Hinata walked along the street in a daze.

Before, when she skipped classes, Kitazawa was always there, so she didn’t need to think about anything—she simply followed him. But now, she was alone.

After walking for a while, Hinata had an idea and made her way back to the grove. This time, fear was no longer in her heart.

She took a deep breath and began her tree-climbing training. Perhaps due to her change in mindset, everything felt unusually smooth today.

By noon, she had climbed to the top of the tree for the first time. Hinata clenched her fists and waved her hands, and a smile bloomed on her little face.

She glanced at the sun, realized the time, and quickly jumped down from the tree, dashing toward the ninja school.

“Teacher Kitazawa!” Hinata trotted into the office.

“So punctual?” Kitazawa put down his lunchbox one by one and joked, “Seems like my rice-opening ninjutsu has reached perfection.”

“I…” Hinata Hyuga blushed, unsure how to explain. She really didn’t rush over just to eat.

“Come and eat.” Kitazawa looked at her embarrassed expression and couldn’t help but laugh.

Hinata grew even more flustered, but her body acted on its own, and she obediently sat across from him.

“Where did you go this morning?” Kitazawa handed her a pair of chopsticks and asked.

“I completed the tree-climbing training.” Hinata , reminded by him, quickly raised her head and looked at him as she answered.

“Well done. You’re the first one to complete tree-climbing training—even Sasuke can’t compare to you.” Kitazawa met her eyes, felt her emotions, and praised her sincerely.

Hinata Hyuga couldn’t help but raise the corners of her mouth, her little feet swaying in the air.

It wasn’t the first time she’d been praised—but it was the first time she was praised by someone who truly recognized her. In her heart, Kitazawa’s status was now second only to Hyuga Hiashi.

“Improving chakra control will greatly help you master the Gentle Fist.” Kitazawa thought for a moment and said, “Of course, climbing a tree alone isn’t enough.”

“I’ll work hard!” Hinata’s eyes lit up instantly. If she could master the Gentle Fist sooner, her father would surely be pleased.

Kitazawa understood what Hinata was thinking. She was just like Uchiha Sasuke—both longed for recognition from their fathers.

But they both faced the same problem. As the saying goes: comparison is the thief of joy.

Uchiha Sasuke had Uchiha Itachi to be compared with, while Hinata Hyuga had Hyuga Neji. And Hyuga Neji was undoubtedly a rare genius.

In the original story, he comprehended the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms and the Heavenly Rotation—techniques passed only within the Hyuga clan—through self-study alone.

“Have you awakened your Byakugan?” Kitazawa asked after taking a bite of fried shrimp.

For the Uchiha clan, opening their eyes requires a certain degree of talent and emotional stimulation. But for the Hyuga clan, awakening the Byakugan is relatively simple—it only requires training.

In theory, every Hyuga ninja could awaken it.

The problem is, after awakening, there’s no path for further advancement—unlike the Uchiha, whose eyes evolve through stages: one tomoe, two tomoe, three tomoe, then Mangekyō.

This is why Neji was ultimately far inferior to Uchiha Sasuke in the mid to late stages. Though, truthfully, he never reached the late stages.

“No.” Hinata shook her head and replied.

Kitazawa wasn’t surprised. In the original story, Hinata Hyuga used the Byakugan for the first time during the Chunin Exams.

Although the exact awakening time wasn’t mentioned, it certainly wasn’t early. Kitazawa scooped up a spoonful of rice and chewed slowly.

He didn’t know much about the Byakugan or the Gentle Fist, so naturally, he couldn’t help Hinata much. But fortunately, he had hope.

As long as he completed Hinata’s task, he could obtain the Byakugan himself.

“There will be a monthly exam in April.” Kitazawa thought for a moment and asked, “Do you want to take first place?”

“Me?” Hinata was slightly startled, confusion written on her face.

“I can help you with special training.” Kitazawa thought of a new way to train courage: giving a speech in front of the whole school.

A speech requires courage—especially in front of a large crowd. After the monthly exam, there would be a session where outstanding students gave speeches.

