Chapter 21

In the ensuing taijutsu evaluation, the students' performances were good. However, regardless of whether it was Ikeda or Aoyama, they were both feeling a lingering sense of dissatisfaction. Toshiro, with his exceptional prowess, overshadowed them all.

"These people from the Uchiha clan are really annoying..." muttered some boys in the class, harboring resentment towards Toshiro's abilities. Similarly, certain clan children also eyed him with envy.

"He's very good. Once the family catches wind of this, they'll likely push for even more rigorous training for us," they pondered, relieved that Toshiro bore the Uchiha surname. Had he been an ordinary civilian, the repercussions would have been unimaginable.

Ninja, as a profession, thrived on competition, both within the academy and among family clans. For these fledgling students, such rivalry was thought of as a part of their journey.

However, losing to the Uchiha was tolerable for ninja families; it demanded intensified training to not get completely embarrassed. Losing to a civilian kid was even more humiliating, necessitating rigorous and grueling training regimens.

"Toshiro-kun is quite the enigma. Though he typically appears serene and withdrawn, there's a fierce determination lurking beneath the surface. Yet, I'm too hesitant to approach him," mused a girl with an admiring gaze.

Toshiro may have had a reserved manner, but many were attracted by his steady commitment to studying silently every day for the previous month. His quiet demeanor, along with the air of mystery he had, inspired wonder and gossip among his fellow students, especially the females who dreamed of a more vivid future in the Ninja Academy with him.

As the last student's completed his spar with Ikeda, all of the students turned to Ikeda and bowed to him in respect. Aoyama, holding the recorded data, made his way to the center of the room to address the students.

"Alright, that concludes today's assessment of basic taijutsu skills. All of you performed admirably, with special recognition to Uchiha Toshiro for his outstanding performance. Tomorrow afternoon, we'll proceed with the hand sealing and throwing tests. Keep up the hard work!"

For Toshiro, the seal test was merely a formality. He had diligently practiced his hand sealing speed for the past two years, even creating his own set of varying patterns. His proficiency had reached nearly five seals per second, a level typical of chunin-level ninjas.

Though he had eased up on shuriken throwing practice, he hadn't abandoned the skill entirely. He still dedicated time to maintaining his proficiency, albeit not as intensively as before.

In the back row of the classroom, Toshiro sat by the window, his hands clasped around his head as he appeared lost in thought. He dispelled the shadow clone that had been practicing chakra control for the better part of the afternoon. Despite a faint sense of fatigue, he absorbed the influx of memories, integrating them seamlessly into his consciousness.

"Uchiha Toshiro, please explain the function of this seal on the blackboard."

"This handseal is the tiger seal among the twelve seals. It serves as the final seal in the standard Fire jutsu, assisting the ninja by altering the nature of their chakra," Toshiro responded calmly, rising from his seat to address the teacher's inquiry.

"You can sit down. While you may have a firm grasp of the material, it's important to remain attentive in class and avoid distractions," the teacher reminded him sternly.

After spending a month together, Aoyama had gained a general understanding of each student's proficiency. Singling out Toshiro was a subtle reprimand for his tendency to doze off during lectures.

Most students felt energized and prepared to take on the remainder of the day as the bell rang, marking the end of class.

"A bunch of misfits. No wonder none of them seem familiar. Whether in the early stages or later in Shippuden, none of them appear in the manga. They probably all met their fate in the Third Ninja World War. The future looks bleak," Toshiro thought to himself, reflecting on the lack of camaraderie with his classmates.

This realization contributed to Toshiro's reluctance to form close bonds with his peers. Establishing deep connections would only amplify the grief should tragedy befall them, a burden the Uchiha were already accustomed to bearing.

Exiting the academy gates, Toshiro walked homeward at a leisurely pace. As the crowds dispersed, a throng of Uchiha boys and girls gathered around him, eager for his company.

There were more than ten Uchiha students this year—as many as seven or eight—among the nearly fifty students in six grades that attended the academy this year.

"How did it go, Toshiro? Did you show those guys over there the strength of the Uchiha?" Yukito Uchiha patted Toshiro on the shoulder, nodding towards the opposite side of the road.

