Chapter 4 - Strike First, Strike Hard!

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In his previous life, Rong Lin had been no stranger to fights. He even boasted a glorious record of taking on five opponents at once—though he'd won thanks to the "fighting artifact" known as a brick.

A win was a win, and defeating five people single-handedly had earned him a reputation as a troublemaker in the eyes of teachers. Whether it was self-defense or not, whether he was outnumbered or not, fighting always left a bad impression.

If it were Kakashi, Rong Lin might have hesitated slightly. But Sarutobi Asuma and Hyuga Tarin? Did they really deserve his respect?

"Hehe, you'll find out soon enough," Asuma sneered, cracking his knuckles as he slowly advanced into the alley, already imagining Rong Lin's cries of agony.

Tarin, arms crossed, stood off to the side with an air of disdain. As a member of the Hyuga clan, he looked down on Rong Lin. That didn't mean he'd stoop so low as to join Asuma in ganging up on him, though. Bound by strict family rules and proud of their unique bloodline limit, members of both the Hyuga and Uchiha clans carried themselves with arrogance. Thus, Tarin simply watched with cold indifference.

"Hmph, do you really think I'm afraid of someone with a brain problem like you?"

Rong Lin snorted, his eyes darting around before his expression suddenly shifted to one of shock, reverence, and panic. "Hokage-sama! What are you doing here?"

He bowed his head slightly, though a mischievous smile played on his face beneath the pretense.

"..."

Asuma and Tarin were momentarily startled. They hadn't expected the Third Hokage to pass by at this moment. While Tarin remained relatively calm, Asuma's heart nearly leapt out of his throat.

"You two idiots!"

Rong Lin smirked, his small fist already flying toward Asuma's face. The two had been standing close to begin with, and Rong Lin's act had successfully tricked them into thinking the Third Hokage was nearby. As they tensed up and turned to look, Rong Lin struck without hesitation.

Strike first, suffer later—Rong Lin wasn't about to wait for Asuma to make the first move, even though he wasn't afraid of him.

"Ahh!!!"

A sharp, piercing scream echoed through the alley as Asuma clutched his eyes and stumbled back a few steps. "You tricked me!"

By the time he turned around, he realized there was no sign of his father's voice outside the alley. But before he could fully process what had happened, Rong Lin's attack landed.

"Smart! Too bad there's no reward for it."

Chuckling wickedly, Rong Lin seized the opportunity to deliver a heavy punch to Asuma's stomach. Asuma nearly passed out from the force, collapsing onto the ground like a boiled shrimp, his insides feeling as if they'd been twisted into knots.

The heavy blow left Asuma writhing in pain. Rong Lin shook his hand with a look of mock disappointment. "What a letdown. I wonder if the Third Hokage would be so mad he'd blow his top if he saw you like this?"

With a swift kick to Asuma's stomach, the intense pain caused him to faint against the wall, still reeling from the earlier blows.

"Now it's your turn."

Having dealt with one opponent, Rong Lin turned to face Tarin, who stood frozen at the entrance of the alley, speechless.

"Even though we're somewhat related, considering how the Hyuga clan looks down on me, I'll make sure to give you a proper welcome."

"You...!"

Tarin's face darkened as he opened his mouth to spit out some fierce words. Unfortunately, Rong Lin didn't give him the chance, charging forward instead.

After a flurry of grunts and groans, the alley fell silent. Rong Lin shook his hands, smiling as he walked away, leaving behind Asuma and Tarin, both beaten to a pulp.

"Sigh..."

Shortly after Rong Lin left, an ANBU operative appeared in the alley. Looking down at the bruised and battered pair, he sighed and disappeared.

"What? Asuma and Tarin were beaten up by Uchiha Rong Lin?"

In the Hokage's office, the Third Hokage's hand holding his pipe trembled slightly as his expression turned incredulous.

"Yes. It seems there was a verbal altercation at school, and afterward, they cornered Uchiha Rong Lin in the alley... but the result..."

The ANBU operative, wearing a dog mask, grimaced slightly beneath his disguise as he reluctantly recounted the events.

This particular ANBU wasn't there by coincidence—he had been tailing Uchiha Rong Lin ever since his parents passed away.

"This little guy... I was worried he'd stay lost in despair, but it seems he's changed so much."

The Third Hokage's face softened into a smile. He wasn't particularly concerned about his son getting beaten up—a trip to the hospital for some medicine and ice would fix that. After all, kids fought all the time; why dwell on it?

"Yes, it's as if he's become a completely different person. He even wants to study in the school library."

Kneeling respectfully, the ANBU operative relayed everything he knew.

"Hmm..." The Third Hokage took a deep drag from his pipe, the smoke swirling around his aging face, obscuring his expression. After a long silence, he finally spoke:

"Continue following him. Spread the word that if Uchiha Rong Lin needs anything, he has free access to the academy's library. However, he cannot take any books outside—he can only read them there. Also, offer him some additional help where possible."

The Third's voice was filled with emotion, making it difficult to discern the reasoning behind his orders.

The ANBU operative was momentarily stunned. "But, Hokage-sama, he's still technically part of the Uchiha clan..."

Waving a dismissive hand, the Third sighed. "He no longer belongs to either the Uchiha or the Hyuga. His parents once asked me to look after him, and I refused. All I can do now is ensure his safety and offer some form of compensation. That's all. You may go."

"Yes."

Holding his pipe, the Third Hokage rose and walked to the window. Through the glass, he gazed at the silhouette of the Hidden Leaf Village, sighing softly. He could only hope that the conflict between the Uchiha and Hyuga wouldn't hinder Rong Lin's growth.

There was no doubt about it—Rong Lin was a victim of their feud.

"This is for me?" The sudden appearance of the ANBU operative startled Rong Lin, who thought his secret had been discovered. Instead, he found himself receiving something unexpected—and incredibly valuable: scrolls containing ninjutsu techniques. Though they were low-level techniques, to Rong Lin at this stage, they were priceless treasures.

"Yes, by order of the Hokage. Additionally, you now have unrestricted access to the ninja academy's library. You may read any book there, though you cannot take them outside."