" Sasuke-kun! Defeat that guy in one fell swoop!"
" Sasuke-kun! Do your best!"
Wow! (voice cracks) So handsome!
When Uchiha Sasuke appeared, the girls in the class erupted in cheers, while Hinata had been quietly waiting in the corner, scoffed.
'Tch, what's so great about this immature brat? The so-called ninja benchmark is, of course,...'
Byakugan blankly for a long time through the mask, then lowered his head after a moment, his cheeks flushed.
Ino and Sakura were the main supporters, while Naruto had not yet appeared, was quite interested and even thought he was the legendary villain.
"Well, that's fine too. Even if I'm a villain, I should be a cute and charming villain. It would be even better if I brought along a talking fox."
Lost in his thoughts, Naruto stepped into the center of the training ground, looking at the prestigious Uchiha before him with a half-smile, feeling a strange unease in his heart.
'What exactly is this feeling of familiarity mixed with strangeness? For some reason, I have an irresistible urge to find out. Interesting.'
As his thoughts were churning, a strange cheering voice rang out, slightly surprising Naruto.
" Naruto, do your best, defeat that brat!"
Looking back, a female classmate with long, bright red hair and a cute, round face was ignoring the stares of the other girls in the class and was giving herself a good cheer.
"It's nothing, but thank you anyway..."
Thank you for remembering my name instead of mistaking me for 'that'. So, how do we play?
Amidst the crowd, Shikamaru frowned slightly, glanced at his teacher briefly, and then murmured to his companion beside him.
" Sasuke is first in the entire grade, and Naruto is tied for first. Their strength is roughly the same, but Naruto has a record of capturing enemy spies in the back Yamanaka. Perhaps the winner will be Naruto."
"Tch, one or two of them, all with the same temper. They'd better suffer together, so everyone will know that I, Inuzuka Kiba, am the strongest!"
With Akamaru on his head and a confident air, Inuzuka Kiba spoke loudly, immediately drawing hostile glares from the girls in the class.
"This is such a hassle. Be careful, Ya. It's really troublesome to be entangled with a bunch of women, who nag like a mother."
Thinking of his mother's appearance, Shikamaru took several steps back, fearing that he would become the target of a group attack.
Unlike Naruto, Sasuke was on high alert, deep in thought.
'This guy's strength isn't bad. It seems I'll have to use the new ninjutsu my father taught me. Only by mastering Fire Release can one become a truly excellent Uchiha ninja...'
The thought of Fire Release Ninjutsu Sasuke back memories of that day, when his father told him to never try to catch up with his brother.
What followed was an endless fighting spirit; even if his father told him to give up, Sasuke would never admit defeat.
Moreover, the atmosphere between my father and brother at home is becoming increasingly strange, and I have to shoulder my father's hopes even more.
"Oh my, I feel like someone's getting excited. So let's change the rules a little. There are no restrictions on ninjutsu or ninja tools. The only rule that can't be broken is leaving the area."
"Then, Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall, Water Release: Water Curtain!"
The earth shook violently, and in the blink of an eye, earthen walls rose up around the training ground, along with several spectator stands.
A protective barrier, like a water curtain, separated the inside from the outside of the arena. Sasuke and Naruto stood in the center of the arena, waiting for Huayue's command.
"Wow, amazing! She created an arena in an instant. As expected of Teacher Huayue."
"Hey, hey, hey, this is outrageous! They don't even restrict ninjutsu and ninja tools! What if there's danger and casualties...?"
Unlike Choji's astonishment, Shikamaru only remembered Huayue's other nickname halfway through his sentence and fell silent.
"Form the Seal of Confrontation, the battle begins!"
"Since the use of Kunai is permitted, this is your destined fate of failure, Naruto."
Before Sasuke could finish speaking, Naruto sat cross-legged with a smile on his lips.
" Sasuke, you don't seem to understand the situation. Is it one-on-one or a thousand-on-one? Which do you want to choose?"
"They only captured a few Genin, so don't get cocky!"
Black light flashed at his fingertips, and countless shurikens rained down. Huayue, standing to the side, nodded slightly, offering the most objective assessment from the depths of her heart.
'Having spent so much time capturing Ninja Cats and stealing their claw marks, and honed his skills under Itachi's tutelage, Indra's abilities are likely at the level of an excellent Genin. After sensing the difference in skill, to what extent will Indra transform?'
Seeing this, even a group of girls cheering for Sasuke couldn't help but gasp in surprise.
However, Naruto raised two fingers and flicked a pebble, which instantly triggered a chain reaction as it flew into the shuriken formation.
Ding ding ding ding...
The shuriken aimed at Naruto's body were either deflected by the stones or by Sasuke's own shuriken, a dazzling display that stunned everyone.
"Don't be so smug, this isn't over yet!"
With a slight twitch of the fingertips, the steel wire hidden in the air appeared, and the force controlling several shurikens constantly changed their trajectory.
" Sharingan wielding a windmill sword, the third katana? To achieve this level without the Sharingan, you certainly earn my respect in that area, but..."
He gripped the corner of the cloak with his right hand, a fierce wind gathering.
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
A howling wind blew from his mouth, and the makeshift sail formed by his cloak propelled Naruto's figure into the distance. The windmill, controlled by the force, was further affected by the raging wind of the Great Breakthrough.
On the viewing platform, a group of classmates were dumbfounded. The strength of the two was far beyond what students of the Ninja Academy should possess.
"Well done, Naruto! Defeat him cleanly and decisively!"
Kushina shouted excitedly, "As expected of my son who inherited my talent, he is no match for even the Uchiha clan."
" Sasuke, do your best! Don't lose to that guy!"
The words spoken on the viewing platform only annoyed Sasuke. When the storm subsided, Naruto on the other side suddenly curled his lips into a smile.
"Since you haven't made a choice for so long, I'll decide for you: one thousand against one, Shadow Clone Technique."
Bang bang bang!
A White Mist obscured the view until it dissipated, revealing numerous figures within the arena, which immediately surprised everyone.
Thousands of Naruto stared at Sasuke in the arena with enigmatic smiles, and the vast, dark crowd spoke in unison.
"A thousand against one, are they using ninjutsu or not?"
"Stop looking down on me, bring it on!"
Holding Kunai, Sasuke was completely fearless as he charged into the Shadow Clone and fought relentlessly. Naruto's gaze was focused, as if an unknown chakra within him was constantly changing, filling him with extraordinary excitement.
In the Hokage Office Building, Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at the crystal ball in his hand, his surprise growing more and more obvious, while a hint of nostalgia showed in his cloudy old eyes.
" Minato, did you see that? Naruto is becoming an excellent ninja. He will definitely become the inheritor of the Will of Fire."