Kiyohane watched Tekka Uchiha close in.
The Uchiha clan’s taijutsu was actually quite good.
Although Kiyohane had never lived among the Uchiha, Madara Uchiha had trained taijutsu with Izuna Uchiha since childhood, and Itachi Uchiha had once taken Sasuke hunting.
That proved the Uchiha clan valued taijutsu and the fundamentals of being a shinobi far more than they appeared to on the surface.
But… so what?
Kiyohane threw a punch.
Tekka, who had rushed in close, had no choice but to instinctively cross his arms in front of his chest to block it.
Bang!
Tekka staggered back several steps.
His face filled with shock.
How was Kiyohane this strong?
From what Tekka had seen in class, Kiyohane’s taijutsu should have been average at best.
But before Tekka could think too much, Kiyohane threw another punch.
The two could only continue exchanging blows in the sparring area.
But everyone watching could tell that Kiyohane clearly held the upper hand.
“That level of taijutsu…”
Umino Shika thought for a moment and quickly arrived at an answer.
Kiyohane lived with the famous Tsunade.
It would be perfectly normal for him to receive some guidance from her.
And aside from her medical abilities, Tsunade had another power that everyone in the shinobi world knew well.
Her superhuman strength.
My strength is greater than his.
Is it because of my traits…?
A faint crimson glow appeared in Kiyohane’s eyes.
His Sharingan quietly activated, and a single tomoe emerged.
Unlike what Umino Shika thought, Kiyohane had not learned Tsunade’s super strength.
He was simply strong.
The Senju clan was descended from Asura, and Asura had inherited the Sage of Six Paths’ body.
Although he had initially been inferior to his older brother Indra, Asura possessed unparalleled physical potential.
Once tempered, all aspects of his strength rapidly caught up to Indra’s.
No, it should be the Senju bloodline.
Kiyohane understood the reason.
He had undergone some basic physical training, but combined with his Senju bloodline, his raw strength was greater than that of others his age.
The Senju clan’s ability was passive, while the Uchiha clan’s Sharingan was an active skill.
Tekka, who had not awakened the Sharingan, had not received any feedback from its power.
Naturally, his body could not compare to Kiyohane’s.
Thinking of that, Kiyohane’s punches became even fiercer.
You’re acting arrogant with this level of strength?
“Come on, Tekka!”
“Hmph.”
Tekka’s expression turned ugly.
Hearing Obito’s shout only made him more anxious.
Was he really going to lose to Kiyohane?
Then wouldn’t everything he had just said become a joke?
“Tekka, you should understand that it doesn’t matter what ninja clan I come from or whether I have a surname.”
Kiyohane spoke calmly.
“We all bathe beneath the radiance of the Third Hokage and embody the Will of Fire together.”
“So why do you hold such hostility toward me for no reason?”
Of course, those words were false.
Kiyohane simply wanted to reinforce his image as someone who supported the Will of Fire, and Tekka Uchiha was currently the perfect tool for that.
After all, in Konoha, the Will of Fire was the greatest will of all.
Kiyohane’s words left Umino Shika feeling rather gratified.
Not bad.
He was a good child.
At such a young age, he could already repay resentment with virtue.
From Tekka Uchiha’s attitude just now, Umino Shika could also tell that he was not convinced by Kiyohane.
Yet Kiyohane had still taken the initiative to say something like that.
As expected, having Senju blood mixed in really was different.
…
Far away from the Ninja Academy, inside the Hokage Building, Hiruzen Sarutobi was also paying close attention to the academy’s first monthly exam.
Generally speaking, after a monthly exam ended, he would visit the Ninja Academy as the Hokage and give the students an inspiring speech.
Only then could talented students remain humble while weaker students worked hard to catch up.
After all, the first time always carried special meaning.
“Did you hear that, Danzo?”
Hiruzen looked at the other person in the office.
“I’m not blind, Hiruzen,” Danzo Shimura replied irritably.
He first cast a wary glance at the crystal ball on Hiruzen’s desk before slowly speaking.
“Anyone can say pretty words.”
Danzo did not care for Kiyohane’s statement.
Hmph.
It’s nothing more than the disguise of a wicked Uchiha.
In this world, the only Uchiha ever acknowledged by Tobirama-sensei had been Kagami Uchiha alone!
Madara Uchiha, the clan leader who had led the Uchiha into Konoha, had been naturally evil and attacked the village multiple times.
The clan’s hardliners had even inherited Madara Uchiha’s extreme ideology and launched a rebellion during Tobirama-sensei’s administration.
For a clan with such a long record of crimes, Danzo believed that every drop of blood in their bones carried sin.
Although Kiyohane has Uchiha blood, there is no doubt that he is also of the Senju,” Hiruzen said, shaking his head.
“So what?” Danzo replied.
At most, it was one rat dropping spoiling the whole pot.
Seeing that Danzo refused to listen to reason, Hiruzen stopped wasting words.
He returned his attention to the academy.
…
“I have hostility for no reason?”
Tekka Uchiha sneered.
He felt that Kiyohane was exactly the kind of person who liked saying empty, grand-sounding words.
The descendant of a traitor, yet he dared to act so self-righteous.
Thinking of that, Tekka decided to take a gamble.
“No matter what you say, as an Uchiha, I cannot lose!”
Before entering the academy, Tekka had begged his father to teach him the Uchiha clan’s signature ninjutsu, Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique.
Although he was not very skilled with it yet and sometimes failed to perform it properly, he had no better option right now.
He refused to believe that once he successfully released this jutsu, Kiyohane could still beat him instantly.
Tekka formed hand seals at the fastest speed he had ever managed.
Snake, Ram, Monkey, Boar, Horse, Tiger…
Good!
Tekka’s heart stirred.
He had smoothly completed every hand seal and perfectly gathered the chakra he had refined into his chest and throat.
“Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!”
A large fireball surged from Tekka’s mouth.
“!”
Umino Shika’s heart jolted.
Although this fireball was not as large as a true Great Fireball and was only about half the standard size at most, it had already far exceeded the level expected for a Ninja Academy monthly exam.
The students on the training field, who had still been whispering among themselves, could not help stopping and turning to look over.
Obito, watching from behind, was especially stirred.
He clenched his fists tightly.
This was a technique he had not even begun learning yet!
Tekka Uchiha had actually already mastered it!
“Rin, Kiyohane’s done for now!” Obito said, gloating.
“Sto—”
Just as Umino Shika was about to shout “stop” and step forward to intervene, he heard the sound of flowing water from the other side.
Splash…!
As early as the moment Tekka began forming seals, Kiyohane had already drawn his kunai.
At the same time, rapidly spinning water gathered around the kunai in Kiyohane’s hand, wrapping the blade in a thin, sharp layer of water.
Water Release: Water Blade Slash!