We arrived at class almost ten minutes early, which was unusual for me. Shizuru was restless, and Genta was curious about who our new sensei would be. I, however, wasn't excited at all. I had a bad feeling that the moment I stepped in, Kaen would have his Sharingan activated just to watch me.
I sighed in despair as we walked into the advanced class.
Of course, we were still the last to arrive. I muttered under my breath about overachieving idiots, then froze as I noticed it, a pair of red eyes opening and locking straight onto me. I looked toward the front rows and, sure enough, Kaen had activated his Sharingan. A single tomoe spun slowly as he studied me with full focus. I didn't meet his gaze. I just smiled.
Before anything else could happen, I heard Sena's melodic voice calling out, inviting me, Genta, and Shizuru to sit in the front row. That was... annoying. I preferred to stay out of the instructor's direct line of sight just in case I wanted to sneak in a nap or quietly mess with my chakra on the side. But I couldn't say no. I owed her family too much already.
So I walked forward, with Genta and Shizuru following behind.
I grumbled under my breath. "Why would you pick front seats? You know me."
She shook her head. "It won't matter how far you are from this instructor. You won't be able to hide."
Me, Genta, and Shizuru all raised an eyebrow. What the hell was that supposed to mean?
Then we heard it. The classroom door slid open with a soft clack, followed by the quiet, deliberate sound of sandals against wooden flooring.
The man who entered wasn't loud. He didn't need to be.
Tall, straight-backed, and wearing a pale grey flak vest that looked freshly maintained, Hyuga Seiji walked with the kind of stillness that made the entire room go still with him. His steps were light, but every movement felt deliberate, like he was testing the floor for weaknesses.
He wore his Konoha forehead protector the standard way, just beneath the shadow of his silver hair, which was tied loosely at the back. The veins around his eyes were faintly visible, his Byakugan was already active, scanning the room.
But it was the way he looked at us that made even Genta forget to breathe. His expression wasn't angry or stern. Just... unreadable. Measured. Like he was calculating the threat level of every single one of us. One glance from him felt like someone pressing cold metal against the back of your neck.
"Stand," he said simply.
We all stood. Even Kaen, which honestly said a lot.
His pale eyes moved across the room like a quiet storm.
"I am Hyuga Seiji. An elite chunin and I will be your instructor." He paused, only for a single breath. "I was told this class is... unique."
I could swear his gaze lingered a little longer on me before shifting to Genta, then Sena, then Kaen, then Shizuru. Then it hit me. Wasn't this the same Hyuga chunin instructor who caused that wild bear incident back when I lived at the orphanage?
My eyes widened. What a small, cursed world.
He smiled faintly. "Good. I like unique."
Without another word, he turned and walked toward the board.
Just as Kenta Inuzuka started whispering something to Daigo Akimichi, Seiji spoke again. No change in tone, no glance over his shoulder.
"Kenta, stop talking. Or you'll have a very hard time during physical exercises later."
Silence.
The whole room froze. His Byakugan had been active from the start, and now we realized he didn't even need to look at us to know what we were doing. Psychological warfare at its finest.
And now I understood exactly what Sena meant.
I sighed quietly to myself. Must be nice to be so well-connected.
Shizuru was now in full Nara-student mode, posture perfect, eyes locked forward, hands folded on the desk like she was made of discipline.
Then Seiji continued.
"Over the third year, you'll be placed in simulated field exercises. Real scenarios. Tracking targets. Securing scrolls. Protecting civilians. Reacting to ambushes. You will be watched. And you will be judged."
His pale eyes swept the room again, veins clearly pronounced. I knew what that meant, Byakugan fully active, seeing our chakra, our posture, probably even our sleep schedules.
"You're not children anymore," he said. "And from this point on, you won't be treated like children. If you fall behind, you will not catch up. If you adapt, you might just survive."
Genta let out a quiet, nervous chuckle.
I could feel the tension rolling off Shizuru like steam.
And me?
I didn't say a word.
Because this wasn't just the Academy anymore.
This was a countdown to war.
After class ended, Seiji asked me to follow him to his office. Thankfully, it wasn't the same as the one Daiken-sensei used to operate out of.
The moment I stepped in, I could tell. This was a different office.
The place was spotless. Not just tidy, surgically neat. Scrolls lined the walls, each one perfectly placed like they were afraid to lean. At the center of the room was a polished wooden desk, bare except for a single ink brush and a closed mission ledger.
A bonsai tree sat on the windowsill, trimmed to perfection. The air itself felt sharp. Disciplined. Like it had passed inspection.
I took a breath. This guy did not mess around.
But then he smiled.
"It's good to see you again, Noa-kun."
I chuckled, scratching my head. "You too, Seiji-sensei."
He nodded. "You've come a long way since the last time I saw you. If you keep this pace, you might surpass me before long."
I blinked. A compliment? From a Hyuga?
"Thank you, sensei," I said. "I'm looking forward to graduating. Finally getting out there. Missions and all."
He opened the top drawer of his desk and pulled out two sealed scrolls. Both had fresh red wax, stamped with the Hokage's insignia.
"A gift," he said. "From the Hokage himself. Two lightning-style techniques. Personal recommendations, based on your progress."
My curiosity spiked as I took the scrolls. These weren't old Academy throwaways. These were hand-picked.
Seiji continued as I opened the first.
"The first one is Lightning Release: Thunderclap Lance. A piercing, high-speed technique. You focus chakra into a tight spear and thrust it like a lightning kunai, propelled entirely by chakra. Fast, accurate, and potentially deadly if it lands."
I scanned the chakra formation diagram. Definitely tricky, but I could already see how it would fit my style.
He gestured to the second scroll.
"The other is Lightning Release: Arc Net. It's different from your Pulse Chain. Less damage, more utility. You anchor the chakra to multiple surfaces. When someone crosses the field, it triggers, a web of lightning arcs that bind or shock the target in place. Think trap, not strike. Great for ambushes or controlling tight terrain."
My mind lit up again. This one had some devious potential.
I muttered, "He really sent these for me?"
"He did," Seiji confirmed. "And with your level of control, these aren't just techniques. They'll become part of your identity if you let them."
I smirked. "Looks like I've got my work cut out for me."
"Good," he said. "I'd hate to see all that potential go to waste. And since I owe you for the bear incident, I'll be helping you master them."
I raised an eyebrow. "Wait, are you a lightning user?"
He shook his head. "I'm not. But with my Byakugan, I can spot exactly where your chakra flow goes wrong. I'll help you adjust, give tips on chakra refinement, and help you improve your ninjutsu learning process."
I couldn't help but be impressed. The guy was really making the most of that eye, and I had to admit, Konoha sure knew how to pick its senseis.
I looked at him and nodded. "Thanks, sensei. I'm looking forward to training with you."