The morning mist still carried the moisture of the previous day.
Inoue Satoru tidied his hair as he walked into the office, immediately spotting the teacher who had been guiding the first-year students since the beginning, Yamayama Meimei.
Her long, flaxen hair was tied into a neat ponytail, and the ninja vest she wore couldn't hide her well-proportioned figure.
Yamayama was organizing the materials to resume teaching the children.
The teachers at the ninja academy would guide a class from the beginning until graduation, then start over with a new group of young students.
Inoue Satoru adjusted his clothes again, revealing what he thought was a charming smile as he approached Meimei.
"Yamayama-sensei, would you like to have dinner together tonight?"
"No," Meimei replied without looking up, her eyes focused on her lesson plans.
Disappointed, Inoue Satoru returned to his desk. This was the time for teachers to prepare; class wouldn't start for a while.
After organizing her lesson plans, Meimei asked Inoue about Gin.
"Inoue-sensei, I heard that Gin was sent back to your class?"
Inoue instantly regained his spirited demeanor.
"Yes, I remember last year Gin transferred to your class, Yamayama-sensei."
Meimei had taught Gin for a year.
Thinking about the boy who seemed like he hadn't slept all night and used class time to catch up on sleep gave her a headache.
This was an even bigger problem than Kushina's explosive temper because at least Kushina listened in class.
Currently, Gin's ninja battle evaluation was zero, and it wasn't even Inoue's doing. Gin simply didn't care and slept through the entire class! How could he give any marks?
Seeing Inoue's troubled expression, Meimei empathized deeply.
"That child is quite problematic. Not only does he sleep in class, but he also keeps asking me out to eat."
Meimei sighed. She knew her figure attracted men, but having an underage kid repeatedly asking her out was perplexing.
Was it her problem, or was it the kid's problem?
And his gaze wasn't any different from Inoue's when he looked at her!
He's only twelve! Are kids this precocious nowadays!?
What was she doing at twelve? A Crush on a Hyuga boy.
Alright, that's normal.
Early maturation in the ninja academy was almost a tradition.
But Gin still troubled her a lot, mainly because he brought flowers and kept asking her out for a while, making it seem like he attended class just for her. It wasn't exactly harassment since he was a kid.
"What!? That brat dared to harass Meimei-sensei?" Inoue's eyes widened. He couldn't believe the kid shared his taste... ahem... dared to harass his goddess!
"After all, he's just a kid. It's not a big deal," Meimei wasn't too bothered.
"But I think you should keep an eye on him, Inoue-sensei. That kid loves skipping class."
Meimei remembered that last year, Uchiha Gin's attendance was only fifty percent. Especially after she rejected him decisively, he was nowhere to be seen.
"What!?" Inoue's face turned serious. If Gin skipped classes, it would stain his teaching career, even if it didn't affect future appointments.
But it would make him doubt his teaching abilities.
With this in mind, he hurried out of the office and ran to the classroom.
When everyone was present, only one person was missing.
As expected.
"Uchiha Gin!!"
...
Indeed, Gin was blatantly skipping class.
Walking down the street, yawning, he thought, "I probably know the ninja academy's curriculum better than Inoue."
Too bad it wasn't Meimei, the well-endowed teacher, which greatly reduced his interest in not attending class.
Konoha's streets were bustling, but there were few pedestrians.
Gin glanced at the passersby, who were wrapped tightly in thin clothes and hurried along with worried faces.
Most of the open shops were restaurants, and besides the hurried pedestrians, only ninjas with furrowed brows ran by quickly.
The war hadn't officially started, but the atmosphere of war was gradually spreading throughout the village.
Gin spotted Might Duy, helping a merchant unload goods in the commercial street.
Bent over, carrying five or six bags of goods on his back, his teammates were nowhere to be seen.
Gin clicked his tongue in amazement. Although Might Duy wasn't at his peak yet, he could probably open six gates without much issue, yet here he was, doing hard labor.
He approached and greeted him.
"Yo, Uncle, we meet again."
Might Duy's expression turned to terror upon seeing Gin.
"Uchiha!!"
He jumped back, still traumatized by the previous night.
"Watch out."
This drew the displeasure of a nearby merchant waiting to unload.
"Sorry, sorry," Might Duy apologized quickly.
