Ninja School, during PE class.
The training today was running—fifty laps around the track. The student who comes in last has to run ten extra laps.
So every single student was giving it their all, just to avoid being last.
After fifty laps, unsurprisingly, the winner was Ruri.
Though she's a girl, she actually loves reasoning with people using her fists. As she says, that's the Uchiha Clan's tried and true method.
Everyone's already used to it—nothing surprising. Homeroom teacher Fujimura Daiga also thinks it's just par for the course.
Except for the occasional civilian genius, the top spot among Ninja School students always belongs to those kids from ninja clans with deep roots.
Especially the prestigious Uchiha, who, together with the Senju Clan, founded Konoha. They're definitely the crème de la crème here.
The Security Team their clan controls? The amount of power there is absolutely insane.
Sure, they've pissed off a lot of people because of it, but as Konoha's strongest ninja clan, even the Hokage himself doesn't always get treated nicely by them.
Being one of the only two clans to found Konoha, their pride is kind of expected.
"Congrats, Ruri, first place again."
Fujimura Daiga said with a congratulatory tone.
Whether it's endurance races, ninja techniques, sparring, shuriken throwing, you name it—Ruri is always top of the leaderboard in Class 3A.
Having a genius like this in class means his stats go through the roof, even if he doesn't do much.
But there's one thing that really annoys him—
"Move a bit, Chunin Fujimura-sensei, you're blocking my view."
Ruri's delicate eyebrows furrowed, she tilted her chin up slightly, speaking in an obviously impatient tone.
"..."
What a teacher-disrespecting delinquent girl!
Who talks to their teacher like that?
Chunin, so what?
Chunin are already the backbone of the village, you know.
Stop looking down on us Chunin!
Fujimura Daiga was shaking with rage!
When will Konoha's Chunin ever get some real respect?
But then, thinking about Ruri's shuriken throwing skills, her ninja techniques, plus finishing fifty laps without breaking a sweat…
Fujimura Daiga couldn't get a word out.
Honestly, it's kind of sad, but he really doesn't have the ability to teach Ruri anymore.
Being surpassed by your student—it's supposed to be a moment to celebrate, but seeing Ruri's disdainful look, Fujimura Daiga just felt depressed.
Not just during class, but also with the constant note-passing between desk-mates, endlessly triggering his fragile single-guy heart.
Once, in order to get them to pay attention in class, Fujimura Daiga moved Hakushi to another seat, and after class, Ruri barged into the office, ready to "teach him with her fists" what it means to be a good Ninja School teacher.
Those were traumatic memories Fujimura Daiga couldn't bring himself to face.
He's just a Chunin, and only excels at teaching anyway—nothing special in combat.
Fortunately, he's broad-minded, doesn't sweat the small stuff with kids; otherwise…
Otherwise, if he got really mad, he'd march right up to the Third Hokage and file a complaint!
In his eyes, Ruri is just a troublesome little girl—though sometimes she gets way too out of hand.
"Teacher Fujimura is a good teacher, you really don't need to mess with him like that."
About a minute later, Hakushi also finished his fifty laps, panting heavily, totally out of breath.
Since you have to run fifty laps in a row, four hundred meters per lap, can't stop, and have to keep up a certain speed, it's actually pretty tough for third-year students.
Most of them, like Hakushi, manage to finish but are left gasping for air afterward.
That calm, unfazed fifty-lap finish? Only Ruri can pull that off.
"Are you done pretending? If you're done, go buy me a juice from the school store."
She handed Hakushi a thousand-ryo bill.
"..."
Hakushi obediently headed off, and when he came back, he'd bought two juices—one for Ruri, one for himself.
Ruri glanced at him but didn't say anything.
Right then, suddenly, a burst of girly shouting came from not far off:
"Minato-kun!!!"
"Wow, Minato's so handsome!!!"
The shrill girly screams stunned both Hakushi and Ruri. They glanced over at the other class on the field—turns out they were also having PE.
The guy at the center of all this drama was a blond boy about Hakushi's age.
How to describe him… a bit girly, but honestly looks really good.
Especially that clean, almost drifting hair, and the shy, delicate face turned even more attractive by the girls' cheers.
For a moment, the whole track was filled with a rosy, romantic vibe.
"That's Namikaze Minato from Class B next door. His popularity at school is still sky-high."
Hakushi seemed to recognize the boy all the girls were swooning over.
Not your average nobody—he's basically the idol of the third years.
Even if he does look a bit girly, he's seriously good-looking.
He's going to be a real heartthrob when he grows up.
I'm so plain, huh.
So jealous.
"You know him?"
Ruri raised an eyebrow.
"We've chatted a few times, but we're not really close."
Hakushi took a sip of juice.
"These people are really noisy. My ears hurt."
"Hey, that's youth for you."
"So damn noisy! All those girls are totally infatuated—honestly, instead of idolizing others, they should train more. It's obvious they'll be cannon fodder on the battlefield."
Ruri started outright roasting the lovesick girls.
"Is it really okay to curse your classmates like that?"
"Who asked them to be so loud? I'm heading back."
With that, Ruri crumpled up her empty juice cup, tossed it in the trash, and headed toward the school building.
Hakushi scratched his head, looking troubled.
The next day.
"I have an important announcement today."
Homeroom teacher Fujimura Daiga held a pile of papers, looking serious as he addressed the whole class.
The students glanced at each other, not sure what was going on, whispering among themselves.
Fujimura Daiga ignored the whispers and went straight to the point: "Starting today, the medical health class will officially become compulsory for all grades at Ninja School. Additionally, Ninja School will set up a special experimental class for training Medical Ninja. Interested students can apply with me."
As he spoke, Fujimura Daiga opened the file and handed out application forms—one for each student.
Ruri took the form and put it aside, not even bothering to look at it.
She had zero interest in becoming a Medical Ninja.
Hakushi, on the other hand, actually showed some interest in the application form.
But, why is the village making this move right now?
Maybe it's connected to the pressure on the front lines.
On the other side, Ayane also got the form and, like Ruri, ignored it.
To become a Medical Ninja, you need Yang Attribute Chakra, but her attributes aren't Yang, so even if she wanted to, she couldn't be a Medical Ninja—at best, maybe a nurse or something.
But for that kind of job, the Hyuga Clan would never allow it.
With her powerful talent, the Main Family thinks she should be using it to protect them, not wasting it as a Medical Ninja or nurse.