Kadoya let out a long, lazy yawn, his eyes half-lidded as he watched the other students spar on the training field. His bored gaze lingered on them with a faint flicker of envy.
Ever since the principal banned him from participating in more than one sparring round, things had gone downhill. Worse, Ms. Mayabi kept pairing him with Shikaku, who would immediately surrender the moment their match started. No fight, no challenge, no points.
Another brutal nerf to his already limited point farming options.
Unbelievable... I'm being soft-banned in real life.
He tapped his fingers against the wooden bench, watching the students clumsily exchange blows. It was getting harder and harder to stay motivated.
Maybe I should just send a shadow clone to school and train my real body somewhere else.
The thought lingered for a moment, but he sighed and shook his head.
No. That's too much like Itachi's path… A genius who never lived his own life.
He didn't want to become a ghost who walked through life by proxy.
Kadoya's gaze shifted, narrowing slightly as he pulled up his system interface.
System Point: 0
Ninja Point: 591
Evil Point: 1835
Sharingan Level 6 (2052/3000)
Chakra Level 11 (2042/8000)
Taijutsu Level 6 (2829/3000)
Throwing Level 6 (2820/3000)
Hand Seals Level 6 (2149/3000)
Ninjutsu Level 7 (2103/3500)
Genjutsu Level 4 (312/2000)
Hamon Level 7 (1435/3500)
Fūinjutsu Level 8 (1290/4000)
Wind Attribute Level 2 (12/1000)
Fire Attribute Level 1 (77/500)
Lightning Attribute Level 3 (262/1500)
Water Attribute Level 10 (430/5000)
Earth Attribute Level 0 (0/100)
Yang Attribute Level 4 (0/2000)
Yin Attribute Level 4 (0/2000)
Ice Attribute Level 3 (521/1500)
Flower Attribute Level 3 (333/1500)
String Attribute Level 2 (262/1000)
Sitting cross-legged, Kadoya closed his eyes and began drawing in natural energy, letting only a small amount trickle into his body. Just enough to let him adjust to the sensation of holding it, no more, no less.
He knew rushing it would only backfire.
By the time class ended, he quietly exhaled, releasing all the gathered energy back into nature. No need to risk turning into a statue in the middle of the academy.
Stretching his arms, he stood up and casually joined his friends, ready for their usual after-school training session.
...
Months slipped by without much happening.
Kadoya, Minato, Saiguu, and Kushina continued to stick together like usual. Their little group remained tight-knit, not out of necessity, but comfort.
Kushina didn't see the need to expand her circle. She liked things just the way they were. She kept things civil with the rest of the class, but friendship? That was reserved for the few she trusted.
Saiguu, a main-house Hyuga, had a demeanor that made people think twice before even approaching her. Cold, direct, and blunt to a fault she didn't care much for shallow connections and didn't bother hiding it.
Minato, on the other hand, was the classroom sunshine. Friendly with everyone, remembered names, helped out when needed. But even with all that, his bond with Kadoya and the others still ran deeper than the rest.
And Kadoya... well, he could finally name at least three of his classmates. Progress, right? Not counting the teacher.
One afternoon, while lying on the grass and watching clouds pass overhead, Minato suddenly spoke.
"Hey, Kadoya… why don't you ever try making more friends?"
Kadoya cracked an eye open and raised an eyebrow. "Huh?"
"I mean," Minato sat up, looking genuinely curious, "you always talk about the importance of connection and trust. So I figured, you know, maybe you'd be open to building more of them."
Kadoya stared at him for a moment, then smirked.
"And why would I need that when I've got you, my best friend?" he said with a teasing grin.
Minato's expression darkened instantly. "So you're just planning to mooch off my connections?"
Kadoya shrugged. "Don't get me wrong, Minato. I'm not interested in collecting people just to say I have them. I want real allies, people I can count on when it matters. No deadweight. No liabilities."
He leaned back, resting his arms behind his head.
He remembers the Madara vs the Shinobi alliance battle.
Where one man nearly wiped them all out on his own. That's the kind of strength he is looking for in his circle.
No offense, but he doesn't want a Sakura situation.
Minato opened his mouth to say something, but stopped. There wasn't really not much he could say to that.
"…You're impossible," he muttered, laying back down with a sigh.
Kadoya chuckled, eyes on the sky again. "You love it."
And just like that, the two fell into companionable silence, watching clouds drift lazily overhead.
...
Some time had passed.
"Fuck off! I'm not interested!" Saiguu snapped, her sharp gaze boring into the Hyūga boy standing in front of her with a bouquet of flowers clutched in his trembling hands.
