So fast, but I can dodge it.
Sasuke hadn't even finished speaking when he immediately ducked, hoping to avoid Lin Fan's kick.
He bent at the waist and dropped as low as he could. At last, he barely dodged the blur of Lin Fan's shin sweeping past him.
Not bad at dodging. But what about the next one?
As soon as Lin Fan finished speaking, his body spun through the air in a graceful arc.
He landed swiftly and planted both hands on the ground. His right leg shot toward Sasuke's head again.
So fast! I definitely can't dodge this, but I should be able to block it!
Sasuke quickly raised both arms across his side, trying to stop the powerful kick.
Lin Fan's mouth curled into a grin. Heh, I knew you'd do that. With both arms at your side, you've left an opening. Konoha Rising Wind!
The instant he finished speaking, his left leg swept upward from below, kicking Sasuke squarely in the chin.
Sasuke's face twisted violently as he was launched into the air. He landed far away on the training ground.
Silence!
Absolute silence!
The training ground had grown so quiet that the sound of a pin dropping would have been clearly audible.
Had Sasuke, the top student in the Ninja Academy's graduating class, really just been kicked flying during training?
And by the class dead last, no less?
Who would believe that if they heard it?
Iruka, standing nearby, was so shocked he could only gape, unable to speak.
Lin Fan's Konoha Style Taijutsu had been so fast that even Iruka's eyes could barely follow it.
There was no doubt that his footwork was the best among their peers.
The perfect combination of speed and power even rivaled Might Guy, the elite jonin in the village renowned for his Taijutsu.
But why had Lin Fan never shown his strength before? Why had he been content to be the class dead last?
Iruka guessed that some expert must have recently taken Lin Fan under his wing.
Clap, clap, clap, clap!
Lin Fan, you're amazing! I knew you could do it! Sasuke, you jerk—someone finally put you in your place!
Naruto was the first to applaud and cheer, celebrating Lin Fan wildly.
Uh, Lin Fan really has been secretly training behind our backs, hasn't he?
He's handsome and good at fighting? The gap between us is getting bigger and bigger.
The Truancy Trio shook their heads, their expressions equally complicated.
First time down!
After silently marking the moment, Lin Fan dusted himself off without changing his expression.
His Konoha Style Taijutsu was already maxed out, so it was only natural that he could use it this well.
He was sure that once he completed the mission and gained the boost of a max-level Three-Tomoe Sharingan, he'd even dare take on one of the village's elite jonin.
But Lin Fan also knew that the Uchiha Sasuke lying before him wouldn't give up so easily.
Sure enough, Sasuke soon got to his feet, working out the kinks in his body.
His eyes had turned crimson, making many of the students watching go pale.
The Sharingan!
Looks like I underestimated you. But now, you dead-last, you'd better pray for your own safety!
Lin Fan saw that Sasuke's eyes had turned crimson and a One-Tomoe Sharingan had appeared in each. Meanwhile, both of Sasuke's fists were enveloped in a mass of sky-blue chakra.
By concentrating chakra in his fists, Sasuke could now smash rocks and break trees.
And with the Sharingan's boost, Sasuke was certain he could read every move Lin Fan made.
A dead last was always a dead last. He would still win this fight in the end.
Sasuke widened his eyes, watching Lin Fan's every move as he charged straight at him.
This time, Lin Fan didn't give Sasuke the chance to swing his chakra-coated fists.
His body instantly became a blur and vanished from where he stood.
Taijutsu Body Flicker?
Sasuke was shocked.
The next second, Lin Fan suddenly appeared right in front of him.
A strike to the stomach!
Lin Fan followed with a straight punch, its force trailing wisps of sky-blue chakra, and aimed it at Sasuke's abdomen.
I see it!
Sasuke was overjoyed and prepared to block with his forearm.
Thud!
A sudden burst of pain sent Sasuke stumbling back two or three meters.
Although Sasuke had activated his Sharingan and could just barely see Lin Fan's punch, the difference in their physical abilities was simply too great.
Sasuke's defensive block was at least a beat slower than Lin Fan's attack.
As soon as Sasuke regained his footing, he looked up and saw Lin Fan appear in front of him again with Taijutsu Body Flicker.
This time, it's your chin!
Lin Fan grinned as he spoke, then drove an uppercut into Sasuke's chin. Sasuke was sent flying skyward once more.
A thin trail of blood drifted from the corner of his mouth.
One last strike—to your back.
Lin Fan shouted and used Body Flicker again, appearing behind Sasuke. He drove his elbow down into Sasuke's back.
Sasuke shot toward the ground.
Of course, Lin Fan had used less than thirty percent of his Taijutsu strength, and hadn't channeled much chakra into the points of impact.
But even so, Sasuke could do nothing to fight back. After just three moves, he was sprawled on the ground once again.
Second time down!
Many of the students on the training ground stared at Lin Fan in disbelief.
If the two of them had at least looked like they were sparring at first, then after Sasuke activated his Sharingan, he had been completely outclassed instead.
Didn't that mean Lin Fan had never considered Sasuke an equal opponent from the very beginning?
Damn it, Lin Fan! You've gone too far!
Sasuke now realized that Lin Fan seemed to have been toying with him from the start.
His supposedly unbeatable chakra-coated punch hadn't even hit Lin Fan once.
Sasuke looked at the handsome figure before him, whose talent and strength seemed to far surpass his own.
The young face he had pursued until the age of seven, but now despised, suddenly appeared in his mind.
Sasuke gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with icy killing intent.
He immediately brought his hands together, preparing to form Hand Seals.
That's the opening move for a Fire Style technique?
Sasuke, don't! The person in front of you is your classmate, not your enemy!
Iruka sensed that something was wrong with Sasuke and shouted in alarm.
All the students in the class were behind Lin Fan, which meant they were all within the range of Sasuke's technique!
But Sasuke wasn't listening. His Hand Seals were already forming rapidly.
Everyone, get at least five meters away from Sasuke! He's going to use Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!
Iruka quickly shouted to the students nearby.
How could the students not know about the Uchiha Clan's signature C-rank Fire Style technique?
They hurriedly backed away in small groups, reaching the safety of a spot more than five meters away.
But Lin Fan was still within range of Sasuke's Fireball Jutsu.
Lin Fan, I'll get you out of here right now.
Iruka quickly rushed to Lin Fan's side. But when he looked at him, he suddenly froze.
Lin Fan appeared to be forming the same Hand Seals as Sasuke.
He was even faster than Sasuke.
Snake—Ram—Monkey—Boar—Horse—Tiger
Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!
A large fireball and a small one shot toward each other.
Iruka saw that the fireball Lin Fan spat out was nearly twice as big as Sasuke's.
The smaller fireball was quickly swallowed by the larger one, and then the whole training ground was filled with searing heat.