Cursed Energy

Yamashita Hiroshi stepped between the two, raised his hand above his head, then swung it downward.

"Begin."

Yamashita Hiroshi then retreated from the field.

Gekko Hayate did not act rashly. He was waiting for Uchiha Toru to make the first move.

Yet Uchiha Toru seemed remarkably patient, maintaining his original stance without moving an inch.

After waiting several seconds, Gekko Hayate chose to attack, striding toward Toru.

Within Toru's field of vision, every movement Gekko Hayate made was crystal clear. Based on those details, Toru instantly mapped out Gekko Hayate's attack route in his mind.

Gekko Hayate rushed up to Toru and threw a straight punch, but Toru knocked it aside with one hand.

Just as I expected, strength isn't his strong suit.

Toru's gaze remained calm. He had long since inferred from various signs that Gekko Hayate was not particularly strong.

After all, he was still young, and he was frail and sickly. Even using his limited chakra, he only possessed the strength of an average adult.

Though that was greater than Toru's current strength, it was still within the range where skill could turn the tide.

Toru deflected the punch with deft force, and a fist rapidly enlarged before Gekko Hayate's eyes.

Toru had fired the fist held at his chest in a snapping punch, perfectly catching the opening in Gekko Hayate's attack.

It was already too late for Gekko Hayate to block. Fortunately, his reactions were quick, and he immediately leaned backward.

He threw himself back so quickly that he had no choice but to brace himself on the ground with both hands, then flipped backward five times in a row, putting distance between himself and Toru.

This body is still too weak. If only I had cursed energy...

At that moment, Toru recalled that his strength in his previous life had seemed to come from that energy born from negative emotions.

"Negative emotions..."

Toru recalled the desolate grief he had felt a few days ago when his father died, the feeling of being utterly alone in the world.

Whoosh!

A dark blue energy covered Toru's entire body.

"Is this cursed energy? This familiar feeling... it should be right."

The Six Eyes were eyes capable of seeing cursed energy in minute detail.

In Toru's vision, the composition of that dark blue energy was laid bare, and he naturally grasped how to use it.

Cursed energy strengthened his entire body, and Toru's presence abruptly surged.

Gekko Hayate sensed that things were going badly, then immediately used the strongest ninjutsu he had mastered: the Clone Technique.

Though the Clone Technique was merely one of the most basic Three Body Techniques, it was already quite formidable for a first-year Ninja Academy student.

The Ninja Academy graduation exam in the original work had tested the Three Body Techniques as well.

"Hmm? So this is the Clone Technique?"

Toru tried using the Six Eyes to see through the Clone Technique directly, but it was not quite the right fit, and he could not directly see through chakra.

Still, through the Six Eyes' observational power, Toru instantly identified the real body from a few minor details.

Gekko Hayate and his clone attacked together, but Toru ignored the clone and went straight for the original.

As one of the most basic ninjutsu, the Clone Technique was naturally recorded in the ninjutsu theory textbook.

Therefore, Toru clearly knew its weakness: clones had no offensive power.

As for more advanced physical clones, Toru did not believe the child before him could use them.

Bang!

A powerful sweeping kick sent Gekko Hayate flying from the tremendous force.

Gekko Hayate wore a bewildered expression in midair.

"What's going on? His strength was clearly below mine just now!"

Gekko Hayate hit the ground and rolled several times. Before he could recover, Toru had already rushed up and chopped down with his palm.

Frightened, Gekko Hayate hurriedly shut his eyes. A fierce gust swept across his neck, but the expected blow never came.

Gekko Hayate opened his eyes to see Toru extending a hand before him, so he took Toru's hand and stood up.

"Th... thank you."

Toru merely smiled faintly and nodded.

"Uchiha Toru wins. Form the Seal of Reconciliation," Yamashita Hiroshi announced.

Gekko Hayate took the initiative to extend his index and middle fingers. Toru roughly understood how to form the Seal of Reconciliation, so he extended two fingers as well and hooked them with Gekko Hayate's.

Looks like ninjas have a strong sense of ceremony.

Toru thought to himself.

Gekko Hayate left the field, occasionally glancing back at Toru. Such a normal personality... he doesn't seem like an Uchiha...

He held his right fist to his lips and coughed softly twice, then silently watched Toru from the sidelines.

"Wow! The transfer student is so amazing!"

The most excited person over Toru's victory was actually Mitarashi Anko.

The second loudest was Obito. "Hahahaha! Just as expected of one of us Uchiha! He's only slightly less of a genius than me!"

Kurenai's little mouth fell open, and she could not help raising a hand to hide her astonished expression.

Anko started joking again. "Your new deskmate is really amazing. No one will dare bully you from now on."

"You said you were going to take care of him. So now, who's taking care of whom?"

Kurenai's face reddened at that. She pinched the soft flesh of Anko's arm, making her stifle her laughter and shut her mouth.

Asuma crossed his arms, speaking in a displeased tone. "He only beat Gekko Hayate. I could do that too."

Anko poked her head out from behind Kurenai's arm and mocked him. "Hahaha, I think you're just jealous!"

"You!!" Asuma glared at Anko.

Anko was so frightened that she hid behind Kurenai, though she did not forget to leave behind, "Bleh, bleh, bleh. The Hokage's son—too scary, too scary."

Kurenai stood between them and tried to mediate with a helpless smile. "All right, all right, stop arguing."

Kurenai looked at the thoroughly angered Asuma and felt helpless inside as well.

Asuma's personality was indeed a little too impulsive, and he was somewhat rebellious.

Kurenai had not thought much of it before, since the other students were more or less the same.

Even a genius like Kakashi had a childish and immature side, just like the other boys, in Kurenai's eyes.

But Toru was different. Though he was even a little younger than her, he was exceptionally mature and did not seem like a child at all.

With that comparison, Kurenai became more aware of Asuma's character flaws and even developed a faint sense of dislike toward him.

"Now you may choose your opponent for the next match," Yamashita Hiroshi said to Uchiha Toru.

Toru swept his Six Eyes across the surroundings. Everyone he looked over felt an inexplicable pressure.

Toru was observing the presences of everyone there, preparing to determine who among the students was the strongest.

As a transfer student, Toru had originally known nothing about the situation in this class.

But after observing for a while, he had gained a general understanding, at least when it came to their strength.

Toru then raised a hand and pointed out his opponent.

If he was going to fight, he would fight the strongest.

The strongest in this class was naturally Kakashi.

The son of Konoha's White Fang—his reputation was not much less impressive than that of the Hokage's son.

Moreover, Kakashi's name as a genius was far more renowned than Asuma's.

But Toru had not judged him by reputation. He had reached that conclusion by observing Kakashi's physical qualities and steady presence.

So he wants to challenge Kakashi too? Looks like I have another rival. A large-nosed, thick-browed boy with a gleaming bowl cut silently lamented to himself.

"Hey, Kakashi, you can't lose to that transfer student... even if he is an Uchiha... whatever! Because I'm the only one who can defeat you!" Obito, the boy named Uchiha Obito, declared carelessly.

Rin encouraged him instead. "I believe Kakashi will win."

Upon hearing Rin say that, Obito immediately changed his attitude. "Hmph, lose if you want. It'll be perfect if you embarrass yourself in front of Rin."

"Heh, I won't lose," Kakashi said.