Chapter 6: Graduation Day

The next morning, Hyougen headed to the Ninja Academy as usual, but this time, the atmosphere felt different—after all, he had mastered Wind Release ninjutsu the day before.

Upon arriving at the academy grounds, he found the students gathered, chatting excitedly while the instructors prepared to announce the names of those who had graduated.

"Silence, everyone! We will now begin announcing the names!" one of the instructors called out loudly, and the crowd quickly fell silent.

The names of the successful students were called one by one, each receiving their Konoha forehead protector and graduation certificate. Joy was evident on their faces.

As Hyougen waited for his turn, he overheard whispers around him:

"He's so arrogant, but no one can deny his strength..."

"I'll get stronger and defeat him someday!"

"Did you hear? He rejected Ayane's offer! How dare he?"

He ignored all of it, as usual, and stepped forward when the instructor called his name.

"Well done, Hyougen. You're the top student of this class. Even though you'll be leaving the academy soon, I'm proud of you and hope to see you become a great ninja," the instructor said with a smile as he handed over the certificate.

Hyougen offered a small, unreadable smile. "I'll do my best, Sensei."

There was no false humility in his words, nor overconfidence—just a simple statement. And when he made a promise, he always kept it.

---

After leaving the academy, Hyougen made his way through one of the commercial streets, heading toward a moderately sized shop. 

As he stepped into the shop, the manager greeted him with the usual enthusiasm.

"Welcome, dear custo—oh, it's you, Hyojin! Here to check on the store?"

"Yeah. Just making sure everything's running smoothly—and picking up some money."

The manager didn't waste time, disappearing into the back to fetch the cash. Meanwhile, Hyojin scanned the shelves. Simple games like 'Uno' were flying off for younger kids, while 'Domino' was a hit among teens. A straightforward idea, but an effective one.

Hyougen nodded in satisfaction, recalling the reasoning behind this venture…

Two years ago, after his father passed away and he received financial compensation, he quickly realized that the money wouldn't last forever. So, he made a smart investment—he opened a shop selling popular games from his past life.

However, he chose not to expand too aggressively, selling at a steady pace to avoid drawing too much attention. Being an Uchiha offered him some protection from ordinary merchants, but he didn't want to become a target for the major ninja clans.

He could have easily built a commercial empire with his knowledge, but he didn't need to. Power was far more important to him.

So, he entrusted the store's management to a civilian from the Uchiha clan whom he trusted, allowing him to generate a stable income without directly involving himself in business dealings.

After a brief conversation with the manager, he took the money he needed and left.

---

Preparing for Training

Upon returning to the Uchiha compound, he went home, had a meal, and rested for an hour before heading out again.

His next destination was the residence of a retired ninja—a former Jonin and an expert in ninjutsu.

This was why he had brought money. He knew very well that the man was greedy and wouldn't offer any help without compensation.

But Hyougen didn't mind. All he wanted was to clarify a few points that had been bothering him while practicing Wind Release and Water Release: Water Bullet Jutsu. He needed to understand certain details he couldn't grasp on his own.