Nomi Ikkaku’s expression grew increasingly grim.
At this point, he no longer bothered concealing his disgust toward Qiyu.
“Do you think the Uchiha are the only ones who have lost people?
The arrogance of the Uchiha clan is something everyone in Konoha knows about.
Instead of wondering why others dislike you, perhaps you should examine your own behaviour.”
“Heh.
If enforcing the law strictly counts as arrogance, then let me ask you this, Sensei—what do you call allowing criminals to run rampant?”
Qiyu fired back without hesitation.
Over the years, he had often wandered around the Uchiha district.
As far as the Uchiha clan’s supposed arrogance went, they were merely somewhat aloof and refused to spare anyone’s pride while carrying out their duties as members of the Konoha Military Police Force.
However, Qiyu had rarely seen the Uchiha falsely accuse an innocent person.
The Uchiha were far too proud to bully ordinary civilians.
Most of the resentment came from local thugs and troublemakers who had been arrested, only to return home and spread malicious rumours because they refused to accept their punishment.
The village leadership had deliberately allowed those rumours to fester, resulting in the Uchiha clan’s present reputation.
Nomi Ikkaku felt as though his lungs were about to explode from rage.
However, because of Qiyu’s identity as an Uchiha, he did not dare go too far.
He glared viciously at Qiyu before slamming both hands down on the desk.
“You openly contradict your teacher during class and show no respect for your elders!
Get out!
Stand in the corridor and reflect on your behaviour!”
Qiyu looked at Nomi Ikkaku’s furious expression, and the corners of his mouth curled into a victorious smile.
Coming to this class had not been a waste after all.
Not only could he vent his frustrations through a verbal confrontation, but he could also increase his strength.
Qiyu glanced at his Malice Points.
After his recent expenditure, he had only one thousand remaining, but the number was already climbing toward five thousand again.
His mood instantly brightened.
He had not expected Nomi Ikkaku’s rage to increase the amount he provided from one hundred Malice Points to one thousand.
It seemed there would be plenty of opportunities to have fun with him in the future.
With that thought, Qiyu glanced at the worried Izumi and gave her a reassuring look.
He then walked out of the classroom with light, cheerful steps.
Inside the Hokage’s office, Hiruzen Sarutobi smoked his pipe while Danzō Shimura and Koharu Utatane sat across from him.
The three listened quietly to the reports delivered by the two chūnin instructors.
“Hmph!
What an unruly Uchiha brat.
He even dares question the Will of Fire!
Is this how Fugaku educates his son?”
Danzō snorted coldly.
One of his arms and one of his eyes were wrapped in bandages, and he held a cane in his remaining hand.
The Third Hokage remained silent.
Koharu, however, rose to her feet.
“Monkey, what do you think?”
Hiruzen tapped the ashes from his pipe.
“Tensions along the border of the Land of Lightning have been increasing recently.
This is not the time to provoke another conflict with the Uchiha.
How are the preparations for Konoha’s relocation project progressing?”
Hiruzen turned toward Danzō.
A sinister glint flashed through Danzō’s eye.
“Heh.
I will make sure they are given a suitable location.”
“Do not go too far.”
Hiruzen took another puff from his pipe.
“Also, have Shisui come here.
Such intense hostility between the village and the Uchiha cannot be allowed to continue.
That child Itachi, on the other hand, is quite promising.
His understanding of the Will of Fire is exceptional.”
As he spoke, a faint smile appeared on Hiruzen’s otherwise composed face.
“None of the Uchiha can be trusted.
Sarutobi, do not let them deceive you!”
Danzō shot Hiruzen a resentful glance.
“I know how far I can go.”
Hiruzen replied calmly.
He ignored Danzō after that and waited quietly for an ANBU operative to bring Shisui to the office.
“Lord Third!”
Shisui followed the ANBU operative into the room and respectfully bowed to Hiruzen.
“Shisui, you are here.”
Hiruzen’s face broke into a warm smile.
“How have your recent missions been going?”
“Thank you for your concern, Lord Hokage.
Every mission has proceeded smoothly!”
