"You're a girl, yet you want to take in underlings? Even act as a big sister? With your attitude, which girl would dare to hang out with you?"
In the classroom, Ryun pinched Kushina's little ear and scolded her repeatedly.
"Ah... What's the big deal about taking in a few underlings? If I want to beat someone up later, I can just have my underlings do it. Let's see who dares to mess with me then..."
Kushina grinned mischievously, her eyes glancing toward Satō and the others nearby...
Those troublemakers gulped nervously upon hearing this. This semester, they were probably going to have a very tough time...
Ryun twisted her ear a little harder.
"Have you ever considered that others might use your name to bully people, and when they get beaten up, they'll come crying to you for help... Won't that just create endless trouble for you? Do you really think being a big sister means you don't have to take responsibility?"
"Ow... It hurts, it hurts... I get it, let go already..." Kushina winced in pain, begging him to stop.
Ryun chuckled and released her. This move was something he learned from his mom—perfect for dealing with disobedient brats...
"Fine... I'll only take in a few well-behaved and strong ones, okay?"
Kushina rubbed her reddened ear, her face full of resentment.
She still wanted to experience what it felt like to be the boss... Not to bully others, but just to avoid being bullied herself.
"..."
Soon, the class bell rang, and Instructor Koda walked into the classroom with a bright smile.
He greeted the students warmly and soon began the new semester's lessons.
"Students, did you all train hard during the break? Did you complete the summer homework I assigned?"
The tasks Instructor Koda assigned weren't just written assignments on ninja knowledge but also included physical training. At the start of the new semester, he needed to check their progress.
After reviewing and grading all the homework, he confirmed that the students had been obedient. No troublemakers dared to skip the assignments or hand in blank papers...
Those who failed to complete their homework risked facing a punishment of at least ten times the original workload. If they still couldn't finish it, it would prove they treated missions as a joke, lacked discipline, and weren't cut out to be ninjas...
The Ninja Academy would expel such troublemakers on the spot.
"Good, everyone did well. Now, we'll move on to outdoor training. As per tradition, the new semester begins with one-on-one ranking battles!"
As Instructor Koda finished speaking, many students grew excited, eager to prove themselves.
The Ninja Academy encouraged a ranking system to motivate students to train harder and compete with each other for growth.
They didn't coddle the weak or protect their fragile self-esteem. If you didn't want to be the laughingstock of the class, you had to push yourself to improve. If you ended up at the bottom every semester, don't blame others for mocking or even trampling on you...
If all you did during summer break was eat, sleep, and read dirty comics, then on the first day back, you'd definitely get beaten up.
After scanning the classroom, Instructor Koda already knew which students had slacked off. The pale-faced ones had clearly neglected their training...
Outdoor Training Grounds
"Now, we'll begin the official match draw. When your number is called, step forward to fight. Those not called must watch carefully and learn from the battles."
Instructor Koda shouted, and the students all waited anxiously, praying they'd get matched against weaker opponents—definitely not someone like Namikaze Minato, who always ranked first, or Kushina, who was tough, relentless, and never gave up...
"Number 4—Kameda... VS... Number 13—Uzumaki Kushina!"
Instructor Koda randomly picked two slips of paper and read out the names.
"Whoa..."
The students erupted in excitement. Ryun couldn't help but laugh in surprise.
He hadn't expected Kushina to be the first one up, and her opponent was none other than Kameda, the kid who had once pulled her hair. Talk about fate playing tricks...
"Hahaha, Ryun, just watch! I'll teach this little turtle boy a lesson, hehe..."
Kushina cracked her knuckles menacingly, grinning so widely that Kameda began to tremble in fear.
Opportunities to beat someone up legally were rare, and Kushina looked like she couldn't wait...
"I... I forfeit... I surrender, I give up..."
Kameda hurriedly ran to Instructor Koda and announced his surrender...
While shameful, every student had the right to forfeit once without fighting. Kameda had just used his chance.
No way was he going to fight Kushina one-on-one. That was practically suicide...
Kameda would rather face the Little Brat than the Red Hot Habanero...
Just as Kushina, annoyed, was about to walk back to the group, Ryun suddenly stepped forward and loudly declared:
"Instructor Koda, I don't think the first match should end like this. Kameda has no competitive spirit at all. This is blatant disrespect toward his classmates and you..."
Ryun's face twisted into a sly grin.
"I believe a ninja should be brave and fearless. Courage comes first."
"This is the first battle of the new semester. It holds special meaning. If the first fight ends in surrender, what happens if we go to war someday and surrender before even fighting? Wouldn't Konoha become a joke?"
His words struck a chord with the students. Instructor Koda stroked his chin thoughtfully before nodding in agreement.
"You're talking nonsense!!!"
Kameda, furious and humiliated, finally couldn't hold back his anger.
He never expected this damn bastard to spout such shameless nonsense just so Kushina could beat him up!
The worst part? It actually sounded reasonable at first glance... Kameda was so mad he could barely speak.
"You... You scheming bastard, spouting all this high-sounding crap just so Kushina can beat me up, huh? Instructor Koda, I demand a one-on-one fight with this guy!"
Kameda's eyes reddened with rage. Right now, he just wanted to tear Ryun's mouth apart... even if he might lose...
"Instructor Koda, Kameda has repeatedly insulted Ryun in public. I want to report him!"
Kushina raised her hand, pointing out Kameda's misbehavior.
"Kameda, apologize to Ryun right now!" Instructor Koda scowled and scolded the trembling boy.
Kameda's face turned beet red, his whole body shaking with anger.
This damn couple was too infuriating!
"Teacher, see? I wasn't wrong about him disrespecting his classmates and you."
"Just think about what he said earlier. Think about it carefully..."
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