That afternoon, the academy finally selected the other eight contestants. At the school assembly, the administrators introduced the children who would go to Takigakure to compete.
Every time a name was announced, the students below the stage broke into enthusiastic applause—until it was Hyuga Shigeo's turn. At that moment, silence fell. Some even scoffed. Only Yamashiro Aoba's class clapped in congratulations.
"You've got no shame, huh? Applauding someone who got in through the back door—he'll just drag us down!"
Someone in the crowd berated Aoba's students.
Inuzuka Hana stepped forward angrily:
"You don't know what you're talking about! He got promoted because he has ability. Haven't you heard the rumors? He even defeated people from Iwagakure—"
"Pfft, you believe that crap? Kids really are gullible. That blind kid can't even qualify as a genin. Sending him will only embarrass Konoha. I can't believe the academy would allow this…"
Down below, people whispered and mocked, but the stage couldn't hear. The village had already assigned three jōnin to escort the team to Takigakure: Nara Shikaku, Kakashi, and Might Guy.
Guy, who had recently joined the academy faculty, was the power-type specialist. Kakashi, currently captain of ANBU, had been told to reveal his identity for this mission as a sign of how seriously the village was taking it. And Shikaku, sharp and calculating, would provide strategies and countermeasures if anything unexpected happened.
As for the students, besides Hyuga Shigeo, there was Uchiha Itachi, and seven other nine-year-olds—each carefully chosen from the strongest among their peers.
Shigeo and Itachi were the youngest. But the difference was clear: everyone feared Itachi. Some students even avoided him in the halls.
From the academy to the village gates, Shigeo could already sense the hierarchy within the group.
He moved closer to Itachi and whispered:
"Big bro, you'd better look after me these next few days."
"Don't act dumb. I know what you're really like," Itachi muttered.
That night when they sparred at Nishiyama, Shigeo's ability far outstripped his own. Because of that fight, Itachi had trained relentlessly, unwilling to be left behind. He knew the real reason the Sandaime let Shigeo skip ahead: Shigeo absolutely had the power.
Then a tall boy sneered:
"Hyuga Shigeo, how much money did you pay to get in? Which teacher did you bribe? How could they let a blind kid like you disgrace Konoha?"
Shigeo's lips curled. "Why would I need to pay? If the Sandaime hadn't forced me to join, I wouldn't even bother."
The others laughed.
"Hah! You, forced by the Hokage? You probably don't even know what he looks like. A blind Hyuga—what a joke!"
"Watch your mouth."
"If you don't like it, then duel me. Weaklings shouldn't be in this exam."
"Group fight, one by one, doesn't matter to me. Come on!" Shigeo stepped forward coldly.
Everyone except Itachi surged toward him—until Might Guy appeared.
"Who here has the weakest stamina?" Guy shouted. "Whoever it is, I'll personally give them special training!"
All the students instinctively took a step back and pointed at Shigeo.
"Oh? Shigeo, is it you? Perfect! Let's start some burning youthful training!" Guy grinned and threw an arm around his shoulder.
Even Itachi gave Shigeo a pat on the shoulder. "Good luck."
Shigeo sighed in misery. Against the Sandaime he could argue with sharp words, but against Guy… he was helpless. That overwhelming enthusiasm was impossible to refuse.
"Sensei, can I skip training?" he asked weakly.
"No! Youth must burn hot! Only a blazing youth is a true youth! Let's see just how weak you really are!" Guy flipped upside down, began walking on his hands, and sprinted out of the village gate.
"Come! Burn with passion!"
The other students jeered.
"Keep up, Shigeo! Hurry!"
Shigeo exhaled slowly. For Guy's sake, he decided to go along. After all, in the original timeline he had admired Guy and Lee—hard work embodied. Besides, his taijutsu training had fallen behind while he focused on seals and new kekkei genkai. This was the perfect excuse to build it back up.
With a flip, he also began running on his hands after Guy.
The others groaned when Guy shouted:
"Everyone, join us! Let's all burn together!"
Reluctantly, even the other eight students dropped down to run on their hands.
They grumbled the whole way, but Guy wasn't fooled. As an elite jōnin, he had already judged each child's true ability. This "group training" was really just his way of testing them all.
(End of Chapter)
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