Uchiha Chiren felt a bit irritated.
The classroom, meant to be a sacred haven for napping, was buzzing like a marketplace, giving him a headache.
Following the noise, he spotted a red-haired girl standing beside the teacher, her small face puffed up with anger, glaring at the chattering students.
"Her hair's so red, like a tomato!"
"Exactly, you can tell she's not from our village just by looking. Someone like that wants to be Hokage? We won't accept her!"
"Yeah, ugly monster!"
The harsh words pierced his ears, snapping Chiren's half-asleep mind to full alertness.
He remembered now—this must be Uzumaki Kushina's first day at the academy.
Time flies. It's already Konoha Year 33, isn't it? He'd been transmigrated into this world for over six years.
Looking closely at the stage, Kushina wasn't ugly at all. Her fair face had a hint of red, and her large, expressive eyes brimmed with stubborn determination.
She was far cuter than those loudmouthed, crooked-faced brats.
Chiren's gaze swept over the offending kids. One of them was from the Shimura clan.
The name "Shimura" made his eyes grow colder.
"Hey," Chiren said icily, "you're disturbing my sleep. Shut your mouths, or in this afternoon's sparring class, I'll punch them swollen."
The laughter stopped abruptly.
The kids froze, slowly turning to look at the corner of the last row, where that cold face stared back.
It was Uchiha Chiren!
Damn it, if they could beat him, they'd have rushed him ages ago!
Though reluctant, they obediently quieted down.
In their eyes, Uchiha Chiren and Namikaze Minato, another genius in the class, were opposites. Minato was warm and approachable, while Chiren was the classic aloof Uchiha, acting like the world owed him a fortune.
With the classroom quiet, Chiren resumed his nap, ready to meet the Duke of Zhou's daughter in his dreams.
Minato, who had stood up to speak, turned back with a wry smile toward Chiren's direction: Couldn't you let me finish my lines first? I had such nice words prepared!
The teacher on the podium sighed in relief. "Kushina, please take a seat in the second-to-last row, next to that girl."
Kushina nodded, clutching her textbook as she headed to her seat.
She'd promised Tsunade-nee to study hard, but now she couldn't help sneaking glances at Chiren in the last row.
Long black hair, fair skin, a sharp nose—even his sleeping profile was handsome.
More importantly, he'd stood up for her!
He'd definitely be her first friend in Konoha!
As for those brats who mocked her, she'd give them a beating if she got the chance!
And that skinny, effeminate blond boy who stood up to mock her? So annoying!
---
By noon, Chiren, who'd slept through the morning, felt someone poking his arm.
He looked up to see bright yellow spiky hair.
"Chiren, stop sleeping! It's lunchtime!" Namikaze Minato grinned brightly.
"Time flies when you're studying hard," Chiren yawned, stretching and pulling out his bento. "As expected of you, Minato, even eating is a step ahead."
Minato chuckled, his chopsticks already darting toward Chiren's bento, slyly pretending to grab a few items. "You pulled another all-nighter training, didn't you? What's the delicious spread today to recharge?"
"Braised chicken wings and sliced beef." As Chiren opened the bento, the aroma wafted out. "No choice, you know how we Uchiha are…"
Before he could finish, Minato, with swift hands, snatched a chicken wing and some beef, stuffing them into his mouth and mumbling praises.
Damn it, this guy's like a starving ghost!
The aroma from the back row also stirred Kushina's appetite, and she pulled out her own bento.
Recalling Tsunade-nee's words that morning—"This is my first time making a bento for someone; even Nawaki hasn't had this honor"—Kushina had high hopes.
But when she opened the bento, her excitement vanished. The side dishes were dark, mushy, and unrecognizable, emitting only a burnt smell.
The white rice on the side was the only decent part.
Decent? It's just boiled rice!
Kushina's hair floated up in frustration. As an Uzumaki, her body burned calories fast!
After smelling Chiren's delicious food, this… this thing was unbearable, wasn't it?
Just as she braced herself to eat, Chiren's voice came from behind.
"Hey, new girl, help me finish some of this. Minato says he's on a diet today."
Chiren, who'd been a latchkey kid in his past life, had already caught the burnt stench.
