In the afternoon, the class assignments were finalized.
They called it a test, but in reality, most of the placements were based on age.
Children aged six to seven were placed in the beginner class, where the focus was mainly on physical training and throwing techniques.
Children aged eight to nine went into the intermediate class, where they began learning the Three Basic Jutsu along with a certain amount of practical combat training.
The advanced class was for students ten and older.
It prepared them for the graduation exam and effectively served as a reserve pool for Genin.
The Ninja Academy ran for six academic years, then divided students into Classes A, B, C, and D based on talent.
Under normal circumstances, students who graduated from Class A would receive direct guidance from a Jōnin.
…
Hiashi Hyūga felt awful.
Because of his Byakugan, he had naturally been placed in the advanced class.
But if he had known things would turn out like this, he absolutely would have asked the Dean of Academic Affairs to put him in the intermediate class based on his age.
On his left sat Nawaki, the First Hokage-sama’s own grandson.
He was enthusiastically introducing his hobbies and interests, trying to make friends with him.
To be honest, Hiashi did not like people who were this loud.
But he had been raised from childhood to understand status, and he did not dare defy Nawaki, whose standing was even higher than his own.
On his right…
“I’m warning you.
If you dare use your Byakugan to look at Mikoto, I’ll gouge your eyes out.”
Shingetsu tapped the desk lightly, his voice like a demon whispering in his ear.
Hiashi did not dare turn his head.
He sat there on pins and needles, wishing only for today to end quickly, and for tomorrow never to come.
…
Shingetsu turned to look at the other students.
They were all familiar faces.
Shikaku Nara, Chōza Akimichi, Inoichi Yamanaka, Tsume Inuzuka, Shibi Aburame…
Aside from Nawaki, they were basically the parents’ generation of The Konoha Twelve.
Of course, it was not because Nawaki did not like having children.
It was because he died young.
The little blond Minato they had seen earlier had been assigned to the beginner class because of his age, but with his talent, he would probably stand out before long.
…
Standing at the lectern was an ordinary Chūnin, explaining the basic skills of a ninja.
Orochimaru and the others had only come to help out on the first day and make an appearance, showing off Hiruzen Sarutobi’s teaching ability in passing.
They would not be staying at the Ninja Academy.
Hiruzen Sarutobi did not expect the Ninja Academy to teach these ninja clan heirs much of anything.
What he wanted was for these children to form bonds at the Ninja Academy and cultivate the Will of Fire.
The Ino-Shika-Chō clans had been lackeys of the Sarutobi Clan since the Warring States Period, and all three had sent their heirs.
After The Third Hokage personally came to “negotiate,” the Hyūga clan also obediently handed over a main branch heir.
Looking at this group, Shingetsu shifted his gaze toward Nawaki.
Since it was already known that Orochimaru would take Nawaki as his disciple, Hiruzen Sarutobi’s intentions were easy to guess.
In his plan for Konoha’s future, Orochimaru was probably meant to become the Fourth Hokage.
If Nawaki performed well, he could be groomed into the Fifth.
The nature of this group was somewhat like attendants studying alongside a crown prince.
The conspiracy theory that Hiruzen Sarutobi deliberately had Nawaki killed simply did not hold up.
Putting aside the fact that he had assigned his strongest disciple to stay close to Nawaki, the Senju Clan had already been nearly sacrificed down to the last in order to recreate the invincible Wood Release.
What was there left to fear?
That incident happened entirely because Nawaki was too reckless, and Orochimaru was fooled by his disciple’s confident smile and let his guard down.
You’re still way too vulnerable to Genjutsu, Orochimaru!
…
When Shingetsu got out of school, he saw Orochimaru, who had no resistance to Genjutsu, standing at the gate.
He was leaning against a cherry blossom tree, his golden vertical pupils giving off a distant air, his porcelain-white skin untouched by any trace of worldly life.
It had to be said, before his mind went twisted, Orochimaru perfectly fit the image of a cold, otherworldly beauty with striking bone structure.
