The system's prompt left everyone puzzled, their faces turning serious as the weight of the quiz's penalty dawned upon them.
Answering casually was no longer an option; the stakes were far too high. Those rewarded in previous quizzes had proven the system's legitimacy, but no one dared to gamble with a wrong answer.
---
The Discussion Begins
Uchiha Madara: "How are we supposed to answer this? We know nothing about him!"
Senju Hashirama: "Madara, don't act like you're not curious. Admit it—you want to know just as badly as we do."
Uchiha Madara: "..."
Senju Tobirama: "It's difficult to analyze. While there was a brief scene of Naruto practicing shuriken throwing earlier, it didn't provide any clear indication of his skills."
Uzumaki Kushina: "Naruto, my dear, you're being impulsive again! Were you trying to provoke Sasuke?"
Uzumaki Naruto: "Ah! I forgot there's a penalty for getting the answer wrong!"
Uchiha Sasuke: "Hmph! Your careless personality really should take some lessons from your counterpart in the black frame."
Naruto grinned sheepishly, unaware of how serious the situation had become.
Meanwhile, Kakashi observed everything in silence, his thoughts turning to Naruto's surprising performances during their missions. The boy was more than he appeared to be—a sharp mind hidden beneath a boisterous exterior.
---
The Outcome of the Quiz
With time running out, the system closed the quiz automatically.
The screen flickered, revealing the continuation of the scene:
---
The Shuriken Throw
Iruka called Naruto's name, and the boy confidently stepped forward, earning confused glances from his classmates.
"Shua!"
Naruto raised his arm, and a sharp whistle pierced the air as his shuriken soared toward the target.
"Clang! Clang! Clang!"
The metallic sound of shurikens colliding echoed through the training ground. Everyone turned their eyes toward the target—and froze in shock.
A single shuriken was embedded deeply in the bullseye.
---
Reactions
"Eh?!"
Whispers broke out among the students.
"Naruto hit the tenth ring!"
"But Sasuke hit the bullseye with three shurikens at the same time. Naruto still falls short!"
One voice interrupted the murmurs:
"Wait! Look closely—it's the same target Sasuke hit!"
Gasps rippled through the crowd as they realized the truth. The three shurikens Sasuke had thrown had been knocked off the target, replaced by Naruto's.
---
Iruka's Shock
Iruka's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Could Naruto really have done this? His talent rivals Uchiha Sasuke's... no, this isn't just talent."
The thought unsettled him.
As a seasoned ninja, Iruka knew the importance of family inheritance and natural aptitude. However, even with those advantages, mastery required effort.
Was Naruto's skill the result of secret guidance?
---
Sasuke's Realization
Sasuke's frown deepened. As someone who often practiced shuriken techniques with his older brother, Uchiha Itachi, he couldn't believe anyone his age could surpass him.
Yet, the evidence was clear.
Naruto's shuriken had not only displaced his, but they had also struck with greater force.
"This guy..."
For the first time, Sasuke regarded Naruto as a rival.
---
Naruto's Own Doubts
Naruto, however, was no less surprised than everyone else.
"No way... is that really me?"
He scratched his head nervously. "I remember messing up big time during this drill!"
The screen showed him standing confidently after his throw, but he struggled to reconcile that version of himself with his current insecurities.
---
Everyone Else
The rest of the students were stunned.
"Naruto is amazing!"
"Amazing? He just got lucky and knocked Sasuke's shurikens out by chance."
But Sasuke's narrowed eyes told a different story. He had sensed the precision in Naruto's throw.
Hatake Kakashi, watching closely, smirked beneath his mask.
---
The Quiz's Answer
The correct answer to the quiz was D: Uzumaki Naruto throws three shurikens, knocking down all of Uchiha Sasuke's shurikens from the target.
This revelation shocked the viewers.
Even the adults watching the screen were astounded.
---
Conclusion
As the scene ended, murmurs of disbelief echoed across the group.
"Could this really be Naruto?"
Even Naruto's contemporaries found it hard to believe. This version of Naruto was leagues beyond their expectations.
Meanwhile, Sasuke clenched his fists.
"Next time," he muttered to himself, "I won't lose to you."
For Naruto, this revelation planted seeds of doubt and determination. If this version of himself could achieve greatness, then perhaps he wasn't as far behind as he thought.
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