After a brief silence.
A low murmur of discussion broke out among the crowd.
This was followed by enthusiastic applause.
Naruto stood on the arena stage, his face beaming with a brilliant smile.
He had won.
"Naruto!"
Hinata was the first to run over, handing him a clean towel and a water flask.
Her eyes sparkled, and her fair cheeks were flushed an adorable red with excitement.
"Y-you did it!"
"Of course I did!"
Naruto took the flask and gulped down several mouthfuls of water before carelessly wiping his face with the towel.
With his hands on his hips, he flashed Hinata a smug grin.
"I'm the man who'll surpass every Hokage before me!"
Just then.
A cold voice came from beside them.
"Don't celebrate too soon. A dead last will always be a dead last."
Sasuke had appeared there at some point.
His arms were folded across his chest.
"You only beat a fat guy."
"What's so impressive about that?"
"What did you say?!"
Naruto instantly bristled and pointed at Sasuke's nose as he shouted.
"If you've got the guts, come up here and fight me, Sasuke!"
Sasuke snorted, too lazy to pay any attention to Naruto's provocation.
"The top student of this class will definitely be me, Second Pillar."
Leaving those words behind, he turned and disappeared into the crowd.
"Damn it!"
Naruto was so furious that he stomped his feet.
"Next match: Hinata Hyuga versus Sakura Haruno!"
Iruka's voice rang out from the raised platform.
Naruto abruptly turned to look at Hinata.
The girl's body visibly stiffened, and her previously rosy cheeks turned somewhat pale.
"Hinata!"
Naruto slung the towel around his neck and firmly patted Hinata on the shoulder.
"You're up! Good luck!"
"Show them how strong the students our teacher trained really are!"
"I... I..."