Uchiha Tokino

Sosuke woke at dawn and looked at the katana beside him.

He pondered it for a long while, but couldn't figure anything out.

He could only conclude that its appearance had to be connected to either the Hogyoku or Kyoka Suigetsu!

Since he couldn't figure it out, he decided to stop thinking about it.

Sosuke decided that if he saw Kyoka Suigetsu again, he'd make sure to ask her for an explanation!

After washing up and eating a simple breakfast,

Sosuke set off for the Ninja Academy.

On the way,

Tsunade happened to run into Sosuke. Her brown eyes suddenly lit up with delight, and she called out happily,

"Good morning, Sosuke!"

"Good morning, Tsunade."

Sosuke replied with a smile.

The two walked side by side.

Tsunade glanced curiously at the katana tucked behind Sosuke's waist and asked,

"Sosuke, when did you start training in swordsmanship?"

Seeing the puzzled look in Tsunade's eyes, Sosuke naturally came up with an excuse to bluff his way through.

After hearing Sosuke's explanation, Tsunade didn't suspect anything. She simply said excitedly,

"Today's the Taijutsu test! Sosuke, did you bring your sword for the exam? You have to show off your swordsmanship for me!"

Tsunade's words suddenly made Sosuke realize something!

It seemed that today was the Ninja Academy's Taijutsu test!

Had the Hogyoku and Kyoka Suigetsu really gotten him so distracted these past two days that he'd forgotten something this important?

And so, the two arrived at the Ninja Academy together.

At that moment, a group of boys and girls had already gathered and prepared in the academy courtyard.

Seeing Sosuke and Tsunade,

Jiraiya and Orochimaru came over to them as well.

The excitable Jiraiya spotted the katana at Sosuke's waist and shouted first,

"Sosuke!? When'd you get that Ninja Blade? It's so cool! Can I try it?"

Sosuke replied with a smile,

"Of course... not."

At Sosuke's answer, Jiraiya's face darkened!

"Sosuke! You jerk... Forget it. Ninja Blades have nothing to do with the great Jiraiya anyway. I'll come up with the perfect jutsu for myself sooner or later. Just you wait! Hahaha!"

"Idiot."

Orochimaru's quiet remark darkened Jiraiya's face all over again.

"Orochimaru, you jerk! I challenge you to a duel! Come on! Let's fight to the death!"

Tsunade held Jiraiya back as he glared furiously at Orochimaru.

But Orochimaru completely ignored him. He simply looked at Sosuke and Tsunade and said,

"Let's go. The teacher just told us to gather at the training ground. That's where today's Taijutsu test will begin."

With that, he walked off toward the Konoha Training Ground.

Sosuke and Tsunade exchanged a glance, then followed him.

Jiraiya remained behind, looking thoroughly indignant!

How dare he ignore the great Jiraiya! Orochimaru, you jerk!

The great Jiraiya would show you what he could do one day! Ahahahaha!

"What's that guy laughing about?"

"Leave him alone. With all that white hair, he might be an idiot. Keep your distance—you don't want to catch it."

At the Konoha Training Ground,

Suzuki, the Ninja Academy's Taijutsu instructor, had already been waiting there for some time.

At last, when all the students in this year's class had arrived, Instructor Suzuki announced,

The Taijutsu test was officially underway!

After they'd drawn lots,

Sosuke found out who his opponent was: Uchiha Tokino!

The Uchiha Clan, huh?

The legendary clan with the Kekkei Genkai and terrifying eye techniques. They were said to be as ancient as the Senju Clan, Tsunade's family.

A helpless smile appeared on Sosuke's face.

Was drawing such a formidable opponent lucky or unlucky?

Just then!

Sosuke suddenly felt someone's gaze on him!

He turned to look and saw a handsome, dark-haired boy staring at him coldly, his eyes full of contempt.

Sosuke merely adjusted his glasses with one hand, a cold glint appearing in his eyes.

Another troublesome guy... If he's hostile toward me... then... I'll take him on.

Even if he is from the Uchiha Clan!

"Sosuke! Who are you fighting?"

Tsunade came over cheerfully, fixed her gaze on Sosuke's face, and asked.

From the corner of his eye, Sosuke noticed that Uchiha Tokino's disdainful expression had grown even more pronounced when he saw Tsunade approach.

Sosuke could only give a helpless look.

He pointed toward Uchiha Tokino and said to Tsunade,

"Well, that guy. His name's Uchiha Tokino. He seems to have something against me."

"What! He's from the Uchiha Clan!? They're all a bunch of freaks! Why would the teacher pair you up with him?"

"And I think I've heard the name Uchiha Tokino before. I heard he's a famous genius even among the Uchiha Clan's current generation! Let's talk to the teacher. This isn't fair!"

Hearing Sosuke's words, Tsunade looked surprised, then protested indignantly.

The feud between the Senju Clan and the Uchiha Clan had existed since ancient times.

Thinking about what Sosuke had said, Tsunade worried that the hostility might have something to do with her. Tokino might even go too far and hurt Sosuke during the fight!

Sosuke stopped Tsunade. He didn't move, but looked into her eyes and said softly,

"Don't you believe in me, Tsunade?"

"I know you're strong, Sosuke, but you have to understand that those Uchiha are terrifying."

"And they might not hold back in a test like this. No one could blame him afterward. I'm worried you'll get hurt, Sosuke!"

Tsunade said anxiously.

"So you still don't believe in me, then. Don't worry. No matter what happens, I won't be defeated!"

Sosuke replied with his usual smile.

Before long,

the Taijutsu duels officially began, one after another!

This was also the final exam for the students graduating from the Ninja Academy that year!

Their Taijutsu test scores would also be recorded as important information.

Tsunade and the others were each matched with ordinary opponents, and they ended their fights with ease.

Sosuke stood in the arena, looking at Uchiha Tokino across from him.

He wore a smile the whole time. His thick glasses were like a protective shell, as if they concealed what he was really thinking.

"So you're called Sosuke, huh?"

The Uchiha Tokino across from him, who had been standing with his arms crossed, finally spoke. He looked at Sosuke with a contemptuous smile.

"What a fool, not knowing his place. You've even gotten mixed up with someone from the Senju Clan. Of course, someone like you is a commoner—no, perhaps that's not quite right. An orphan who was lucky enough to be picked up by the village can only hang around with the Senju Clan."

Uchiha Tokino spoke as if to himself, seemingly oblivious to Sosuke's presence.

"Someone like you will never understand just how insignificant and lowly you are in the eyes of the Uchiha Clan."

"Come on, let me see how much stronger you've gotten from sucking up to the Senju Clan."

He spoke softly, his face full of mockery and scorn.

Sosuke didn't move at his words.

"What!? Scared? If you won't come to me, then I'll come to you!"

"While I'm at it, I'll show you how pathetic the strength you worked so hard to gain from the Senju is in the face of these Uchiha eyes!"

With that, he suddenly sprang forward and charged at Sosuke.

Sosuke had been standing still. His smile was gone now.

Beneath his thick glasses, a cold glint flashed deep in his eyes.

"So this is the arrogance of a so-called noble clan... How dull... I'll shatter it today!"

No one had stood in the heavens from the very beginning.

Neither you nor I, not even God.

But the empty throne in the heavens is about to end.

From now on, I will stand at the top.

—Sosuke Aizen