Before Kushina could respond, several fragrant chicken wings landed in her bento. Chiren didn't even wait for thanks before returning to his seat.
Kushina stared at the chicken wings.
Damn it, how can I eat a stranger's food?
I, Kushina, am going to be Hokage someday… but these wings smell so good, and they look delicious…
After a moment's hesitation, she took a bite. Her eyes sparkled. "So delicious!"
After two wings, she turned to thank Chiren.
She also shot Minato an unfriendly glare before muttering, Hmph, typical sissy, a boy dieting!
---
After lunch, it was time for the afternoon sparring class.
Instructor Murashita Ryukawa, seeing everyone present, pulled out the roster. "This counts as a regular assessment, so give it your all!"
Ignoring the groans, he continued, "What's with the complaints? Will enemies spare you on the battlefield because you whine? First match, Uchiha Chiren versus Shimura Saburo!"
"Teacher! Why me again?!" Shimura Saburo wailed. "I can't beat him! You should pit Minato against him!"
Ryukawa's veins bulged. "Can you pick your enemies in war? Less talk, get in the arena!"
One minute later, Saburo took three solid punches to the chest and promptly played dead on the ground.
Chiren casually formed the Seal of Reconciliation and walked off. The mere thought of the Shimura name—and that sinister Danzo Shimura—made him want to throttle the entire clan!
If only his strength were enough!
He moved to the side and started one-handed push-ups, continuing his training.
The shadows of the Second and Third Great Ninja Wars, and the Uchiha's oppression by Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzo, weighed on him like a mountain.
This was practically a one-in-ten chance of survival. To live, he had to get stronger, fast.
As he did push-ups, he muttered, Damn Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzo, just you wait. I, Uchiha Chiren, will set things right!
Meanwhile, the teacher hit a snag.
"Oh, right, there's Kushina." Murashita Ryukawa slapped his forehead. To help the new student settle in, he suggested, "Kushina, since you're new and I don't know your strength yet, why don't you pick a sparring partner?"
Kushina stood up, grinning, and pointed at Chiren, training alone on the side.
"Are you sure, Kushina?" Ryukawa tried to dissuade her.
Kushina nodded firmly. "I want to challenge Uchiha Chiren one-on-one!"
The class erupted in chaos.
Chiren, overhearing, looked confused. "Was the bento bad? You want to fight me right after eating?"
Kushina savored the memory and replied honestly, "It was delicious, and you're a good person."
"Good people don't get challenged like that." Chiren was already annoyed.
Kushina's face lit up with a strange fantasy. "Hehe, I only know you, right? If I win, you're paying for my lunch all semester!"
Ryukawa shook his head, chalking it up to a little girl's competitive streak. "Begin. Chiren, go easy on her."
After forming the Seal of Confrontation, Chiren vanished from his spot.
Kushina saw a blur but instinctively poured all her strength into a punch, shouting, "For lunch!"
Chiren, seeing the sloppy punch, shook his head inwardly. He ducked, dodging her fist, and swept her legs with a kick.
Bang!
Kushina lost her balance and fell sideways.
It's over. My first day, and I'm going to eat dirt? I shouldn't have challenged Chiren! Why didn't I pick that blond kid instead?!
And this guy has no chivalry!
Just as she braced for impact, strong arms caught her steadily.
Half-lying in his arms, she looked up at Chiren's cold, handsome face.
Huh? Didn't the teacher end the match? Why's he staring at me? Could it be…
Chiren was indeed staring, but not at her face.
When he caught her, a line of blue, ethereal text had appeared in his vision.
Now, the text morphed into a clear blue panel.
"Host successfully engaged in combat with 'Uzumaki Sage Body' and achieved an overwhelming victory. System officially activated!"
"After fighting an enemy, the Host can copy three ability entries from the opponent based on the battle results and choose one to absorb, once daily (the more decisive the victory, the better the entries)."
"After killing an enemy, the Host can acquire up to three entries from the opponent and choose one to absorb."
"Host has defeated the opponent, please select the entry to absorb: Chakra Amount +1 (200 per unit), Constitution +1, Uzumaki Clan Constitution."