The clang of metal echoed through the training field as Uchiha Sasuke flawlessly executed his shuriken throw. The precision, the angle, and the speed—it was all impeccable. His shurikens hit the bullseye with unerring accuracy, leaving the rest of the class stunned.
Even the ever-serious Iruka couldn't help but marvel. "Incredible… as expected from the Uchiha clan."
The admiration wasn't limited to Iruka. Sasuke's classmates erupted in applause, their eyes wide with amazement.
"Wow, Sasuke is so cool!" one girl exclaimed, practically swooning.
"As expected of a genius from the Uchiha clan," another murmured, nodding in awe.
Meanwhile, Uzumaki Naruto watched the scene with his trademark scowl. He wasn't jealous—at least, that's what he told himself. But deep down, a seed of frustration had been planted. No matter how hard he tried, no one ever praised him like that. Sasuke, with his effortless coolness, had stolen the spotlight again.
---
The Group Chat Buzzes with Reactions
The unfolding events were being broadcast in real-time to a larger audience through the mysterious "world group chat."
Uchiha Fugaku couldn't hide his pride. "That's my son. Flawless execution."
Uchiha Obito, who was observing the scene from an undisclosed location, chuckled. "Hah! This is nothing. When I was his age, I could do all this with my eyes closed."
Hatake Kakashi rolled his eyes. "You're still the same, Obito."
Obito smirked behind his mask, though his tone carried a hint of nostalgia. "Kakashi, don't act like you don't miss me."
Kakashi stiffened, caught off guard. He muttered under his breath, "Obito…"
Somewhere in a dark cave, Black Zetsu observed Obito's demeanor with suspicion. "You're being reckless."
Obito waved him off. "Relax, Zetsu. This is all part of the plan. Besides, I'm just having a bit of fun."
Meanwhile, the chat continued buzzing with activity:
Naruto: "Pfft. Sasuke's just showing off as usual."
Sasuke: "It's not showing off if it's a basic skill. You're just bitter because you can't do it."
Naruto: "Oh yeah? Just you wait! I bet I'll be even better than you in the other world!"
Sasuke: "Highly unlikely."
Kushina: "Naruto, Sasuke, calm down. Everyone develops at their own pace."
---
Back on the Training Field
Iruka regained his composure after Sasuke's demonstration and called out the next name on the roster. "Uzumaki Naruto."
The class went silent. All eyes turned to the blond-haired troublemaker, whose confidence seemed to falter under the weight of their gazes. Naruto hesitated for a moment before stepping forward.
Iruka, whose parents had died during the Nine-Tails attack, struggled to maintain a neutral expression. He had been reluctant to take on Naruto as a student, but the Third Hokage had insisted. While Iruka had done his best to suppress his personal feelings, there were moments when his discomfort showed.
Naruto, however, was used to such reactions. He had seen that look far too many times in his life—disapproval, fear, or worse, indifference. He smirked, hiding his unease, and strode to the throwing line.
---
The Mysterious Quiz Appears
Before Naruto could act, a strange notification popped up in the air, visible only to the spectators observing the scene remotely:
Ding!
Prize Quiz: Predict Uzumaki Naruto's shuriken throwing performance.
Options:
A: Naruto senses Iruka's impatience and refuses to throw.
B: Naruto throws but completely misses the target.
C: Naruto throws multiple shurikens, all of which miss.
D: Naruto throws three shurikens, perfectly knocking Sasuke's shurikens off the bullseye.
The chat exploded with reactions.
Fourth Raikage: "Option D? Not a chance!"
Onoki: "If that happens, I'll eat my hat."
Terumi Mei: "Poor kid. He's probably going to miss completely."
Tobirama: "Don't be so quick to judge. Everyone starts somewhere."
Naruto himself stared at the quiz in confusion. "What's this about? I'll show them—I choose D!"
Sasuke scoffed. "Hah! You? Better than me? Keep dreaming."
---
Naruto's Turn
Naruto took a deep breath and readied his shuriken. The weight of everyone's expectations—or lack thereof—hung heavy on his shoulders. He had to prove himself, not just to the others, but to himself.
With a determined glare, he threw the first shuriken.
Whoosh!
The class collectively held their breath.
Bang!
The shuriken hit the target… but missed the bullseye by a wide margin.
Naruto gritted his teeth and grabbed another shuriken. "I can do this!"
Whoosh! Bang!
Another miss.
The snickers from his classmates started to grow louder.
"See? He's hopeless," someone muttered.
Naruto's face flushed, but he refused to give up. He grabbed his last shuriken, his grip tightening. This time, he visualized the target, blocking out all distractions. With a shout, he hurled the shuriken with all his might.
Whoosh! Bang!
The third shuriken struck closer to the center but still failed to hit the bullseye. Sasuke's shurikens remained firmly embedded in the target, untouched.
Naruto lowered his hand, his shoulders slumping. He turned to face the class, expecting ridicule. But before anyone could say a word, Iruka clapped.
"Well done, Naruto. You're improving," Iruka said, a small smile breaking through his usual seriousness.
Naruto blinked in surprise. "You… you think so?"
Iruka nodded. "Of course. Everyone starts somewhere. Keep practicing, and you'll get there."
---
Reflections and Resolve
Naruto returned to his seat, his initial disappointment giving way to a newfound determination. Sasuke might be ahead now, but that didn't mean he always would be. If there was one thing Naruto excelled at, it was perseverance.
Meanwhile, in the chat, opinions shifted.
Kushina: "That's my boy! Keep trying, Naruto!"
Sasuke: "Hmph. At least he didn't give up."
Obito: "Not bad for a beginner. Even I had to practice before I got good."
The chapter ended with Naruto's steely resolve: "If I can't do it now, I'll work until I can. And if I can't… I'll make sure someone else does."
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