No-Rules Duel, an All-Out Battle

The exam period began quickly. The morning exam was still on academic subjects.

These questions posed no difficulty for Ryusuke.

After the morning exam ended, Ryusuke and the others hurried home for lunch. They did not even have time for a nap before returning to the Ninja Academy to continue their exams.

The fifth-year exams had the most subjects, while the sixth-year graduation assessment had only one.

The afternoon exams consisted of Shuriken Throwing, taijutsu duels, Survival Exercise, Kunai Melee Combat, and... No-Rules Duels.

Kunai Melee Combat was easy to understand. Students used a kunai to fight their opponents; victory went to whoever subdued or killed the other.

It was a basic skill taught from the third year onward.

Ninjas were tools of assassination. How could they do without knowing how to kill?

No-Rules Duels, meanwhile, were a subject exclusive to the fifth year.

They were equally easy to understand: any method could be used to defeat and kill one's opponent.

The exams soon began, with Shuriken Throwing as the first subject once again.

Unlike academic subjects, which required papers to be graded before scores could be assigned, the afternoon exams were scored on the spot.

As expected, Ryusuke received full marks.

When it came to the taijutsu duels, Ryusuke's opponent was not Sasuke Uchiha.

By the fourth year, this was no longer childish play.

Iruka could still freely decide the matchups during quizzes and surprise tests.

But for major exams, it was no longer Iruka's decision. Fairness had to be ensured.

On the training field, another chūnin stood beside Iruka. She was not Mizuki from the original story, but a female teacher skilled in Medical Ninjutsu.

From the third year onward, the rules of taijutsu duels were no longer that whoever fell down lost. The match continued until one side subdued the other or surrendered.

Injuries were unavoidable during this process.

Once the taijutsu duels began, Ryusuke and the others drew lots, their opponents matched according to their numbers.

Ryusuke's opponent was not one of the Nine Small Powerhouses in the class, but a girl.

She did not surrender, since surrendering meant receiving zero points.

Ryusuke did not defeat her instantly either. He gave her face by exchanging several moves with her before defeating her in a gentlemanly manner.

Interestingly enough, Sasuke Uchiha had drawn Naruto as his opponent.

For some reason, whenever opponents were assigned by drawing lots, Sasuke Uchiha often ended up facing Naruto.

Ryusuke could not help wondering whether the destiny of these two "brothers" had somehow affected the rules of the world.

There was no doubt that Sasuke Uchiha won his taijutsu duel against Naruto.

Naruto was currently dead last. He scored poorly in every subject and often handed in blank papers for academic classes.

If graduation assessments were based on total scores, Naruto would never graduate in his life.

When it came to Kunai Melee Combat, opponents were once again decided by drawing lots.

However, the atmosphere was completely different from the taijutsu duels. It was clear from the serious expressions on Iruka and the medical teacher's faces.

After Iruka blew the whistle, he only stepped back a few paces, his eyes fixed on the students fighting. The instant he noticed anything wrong, he would intervene.

Ryusuke's opponent was still not one of the Nine Small Powerhouses, but a male classmate who often greeted him in everyday life.

"...Thank you for your guidance!"

Just as he had with the girl, Ryusuke held a kunai and easily blocked several attacks. Then, he suddenly vanished with the Body Flicker Technique, reappearing behind his opponent with his kunai pressed against the back of the boy's neck, ending the fight.

"As expected of Ryusuke. I was no match for you at all."

The male student, who had nearly been defeated instantly, reached out and formed the Seal of Reconciliation with Ryusuke. There was not the slightest hint of disappointment on his face.

Aside from Sasuke Uchiha and Naruto, who would feel unwilling to accept defeat, the other students had grown accustomed to losing to Ryusuke over the past few years.

In their eyes, Ryusuke was an unbeatable Demon King.

Running into Ryusuke during Kunai Melee Combat might even be a good thing.

In the duels that followed, quite a few students had either their clothes or their skin cut open by kunai.

Whenever someone was in mortal danger, Iruka would immediately use the Body Flicker Technique to stop the fight and declare the student who might have been killed the loser.

If Kunai Melee Combat had not been taught since the third year, many people would surely have cried from the pain by now.

Ryusuke still remembered the first time they had held Kunai Melee Combat. Many students had been too afraid to make a move, standing in place and trembling as they gripped their kunai.

After Kunai Melee Combat ended, the next exam did not begin immediately. The injured students were treated first.

Many students had white bandages wrapped around their bodies or faces, while others had adhesive bandages stuck on them.

Of course, some had only light injuries, which healed on the spot.

Before long, the next round of exams began.

It was not the Survival Exercise, but... the No-Rules Duel.

Ryusuke and the others then lined up to collect their equipment.

The equipment consisted of Ninja Tool Pouches containing shuriken and kunai, as well as gloves fitted with iron plates.

After putting on their gloves and fastening their Ninja Tool Pouches, Ryusuke and the others drew lots again.

Once everyone had drawn their lots, Iruka and the female teacher arranged the numbers, revealing each person's opponent.

When Ryusuke saw his opponent, he froze slightly.

Sasuke Uchiha reacted the same way.

Then, Sasuke Uchiha's face broke into an intense look of delight.

That was right. Ryusuke's opponent was Sasuke Uchiha!

They had finally been matched together!

Ryusuke felt the same way as Sasuke Uchiha.

Over the past few years, Ryusuke could only fight Sasuke Uchiha during quizzes and surprise tests.

But ever since the major exams began in the third year, Ryusuke had never encountered Sasuke Uchiha again.

And although Ryusuke had won all their matches over the years, he had never obtained anything from Sasuke Uchiha.

Now, they had finally been matched again—and it was a No-Rules Duel.

This was the most prestigious kind of match!

Not only Ryusuke and Sasuke Uchiha, but all the students, Iruka, and the female teacher were full of anticipation.

They all wanted to know who was stronger when Ryusuke and Sasuke Uchiha went all out.

As group after group determined their winners, this highly anticipated duel finally arrived.

"You're definitely going to lose this time!"

In the open field, Sasuke Uchiha and Ryusuke stood facing each other.

Looking at Ryusuke across from him, Sasuke Uchiha—who had yet to win a single match against him—wore a confident expression. In an arrogant tone, he said, "I'll show you just how vast the gap between our strengths is."

"I'm looking forward to it. I hope you don't disappoint me."

Ryusuke smiled and raised his index and middle fingers.

Sasuke Uchiha likewise raised his index and middle fingers, his face full of excitement. "You definitely won't be disappointed!"

"No-Rules Duel, Group Seven: Ryusuke versus Sasuke Uchiha. The battle... begins!"

Seeing that the two had formed the Opposition Seal, Iruka did not waste a word and immediately blew the whistle.

Beep—