Winning Hearts and Minds

"The Sharingan? Now that is a problem! Can an Uchiha without a Sharingan even be called an Uchiha?"

Watching the match from the sidelines, Sarutobi Hiruzen heard Sasuke's words, his expression turning increasingly peculiar. He waved his hand, signaling the Anbu to depart once more.

"Alright, let's not waste any more time! Begin!"

Sensing the disappointment in Sasuke's tone, Shikamaru lazily picked at his ear before grabbing a kunai and throwing it toward Sasuke.

Easily dodging Shikamaru's kunai, Sasuke smiled helplessly. Young man, you have no sense of martial honor! Sneak attacking me like that. Thinking this, Sasuke pulled out three kunai and threw them at Shikamaru.

"Nani!"

Having been on guard against the move Sasuke used to defeat Kiba from the very beginning, Shikamaru's expression turned strange as he watched the three kunai thrown at once. He immediately shifted his position; after all, without knowing which one was the real Sasuke, rushing toward the kunai or Sasuke was far too dangerous.

"Well done!"

Asuma, standing nearby, shouted in his heart as he watched Shikamaru's actions. After all, this was the best approach for now.

"Hey, hey, aren't you getting a bit too excited?" Kakashi glanced at the visibly agitated Asuma and curled his lip helplessly. If Sasuke used that new ninjutsu, Shikamaru would probably be in the hospital by now.

"I am not!" Hearing Kakashi's words, Asuma felt a sudden wave of embarrassment, not expecting to be called out so easily.

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

Just as Shikamaru was leaping through the air, Sasuke's calm voice rang out, followed immediately by a massive fireball that engulfed Shikamaru.

After the flames subsided, a charred wooden log appeared in the spot. Sasuke was slightly taken aback; it seemed he couldn't underestimate Shikamaru after all.

"You lose."

Just as Sasuke was searching for Shikamaru, he heard this voice. As the sound reached him, Sasuke realized he couldn't move, which left him stunned.

"Shadow Possession Technique, success!"

Confirming that Sasuke was immobilized, Shikamaru issued his declaration of victory.

Hearing this, Sasuke curled his lip helplessly and focused his intent. Shadow Secret Technique: Clone, activate.

The next second, Sasuke appeared directly beside the kunai he had thrown earlier, while the Shadow Clone controlled by Shikamaru, unable to bear the strain, transformed into a puff of white mist.

"This is just unsolvable!"

Watching the Shadow Clone turn into smoke and seeing Sasuke, who had returned to his original form from the kunai, Shikamaru felt a sense of helplessness. How was he supposed to play against this? It was simply unreasonable!

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh..."

While Shikamaru was still contemplating a countermeasure, Sasuke threw five more kunai at him. These five were all transformed Shadow Clones, as Sasuke had no habit of carrying ninja tools on his person.

After once again dodging the kunai with ease, Shikamaru looked at the seven kunai on the ground and then at Sasuke opposite him, his expression stiff. Damn it, which one is the real one?

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

While Shikamaru was still thinking, all seven kunai on the ground transformed into Sasuke, and simultaneously, they all unleashed the Great Fireball Technique. Eight fireballs surged toward him from every direction, leaving Shikamaru unsure of how to dodge, forcing him to stand silently in place.

"Oh no!"

Realizing Shikamaru had run out of options, Kakashi muttered in alarm. Asuma, however, had already lunged forward the moment Sasuke released the fireballs; after all, this was his beloved student!

"Fire Release: Ash Pile Burning!"

Accompanied by a roar, Asuma intervened, completely neutralizing Sasuke's Great Fireball Technique.

"I survived!"

As the smoke cleared, Shikamaru wiped the cold sweat from his forehead while looking at Asuma, who was standing in front of him.

"Uchiha Sasuke wins!"

After confirming that Shikamaru was uninjured, Kurenai Yuhi directly announced the result of the spar. The outcome was obvious; if not for Asuma, Shikamaru might have sacrificed himself for glory.

Confirming his victory, Sasuke dispelled all his Shadow Clones and walked back to his original position with a calm, indifferent expression.

"That guy!"

Looking at Sasuke's current expression, Shikamaru finally understood the humiliation Kiba had felt just moments ago. It was simply too frustrating.

"Don't be resentful. He didn't even use his full strength; there is still a huge gap between you two!" Sensing the shift in Shikamaru's mindset, Asuma offered some well-intentioned advice.

"What a brilliant spar! Let this Genjutsu scroll serve as a reward for first place!"

Just as Shikamaru was pondering the meaning of Asuma's words, the Third Hokage stood up, slowly approached Sasuke, and handed him two scrolls.

The first scroll bore the crest of the Uchiha clan, while the second was an ordinary-looking scroll.

Looking at these two, Sasuke was bewildered. The first was clearly something originally belonging to the Uchiha clan, while the second was the reward Sarutobi Hiruzen mentioned. What is this old man trying to do? Bribe me?

"Accept them! These were found in the Uchiha compound."

Noticing Sasuke's peculiar expression, Sarutobi Hiruzen explained with a smile.

"Thank you, Lord Hokage!"

Listening to Sarutobi Hiruzen's flimsy excuse, Sasuke accepted the scrolls without hesitation. As for what Sarutobi Hiruzen said, Sasuke didn't believe a word of it; after all, he had thoroughly scavenged the Uchiha compound himself.

"Keep working hard! All of you..."

Seeing Sasuke accept the scrolls, Sarutobi Hiruzen offered some words of encouragement to the group before leaving with a look of deep satisfaction.

After putting the scroll away, Sasuke looked at Kakashi, his meaning simple: was the guidance you mentioned still going to continue?

"Show me your new ninjutsu!"

Noticing Sasuke looking at him, Kakashi curled his lip helplessly. There was no guidance; he just wanted to see the new ninjutsu, after all, it was a technique his teacher hadn't managed to perfect!

"New ninjutsu?"

Before Sasuke could say anything, Asuma and Kurenai Yuhi looked at Kakashi with expressions of utter disbelief. Could it really be the Rasengan? If that were truly the case, wasn't this kid a bit too heaven-defying?

"Fine!"

Hearing Kakashi's words, Sasuke curled his lip helplessly and slowly extended his right hand.

Blue and green Chakra slowly condensed in Sasuke's palm, eventually transforming into a Rasengan containing both colors. Immediately after, two halos slowly appeared around the Rasengan, one blue and one green; the blue one rotated clockwise, while the green one rotated counter-clockwise.

The moment this Rasengan appeared, the expressions of Asuma and Kurenai Yuhi froze. It really was the Rasengan!

A battle of wits against Shikamaru, winning the hearts of the people under the Third Hokage.

Dear masters, please vote for me (づ●─●)づ