The room was silent, save for the faint rustle of the evening breeze slipping through the cracks of the Uchiha compound. Uchiha Hikaru sat across from his son, his sharp eyes narrowed in contemplation.
"Okay, show me your Sharingan," Hikaru said.
Hui met his father's gaze, his expression unreadable. For a moment, he said nothing, letting the silence stretch between them. Then, without a word, he closed his eyes. The room seemed to grow colder, the air thickening with anticipation.
When Hui opened his eyes again, the Sharingan stared back at Hikaru—two crimson orbs, each bearing a single tomoe that rotated lazily around the pupils. The blood-red hue of his irises seemed to glow in the dim light, casting an eerie shadow across the room.
Hikaru's breath hitched. His own Sharingan flickered to life instinctively, the three tomoe in each eye spinning rapidly as if trying to process what he was seeing. "You…" he whispered, his voice trembling with disbelief. "You've already awakened the Sharingan?"
Hui didn't respond immediately. He let the weight of his father's shock settle, his Sharingan unwavering. The tomoe in his eyes seemed darker, more pronounced than those of a typical Sharingan, though Hikaru was too stunned to notice the subtle difference.
"How?" Hikaru demanded, his voice rising. "When did this happen?"
Hui's expression remained calm, almost detached. "During the fight with Yufumi," he said simply. "I saw his movements, his chakra flow… and then it just happened."
Hikaru leaned back, his mind racing. The Sharingan wasn't something that awakened easily. It required intense emotional turmoil, a moment of profound stress or trauma. Yet here was his son, barely more than a child, with the eyes of a seasoned Uchiha warrior.
Uchiha Hui nodded, a flicker of confusion crossing his face. He didn't understand why Uchiha Hikaru reacted this way.
Uchiha Hikaru hadn't expected Uchiha Hui's talent to be this remarkable. Combined with his bloodline, such potential could easily make others in the village envious.
With unease stirring inside him, Uchiha Hikaru frowned deeply and asked in a serious tone, "Who knows that you've awakened the Sharingan?"
After a moment of thought, Uchiha Hui shook his head, took out a pair of sunglasses from his pocket, and said, "I wear these whenever I use it. No one else should know."
The tension in Uchiha Hikaru's eyes eased slightly. He glanced at Uchiha Hui with approval and said seriously, "That's good. Remember, don't reveal your Sharingan unless absolutely necessary."
Uchiha Hui hadn't expected such concern from his father. He had no intention of exposing his Sharingan, knowing its distinct pattern could draw unwanted attention. While Konoha seemed peaceful, Hui knew it wasn't as harmonious as it appeared. Still, Uchiha Hikaru's concern suggested there was something more.
Uchiha Hui chose not to ask further and obediently said, "Understood, Father."
Since the graduating class included students aged five to ten, the seating arrangement was based on height to ensure everyone could see the teacher. Because Hui often practiced chakra control during class, he had originally chosen to sit in the back. However, he had been moved to the front halfway through the previous day.
Now, Uchiha Hui's seatmate was Yūgao Uzuki. At seven years old, she was the shortest in the class aside from Hui.
According to Yūgao, she hadn't always been the shortest, but her former tablemate had been handpicked as a disciple by one of the Legendary Sannin and had graduated early.
Throughout the lesson, Hui felt a persistent glare from behind. Without looking back, he knew it was Hyuga Yufumi. The ten-year-old sat in the back row and had developed a habit of watching Hui closely.
Unlike other classes, the graduating class often held group training sessions that included frequent sparring matches. After each fight, students were required to form the Seal of Reconciliation, a symbolic gesture tracing back to the legendary conflict between the Uchiha and Senju clans. Yet despite its intention, many believed the Valley of the End battle had proven it to be an empty tradition.
The first lesson ended, and the second was scheduled for practical training. The class teacher led the students to the training ground.
The matchups had already been assigned. Using his Byakugan, Hyuga Yufumi glanced at the roster and found that Uchiha Hui was paired with Moonlight Hayate, while Yufumi himself would face Yūgao Uzuki.
Yufumi knew Moonlight Hayate was currently stronger than him. Before reaching the chunin level, a ninja specializing in swordsmanship held a clear advantage. Yufumi believed he could surpass Hayate after advancing to jonin, but for now...
Rolling his eyes toward Hayate, who occasionally glanced at Yūgao, Yufumi smirked. Even if he couldn't defeat Uchiha Hui himself, embarrassing Hui in front of the class would be enough.
While Yufumi sparred with Kamizuki Izumo and Kotetsu Hagane in the first round, he found time to approach Uchiha Hui afterward.
"Uchiha Hui," Yufumi declared smugly, "this time we're fighting fair and square. When I face you, I'll beat you to the ground."
Uchiha Hui glanced at Yufumi indifferently, uninterested in whatever scheme Yufumi had in mind. He didn't bother to respond. Tired of Yufumi's endless provocations, Hui simply ignored him, slipping on his sunglasses to block out the irritation.
Seeing Hui brush him off only made Yufumi angrier. His face turned red. "You!" he sputtered.
Despite his frustration, Yufumi held back. The teacher was watching, and provoking Hui here wouldn't be wise.
Not far away, Yūgao noticed the exchange. She glanced at Yufumi with contempt and muttered, "He's ten years old and still brags about beating a five-year-old. Embarrassing."
Hayate overheard her and couldn't disagree.
Yufumi, however, grinned smugly. Turning to Yūgao, he sneered, "That's just tricks. Besides, what I do to Uchiha Hui has nothing to do with you. As a woman , you shouldn't meddle in men's affairs."
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