No wonder he was far ahead in the Ninja Academy’s Sannin beauty poll.
“Shingetsu-kun, are you sure you’re fine letting your little sister go home alone first?”
Orochimaru raised his eyes, unable to hide the trace of curiosity toward the unknown within them.
“Of course.
It’s not like I’m a siscon.”
Shingetsu took a piece of silver from his pocket and handed it to Mikoto.
“Buy twice as much meat as usual.
Leave the vegetables for when I get back.
They won’t taste good cold.”
He knew Orochimaru was probably planning to personally test what he was made of.
How could someone with a spirit of scientific inquiry possibly resist something novel?
“I know!
Just make sure you don’t…”
After giving instructions on his side, Mikoto was still worried.
She walked up to Orochimaru-sama and bowed.
“Orochimaru-sama, my brother isn’t quite right in the head.
If he makes you angry…”
Just from what Orochimaru had seen, Mikoto had apologized for Shingetsu’s behavior more than once.
This little girl really had it rough…
…
Orochimaru led Shingetsu all the way to the Naka River at the edge of the village before stopping.
This river had deep ties to the Uchiha Clan.
Upstream lay the ancestral land of the Uchiha Clan from the Warring States Period.
After moving to Konoha, they built the Naka Shrine downstream.
After the Nine-Tails incident, the Uchiha moved out of the village’s central district.
Their new clan grounds might very well be around this area.
Oh, and it was also where Shisui died.
…
Orochimaru stood by the riverbank, turned around, and said, “Now, attack me at your maximum speed.”
Whoosh—!!
Smack!!
Orochimaru clasped his hands together and caught Shingetsu’s hand chop, smiling faintly.
“I wasn’t finished speaking.”
“I heard enough.”
Shingetsu drove power through his waist and twisted free from Orochimaru’s clasped hands, then lashed a whip kick toward Orochimaru’s face.
Hizuki Style: Crosscut!
Orochimaru’s gaze sharpened.
The explosive crack of the air made him decide not to take the kick with his bare body.
Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall.
Whoosh!
An earthen wall rose instantly.
Shingetsu’s whip kick slammed into it, leaving only a shallow mark.
He could not break through at all.
Using the recoil from the Earth-Style Wall, Shingetsu leaped high and poured all his strength into his fist.
“Hizuki Style: Edge Opening!!”
An unstoppable force, a strike that threw everything away!!
…
It was practically…
just like Tsunade’s Superhuman Strength!
Orochimaru was fully capable of using the Body Flicker Technique to dodge, but then he would not get the real sensation of experiencing it firsthand.
He clapped his hands together and spat a fierce gust of wind from his mouth.
Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!
…
Shingetsu forced his way down against the powerful wind, but when he was less than half a meter from Orochimaru, he could no longer hold on and was blown away.
Splash—
Shingetsu landed in the river, stood up, and shook out his hair.
He could tell that Orochimaru had not used his full strength.
He had adjusted the strength of the Wind Release to match Shingetsu’s power.
The gap between them was too great.
Wind Release also suppressed Taijutsu heavily.
Strong wind disrupted balance and breathing, which was deadly for Taijutsu strikes that required precision and continuity.
Perhaps Orochimaru had wanted to show him that as well.
…
“Fire Tempering, Edge Opening…”
Orochimaru spoke softly.
“Your father was Konoha’s finest ninja blade maker, and Jōnin Hizuki was a powerful ninja.”
“Moving forward with your parents’ love, your Taijutsu is very strong.”
Shingetsu’s lips parted slightly, his expression freezing as droplets of water slid from his hair down his cheeks.
Orochimaru pulled Shingetsu up from the water, a sincere smile appearing on his cold face.
“I’ve already promised your parents that I would teach you properly.
So, Shingetsu-kun…”
“Will you become my disciple?”
Shingetsu’s gaze shifted.
Beneath the twilight shadows of the trees, a bouquet of white flowers had been placed before the gravestone, swaying gently in the wind.