Chapter 20: The Queen of the Elite Class      

"AAAAHHH—!" 

The sudden fireball sent the watching students into a panic. 

Sure, this was "combat training," but it wasn't a real battlefield. 

Ninja tools? Jutsu? Strictly forbidden for first-years. 

Sasuke had just broken every rule. 

As the flames roared toward Hikari, some of the girls winced, squeezing their eyes shut. 

"Hikari! MOVE!!!" 

Naruto screamed, fists clenched, looking like Ash trying to wake up a fainted Pikachu. 

Even Iruka and Shikamaru—who knew Hikari was strong—frowned. 

The fireball was inches from her now. Too late to dodge. Too late to block. 

She hadn't used water release. Hadn't moved. 

Even a jonin could die from a direct hit like this. 

What the hell was she doing?! 

Then— 

Hikari lifted her left hand. 

Gloop… gloop… 

Dark blue chakra—boiling like water under her skin—bubbled up from her pores, shifting into a crimson haze. 

In seconds, her pale hand was sheathed in red energy. 

WHOOSH! 

The fireball slammed into her palm. 

Sasuke's eyes widened as Hikari squeezed. 

HISSSSS—! 

The flames writhed, spitting sparks—but her grip was iron. The fireball struggled, its force crushed by something even more monstrous. 

Then— 

PFFT. 

It died in her hand. 

The red energy faded. Her skin? Unscathed. 

Silence. 

Absolute silence. 

The class—Iruka included—just gaped. 

No jutsu. No defense. She'd caught an Uchiha's fireball bare-handed. 

If they hadn't seen it? They'd never believe it. 

"Your fireball couldn't light a candle." 

Tap. Tap. Tap. 

Her cane tapped past Sasuke—still frozen on the ground—as she returned to the group. 

The students scrambled back, forming a wide circle around her. 

Nobody dared get close to the girl who crushed fire with her fist. 

Finally, Iruka coughed. 

"Hikari… full marks. Sasuke… try harder." 

That broke Sasuke. 

Between the beating, the chakra drain, and now this? He passed out. 

"You three." Iruka pointed at the boys who'd bullied Naruto earlier. "Take Sasuke to the infirmary. Then fight Choji, Shikamaru, and Kiba." 

"HUH?!" x3 

The Elite Class rankings? Sasuke was first. Those three? Second, third, fourth. 

"Move it, or it's marked as skipping!" 

"Y-yes, sensei…" 

Grumbling, they hauled Sasuke away. 

"Next match! Sakura vs. Ino!" 

The training ground buzzed again—but after that spectacle? Everything else felt dull. 

Meanwhile, the real star sat cross-legged, flexing her hand. 

Damn, that stung. 

Sure, the Three-Tails' chakra cloak had tanked the fireball—but she'd barely stolen enough for a thin layer. 

A real jinchūriki's cloak could no-sell attacks. Hers? A bootleg version. 

If this had been Itachi's fireball? She'd be charcoal. 

But the result was perfect. 

She watched the class sneak glances at her—fear and awe in their eyes. 

Her status? Now above Iruka's. 

Just as planned. 

Step one: Crush the Uchiha to establish dominance. 

Step two: Win over the clan heirs for their secret techniques. 

She didn't care about being Hokage. 

But their yin-yang jutsu knowledge? Essential for her path to godhood. 

"Hikari! How'd you do that?!" 

Naruto—bouncing over—was the only one brave enough to ask. 

"You'll manage it someday." 

She side-eyed the Nine-Tails inside him, itching to steal its chakra too. 

Using the cloak had drained her. 

The Byakugan and Shikotsumyaku weren't chakra-heavy—without the Three-Tails' reserves, she'd be dry. 

"REALLY?! THANKS!" 

Naruto beamed, already imagining himself smacking Sasuke's fireballs away. 

Hikari turned to Kiba, who'd been watching her. 

"You. What's your name?" 

Kiba jumped, pointing at himself. "M-me?" 

"Mm. Your puppy's cute." 

"Oh! I'm Kiba! This is Akamaru! We're partners!" 

"Bark! Bark!" 

Kiba grinned. Dog people loved anyone who praised their pets. 

"And you two?" 

Shikamaru and Choji stepped forward, exchanging names. 

"I'm Hikari. Need a favor." 

The trio glanced at each other. 

"What favor?" 

"Later, during sparring—go hard on those three. I'll owe you." 

Behind her, Naruto teared up. She's doing this for ME?! 

Shikamaru's group lit up. 

Hikari was unstoppable. Having her as an ally meant carte blanche in the Academy. 

Plus? They hated those guys anyway. 

"Deal." 

"Make sure they visit the infirmary." 

"Leave it to us!" 

As the three puffed their chests, and Naruto sparkled behind her, Hikari's smile deepened. 

Friendship was built on mutual benefit. 

Small favors now… big alliances later. 

And crushing the Uchiha? A message to the village: 

"I'm strong. I'm not with the Uchiha. Invest in me." 

Kids were the best gossipers. The more they exaggerated, the more clans would flock to her. 

Soon? 

She'd just whisper what she needed—and "investors" would throw resources at her. 

The snowball was already rolling. 

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(＾▽＾)