The term at the Ninja Academy was drawing to a close, and the various assessments before the break were underway.
Unsurprisingly, Genya Uchiha firmly held the top spot in his year with a staggering score of nearly full marks in every subject.
Academic subjects, shuriken throwing, chakra control, the basic Clone Technique...
He displayed strength that crushed his peers in every category.
Today was the much-anticipated taijutsu combat assessment.
The students fought in pairs, demonstrating the results of several months of taijutsu training.
The match that drew the most attention was Genya Uchiha against Sasuke Uchiha.
It was the "fated showdown" everyone had expected, though most considered the outcome just as certain.
At the center of the training ground, Genya's black eyes were as calm as still water.
Opposite him, Sasuke pressed his lips together, his eyes burning with fighting spirit and resentment.
His crushing defeat last time had remained a thorn in his heart. He had trained desperately, all so he could redeem himself today!
"Begin!"
The teacher serving as referee gave the signal.
Sasuke moved!
He shot toward Genya, opening with a fierce, powerful kick. He had clearly improved considerably since last time!
"Wow! Sasuke-kun is so fast!"
"Sasuke-kun... you can do it!"
Excited murmurs rose from the watching students.
Yet in the face of Sasuke's attacks, Genya merely shifted his footing slightly and swayed, calmly evading every strike.
His movements were simple, with an effortless grace.
Unable to land a hit despite his relentless attacks, Sasuke grew impatient. Spotting an opening, he suddenly swept a heavy spinning kick toward Genya's head!
Now!
A sharp gleam flashed in Genya's eyes. Instead of retreating, he advanced, slipping inside Sasuke's reach. His right hand shot out and caught Sasuke's kicking ankle while his left elbow lightly nudged the inside of the knee on Sasuke's supporting leg.
"Agh!"
Sasuke felt his balance collapse, his strength effortlessly neutralized, and pitched forward uncontrollably.
He landed on the ground in an utterly embarrassing heap, kicking up a small cloud of dust.
An instant defeat!
Another utterly one-sided instant defeat!
It had ended even faster than last time!
The sidelines fell silent for a second, then erupted into a tremendous uproar, especially among the girls.
"Genya-kun! You're so cool!"
"Amazing! His moves were so smooth!"
"I couldn't even see how he did it!"
"Genya-kun! Look over here!"
A crowd of young girls waved their arms excitedly, their eyes sparkling and cheeks flushed as they chattered and called Genya's name. The scene was getting a little out of control.
Genya's delicate, adorable boyish face, paired with his overwhelming strength and composed demeanor, was devastating to these young girls just discovering romance.
Watching Sasuke grit his teeth on the ground and pound the dirt with his fist, consumed by shame and anger, Genya felt a faint flicker of guilt.
Sorry, Uchiha Sasuke.
He silently apologized.
This might have been the admiration and glory you would have enjoyed... in a sense, I've stolen part of your "life."
But he quickly brushed that trace of guilt aside.
It's fine. At least Sakura Haruno still really likes you.
He glanced at the pink-haired girl in the crowd, who was also screaming while stealing looks at Sasuke.
The assessment continued.
Genya left the training ground and headed toward Hinata Hyuga's group.
Hinata was about to have her match against another girl in the same group.
She nervously twisted her fingers together, her little face pale.
"Hinata, relax. Your fundamentals are solid. Just do what you normally do in practice."
Genya approached her and offered gentle encouragement.
"G-Genya-kun..."
Hinata's eyes brightened when she saw him, but her nerves did not disappear entirely.
"I-I'll do my best..."
Just then, a lively, ringing female voice cut in from the side, accompanied by a waft of fragrance.
"Hey! Genya Uchiha! That move just now was pretty cool! You're way better than that stuck-up Sasuke!"
Genya turned to see a girl with a blond ponytail approaching. She looked cheerful and outgoing-it was Ino Yamanaka.
A radiant smile lit her face, and her large eyes studied Genya with curiosity and admiration.
What drew even more stares was how casually she reached out and draped an arm around Genya's shoulders, almost as though they were old buddies.
"Top of the class! You're really something! So, interested in comparing notes? I'm pretty good myself, you know!"
Ino spoke with a grin, oblivious to the sudden uncertainty and nervousness in Hinata's eyes beside them.
Genya's body stiffened briefly, then relaxed. He wore a perfectly measured smile, polite and slightly shy.
"You're too kind, Yamanaka. My fundamentals are just fairly solid."
As he replied, thoughts raced through his mind.
Ino Yamanaka... cheerful, proactive, from a prominent family, with exceptional talent in mental power...
He recalled his earlier "plan."
Well, this really is... coming right to my doorstep.
Genya felt a little amused, along with a subtle sense that heaven was lending him a hand.
He had never expected his target to approach him so eagerly.
Sorry, Ino, Genya thought without a trace of guilt, maintaining his gentle, harmless smile.
Since you came to me first, I won't hold back.
For my Mangekyo, for the future... I'll gladly accept this enthusiasm of yours.
He did not push Ino's arm away. Instead, he adjusted his posture slightly so that he appeared neither overly intimate nor distant.
Then he naturally steered the conversation elsewhere.
"Your match just now was impressive too, Ino. It really had the Yamanaka Clan's style."
"Haha, you noticed?"
Ino lifted her chin proudly. She showed no intention of removing her arm from Genya's shoulders; if anything, finding someone who "understood her" only made her more enthusiastic.
Beside them, Hinata watched the two chatting happily. Her lips moved as she tried to say something, but she lowered her head again, an inexplicable heaviness settling in her chest.
Meanwhile, farther away, Sasuke had just climbed off the ground and was brushing dust from his clothes.
Seeing that Genya had not only defeated him easily but was immediately surrounded by girls-and by that troublesome girl Ino, no less-made his face darken further with anger. He gave a loud "Hmph!" and turned to leave.
Useless idiot who only cares about girls!
Genya took it all in.
The seed of a new "bond" had already been planted without anyone noticing.
Next came figuring out how to water it naturally, letting it take root and sprout.
Before you continue