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Teacher Iruka stepped forward and separated the two people who were hugging each other tightly.
"Okay, today is the first practical class for new students. According to the regulations, your abilities must be tested first."
"How will the assessment be conducted?" Toshi asked.
"In this way, you will challenge Nara Shikamaru."
Nara Shikamaru looked impatient and muttered, "Why me, this is such a bother..."
At that moment, the system popped up.
[Ding! Task check-in released: please change the challenge target to Uchiha Sasuke]
After hearing this, Ikeno immediately said, "Teacher Iruka, I want to challenge Sasuke!"
This sentence exploded in the classroom like a bomb.
"Did you hear that? He's going to challenge Sasuke?"
"Is he crazy? Challenging the number one in the class!"
"Although Sasuke is very cool, his strength is indeed unrivaled by anyone, especially his Fire Style: Great Fireball..."
"This guy looks as playful and carefree as Naruto; he must be a loser too!"
"Haha, this is going to be interesting..."
[Ding! Task check-in completed, reward: Host's Body Flicker Technique]
"Oh no! Why not Flying Thunder God or Tenshou Power?"
A typical case of being too greedy...
However, the Body Flicker Technique isn't bad either.
At that time, Toshi had been so envious upon seeing it!
"If the proficiency in the Body Flicker Technique reaches the god level, wouldn't I be so fast that people couldn't even see my afterimage..."
The joy welling up inside him caused Ikeno to smile.
The discussion began.
"Go, Sasuke!"
The girls screamed and cheered for Sasuke.
Meanwhile, Sasuke stood there with his hands in his pockets, wearing a calm expression.
Iruka stepped up and asked:
"Sasuke, do you accept this match with Ikeno?"
Sasuke's response was unexpected.
"There's no need to compete."
Everyone began questioning.
"What? No need?"
"Is Sasuke going to give up?"
"Well then..." Teacher Iruka was about to switch to Shikamaru.
But Sasuke said in a low voice:
"Just declare his defeat now to avoid any accidental injuries."
As soon as this statement was made, it caused a stir.
The boys who idolized Sasuke were excited:
"This is Sasuke for you!"
"Yeah, it's not that he admitted defeat; he just doesn't care enough to fight!"
"He thinks Ikeno isn't even worth his time."
Sakura, excited, shouted, "Sasuke-kun is so cool!"
Everyone's reaction was natural because Sasuke's performance had always been top-tier, and he was a member of the famed Uchiha clan.
Almost all his classmates cast admiring glances at him.
Everyone except Naruto, who clenched his fists in excitement. He hugged Ikeno and said:
"Don't listen to those idiots; you can beat Sasuke."
Ikeno smiled internally.
"As expected of this cocky Sasuke, always showing off."
Iruka was stunned, not expecting Sasuke's response.
Sasuke calmly said, "Teacher, I'll go finish class first."
At that moment, Ikeno finally stood up and said with a smile:
"Sasuke, I really don't want to fight you."
The students booed.
"Of course you don't, you're afraid of getting beaten to a pulp."
Ikeno just shook his head and laughed.
"Actually, I'm afraid of hurting you."
Sasuke was briefly stunned, then replied:
"If you insist on competing, let's get started."
The training ground fell silent.
"Don't forget the Seal of Reconciliation once it's over. Remember, it's a discussion, not a real fight. It ends here," Iruka emphasized.
The two performed the Seal of Opposition simultaneously.
The crowd held their breath, afraid to miss a moment of the action.
"I won't hold back," Sasuke said coldly, rushing forward quickly.
But!
As soon as Sasuke reached his opponent, Ikeno suddenly vanished in a cloud of stirred dust!
Then—
Before Sasuke could react, Ikeno had already appeared behind him.
"He knows the Body Flicker Technique!!!"
Sasuke was astonished. Before he could evade, Ikeno reappeared in front of him.
A gust of wind filled with blue chakra followed.
