At the training ground, Iruka's class of ninja students were all rubbing their hands together, eager to give it a try.
After all, chances like this were hard to come by at the Ninja Academy.
But Uchiha Yu and the others had enrolled in Konoha Year 54. Against the ninja students from the class of '53, they had no advantage whatsoever.
This was the time when they grew the fastest. Even a month's difference was significant, let alone the fact that the class of '53 had a full year more training than they did.
The ninja students from the class of '53 came over one by one.
They looked at Uchiha Yu and the others, curiosity written all over their faces.
"So these are our underclassmen? They don't look all that strong!"
"Heh, just watch us bully them!"
"They're no match for us!"
Iruka smiled faintly. This training session had been something he'd come up with on a whim.
They were due to cover shuriken techniques anyway, and it would be good for the students to practice with ninja students a year ahead of them.
"Second brother, just watch me put on a show in a minute! I'll make the Uchiha Clan proud!" Uchiha Sasuke declared, thumping his chest.
Naruto, however, looked glum.
"Shuriken... What am I supposed to do if I'm no good with them?"
Practicing with ninja tools was an expensive undertaking.
Although Naruto was the son of the Fourth Hokage, his father had died young, and Sarutobi Hiruzen had never treated him well. Even the milk he drank was often expired.
Where was he supposed to get money to buy shuriken for practice?
Iruka brought over a wooden training dummy and set it in front of everyone.
After explaining the basic movements, he threw a shuriken.
From twenty meters away, it hit the bullseye!
Iruka had mastered the fundamentals of shuriken throwing exceptionally well.
"Nice! Let me try too!"
Uzumaki Naruto took a deep breath and accepted a shuriken.
He copied Iruka's movements and threw it with all his might!
Smack!
It missed the target and stuck in a tree beside it.
"Good strength, but your aim needs work. You'll have to practice more," Iruka said gently.
"Let me try!"
Sasuke stepped back thirty meters and flicked a row of shuriken from his hand.
More than ten shuriken shot past everyone in a blur.
Every one of them struck the bullseye!
The red center was instantly covered in shuriken, with no room to fit even a needle!
"Tch, he's only a little better than me!"
Uzumaki Naruto folded his arms, turned his head away, and snorted.
"Hmph, seen the difference between us now, dead last?"
Sasuke made a mocking face at Uzumaki Naruto.
Just then, a girl in a pink qipao-style dress and a short jacket, her hair tied up in a bun, brought over another wooden training dummy and set it behind the first.
"Let me show you what we can do."
Tenten gave a cold laugh, took her place where Sasuke had stood, and threw two shuriken with a reverse flick.
The two shuriken flew through the air. As they passed the first target, one of them struck the other.
With a crisp chink, the second shuriken shot straight into the bullseye of the second target!
It had ignored the first target and hit the one behind it dead center!
"So it's the ninja tool genius, Tenten!" Iruka's eyes lit up.
She was a famous prodigy. Even many Genin who had already graduated couldn't match her skill with all kinds of ninja tools!
"Can any of you beat me?"
Tenten folded her arms and smiled.
When it came to ninja tools, she wasn't afraid of anyone.
"S-so strong! I still haven't learned that technique..."
Sasuke's eyes widened.
Uchiha Itachi had demonstrated it for him before, but after practicing for half a month, Sasuke still hadn't mastered it.
The technique was simply too difficult!
Uchiha Yu stood beside Tenten and took a deep breath.
"The Uchiha Clan's pride includes shuriken, too."
Uchiha Yu smiled faintly and casually picked up ten shuriken.
"Pinning shuriken into the bullseye isn't impressive, no matter how many you throw! The real test is hitting the target behind the first one!" Tenten said confidently.
Even Tenten herself had spent over a month practicing this technique.
She'd practiced nothing else every day, until her shoulders had ached for two months.
Could a little kid like Uchiha Yu really surpass her?
"Just watch!"
Uchiha Yu grinned and flicked ten shuriken from his hand.
The shuriken struck one another in midair in a steady, rhythmic pattern.
Then each one curved at an impossible angle, arcing around the first target.
Thud, thud, thud!
All ten shuriken hit the bullseye of the second target!
Everyone was dumbfounded.
The potato chips in Choji's hand fell to the ground. They didn't taste good anymore.
Was he even human?
Iruka stared blankly for a moment.
Were Uchiha genes really that powerful?
He was a Chunin, and even he couldn't pull that off!
Tenten stood frozen in place.
This technique was far beyond her level!
They weren't even in the same league!
Sasuke stared at Uchiha Yu in disbelief.
"Second brother, did our big brother teach you that?"
Uchiha Yu clasped his hands behind his back, looking as if he pitied the world.
"Ah, our big brother Uchiha Itachi can hit the target with a hundred shuriken all at once. I can only manage ten! I've brought shame to the Uchiha Clan. How embarrassing, how embarrassing!"
Sasuke fell silent.
I don't believe a word you say!
Everyone stared in astonishment. The young ninja students were all dumbfounded by the legendary sight before them.
Iruka was silent for a long while before finally speaking. "Uchiha Yu did an excellent job. Everyone should learn from him and practice together!"
If his status hadn't gotten in the way, Iruka would have wanted to ask him to be his teacher right then and there.
Once Tenten had recovered, she rushed right up to Uchiha Yu.
"Uchiha Yu! Please, you have to teach me that technique!"
She could barely contain her excitement.
Uchiha Yu looked conflicted.
He was afraid Tenten would rush up, hug his leg with tears in her eyes, and bawl, "Coach! I want to learn shuriken!"
"Um... I'm not that familiar with the technique myself. I'll teach you in a couple of days."
Uchiha Yu fell silent for a moment. "But if you pay me a little tuition, I can teach you right away."
Tenten's eyes lit up.
A ninja student who could afford to practice with lots of ninja tools was obviously loaded!
Someone like Naruto didn't even have ten shuriken at home. How could he practice?
"Tuition is no problem!" Tenten took out her wallet, then hesitated. "I just bought some new ninja tools a few days ago, so I only have five thousand ryo left..."
"That's plenty!" Uchiha Yu's eyes lit up. Five thousand ryo was still money!
He sat down on the ground and began explaining the shuriken techniques to Tenten.
Having gained Shuriken Mastery, Uchiha Yu found the techniques easy to teach.
Tenten listened attentively and even realized that many of her assumptions had been wrong!
How embarrassing!
Tenten clung to Uchiha Yu until nightfall, following him all the way to the Uchiha Clan compound.
Uchiha Yu looked troubled. His lips were about to wear through from talking all day, and his mouth was dry as a bone.
"I'm home. We'll pick up where we left off tomorrow." Uchiha Yu let out a long sigh.
That five thousand ryo hadn't been easy to earn.
Tenten finally headed home, reluctant to leave, looking back every few steps.
It wasn't easy to find such a shuriken master.
Uchiha Fugaku happened to see them parting and thoughtfully stroked his chin.
"My child has grown up!" Uchiha Fugaku said, full of satisfaction. "Where's that girl from? She looks like a ninja student too. I just wonder what she's like..."
Uchiha Fugaku walked up to Uchiha Yu with a warm, doting father's smile.
"I saw everything just now. I think it's time we talked about matters of the heart..."
Uchiha Yu looked up at Uchiha Fugaku and replied without thinking:
"Dad, if there's anything you don't understand, just ask."
Uchiha Fugaku: "???"
What a brat!
Before you continue