2 - The Price of Youth Without Honor

When the dismissal bell rang, all the first-year students turned into wild horses, charging out of the classroom door.

Yuto Souta, however, stayed behind.

Not because he had cleaning duty, but because a transparent frame appeared before his eyes.

[Host: Yuto Souta (Apprentice Genin), Current World: Naruto World]

[Life Energy: 650 (Standard Genin range: 1000-3000)]

[Chakra Capacity: 490 (Standard Genin range: 900-2500)]

[Bloodline Limit: Sharingan (Not Awakened)]

[Ninjutsu Arsenal: Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique Lv1 (15/100), Wind Release: Great Breakthrough Lv1 (55/100), Nitrogen Release: Nitrogen Flow Lv1 (55/100)]

[Initial Research Points: 100]

[Personal Aura (1): Ninjutsu Master Lv1 (Offensive ninjutsu power increased by 100%, all ninjutsu chakra consumption reduced by 50%)]

[Current Mission (Main): Graduate from the Ninja Academy. Reward: Unknown, Fixed Reward: System Shop Unlocked]

It was like a game system, and he was the only player.

The new ninjutsu, named Nitrogen Release: Nitrogen Flow.

Its proficiency synced with Wind Release: Great Breakthrough, since it was essentially the same technique—just with an extra step added by Souta.

Purification and compression.

"I wonder what this system shop is about, and this graduation… hmm?"

Yuto Souta seemed to realize something, his eyebrow twitching.

For the past six months, he'd been so focused on developing Nitrogen Release that he'd momentarily forgotten a major event.

"Half a year has passed since the first-year term started. That means Sakumo Hatake… it's about time for that, isn't it?"

Sakumo Hatake, Kakashi Hatake's father—a tragic hero whose soul lingered before the Pure Land for decades awaiting his son after death, a textbook victim of Konoha's darker side.

Yuto Souta's eyes narrowed slightly.

"As expected, I should stick to a low profile…"

Even someone as powerful as White Fang met a sudden end.

In this village of Konoha, a researcher like him was better off keeping his head down…

Shaking his head, he slung his small backpack over his shoulder, ready to head home while helping out Obito Uchiha as promised.

With 100 research points in hand, his science-student perfectionism urged him to devise a plan to make the most of them.

But… as he reached the school gates, the scene before him made him pause.

It was a schoolyard bullying incident.

The bullies were a few boys with long, straight black hair. Unlike Souta, their clothes bore the emblem of another of Konoha's super clans.

The Hyuga clan.

And the one they had surrounded—the disheveled figure curled up with his head in his hands—looked oddly familiar.

Those goggles lying on the ground… weren't they Obito Uchiha's?

"Obito?" Yuto Souta frowned.

The Hyuga kids froze mid-action, turning to look at him.

When they noticed the Uchiha crest on Yuto Souta's clothes and saw his frail, unassuming appearance, their gazes turned menacing.

"Get lost, Uchiha trash!"

"If you don't want a beating, pretend you didn't see anything!"

Yuto Souta's frown deepened.

Meanwhile, Obito Uchiha, finally catching a breath from the pummeling, spotted his deskmate.

His eyes filled with urgent panic!

"Souta! Get out of here!"

"These jerks don't play fair! They said it'd be one-on-one!"

Obito shouted desperately.

Yuto Souta, meanwhile, quietly set down both backpacks…

He roughly understood the situation.

As Konoha's two great dojutsu clans, the Uchiha and Hyuga had never gotten along.

No, scratch that—the Uchiha didn't get along with anyone…

But from what Obito said, it seemed he'd planned a one-on-one fight.

Only it turned into a group beatdown…

Yuto Souta tilted his head, his expression gradually hardening as he stretched his wrists.

"Youngsters who don't respect honor will pay a price…"

Sure.

Just two minutes ago, he'd resolved to keep a low profile—especially as a scientist.

But… how could a man shaped by nine years of compulsory education stand by and watch this?

Yuto Souta's movements and provocative words instantly drew the Hyuga group's attention.

The Hyuga kids turned toward him, their intentions far from friendly.

"Uchiha trash…"

The leader of the Hyuga group sneered as he and his lackeys approached Yuto Souta, cracking their knuckles loudly.

"Beat him to a pulp!"

The Hyuga boys closed in on Yuto Souta.

Behind them, Obito Uchiha's eyes widened in fury and fear!

"Stop right there!"

Obito roared with stubborn defiance and anger!

But just as his voice rang out, another followed close behind…

This one carried three parts calm, three parts anticipation, three parts fervor—and ninety-one parts nerves!

After all, this was a certain science student's first brush with schoolyard violence!

"Nitrogen Release! Nitrogen Flow!"