A powerful uppercut hit Sasuke directly in the abdomen.
Of course, Ikeno precisely controlled his strength, refraining from using any additional strange power techniques.
But even so, Sasuke groaned in pain as he was sent flying several meters away.
…
What just happened?
Everyone was stunned.
Sasuke… fell?
What had Ikeno done to him?
The training ground was dead silent.
This result…
It was completely unexpected.
Who was Uchiha Sasuke?
He was the class's undisputed star!
Yet just now…
This unassuming new student had completely shattered that reputation!
"Haha, finally! Sasuke, the cocky jerk, finally knows what it feels like to be knocked down!"
Naruto was the first to react, shouting loudly.
It didn't matter to him why Ikeno was so strong.
The important thing was that the show-off Sasuke had finally been hit!
Naruto was overjoyed, jumping excitedly and deliberately standing next to Sakura.
"I told you, Ikeno would win! Dattebayo!"
Sakura, disgusted, moved away. "Idiot, get lost!"
Teacher Iruka was equally shocked.
"This new student's taijutsu is impressive. Perhaps Sasuke underestimated him..."
Sasuke slowly stood up, his head throbbing and his ears ringing.
Suddenly, a thunderous cheer erupted from the crowd.
Some were cheering for Sasuke.
But Naruto alone raised his hands and shouted loudly, "You fools, Ikeno is going to win!"
Sasuke smiled faintly. Though he appeared calm and relaxed, his thoughts were racing:
"I underestimated him! If I could activate my Sharingan, I'd be able to spot his flaws easily."
A smirk tugged at his lips as he raised his hands to begin the hand seals for his Fire Style: Great Fireball!
"Is Sasuke about to use his signature move?"
There were gasps from the audience.
Sasuke assumed this new guy knew nothing about the Uchiha clan, unaware of what he was about to face.
But what Sasuke didn't know was that Ikeno Jun was a huge fan of Hokage...
"Sasuke!!!"
Iruka's expression changed drastically upon seeing Sasuke's hand signs.
The competition was meant to focus on taijutsu, but if Sasuke suddenly used his clan's Great Fireball Technique, Ikeno could get seriously injured!
Iruka prepared himself to intervene.
Meanwhile, Hinata, Naruto, and the Ino-Shika-Chō trio were well aware of the power of the Great Fireball.
Using C-level ninjutsu in practical training?
That was excessive...
The girls who idolized Sasuke, led by Sakura and Ino, shouted:
"Wow! Look at Sasuke's hand seals, he's so cool!"
"So handsome..."
Sasuke's hands quickly formed the hand signs!
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
With his cheeks puffed, Sasuke brought his hand to his mouth, and a ball of fire shot out!
The heat swept across the training ground.
Even students standing far away could feel the scorching heatwave...
The flames surged toward Ikeno Jun.
However!
Just as Iruka was about to rush in and save Ikeno—
He froze upon seeing Ikeno's actions.
Because Ikeno had formed hand seals faster than Sasuke!
Fwoosh…
Fire Style!
Great Fireball Technique!
"What is this guy doing? Is he using Fire Style too? That's impossible, he doesn't have the Sharingan, how could he copy it..."
Sasuke froze, stunned.
There was a loud roar!
The two giant Great Fireballs collided in mid-air, causing sparks to fly everywhere.
Suddenly!
The flames erupted into the sky!
Iruka shouted, "Everyone, move back!"
Just as Sasuke was in shock!
Ikeno unleashed another fireball.
Although it was the same type of ninjutsu, the scale was entirely different this time.
The massive fireball, about five meters in diameter, lit up the entire training ground in a crimson hue.
Because he didn't want to draw too much attention, Ikeno had deliberately controlled his chakra output...
But this!
This was the true power of the Great Fireball!
This was a fireball capable of actually incinerating someone!
Sasuke quickly retreated, narrowly avoiding the massive fireball by slumping to the ground.
The scene became chaotic.
"What just happened?"
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