the barely concealed contempt on the faces of the other Hyuga members, he felt a surge of resentment and barked furiously:
“Cut the crap!”
“It’s just between you and me!
Let’s see who’s stronger!”
Hinata’s smile grew even wider at his display.
She couldn’t help but say,
“Personally, I suggest you have those guys behind you join in too.”
But before she could even finish her sentence, Kiba took it as a direct insult.
As a dignified, manly man, did he really need backup just to teach a girl a lesson?!
“Take this!”
With that, Kiba charged forward blindly!
“No, stop!”
“Kiba, stop!”
But Kiba was in no mood to listen to any blonde kid.
His eyes were locked entirely on Hinata.
He swore he would teach this arrogant girl a proper lesson!
Watching Kiba charge forward so recklessly, Neji could only facepalm.
He couldn’t bear to watch.
An attack so utterly riddled with openings was something even he could easily dodge and counter in an instant.
Let alone Hinata, who had beaten Neji so badly he had questioned his own life choices.
Smiling broadly, Hinata met his charge without a shred of hesitation!
Sidestepping Kiba’s reckless, brute-force assault, she thrust her open palm directly against his chest!
Oh no…
it’s the Gentle Fist!
I’m doomed!
Kiba screamed internally as he realized his mistake.
The fearsome reputation of the Gentle Fist was something even a six-year-old like him knew all about.
Yet, the expected sensation of his chakra being blocked never came.
Kiba, who had already been bracing for the humiliation of getting instant-killed by a girl, froze in confusion.
Wow, this girl is surprisingly decent.
She actually knew to hold back…
The very next second!
Kiba felt as though a massive sledgehammer had slammed into his chest, lifting him clean off his feet!
The palm that had been resting on his chest had closed into a tight fist at some point.
A brutal punch connected squarely with his face, instantly sending a spray of saliva flying from his mouth, refracting the afternoon sunlight like shimmering crystals!
Having sent Kiba flying with a single punch, Hinata lunged forward in a flash, launching a follow-up kick straight into his abdomen.
The force blasted Kiba straight into the crowd of Hyuga clan members!
His body crashed backward, taking down the three or four Inuzuka boys behind him in a tangled, chaotic heap!
“…You can’t beat her…”
The battle had concluded in the blink of an eye, leaving Naruto—who had been trying to stop Kiba from challenging Hinata—unable to even finish his warning.
“You…
bastard, why didn’t you say so earlier…”
Hearing Naruto’s voice, Kiba shakily pointed a finger at him.
As soon as the words left his mouth, his eyes rolled back, and he passed out cold.
“Is that it?
He really can’t take a hit, can he?”
Hinata raised an eyebrow at the unconscious Kiba before turning her gaze to the shivering blonde boy nearby.
“What about you?
Want a piece of this too?”