NOVEL WEB Chapter 13: Chapter 12
Chapter 12:
…..
The sun had already begun its descent toward the horizon when Itachi finally decided the situation was under enough control to return to the academy with Xiao Wu. After confirming through his clone that the powerful man—whose strength appeared comparable to that of the strongest individuals in this world—had completely left the area, Itachi resolved that if he ever saw the man return, he would have no choice but to leave the city with Xiao Wu.
However, he doubted it would come to that after his clone's encounter with the man.
The sudden appearance of this man near the academy was intriguing and somewhat concerning, but it could also just be a coincidence.
Even so, Itachi couldn't afford to lower his guard. If this man was truly an enemy of Spirit Hall, as inferred from his reactions to the clone, then logically, he would stay away from Nuoding City. Still, Itachi knew from experience that assumptions could lead to disaster.
Therefore, he made a resolution: from now on, he would routinely monitor the Spirit Masters' presences around the academy. Even if everything seemed calm, his life as a shinobi had taught him that tranquility could often be the prelude to chaos.
As he walked with Xiao Wu toward the academy, he noticed how completely oblivious she was to the recent events. She was cheerfully hugging a pile of items they had purchased around the city… sheets, pillows, clothes, and various small decorations that had caught her interest.
"Brother Itachi, what do you think? Would the pink flowers or the lilac ones look better on my bed?" Xiao Wu asked, holding up two small bunches of fabric flowers she had insisted on buying.
"The lilac ones," Itachi answered without much thought. His mind was still analyzing the recent events, though he allowed himself a moment to recognize just how much he had indulged the little girl without even realizing it. He had been so focused on keeping her distracted and away from the man that he had hardly objected to any of her purchases.
Not that it was a problem, given the money he currently had, but she would eventually need to learn about money, its value, and how it didn't just grow on trees.
"I knew you'd say that!" Xiao Wu exclaimed happily, holding up the lilacs as if she'd won a small victory.
When they reached the academy gates, Itachi stopped.
"Xiao Wu, you go ahead to the dorm and start organizing your things. I need to talk to the headmaster about some pending matters"
Xiao Wu blinked, surprised.
"What kind of matters?"
"Something to do with work schedules," Itachi replied calmly. "I won't take long. Just go and start getting settled. I'll catch up with you soon."
Xiao Wu frowned, clearly reluctant to part from him, but after a moment of silence, she relented.
"Fine, but don't take too long"
"Hn. I promise," he said, placing a gentle hand on her head before giving her a light push toward the dormitory path.
As she walked away, she called over her shoulder, "And don't forget, you promised to help me hang the lilacs!"
Itachi watched her disappear among the trees before turning and heading toward the main building.
…..
The headmaster's office was as modest as when Itachi had first visited earlier that morning. This time, the headmaster regarded him with mild curiosity as he entered, wondering what had brought him back so soon after completing his enrollment.
"Student Uchiha, is there something I can help you with?" the headmaster asked, narrowing his eyes slightly.
Itachi, as always, maintained his calm and direct tone.
"I wanted to discuss the work schedules for the work-study students..."
The headmaster seemed only mildly interested.
"Ah, yes. As I mentioned before, work-study students are required to fulfill certain hours performing various tasks assigned by the academy staff. I don't personally assign the schedules, so you'll need to wait for the supervising teacher to inform you… Is there an issue?"
"I'd like to propose an arrangement," Itachi began, carefully observing the man's reaction. "I'm willing to pay to exempt myself from these hours. I understand that the work is mandatory for students in this program, but my focus is on studying and training. The work hours would be an unnecessary distraction…"
Although Itachi hadn't initially minded doing the work, the recent developments had led him to decide it was necessary to negotiate a way to avoid losing time to the tasks he was expected to complete as a work-study student. With the unforeseen and extremely powerful unknown figure in the picture, he needed to be cautious and couldn't afford to waste time on mundane chores. This left him with no choice but to show that he had at least some money to spend to ensure he could avoid these obligations. Of course, it would need to be a modest amount to avoid unnecessary suspicion. One problem was no reason to act rashly and create another.