“Thank you, Teacher Kitazawa.” Although Hinata didn’t fully understand, she didn’t want to reject Kitazawa, so she agreed.

“No problem.” Kitazawa smiled but didn’t mention the speech just yet.

Time moved to the afternoon.

Today’s practical class was still about throwing ninja tools—but this time, it wasn’t kunai, it was shuriken. Each ninja tool has its own characteristics, so repeated practice is necessary.

But for genius children from ninja clans, it wasn’t very difficult.

At the quiet training ground of the Ninja School—

Originally, only Sasuke received special training, but now Hinata, Ino, Naruto Uzumaki, and Yakumo Kurama have been added.

“Naruto and Yakumo, go run laps.” Kitazawa ordered, “Ino and Sasuke, practice tree climbing.”

“Yes, Teacher Kitazawa!” Naruto responded enthusiastically and turned to run.

Yakumo looked at his energetic figure with envy, then quietly followed Kitazawa’s instructions and began jogging.

“Teacher Kitazawa,” Ino asked curiously, “Is Hinata not practicing tree climbing?”

“She has already completed it,” Kitazawa replied with a smile.

“Amazing!” Ino couldn’t help but exclaim. She had also practiced tree climbing before and knew how difficult it was.

Uchiha Sasuke’s body tensed slightly, and he subconsciously clenched his fists. He was actually a step behind Hinata Hyuga?

As someone always labeled a genius, he felt a surge of frustration and immediately turned and began climbing.

“Sasuke-kun, wait for me!” Ino followed close behind.

“Hinata, head to that tree.” Kitazawa explained, “We’re still doing tree climbing—but now, you’ll have to dodge ninja tools while climbing.”

He took out two wooden kunai as he spoke.

“I understand!” Hinata nodded firmly. Tree climbing while being attacked was undoubtedly far more difficult.

But although she had a timid personality, she was also stubbornly strong—she wouldn’t retreat from a challenge. Chakra surged to Hinata’s feet as she began to climb.

“Hinata, watch out.” Kitazawa threw a kunai. Considering that she had just started this level of training, he gave her a heads-up.

Once she was fully used to it, he’d stop warning her.

Hinata quickly dodged upon hearing him.

Half an hour later, Uchiha Sasuke finally reached the top of the tree. He let out a breath, a smile forming on his face.

Then, as if realizing something, he quickly jumped down. He stood in an open area, eager to perform hand seals.

Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!

Chakra burst forth, forming a fireball. Sasuke was stunned.

Before, his fireball had only been slightly larger than a fist. Now, it was more than two and a half times the size of a basketball. If it struck an enemy, it would likely cause serious damage.

More importantly, his fireball was now about one-fourth the size of the Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique Uchiha Itachi had once shown.

If this was the result of just one week of training, would one month be enough to gain his father’s recognition?

Imagining Uchiha Fugaku saying, “You are worthy of being my son,” Sasuke pressed a hand to his forehead, trembling.

Finally, he couldn’t hold it in and laughed maniacally.

Kitazawa’s mouth twitched. He looked up at the sky—it was, indeed, a sunny day.

Just then, four lines of text appeared in front of him.

[~ Your lifelong enemy, Uchiha Sasuke, is feeling smug and has issued a provocation.

Current Task: After Uchiha Sasuke’s Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique surpasses Uchiha Itachi’s, use the same jutsu to surpass him.

Task Reward: Fire Style – Great Fire Annihilation. ~]

[Do you accept?]

Oh come on. Why is my system so petty? But Kitazawa liked it. Besides, even for the reward, he had to go through with it.

Fire Style: Great Fire Annihilation was a B-rank technique in terms of difficulty to learn. In the original story, its power was legendary.

During the Fourth Great Ninja War, more than twenty water-style ninjas—most of them Jonin—had to combine forces with Water Style: Water Formation Wall just to block Uchiha Madara’s Great Fire Annihilation.

In short, difficulty in learning didn’t define a technique’s power. The potential of this fire-style ninjutsu was immense.

—

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Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep