Shinho Aburame looked up at the sky.
The sun was shining brightly, not a cloud in the sky—a perfect day.
Sasuke Uchiha's recent match against Shinnosuke had been executed well. Shinho speculated that Sasuke had already mastered the Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique. However, with the overwhelming advantage of the Gentle Fist in early to mid-game combat, Sasuke would struggle to defeat Neji Hyuga.
All eyes were on Sasuke and Neji as tension filled the air.
Without much thought, Neji prepared to step forward. Sasuke's mastery of the Manipulated Shuriken Technique had piqued his interest. Not many Genin could execute it to such a degree, and Neji knew that backing down from Sasuke's challenge would be seen as weakness.
"Sasuke! Let's fight!" However, Naruto suddenly dashed up, bursting with excitement.
"Don't get in my way!" Sasuke frowned.
"What? Are you scared of losing?" Naruto boasted confidently.
"…"
Sasuke was speechless. Did Naruto really think that just by wearing that ugly green tracksuit and running a few laps, he had a chance of beating him? As for his teacher, Might Guy, Sasuke had never even heard of him—how strong could he be?
Sasuke didn't respond, but the students from Class 1A were already laughing mockingly.
"A dropout like Naruto has the nerve to challenge Sasuke?"
"He's embarrassing us!"
"Sasuke will probably take him down in one move!"
By now, even the girls were cheering for Sasuke.
"You know, Naruto might actually have a chance," Ino Yamanaka glanced at Shinho and commented.
She had seen Naruto's intense training at the wooden house and couldn't help but think that most kids their age wouldn't be able to do what Naruto had. Most importantly, that training happened at Shinho's place, so maybe there was some kind of connection between them.
"Ino, what are you talking about?" Sakura Haruno chuckled. "There's no way Naruto can beat Sasuke."
Since the start of the school year, apart from Shinho, Sasuke was undoubtedly the top of the class—both in combat and theory. Naruto, on the other hand, would be lucky if people even called him average.
Kiba Inuzuka and Choji Akimichi, though silent, shared the same thoughts as Sakura.
"What do you think, Shinho?" Ino asked, eager to challenge Sakura's opinion but unsure of what to say next.
"Let's wait and see," Shinho replied with a light smile.
Ino blinked. Shinho-kun has such a sense of humor, she thought, amused.
She didn't press further, as the match between Naruto and Sasuke was already underway.
"I wonder how much Naruto has learned," Hiruzen Sarutobi said to himself as he set aside his pipe and focused intently on his crystal ball.
Very few knew about Might Duy's legendary battle against the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, which left Might Guy relatively unknown. But Sarutobi knew the truth about the hidden strength of the Guy lineage.
"If you want to lose so badly, I'll grant your wish," Sasuke said coldly, forming the Seal of Confrontation.
"Bring it on!" Naruto shouted back. "And don't hold back just because we're friends!"
"Hmph, you're not my friend," Sasuke muttered as he flung two kunai toward Naruto.
Naruto leapt forward, dodging the kunai and closing the distance quickly.
He's faster than I thought, Sasuke noted, though not alarmed.
In a flash, Sasuke swung a right hook at Naruto, but Naruto was ready. Their fists collided, and both were forced to step back.
To Sasuke's surprise, he had retreated half a step more than Naruto.
What?!
Sasuke couldn't believe it. In their first exchange, he had been overpowered. Naruto's strength far exceeded his expectations.
Annoyed, Sasuke prepared to strike again, but before he could react, Naruto was already moving.
Leaf Whirlwind!
Naruto's right hand touched the ground as his body spun in mid-air, his right leg arcing down like a bolt of lightning aimed straight at Sasuke.
The force of the wind hit him before the kick even landed.
Sasuke's eyes widened in shock.
His reflexes kicked in, and he raised his arms to block, but the impact was overwhelming. His entire arm went numb from the single strike, and the shockwave traveled throughout his body, leaving him momentarily paralyzed.
Sasuke was sent flying backwards, crashing hard onto the ground.
He groaned in pain, staring blankly at Naruto, unable to comprehend what had just happened.
Who am I? Where am I? What the heck just happened? Was that a kick?
Naruto stood still, equally stunned by his own success.
Was Leaf Whirlwind always this powerful?
Then, a wide grin spread across his face.
"I did it! Teacher, I did it!" Naruto shouted excitedly, his fists clenched as he trembled with joy. "The power of youth is truly unstoppable!"
"How…how is this possible?" Sakura rubbed her eyes in disbelief.
"Did Naruto really just knock Sasuke down?" Kiba muttered, shocked.
Ino was equally amazed but glanced curiously at Shinho, who remained calm. Had he expected this outcome all along? Was Naruto's transformation somehow linked to Shinho?
"Naruto's gotten a lot stronger," Hiruzen remarked, pleased with what he saw in the crystal ball.
"It's not over yet," Neji Hyuga said softly, shaking his head.
Sasuke stood up, his expression dark and menacing. Being knocked down by someone he considered a dropout was a humiliation beyond words.
"You've disturbed the Uchiha in me," Sasuke glared at Naruto, his voice cold as he started forming hand seals.
Iruka's eyes widened, and he instinctively stepped forward. He recognized the technique Sasuke was about to use.
This could be dangerous!
Iruka tensed, ready to intervene.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
Sasuke inhaled sharply before exhaling a massive fireball that hurtled toward Naruto. The intense heat distorted the air, causing the students watching to instinctively step back, gasping in awe.
While most of the students hadn't even mastered the basic Transformation Jutsu, Sasuke was already using Fire Style ninjutsu. The gap in their abilities was painfully obvious.
"As expected of an Uchiha," Tenten said, full of admiration.
Neji nodded slightly. Sasuke Uchiha does have the qualifications to be a worthy opponent.
"Amazing!" Naruto exclaimed, but as the fireball neared, his excitement turned to panic.
With a loud yelp, Naruto dove to the ground, barely avoiding the fireball as it scorched the air above him. His arms, however, weren't so lucky—they caught fire from the brief contact.
"My clothes!" Naruto cried, desperately slapping at the flames on his green tracksuit.
Sasuke, now holding a kunai, dashed toward Naruto, his expression deadly serious. He no longer underestimated his opponent and was determined to end the fight quickly. Losing was simply not an option for him.
Naruto reacted swiftly, jumping backward to avoid Sasuke's kunai slash. His recent training with Might Guy had enhanced his physical agility, and it showed.
Sasuke stopped momentarily, then flung two more kunai toward Naruto.
Naruto rolled to the side, avoiding the kunai, and used his hands to propel himself into the air. He extended his arm, his elbow aimed directly at Sasuke as he descended.
"Sasuke, this is my final move! Take this!" Naruto yelled.
It was the Leaf Rock-Destroying Rise!
"Idiot," Sasuke scoffed, sending two more kunai flying at Naruto.
Is he just giving me an open target? Sasuke thought, feeling almost insulted.
But what Sasuke didn't anticipate was Naruto's speed.
In a split second, Naruto had closed the gap between them. Although Sasuke's kunai hit their mark, striking Naruto's waist and abdomen, the force of Naruto's falling elbow still connected with Sasuke's body.
Sasuke's world went black as he was knocked unconscious.
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