Due to Uchiha Xuan’s overwhelming first-place ranking, the entire Class A had long suffered under his dominance.
If anyone in Class A stood a chance of defeating Uchiha Xuan, it was Namikaze Minato. As for the others, they believed they had no hope.
"Prepare yourselves, the match begins!"
As soon as Sarutobi Ichiro’s words fell, Uchiha Xuan and Namikaze Minato moved simultaneously.
One evaded, the other pursued—both moving with incredible speed.
Watching the two chase and flee playfully on the field, Sarutobi Ichiro silently marked two perfect scores on the grade sheet.
This wasn’t the first time these two had acted like this.
At first, things were fine. Minato was a well-behaved child who actively participated in all lessons, even when he already knew the material.
But everything changed after Uchiha Xuan once remarked that simple sparring was too boring...
Since then, his model student had "fallen from grace"!
.....
"Xuan, class is over."
As the dismissal bell rang, Namikaze Minato walked over to Uchiha Xuan and gently nudged him.
"Let’s go."
Opening his eyes, a glint of gold flashed in his pupils. Uchiha Xuan stood up, stretched lightly, and turned to walk toward the classroom door.
Over the past year, perhaps due to the unique physique of humans in the Ninja World, Uchiha Xuan’s Spirit and Vitality Cultivation had progressed rapidly.
By now, he could cultivate Qi in every action—walking, sitting, or lying down. Though it couldn’t compare to focused Qi cultivation, it greatly enhanced his efficiency in refining Qi.
By the Naka River.
Over the year, this place had become the exclusive training ground for Namikaze Minato and Uchiha Xuan. Although Uchiha Xuan had his own dedicated training area, he preferred practicing by the river.
After all, the scenery here was better.
However, today, there was an extra person here.
A woman in white robes with red hair stood quietly by the riverbank, silently watching the slowly flowing water. In her hand, she held a smooth stone.
"Huh? Xuan, is that one of your clansmen?"
Looking at the woman by the riverbank, Namikaze Minato curiously turned to the frowning Uchiha Xuan beside him.
Red hair... so beautiful. Weren’t most members of the Uchiha clan known for their black hair?
"No, let’s go to my training ground. Someone else has reserved this place today, so we shouldn’t disturb them."
Glancing at the red-haired woman ahead, Uchiha Xuan shook his head lightly and prepared to leave.
Given the era, the attire, and the appearance, this person’s identity was all too easy to guess.
"Stay. This is your training ground, isn’t it? If anyone is disturbing, it would be me."
Before Uchiha Xuan could turn away, the woman by the riverbank suddenly spoke.
Her voice was gentle yet carried an indescribable authority—an authority that wasn’t unpleasant but instead felt warm and familiar, like... a very kind elder.
"No need, Madam Mito. Our training can be noisy, so we won’t disturb you."
Uchiha Xuan shook his head gently and spoke respectfully.
Joking aside, the person before him could almost be considered the strongest in the Ninja World aside from that old schemer underground. He had no interest in staying with someone like that.
Moreover, his surname was Uchiha, while the person before him had changed her surname to Senju after marrying Senju Hashirama.
The Senju and Uchiha were naturally opposed.
"Madam Mito? Huh?!!?! Greetings, Madam Mito!"
At this moment, Namikaze Minato, who was standing nearby, immediately recognized the identity of the person before him and respectfully bowed.
"What? Don’t want to spend time with an old woman like me? If anything, I’m more interested in talking with you young ones. When you’re old, you always enjoy liveliness."
Seemingly unaware of the refusal in Uchiha Xuan’s words, Uzumaki Mito smiled gently and spoke softly.
Thus, Uchiha Xuan had no choice but to brace himself and stay, sitting down nearby. Seeing this, Namikaze Minato immediately sat down right next to him.
"I’ve heard of both of you. Very talented children, the future of Konohagakure. You seem quite promising."
Uzumaki Mito smiled lightly and sat down not far from Uchiha Xuan.
Her sitting down almost triggered Uchiha Ganghuo, who was hiding in the shadows, but a violent pressure pinned him down, making it impossible for him to move.
"You flatter us, Madam Mito. There are many more talented people in Konohagakure than us. We can hardly be called the future of the village."
Compared to Uchiha Ganghuo’s agitation, Uchiha Xuan remained calm.
Although Uzumaki Mito now bore the Senju surname, she was certainly not harboring any ill intentions toward him. His earlier desire to leave was simply because he didn’t want to interact with this elderly woman.
The reason was simple: he couldn’t outplay this woman.
"Do you know how to skip stones?"
In response to Uchiha Xuan’s answer, Uzumaki Mito didn’t seem to mind. Instead, she raised her hand, showing the smooth stone in her palm, and smiled at him.
"....."
Looking at the smooth stone in Uzumaki Mito’s hand, Uchiha Xuan felt a strange sensation.
Seriously? How many people did you drag into playing this silly game, Hashirama?
"Like this."
Regardless of whether Uchiha Xuan answered, Uzumaki Mito flicked her wrist, sending the smooth stone flying toward the river. Then...
Plop
It fell into the water.
"....."
"....."
For a moment, the atmosphere was awkward.
"Well, young man, this old woman is a bit thirsty. Could you fetch some water for me? Preferably warm, though I’m in no hurry."
Finally, Uzumaki Mito spoke up. Looking past Uchiha Xuan, she gazed gently at Namikaze Minato and spoke softly.
"Huh? Oh, right away."
Namikaze Minato, who had been staring at the grass and counting the blades in front of him, was startled by Uzumaki Mito’s words. He glanced at Uchiha Xuan, and after receiving a slight nod, he stood up, bowed to Uzumaki Mito, and turned to leave.
"I wonder what Madam Mito wishes to discuss with me."
Only after Namikaze Minato’s figure had completely disappeared did Uchiha Xuan turn to look at Uzumaki Mito and speak softly.
He... had absolutely no idea what Uzumaki Mito was trying to do.
However, the disparity in power prevented him from showing any inappropriate reaction, a feeling that was truly unpleasant.
"Among the Uzumaki clan, some are born with an ability known as the Kagura Mind’s Eye. This ability allows one to perceive the truest form of a person’s chakra."