"Neji Hyuga. He should be the strongest of Konoha's current batch."
After meeting Neji's gaze for a while, Sasuke reached that conclusion.
Clearly, Neji's presence was vastly different from that of the other Konoha ninja.
To Sasuke, Neji was like water, as calm as a lake without a single ripple.
But the calmer someone like that was, the more likely he was to become a raging wave that destroyed everything once he moved.
Beside him, Karin replied.
"That's right. Neji Hyuga, the top graduate of Konoha's previous Ninja Academy class. He was the most outstanding and impressive of them all.
A member of the Hyuga Branch Family, he possesses the Hyuga Clan's bloodline ability, the Byakugan. He specializes in the Gentle Fist style of taijutsu, has astonishing physical strength, and is believed to have a talent for monster strength."
"The top graduate of the previous class?"
Sasuke considered it. If he had never left Konoha, he probably would have graduated at the top of his class too.
Still, being the top graduate alone meant little.
Had he stayed in Konoha, he might not have become stronger than he was now.
At the very least, his current strength was beyond question: the Three-Tomoe Sharingan, powerful Lightning Release Ninjutsu, and close-combat skills that combined Uchiha taijutsu with Orochimaru's.
In terms of raw ability, he might not have reached jonin level yet, but he was definitely beyond the chunin threshold.
He shifted his gaze from Neji to the two people beside him.
Rock Lee noticed Sasuke looking his way, extended his right hand, and gave him a thumbs-up.
"Oh, you've noticed me? This is youth!"
Before Rock Lee could finish, Sasuke's gaze had already moved past him to Tenten.
Finally, he deactivated his Sharingan and looked away, unimpressed.
"Aside from Neji, the other