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"Challenge me?"
"What did I even do?"
Ken looked up, confused. Following the voice, he saw a chubby boy standing in the doorway, blocking the exit. The kid stared straight at him, eyes sharp, full of obvious disdain.
The boy wasn't tall. Round face, sturdy build, trying to look fierce… but honestly, he just came off kind of cute.
Ken frowned.
He had a good memory.
If he remembered right, this kid was called Sarutobi Kei.
Same clan as the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Ever since Hiruzen became Hokage, the Sarutobi clan had risen with him. Their status shot up, and now they were one of Konoha's top families. Big clan, lots of members, and plenty of strong shinobi.
Growing up in that environment, Kei had long picked up a certain hostility toward the Uchiha.
And in Class 1-3, there was only one Uchiha.
Which meant Ken had the bad luck of being the "chosen one."
"Student Sarutobi, we're all classmates. You shouldn't act like this!" Before Ken could say anything, Hyuga Hitomi—who hadn't left yet—hurried over, trying to mediate, her tone almost pleading.
"We're classmates. We're supposed to become friends in the future. We should get along."
Kei turned his head and snorted. "This is between me and that Uchiha guy. It has nothing to do with your Hyuga clan."
"Move aside."
He stood there, puffed up like a proud rooster.
"Why are you challenging me?" Ken asked calmly. He'd kept a low profile all day. How did he end up provoking some Sarutobi heir?
Didn't make sense.
Kei replied flatly, "The Uchiha have the Sharingan. You people boast it's the strongest bloodline in Konoha. I want to see if that's actually true."
"Come on!"
"Let me see how powerful your Sharingan really is!"
After saying that, he spread his legs into a stance and struck an exaggerated, overly dramatic fighting pose. Total chunni energy.
"I'm not, I didn't, don't put words in my mouth," Ken shot back instantly with a triple denial.
The Sharingan was strong, sure—but no Uchiha in their right mind would claim it was the strongest in Konoha. That would be disrespecting the First Hokage's Wood Release.
"Excuses just make you look weak!"
"You're destined to become a stepping stone on my path to becoming Hokage!"
"When people hear you lost to me, Lord Kei, they'll think it's an honor!" Kei declared, acting far older than his age.
Ken paused, then said, "How about this—Sharingan is the worst bloodline. I surrender. Can I go home now?"
He was confident he could take this chubby kid down in one move.
But the problem was his background.
Sarutobi clan.
Hit the kid, and the elders might show up next. If it really escalated and Hiruzen himself stepped in, even Fugaku wouldn't be able to protect him.
Better to avoid trouble.
Figure things out first.
If running away worked, why not run?
"…What?" Kei staggered a step, eyes wide in disbelief.
This was about the honor of two clans—and this guy didn't care at all?
"Do you even have any sense of clan pride?" Kei demanded angrily.
"Clan pride? Can you eat it?" Ken replied calmly.
It was just a fight between two kids, and he'd already dragged it up to "clan honor."
Was something wrong with this guy's head?
"If you don't accept my challenge today, I won't let you leave. I'll stay here with you all night!" Kei planted himself firmly in the doorway, sneering.
Luckily, only the three of them were still here. Otherwise, this would've been painfully awkward.
Chunni kids were hard to deal with.
After thinking for a bit, Ken's lips curled into a faint smile.
"Accepting your challenge… isn't impossible."
"Oh?" Kei's eyes lit up. He suddenly looked at Ken a bit differently. Maybe this guy had some backbone after all.
"Tonight, 10 PM. The open ground behind Hokage Rock. We'll settle it there."
"How could a proud Uchiha be scared off by a few words from you?" Ken snorted, putting on a bold front.
"Deal! Whoever doesn't show is a pig!" Kei grinned, clearly pleased.
"Fine. Tonight, I'll show you just how strong the Sharingan is," Ken said, nodding as if he meant it.
Tonight, the showdown at Hokage Rock!
Kei suddenly frowned. "Wait… why 10 PM? Can't we do it earlier?"
"I'm going home to rest," Ken replied seriously. "I'll be in peak condition when I face you."
"Good!" Kei nodded, completely convinced.
Beside them, Hyuga Hitomi clenched her fists, anxiety filling her chest.
"If I tell the teacher, they'll definitely get punished… No, I can't tattle. If I do, they'll hate me."
"They're both from major clans. They should hold back…"
"I'll sneak out tonight and watch. If something happens, I can help right away."
"Yeah… that's the plan. You can do this, Hitomi!" she encouraged herself silently.
…
With his backpack slung over his shoulder, Ken walked home.
The streets were busy. Villagers passed by, some whispering behind his back, others looking at him with open dislike.
Ken didn't care.
Once he entered the Uchiha district, the atmosphere changed immediately. People greeted him warmly.
The Uchiha might look cold on the outside, but most of them were passionate at heart. They helped each other, stuck together.
…Except for lunatics like Uchiha Madara and Uchiha Obito.
Back at his courtyard, Ken started making dinner.
Simple vegetables. Cheap cuts of meat.
After eating, he took a comfortable bath.
Before 9 PM, he was already in bed.
Young people should sleep early and wake early.
"…Feels like I forgot something," he muttered, turning to the side. Then he shrugged it off. "Probably just tired."
"Sleep."
He closed his eyes and drifted off.
…
11 PM.
Behind Hokage Rock.
"I've been waiting an hour. Why isn't Uchiha Ken here? Did he get scared?"
"Figures. The Uchiha are all cowards!"
Sarutobi Kei stood on the hilltop, teeth clenched, face full of anger with nowhere to vent it.
"If he's not here by midnight, I'll deal with him tomorrow!"
Behind a distant rock, Hyuga Hitomi crouched quietly. Using the cover of night, she had snuck out. Since she wasn't part of the main family, the rules on her weren't as strict.
"Why hasn't Ken come…?"
It had already been an hour past the agreed time.
To her, that meant breaking a promise.
And that wasn't good.
Part of her wanted him to show up.
Part of her hoped he wouldn't.
She was torn.
Time passed slowly.
Ken still didn't appear.
Above them, a few white doves occasionally flew across the night sky…
"....."