A thunderous boom echoed as the heavy weights fell to the ground, creating two small craters. Dust and smoke rose from where Chiba had released the weights from his legs.
The surroundings fell into sudden silence. The girls, who had been ready with their sarcasm, swallowed their words upon seeing the two small pillars of dust, while the boys' eyes widened in disbelief. Hirohiko Uchiha's usually impassive face betrayed a hint of shock, a sentiment echoed by the teacher.
'It was unbelievable... Chiba had been carrying such a heavy burden all along!'
'Impossible... How could he even walk with such weight?' one student thought, gaping at the heavy weights now lying silently in the pits.
"This Chiba Taki!" Hirohiko's expression turned wary.
Yukina Hyuga watched Chiba from the sidelines, realizing he hadn't been using his full strength.
The teacher's mouth twitched in disbelief. 'What's with Chiba Taki? He's only seven years old, yet...'
But Chiba paid no attention to the stares, jumping in place to test his newfound lightness and taking a deep breath.
"This should be no problem. Okay, let's start!" Chiba announced, standing ready before Hirohiko.
Hirohiko narrowed his eyes, silently forming a hand seal of opposition, which Chiba mirrored.
"Start!" the teacher declared.
As the command was given, Hirohiko, who had been closely observing Chiba, suddenly dashed forward, only to find Chiba's figure had vanished.
'Where is he?' Hirohiko felt a surge of panic as a powerful kick struck his left cheek, sending him spinning through the air.
'So fast!' Before he could recover, another kick landed on his right shoulder, propelling him even further.
Hirohiko found himself completely outpaced by Chiba's speed. Chiba showed no mercy, launching a fierce assault.
To the onlookers, Chiba seemed to be everywhere at once, while Hirohiko could only try to block defensively, unable to launch a counterattack.
"It's impossible!" a female voice shrieked in disbelief. "How could our Hirohiko be so easily overpowered?"
The boys were equally astounded by Chiba's speed, which was invisible to their eyes. Both boys and girls wondered if Hirohiko was going to lose.
Even the teacher, a Chunin, struggled to follow Chiba's movements, though he managed with some difficulty. 'Such incredible speed! Is Chiba Taki specializing in Taijutsu? Is he like that hot-blooded graduate from last year?'
But the teacher remained confident in Hirohiko's abilities. As if to validate the teacher's faith, Hirohiko, after being on the defensive, suddenly caught Chiba's kick with a snap and counterattacked, landing a blow on Chiba's face. Chiba hadn't anticipated Hirohiko catching up to his speed and was sent flying.
Chiba, regaining his footing, touched his cheek. "Good punch."
He was on high alert, aware that Hirohiko had activated his Sharingan, with both eyes revealing the distinct tomoe pattern.
Chiba narrowly avoided two shuriken thrown by Hirohiko, while bracing himself for the next attack.
A resounding boom echoed as Hirohiko's flying kick hit Chiba's crossed arms, sending him reeling back.
Chiba clenched his teeth, acknowledging Hirohiko's impressive physical skills. With this realization, Chiba prepared for another assault, using the speed and strength he'd honed through years of practice. His punches and kicks, sharpened by daily repetition, came fast and hard.
Two sharp sounds echoed as Hirohiko managed to block the rapid strikes, but the force behind Chiba's blows left his arms numb.
'What incredible strength!' Hirohiko thought, narrowing his eyes slightly as the two clashed closely.
As the battle intensified, Chiba's expression grew more serious, yet he remained composed. He hadn't unlocked any of the *Eight Gates* nor had he tapped into his full strength, still he was being serious at the moment, a testament to the formidable nature of the Uchiha clan.
Chiba began to understand Rock Lee's feelings when facing Sasuke, recognizing the immense challenge posed by Hirohiko. Yet, Hirohiko was also inwardly astonished; without the Sharingan, he would have been overwhelmed by Chiba's Taijutsu prowess.
'Physically, I admit defeat,' Hirohiko conceded internally after much deliberation. 'But, in the end, I will win this match!'
With a decisive look, he retreated, launched several shurikens to cover his movement, and created a *Shadow Clone* beside him—a technique Chiba mistook for a mere illusion at first.
'No! It's a Shadow Clone!' Chiba realized, distinguishing the clone's corporeal form from mere images.
The appearance of the *Shadow Clone Technique* surprised even the teacher, who prided himself on knowing Hirohiko's capabilities. "When did Hirohiko learn the Shadow Clone?" he wondered aloud, astounded.
Meanwhile, Hirohiko and his Shadow Clone charged at Chiba, who stood his ground, unfazed by the approaching threat.
"What is Chiba Taki doing? Is he giving up?" murmured the crowd, assuming defeat was imminent against such a technique.
Yet, Yukina observed Chiba's stance, sensing his unwavering resolve and silently rooting for him to defy expectations against the prodigious Hirohiko.
As the two Uchihas unleashed *Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique*, Chiba activated the first two gates of the *Eight Gates* technique, vanishing from sight just as the fireballs approached, leaving even the Chunin teacher unable to track his movement.
A cloud of white mist erupted as Hirohiko's Shadow Clone was dispelled.
"Where is he?" Hirohiko halted, scanning the dissipating mist, unable to locate Chiba.
Then, feeling a presence behind him, he turned too late to find a kunai at his throat.
"You lose," Chiba declared from behind, securing his victory.