damn, ninja dude had an Agenda going into this. Either Fireice dude did something to really piss him off, or he's got a complex

Oh it’s definitely a complex. HotIce hasn’t done anything specific besides being. He is almost an accidental white savior. He’s a guy who, while having a lot of training, is not the best of the best, and eventually rested on his laurels, but still got the great power everyone wanted anyway.

While sneaking around, trying to find ways to pull pranks on his masters, he comes across the Fire-Ice orb, the source of knowledge of their organization, the very object that chooses a new ninja each generation to help expand its knowledge. It wouldn’t have been a big deal that Brad touched it because most who do aren’t chosen. But because of  *waves hands*  “mysterious ways”,  the orb chooses him.

A font of so much knowledge and power, and it’s in the hands of this jerk jock with a heart of gold.

So of course studious, wise-beyond-his-years Ben who has been training for most of his life, was greatly humbled to be chosen by the YinYang orb, and treated everything seriously and with respect, is absolutely furious that this clown is technically his equal.