Team Battle, Itachi's Secret Shock!

The teams were quickly finalized.

Team 1: Uchiha Sasuke, Uzumaki Naruto, Hyuga Hinata.

Team 2: Inuzuka Kiba, Aburame Shino, Haruno Sakura.

Team 3: Nara Shikamaru, Akimichi Choji, Yamanaka Ino.

Team 4: Kamiyama Tamada, Furuya Chuichi, Gomoto Ueto.

Team 5: Morishita Moriki, Watasawa, Yasuda Shimura.

Team 6: Akabeni...

A total of 24 students were divided into 8 teams.

"Draw lots to determine your opponents."

"The first-place team will receive a reward provided by the school, which was granted by the Hokage..."

After explaining the rules, the drawing began.

"Number 4."

"It seems we are the last team to act."

"We can get a good rest first, then observe their fighting styles."

Sasuke said, handing the number to Iruka.

Afterward, he sat down in the spectator stands.

Looking at the indifferent Sasuke, a look of confusion appeared on Iruka's face.

One had to know that while being the last team did have the advantage of observing the opponents' fighting styles, it also meant their rest time would be the shortest.

Even if they secured a victory, they would immediately face even stronger opponents.

Yet, Uchiha Sasuke was acting far too calm.

As for Hinata and Naruto:

One was a single-celled organism whose face and heart were likely filled with nothing but anticipation for the fight.

The other was looking down, fiddling with her fingers, lost in thought.

A team battle was not an individual one.

Was this the arrogance of the Uchiha?

Soon, Iruka pulled his thoughts back.

"First match."

"Nara Shikamaru, Akimichi Choji, Yamanaka Ino."

[vs]

"Kamiyama Tamada, Furuya Chuichi, Gomoto Ueto."

As Iruka's voice fell, the two small teams arrived on the battlefield.

"Don't reveal too much; the concentrated medicinal herbs offered as a reward this time are very precious."

"What a drag, I really don't want to go up against that Uchiha guy."

Nara Shikamaru yawned, speaking with some distress.

"I'm distressed too."

"Is this the fate of a beautiful girl?"

"In the end, I have to stand on the opposite side of the one I love..."

Yamanaka Ino was already lost in her own lovestruck fantasies.

"Nom nom..."

Akimichi Choji was still eating.

"Swish, swish, swish..."

Gomoto Ueto immediately threw a series of practice kunai.

Following that, Kamiyama Tamada and Furuya Chuichi charged out, selecting Ino and Choji as their respective opponents.

Gomoto Ueto stared at Shikamaru with a wary expression.

The families of those three were quite famous in the village.

The Nara clan was always responsible for coordinating the battle; as long as he kept a close eye on this guy, the opponent's tactics could not be completed in a short time.

He had trained diligently every day for the sole purpose of defeating these clan ninjas today.

"Ah..."

Nara Shikamaru let out a bored yawn.

He sat directly down on the ground.

Since Gomoto Ueto wasn't making a move, he was more than happy to enjoy the leisure.

At this moment, Akimichi Choji had undergone a complete change.

He had put away the potato chips in his hand and was looking at his opponent, Kamiyama Tamada, with a serious expression.

His opponent was also on the heavier side.

One look was enough to tell he was a power-type fighter.

"Bang!"

The two of them collided instantly like sumo wrestlers.

The sheer force of their impact kicked up a cloud of dust.

However, Kamiyama Tamada soon realized that he couldn't budge Choji at all.

Weight?

No!

It was strength!

Faced with absolute power, Choji sent Kamiyama Tamada flying with a single heave.

He immediately surged forward, pinning him down with a crushing weight.

It had to be said, this simple and brutal style of combat was truly effective for this age group.

In just three minutes, Kamiyama Tamada was defeated by Choji.

As for Ino.

Although her Mind Transfer Jutsu wasn't yet very powerful, it was more than enough to control a young child.

Her opponent, Furuya Chuichi, launched a surprise attack directly on Gomoto Ueto.

Shikamaru made his move at that exact moment as well.

Caught in a pincer attack, Gomoto Ueto was quickly defeated.

"The first match, Nara Shikamaru, Akimichi Choji, and Yamanaka Ino are the winners!"

"The second match..."

The preceding battles held no great suspense.

Inuzuka Kiba, Aburame Shino, and Haruno Sakura advanced.

Another group was the one led by Yasuda Shimura.

Now, it was finally Sasuke's turn.

"I'll handle this myself."

"Hinata, Naruto's eyesight isn't as good as yours; you need to observe my upcoming battle carefully."

"In your future training, try to focus on this kind of perspective."

Sasuke stood up and spoke with a calm expression.

"Huh?!"

"Why is that? I want to fight too."

Naruto complained with a pained expression.

"Mm."

Hinata simply nodded, offering no rebuttal.

"Naruto, do you want to take first place?"

"Isn't your dream to become Hokage? Wouldn't it be cooler to start by taking first place here?"

Sasuke said with a smile.

"I guess... that's true..."

"But... fine, I'll listen to you."

Although Naruto still wanted to fight, what Sasuke said was clearly more appealing.

"Just you alone?"

"Aren't you underestimating us a bit too much?"

"Hmph! Even if you are an Uchiha, we have enough confidence to defeat you!"

Seeing Sasuke walk out all by himself, his opponents felt deeply insulted.

"So cool, Uchiha Sasuke!" [Infatuated girls]

"What a show-off, always trying to look cool!" [The boys in unison, including Naruto]

"Thunder God Mode!"

Sasuke activated Thunder God Mode immediately.

Faint sparks of electricity began to dance around his body.

"Lightning Release!?"

"Is he planning to fight with ninjutsu right from the start?"

"Why is he revealing his trump card so early? What is he trying to do?"

As a teacher, Iruka might not have been exceptionally powerful, but he certainly had a sharp eye.

He noticed Sasuke unleashing Lightning Release the very first instant.

But... he hadn't seen him weave any hand signs...

Could it be... a hand-signless ninjutsu?!

[9/10]

Just then, a panel popped up in front of Sasuke.

"Hm?"

"Itachi is watching too?"

Sasuke was startled.

He hadn't done anything particularly special just now, so what was Itachi so shocked about?

It wasn't as if he hadn't seen this Thunder God Mode before...

Sasuke grumbled inwardly, though he was pleased with the result.

At the same time, it gave him a new idea.

Since Itachi was watching, he would have to put on a good show.

With that thought, Sasuke vanished from his spot in an instant.

"Body Flicker Technique!?"

"No, there's no chakra fluctuation. Is it taijutsu?"

"That's not right either; didn't he just use Lightning Release?"

This maneuver left Iruka completely bewildered.

"Bang, bang, bang..."

Within a single breath, all three opponents collapsed to the ground.

They had lost the ability to fight.

Iruka appeared beside the three in a panic, and after confirming they were merely unconscious, he let out a sigh of relief.

After all, there had been cases where training matches went wrong and resulted in casualties...