Pride without strength is just another kind of weakness.
"Hyuga Nami?"
Kai pressed his lips together slightly and turned to look at the quiet, timid girl.
Her long lashes trembled.
Her delicate face had gone pale with fear.
The way she looked at her opponent—
was filled with dread.
And resistance.
As if the person before her wasn't a clanmate—
but someone who had bullied her countless times.
Kai stepped forward and gently patted her shoulder.
"It's just a friendly spar between classmates. You'll be fine."
Seeing the encouragement in his eyes, Nami nodded firmly.
"…Thank you."
With that, she stepped onto the field.
Across from her—
stood a boy.
His posture was straight, his gaze cold.
A white cloth wrapped around his forehead.
The moment he saw Nami, he sneered.
"A member of the Hyuga… needing encouragement just to fight a classmate?"
"If this were a battlefield, you'd only drag your teammates down."
"You might even get them killed."
"If I were you, I'd drop out and become a servant."
"At least the Hyuga would guarantee you a stable life."
"N-Nami… I'm sorry…" she stammered instinctively, bowing her head.
Instead of arguing—
she apologized.
"I'm ashamed to share a clan with you," Hyuga Sora said coldly.
"Face me."
He dropped into a stance.
Gentle Fist.
A taijutsu style—
fully allowed.
"P-Please… go easy on me."
Nami raised her guard, but anyone could see—
she was trembling.
"Form the confrontation seal."
"She's not worthy," Sora scoffed.
"I won't waste time on that."
He moved instantly.
His Byakugan activated—
cold, piercing.
Within the Hyuga clan, hierarchy ruled everything.
Though both were branch members, bound by the Caged Bird Seal—
strength still dictated status.
And Sora—
was stronger.
Which made Nami—
someone he looked down on.
His attack came fast.
Nami tried to respond—
but the gap was too large.
One exchange—
was enough.
She was sent flying.
Her small body crashed heavily onto the ground.
"Stop!"
Watanabe's voice cut through the air.
Sora didn't even slow down until then.
"You get zero for this match," Watanabe said sharply.
"No confrontation seal. Excessive force. You've ignored every rule."
"Doesn't matter," Sora shrugged.
Strength was everything.
As long as he was strong enough—
graduation was guaranteed.
"She's your classmate. Your clanmate."
"Why go this far?"
Watanabe's anger was evident.
Sora's answer was cold.
"She's too weak."
"She's not worthy of being a Hyuga."
"…!"
Watanabe fell silent.
The Hyuga—
were not a clan he could easily reprimand.
Nami was quickly carried to the infirmary.
On the field—
Sora swept his gaze across the crowd.
Arrogant.
"If anyone has a problem with me—step forward."
"I'm not even warmed up yet."
Utterly domineering.
"That brat's asking for it…" Daiki muttered, annoyed.
But he didn't move.
Sora's strength was obvious.
Charging in blindly would only get him beaten.
Better to hold back.
"Boss, why not challenge him?" one of his lackeys suggested eagerly.
"Make him your stepping stone to Hokage!"
Daiki coughed awkwardly.
"That last match took a lot out of me. Next time."
Truth was—
he knew he wasn't a match.
Seeing no one step forward—
Sora's interest faded.
Then—
he walked straight up to Kai.
"You watched your friend get hurt—and did nothing?"
"Konoha must have put chains on the Uchiha."
"Turned proud lions into obedient guard dogs."
Among the entire class—
Kai was the only one Sora acknowledged as worthy.
So—
he provoked him.
Kai rested his hands behind his head, tone casual.
"Your provocation is pretty weak."
"Didn't really bother me."
"But…"
"I don't like you."
"So let's see what you've got."
He stepped forward.
"Watanabe-sensei, I'd like to challenge Hyuga Sora."
Watanabe glanced at Sora.
"Do you accept?"
"I do," Sora replied instantly.
"The Hyuga and Uchiha are both elite clans."
"Let's see—"
"Which is stronger."
"The Byakugan… or the Sharingan."
His eyes burned with anticipation.
Kai thought calmly:
You're not worth using the Sharingan on.
"Begin!"
Sora launched forward.
Gentle Fist erupted—
a flurry of precise strikes.
At that moment—
Kai's Asura's Chakra fully activated.
His senses sharpened.
He could hear the faintest breeze.
Even the tense breathing of the students around him.
His body moved—
like a ghost.
Effortlessly weaving through Sora's attacks.
Then—
a single punch.
Heavy.
Direct.
It slammed into Sora's abdomen.
Boom.
A dull, sickening impact.
Sora's body lifted—
three meters into the air—
before crashing down.
"Ugh—!"
Pain twisted his face.
He vomited instantly.
One move.
Defeat.
The clash between Uchiha and Hyuga—
ended in an instant.
Victory—
Uchiha.
"…What?"
Watanabe was stunned.
He had expected a close fight.
Back and forth.
A narrow victory.
Instead—
it ended in one strike.
Clean.
Overwhelming.
Kai's strength—
was far beyond expectations.
"…That's it?" Akimichi Seichō blinked, chips in hand.
He hadn't even taken a bite.
The entire class—
fell silent.
Too fast.
Way too fast.
"He was holding back…" Daiki felt a chill run down his spine.
If Kai had gone all out earlier—
his own defeat might've been even worse.
"Boss… that 'stepping stone' might trip you instead," a lackey whispered nervously.
"Shut up!" Daiki smacked his head.
You really don't know when to stop talking.
"Ow—boss, that hurts!"
"Then endure it!"
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