After an intense hour, the fights finally came to an end. Since this wasn't an official competition, there were no winners or losers. Each student had faced off against one opponent, with only one match per person. Once all the matches had concluded, the students returned to their places, standing in front of Iruka-sensei, who addressed them with a serious tone.
"You've all had the chance to see how strong your classmates are," Iruka said, scanning the faces of the exhausted students. "And hopefully, you've realized how much harder you need to work to reach their level. Sasuke and Inoiki have shown exceptional skill today—they're currently the top of the class in terms of hand-to-hand combat. Learn from their techniques, and strive to improve yourselves."
With those words lingering in the air, the taijutsu class ended, and the students moved on to their next subject: ninjutsu. For many, especially those from ninja families, this was the least exciting part of the day. The lesson focused on basic hand seals, laying the groundwork for future lessons where they'd learn fundamental ninjutsu techniques like the Body Replacement Technique, the Transformation Technique, and the Clone Technique.
For students with ninja bloodlines, these basics were old news—things they had likely picked up at home or would be taught by their parents. The class felt routine, even dull, for them. But for the civilian students, this was an entirely different experience. It was their first real exposure to ninjutsu, their chance to touch the world of the ninja. While the others fidgeted with boredom, the civilian students soaked up every word, eager to learn what they had no other way of discovering.
As the sun began to set, the first day of the Ninja Academy finally came to an end. One by one, the children trickled out of the academy, eager to head home. Inoiki, Ino, Choji, Shikamaru, and Naruto found themselves walking along the same path, each lost in their own thoughts.
Ino broke the silence, her eyes bright. "Today was pretty interesting, don't you think?" she asked, glancing at her friends.
Shikamaru, with his usual bored expression, sighed. "It's such a drag. If my mom didn't force me to go to the academy, I'd still be at home, taking a nap."
Ino frowned, shooting him a sharp look. "Hmph! All you do is laze around. You'll never get anywhere like that, Shikamaru."
Choji, munching on a bag of chips, chimed in between bites. "Today was good, but I'm surprised Inoiki ended up second in the class. With his skills, I thought for sure he'd be first."
Naruto, always trying to sound confident, puffed out his chest. "If I was there, I would've beaten Sasuke for sure!"
Ino didn't even hesitate to shoot him down. "You won your match because your opponent was weak. And let's be honest, Naruto, you fought like some simple-minded thug. If you had faced someone like Inoiki or Sasuke, you would've been done in three moves."
Naruto's face turned red with frustration, but when he saw the fierce look in Ino's eyes, he decided not to argue. Instead, he crossed his arms and scowled in silence.
Ino, still fired up, continued, "If my brother had been serious about taking first place, he could've done it easily. He didn't even use his full strength."
By "full strength," Ino meant Inoiki's Kekkei Genkai, a powerful bloodline trait that set him apart from most of the other students.
Inoiki, who had been walking quietly alongside them, finally spoke up, his tone calm and steady. "There are no 'ifs' in this world, Ino. Even if I had used my Kekkei Genkai, what would it have proven? No one else was using theirs, if they even had one. Winning that way would've been meaningless."
Naruto, unfamiliar with the term "Kekkei Genkai," opened his mouth to ask, but before he could, Inoiki cut in. "Alright, everyone, this is where I leave you. I need to stop by the ninja tool shop before heading home."
With a quick wave, Inoiki turned and walked off on his own, leaving the group behind.
Naruto, still thinking about what Inoiki had said, scratched his head. "Well, looks like my path is here too. Catch you guys later!"
With that, Naruto headed off in a different direction, and Ino, Shikamaru, and Choji continued on their way, the soft glow of dusk guiding them home.
----
Inoiki arrived at the ninja tool shop, his eyes scanning the familiar surroundings before settling on the shopkeeper. He approached the counter and asked, "Have the special kunai I ordered been prepared?"
The shopkeeper looked up, recognition dawning on his face. "Ah, Mr. Inoiki! Yes, I've finished them to your specifications. Just a moment." He disappeared into the back room, returning moments later with a foldable black bag. Placing it carefully on the counter, he unzipped it to reveal six kunai, each with a distinct, unique design.
"These kunai," the shopkeeper began, running his fingers along one of the blades, "are made from a special alloy. Even if they travel at speeds faster than sound, they won't crack or break."
Inoiki examined the weapons closely, nodding in approval at the craftsmanship. The shopkeeper, noticing his satisfaction, continued, "However, if you're looking for even greater durability, you'd need Chakra Metal, which I unfortunately don't have."
Inoiki shook his head. "No need. These will do just fine."
He closed the bag and lifted it into his hand, the weight comfortable and familiar. "Send someone to my house to collect the rest of the payment. I didn't bring any money with me today."
The shopkeeper smiled and nodded, completely unfazed. As the eldest son of the Yamanaka Clan head, Inoiki was a trusted customer. There was no doubt in his mind that the payment would be made. "Of course, Mr. Inoiki. No need to worry."
With a final nod, Inoiki turned and left the shop, the kunai tucked securely at his side, ready for whatever the next day might bring.
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