Uchiha Naori's opponent was her own clan member.
Another boy in the class, Uchiha Hachidai, had spiky, Sendo-style hair and squinted eyes. He looked fierce, and his appearance was quite lacking for an Uchiha, yet the expression on his face was the typical arrogant pride of the Uchiha.
Uchiha Naori, with her wavy long hair, was the opposite of him. Both her looks and the gentle expression on her face made her seem soft and not strong at all.
But it was Uchiha Naori who actively chose him as an opponent.
This action meant that the Uchiha-style pride was deeply ingrained in Haruyo's bones. She disdained fighting with weaker individuals, meaning her classmates, even if some of them were Hyuga.
Hachidai was quite strong among the boys, and if the opponent was a fellow clan member, there was no need to show courtesy or sympathy.
In the Uchiha Clan, the more gentle and kind-hearted an individual was, the more terrifying they became.
Such individuals were more likely to be stimulated to awaken their Sharingan under the influence of negative emotions.
Haruyo was such a character. Unlike typical Uchiha who would go to extremes after awakening their Mangekyo due to negative emotional stimulation, Haruyo remained gentle from beginning to end. This is why she developed a technique like Hanabi, a transient yet astonishingly beautiful jutsu, Izanami.
Therefore, this girl was exceptionally terrifying.
The Izanami technique, while appearing gentle and encouraging goodness, was fundamentally a terrifying jutsu that twisted spirit and personality, similar to the strongest genjutsu like Kotoamatsukami.
Shisui of the Body Flicker possessed the strongest genjutsu innate to his Mangekyo, while Haruyo independently developed hers. Counting from the Uchiha civil war, it took her two to three years. Compared to Shisui, it's not hard to see who was more skilled.
Not to mention, Haruyo successfully prevented the Uchiha civil unrest and delayed the collapse of the Uchiha Clan. It's no exaggeration to say that Haruyo was the strongest Uchiha at that time.
Even more exaggeratedly, the Sannin of her generation were not strong enough to defeat her.
The more Miki thought about it, the more she valued this little girl in front of her.
After the customary opposition hand sign, the battle ended in an instant.
Uchiha of this age couldn't yet fully utilize their signature Fire Release, although Miki suspected Haruyo could.
But Haruyo didn't use it. The two charged at each other, and in the moment they crossed paths, many didn't even see it clearly: Hachidai was knocked to the ground by Haruyo, who then quickly suppressed him as he tried to get up, pressing a blunted Kunai against his neck.
The process was a clean and decisive instant kill. For taijutsu to be performed to this extent, it meant that there was already a generational gap in skill between the two, essentially an adult fighting a child.
"Winner! Uchiha Naori!"
Uchiha Naori stood up and politely made a hand sign to express her gratitude for the guidance.
"Damn it!"
Hachidai, however, clearly didn't realize the gap between them, thinking he was only slightly behind, his face full of unwillingness.
However, someone did realize it: Hyuga Hitomi, her Byakugan intently fixed on Haruyo, watching non-stop.
As a generational taijutsu expert, she hadn't seen a pig run, but she had eaten pork. At home, her father fought her in the exact same clean and decisive manner.
She bit her lower lip tightly, a hint of unwillingness showing on her face.
She had dropped to fourth place.
The current class ranking was Miki first, Tsunade second, Uchiha Naori third, and she fourth.
Although they hadn't fought, she couldn't defeat either Tsunade or Haruyo.
Among them, Tsunade's technique wasn't as refined as her own, but one punch from her would definitely be devastating.
And if she hit Tsunade, judging by what her Byakugan observed inside that little monster's body, her attacks would be like mere tickles.
If the battle dragged into a prolonged fight, in a contest of Chakra consumption, she would be the only one to lose.
Through her observation, Haruyo's Chakra was about on par with her own, so her attacks could cause Haruyo a lot of trouble. But the key issue was that Haruyo's technique was even more refined than hers.
She hadn't seen many of the movements, and the battle had ended inexplicably.
That abnormal attack speed—if she couldn't see through it, only defeat awaited her.
These monsters!!
Hyuga Hitomi gritted her teeth and looked at Miki.
She didn't want to look at Miki's internal situation again.
This monster among monsters!!!
Don't think you can leave me behind!!!
"It's finally my turn!"
"Who wants to fight me!"
Accompanied by Jiraiya's exaggerated laughter, the boys looked at Jiraiya, eager to try.
