Uchiha Kagami: Rookies Pecking at Each Other

That afternoon, during physical training class.

What had happened that morning had left Sarutobi Hiruzen feeling utterly humiliated. Danzo also felt that he had lost face in front of Koharu. Both of them were holding back a surge of frustration, determined to win it back during the afternoon's physical training class.

"Uchiha Kagami, I won't lose to you in today's fitness training," Sarutobi Hiruzen said to Uchiha Kagami. This time, he was determined to take first place in the grade.

"That's right. Not only will I beat Hiruzen, I'll beat you too, Kagami." Shimura Danzo stepped forward as well. He often trained alongside the elders of his clan, and physical conditioning was his strength. Danzo did not believe that he would still lose to Uchiha Kagami in physical training.

Uchiha Kagami glanced at the two of them. "Suit yourselves."

"Now, all students, please stand at the starting line and wait for the teacher's command." As Konoha's physical training instructor, Yamabe Takuma possessed the strength of a Tokubetsu Jonin. However, because he liked children, he had come to teach at the academy.

"On your marks—go!"

At Yamabe Takuma's command, the children rushed out in a wave.

Sarutobi Hiruzen ran at the very front. This fitness test was three kilometers, nearly ten laps. Hiruzen had already set his strategy—do not exert himself too much at first, maintain an even pace, then sprint during the final lap.

Shimura Danzo followed close behind Sarutobi Hiruzen. He had done plenty of taijutsu training in his clan. Though he had never formally run three kilometers before, he was confident he could take first place this time.

Uchiha Kagami ran behind Shimura Danzo.

The other students swarmed along behind them, stretching the line out considerably. Three kilometers was too long for first-year children. They only knew to run desperately forward and had no idea how to control their pace.

Mitokado Homura ran alongside Utatane Koharu. Homura's stamina was average, and he knew he could not compete with Sarutobi Hiruzen or Shimura Danzo. He might as well jog slowly with Koharu. Let those two idiots, Hiruzen and Danzo, fight over first place.

During the first two laps, most of the class could still keep up. Sarutobi Hiruzen, Shimura Danzo, and Uchiha Kagami remained in the top three, with less than five meters between them. None of them managed to pull ahead.

By the fourth and fifth laps, students gradually began falling behind and stopping to rest.

Among the new generation of Boar-Deer-Butterfly, Nara Shikaso had the worst stamina. He gave up during the fourth lap.

Utatane Koharu could no longer run by the fifth lap. Her pace slowed more and more until she finally stopped. Mitokado Homura could have held on a little longer, but when he saw Koharu stop, he stopped running too.

By the sixth lap, only six people remained on the track: Sarutobi Hiruzen, Shimura Danzo, Uchiha Kagami, Yamanaka Gaishin, Akimichi Teigen, and Aburame Shibi.

By the seventh lap, Yamanaka Gaishin, Akimichi Teigen, and Aburame Shibi could no longer endure either. Their steps grew heavier and heavier until they finally stopped.

During the eighth lap, Shimura Danzo began to exert himself. His speed gradually increased, and he overtook Sarutobi Hiruzen to take first place.

"Go! Go! Go! ..."

The classmates who had stopped stood beside the track, cheering the three of them on.

"Hiruzen, you're the best! Go!" Utatane Koharu shouted toward the track.

During the ninth lap, Uchiha Kagami accelerated. He became faster and faster, easily passing Sarutobi Hiruzen and steadily closing in on Shimura Danzo.

"Damn it..." Sarutobi Hiruzen was already exhausted. Watching Uchiha Kagami run past him, he wanted to accelerate, but his legs felt as if they were filled with lead. His body simply would not obey him.

Shimura Danzo was gritting his teeth as well. He too was completely spent. His calves were sore and swollen, and his speed began to slow.

One step, two steps. One step, two steps. Uchiha Kagami drew closer to Shimura Danzo, step by step.

Finally, Uchiha Kagami overtook Shimura Danzo in one stroke and took first place.

"Go! Go!" The students continued cheering for the three of them.

The tenth lap—the final lap.

"Hiruzen, go!" Utatane Koharu shouted. "You can definitely catch up!"

Koharu then turned toward Danzo and shouted, "Danzo, hurry up too! Kagami is already in first place!"

Hearing Koharu cheer for him, a fresh burst of strength surged through Shimura Danzo's body, which had already reached its limit. His speed picked up once more.

"Ah—"

"I'm taking first place!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen was already at the end of his rope, but when he heard Shimura Danzo's roar, he still gritted his teeth and held on. He had lost to Uchiha Kagami in their contest that morning. He absolutely could not lose that afternoon.

Besides, Shimura Danzo was still running ahead of him—as Shimura Danzo's lifelong rival, he would not allow himself to lose to Danzo.

Standing beside the finish line, Yamabe Takuma was a little surprised. Physical training class was originally meant to test the children's stamina and see how far each of them could run. He had not expected three students to persist until the tenth lap—and Uchiha Kagami did not even seem to have gone all out.

"Ah—I can't lose!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen roared and accelerated again. This was a battle with his dignity on the line—Sarutobi Hiruzen was the strongest among those his age.

Only half a lap remained until the finish line. Uchiha Kagami was already far ahead, running in first place.

Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzo ran side by side, neither able to shake the other off.

"Hiruzen, you're tired, aren't you?" Danzo turned his head, panting heavily. "Just give up. If you give up, you won't be tired anymore."

"Danzo, you're the one who should give up. Look at you... you're panting so hard... Just stop."

"Hiruzen, there's no use putting on a brave front. You... you can barely speak clearly anymore."

"Danzo, same goes for you. Your legs are shaking. Don't force yourself."

Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzo, both already utterly exhausted, began a psychological battle, trying to make the other give up.

At that moment, Uchiha Kagami had already reached the finish line.

Watching the two swaying figures on the track, Yamabe Takuma genuinely came to like those two students.

Good kids. They had grit. Keep training—whatever they trained up would be their own.

"Go! Go!" The cheers of the surrounding students grew louder and louder.

"Hiruzen..."

"Danzo..."

Thud—

The two of them finally collapsed from exhaustion, dropping straight to the ground after crossing the finish line.

Yamabe Takuma immediately helped them up and checked their condition. They were only a little drained; there was nothing seriously wrong.

"Uchiha Kagami is first place in this physical training test," Yamabe Takuma announced. "Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzo reached the finish line at the same time, so they are tied for second."

"Everyone should learn from these three students. Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzo especially—their perseverance and determination to strive forward are worthy of everyone's emulation."

"Hiruzen, are you okay?" Utatane Koharu hurriedly offered him a handkerchief.

"I'm fine."

"Koharu, I'm fine too," Danzo quickly said.