"Having that kind of dream is nice and all… but it'll only ever stay a dream."
"Face reality. A genius is a genius. No amount of hard work from the rest of us will close the gap. The world's just that cruel."
Two Leaf genin in their twenties sighed, trying to crush Natsume Yō's "fantasy."
But Yō tilted his head, smiling faintly."…And what if I am a genius? What if I already defeated Uchiha Yūsuke? Would you still say that?"
The Suna genin snorted."Pfft, kid, you're lost in a dream you can't wake up from. If you're a genius, then pigs will climb trees."
"Stop lying to yourself. Wake up."
None of them—neither the Leaf nor the Suna shinobi—believed him. After all, who had ever even heard of this nobody before?
Yō spread his hands with a helpless look."You've got to believe in miracles. Believing in miracles is what makes people as great as miracles themselves."
But to them, that little shrug just looked like he'd run out of steam, bluffing until he had nothing left.
"Cut it out already."
"See? He's got no confidence. Just empty bragging."
The two Leaf shinobi gave him the look of men who thought they'd seen through everything.
"Big talk always backfires. You're only setting yourself up to be humiliated."
"Evidence, kid. Where's your proof? You call yourself a genius just because you say so? Hilarious."
The Suna genin sneered harder, venom dripping from his tone."Next you'll be telling us you beat Uchiha Shisui or Hatake Kakashi."
And right then—
"Natsume Yō. You'd better be ready. If I don't make you beg for mercy this time, I'm not Uchiha Yūsuke!"
The sudden declaration froze the room. The skeptics looked like they'd just been slapped across the face.
Yō's smile deepened."Heh. Then I'll look forward to it."
Another figure stepped forward, expression sharp."And me, Natsume Yō. I'll make you understand what a real genius is. Last time was a fluke—but this time, you won't get lucky."
Hyūga Setsuna.
Yō stifled a yawn, glancing at him with total disinterest."Sure, sure. Show me how much you've 'grown' in a year."
The two geniuses scowled."Hmph. Keep acting calm. Let's see if you can still smile when the time comes."
With that, they left, their glares lingering on Yō.
"Who the hell is that guy?"
"Never heard of him…"
"Yet Uchiha Yūsuke and Hyūga Setsuna both challenged him? At the same time? Just who is he?"
The boy who'd walked in unnoticed now stood at the center of everyone's whispers.
Yō grinned at the ones who'd mocked him."Well? Do you believe me now?"
The Suna genin sniffed, voice dripping with sarcasm."Tch. What's there to brag about? You're a genius pretending to be a hard worker to win pity. Pathetic."
The two Leaf shinobi just rubbed their noses awkwardly, cheeks burning with embarrassment.