Hearing the student's prompt, Mizuki came back to himself and forced a smile.
"Of course."
"Follow me."
Physical training came first.
Uchiha Itama had lined up for Iruka at the start.
By any measure, Iruka was the better man than Mizuki.
Iruka was the classic loyalist to the village.
Mizuki was worse, selfish to the core.
He would frame a student for his own gain.
He seethed with jealousy toward his friends.
He ignored even his fiancée's feelings.
Strip out Iruka's loyalty to the Leaf, and he was still a good person.
Even villains prefer good people as friends.
But Iruka's line was too long.
Itama hesitated, then walked to Mizuki's side.
"Iruka, looks like I will clock out earlier than you today."
Iruka missed the bite in Mizuki's tone and took it as concern.
"It is fine. If you finish first, head back."
"I can handle it."
Mizuki heard boasting and his resentment thickened.
"Next, Uchiha Itama."
Mizuki disliked Itama.
Not only him.
He disliked all clan born students and bloodline heirs. He had none of it. He was steeped in envy of those born with golden spoons.
Itama kept his strength hidden and took a middling score.
"Is that all the Uchiha amount to?"
Passing by, he heard Mizuki mutter it under his breath.
Itama glanced at him without expression and faced forward again.
Mizuki assumed Itama had not heard and turned to the next student.
"Second event, shuriken."
Hyuga Hikaru stopped in front of Itama.
"Uchiha Itama, I saw your physical score. To think a so called Uchiha would be this poor. No wonder you refused to spar. You are too weak."
"I heard your brother is some kind of genius."
"I doubt it. That is just your clan's hype."
"He is nothing."
"If your brother is so gifted, why are you such a waste?"
Itama looked at him.
Hikaru's face tightened and he took an involuntary step back.
Then he stiffened his neck.
"Am I wrong?"
"You are right."
Itama shrugged. "My brother is a waste."
He meant it.
Not in strength, but in choosing village over clan. On that choice, Itachi was worthless.
To slaughter your own clan, could any normal human do that?
Hikaru took it as a barb at himself and grew more furious.
"Hmph, we still have shuriken."
"With this and the morning's culture exam, I will beat you across the board. Then I will prove the Hyuga are stronger than the Uchiha, not weaker."
"Hyuga are the Leaf's top clan."
Itama smiled.
"But you are branch family."
Hikaru froze.
Those two words, branch family, cut deeper than anything else.
"All that effort to win glory for the main house. Is it worth it?"
Itama walked away.
Hikaru fell into a heavy silence.
"Second event, shuriken."
The rules were simple: a fixed target, ten shuriken per student, scores based on hits.
Just throw.
Itama stood at the back. He did not know the others' level, so he watched first, then chose his own score.
Another ordinary mark.
Everyone returned to the classroom.
All results were tallied.
Yamashiro Aoki and Iruka had worked until now. Mizuki left once he was done with his group.
"Now for the results."
"First place, Hyuga Hikaru."
Hikaru's sunken mood lifted at once. He glanced toward Itama, but Itama never looked back.
The breath stuck in Hikaru's chest again.
"Second place, Yamabuki Yuki."
...
Not until thirty fourth place did Itama's name appear.
Painfully average.
"Only thirty four."
Hikaru perked up a lot.
After class.
Hikaru jogged up to Itama.
"From today, I will not compare myself to you. You are too far behind."
"Finally done pestering me? Thanks."
"You..."
Yamabuki Yuki waited on Itama's usual route home.
"Uchiha Itama, let me tutor you."