Currently, Jiraiya was not impressive enough. An opponent was quickly chosen, and the battle began. It was a very typical 'chicken pecking at each other' fight, with heavy thuds and cries of pain flying, a flurry of wild punches, and occasional classic shouting matches. It was an evenly matched and fierce battle.
Very common.
It was simply a contest of who had tougher skin and flesh.
Tsunade stared blankly at the sky, still recovering from the massive depletion of her Chakra.
Hyuga Hitomi looked at Miki.
Miki, in turn, looked at Haruyo. Somehow sensing Miki's gaze beneath her mask, Haruyo looked at Miki, revealing a gentle smile tinged with shyness.
Seeing this, Hyuga Hitomi gritted her teeth and angrily turned away.
That monster has never looked at me!!!
Monsters really do notice monsters!!!
Miki nodded slightly at Uchiha Naori in response.
Indeed, this girl cannot be underestimated.
She awakened her Sharingan.
Even for an instant, the Insects had already captured that abnormal, cold Chakra.
There was no mistake. As a product of Yang Release, Insects were particularly sensitive to Yin Release.
Her young body was not yet capable of using the Sharingan for extended periods. Therefore, instantly activating and deactivating it to perceive and seize victory in battle, thereby reducing burden and consumption, was an extremely skilled and clever approach.
And such a brief moment, so brief that no one present apart from Miki noticed her awakening, meant that this girl possessed exceptionally outstanding battle instincts, awareness, and reflexes.
Uchiha Naori was a true monster.
Uchiha, huh? In the distance, Sandaime stared at Haruyo in the crystal, taking a puff from his pipe.
This child's taijutsu is a bit stronger than Tsunade's.
Her personality also seems very good.
Subsequently, Sandaime looked at Jiraiya, who was bruised, shouting, and laughing foolishly after his victory.
He couldn't help but smile.
What a lively and resilient child.
Then he looked at Miki again, his gaze deep.
This child doesn't seem lively enough. But then he remembered the generally introverted personalities of the Oil Girl Clan and felt relieved.
At least she's not an Uchiha.
So, what's the next step for contact?
It's a bit troublesome. If she were like this foolishly grinning white-haired boy, who looks so easy to trick, it would be wonderful.
In the arena, it was Hyuga Hitomi's turn.
Looking at the bandage on Hyuga Hitomi's head, Sandaime's eyes dimmed.
Such a young child having to bear such a heavy destiny.
He had seen this child at the start of the school year, with that innocent and pure expression on her face.
Unconsciously, was she already capable of showing such a cold expression?
What a cruel growth.
Family... Talking about Konoha being like one big family, a Village where children can grow up without worry or fear, happily and safely. As Hokage, I truly am a failure.
Sandaime couldn't help but give a self-deprecating smile.
"Shodai(1st)-sama and Nidaime(2nd)-sama really posed a challenge for people."
"Haa! Gentle Fist!"
The moment the battle began, like a fierce tiger, she charged forward and struck a palm against her opponent's parrying hands.
Compared to the typical Hyuga who leaned towards defensive counterattacks...
Hyuga Hitomi was very aggressive.
Miki still remembered the girl's weak appearance when they first met, but now she had donned a layer of armor over her heart.
To say she was strong was true, and to say she was fragile was also not wrong.
Due to her young age, although she had mastered Gentle Fist, she couldn't yet penetrate the subcutaneous muscles and Chakra, attacking meridians and internal organs to instantly paralyze her opponent.
But it was clear that the opponent was in great pain from Hyuga Hitomi's seemingly weak palm strike. In his agony, his chest was left wide open, and Hyuga Hitomi followed up with a light palm print on his chest.
He cried out in pain, fell to the ground, and couldn't get up again.
Compared to the fist-to-fist pain of brawling with other boys, the pain inflicted by this girl was overly insidious.
It was like being pricked by needles. The unlucky child, Hiruko, felt like he might pass out from the pain at any moment and let out a satisfying wail.
He somewhat hated himself for choosing such an opponent!
Because he simply couldn't forget how easily Hyuga Hitomi had been scared unconscious by Miki at first, making her seem like an easy target.
Hyuga Hitomi won very easily.
She snorted, looking at the fallen Hiruko. Although she didn't want to fight such a guy, there were no worthy opponents left. Now, anyone would do, and this was his own doing, so he had no one to blame.
She's a very excellent child, Sandaime mused, puffing on his pipe.
My Konoha is full of talent.