Yuji had spent more than an hour wandering around Konoha Village.
He visited one training ground after another, searching for the perfect target—a genin willing to spar with him. Unfortunately, every place he checked was either empty or occupied by shinobi who looked far too busy to entertain a tiny kid asking for a duel.
"...This is harder than finding discounted ramen."
Just as boredom began creeping in, he noticed a group of ninjas having lunch beneath a large tree near one of the training grounds.
Three young ninjas sat together with an adult wearing the standard green flak jacket of a Konoha chuunin.
Perfect.
Yuji walked over.
"Excuse me for interrupting."
The four of them looked up in surprise.
The adult ninja was Sarutobi Iwabe, a chuunin leading a genin squad.
"Waaah! He’s so adorable!" one of the female genin squealed, her eyes sparkling.
Iwabe noticed the Uchiha crest embroidered on Yuji’s shirt.
"An Uchiha child? Do you need something?"
Anyone in Konoha could recognize that fan-shaped symbol.
With tensions between the Uchiha Clan and the village growing worse by the day, Iwabe—being a member of the Sarutobi Clan—wasn’t exactly fond of them.
"Um... My name is Uchiha Yuji," he introduced himself politely, his face as expressionless as ever. "I’d like to duel one of your students."
"...A duel?" one of the male genin repeated.
He scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
"Kid... I don’t hit little girls."
"Ehhhhhh?!" the female genin gasped.
"His name is Yuji... Wait... He’s a boy?"
"Yes," Yuji answered flatly. "I’m a boy."
The entire team froze.
One looked embarrassed.
One looked guilty.
One looked like his brain had just blue-screened.
"...Sorry," the first boy muttered. "Your face is... really misleading."
"...I get that a lot."
Yuji didn’t even sound offended anymore.
He’d clearly heard it enough times that his soul had built immunity.
Iwabe cleared his throat.
"Why are you asking for a duel? Did the Uchiha Clan order you to?"
"No."
Yuji shook his head.
"This is my own decision. I simply want to know how strong a genin is."
Iwabe frowned.
A child who hasn’t even entered the Academy wants to challenge a genin?
How... very Uchiha.
"I’m afraid we’ll have to decline," Iwabe said. "You’re far too young."
"If word spreads that my students beat up a tiny Uchiha child who isn’t even a ninja yet, I’d be the one getting lectured by the Hokage."
He paused.
"Speaking of which... shouldn’t you be in the Academy?"
"...I..."
Yuji hesitated.
"...I haven’t enrolled yet."
Somehow, admitting that felt more embarrassing than asking strangers to punch him.
The female genin blinked.
"...Wait."
"So you’re a ...?"
Yuji’s eye twitched.
"...I’m five , almost six."
"Oh."
"...Right."
An awkward silence followed.
Yuji coughed into his fist.
"How about this?"
"I’ll pay one thousand ryo to whichever of your students spars with me."
He continued before anyone could interrupt.
"This is my personal request. No matter what happens, I won’t tell anyone."
"I swear it in the name of the Uchiha Clan."
Among the Uchiha, swearing upon the clan’s name wasn’t something done lightly.
Breaking such an oath meant staining the clan’s honor.
Of course...
Yuji was also quietly exploiting another fact.
Since he was technically still a civilian, shinobi weren’t allowed to assault him without reason.
If they seriously injured him...
Well...
Explaining that to the Hokage would be a very unpleasant afternoon.
Iwabe stared into Yuji’s unwavering eyes.
The boy was serious.
"...And," Yuji added calmly, "don’t forget."
"I’m an Uchiha."
"I’m not weak."
That final sentence tipped the scales.
The three genin exchanged glances before one of the boys finally stood.
He had short, spiky hair and had remained quiet until now.
"Sensei."
"I’ll do it."
"I’ll try not to beat him into a pulp."
"Y-Yama!" the female genin exclaimed.
"Isn’t that a little mean?"
Yama shrugged.
"It’s what he wants."
"He comes from the famous Uchiha Clan."
"If losing teaches him not to be arrogant, it’ll be a valuable lesson."
Yuji looked at him.
...This guy has already written my defeat into the script.
How considerate.
Iwabe sighed.
"...Fine."
"But taijutsu only."
"No ninja tools."
"No ninjutsu."
"No exceptions."
"I don’t want anyone accidentally hitting on a little girl—uh, I mean, a little boy."
"Understood."
Yuji bowed respectfully.
"Thank you."
His black eyes slowly lifted toward Yama.
Finally...
After searching the entire village...
He had found his first opponent.