Across the street, another larger group of academy students walked, ranging from a dozen to twenty individuals, in smaller clusters of seven or eight.

Among them were the prominent members of the Hokage's faction, led by families like Sarutobi and Shimura, alongside allies such as the Nara, Akimichi, Aburame, and Yamanaka clans. Families like Hyuga, Inuzuka, and others were seen strolling down the road in the distance. The Hyuga were numerically superior over the Uchiha, although the difference was not great.

Toshiro believed deeply in the notion that academies were tiny replicas of society, even in the ninja world, where students ranged from six to twelve years old.

The Hokage faction, led by Sarutobi, served as the central power, uniting allied families like Yamanaka, Nara, and Akimichi.

Under Hyuuga's leadership, families such as Inuzuka, Aburame, and Kurama formed a different ninja group.

The civilian ninjas group comprised ordinary civilians or descendants of civilian ninjas.

And then there were the Uchiha, a clan apart from the rest.

This social hierarchy within the Ninja Academy mirrored the divisions in Konoha Village.

"Of course, this level of testing is just a formality. Passing should be a breeze to you," Yukito Uchiha assured Toshiro, recalling their recent hunt together.

"Unlike some others, who actually lost to that fat guy from the Akimichi clan in the taijutsu class and brought shame upon our Uchiha clan!"

"Yukito, he's really big on family honor. He doesn't let anything that tarnishes the Uchiha's reputation go without some kind of remark!"

"Enough, Yukito. It's just a matter of taijutsu, and I'll soon surpass him. When it comes to ninjutsu and shuriken throwing, I am far ahead of him!" explained Mamoru Uchiha hastily, his cheeks tinged with excitement.

Mamoru Uchiha, now in his second year at the ninja academy, possessed considerable talent in both ninjutsu and genjutsu. However, his skills in taijutsu were not that great.

Compared to his peers in the Uchiha clan, Mamoru was slender, and physical strength was never his forte. While his speed was passable, he found himself at a disadvantage in taijutsu training, especially when pitted against big guys like the Akimichi.

In the ninja academy, taijutsu comparisons were mainly between the Uchiha, Hyuga, and Akimichi clans. The Hyuga relied on their family's gentle fist technique, often overshadowing the Uchiha. Meanwhile, the Akimichi, with their larger physique, held an advantage in physical training, although speed and agility were perennial weaknesses for them.

"Really? Don't just talk about winning without practicing; if you lose to them next time, we'll lose all our dignity!"

"Don't worry, I'll definitely beat him next time!"

The use of "they" and "we" starkly highlights the conflict between the Uchiha and the Hokage faction. Although it's merely a squabble among children, it subtly reflects the attitude of Konoha's higher-ups towards the Uchiha.

Initially, Toshiro harbored a certain fondness for clans like the Yamanaka, Nara, and Akimichi, reminiscent of his experiences watching the TV anime. However, after two years of firsthand experience, that goodwill had faded away.

The rewards for their allegiance to the Sarutobi clan were substantial. Positions such as Jonin commander, head of interrogation and intelligence, and position in the administrative department were just a few examples. Were they qualified for those roles? They might be. But are they the best candidates for those roles? That remains to be seen, and from the gossip of the Uchiha clan, they were not. Kagami Uchiha, who was one of the best shinobi in the village just after the Hokage, was overlooked for a lot of positions. In the end, he was only able to become the clan head. That's it.

This power play mirrored the tensions between the Hokage and the Uchiha.

Certainly, there are distinctions, especially regarding ordinary civilians or those born into ninja families. The latter tend to be closer to the Hokage faction, influenced by the Jonin and three genin team system and the dynamics of ninja relationships established since the founding of the ninja academy.

No clan would risk the Hokage's wrath by associating too closely with the Uchiha.

"I'm home!"

Toshiro bid farewell to his companions before pushing open the door to return home.

"seems Neechan hasn't returned yet." Upon finding no one at home, he felt a twinge of curiosity and uneasiness, though he quickly reasoned why she might not be there.

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