Early the next morning, Reiji got out of bed.
He first helped dress the still-sleepy Rie, then said goodbye to Old man Ippongi and Aunt Kyōko before heading off to school.
Their son, Dan Katō, was said to be the third-year class representative and always left home early.
Compared to that, Reiji lived much more leisurely—like a true slacker.
When he arrived at the academy, strolled into the classroom, and sank into a seat in the corner, he finally noticed something odd.
Normally, even though he was never late, he was always the last to arrive. But today, Jiraiya—who was always one of the earliest—was nowhere to be seen.
Don't tell me that guy cried all night over what happened yesterday and ended up late?
Reiji thought idly. In his eyes, being late was no big deal!
If it weren't for the rule that latecomers had to stay for remedial lessons with the ones who failed tests, he'd be late every day without a second thought.
"Dong!"
The bell rang, and Jiraiya burst into the classroom just ahead of the teacher. His face was black and blue.
Covering his face, he avoided everyone's mocking stares, dashed through the rows of desks like the wind, and plopped down at the back of the room with his head low.
The teacher came in right behind him, giving Jiraiya a strange look.
After a long pause, the unfamiliar ninja teacher finally opened his book and started the lesson.
At the back of the class, Reiji tilted his head and stared curiously at Jiraiya.
"Jiraiya, what happened to you?"
Hearing his friend's concern, Jiraiya quickly covered his face and shook his head again and again.
"N-No big deal... I tripped on my way here this morning."
Jiraiya stammered. Seeing him avoid eye contact, Reiji raised an eyebrow.
"You fell and ended up with a swollen eye? That's impressive."
At that, Jiraiya scratched his head and gave a big grin.
Seeing that grin, Reiji's mouth twitched.
What the hell? I actually saw pride in that smile! Dammit, did I say something nice?!
Besides, it's obvious this guy got beat up!
Still, since Jiraiya wasn't talking, Reiji didn't press him. He just kept scanning the classroom with his eyes.
Before long, his eyes began to narrow slightly.
Without Jiraiya's usual antics, the quiet morning passed quickly.
Reiji bought some bread for the too-embarrassed-to-show-his-face Jiraiya, and the two of them quietly munched away at their seats.
Just then, a snide voice shattered the calm.
"Those poor kids are still struggling — all they have for lunch is just bread."
Here we go!
Reiji's heart perked up, and he lazily raised his head to see who it was.
Ryōta Uchiha.
Ryōta sat rudely on the table, legs bouncing, eyes full of disdain as he scanned Reiji and Jiraiya.
"Yo~ Jiraiya, what happened? Did you get beat up? Your eyes are all swollen!"
"Too ashamed to show your face, hiding in a corner with your bread?"
Reiji didn't respond. He reached under the table and pressed down on Jiraiya's hand.
"Shh. Take it easy. Let's mess with him a bit."
At that, Jiraiya snorted and turned away, no longer paying Ryōta any mind.
Today's Jiraiya was clearly different from his usual boisterous self—there was real anger in him.
That's exactly why Reiji was holding him back.
Ryōta, seeing Reiji stay silent, let out a cold snort.
"Dead Last is still Dead Last. What, gone quiet again? I thought you'd at least try to scare me today or something."
He glanced at Jiraiya, who sat beside him with a furrowed brow.
"Dead Last should just hang out with other Dead Lasts. No need to pollute the air."
As soon as he finished, Tsunade, seated in the front row, suddenly frowned.
Ryōta Uchiha, that's crossing the line!
Sure, she often felt like punching Jiraiya and Reiji to vent her frustration, but she'd never stoop to spitting such vile words at a classmate.
Had the Uchiha Clan—who once made a pact with her grandfather—really sunk this low?
That thought made Tsunade feel a twinge of sympathy for Reiji and Jiraiya.
As the princess of the Senju Clan, she knew all too well the strength and influence the major clans held.
Just as her anger reached its peak, sudden laughter cut through her thoughts—and what came next completely stunned her.
"Is that what Madara Uchiha taught you? No wonder the Uchiha Clan is full of traitors."
Reiji shook his head as he spoke, looking like he truly pitied them.
When it came to a sharp tongue, he never lost to anyone—especially when it involved the Uchiha Clan, a group he knew all too well.
"You! Reiji Sakuhō, are you trying to die?!"
