Kaede scratched his head.
"Ah… no. I learned about chakra a long time ago. I just think everyone understands things differently, so I like listening to other perspectives."
It wasn't fake humility.
It was practical thinking.
His progress with Tenpūton had been terrible.
Hearing how others conceptualized chakra might spark an idea.
Chiri blinked.
"I'm sorry, Kaede. I shouldn't have assumed anything."
He waved it off.
"It's fine. Did today's lesson help you?"
"A little," she admitted. "Not much."
Kaede smiled.
"Then you're already ahead of most people."
In truth, he had been lying earlier.
The material was extremely basic.
Useless for Tenpūton.
But he didn't feel like publicly undermining the teacher.
Since the lecture offered nothing new, Kaede relaxed and chatted quietly with Chiri.
The more they talked, the more surprised he became.
She was polite.
Level-headed.
Not arrogant in the slightest.
Very un-Uchiha.
First class ended quickly.
Sarutobi Mizuya announced the afternoon schedule.
Students would begin attempting chakra extraction.
For most children, first success took around a day.
Talented ones could manage it in a few hours.
The test that separated geniuses from average.
Kosuke leaned over.
"Kaede, you've already extracted chakra, right?"
"Only last month."
Kosuke looked puzzled.
"Don't clan kids usually learn earlier?"
Kaede chuckled.
"My clan is just me. My parents passed away two years ago."
Kosuke opened his mouth to apologize.
Kaede raised a hand.
"It's fine. How about you? Did you understand the lecture?"
Kosuke grinned.
"Yeah. I got the chakra refining part. The rest I can read in books."
Kaede nodded.
Books were always reliable.
Then—
An irritating voice cut in.
"As expected of civilians. You can't even grasp something this simple. You should quit now and stop dreaming about being ninja."
The room went silent.
No one needed to look.
Uchiha Kyō.
Kosuke slammed his desk.
"What did you say?!"
He stood up.
"Don't think being an Uchiha makes you untouchable!"
Sleeves rolled.
Fists clenched.
Kyō only smiled mockingly.
Before things escalated, Ikkaku and Shinku grabbed Kosuke.
Kyō laughed loudly.
"See? Even your own friends know better. The Uchiha aren't to be messed with in Konoha."
Kosuke struggled.
"Let go! I'll teach this jerk a lesson!"
Kyō sneered.
"A filthy civilian barking at me. My clan helped found Konoha. Who do you think you are?"
Many civilians clenched their fists.
Anger filled the room.
But fear held them back.
The Uchiha were powerful.
Crossing them meant risking your family.
A few clan children frowned but stayed silent.
Kaede sighed.
"How embarrassing."
Everyone froze.
Kyō turned toward him.
"What did you say?"
Kaede stood calmly.
"The Uchiha Clan contributed to founding the village. True."
He met Kyō's eyes.
"But what does that have to do with you?"
Kyō stiffened.
He quickly scanned Kaede's clothes.
Fancy.
Unknown emblem.
Never heard of the Amakaze Clan.
So—
A civilian pretending to be special.
"Oh? Who are you supposed to be? Think wearing nice clothes makes you noble?"
Kaede shrugged.
"Doesn't matter who I am."
"What matters is that you're embarrassing yourself."
Kyō's face darkened.
Kaede continued evenly.
"You're not earning respect for the Uchiha."
"You're turning their name into a joke."
Kyō's fists trembled.
"Strength rules this world! The weak exist to be ruled! You civilians should be grateful—"
"Enough, Kyō."
Chiri stood up.
Her voice wasn't loud.
But it was firm.
"You're disgracing the clan."
Kyō froze.
"Chiri, I—"
She didn't look at him.
The classroom was dead silent.
Kaede sat back down.
Interesting.
Even within the Uchiha…
There were fractures.