Chapter 7: One Strike, One Truth
Outside the exam room, the air buzzed with whispers. Kids waiting for their turn couldn't stop talking about how long Arata had been inside. Most came out fast—pass or fail—but Arata? He was taking forever. Laughter drifted through the closed door, then what sounded like a scuffle, fueling the crowd's curiosity. What was going on in there?
Finally, the door creaked open. Not Arata, though—first came Uchiha Fuzen, storming out with the Anbu ninja right behind him. Neither spared a glance at the crowd, their faces set like stone. The kids exchanged looks, confused. Then Arata stepped out, his expression blank, giving nothing away. Pass? Fail? No one could tell.
The chatter died as the next name was called. "Namikaze Minato!"
Minato, his blond hair catching the sunlight, brushed past Arata. "Good luck," Arata said softly, a small grin tugging at his lips. "I'll see you in Class A."
Minato paused, then flashed a bright smile. "You got it." He nodded and headed in.
Arata turned to leave, ignoring the stares boring into him. He just wanted to get home, let the day's weight fall off. But a figure blocked his path—Hyuga Mori, his face twisted with the same old sneer.
"Where do you think you're going, Arata?" Mori said, stepping closer.
Arata sighed, his good mood souring. He'd just fought for his place in the academy; he wasn't in the mood for this. "Move," he said, trying to step around.
Mori blocked him again, his eyes glinting with malice. "Show me your report card."
"It's mine," Arata snapped, clutching the paper. "Why should I?"
Mori's smirk grew. "Because I'm main family. Your score isn't just yours—it's the Hyuga's. I told you not to come here, not to shame us. So, what is it? Class B? Class C? Or did you fail?" He leaned in, voice loud enough for everyone to hear. "If it's B, I'll go easy on you. But C or worse? You're crawling home today. No one's saving you now."
The crowd leaned in, eyes wide. The Uchiha kids especially looked thrilled, waiting for the Hyuga drama to explode.
Arata's jaw tightened. "I said no."
Mori blinked, stunned. "What?"
The whispers grew louder. "A branch kid talking back to the main family?" one kid muttered.
"He's done for," another snickered. "Mori's gonna crush him."
The Uchiha group grinned, loving every second. They'd heard about Mori's rep as a genius and Arata's as the clan's loser. This was about to be a show.
Mori's face darkened. "Say that again, Arata."
Arata met his glare, unflinching. "Not every branch member bows to you, Mori. Push me, and you'll be the one embarrassed."
The crowd gasped. Mori's eyes widened, then narrowed with rage. A branch kid defying him? In front of everyone? Unacceptable. He had to put Arata in his place, show the branch family who was boss.
Without warning, Mori swung a palm at Arata, chakra glowing in his hand. The crowd held its breath.
Arata didn't flinch. His Byakugan flared, veins bulging. Boom! He vanished in a Body Flicker, reappearing beside Mori in a blink. Before Mori could react, Arata swept his leg out, chakra pulsing through it. The kick connected with a sickening crack, sending Mori crashing to the ground.
Mori cried out, clutching his leg in pain. The crowd froze, mouths open. The Hyuga genius, floored by the branch kid in one move?
"Hah!" an Uchiha kid burst out laughing. "Mori got smoked by his own clan's loser!"
"Yeah, some genius!" another jeered.
Mori's face burned red as he struggled to stand, but his legs wouldn't move. Arata's chakra-laced kick had hit hard, numbing them. He glared up, humiliated. "You're dead, Arata! I won't let this go!"
Arata didn't even glance at him. He held up his report card, voice cold. "You wanted to see this? Look close. It's not Class B. Not Class C. It's Class A."
Mori's eyes locked on the paper, the bold "A" staring back. His jaw dropped, words failing him.
"I'm not the old Arata," Arata said, turning away. "Not anymore."
The crowd parted as he walked off, their whispers following him. A branch kid beating a main family genius? Getting into Class A? It was unreal. If this was the Hyuga's "crane's tail," what did that make everyone else?
Arata didn't care about their stares. He got home, shut the door, and finally let himself smile. He'd done it. Step one to becoming a ninja—a real ninja—was his. His inner vision, his Byakugan, it was just the start. He could be more than the clan's reject. Maybe even Hokage one day.
The next morning, a loud knock jolted him awake. Still groggy, Arata stumbled to the door and opened it. Standing there was Hyuga Hizashi, his eyes wide with disbelief.
"Arata," Hizashi said, his voice shaky, "is it true? You got into Class A?"
(End of Chapter)
If you enjoyed this chapter, please support with Power Stones!