Naruto and Sasuke Uchiha's shurikenjutsu match began once again under the watchful eyes of their friends.
The result of their match left everyone dumbfounded. Sasuke Uchiha, born into the Uchiha Clan, had actually lost to Naruto in a shurikenjutsu contest!
"This... how is that possible?!"
In the park, Sasuke stared blankly at the large tree in the distance that served as a target, whispering in disbelief. Five shuriken were embedded in the tree. One was planted right in the center of the trunk, while the other four were scattered around it. Somehow, all five had hit the bullseye.
Watching Naruto happily embrace Choji, Shikamaru, and the others, Sasuke clenched his fists. The joy he'd felt after defeating Naruto in their taijutsu match vanished completely, and a deep sense of disappointment settled over him.
He'd lost—and to shurikenjutsu, the very skill the Uchiha Clan prided themselves on. Worse, he'd lost badly. Two of Sasuke's five shuriken had missed the target, and the other three had only barely hit it.
There was no need for a judge to call the winner.
People couldn't simply share one another's feelings. Disappointed, Sasuke quietly left the park. He wasn't like Naruto. Unlike Naruto, who thrived amid the noise and excitement, Sasuke was more reserved. His disappointment was written all over his face, but he wouldn't speak of it.
In the distance, Ino and the others watched Sasuke leave. They exchanged glances, then quickly lowered their heads.
The children's match was a trivial matter in Konoha.
Now, Minato, as Hokage, had an important matter to deal with.
The Daimyo of the Land of Fire had sent over a State Letter from the Daimyo of the Land of Lightning. In it, the Land of Lightning reprimanded Konoha for detaining Kumogakure's peace envoys. "Reprimanded" wasn't quite the