The headmaster raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised by the proposal. It was the first time he had heard of a work-study student suggesting such a thing. Normally, the program allowed them to waive the steep monthly tuition fees in exchange for performing necessary services at the academy while also earning a small stipend to cover basic necessities like food.
"Hmm… this isn't common. But are you able to afford such an expense? After all, you arrived as a work-study student…"
Itachi took out a small pouch of coins—a substantial amount, though he had ensured it contained only copper coins of relatively low value, even in bulk—and placed it on the headmaster's desk.
"I'm not asking for special treatment. I simply want to use my time efficiently. Of course, I understand this is only a small fraction of what a non-work-study student would pay, but I hoped it might suffice for my request"
The headmaster said nothing at first. He opened the pouch and examined its contents before nodding slowly.
"Very well, Student Uchiha. If you're willing to compensate for the work hours in this way, I see no reason not to agree. However, this exemption will only apply to you. Miss Xiao Wu will still need to fulfill her work hours unless, of course, she pays a similar amount"
Itachi considered it. He could easily provide Xiao Wu with the money to reach the same agreement with the headmaster later, but he ultimately decided this was a good opportunity for her to learn about the value of money and its uses. She would need to complete her work.
"That's fine," Itachi replied without hesitation. Besides, if Xiao Wu completed her share, it wouldn't just give her more opportunities to socialize with other humans besides him—it would also provide Itachi with more free time to focus on his own goals.
"Then we have an agreement," said the headmaster, closing the pouch of coins. "I'll inform the staff that you're exempt from work duties. Good day, Student Uchiha."
"Hn." Itachi gave a slight nod before leaving the office.
…
When Itachi finally reached Dormitory Seven, he found a group of work-study students gathered in a circle inside the room. In the center, Xiao Wu was facing off against a boy with dark hair and a lean build—clearly stronger than he initially appeared.
From the shouts of the surrounding students, Itachi gathered that the boy's name was Tang San.
His attention focused entirely on the match between Xiao Wu and Tang San. He didn't activate his Sharingan right away, as even with his normal vision, he could clearly perceive the fluidity of their movements.
Itachi stood silently at the entrance, observing as Xiao Wu, with her characteristic energy, launched a kick at Tang San. He dodged with agility, demonstrating surprisingly refined skills for someone his age. Though he was clearly holding back, Tang San remained on the defensive, as if he didn't want to harm his opponent.
Xiao Wu, on the other hand, showed no restraint. Her radiant smile and carefree attitude contrasted sharply with Tang San's serious demeanor.
"Come on! Is that all you've got?" Xiao Wu teased, laughing as she launched another kick.
When this Tang San started moving with an unusually polished style, something about the nature of his techniques piqued Itachi's curiosity.
Using the abilities of his Spirit Bone, he concealed any trace of his Martial Soul before activating his Sharingan with a simple blink. The pattern of a single tomoe didn't appear in his eye because it was perfectly camouflaged, maintaining Itachi's natural eye color as he analyzed Tang San's movements with almost supernatural precision.
From his position at the entrance, Itachi could pick up every detail—the posture of Tang San, the positioning of his feet, the rhythm of his breathing… everything followed a pattern that wasn't natural for someone his age. Not only did he have absolute control over his movements, but he also seemed to be carefully measuring his strength with each one.
Itachi crossed his arms, his expression serious, his eyes tracking every motion with precision. Though he didn't intervene, he carefully analyzed Tang San's abilities. There was something very peculiar about his style—his movements were too precise, too refined for someone his age. Even a prodigy would struggle to reach that level without an exceptional teacher or some kind of external advantage.
Xiao Wu certainly fought well too. She had her own unique Soft Skill style that utilized the body's flexibility and elasticity masterfully. But this boy Tang San's style required coordination and experience at a level even few ANBU could achieve.
…