Naori's opponent was one of her own clan members.
A boy in the class named Uchiha Yashiro—spiky-haired like a hedgehog, squinty-eyed, and with a perpetually fierce expression—wasn't exactly handsome, even by Uchiha standards. But his face still bore the same arrogance and pride typical of their clan.
In contrast, Naori, with her long wavy hair and gentle expression, appeared soft and unassuming—far from intimidating.
Yet it was Naori who chose Yashiro as her opponent.
That choice alone said everything. True to Uchiha pride, Naori disdained fighting the weak—even classmates like Hyuga. Her pride wouldn't allow it.
Yashiro was considered one of the stronger boys in class, and since Naori didn't have to show mercy against a fellow Uchiha, the fight would be taken seriously.
In the Uchiha clan, the gentler and more mild-mannered someone seemed, the more dangerous they often were.
This was especially true for those sensitive to negative emotions. Such individuals were more likely to awaken the Sharingan, and Naori was one of them. Unlike the typical vengeful Uchiha, Naori's personality remained calm and kind—but when pushed, she fell into extremes, unlocking a brief yet devastating power: a genjutsu of almost ephemeral beauty known as Hanabi.
She also created Izanami, a gentler, seemingly merciful illusion meant to guide and persuade. But beneath its facade, it was a terrifying genjutsu that could warp a person's mind and identity—comparable in power to Kotoamatsukami, Shisui's mind-controlling illusion.
While Kotoamatsukami was a natural ability of Shisui's Mangekyō, Naori developed her genjutsu independently. It took only two or three years after the Uchiha Civil War. In comparison, her talent arguably surpassed Shisui's.
More importantly, Naori had successfully prevented the clan's civil war and delayed its eventual downfall. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call her the strongest Uchiha of that era.
To put it bluntly—none of the Sannin could have matched her.
The more Maki reflected on this, the more she paid attention to the seemingly harmless girl standing before her.
After the ceremonial seal, the match began—and ended in an instant.
At this age, few Uchiha had mastered Fire Release. Maki suspected Naori might be different—but she didn't need it.
The two charged at each other. At the moment they crossed paths, most couldn't even follow the movement.
In the blink of an eye, Yashiro was on the ground, pinned by Naori with a kunai pressed against his throat. A flawless takedown. Precise, clean, and brutal.
It wasn't even a competition. It was like an adult fighting a child.
"Winner: Uchiha Naori!"
Naori stood and politely thanked Yashiro for the match.
"Damn it!" Yashiro spat bitterly, clearly unable to grasp just how vast the gap between them was. He still believed the difference was small.
But some people saw the truth.
Hyuga Hitomi, eyes wide with her Byakugan active, stared intently at Naori.
As someone born into a clan known for its taijutsu, she recognized the skill instantly. She had seen it before—when her father trained her at home. The same efficiency. The same precision.
She bit her lip in frustration.
She had dropped to fourth place.
The current class ranking stood at:
1st – Maki
2nd – Tsunade
3rd – Uchiha Naori
4th – Hyuga Hitomi
She hadn't even fought any of them yet—but she already knew she couldn't beat Tsunade or Naori.
Tsunade lacked refined technique, but one punch from her could flatten anyone.
And when Hitomi had once managed to hit her, the damage was negligible—like scratching a monster.
If their battle dragged on, it would turn into a contest of stamina and chakra. In that kind of fight, the only outcome would be her defeat.
Upon observation, Hitomi realized that Naori's chakra was about the same as her own, meaning her attacks could cause significant trouble for Naori. However, the real issue was that Naori's technique was far more refined than hers.
She couldn't see many of the moves clearly, and before she knew it, the battle ended inexplicably.
The abnormal speed of his strikes—if one didn't recognize it in time, failure was inevitable.
These monsters!
Hitomi gritted her teeth as she glared at Maki. She didn't want to look any further at the situation unfolding within Maki's body.
This monster among monsters...!
She swore to herself. Don't think you'll escape me!
"Finally, it's my turn!"
Jiraiya's loud, exaggerated laugh rang out. All the boys immediately turned their attention to him, eager for the chance to face him.
