The Ninja Academy is not a place one can enter freely. Every child who applies to join the Ninja Academy undergoes a test known as the "Entrance Exam" at the time of registration.
Only those who pass the test are allowed to enter the Ninja Academy to study and have the potential to become ninjas.
Of course, this test is only for the commoners of Konohagakure. Children from Konohagakure’s ninja clans do not need to take the test, as there is simply no necessity for it.
The leaders of the various ninja clans are no fools. If a child in their clan truly lacks the talent to become a ninja, they will either be supported by the clan or assigned to manage the clan’s business to serve its financial interests, rather than being sent to the Ninja Academy to become a laughingstock for the family.
In Konohagakure’s history, among the commoners who took the exam, the most famous is undoubtedly the man of the future who was said to have nearly kicked his way to the series’ conclusion.
He could be considered the strongest dropout in the ninja world.
.....
As Sarutobi Ichiro called out the names, everyone reacted differently.
"An Uchiha... If I lose, I’ll definitely be punished by the elders again... No, I won’t lose."
Standing in the crowd, Hyuga Hizashi glanced at the calm-faced black-haired boy before lowering his head and muttering softly.
"That’s not necessarily true."
Just as Hyuga Hizashi was muttering to himself, a voice tinged with amusement came from behind him. The sudden sound startled Hyuga Hizashi.
He turned sharply toward the source of the voice and saw that Uchiha Xuan, who had been standing far away just moments ago, was now right behind him.
’When did he get here?!’
Faced with Uchiha Xuan’s sudden appearance behind him, Hyuga Hizashi felt a pang of tension.
Such speed...
"Hyuga guy, I’m curious... how much power can those eyes of yours really bring you?"
Uchiha Xuan smiled as he looked at Hyuga Hizashi, who was staring at him in shock, and spoke softly.
That smiling face, however, made Hyuga Hizashi sense deep malice... and a strange sense of anticipation.
’This guy... really wants to fight me... What a nasty fellow.’
"You’ll find out."
Masking his earlier surprise with a change in expression, Hyuga Hizashi looked at Uchiha Xuan and spoke solemnly.
Uchiha Xuan’s deliberate provocation, mentioning the Byakugan, gave this Combat Practice an additional layer of meaning.
"Is that so? I’m looking forward to it. But as your opponent, I’ll reluctantly give you a warning: in the upcoming fight...
If you can’t give it your all to entertain me, you’ll lose very, very badly. I believe... that’s something you don’t want to experience."
Uchiha Xuan’s face still wore a smile. If one ignored the words coming from his mouth, he almost seemed somewhat amiable.
"Ahem, that... I didn’t mean to interrupt your conflict, but since we’re all classmates, wouldn’t it be better if we got along?"
As Uchiha Xuan spoke, another voice suddenly joined in from the side.
Uchiha Xuan turned to see ’Little Sun’ Namikaze Minato scratching his head as he walked over.
"Do you also wish to dance?"
Looking at Namikaze Minato, Uchiha Xuan suddenly spoke.
This unexpected remark left Namikaze Minato, who had prepared several lines of mediation, momentarily stunned.
’Dance? Were Xuan and the others actually having a dance battle?’
"Never mind, just kidding. Hey, Minato, how about we spar later too?"
Seeing the bewildered Namikaze Minato, Uchiha Xuan, satisfied with his mischievous joke, continued.
"Huh? Shouldn’t we follow the teacher’s arrangements? Fighting on our own probably isn’t allowed, right?"
Unable to keep up with Uchiha Xuan’s train of thought, Namikaze Minato awkwardly scratched his blond hair and spoke softly.
"Hmph, arrogant!"
Hyuga Hizashi, seeing Uchiha Xuan ignore him and chat with Namikaze Minato, couldn’t help but snort coldly.
"Next pair! Uchiha Xuan versus Hyuga Hizashi! Both of you, step forward and form the Opposing Hand Seal."
Sarutobi Ichiro’s voice rang out at just the right moment.
"Let’s go."
Uchiha Xuan tilted his head to look at Hyuga Hizashi, his smile unchanged, and took a step forward toward the center of the training ground. Hyuga Hizashi followed closely behind.
"Well, Teacher Sarutobi Ichiro, the purpose of this Combat Practice class is to assess everyone’s abilities, right? So, can I challenge everyone present directly?"
On the training ground.
Uchiha Xuan stood still, forming the Opposing Hand Seal with one hand as he looked at Hyuga Hizashi, who was also forming the seal, and softly asked Sarutobi Ichiro.
"As I said at the beginning, Class A’s teaching methods are completely different from other classes. This Combat Practice class is indeed meant to gauge your levels. If you wish, I can adjust the arrangements, but keep in mind the time—I don’t have that much to spare for your games."
Sarutobi Ichiro frowned upon hearing this. Looking at the smiling Uchiha Xuan, his gaze fell on the clan emblem on the back of Uchiha Xuan’s clothes before he spoke in a low voice.
It’s only natural for an Uchiha child to say something like this.
"Don’t worry, it won’t take much time. Come on."
Hearing Sarutobi Ichiro agree, Uchiha Xuan’s smile widened. He lowered his Opposing Hand Seal, palm facing upward, and gestured slightly toward Hyuga Hizashi in front of him.
"Arrogant!"
Uchiha Xuan’s dismissive tone made Hyuga Hizashi’s face flush red, veins instantly bulging at his temples.
Byakugan! Activate!
Whoosh!
Accompanying his angry shout, Hyuga Hizashi’s figure surged forward.
His robes billowed as he closed in on Uchiha Xuan. Raising his arm, Hyuga Hizashi struck out with a palm toward Uchiha Xuan.
"Eight Trigrams..."
Thump!
Watching Hyuga Hizashi charge toward him, Uchiha Xuan smirked and swung his hand.
No fancy moves, just an extremely simple slap.
The sharp pain on his face instantly cut off the words "Second Palm" that Hyuga Hizashi was about to shout. As Uchiha Xuan’s palm came down, Hyuga Hizashi stumbled and collapsed in front of him.
"Sorry, but Sarutobi Ichiro-sensei said... he doesn’t have time to play around with me. Well, sensei, shall we move on to the next one?"
Looking down at Hyuga Hizashi, who lay sprawled before him with an expression of utter disbelief, Uchiha Xuan smiled faintly and spoke softly. He then turned his gaze toward Sarutobi Ichiro, who stood nearby with an equally astonished look, and addressed him gently.