Gin raised an eyebrow, but the merchant only glanced at the Uchiha emblem on Gin's clothes and didn't dare say anything, even stepping back a few steps.
In Konoha, the Uchiha name held a certain deterrence.
"Wait for me a moment," Might Duy said quietly and sped up his work. In no time, he moved several more bags and completed the unloading.
Then he bowed repeatedly to the merchant until he was satisfied and allowed Duy to leave.
Watching this, Gin leaned against a utility pole, raising his eyebrows.
The ninja world was quite an odd place. The real power was held by the daimyos, ordinary people who wielded ninjas like tools.
But sometimes, those tools didn't listen.
The aristocracy and merchant classes led by the daimyo feared and looked down on ninjas.
It was baffling.
Not that ordinary people couldn't hold power, but those in power didn't do the right things and acted arrogantly.
In a normal world, they would have been overthrown long ago.
"Hahaha, sorry to keep you waiting, young man."
Might Duy wiped his hands on his pants.
He didn't understand why this Uchiha boy was looking for him.
"Uncle, have you practiced the jutsu I gave you?"
Gin looked up with a child's eager expression.
Though his strength might not be great, his acting skills were top-notch.
"I have. It's simpler than I expected," Might Duy laughed. It was one of the few jutsus he could master.
Then why haven't you mastered it yet?
Gin maintained his smile but wanted to ask. Minato and Kushina had mastered it in one night, so why hadn't Might Duy?
"Do you have any questions, Uncle? I can explain."
"Ah, have you practiced it? Didn't it say you can't use normal ninjutsu once you start?" Might Duy looked at Gin in surprise.
It clearly stated that practicing it would prevent the use of normal ninjutsu. He decided to practice it because he had no talent for ninjutsu.
But an Uchiha unable to use ninjutsu?
"You're Uchiha Gin!?" Might Duy finally realized, pointing at Gin in surprise.
"Didn't think you'd figure it out," Gin wasn't surprised. His reputation was well-known.
How did everyone know he couldn't use ninjutsu? It wasn't like he had announced it.
"Not sure if that's a compliment or an insult," Might Duy laughed awkwardly.
"So, Uncle, if you have any questions, feel free to ask. After all, this is an Uchiha jutsu. If you can't master it, I'll have to tell everyone you stole..."
Gin's words were cut off by Might Duy covering his mouth, sweating nervously and looking around before lowering his voice.
"Wasn't that my mission reward?"
"That's true, but I'm the only one who knows. I reported cash payment to the Hokage office."
Gin shamelessly admitted his deceit.
Might Duy's face turned pale, and he wobbled.
He had been set up by his own village member. Could no one be trusted?
"Now, I give you two options. Complete one, and this matter will be forgotten. If you fail, well..."
Gin's cold laugh threatened, watching Might Duy's shifting expressions.
Bullying honest people was amusing.
"Sir, please show mercy. My wife is pregnant," Might Duy knelt and pleaded.
Gin scratched his face, feeling he had gone too far. He quickly pulled Duy up, nervously looking around.
Thankfully, no one noticed. He slowly spoke.
"Listen first. Complete the jutsu tonight, or..."
"Defeat me."
Might Duy scratched his head, confused but somewhat relieved it wasn't anything excessive.
"Just that?"
Seeing Duy's disbelief, Gin quickly said, "Just that."
Suddenly, honest people seemed terrifying.
He decided not to provoke them again.
After some thought, Duy gave a thumbs up, "So you're motivating me. I'm touched."
Tears filled his eyes.
Finally, he was convinced.
Gin wiped non-existent sweat from his forehead. He had gotten carried away.
"That's right."
"Don't worry, young man. I'll master the jutsu," Duy patted Gin's shoulder confidently, even if it took years.
"If you can't, I'll tell everyone."
"Uh... what!!?" Duy's eyes widened in shock. Gin's words always left him trembling.
"If you think it takes too long, you have one option left."
Gin patted... Might Duy's back. He couldn't reach his shoulder.
"But," Duy hesitated, feeling it was bullying to fight a student.
Seeing Duy's hesitation, Gin grinned.
"Don't underestimate me. I'm strong."
Today, he wanted to witness the legendary...
Eight Gates Released Formation.
(End of Chapter)