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With a sigh, Yuichi could only think that the ninja world was truly an abstract place.
Reflecting on it, Yuichi suddenly leaned close to Yuhi Kurenai's ear and said, "Then let's have lots of kids in the future!"
"!!!"
Yuhi Kurenai's small face turned even redder, resembling a shy little quail.
On the platform, the teacher cleared his throat, and the noisy classroom fell silent.
In this class, Ikkaku Umino had a lot of respect. The children of the ninja world weren't only precocious in romantic matters but also in other areas, too. The ninja students admired Umino, while the civilian students were grateful to him.
"You are all correct," Umino Ikkaku continued, "but you're only mentioning the big clans within Konoha. Many powerful ninja clans exist outside Konoha as well."
Ikkaku Umino scanned the room, then added, "For example, the Yotsuki Clan and the Yuki Clan."
He then redirected, saying, "Let's not dive into that just yet. What I want to tell you today is that if you encounter special types of ninjas in the future, you need to be cautious!"
"Teacher!" Nohara Rin raised her hand. "What's a special type of ninja?"
Ikkaku Umino nodded in appreciation. "Good question, Rin. Special ninjas are those with unique abilities."
He pointed to a student in the back row, Hyuga hasna, and said, "The Hyuga clan that Hinata belongs to is an example. They have the Byakugan, which allows them to see far distances, see through enemies, and perform their family's Gentle Fist technique."
"Whoa! That's awesome!"
Hyuga hasna, despite being from a branch family and harboring resentment towards the main branch, couldn't help but feel a surge of pride.
"Teacher!" Uchiha Obito interrupted, unable to hold back. "The Hyuga clan isn't that impressive! Our Uchiha clan is much stronger!"
Seeing Uchiha Obito's passionate retort, Umino felt a twinge of anxiety. He'd forgotten about the tensions between the Uchiha and Hyuga!
Trying to navigate diplomatically, Umino smiled and said, "The Hyuga clan is powerful, but the Uchiha clan is equally formidable."
"The Uchiha clan has the Sharingan, which can copy enemy ninjutsu and launch powerful counterattacks. Many in the clan are also proficient in Fire Release jutsu," Umino explained quickly, hoping to avoid any further drama.
Then, to shift the focus, he turned to Yuichi and asked him to answer a question. "Yuichi Yuuki, since you seem so happy, why don't you tell us something about a ninja clan outside Konoha?"
Yuichi stood up and said, "The Uzumaki clan, known for their sealing techniques, strong bodies, and incredible vitality!"
Umino Ikkaku had been about to scold Yuichi for speaking up, but hearing this, he paused. Although he acknowledged Yuichi's answer, Umino felt a pang of regret, as the Uzumaki clan, while technically still existing, had largely perished, leaving only Kushina Uzumaki in Konoha.
After letting Yuichi sit down, Umino turned to resume the lesson, satisfied that the awkward moment had passed. Yuichi rested his chin on his hand, half-listening to Umino's lecture, finding it far more interesting than Konoha's often-repeated "Will of Fire" ideology.
After school that afternoon, Yuichi stretched, feeling relieved. "Finally, a day of relaxed classes!" he muttered.
"I didn't find it tiring at all," Yuhi Kurenai replied, smiling. "The teacher's lessons were quite interesting."
Yuichi shrugged, thinking that if it weren't for his memories of his previous life, he might've found it more engaging too. But too much of it felt twisted and exaggerated, especially the "Will of Fire," which often seemed like little more than blind loyalty.
He recalled one story where a ninja, despite being injured on a mission and expecting a child soon, chose to abandon his family to "protect his comrades." The story was celebrated as a prime example of the Will of Fire.
With that thought, Yuichi leaned toward Kurenai and whispered, "Listen, don't buy into that Will of Fire stuff. Just say you're protecting your comrades and the village when asked."
Though she didn't fully understand, Kurenai trusted Yuichi's advice. Her father had also warned her not to be too influenced by the Will of Fire, so she nodded.
At that moment, a familiar voice greeted them, "Hey, Yuichi, Kurenai!"
The two looked up to see Namikaze Minato approaching with a smile.
"Brother Minato!" Yuichi exclaimed. "What brings you here?"
"I needed a break," Minato replied, scratching his head. "I've been working on a new jutsu, but I'm not getting anywhere."
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