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The matches were wrapping up.
Shino had just beaten Kiba, and Choji took down a civilian student.
That left just me and that teme, Sasuke. "The last match will be between Sasuke and Naruto, please step onto the field," Iruka announced, and I couldn't help but groan.
"Great, I'm up against the strongest in this class and I can't even use explosive seals," I muttered to myself, glaring at Sasuke's indifferent expression.
I wondered how that cool facade of his would crack if he had to face off against my explosive seals.
I paused for a moment, stretching my tongue against my teeth in annoyance, then reluctantly stepped up to the dirt field.
The afternoon sun was blazing, and I could feel my palms beginning to sweat.
[ World Quest Alert ]
[ Quest: Overcoming a Mountain ]
[ Objective: Defeat Sasuke Uchiha in a spar ]
[ Rewards: ? ]
[ Failure: 20 Exp ]
[ Action Required: Acceptance or Declination of Quest ]
Why am I so nervous just because Sasuke is stronger?
So what?
I've faced opponents like the rat spearman and the rat king, who were stronger than me, and I beat them.
I'll beat Sasuke too.
With a burst of resolve, I formed a half ram hand sign, my pointer and middle fingers pointing up while my thumb held down the other two fingers—a gesture signaling my readiness for a duel. Sasuke mirrored my gesture.
"Hajime!" Iruka's voice rang out, signaling the start of the match.
I watched Sasuke assume the famous Uchiha stance: he leaned forward on his right foot, his left foot stepping back, his right hand poised forward.
I knew this stance well from watching countless mock battles.
It was crafted to counter an opponent's moves, a technique I hadn't fully figured out yet.
Maybe it involved the Sharingan, but honestly, I didn't care.
Instead, I adopted the Swirling Kata stance, moving fluidly in a spiral.
My body was relaxed yet alert, palms open and facing outward as I stepped lightly, ready to deflect and redirect.
I could see the flicker of surprise in the eyes around us, quickly dismissed by most—probably thinking I was just joking around. Ignoring their skepticism, I focused on Sasuke, whose indifferent gaze was fixed on me, calculating.
It was an interesting matchup: his style was all about countering, while mine was about evasion.
Minutes ticked by as I maintained my swirling movements.
Clearly growing impatient, Sasuke charged forward abruptly.
He feigned a jab towards my head, but quickly pulled back his fist, aiming an elbow strike at the side of my guard instead. Reacting instantly, I dipped my torso and shifted my weight to my back leg, narrowly avoiding the blow.
Seizing the moment, Sasuke attempted a shoulder-check, aiming to knock me out of my circular path.
However, his move wasn't as effective as he had hoped; I barely budged, staying firmly within the circle.
A bead of sweat trailed down Sasuke's face, marking his surprise.
He hadn't expected such resilience and skill from someone who was considered the class's dead-last. His interest piqued, Sasuke now took the spar more seriously and adopted a more aggressive stance.
Despite his preference for the classic Uchiha style—a style known for its counterattacks and precision—Sasuke was well-versed in other techniques. He knew he might need to tap into these alternative styles until he could awaken his Sharingan, giving him the edge he desired.
As Sasuke launched into a flying knee kick, I smoothly transitioned into the anticlockwise spiral of the swirling Kata. This form was all about movement: a defensive clockwise spiral to evade and an offensive anticlockwise spiral to close in.
I felt the ground beneath my feet as I traced the spiral pattern, each step grounding me further into my technique.
Dodging Sasuke's flying kick by a hair's breadth, I continued my inward spiral, closing the distance between us with precision.
Normally, at this moment, my outstretched hand would carry an explosive seal to mark my opponent—a swift, decisive end to any spar.
But today, against Sasuke, such measures were off the table.
No seals, no lethal force.
He was a rival, not an enemy.
So, I opted for a simple jab.
Shifting my weight forward and twisting my hips to add force, I extended my arm in a smooth, fluid motion.
My fist aimed for Sasuke's side, targeting a spot just under his ribcage—a place to disrupt his balance and breath without causing severe harm.
As my fist connected with Sasuke's side, the impact was sharp and quick.
