Talent

The day after the results came out.

The students welcomed their favorite class: ninja tool throwing!

Although ninja tools had practically vanished from the story by the later stages of Naruto, in the early and middle stages—especially in battles between Genin and Chunin—using them well could significantly improve a ninja's combat strength!

That was especially true in battles between Genin and Chunin. Ninja tools could really make a difference in someone's combat strength.

The three most common ninja tools were shuriken, kunai, and senbon.

Shuriken and senbon were both ranged weapons that were thrown by hand.

Kunai also had some close-combat uses, though their capabilities were limited. It was unrealistic to expect one to stab Senju Hashirama to death.

The Fuma Shuriken Akiyama Shun had received as a click-to-claim bonus was a variant of the shuriken. Its larger size made it better than a kunai in close combat, of course, but the school definitely wouldn't teach them how to use one.

At that moment, Kazama Shinya was standing on the training ground, demonstrating the standard stance for throwing a shuriken as he explained, "Hold the shuriken between your fingers. When you throw, keep your eyes fixed on the target, and remember to snap your wrist for power. That way, the ninja tool will fly straight!"

With that, Kazama Shinya threw the shuriken from his fingertips. It struck the center of the fixed target with a thunk.

"On the battlefield, things change in an instant. You can't always take the standard stance, so the key to throwing ninja tools is to practice until the movements become muscle memory. Then you'll be able to throw accurately from any position!"

After finishing, Kazama Shinya waved for the students to start practicing on their own.

The students immediately grew excited. When they got their shuriken, they carefully examined them.

Most of them came from ordinary families that couldn't afford to let them practice throwing shuriken at home. For many, this was their first time holding one.

As a result, most students weren't very accurate. Hitting the target three times out of ten was already considered pretty good.

As for the likes of Obito and Might Guy, they were happy if they hit it once out of ten throws.

Students like Yuhi Kurenai, who came from well-off families and had plenty of natural talent, were in a completely different league.

She could hit the target eight times out of ten!

She might not hit the bull's-eye, but she at least hit the target. For students who had just started school, that was already impressive.

"Nice!"

When Yuhi Kurenai hit the bull's-eye twice in a row, Akiyama Shun clapped and praised her.

"Hehe~"

Yuhi Kurenai scratched her head shyly at the compliment.

"Look at Kakashi! He's amazing!"

"How is Kakashi so good?"

"..."

A commotion broke out among the students. Akiyama Shun looked over and saw that many of them had gathered around Kakashi, who was practicing in the middle.

If the class's talent could be divided into four tiers, Obito would be in one, ordinary students in another, Yuhi Kurenai in a third, and Kakashi would be in a tier all by himself.

His family was well-off, so he had been able to practice from a young age. On top of that, Kakashi was widely regarded as a genius in Konoha. Naturally, his accuracy left everyone else far behind.

Ten throws, ten hits!

Five bull's-eyes!

Despite all the praise around him, Kakashi's expression didn't change. He simply continued practicing in silence. That only made some of the girls around him swoon even more, setting off a wave of squeals.

"Kakashi is so amazing~"

When Obito saw that even Nohara Rin was among those praising Kakashi, his expression darkened. Why was it so hard for him to hit the target even once in ten throws, while that smug guy who always wore a cold expression had such a high accuracy rate?

"Damn it! How is Kakashi so strong?"

Might Guy wasn't distracted by the commotion. His own accuracy was pretty dismal, but he kept practicing quietly on his own.

Kazama Shinya stood to the side and nodded when he saw Kakashi's accuracy.

As expected of the White Fang of Konoha's son. He was already doing this well at such a young age.

As a teacher, Kazama Shinya naturally wanted his students to perform better. Not only would they be easier to teach, but his salary would go up, too.

Yuhi Kurenai suddenly looked at Akiyama Shun and said, "Shun, you should give it a try, too!"

Akiyama Shun nodded and went to the throwing line.

His movements immediately drew everyone's attention.

Akiyama Shun might not have been nearly as famous as Kakashi, but everyone remembered him. He had gotten straight A's on the entrance exam, matching Kakashi, and had even outperformed him on the monthly test.

They said that even the Third had personally praised his exam paper.

They were curious to see how much talent the highest-scoring written exam student had in other areas.

Even Kakashi and Might Guy stopped practicing and turned to look at Akiyama Shun.

With everyone watching, Akiyama Shun held a shuriken between his fingertips.

To be honest, this was the first time Akiyama Shun had ever actually held a shuriken. He hadn't even taken out the Fuma Shuriken he'd received as a bonus. But the moment he touched the shuriken, the effect of the [Uchiha Itachi (Ninja Prodigy)] card made a familiar sensation spread through his body, as if he had trained with one countless times before.

Akiyama Shun felt a surge of joy.

The fact that he had never touched a shuriken before was easy to find out if anyone cared to investigate.

That was the key!

If he simply had high accuracy with shuriken, people might be surprised, but it wouldn't attract too much attention from the real bigwigs.

But if he had never received any training at all...

That would be a different story!

"Shun, you can do it! I believe in you!"

Yuhi Kurenai's face flushed as she cheered Akiyama Shun on from the side.

"Come on, Akiyama Shun! You have to beat Kakashi!"

Obito cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted encouragement, too. Even though he and Akiyama Shun weren't that close, Obito would be happy as long as someone beat Kakashi.

Akiyama Shun exhaled, aimed at the fixed target in the distance, and threw the shuriken!

Thunk!

It hit the bull's-eye!

And he wasn't done!

Before the students around him could react, Akiyama Shun's hand flickered. Somehow, three more shuriken had appeared in his hand!

Kakashi and Kazama Shinya, who had been watching from the side, both narrowed their eyes.

Thunk!

Thunk!

Thunk!

Three more bull's-eyes in a row!

Only then did everyone present react.

Every time a shuriken left Akiyama Shun's fingertips, it hit the bull's-eye!

After seven hits, the bull's-eye was already covered with shuriken.

But Akiyama Shun still didn't stop. He turned to the left and aimed at the fixed target on that side.

That target would be much harder to hit.

Not only was it farther away because of the angle, but the most important problem was the difference in angle!

However, to Akiyama Shun, who had already mastered the Shuriken Manipulation Technique, none of that was a problem!

Throwing ordinary shuriken was easy for him!

Three shuriken flew out at once!

Three more bull's-eyes!

A hundred percent accuracy!

Ten throws!

Ten bull's-eyes!