One match after another came to an end.
The losers' wails and the winners' cheers intertwined into the Ninja Academy's only melody at that moment.
Finally, under everyone's anticipation and watchful eyes, Iruka took a deep breath and shouted the name of the final match with all his strength.
"The final showdown!"
"The battle for first place!"
"Naruto Uzumaki—versus—Second Pillar!"
Boom!
The entire training ground was instantly set ablaze with excitement.
Every gaze fixed in unison upon the two leads.
One was Naruto Uzumaki, the Fifth Hokage's direct disciple, who had leaped from the academy's dead last to the biggest dark horse of this year's tests.
The other was Second Pillar, the Uchiha Clan's genius, the younger son of the former Uchiha clan head, hailed as the strongest newcomer of this class.
"Sasuke! Go!"
"You have to beat that dead last!"
Below the stage, a group of girls led by Ino had already begun cheering Sasuke on.
Amid the cheers, Sasuke walked onto the arena with his hands in his pockets and a cold expression.
Grinning broadly, Naruto strode onto the arena and stopped opposite Sasuke.
"Sasuke!"
"I've been waiting for this day for a long time!"
Blazing battle intent burned in Naruto's eyes.
Sasuke looked at Naruto with disdain.
"Dead last."
"You've really got some nerve standing here."
"What, you beat a few pieces of trash and now think you're qualified to be mentioned in the same breath as me?"
Sasuke's mockery instantly enraged Naruto.
"You bastard..."
Naruto's fists clenched at once.
"Don't misunderstand, Naruto."
"I'm not standing here today to fight some dead last like you over first place."
"I'm here to tell everyone that the Uchiha will always be the strongest."
"And you're nothing but an insignificant stepping stone for me to prove it."
"I'll prove that