Shikigami Summoning in Konoha

Chapter 39: Sasuke's Confusion

As a member of a clan that heavily relies on visual prowess, Sasuke also noticed the smile in Katsuragi's eyes. Although he knew it wasn't mockery, it was enough to make him angry.

After clenching his fists, Sasuke ultimately chose not to say anything. He gave Katsuragi a cold look and decided to leave. He resolved not to sleep that night, determined to redeem himself in tomorrow's exam.

Watching the second pillar leave with what seemed like a gaze full of humiliation, Katsuragi felt somewhat helpless. Honestly, if it weren't for completing tasks and accompanying Hinata, he wouldn't want to spend his days in school dealing with these troublesome kids.

"Katsuragi! Katsuragi! I'm going to beat you tomorrow and take your first place!"

Seemingly spurred on by Sasuke's challenge, Naruto also jumped out and shouted.

However, while the crowd might have expected something from Sasuke's declaration, they laughed at Naruto's. Even Shikamaru and Choji, who were close friends, smiled knowingly, well aware of the improbability.

"Give it up!" Katsuragi rolled his eyes and responded dismissively: "You better try to beat the second-last person first before challenging me!"

"Uh!"

Naruto scratched his head, looking confused, and said, "But that stuck-up guy gets to challenge you!"

"Yes, Sasuke is second, and I'm first. You see, everyone challenges in order. So, you have to do it too!" Katsuragi wondered if Naruto's intelligence would allow him to be deceived like this forever. What would happen if he couldn't use his mouth to get out of situations?

"Oh, I see!"

Naruto counted on his fingers, "If that's the case, I have to challenge a lot of people before I can challenge you, Katsuragi!"

"Yes! Yes!" Katsuragi nodded earnestly, encouraging him: "Keep it up! Keep it up! I have to go now! Hanabi wants me to play with her today!"

Without waiting for Naruto's response, Katsuragi quickly left with Hinata.

At the Hyuga residence.

A little over one-year-old toddler, Hanabi, was stumbling and practicing walking in the yard, closely watched by an affectionate man.

"I'm back!"

At that moment, a gentle female voice came from the door, making both people at the yard turn to look.

"Sister! Brother!"

The toddler, seeing the two people outside, happily called out with a baby voice and ran towards them. However, perhaps because she ran too hastily, she stumbled after just a couple of steps and fell to the ground.

"Hanabi!"

"Be careful!"

Seeing the little girl's actions, everyone got worried. Katsuragi and Hinata quickly went over to help her up, asking concernedly, "Are you okay, Hanabi?"

"I'm okay! Hehehe!" Hanabi giggled a few times, then brushed off the dust on her and happily looked up at Katsuragi and Hinata: "Brother, sister, you're back from school!"

"You're back!" Hiashi also came over at that moment and greeted Katsuragi and Hinata.

"Hiashi-sama!"

"Father!"

Hiashi looked at Hanabi holding hands with someone, then turned to Katsuragi and Hinata and asked, "Is the school exam tomorrow?"

"Yes!" Hinata nodded.

"Sister, what's an exam?" Hanabi looked up at Hinata with her innocent big eyes and asked.

"An exam is…" Hinata paused, unsure how to explain.

"An exam is a way to assess your efforts, like how we see if Hanabi has been practicing walking well," Katsuragi explained with a smile, helping Hinata out.

"So that's what an exam is!" Hanabi nodded, seeming to understand.

Hiashi looked approvingly at Katsuragi, then asked, "Katsuragi, are you confident about being first tomorrow?"

"Not bad!" Katsuragi replied modestly. After all, the material learned in the first year of school wasn't that complicated; if he couldn't score first, it wouldn't do justice to his transmigrated status.

"Hinata, how about you? Do you feel confident about beating Katsuragi just once?"

Even though Katsuragi was almost considered part of the Hyuga family, he wasn't one of them, whereas Hinata was the heir. Therefore, Hiashi hoped Hinata would perform well.

"I... I…" Hinata stammered, unable to articulate her thoughts. Although Katsuragi's help had placed her among the top in class, surpassing him seemed nearly impossible, let alone beating Sasuke.

Hiashi's eyes flashed with disappointment. He didn't actually expect Hinata to come first, but her lack of consideration was what truly let him down. As the heir, her character was too soft.

Noticing Hiashi's gaze, Hinata felt somewhat saddened and instinctively looked down, causing Katsuragi some embarrassment. Honestly, he didn't want Hinata to become what Hiashi envisioned either.

If it wasn't enough, he could later take the Uchiha heir's transplanted eyes and give them to her when he became powerful enough. After all, Hinata's personality wasn't suited to be a clan leader.

"Sister!" Noticing Hinata's mood change, the sensitive Hanabi held her hand, worriedly calling out.

"Never mind, it's okay!"

Seeing everyone's expressions, Hiashi didn't say much more. After reminding them to remember to have dinner later, he went back inside.

"Brother, sister! Is school fun?"

With Hiashi gone, Hanabi excitedly pulled them aside to sit down and asked.

"Uh! Not fun!" Katsuragi thought of the boring lessons and quickly shook his head, "You'll understand when you go to school, Hanabi. School is actually a very painful thing!"

"Is that so?" Hanabi, naive about the outside world, believed Katsuragi immediately, and her anticipation for school diminished.

"Hanabi, don't listen to Katsuragi!" Hinata immediately countered Katsuragi, protecting Hanabi, "School is interesting. You can make many friends and learn lots of things there!"

"Eh!?" Confused by the conflicting responses, Hanabi didn't know whom to believe.

Seeing Hanabi's puzzled look, the usually gentle Hinata couldn't help but glare at Katsuragi, looking unusually adorable.

"Cough, cough, Hanabi, your sister is also right. School can be fun sometimes!"

Seeing Hinata's expression, Katsuragi, as someone who was weak to such things, quickly switched sides to support her view.

"Okay!" Hanabi nodded her little head, looking forward to learning with her brother and sister.

"Ha, ha! That might not be possible, Hanabi!" Katsuragi rubbed Hanabi's head affectionately. Unless she skipped several grades in the future, it was unlikely she would be in school with them.

... "First place: Katsuragi!" "Second place: Uchiha Sasuke!" "Third place: ..."

At the moment the results were announced, Sasuke's face stiffened. He looked at Katsuragi, who was unconcernedly chatting and smiling with Hinata, and felt indescribable emotions.

Since enrolling, he had never beaten Katsuragi even once. If Katsuragi were the type to study hard and diligently, Sasuke might have felt better, but Katsuragi was not!

He had never slacked off in class, always asking his ninja brother for additional training after school. But what about Katsuragi? If he wasn't sleeping in class, he was chatting with Hinata or occasionally keeping Shikamaru, Choji, and the detention students company in the hallway.

"Is this what they call a genius?" Sasuke couldn't help but wonder, thinking of his father's praise for his brother as a genius. He suddenly thought: "Was my brother like Katsuragi when he was in school?"

End of Chapter 39