The Shimura Actually Has Ice Release

The medical team from Konoha arrived at the academy with incredible speed.

Accompanying them were members of Konoha's police force.

Uchiha Yatsushiro looked grimly at Uchiha Yōwan, who was howling in pain while clutching his groin, being lifted onto a stretcher. Then he turned to glare at the instigator of the entire incident—Hyūga Iroha.

Faced with Uchiha Yatsushiro's piercing gaze, Hyūga Iroha lowered his head guiltily.

He hadn't meant to hit him there. He had just learned the technique Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm, and originally, it was meant to be a long-range, high-powered sniper strike with a range of over ten meters.

But the still-young Hyūga Iroha had only grasped the basics. Not only could he only fire it from two meters away, but his aim was...

Well, to say it didn't exist wouldn't be wrong.

Seeing Iroha avoid his gaze out of guilt, Uchiha Yatsushiro sighed inwardly. After a moment of thought with eyes closed, he turned his attention to the two teachers present.

"Let's talk."

Looking at the equally uncomfortable expressions on the two teachers' faces, Yatsushiro knew that even though it was a Hyūga child who struck the blow, the boy's background left him with little room to vent.

By comparison, the adults—these teachers—clearly bore more responsibility for not stopping the fight in time.

With the teachers taken away, the mock battle naturally came to an end.

"I say... do you think the teachers will be okay?" Ebisu asked with concern as he watched them being escorted away.

Asuma shrugged.

"Don't worry. It's rare, but injuries during training exercises at the Academy aren't unheard of. The shinobi world is full of pain. As long as it wasn't intentional, there won't be any real punishment."

"But still, Iroha, you hit hard. Be honest—was that move meant for Kakashi or for Guy?" Takeshi leaned over to Hyūga Iroha, half-joking.

"You..." Kakashi stared at Takeshi with his usual dead-fish eyes and instinctively crossed his legs.

Even Might Guy didn't know what to say. He just stood there with a goofy smile.

To be honest, there was nothing youthful about this incident at all.

"What are you saying? It's not like I did it on purpose!" Hyūga Iroha protested, blushing.

"Yeah, yeah, don't try to deny it. Everyone knows the Hyūga and Uchiha clans don't get along. I get it, I get it." Takeshi grinned, clearly enjoying the spectacle.

With that comment, the rest of the class, who hadn't thought much of it before, started to wonder if he was telling the truth.

After all, the feud between the Hyūga and Uchiha clans was common knowledge. And Hyūga Iroha had chosen to fight Uchiha Yōwan.

So, thinking about it that way, it all sounded pretty believable.

Seeing how the looks from his classmates were starting to change, Hyūga Iroha shoved Takeshi away and shouted loudly:

"I didn't! That's not true! Don't spread lies!"

Unfortunately, under Takeshi's constant goading, Iroha's denial sounded weak and powerless.

"Alright, alright, we get it, Exploding Marbles Kid."

Takeshi moved in close again and gave Iroha a friendly pat on the shoulder—while giving him a nickname.

"E-Exploding Marbles Kid?"

At first, Hyūga Iroha didn't get it, but after a moment of thought, he understood.

If this nickname spread, then all his dignity would...

Hyūga Iroha was devastated.

Because both classes present had heard what Takeshi said.

As expected, within just one hour, news of the "Exploding Marbles Kid" from Class Two had spread throughout the entire Academy.

Thanks to that, Hyūga Iroha became the first student in this year's cohort to earn himself a "title" as a ninja.

As for whether Hyūga Iroha would one day become famous across the shinobi world—Takeshi, the one who started it all, couldn't care less.

"Exploding Marbles Kid?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen, who had rushed to the Academy upon hearing the news, was just preparing to mediate the situation when a member of the Anbu reported in. Upon hearing the nickname, his mouth twitched uncontrollably.

"What is it, Third-sama?"

Hyūga Hiashi, who had been summoned to the school, asked curiously after noticing the expression on Hiruzen's face.

Hiruzen quickly suppressed his twitching mouth and composed himself.

"It's nothing, just some work-related matters. Hiashi, here's what happened. It was just an accident during a training exercise."

With Hiruzen giving his official stance, Uchiha Yatsushiro had no choice but to accept it, even though he wasn't happy.

Because it was the truth.

The two teachers had done their best to stop it, but Hyūga Iroha's strike was simply too fast—they didn't make it in time.

However, the injury Uchiha Yōwan suffered...

"This incident was indeed due to the teachers' negligence. As principal, I take full responsibility. Later, I will personally visit the boy's family and apologize to his parents."

Seeing Yatsushiro's lingering discontent, Hiruzen offered a very sincere form of apology.

For the Hokage to apologize in person—now that carried weight.

Only then did Uchiha Yatsushiro's expression ease a little.

"I will report this to Captain Fugaku."

He gave a slight bow to Hiruzen and then turned and left, completely ignoring Hyūga Hiashi.

Watching Yatsushiro act so rudely, Hiashi frowned slightly in displeasure. But in front of Hiruzen, he said nothing and simply commented:

"That Yatsushiro is rather disrespectful, don't you think, Third-sama?"

"Haha, it's fine. After all, it was one of their own who was hurt," Hiruzen said, unfazed by the attempt at provocation.

"You're right. I misspoke. Please allow me to take my leave."

Hiashi didn't expect Hiruzen to actually get angry, so he respectfully bowed and exited the office.

...

"Phew... well, that wraps it up. Don't blame yourselves. Exercises must go on, but you'll need to stay sharp—especially when dealing with children from shinobi clans. They often pull out techniques they really shouldn't be using at their age."

Now that the Uchiha and Hyūga representatives had both left, Hiruzen finally had time to address the two teachers.

"Yes, Third-sama. It was our failure."

Touched by Hiruzen's gentle tone, the two, who were from civilian backgrounds, were incredibly moved.

After all, who wouldn't appreciate a superior who took responsibility for them?

"Alright, go back to work. For the next mock battle, you can ask Yūhi Kurenai to observe. She's a jōnin—her insight is much sharper, and she'll be able to stop these kids when they go too far."

While dismissing the two, Hiruzen even offered a helpful suggestion.

"Yes, Third-sama!"

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Pls Drop some Power Stones

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