Ryōta Uchiha backed away, eyes filled with rage as he glared at Reiji.
"You damn commoner! Take that back! The Uchiha aren't someone like you can insult!"
Instead of backing down, Reiji laughed even louder.
"Oh? You're mad already? That fast? When you all betrayed Madara Uchiha, did any of you care how he felt? Bunch of backstabbers."
"I'm talking to you—evil little Uchiha punks. Do you even deserve to stay in Konoha?"
Reiji's words didn't just stomp on the dignity of the Uchiha Clan—they dragged down Madara Uchiha, their once-revered clan head, right along with them.
Every word cut deep into Ryōta's pride.
After all, one of the reasons Madara had left Konoha was precisely because the Uchiha turned their backs on him.
That proud clan, spoiled by the comforts of village life, had betrayed their own leader.
"Shut up!"
Ryōta's voice cracked in a shrill, hysterical roar. His bloodshot eyes looked more beast than human.
Several classmates flinched and stumbled back, terrified by the wild rage on his face.
"Snake–Ram–Monkey–Boar–Horse–Tiger."
In his fury, Ryōta began forming hand signs, hatred locked onto Reiji.
Seeing this, Reiji's eyes lit up.
Hell yes. He thought Ryōta would just go for a desperate kunai rush—but the Great Fireball Technique? Perfect!
Ryōta's seals weren't fast. Reiji had time to act.
But instead of attacking, he simply grabbed Jiraiya and Tsunade by the collars and tossed them out of the way.
He'd pissed off plenty of people with his words today, but this was exactly the moment he'd been waiting for!
"Bastard, go to hell!"
Ryōta unleashed the jutsu, a blazing fireball erupting from his mouth and roaring straight toward Reiji.
"Bring it on! If I don't beat you so bad you can't even pull your pants up, I swear I'll give up eating four dishes for the rest of my life!"
Reiji clenched his right hand, and with a heavy metallic clank, the weights on his wrist dropped to the floor.
He tensed his body, planting his feet, right fist drawn back at his waist.
"Take this — Emperor's Long-Range Fist Style!"
Boom!
An explosive shockwave burst from his fist, tearing through the fireball with immense pressure.
A moment later, a scorched, smoking fist punched clean through the flames, shattering the fireball into fiery fragments.
Sparks flew everywhere—onto books, desks, the blackboard, the floor. Tiny fires lit up the classroom in every direction.
The remaining students stood frozen, stunned by what they had just witnessed.
From start to finish, everything had gone completely beyond anything they could have imagined.
First, Ryōta Uchiha provoked Reiji.
Then Reiji snapped back, calling the entire Uchiha Clan traitors who betrayed Madara Uchiha.
Then Ryōta, in the middle of class, used a Fire Release jutsu.
And most insane of all—Reiji shattered the jutsu barehanded.
In that moment, the image of Reiji standing with his fist raised burned itself into everyone's memory.
It was terrifying. He wasn't just strong—he was a monster.
Tsunade had fallen to the ground. Her young face was frozen in shock.
That raw violence, that fist strong enough to smash a fireball...everything about it carved itself deep into her heart.
Ryōta, the one who started it all, watched Reiji's fist getting closer and closer. His face twisted with terror until he finally rolled his eyes back and fainted on the spot.
"Just gonna play dead now?" Reiji grabbed him by the collar.
"Pay up! My clothes are burnt!"
Just then, Jiraiya weakly pointed at Reiji's feet.
"Uh, Reiji... your shoes... your shoes are toast too."
Reiji looked down—and veins popped on his forehead.
Damn it. His shoes really were burned!
"Two pairs, bastard! You owe me two pairs now!"
Tsunade glanced at the two idiots, rolled her eyes hard, and couldn't help but curse.
"You morons, seriously?! Now's the time to be whining about shoes?!"
Reiji turned to her coldly.
"So you're paying me back? I'm telling you, two pairs. He's not going anywhere until I get them!
And my clothes—two sets! I want two!"
Tsunade was speechless. Her face darkened, and she stayed silent.
At that moment, the classroom door burst open with a crash. Nakaryū Ōzora stormed in, kunai in hand, and appeared at the doorway in an instant.
"Put him down, Reiji Sakuhō! Put down Ryōta Uchiha! That's an order!"