6 Top Student

Hayashi couldn't help but notice the dramatic change in Hinata. Minutes ago, she was timid and hesitant. Now, she was the complete opposite.

"I'm coming," he said earnestly.

"If I accidentally hurt you, please don't mind."

Hinata nodded, her eyes locked on his, as she formed the opposition sign. Then, with utmost seriousness, she assumed the Gentle Fist stance of the Hyuga family.

He charged directly towards her, his own opposition sign flashing briefly before he launched himself at her.

"Ha!"

As Hayashi approached, Hinata took a step forward, her hand ready to strike. At his speed, a reckless approach would have left him open to a perfect strike across his face.

Hinata's movements were incredibly swift.

Despite being defeated by her younger sister and bullied by three children, she was far from weak. As the heiress of the Hyuga clan, she possessed a natural aptitude for combat.

To ensure that Hayashi remembered her, she shed her timid demeanor. Her physical strength alone was among the top three in the class. She would be a formidable opponent for anyone without combat experience.

However, Hayashi's sharp eyes picked up on her movements in an instant.

"Snap!"

His hand shot up, deflecting Hinata's strike by striking her wrist from bottom to top.

Seizing the momentary lapse, Hayashi swiftly shifted his tactics. He grabbed her arm with both hands, executing a swift turn that brought her down with a shoulder throw. As she fell, his knee pinned her chest, and his hand locked onto her neck, immobilizing her.

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Iruka, standing nearby, declared, "This is the end. Hayashi wins. Seal of reconciliation!"

"Wow, that was fast!" one student exclaimed in astonishment.

"Hayashi is strong. The battle ended in the blink of an eye," another student said, still trying to process the outcome.

"The battle was over in the blink of an eye."

The spectators outside the field let out a sigh. The battle was over before they could even process what had happened.

The girls who had a crush on Hayashi couldn't help but gaze at him.

Hayashi approached Hinata, his hand extended to help her up from the ground.

"Are you alright?" he asked gently.

"N-no... I'm fine," she stammered, her nerves preventing her from grasping his hand. She quickly scrambled to her feet, her head bowed to hide the disappointment etched on her face.

Despite her defeat, Hinata couldn't help but feel a twinge of admiration for Hayashi.

As one of the strongest among her peers, Hinata knew she wasn't a pushover. But her inexperience in combat had proven to be her downfall. Hayashi's lightning-fast tactics had caught her off guard, leading to her swift defeat.

In reality, it wasn't just physical strength that had given Hayashi the upper hand. His strategic thinking had been the key to his victory.

As the previous match came to a close, Iruka announced the next pairing: "Inuzuka Kiba vs. Koizumi Ryota."

Hayashi and Hinata made their way to the sidelines.

Iruka continued, "And in the next bout, Yamanaka Ino vs. Nishikawa Megumi."

Unlike Hayashi's lightning-fast victory, the other students were more evenly matched. Even those from big families, like Shikamaru, didn't have a significant edge over their peers.

Time passed, and the practice field was filled with the sounds of clashing students.

As dusk began to fall, Iruka finally dismissed the last group.

After leaving school, Hayashi didn't head straight home. Instead, he spent the evening exploring Konoha's bustling streets and lively market stalls.

Two hours later, exhausted and famished, Hayashi stopped by a restaurant to grab a boxed lunch. After returning home and taking a refreshing shower, he sat down to meditate and focus his chakra.

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By eleven, Hayashi wrapped up his meditation and pulled out a scroll from the cabinet. As he unrolled it, he found the Shadow Clone Technique, a shortcut that could save him time in the long run.

Hayashi's chakra had been improving, and he felt the need to master this technique. Once learned, he could use his shadow clone to help with school tasks in the future, freeing up more time for other things he wanted to do.

The technique itself wasn't too complicated - it only required a single hand seal. But the real challenge was distributing his chakra evenly. If he messed up, the clone would disappear prematurely or dissolve on its own.

Hayashi spent over half an hour trying to get it right, but he faced numerous failures along the way.

It wasn't until later that he finally managed to create a basic shadow clone. It lasted a mere thirty minutes and remained inert, unable to move or respond. Clearly, he still had a lot to learn.

As the clock struck midnight, Hayashi called it a day, deciding to put his practice on hold until morning. He settled in for a well-deserved rest, letting his tired muscles unwind after a long day of training.

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The next morning, Hayashi's alarm clock jolted him awake. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes and began his daily routine.

A morning workout got his blood pumping, followed by a satisfying breakfast and a refreshing shower. Feeling revitalized, he headed out the door and made his way to school.

The days were filled with one examination after another.

In the final class of the morning, Iruka dropped a surprise announcement: an assessment on the Three Body Technique.

Unlike taijutsu, shuriken throwing, or Kunai Melee Combat, this assessment could be conducted right in the classroom.

As expected, Hayashi aced the assessment, earning the highest score. Despite being trapped in a child's body, his mental age far surpassed his physical form.

After adapting to the ninja world over the past year, his comprehension abilities had grown far beyond those of his peers. While he might not be on the same level as geniuses like Kakashi or Itachi, he was undoubtedly ahead of the curve.

The afternoon brought another challenge: an assessment of shuriken throwing skills.

On the third day, the morning was filled with theoretical exams, followed by evaluations of Kunai Melee Combat in the afternoon.

Throughout the assessments, Hayashi consistently dominated, earning the highest scores every time.

Thanks to Hawkeye's battle-hardened experience and sharp mindset, Hayashi possessed exceptional eyesight and mental toughness. Whether it was physical combat or hand-to-hand fighting, he excelled at delivering precise, decisive strikes with ease.

His shuriken throwing skills rivaled those of Sasuke, and his theoretical knowledge was flawless, earning him perfect scores.

So, when Iruka announced the results on the fourth day, it was no surprise that Hayashi took the top spot.

His new status as top student catapulted him to new fame.

Originally known for his striking looks, Hayashi now attracted attention not only from girls captivated by his aloof demeanor but also from senior female students who flocked to catch a glimpse of the ninja prodigy.