UCHIHA LIBERATOR (NARUTO X MALE UCHIHA OC)

Chapter 8

Ryuichi's pov

Standing in front of the academy gates after a month of compound arrest, I couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions. My punishment was over, but in all honesty, I had grown somewhat fond of it. The academy itself never really interested me much—it was a place that seemed to move in slow motion, teaching things I found largely useless, especially considering the war going on outside the village. Despite the conflict, the academy clung to its rigid structure, teaching the bare minimum—basic taijutsu, some shurikenjutsu, and the occasional ninjutsu. Then, they would ship off kids, barely trained, to fight in a war where most of them wouldn't survive.

I sighed, pushing open the doors and making my way toward my classroom. As I walked through the halls, I spotted Kakashi ahead of me. He, of course, gave me nothing more than a cold shoulder, acting as if I didn't exist as he strolled into the classroom. Typical. I followed him inside, heading to my usual spot next to him in the back of the room. The atmosphere in the class was always dull—stifling almost—but I made do.

"So, how was your month-long vacation?" Kakashi asked lazily, his voice barely more than a whisper. He glanced at me with one eye, the other half-covered by his eternally droopy eyelid.

I leaned back in my chair, resting both hands behind my head, trying to mimic his laid-back attitude. "Honestly? I learned a lot more than I ever would have here," I said, my voice carrying a bit of frustration as I glanced around the room, taking in the blank faces of the other students.

Kakashi closed his eye again, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "I heard you're trying to graduate early."

"Yeah," I replied, glancing sideways at him. "Are you?"

He gave a small nod, not elaborating further. It was like talking to a wall sometimes, but that's just how Kakashi was. He didn't waste words, and I could appreciate that.

Our quiet conversation was soon interrupted by the arrival of our teacher, who began droning on about the history of Konoha, as if this was the most crucial information we would ever need. To be honest, I couldn't understand why we were even bothering with it. Learning about the First and Second Hokage felt like listening to a bedtime story—one that had long outlived its relevance. Sure, the First was supposedly the "God of Shinobi," but from what I had gathered, he was more of a dreamer than anything else. And don't even get me started on the Second Hokage. A genius in his own right, yes, but he was also blatantly clannist, especially toward my own Uchiha clan. It was hard to respect someone who was so openly prejudiced against my people.

I leaned back in my chair, tuning out the rest of the lecture. My mind wandered as I imagined being anywhere else but here, when finally, after what felt like an eternity, the first period ended.

Next up was taijutsu training. Now this was a part of the day I actually looked forward to. The physical combat lessons were one of the few things I genuinely enjoyed. Sparring against Kakashi was always a challenge, and one I relished. He was slightly better than me in taijutsu, a fact that annoyed me to no end, but also motivated me to push harder. In a ten-round fight, he'd probably win six, but I'd make sure to close that gap soon enough.

Today, however, my enthusiasm quickly faded when I was paired with a random civilian kid—someone who wasn't even a challenge. The match was over almost before it started, and it felt more like a chore than a learning experience. Kakashi was the only one in our year who could really push me. The other students... well, let's just say they hadn't reached my level yet.

Still, I went through the motions, completing the exercise without much effort. It was frustrating how limited the academy was. For someone like me—someone with real talent—it felt like I was being held back.