At this point, Jiraiya wasn't quite up to snuff, so he quickly chose his opponent, and the battle began. It was a very standard fight between novices—heavy blows and pained cries filled the air as they pummeled each other with punches, occasionally interrupted by insults. It was a fierce and evenly matched contest.
In other words, it was a simple battle of endurance, seeing who could take the most punishment.
Tsunade, still recovering from the massive chakra extraction, stared blankly at the sky, unable to focus yet.
Hyuga Hitomi turned her gaze back to Maki.
Meanwhile, Maki was watching Naori. Even with Maki's mask hiding her expression, Naori noticed her gaze and responded with a shy yet gentle smile.
Hitomi, seeing this, gritted her teeth and turned away bitterly.
That monster never even looks at me!
She fumed. Monsters only notice other monsters!
Maki, however, acknowledged Naori with a slight nod, confirming her earlier thoughts. As expected, this girl can't be underestimated.
Maki's eyes opened.
In that brief moment, the parasitic bug had already detected the unusually cold chakra emanating from Naori.
There was no mistaking it. As a product of Yang Release, parasites were particularly sensitive to Yin Release.
Her young body wasn't quite capable of using the Sharingan for long periods, so it was an incredibly skilled and strategic move to turn it on and off in an instant—to gain insight and seize an opportunity in the battle, all while minimizing chakra consumption.
In that split second, no one except Maki noticed the shift in her eyes. This showed that Naori had outstanding fighting instincts, awareness, and reflexes.
Naori was indeed a true monster.
–––
Uchiha? The Third Hokage observed the scene in the crystal ball, taking a slow puff from his cigarette.
This kid's physical skills are better than Tsunade's.
He mused. And she seems to have a good personality too.
The Hokage then glanced at Jiraiya, who was covered in bruises but still laughing and shouting after his victory. The old man couldn't help but smile.
What a lively and resilient child.
His gaze then shifted to Maki, his expression turning thoughtful.
This child… she doesn't seem as lively, but then again, the Aburame clan tends to be more reserved. At least her last name isn't Uchiha.
He nodded, relieved, before sighing.
The next step is how to make contact with her. It's a bit tricky though. It would be much easier if she was as easy to read as that silly, white-haired boy.
On the field, it was Hyuga Hitomi's turn.
Looking at the bandage on Hitomi's head, the Hokage's expression darkened.
Such a young child, burdened with such a heavy fate.
He recalled the first time he saw her, back when she started school. She had looked so innocent and unaware.
And now... look at her. That cold expression. Growth can be so cruel.
The Hokage sighed, thinking of the village he swore to protect. I promised a place where children could grow up without worry, like a family... as Hokage, I've failed in that.
He chuckled bitterly to himself.
The First and Second Hokage have really left me with difficult shoes to fill.
"Haah! Gentle Fist!"
Hinata's shout broke his thoughts as she launched herself into battle. Like a tiger, she rushed forward and struck her opponent's parrying hands with a powerful palm.
Compared to her usual preference for defensive counterattacks, Hyuga Hitomi was much more aggressive now.
Maki remembered the weak girl she'd first encountered, but now Hitomi had built an armor around her heart.
Is she strong? Fragile? It's hard to say.
Despite her young age, Hitomi had mastered the Gentle Fist technique. However, she wasn't yet capable of penetrating the deeper layers of her opponent's muscles and chakra network to cause paralysis.
Even so, her strikes were still painful. The opponent, orochimaru, winced as he felt the sharp sting from her palm. The pain spread through his chest, and with a final light touch to his chest, he collapsed to the ground, crying out in agony. He couldn't get back up.
Compared to the physical pain from other boys' punches, the pain Hinata caused was far more insidious—like a needle pricking him. Orochimaru felt as if he might faint at any moment and could only cry out in frustration.
I really regret choosing this opponent!
Hyuga Hitomi won easily.
She looked down at Orochimaru, who was still writhing on the ground. With a dismissive snort, she turned away. I didn't want to fight someone like him, but there's no real challenge left. He brought it upon himself.
The Third Hokage, still smoking his pipe, watched the scene with a quiet pride.
There are so many talented children in Konoha.
___________
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