After what felt like an eternity, Sarutobi Hiruzen finally seemed to tire and concluded his tedious speech.
With the speech over, the students on the field dispersed, heading toward their assigned classrooms.
Inside Classroom A.
Uchiha Xuan casually took a seat by the window in the back row. Sitting at the desk, he found himself unexpectedly intrigued by the feeling of starting school all over again.
His gaze swept across the classroom, taking in the vibrant array of hair colors. Uchiha Xuan felt grateful that he had been reborn into the Uchiha clan—black hair, in his opinion, was the most normal hair color.
Thud!
"Quiet!!"
Just as Uchiha Xuan was observing his future classmates, a man dressed in a Konohagakure ninja vest walked in. His appearance and attire were both rather unkempt.
"Hello, everyone. I’ll be your teacher for the next few years. My name is Sarutobi Ichiro. I like obedient, hassle-free students and dislike disobedient ones. If you have any issues during school, you can come to me—but try not to."
"To help everyone get along better as a class, as per tradition, each of you will need to come up and give a brief self-introduction, just like I did. However, you can add a dream to yours."
As Sarutobi Ichiro introduced himself, he picked up a piece of chalk from the lectern and quickly wrote his name on the blackboard behind him. Then, turning around, he spoke in a low voice.
His expression was stern, suggesting he wasn’t the easiest person to get along with.
"Alright, starting with you, come up one by one to introduce yourselves. We’ll go in order."
With that, Sarutobi Ichiro stepped aside and pointed casually at the student closest to the lectern.
"Hello, everyone. My name is Yamashiro Yuichi..."
"Hello, everyone. My name is Hyuga Hizashi. My hobby is watching birds fly freely. I dislike... well, there’s nothing I dislike. As for my dream, I guess it’s to assist my older brother..."
On the podium, Hyuga Hizashi delivered his self-introduction with a stiff expression.
Below, Uchiha Xuan rested his chin on his hand, watching the Byakugan-wearing boy on the lectern, particularly the white headband wrapped around his forehead.
Tsk, already branded with the Caged Bird at such a young age? Good thing I was reborn into the "red-eyed" clan and not the "cataract" one.
In Uchiha Xuan’s view, the Caged Bird was actually a very sensible policy for the Hyuga clan. After all, the Hyuga were not the Uchiha.
They... were far too weak.
Eyes that could be awakened so easily, in a ninja world where eyeballs were practically plug-and-play, yet they lacked the strength to protect their Bloodline Limit from being stolen.
The existence of the Caged Bird did, in a way, protect them. However, it still didn’t change one fact: the Hyuga clan’s weakness.
Uchiha Xuan couldn’t understand at all how the Hyuga clan dared to compete with the Uchiha for the title of the "Number One Ocular Jutsu Bloodline Limit."
As for the Byakugan’s advanced form, the Tenseigan? Did the Hyuga clan have anyone capable of awakening those eyes? No.
"Hello, everyone. I’m Namikaze Minato. I like reading books, and I haven’t encountered anything I dislike yet. My dream is to become Hokage!"
After Hyuga Hizashi, it was Namikaze Minato’s turn to take the stage.
Looking at the little blond on the podium with a gentle smile on his face, Uchiha Xuan understood Uzumaki Kushina’s later evaluation of Namikaze Minato.
At this age, Namikaze Minato really did seem quite effeminate. Just from his appearance, he was more beautiful than many of the little girls in the class.
After Namikaze Minato, others in the class took turns going up to the podium to introduce themselves. There were a few slightly familiar faces, but not many.
As introductions came one after another, it soon became Uchiha Xuan’s turn. Sitting by the window in the back row, he was the last one.
Uchiha Xuan stood up, walked to the podium, glanced at Namikaze Minato, and couldn’t help but feel a hint of mischief rise in his heart.
Your disciple gave your son his self-introduction, and now I’m talking about you right in front of you—isn’t this a kind of ’Bond Inheritance’ in Konohagakure?
"My name is Uchiha Xuan. The things I like and dislike... I can’t be bothered to tell you. As for my future dream... well, my interests are varied."
After saying this, Uchiha Xuan walked straight back to his seat.
"What’s with this guy? Aside from his name, everything else he said was just nonsense, right?"
"He’s from the Uchiha clan. My dad said the Uchiha are the most disgusting."
"Shh, keep it down."
Listening to the barking of these brats around him, Uchiha Xuan felt quite pleased.
Yes, just like that. This way, I can comfortably treat you all as crops to harvest.
Uchiha Xuan, who needed Card Draw Counts, naturally required all kinds of battles. And in the Ninja Academy, the most suitable opponents for him were these students.
As a member of the Uchiha clan, he naturally needed to make full use of this Uchiha bloodline identity.
From the very beginning, Uchiha Xuan had never considered hiding his abilities. At this point in the timeline, the winds of war were already sweeping through the ninja world, and Konohagakure still needed the Uchiha clan.
So, when his talent was fully revealed, he didn’t need to worry about any overt targeting.
As for covert targeting... well, at most, Konohagakure would only secretly monitor him or pull some tricks on the battlefield.
As for these...
"I am an Uchiha, after all."
Because of the Card Draw acquisition method in the Mist Space, Uchiha Xuan inevitably needed to participate in countless battles to obtain Cards and strengthen himself.
Since his path of growth required countless battles, why bother hiding himself?
On the eve of war, it was precisely the time to freely display his talent. Those few sitting at the very top of Konohagakure’s power, though some were full of malice, were certainly not fools.
...
"All students of Class A, assemble!"
On the training grounds of the Ninja Academy, Sarutobi Ichiro held a notebook in one hand and a pencil in the other, shouting loudly.
After everyone had finished their self-introductions, Sarutobi Ichiro had all the students gather on the training grounds.
"When you all took the entrance exam, I believe the proctor told you what kind of class Class A is.
So, I won’t go into too much detail here. You just need to know that Class A is completely different from the other classes in terms of teaching.
As for how it’s different... you’ll find out soon enough. Next! Your first lesson at the Ninja Academy—Combat Practice!"
"In a moment, when I call your names, please be ready. First match: Mitarai Tōichi versus Nohara Hiroshi. Second match: Hyuga Hizashi versus Uchiha Xuan. Third match: Namikaze Minato versus..."
Looking at all the assembled students, Sarutobi Ichiro quickly called out names from his notebook.