The boy flinched but didn't back down. In fact, her rejection only seemed to strengthen his resolve.
He was Hiroto Hyuga, also from the main house like her. But unlike Saiguu, who was hailed as a prodigy by the clan elders, Hiroto was… average. At best.
That's why he was so determined. If he could somehow win Saiguu's heart, marry her even, he might be able to claw his way closer to the seat of Clan Leader.
But Saiguu had no time for weaklings like him.
She wanted someone strong. Reliable. Someone she could count on when it mattered.
...Like Kadoya.
Ahem. Not that she was in love with Kadoya. Of course not.
He was an Uchiha, and everyone knew that falling for an Uchiha was like falling in love with a walking time bomb. Handsome, yes. Talented, sure. But sane? Eh.
Just then, as if summoned by her wandering thoughts, Kadoya strolled out of a corner store, casually biting into a popsicle like he didn't have a care in the world.
"Oi! Kadoya!" she called out.
Kadoya glanced her way, chewing on the icy treat as he adjusted the collar of his kimono. As usual, he looked like he'd just woken up from a nap.
Not far away, Hiroto scowled, watching their interaction. He didn't feel threatened, at least not outwardly. The elders would never approve of a Hyuga main branch member marrying an Uchiha. That alone gave him confidence.
As long as Saiguu's heart wasn't taken, he still had a chance. Or so he told himself.
Then Kadoya disappeared back into the store.
Hiroto's brows furrowed. Was he leaving?
Nope.
Kadoya walked out again, this time with a different popsicle, the kind that could be split in two. Without a word, he cracked it in half and handed one side to Saiguu.
She took it like it was the most natural thing in the world and walked off beside him, completely ignoring the boy still standing there like a wilted flower.
Hiroto froze. The message was clear.
Later that day, Kadoya and Saiguu wandered the village together. Not quite a date, just a favor, supposedly, to help shake off her unwanted admirer.
Kadoya had no clue why he agreed to this. He wasn't the romantic type. He'd never been on a date before, fake or real.
Saiguu wasn't much better. Her days were usually consumed by training, perfecting her Byakugan and her techniques. She never understood the appeal of "girl talk" or silly gossip. Dating had never crossed her mind.
And yet… here they were.
They ended up beneath a tree, watching the sun dip below the village rooftops. Orange and red bathed the world in a warm glow.
"I have to say," Saiguu murmured, eyes on the horizon, "this is... kinda nice."
Kadoya glanced at her from the corner of his eye. She wasn't blushing or acting coy. Just honest.
He nodded. "Yeah. It is."
"Let's do this again sometime," she said, not looking at him.
"Sure," Kadoya replied, casually. Though something tugged at the back of his mind, like he was forgetting something important.
Saiguu's hand inched closer to his, brushing against it.
And without a word, her fingers slowly settled over his, as the two of them sat in silence, sharing the view of the setting sun.
Until-
"YOU EVIL UCHIHA!"
A furious voice rang out behind them. Kadoya and Saiguu turned, only to find Hiroto Hyuga standing there, red-faced and seething, hatred burning in his eyes.
...Right. They forgot he existed.
"Tch. Why are you still here?" Saiguu muttered, her tone laced with disgust.
"Who are you again?" Kadoya asked flatly.
That hit Hiroto harder than any insult Saiguu could've thrown.
At least she acknowledged him. But this damned Uchiha? It was like Hiroto wasn't even worth remembering.
"You bastard...!" Hiroto growled. "I, Hiroto Hyuga, challenge you to a duel!"
Saiguu blinked. "...You what?"
She honestly couldn't tell if it was bravery or sheer stupidity. Challenging Kadoya Uchiha?
Even Minato wasn't that reckless.
Still... this could be fun.
She leaned back against the tree and crossed her arms, curious how long it would take for Kadoya to break him.
The two boys faced off. Hiroto activated his Byakugan, slipping into the Gentle Fist stance with burning resolve. Kadoya? He just stood there, eyes half-lidded in mild interest.
"Come," Kadoya said, barely taunting.
Hiroto charged.
Kadoya side-stepped.
No Sharingan. No dramatic moves. Just a bored quick dodge.
Annoyed, Hiroto leapt back and hurled a volley of shuriken. Kadoya lazily exhaled, forming multiple hand seals.
"Water Style: Bubble Seal Stream."
A stream of glistening bubbles erupted from his mouth, catching every shuriken midair and suspending them harmlessly. Then, pop, they vanished.
Kadoya pocketed the intact shuriken.
"Is that all?" he asked dryly.
