On the way to the Ninja Academy, Tendo finally understood why his female boss had shown up so early that morning.
It turned out that after getting beaten up yesterday, Mizuki hadn't swallowed the humiliation. Instead, he went straight to the top and reported the incident to Tendo's superior, Inuzuka Akita.
In Mizuki's retelling, he was the perfect victim.
Despite Tendo's constant provocations, he had endured everything with patience. Even after being struck, he had refrained from retaliating out of respect for Akita. The only reason he had come to complain, he claimed, was that he feared Tendo's arrogance might someday lead to a serious disaster.
I, Mizuki, am simply worried about Tendo-kun.
That was the essence of his story.
Ideally, he wanted to drive a wedge between Akita and Tendo. Even if Akita protected her subordinate and kicked Mizuki out, he could still spread rumors afterward and ruin both their reputations.
What Mizuki never expected was that the famously hot-blooded Inuzuka Clan had produced an unusual member like Akita.
The woman was broad-minded—both literally and figuratively—sharp and perceptive.
She didn't accept Mizuki's one-sided story, but she still politely escorted him out, saying she would personally visit the Academy the next day to investigate.
Only after hearing the truth from Tendo did she curse aloud:
"That schemer… what sinister intentions."
"He even suggested inviting you to the Ninja Academy's latest graduation ceremony to spar with their top student—Neji Hyuga. I actually thought he had some misunderstanding with you and wanted to reconcile. Now it's obvious he has other plans."
A system notification appeared.
[New Quest: Accept the challenge and defeat the Hyuga prodigy, Hyuga Neji.]
[Reward: Byakugan (Purity: Common)]
Tendo looked at the quest with a complicated expression.
He felt he should curse Mizuki along with his boss—but the man kept delivering quests to him.
Tendo knew a little about Neji.
In the Ninja World, he had once been known as a genius on the same level as Sasuke Uchiha. Yet later, he gradually faded into the background and ultimately died in obscurity.
A prodigy born under a curse, and a life that ended stifled.
Mizuki's choice of opponent made sense.
At this stage, Neji—freshly graduated and already a prodigy of the Hyuga Clan—was far stronger than someone like Mizuki, a Chūnin who had climbed the ranks slowly through seniority.
Even if Tendo managed to win, Neji was still a Hyuga and the clan's new-generation genius. Slapping the Hyuga clan in the face would still bring Tendo trouble.
It was a layered trap.
For a villain, Mizuki really wasn't stupid.
Tendo's response was simple:
Let the Hyuga come.
It was the perfect chance to test the limits of his system.
A faint smile appeared on his face—three parts disdain, three parts confidence, and four parts arrogance.
"Judging by your usual style, I thought you'd refuse outright," Inuzuka Akita said, giving him a meaningful glance.
"I didn't expect you to accept. Tendo-kun… it seems you still have secrets I don't know."
She didn't push further.
After all, secrets made a person more attractive—and that applied to men as well.
A clever woman like Akita understood that you couldn't press a man too hard. You had to control the rhythm—tight and loose, fast and slow—until he willingly revealed everything himself.
---
Soon they arrived at the Konoha Ninja Academy.
This academy had been established by the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, to train civilian ninja and break the monopoly of the great clans over knowledge.
It was one of the few policies people widely praised him for.
Tendo's feelings about Tobirama were complicated.
Many of the policies Tobirama left behind had prevented the Uchiha Clan from truly integrating into Konoha—ultimately leading to their destruction.
But then again, if the Uchiha hadn't been wiped out, the system inside Tendo might never have awakened.
Looking at it that way—
Tobirama wasn't his enemy.
He was practically a benefactor.
Which meant all of Konoha's higher-ups were his benefactors.
Yes, yes.
All benefactors. No enemies.
---
Soon, Tendo met another "benefactor."
Yesterday, he hadn't held back at all when he struck Mizuki. Though bandages covered the wounds, Mizuki's pained expressions while speaking showed the injuries still hurt.
But ill intent could be a powerful motivator.
The moment Mizuki heard that Tendo had accepted the challenge against Neji Hyuga, he seemed to forget his pain entirely.
Afraid Tendo might change his mind, Mizuki hurriedly brought everyone to the academy's training grounds.
Konoha placed great importance on the Ninja Academy.
It had been built right beside the Hokage Building, surrounded by key facilities so students could be protected or evacuated quickly in emergencies.
Even in land-scarce central Konoha, the Academy's training ground was enormous.
At the moment, two classes were using it.
One was Neji's graduating class, now enjoying their free time.
The other was the class taught by Iruka Umino.
"Hey! Aren't you the guy who caught me yesterday?"
Tendo had barely stepped onto the field when a loud voice rang out.
It was Naruto Uzumaki, whom Tendo had tackled to the ground the day before.
"Hello, Naruto-kun," Tendo replied with a smile.
Then his gaze swept across the field.
Naruto Uzumaki.
Sasuke Uchiha.
Sakura Haruno.
Ino Yamanaka.
In one glance, he had already seen the future "Twelve of Konoha."
Each of them reacted differently.
Some greeted him politely.
Some shyly tried to hide.
Some were too busy eating snacks to care.
And some were already swooning.
"Sakura, look! Look! The new guy is super handsome!"
Ino stared wide-eyed. She had always thought Sasuke or Neji were the peak of good looks—but this newcomer had surpassed them.
"No way, Ino-pig," Sakura muttered, though her tone lacked confidence.
"Sasuke-kun is still the coolest."
"Kiba, you see your cousin and you're not even coming to say hello?"
Inuzuka Akita cheerfully called out to Kiba Inuzuka.
Used to being teased by her, Kiba abandoned his attempt to hide behind the others and obediently greeted his cousin—and the big brother standing beside her.
Anyone who could keep that "tigress" in line was impressive.
Kiba shot Tendo a respectful glance.
---
Mizuki gathered Neji's classmates and announced a demonstration match between Tendo and Neji Hyuga.
The reason sounded noble enough:
After graduation, the students would soon undertake real missions. Inevitably, they would encounter ninja from other villages—or even rogue ninja. Combat experience was essential.
Originally, Mizuki said, he himself intended to spar with Neji—but unfortunately he had been injured yesterday.
Fortunately, Tendo had volunteered to help demonstrate instead.
The explanation sounded so convincing that Tendo almost believed he had misjudged Mizuki's good intentions.
Finally, Mizuki praised Tendo's strength and told Neji not to hold back.
"Give it your full effort," he said.
"I'm sure Tendo won't be hurt."
With that single statement, Mizuki neatly salvaged his wavering reputation.