Naruto: Reborn in Konoha, Starting with the Drop of Asura's Chakra

For first-year students, the survival training was even more boring than the taijutsu matches.

After all, the only jutsu first-year students could learn was the Cloak of Invisibility Technique.

This was why Yagyu's display of the Body Flicker Technique earlier had stunned everyone.

If he had used the Shadow Clone Technique as well, Iruka might have reacted like Itachi Uchiha's teacher and concluded that the academy had nothing more to teach him.

The survival training exam was simple: each student received an object to use for camouflage within a designated training field.

If Iruka found someone within the allotted time, they would receive either a low or a high score depending on their effort. If they remained hidden until the time was up, they would earn full marks.

To Yagyu, however, it seemed the grades largely depended on Iruka's mood.

After all, hiding from a chunin like Iruka using the Cloak of Invisibility Technique alone was impossible.

This test, in essence, was about identifying the students who were best at the technique.

As expected, Yagyu was among the top scorers.

With perfect scores in shuriken-throwing, taijutsu, and survival training, Yagyu was set to be the standout student of the year.

Once the cultural exam results were released, the teachers would select a student as the top representative of the first year based on overall performance, including mini-tests and pop quizzes.

In Yagyu's previous life, this was essentially being ranked first in the grade.

Yagyu didn't need to wait for the results—he already knew the title of top student was his.

If he hadn't been paired with Sasuke Uchiha for the taijutsu match, Sasuke might have had a chance to compete for the title.

Both Yagyu and Sasuke had earned perfect scores in the mini-tests and pop quizzes throughout the year.

But Sasuke's defeat in the taijutsu match meant he couldn't secure a perfect score in the final exam, giving Yagyu the edge.

Apart from Sasuke, no one else was even close to competing with Yagyu for the title.

The top student title was essentially already his.

After finishing the survival training exam, Yagyu left the academy with Ino and Sakura.

Watching their backs, Hinata, who had been secretly observing Yagyu but didn't have the courage to approach him, couldn't help but envy Ino and Sakura.

Everyone seemed to have their own groups of friends, but Hinata had no one.

Until she graduated, when she teamed up with Kiba and Shino, Hinata had no companions.

If not for her younger sister, Hinata might have spent her entire preteen years in complete loneliness.

Her father's disappointment in her timid nature, coupled with her being constantly overshadowed by Neji, left her isolated within her clan.

Thankfully, this was a world of extraordinary abilities, unlike a normal world where bullying might have been even more rampant.

Even so, in the original series, Hinata wasn't spared from bullying by older students—she was targeted twice.

As if noticing Hinata's gaze, Yagyu suddenly stopped and turned to look at her.

The moment their eyes met, Hinata immediately lowered her head in panic and began fiddling nervously with her fingers.

Seeing this, Yagyu's lips curled into a subtle smile.

"Yagyu, what's wrong?"

Noticing Yagyu had stopped, Ino asked curiously, following his gaze but seeing nothing as Hinata had already blended into the crowd.

Yagyu smiled and shook his head. "It's nothing. I thought I heard someone call me, but I must have imagined it. Let's go!"

After leaving the academy, Yagyu invited Ino and Sakura to join him for training during the upcoming holiday.

"Sure, sounds fun!"

Ino raised her hand excitedly. "I've been practicing hard lately, and I can't wait to show you my progress."

"Count me in," Sakura said, nodding firmly.

Seeing their enthusiasm, Yagyu added, "I'll introduce you to a new friend tomorrow. But Ino, I'll need your help for this."

"A new friend? What kind of help?" Ino asked curiously.

Yagyu gestured for her to come closer. Ino leaned in, and after Yagyu whispered his plan into her ear, she looked at him in surprise but quickly agreed. "Got it. Leave it to me!"

Watching their secretive exchange, Sakura couldn't help but be curious but chose not to ask further.

"Yagyu, we're here to find you!"

"It's already late morning! Are you awake yet, Yagyu?"

The next day, at 8 a.m., Yagyu was reviewing a ninjutsu scroll when he heard Sakura and Ino calling from outside.

Putting away the scroll, he stood up and walked out of his house.

"Let's go. Time to meet our new friend."

Instead of heading to the training ground, Yagyu led the two girls to a large estate.

If one looked closely, the plaque above the gate read "Hyuga Clan."

That's right—it was the Hyuga Clan compound.

Smiling at Ino, Yagyu said, "This is where you come in, Ino."

"Watch me," Ino replied confidently.

She ran up to the gate and began speaking with the guards without hesitation.

After some brief conversation, one of the guards went inside. A short while later, he returned and invited Ino in.

Watching from a distance, Sakura asked, "Yagyu, how do you know Hinata?"

She had learned from Ino earlier that Yagyu's new friend was Hinata.

Sakura and Ino both had faint impressions of Hinata—a quiet, aloof girl who never socialized and had no friends.

The idea that Yagyu was friends with someone like Hinata was surprising. After all, they'd never seen him talk to her at school.

Yagyu didn't hide the truth and explained with a smile, "I've helped her twice before. Her situation is similar to how yours used to be, Sakura. I think you'll get along well with her."

Hearing this, Sakura's eyes widened. "Like me? You mean she also…"

Yagyu nodded.

Sakura gasped, realization dawning on her. "No wonder she's so quiet at school. I always thought she didn't like talking to people. But… she…"

Her voice trailed off, disbelief evident on her face.

She couldn't have imagined that someone from a prestigious clan like the Hyugas could also be bullied.

The audacity of those who bullied Hinata was astounding!

But after hearing Yagyu's explanation, Sakura felt a sense of kinship with Hinata—a connection born of shared experiences.

At that moment, Ino returned from the Hyuga compound with a girl of similar height beside her—Hinata.