Sasuke's body tensed as he absorbed the hit, his breath catching slightly from the unexpected jab.
The force of my punch pushed him sideways, breaking his momentum and throwing him off balance for just a moment.
Suddenly, a sharp pain exploded across my face—a hot flash of agony as my jaws clanked shut from the impact, sending shudders up through my skull.
With blurred vision, I raised my half-open hand between us, partly to defend, partly to prepare for a more aggressive move.
I might need to grab a fistful of his shirt soon, just to keep him at bay.
The taste of blood filled my mouth, metallic and thick.
No Academy medic would tend to this self-inflicted wound—another one of those ridiculous rules that seemed to apply only to me.
I spat a glob of bloody saliva to the side, eliciting a loud "eww" from the Sasuke fan club.
A chuckle escaped me, briefly lightening my mood.
I realized what I did wrong.
That jab—it was solid, but it broke the flow. The offensive aspect of the swirling Kata is meant to be more of a poke, a setup for the seal that delivers the actual damage.
By throwing a full jab instead, I disrupted the continuity of the spiral movement.
This break in flow meant I lost the rhythm that the Kata relies on to blend defense seamlessly into attack.
With gritted teeth, I spat again, clearing more blood, and readied myself.
Sasuke threw a punch aimed at my exposed face, but I was quick to block it with my back hand.
He grimaced as I counterattacked, driving a punch into his stomach.
Meanwhile, I couldn't help but laugh at myself.
In my desire to represent the Uzumaki heritage, I had pushed myself so hard that I ended up reverting to just being a brawler. The Swirling Kata was amazing, no doubt, but I had boxed myself into relying solely on it, simply because it carried the Uzumaki label.
"Is this my goal?" I asked myself.
Is this how I plan to honor my family?
By fighting and limiting myself until I'm backed into a corner, forced to revert to just being what I am—Naruto?
I paused, a new thought crystallizing in my mind.
I am an Uzumaki, yes, but I am also Naruto. Why was I focusing solely on the Uzumaki side of me?
Why was I ignoring the person I am?
A surge of clarity washed over me.
I am Naruto Uzumaki, and I'll honor them by being me.
Sasuke swung a hook toward my head, but I immediately entered into a clockwise spiral. Midway through, as I came around to his side, I seized the opportunity.
Jumping up, I launched into a corkscrew punch—an aerial maneuver where I extended my body horizontally, my fist leading into a spin and landing the punch directly into Sasuke's eye.
The blow made Sasuke stagger a bit. I paused, anticipating his next move.
True to form, he retaliated with a high kick aimed at my face.
I spun on the ball of my heel, ducking low in a swift, fluid motion that allowed me to dodge his attack.
Continuing the spin, I extended my leg, sweeping Sasuke's lone supporting leg right from under him.
He fell hard, kicking up dust as he landed.
I didn't waste a moment.
Standing quickly, I extended my leg for another kick.
I noticed the darkening in Sasuke's eye as he instinctively moved to protect his head. Anticipating this, I redirected my kick to his stomach, exploiting his momentary vulnerability.
Sasuke gasped for air, his body folding over as he clutched his abdomen.
The pain from the blow was evident in his wince, and for a moment, he struggled to regain his breath.
....
Silence enveloped the entire class, jaws hanging open in disbelief.
No one had ever lasted more than a minute against Sasuke in a spar, let alone engaged in such a fierce and bloody battle as the one unfolding between Sasuke and Naruto.
Iruka, watching intently, felt the impulse to step in and stop the fight.
But he hesitated, recognizing the significance of this moment for Naruto.
If Naruto had managed to push Sasuke to this extent, it meant he had been training intensely in secret, dedicating weeks, perhaps months, to improving himself.
Iruka couldn't bear to cut short this demonstration of Naruto's hard-earned progress.
Meanwhile, the rest of the students were utterly stunned.
The class clown, the prankster, the perennial dead-last—they watched as he turned the class's top performer into a disheveled contender.
Sasuke, always cool and composed, was now grappling to maintain his poise.
"Sasuke-kun! You can win this!" Sakura shouted, her voice breaking the silence and rallying Sasuke's fanbase into a chorus of encouragement.
