A few days had passed since the exam.
I had gotten used to my new name: Hinoko.
Hearing Itachi call me that no longer surprised me. In fact, it had become second nature to respond to it.
Since he gave it to me, his interactions with me had become more frequent, more natural. As if, from that point on, I officially had a place by his side.
It had been decided that he would continue attending classes until the official results were released. After that, we could resume our training routine.
As for me... I was just relieved that the farce was finally behind us. The exam itself hadn't been that difficult — the real nightmare was Itachi's classmates. Every single one of them more unhinged than the last.
Between the obsessed, the hysterical idolizers, the jealous ones, and — worst of all — the self-proclaimed rivals, it felt like I'd been tossed into a zoo with no keepers.
Plenty of them tried to catch me, pet me, or even bribe me with food, thinking I was a shortcut to Itachi.
They eventually gave up. None of them ever managed to actually catch me.
But this period, which I had hoped would feel like a break, was completely ruined. Especially by one specific type of pest: the self-proclaimed rivals.
Kei, in particular.
Every time he saw Itachi, he challenged him with the ridiculous enthusiasm of a miniature Gai. The problem was, he was also one of the top students in class. A proper alpha on the schoolyard.
I'd seen him challenge Itachi multiple times, and each time, my stoic roommate brushed him off or ignored him with disconcerting calm. I wondered how his clone usually handled this kind of harassment.
But I'll admit it: watching Itachi deal with that kind of annoying persistence was kind of entertaining. My smug little smile didn't go unnoticed. And of course, he decided to get back at me.
Not by accepting the challenge. Oh no. The bastard just gave a sly, almost mocking smile and said:
"I'll accept a challenge… or a request… from anyone who manages to defeat or bathe Hinoko."
That's when I stopped smiling. No more peace. That kid deserves a cosmic spanking — he knew exactly how much I hate water.
At first, no one took it seriously.
Then some of them tried… and failed. Which, of course, piqued the interest of the more competent students. Attempts began piling up.
To my surprise, the system gave me a quest — probably as a way to console me. At least that was something. These skirmishes gave me experience, so I couldn't afford to run all the way back to the Uchiha compound, tempting as it was.
But let's be clear: I will get my revenge.
Kei, his oversized mutt, and their little club ambushed me repeatedly. At first, I just gracefully dodged them, ignoring them like the royalty I am. But the third time, that stupid dog jumped me while I was sunbathing...
Enough was enough.
Next time, I gave them a proper beating. Well-placed scratches, a few meaningful bites — voilà. I doubt they'll forget that lesson anytime soon.
Since then, most of the class had decided to move on.
"I guess he got the message," Itachi said when I returned to his side, still slightly bristled.
I gave him a death glare. He tried to placate me with a pat, but I ignored him. What truly annoyed me was what I saw in my status:
[Current Status]
Name: Hinoko
Species: Litten ♀
Level: 18
Nature: Timid
Ability: Blaze
Status: Adopted (Master: Itachi Uchiha)
Evolution condition: (additional conditions unmet)
[Known Moves]
Scratch, Growl, Tail Whip,
Odor Sleuth, Ember, Roar,
Quick Attack, Fake Tears, Bite,
Fury Swipes, Sucker Punch, Double Kick,
Thrash
[Active Quests]
None
Level 18, and still nothing. Still that maddening line: "additional conditions unmet."
I couldn't help it… it gnawed at me.
Eventually, I decided to let it go. I'd deal with it when the time came.
As classes were drawing to a close, I had to admit that Fugaku had been right. The Third Hokage did show up at the academy.
As soon as I spotted him, I was out of there. I took advantage of the commotion to sneak away, leaving Itachi to handle the formalities. He probably didn't even notice I was gone. Or maybe he let me go.
I slipped out of the building, jumped up on a wall, then vanished between the rooftops. I needed calm. Silence. Solitude.
That day, I realized that Itachi wouldn't stay at the academy for much longer.
Once I found a quiet place, I stretched my legs, shook out my fur, and let out a long sigh.
I really needed to train for what was coming. Not that I was already attached to him or anything — it was purely a matter of survival. Who else would feed me this well if he followed the same trajectory as in the original series?
And even if I don't evolve… a level 100 Litten should be enough to make any Kage think twice. After all, nothing says this is my ceiling. My stats keep rising, even without a change in form or level.
I glanced over my shoulder… and saw Shirogane.
Kei's mutt.
I slowly bared my fangs.
He whimpered… and ran for his life without a second thought.
I'd found out he was still just a puppy. Just… absurdly big.
Is it wrong that I traumatized him with repeated beatdowns? Maybe.
Do I regret it? Not for a second.
Experience doesn't earn itself, after all.