Touched by Hiruzen’s concern, Shisui bowed once again.
“There is no need to be so formal with me, Shisui.
Your grandfather and I were fellow disciples.
You may simply call me Grandpa Sarutobi.”
“But Lord Hokage, you are the leader of the village!”
Shisui’s face reddened slightly.
“So what if I am the Hokage?
We are all people of the same village.”
Hiruzen looked affectionately at the flustered Shisui.
“Your mission-completion rate has been excellent recently.
I am considering transferring you into the ANBU.
What do you think?”
“Lord—”
Hiruzen gave Shisui a mild glare.
Shisui immediately corrected himself.
“Thank you for trusting me, Grandpa Sarutobi!”
Shisui answered excitedly.
For an Uchiha to be invited into the ANBU was exceptionally rare.
“Hostility between the village and the Uchiha has been growing increasingly severe lately.
Shisui, I will entrust you with the important responsibility of becoming a bridge between the Uchiha and the village.”
Hiruzen’s expression became solemn.
“I hope you will inherit your grandfather’s will and help the Uchiha truly become part of the village.”
“Yes!
Please rest assured, Lord Hokage.
I will do everything in my power to ensure that the village and the Uchiha can coexist peacefully!”
Shisui replied passionately.
“You child.
Did I not tell you to call me Grandpa?
Why have you gone back to calling me Lord Hokage again?”
Hiruzen shook his head helplessly.
Shisui scratched his cheek in embarrassment.
“I am simply not used to it yet, Grandpa Sarutobi.”
“Hahaha!
You really are an earnest child.”
Hiruzen smiled.
“By the way, the Academy reopened today.
When you have time, guide your juniors.
Spreading the Will of Fire among the Uchiha will depend on children like you.”
“Yes, Grandpa Sarutobi!”
“Good.
You may return to your duties.”
Shisui left the Hokage Building, but the excitement in his heart refused to fade.
“That reminds me!
Today is Qiyu and Itachi’s first day at the Academy.
I should celebrate their enrolment.”
With that thought, Shisui headed toward a ninja-tool shop.
After carefully browsing the selection, he purchased two finely forged steel swords.
Although each blade contained only a small amount of chakra-conductive metal, the two swords consumed nearly all the money he had earned from his recent missions.
However, when Shisui remembered that they were enrolment gifts for Qiyu and Itachi, he could only suppress the pain in his heart and begin walking toward the Uchiha district.
“Qiyu…”
Izumi hesitated as they walked home after class.
Itachi followed silently behind them.
“What is it, Izumi?”
Qiyu gave her a wide smile.
“Qiyu, was it really all right for you to confront our teacher like that today?”
Izumi asked worriedly.
“Why would it not be?”
Qiyu spoke without the slightest concern.
“Izumi, that man obviously holds a prejudice against the Uchiha.
Even if he did not cause trouble for you today, he would find another excuse tomorrow.
Rather than cowering before him, it is better to strike back with everything you have.”
Qiyu did not care whether he offended an Academy instructor.
He was not a civilian-born shinobi who needed to rely on Academy teachers to learn ninjutsu.
Even if Qiyu wanted Nomi Ikkaku to teach him, the man would first need to possess something Qiyu could learn.
All of Qiyu’s abilities came entirely from his cheat.
At present, he could not even refine chakra.
It was obvious that the path he followed was fundamentally different from that of an Intermediate shinobi.
Techniques taught at the Academy, such as the Clone Technique and the Body Replacement Technique, were still impossible for him to replicate.
Qiyu did not know whether those ninjutsu were incompatible with the principles of Daoist arts or whether his cultivation level was simply too low to comprehend a divine ability as profound as creating external incarnations.
No matter how much he contemplated it, he could not derive any Daoist art related to clones.
There was nothing he could do about that.
The only reason he had agreed to attend the Academy was because graduating would allow him to enter the shinobi ranks.
Once he became a shinobi, he would have far more opportunities to collect Malice Points and Gratitude Points.
Otherwise, he would never have willingly come to the Ninja Academy in the first place.
Whether or not he offended an Academy teacher was therefore completely irrelevant to him.
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