In contrast, Hinata watched Naruto with admiration. As their eyes met briefly, she smiled warmly and nodded at him.
...
As Sasuke tried to regain his balance and reestablish his position in the center, Naruto didn't give him the chance to fully correct his stance.
With a burst of speed, Naruto tackled him back to the ground, pinning him before he could set himself properly.
Naruto unleashed a flurry of strikes, capitalizing on his advantageous position. Sasuke, meanwhile, curled up into a defensive posture, trying to protect his head and torso from the onslaught.
Each of Naruto's blows was filled with a predictable rhythm, a vulnerability common among fighters who hadn't yet learned to vary their attack patterns.
Sasuke, sensing the repetition in Naruto's movements, looked for an opening. As Naruto raised his arm for another strike, Sasuke made his move.
He caught Naruto's wrist, using his grip as leverage to twist his body sideways.
This grappling maneuver was a basic but effective wrestling technique aimed at reversing their positions.
Naruto tried to maintain his dominant position by shifting his weight, attempting to prevent Sasuke from turning the tables. He used his other hand to try and pin Sasuke's shoulder to the ground, aiming to stabilize himself and regain control.
However, Sasuke managed to slip one leg between Naruto's, using his knee to push against Naruto's thigh, creating space between them. With a quick heave, Sasuke used his legs as springs, attempting to buck Naruto off.
Naruto clung on, but the gap allowed Sasuke enough room to maneuver into a better defensive position. He locked his arms around Naruto's waist, preparing to execute a basic wrestling escape.
As Sasuke locked his arms around Naruto's waist, preparing to execute a basic wrestling escape, Naruto countered unexpectedly by spitting in Sasuke's eye. The momentary flinch was all Naruto needed to gain the upper hand. Sasuke barely had time to react before he felt a sharp explosion of pain in his face as Naruto's elbow connected with it. Dazed and disoriented, Sasuke found himself lying on the ground, with Naruto looming over him.
For a brief second, as he lay there, Sasuke's vision blurred, and he saw not Naruto, but Itachi above him—someone stronger, someone who had taken everything from him. The painful memory triggered a surge of anger and hatred in Sasuke's heart.
Fueled by these intense emotions, Sasuke sprang up with a sweeping leg kick aimed at Naruto. Naruto, quick on his feet, jumped back to dodge the attack. For a brief moment, confusion flickered across Naruto's face as Sasuke charged toward him, driven by the wounds Itachi had left on him—wounds of hatred and despair.
As if clouds were parting in the sky, clarity struck Sasuke. He could now predict Naruto's annoying spiraling movement. As Naruto moved in a clockwise spiral, Sasuke did the opposite. He executed an anticlockwise spiral, but with a twist—he jumped, transforming the spiral into a circular motion. Extending his leg out, he slammed his foot directly into the back of Naruto's skull. The force and speed of the attack sent Naruto crashing headfirst into the ground with a resounding slam.
Sasuke stood up, feeling the weight of numerous eyes on him. As he turned around, he sensed their fear, their eyes wide as they looked at him as if he were someone else—as if he were Itachi. The realization chilled him.
"C-congratulations, Sasuke! You have unlocked your Sharingan," Iruka stammered, his voice breaking the tense silence as he rushed towards the fallen Naruto. Sasuke froze, pulling out his kunai instinctively, his heart racing. When he looked down, what greeted him in the reflection of Naruto's eyes were two red irises marked with a single comma—the fabled one tomoe Sharingan.
....
[ Author Note: I really loved writing this chapter, from Naruto's realization that he isn't just Uzumaki or just Naruto, he is Naruto Uzumaki, and continuing it with Naruto pushing Sasuke to the edge by mixing his brawler side with the spiraling movements of the Swirling Kata. With Sasuke being reminded of Itachi, someone stronger, someone who loomed over him while he was on the ground in pain, that caused him to reawaken the Sharingan.
Yeah, Sasuke won, but Naruto pushed the man to the extreme.
And a reminder, Naruto has had the system for 3 days now and he was still nerfed since he couldn't use Explosive seals.
Boom!
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