Winning Hearts

"Sharingan? Come to think of it, that really is a problem! Is an Uchiha without the Sharingan even an Uchiha?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen, who was watching from the side, listened to Sasuke and gradually grew a strange look on his face. Then he waved his hand, sending the Anbu away once more.

"All right, let's not waste any more time. Begin!"

Noticing the disappointment in Sasuke's voice, Shikamaru lazily picked at his ear, then took out a kunai and threw it at Sasuke.

Sasuke easily dodged Shikamaru's kunai and smiled helplessly. You young people really don't play fair! A sneak attack, huh? Thinking this, Sasuke took out three kunai and threw them at Shikamaru.

"What?!"

Shikamaru had been on guard against the move Sasuke used to defeat Kiba. Seeing Sasuke throw three kunai at once, he looked a little puzzled, then immediately shifted position. After all, without knowing which one was the real Sasuke, approaching either the kunai or Sasuke recklessly was dangerous.

"Nicely done!"

Watching Shikamaru's move, Asuma cheered inwardly. It was the best choice at the moment.

"Hey, hey, aren't you getting a little too excited?" Seeing Asuma's animated expression, Kakashi shook his head helplessly. If Sasuke used that new jutsu, Shikamaru would probably already be in the hospital.

"Not at all!" Hearing Kakashi's words, Asuma immediately looked a little embarrassed. He hadn't expected Kakashi to notice.

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

Just as Shikamaru leaped into the air, Sasuke's calm voice rang out. A huge fireball immediately engulfed Shikamaru.

After the flames had raged, a charred log appeared where Shikamaru had been. Sasuke was a little surprised. It seemed he couldn't underestimate Shikamaru.

"You've lost!"

While Sasuke was still searching for Shikamaru, he heard those words. As the voice rang out, Sasuke realized he couldn't move. This left him rather bewildered.

"Shadow Possession Jutsu—success!"

After confirming that Sasuke couldn't move, Shikamaru declared victory.

Hearing this, Sasuke shook his head helplessly. Then, with a thought, he activated Shadow Secret Technique: Clone.

The next moment, Sasuke appeared beside one of the kunai he had thrown earlier. The Shadow Clone Technique duplicate controlled by Shikamaru couldn't withstand the strain and turned into a cloud of white smoke.

"That's completely unfair!"

Watching Sasuke's clone turn to smoke, then seeing Sasuke return to his original form beside the kunai, Shikamaru felt helpless. How was he supposed to fight like this? It was just unreasonable!

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh..."

While Shikamaru was still thinking of a countermeasure, Sasuke threw five more kunai at him. All five kunai were transformed from shadow clones, since Sasuke didn't usually carry ninja tools.

After casually dodging Sasuke's kunai once more, Shikamaru looked at the seven kunai on the ground, then at Sasuke opposite him. His expression stiffened. Damn it, which one is the real one?

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

While Shikamaru was still thinking, all seven kunai on the ground turned into Sasuke. They all unleashed the Great Fireball Technique at Shikamaru at the same time, sending eight fireballs surging toward him from every direction. Shikamaru had no idea how to dodge, so he could only stand there.

"Damn it!"

Seeing that Shikamaru had run out of options, Kakashi inwardly cried out in alarm. Asuma had already rushed forward as soon as Sasuke released the Great Fireball Technique. After all, Shikamaru was his beloved student!

"Fire Release: Ash Pile Burning!"

With a furious shout, Asuma completely nullified Sasuke's Great Fireball Technique. He had stepped in.

"I'm alive!"

As the smoke cleared, Shikamaru wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and looked at Asuma standing beside him.

"Uchiha Sasuke wins!"

After confirming that Shikamaru wasn't injured, Kurenai Yuhi announced the result of the spar. The outcome was obvious: without Asuma, Shikamaru might have met his end.

After confirming his victory, Sasuke dispelled all his shadow clones, then walked back to his original spot as calmly as ever.

"That guy..."

Watching Sasuke's expression, Shikamaru finally understood how humiliated Kiba had felt earlier. It was unbearably frustrating.

"Don't be a sore loser. He didn't even use his full strength. There's still a huge gap between you," Asuma advised, noticing Shikamaru's mood.

"That was a great spar! This Genjutsu scroll is a reward for first place!"

While Shikamaru was still pondering Asuma's words, the Third rose and slowly walked over to Sasuke, handing him two scrolls.

The first scroll bore the Uchiha Clan crest. The second was an ordinary scroll.

Looking at the two scrolls, Sasuke was a little confused. The first was clearly something that had originally belonged to the Uchiha Clan, while the second was the reward Sarutobi Hiruzen had mentioned. What is this old man up to? Trying to buy me off?

Noticing Sasuke's odd expression, Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled and explained, "Take them. They were found in the Uchiha Clan Compound."

"Thank you, Lord Hokage!"

Hearing Sarutobi Hiruzen's phony explanation, Sasuke accepted the scrolls without hesitation. As for what Sarutobi Hiruzen had said, Sasuke didn't believe a word of it. He had searched the Uchiha Clan Compound thoroughly himself.

"Keep working hard! And so should all of you..."

After Sasuke accepted the scrolls, Sarutobi Hiruzen offered everyone a few words of encouragement, then left, deeply gratified.

After putting away the scrolls, Sasuke looked at Kakashi. His meaning was simple: Are you still going to give me the guidance you mentioned?

Noticing Sasuke looking at him, Kakashi shook his head helplessly. "Show me your new jutsu."

What guidance? I just wanted to see your new jutsu. After all, it's a jutsu my teacher never finished developing!

"New jutsu?"

Before Sasuke could say anything, Asuma and Kurenai Yuhi looked at Kakashi in disbelief. Could it be the Rasengan? If so, wasn't this kid a little too outrageous?

"All right!"

Hearing Kakashi, Sasuke shook his head helplessly, then slowly extended his right hand.

Blue and green Chakra slowly gathered in Sasuke's palm, eventually transforming into a Rasengan containing both colors. Then two halos gradually appeared around it, one blue and one green. The blue one rotated clockwise, while the green one rotated counterclockwise.

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

Shikamaru had been defeated in a battle of wits, and the Third had won hearts.

Everyone, please vote! (づ●─●)づ