Hiroto gritted his teeth and threw more, faster this time. Kunai, shuriken, smoke bombs, but they never touched Kadoya. Everything disappeared as if swallowed by the air.
When Hiroto reached for more... his pouch was empty.
"What? Out already?" Kadoya asked with an arched brow.
Hiroto's eyelid twitched. "I'll end this in close combat!"
He charged again.
"Eight Trigrams: Sixteen Palms!"
Kadoya quickly formed hand seals, mixing his Water Ninjutsu and Fire power.
"Water Style: Boiling Point!"
A massive hot ball of water was shot out. Hiroto yelped and jumped back, barely avoiding it.
"Water Style: Water Shuriken!"
Sharp spinning discs of water hurled toward Hiroto. He deflected some, dodged others, but Kadoya was already moving.
His palms came together again. The water around his arms twisted, taking the shape of a short, glistening blade.
"Water Style: Water Blade."
The liquid weapon shimmered dangerously, its edge now solid thanks to a hint of Hamon. Taking what he picked up from Tsunade, he added a healing energy that pulsed subtly within it.
The blade slashed forward, not deep, but sharp enough to draw a painful line across Hiroto's arm.
The wound glowed faintly... and began to heal.
"Wha-?!" Hiroto gasped.
Kadoya chuckled darkly. "Hurts, doesn't it? But not enough to kill. That's the point."
He struck again, then cutting, then healing.
A dance of cruelty.
Death's kiss followed by mercy's touch.
Saiguu watched, eyes wide. Her stoic face betrayed the slightest smile. The technique was... brutal. But genius.
Healing mid-fight to prolong your opponent's suffering?
Too cruel.
She loved it.
Hiroto's screams echoed through the training field as Kadoya continued his terrifying display, each slice followed by a mend. His pristine Hyūga robes were now shredded rags, barely clinging to his body.
"I give up!" Hiroto wailed, collapsing to his knees, desperately clutching what remained of his dignity.
His tear-filled eyes looked up at Kadoya as if staring into the face of a devil.
"D-Damn you..." he stammered through sobs, looking to Saiguu, hoping, pleading for help.
Saiguu almost rolled her eyes.
Then-
Kadoya reached over, cupped her cheek, and pulled her in.
And kissed her.
Saiguu: "!?"
Hiroto: "!?"
Somewhere in the distance, you could hear the sound of a heart shattering into microscopic dust.
Saiguu, shocked at first, didn't pull away.
Kadoya broke the kiss, turning his gaze to Hiroto's broken form.
"You never even held Saiguu's hand. But you already have the illusion of marrying." Kadoya said coldly. "Yet her first kiss was not with you."
He pointed at himself with a smirk of absolute confidence.
"Kono Kadoya da."(It was me, Kadoya!)
Stylish Ranking: Smokin' Sexy Style!!
Reward: +2000 Ninja Points + 2000 Evil Points
Congratulations!
Quest Complete: "Scream! Scream!! SCREAM!!!", "Heart Breaker!", "First Kiss!"
Titles Unlocked: [Evil Uchiha I]
Reward: +4 System Points +5000 Evil Points + Sharingan: Tsukuyomi +3 Golden Gacha Ticket
Kadoya smirked to himself, savoring his reward. Yep, just as he suspected. The more outrageous and absurd his antics were, the better the payoff.
Somewhere in the distance, Hiroto was already running away, tears streaming down his face like a broken faucet, the sound of his sniffles fading into the wind.
Then-
Crack!
A clean right hook slammed across Kadoya's face, knocking him flat on the ground.
No warning. No hesitation.
Saiguu's fist.
She didn't even look back as she stormed off, ironically heading in the exact opposite direction of Hiroto and the Hyuga compound.
Kadoya lay there, blinking up at the sky.
"…Yeah," he muttered, rubbing his jaw. "I kinda deserved that."
He sat up slowly, lips twitching with faint amusement. What he did was... objectively awful. Cruel, even.
Yet Saiguu didn't seem that mad.
She punched him, sure, but that was expected.
That was normal.
Kadoya dusted himself off and stood, brushing stray leaves from his kimono.
"I should probably make her a gift or something," he murmured. "Would be a shame to waste all the progress I've made."
Meanwhile, down the street and around the corner, Saiguu had slowed to a stop.
Her face, usually blank and cold, was tinged with the faintest shade of pink. She touched her lips without thinking.
That kiss...
She bit her bottom lip, eyes narrowing in confusion and curiosity.
"…That idiot," she whispered.
Yet even as she scowled, she licked her lips once more, almost unconsciously.
The taste still lingered.