026: Two Failed Practice Sessions

The first day of the Ninja Academy ended amidst all kinds of unheard of commotions.

And as the culprit who ignited the entire scene and sent the children into a frenzy, Natsuki was punished by Iruka with cleaning duty on the very first day.

Natsuki felt wronged. 

He hadn't really done much, and his self-introduction was less than a sentence.

The rest of the disruption was the students' own doing.

"If being handsome is a crime, then I have nothing more to say."

This sentence caused Iruka, who had just recovered, to collapse once more.

Oh well, it can't be helped.

Natsuki shouldered the responsibility of cleaning duty.

He politely declined the enthusiastic offers of help from his classmates.

Only Hinata, his deskmate, stayed to clean with him.

The glow of the setting sun shone into the gradually emptying classroom.

Now, only Natsuki and Hinata remained.

A floating broom swept the floor gently.

"Your control isn't sufficient yet.

"You can use both hands to coordinate and control. 

"Make the gravitational force acting on the object not affect the dust.

"Take control of the top of the broom with your right hand, and swing your left hand left and right to make a sweeping motion."

Natsuki patiently instructed.

This was the most basic ability of the Tenseigan.

It was also the only ability Hinata could currently use.

She could easily defy gravity and levitate.

Hinata had instinctively mastered this technique when her Tenseigan first awakened.

The next step was manipulating other objects and changing the gravitational forces acting upon them. After mastering this, she could fling people around with a wave of her hand.

"So… so difficult." Hinata's forehead was beaded with sweat.

The broom, suspended in mid-air, wobbled precariously a few times.

It stirred up a few dust particles, its cleaning efforts futile.

In the next second, the force in her left and right hands lost balance.

Snap.

The broom broke in two.

"Sigh... I'm sorry, Natsuki. I-I think I'm stupid." Hinata said dejectedly, her small hands nervously twisting the corners of her clothes.

She looked like a child who had done something wrong, waiting to be scolded.

"It's okay, what you've done is already very impressive. Didn't you understand that no one else can do this at all?" Natsuki comforted her with a random excuse that Hinata couldn't refute. "Besides, there are plenty of brooms. If one breaks, we'll just use another one."

"But before that, let me finish cleaning the classroom, so it's not too late."

With a wave of his hand, several other brooms in the corner all started to dance.

Like whirling spirits, they quickly cleaned the entire classroom.

"So… so amazing."

Hinata's eyes sparkled as she watched.

She wasn't surprised that Natsuki could also control gravity like her.

After all, her Tenseigan's abilities were, strictly speaking, given to her by Natsuki.

"Done! Let's continue."

"Mhm."

This time, Natsuki taught her hands-on.

"Relax, focus on control. It's not as difficult as you think. Remember to keep your right hand steady after you fix it in place."

"Understood!"

Hmm? 

Hinata's soft, what seemed like boneless little hands were so soft and comfortable to hold.

He had just told her to focus, and here he was getting distracted.

"Snap!"

"Snap!"

This time was even worse; the broom broke into three pieces.

What's going on?

Was his teaching abilities getting worse?

Natsuki looked down.

Hinata's face was flushed crimson, all the way to the tips of her ears.

A wisp of white smoke started to rise from her small head.

So cute! Wait, no, nooo!!!

Oh no, I forgot about Hinata's unique trait. Natsuki quickly let go of her hand. It seemed he would have to slowly cultivate her personality; being this shy wouldn't do.

She wouldn't be able to do anything.

"It's okay, just follow what I did and practice slowly. We'll go home after a bit more practice."

"Okay, thank you, Natsuki."

Thus, the sound of breaking wood echoed once more.

...

Meanwhile…

Ino hadn't gone home either.

She had brought a few of the followers she had just gained today to the back of the teachers building and was drawing a magic circle with chalk.

She didn't dare be too bold at home.

But at school, in this place hidden from most prying eyes…

Hehehe.

Ino took out a small card.

Natsuki had said that as long as she followed the instructions written on the card, she would eventually glimpse the true meaning of the Dimensional End.

"Big Sis, what are you doing?"

"It looks so cool, is it some kind of powerful Ninjutsu?"

The followers, looking at the magic circle on the ground and then at the enigmatic Ino, couldn't help but ask.

"Shush! Be quiet! Just keep your eyes wide open and watch."

Ino interrupted their inquiries.

With a solemn expression, she clasped her hands together in front of her chest.

Incomprehensible incantations slowly drifted out from her:

"I beseech thee, Answer my call. Guardian of the Sacred Scale, heed my command."

"Let thine body rest under my command, and let my fate be with your sword."

"Answer my call, and obey my will and reason!"

"I am the one who accomplishes all good in the world, and I am the one who gathers all evil in the world."

…

"Appear before I, Guardian of the Sacred Scale, piercing through the wheel of restraint!"

The glow of the setting sun gradually faded, and a solemn atmosphere slowly rose.

The followers held their breath, their eyes fixed, unblinking. 

So Big Sis had really been protecting them all along, was she summoning some kind of guardian now?

This seemed to be a kind of incantation similar to a priestess's. It was a world they couldn't yet comprehend.

They had only heard rumors that such priestesses existed in the ninja world. 

They didn't expect Big Sis to be one too.

After a long while, the surroundings remained silent.

"How was it? Did it work?"

"I don't know, don't ask me, feel it with your heart."

"I'm hungry, I want to go home and eat."

Just as everyone couldn't help but ask…

"Crash~~"

A broom burst through a window from the teaching building.

It flew straight towards them.

Snap!

And it broke into several pieces.

The followers widened their eyes, looking at each other.

The sun had set, and a cold wind blew past.

"A ghost!!!"

The crowd instantly scattered.

"Ugh, it seems like I failed again."

Ino scratched her head, ignoring her fleeing followers.

The truth was truly always in the hands of the few!.

She slung her backpack over her shoulder and skipped away.

The 67th summoning ritual failed! Welp, I'll try again next time!

A moment later, Hinata and Natsuki also parted ways at the school gate, where she was met by her family's guards.

The last few teachers also left.

The entire campus fell completely silent.

Only the magic circle drawn with ordinary chalk pulsed faintly with a rhythmic glow…

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