Shin-chan is Still in Class

The Ninja Academy's Training Ground.

"Today we're learning how to use shuriken." Teacher Ibuki held up a shuriken, his expression serious.

The children stood before him, arranged in several rows.

Shin-chan stood in the second row, with Uchiha Toru beside him and Kakashi in front.

Teacher Ibuki began his explanation: "Shuriken are a ninja's most basic ranged weapon. When throwing, your wrist must be steady, your gaze accurate, and your breathing even."

As Shin-chan listened, his gaze began to wander. First, he looked to the left.

To the left was a wall, nothing special.

He then looked to the right.

To the right were trees, also nothing special.

Then he raised his head and glanced outside the training ground.

There was a small patch of woods, usually deserted.

Was something moving?

Shin-chan squinted, looking closely.

The shadows of the trees flickered, but he saw nothing.

"Shin-chan." Uchiha Toru called him softly.

Shin-chan didn't react.

"Shin-chan!"

Shin-chan snapped back to attention, turning to look at him. "What?"

"What are you looking at?"

Shin-chan scratched his head and glanced outside again. "I don't know, it just feels weird."

"Weird?"

"Yeah." Shin-chan nodded. "It feels like someone's watching me."

Uchiha Toru paused, then also looked outside.

He saw nothing.

"No."

"I know there isn't," Shin-chan said. "It's that feeling, you know? When you go to the toilet alone at night, and you always feel like something at the end of the corridor is watching you."

Uchiha Toru fell silent.

He felt like he understood the analogy, but also like he didn't.

"Shin Nohara! Uchiha Toru!"

Teacher Ibuki's voice boomed.

Both of them flinched simultaneously.

"No talking during class!!!"

"Yes." They answered in unison.

Shin-chan pulled his head back, no longer lost in thought.

"Alright, now for the practical session," Teacher Ibuki said, pointing to the target in front. "Six shuriken each. Throw them, then go pick them up. One by one."

Kakashi stepped forward a few paces, holding three shuriken in each hand, and threw them simultaneously.

Thwack, thwack, thwack!

All of them hit the bullseye.

The field fell silent for a second.

Then, a wave of gasps erupted.

"So amazing!"

"He hit them all!"

"And with both hands at the same time."

Rin stood nearby, her eyes shining. "As expected of Kakashi."

Obito watched too, his expression complicated, a mix of envy, admiration, and a hint of defiance. "Hmph, so he can throw accurately. I can do that too."

"Obito, don't..." Rin tried to dissuade him.

But Obito had already charged forward. Mimicking Kakashi, he gripped three shuriken in each hand and flung them with all his might.

Swish, swish, swish!

The shuriken flew out.

Crooked.

Slanted.

Some fell directly to the ground.

Some flew onto the target next to them.

One more, almost flew onto Teacher Ibuki's head.

"Obito Uchiha!"

Teacher Ibuki's roar echoed through the Training Ground.

Obito shrunk his neck, looking guilty.

"Pfft."

A snicker came from the side.

Asuma leaned against a tree, smiling provocatively: "This level, and you dare to imitate Kakashi?"

Obito's face turned red: "You!"

"Me what?" Asuma shrugged, "You threw them yourself, and you don't want people to laugh?"

"I was... not ready."

"Not ready and you're using two hands? Where's your Brain?"

"What did you say!"

Seeing that the two were about to argue again, Teacher Ibuki strode over.

"Both of you shut up. Obito, go pick up the Shuriken. Asuma, you're next!"

Obito gritted his teeth and ran to pick up the Shuriken.

Asuma stepped forward to throw the Shuriken. Although he couldn't compare to Kakashi, at least they all hit the Target.

Then he turned back and glanced at Obito.

"See? This is how you throw a Shuriken."

Obito stood to the side, so angry his face turned green.

Not long after, it was Uchiha Toru's turn.

Dong dong dong!

All hit the bullseye.

Another gasp rose from the sidelines.

"Uchiha Toru is amazing too!"

"As expected of the Uchiha Clan!"

Obito stood nearby, his expression growing more complex.

We're all from the Uchiha Clan, why is the gap so huge...

Shin-chan scurried over to Uchiha Toru's side, "Your shuriken are so powerful."

Uchiha Toru smiled, a little embarrassed.

"It's nothing, I just practice a lot."

"Then how should I throw this one?"

Uchiha Toru picked up a shuriken and began to explain.

"First, your grip is very important..."

Shin-chan watched his hands intently.

"Then, your stance needs to be steady, feet shoulder-width apart, and lower your center of gravity..."

Shin-chan nodded.

"Finally, it's your breathing. The moment you throw, hold your breath, keep your arm straight, and flick your wrist..."

Shin-chan nodded again.

Uchiha Toru finished speaking and looked at him expectantly.

"Do you understand?"

Shin-chan thought for a moment.

Then he thought some more.

And then honestly shook his head.

"I didn't understand any of it."

Uchiha Toru: "..."

"But it's okay," Shin-chan waved his hand, "I'll try it first."

He took a few steps forward and raised the Shuriken.

Grip... probably right?

Posture... close enough?

Breathing... hold it?

Shin-chan took a deep breath and threw the Shuriken.

Swish.

The Shuriken flew out.

Not in a straight line.

It was an arc.

But it hit the Bullseye dead center.

The sidelines were silent for a second.

"..."

Teacher Ibuki was stunned.

Uchiha Toru was stunned.

Kakashi's eyes widened slightly.

"Huh, I hit it?" Shin-chan scratched his head, a little confused himself, "Xiao Che, didn't you say I should aim?"

"Yeah."

"I was aiming over there." Shin-chan pointed to the Target on the left.

Uchiha Toru fell silent.

Shin-chan pointed to the Target directly in front of them again: "But it flew over here."

Uchiha Toru continued to be silent.

Shin-chan thought for a moment and said seriously, "Could it be that it wanted to go there by itself?"

Uchiha Toru couldn't help but press his forehead.

Beside him, Rin couldn't help but laugh: "Shin-chan is so funny."

Obito's expression was even more complicated.

Shin-chan picked up the second shuriken.

Whoosh.

This time the arc was even more pronounced, but in the end, it still wobbled its way to the target.

Shin-chan looked at the curving shuriken and nodded: "That's right, it wanted to go there itself."

"You need to aim, pay attention to your posture," Uchiha Toru reminded him from the side.

Shin-chan stopped and thought for a few seconds, then picked up the third shuriken.

This time he was very serious, narrowing his eyes and aiming at the bullseye directly in front of him for a long time.

He took a deep breath.

Throw!

The shuriken flew out.

Straight.

A perfectly straight line.

Then it grazed the edge of the target and embedded itself in the wooden stakes behind.

Shin-chan: "..."

Uchiha Toru watched from the side, his expression complicated: "When you aim, you actually miss?"

Shin-chan scratched his head, feeling a little wronged: "I don't know what's going on either."

"Then how did you throw those last two?"

Shin-chan thought about it, trying hard to recall the feeling from before.

"It was... just throwing it casually?"

Uchiha Toru fell silent.

Teacher Ibuki stood nearby, his expression difficult to describe.

This child...

What on earth is going on?