6 Top Student

Hayashi couldn't help but notice the change in Hinata.

Observing the once timid girl transform into someone firm and resolute, he felt a mixture of confusion and seriousness.

"I'm coming. If I accidentally hurt you, please don't mind," he said earnestly.

She nodded in acknowledgment, forming the opposition sign, before assuming the Gentle Fist stance of the Hyuga family with utmost seriousness.

Without hesitation, Hayashi charged directly towards her after forming the opposition sign.

"Ha!"

As he approached her, Hinata also took a step forward. Her immature hand was poised to strike him. At Hayashi's speed, a reckless approach would have led to a perfect strike across his face.

Hinata's movements were incredibly swift. While she had been defeated by her younger sister due to reluctance, and bullied by three children out of kindness, it did not mean she was truly weak. On the contrary, the heiress of the Hyuga clan possessed formidable talent in the Gentle Fist style.

To ensure that Hayashi remembered her, she shed her timid demeanor. Now, boasting physical strength ranking among the top three in the class, she stood with newfound confidence. For those without combat experience, she would be a formidable opponent.

However, his keen eyesight responded instantly.

"Snap!"

With lightning reflexes, he raised his hand. Striking Hinata's wrist from bottom to top, he deflected her strike.

Seizing the moment when Hinata faltered, he swiftly shifted his tactics. He grabbed her arm with both hands. Executing a deft turn, he swiftly brought her down with a shoulder throw. With his knee pressing against her chest and one hand immobilizing her neck, he declared, 

"This is the end. Hayashi wins. Seal of reconciliation," exclaimed Iruka, standing nearby, as he observed Hayashi's swift victory over Hinata. 

"Wow... that was quick!" remarked one student in astonishment. 

"Hayashi is truly formidable. The battle ended in the blink of an eye," remarked another student. 

The spectators outside the field sighed in succession. Before they could fully comprehend what had happened, the battle was over. 

Especially the girls who harbored a crush on Hayashi—they couldn't help but gaze at him with admiration.

"Are you alright?" he asked gently as he extended his hand to Hinata, offering to help her up from the ground.

"N-no... I'm fine," she stammered, her nerves preventing her from grasping his hand. Quickly, she rose from the ground, her head bowed to conceal the disappointment on her face.

Yet, deep down, she couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration for him. 

After all, she was no weakling. Among her peers, she held considerable strength. However, her lack of combat experience proved detrimental. Coupled with Hayashi's quick and precise tactics, it led to her swift defeat.

In truth, physical prowess alone couldn't match Hinata's abilities. It was his strategic approach that secured his victory. 

"Next match, Inuzuka Kiba will face Toda Motoki," announced Iruka, as the two combatants who had determined the outcome of the previous match made their way to the sideline.

As Iruka proceeded to announce the pairings for the next bout, he declared, "Next match, Yamanaka Ino vs. Nishikawa Megumi..." 

Unlike Hayashi's rapid dispatch of Hinata, the strength of the other students was more evenly matched. Even those like Nara Shikamaru, hailing from esteemed families, were not significantly ahead of their peers. 

As time passed, the practice field buzzed with the figures of sparring ninjas. 

With dusk descending, Iruka disbanded the final group on the spot. 

Upon leaving school, Hayashi didn't head straight home. Instead, he darted around Konoha, exploring its bustling streets and vibrant markets.

Two hours later, a weary and famished Hayashi dragged himself to a restaurant to pick up a boxed lunch. After returning home and taking a shower, he sat down to meditate and refine his chakra. 

By eleven o'clock, he ceased his meditation and retrieved a scroll from the cabinet. 

Upon unfurling it, he found the Shadow Clone Technique. This technique was known as a practice shortcut.

With his chakra improving, he felt the need to master the Shadow Clone Technique. Once learned, he could delegate school tasks to his shadow clone in the future. 

The Shadow Clone Technique wasn't overly complex; it required only a single hand seal. Its difficulty lay in the even distribution of chakra, which necessitated both adequacy and balance. Uneven distribution led to the clone's premature disappearance, while insufficient chakra caused automatic dissolution. 

He tried for over half an hour, experiencing numerous failures. Eventually, he managed to create a basic shadow clone, albeit one that lasted a mere thirty minutes and remained inert. 

Despite his significant chakra reserves, Hayashi's clone could only endure for a short time. Even with half of his chakra allocated, it wouldn't persist for more than an hour. 

This duration fell far short of what he needed. 

When the clock struck midnight, Hayashi decided to relinquish the idea of continuing his practice. He settled in for rest, allowing himself to unwind after a long day of training.

As morning approached, he awoke to the insistent chime of his alarm clock. 

Following his routine, he completed his morning workout. Afterward, he enjoyed breakfast and took a refreshing shower. Finally, he made his way to school.

These days were filled with examinations.

During the final class of the morning, Iruka unexpectedly announced an assessment on the Three Body Technique.

Unlike taijutsu, shuriken throwing, or Kunai Melee Combat, the Three Body Technique assessment could be conducted within the classroom.

Unsurprisingly, Hayashi achieved the highest score in this assessment.

Despite inhabiting the body of a child, his mental age surpassed his physical form. Having adapted to the ninja world over the past year, his comprehension abilities were far beyond those of children his age. While he might not rival geniuses like Hatake Kakashi or Uchiha Itachi, he certainly surpassed the average child.

In the afternoon, Iruka administered an assessment on shuriken throwing skills.

On the third day, theoretical assessments were conducted in the morning. This was followed by evaluations of Kunai Melee Combat in the afternoon.

Without fail, Hayashi consistently earned the highest scores.

Thanks to Hawkeye's extensive combat experience and honed mindset, he possessed exceptional eyesight and mental fortitude. Whether it was physical prowess or hand-to-hand combat, he excelled at delivering precise, decisive strikes. 

His proficiency in shuriken throwing technique rivaled that of Sasuke, while his theoretical knowledge earned him perfect scores. 

Thus, when Iruka announced the results on the fourth day, Hayashi claimed the title of top student without surprise. 

The newfound status of a top student propelled his popularity to new heights. 

Originally known in the ninja school for his striking looks, he now garnered attention not only from the girls captivated by his aloof demeanor but also from senior female students who flocked to catch a glimpse of him.