Konoha Light

Asuma took two steps forward voluntarily, rubbing his fist and scratching his palm. "Hey, you guys, are you just looking for a beating?"

Hearing Asuma say this, the people in the classroom laughed coldly. They were already in a bad mood, and now this bastard had delivered himself to them on a silver platter.

Seeing the sinister smiles on these first graders' faces becoming even more pronounced, Zhihui quickly intervened. "Wait, wait! I didn't come here to fight!"

Saying this, he turned to look at Shimizu. "Shimizu, control your group of personal servants!"

"The skill you used to provoke me isn't very clever," Shimizu spread his hands and said calmly.

"There are no personal servants here—only my companions."

"Naturally, the world is whatever one sees it as. That's why people like you will never understand the meaning of companionship!"

The students in Shimizu's group were not so easily provoked by mere words, but they still felt somewhat uncomfortable. After hearing Shimizu's response, they sneered and fired back mockingly.

"Oh? And where were these 'companions' of yours before?"

"Looks to me like your 'companions' have abandoned you!"

Zhihui's expression darkened, and he couldn't find the words to refute them.

Because when he had first mentioned reclaiming the glory of the Uchiha Clan, his so-called "companions" had suddenly remembered that their relatives were getting married, or that there was a big sale on toilet paper they had to rush to.

Did they really take him for a fool? If they were going to make excuses, they could at least come up with better ones!

Seeing that Zhihui was unable to respond, Asuma's eyes lit up with amusement. He taunted with a smug grin, "Looks like we hit the nail on the head, huh? Your leadership skills are truly a failure!"

Zhihui's face burned with shame and anger. He waved his hand dismissively. "Enough of this nonsense! I didn't come here to argue with you today."

Then, he widened his eyes and tried to put on an imposing stance, glaring fiercely at Shimizu. "Where I fell, I will rise again! The glory that was lost from my hands—I will personally reclaim it!"

Shimizu blinked. Even he was momentarily unable to grasp the opponent's thought process.

Or maybe it was just that a madman's mind worked differently.

Thinking this, Shimizu sighed and spread his hands. "Alright, then how do you plan to reclaim your so-called glory?"

"I will defeat—" Zhihui started shouting, but before he could finish, he caught sight of Shimizu's entire group glaring at him like a pack of hungry wolves. His imposing stance instantly crumbled into something more sheepish. "—uh… I mean, I will have a friendly exchange with you."

Asuma smirked in disdain. "So basically, you don't want us to fight?"

The corners of Shimizu's mouth twitched. Of course, he didn't want them all to fight—one against sixty-nine? Who could survive that?!

Shimizu chuckled slightly and said, "A fight between a third-grader and a first-grader doesn't seem very fair."

Zhihui looked a bit awkward. He knew that Shimizu had refused to take part in a previous fight because he had been treating Mizuki's injuries. But judging from the strength that Asuma had displayed in that brawl, it wasn't hard to infer that Shimizu was likely just as strong—if not stronger.

If he fought with all his might, he might stand a chance. But if he hesitated even slightly, he had no confidence at all.

"Then, I won't use my Three Buddha Embodiment technique. That should even the playing field, right?"

"This isn't about techniques," Shimizu said, standing atop a desk with his hands empty. "All I ask is that if I win, you accept my condition."

Zhihui was wary. "What condition? Let's be clear—I'm not going to become your little lackey!"

Shimizu sighed helplessly and then spoke sincerely. "I want you, if you lose, to apologize to Mizuki and to all the classmates you've bullied in the past."

Hearing this, the students around them looked at Shimizu with admiration, while throwing Zhihui disdainful glances.

Compared to a person from the Uchiha Clan, their class leader was truly noble!

Zhihui opened his mouth in shock. He hadn't expected the condition to be this.

It had nothing to do with personal gain.

It wasn't about dominance or subjugation.

It was simply for the sake of justice—for the sake of people Shimizu didn't even personally know.

This guy… had just thrown away a golden opportunity to recruit a talent like himself!

Even as an opponent, Zhihui couldn't help but feel a sense of respect.

"Fine! I accept your condition!"

"Alright, let's go outside."

Shimizu had never been one to refuse a challenge. Before, he had turned down those "choose one" ultimatums because they were just pointless bullying. But now, displaying strength properly was an important way to build leadership.

Of course, this decision was also based on the fact that he had gauged Zhihui's abilities back in their previous group fight.

Meanwhile, on the sidelines…

"Will Shimizu be in danger?" Shizune asked, wringing her hands anxiously.

"It's a little tricky," Asuma admitted seriously. "That bastard isn't weaker than me!"

"Oh, then I'm relieved." Shizune patted her chest, feeling reassured.

Asuma turned his head sharply, his expression dumbfounded.

He felt oddly insulted.

The fight quickly drew a crowd.

Whenever kids learned one or two ninja techniques, it was common for them to show off in front of their classmates. But this fight was different—this was the ultimate showdown between the school's biggest rookie and a notorious upper-grade bully.

By the time Shimizu and Zhihui arrived at the training ground, the balconies of the surrounding classrooms were already packed with spectators.

"That idiot Zhihui must have lost his mind—challenging a first-grader like that!"

"Well, you know, those Uchiha Clan guys have always been a little… off."

"Yeah! That jerk even stole my candy cane once! First grade, you'd better beat him!"

Zhihui had no idea what the bystanders thought of him, and even if he did, he wouldn't have cared.

After exchanging the "seal of opposition," he immediately drew a kunai and hurled it toward Shimizu

"Hmm? Kunai-throwing technique?" Shimizu smirked. "If you saw that fight two months ago, you'd know—I specialize in this!"

With ease, he caught and deflected all eleven kunai that had been thrown at him.

But then—

"Wait, what the—?!" Shimizu's eyes widened in shock.

Hidden in the shadow of the last kunai was another kunai, positioned perfectly in his blind spot!

He barely dodged in time.

"Heh," Zhihui smirked smugly. "That's my clan's Hidden Shadow Kunai Technique! Dodging it was impressive, but it won't save you. One mistake is all it takes to lose!"

He stepped forward, ready to strike.

But then—

"Why is he laughing like that?"

"Dunno. Maybe he hit his head too hard and went crazy?"

Zhihui suddenly realized something was wrong.

A cool sensation crept up his neck.

He looked down.

Shimizu, whom he had just been stepping on, had somehow slipped behind him and was now gripping the back of his neck.

"What—? An illusion technique?!"

Zhihui stared in shock.

Shimizu smiled calmly. "As a medical ninja, isn't it reasonable for me to learn a few illusion techniques? It helps patients forget their pain."