"Battle... begin!"
Naruto immediately formed the hand seal for the Shadow Clone Technique. With two pops, two shadow clones appeared beside him and charged toward Sasuke alongside him.
Sasuke was naturally charging toward Naruto as well. He wasn't the type to stand around waiting, and he went on the attack without hesitation.
They drew closer until they collided head-on. A loud impact rang out as their forearms clashed, and Naruto's two shadow clones immediately leaped up on either side, trying to grab Sasuke. Unfortunately for them, Sasuke was ready. He quickly drew back and easily dispersed the clones with a punch and a kick.
Naruto wasn't surprised at all to see his shadow clones dispersed. The technique produced clones that shattered at a touch anyway. If they were destroyed, he could just summon more!
"Shadow Clone Technique!"
As Naruto formed the hand seal again, six Narutos appeared all around Sasuke.
Sasuke warily surveyed Naruto's shadow clones, grumbling inwardly, Naruto has way too much chakra. He's throwing shadow clones around like they cost nothing.
Although Sasuke had long known Naruto had plenty of chakra, actually facing him in battle made the pressure of those reserves mount rapidly.
But Sasuke was no pushover either. As a member of the Uchiha Clan, he might not compare to the Uzumaki Clan, but he was still far stronger than most civilian-born ninja.
Looking at the shadow clones around him, Sasuke stopped holding back. He swiftly leaped into the air, pulled several kunai from his waist pouch, and flung them out with deadly precision.
Each kunai took out one shadow clone. As soon as Sasuke landed, he began weaving hand seals and took a deep breath.
Sasuke was about to use... the Great Fireball Technique!
Seeing this, Naruto immediately summoned more shadow clones. This time, their numbers weren't in the single digits, but the double digits!
This wasn't the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique. It was the limit of the Shadow Clone Technique, but not Naruto's limit.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
With his cheeks puffed out, Sasuke forcefully breathed out a scorching fireball that hurtled straight toward Naruto.
Watching from a short distance away, their classmates and Iruka-sensei were utterly speechless. Only the slight twitching of their faces could express how they felt.
Iruka: Haha... ha... am I still half asleep? The Great Fireball Technique... so many shadow clones... hahahaha...
Iruka was starting to lose his composure. Never mind the Great Fireball Technique-even as a Chunin, he couldn't produce that many shadow clones.
These two... little monsters.
There was no mockery in Iruka's use of the word "monsters," only sheer shock and amazement.
Meanwhile, Naruto and Sasuke's classmates stood beside Iruka with their mouths hanging open, unable to close them.
They all knew Sasuke was a genius, but the taijutsu, combat instincts, reactions, and ninjutsu he was displaying now could hardly be described by that word alone.
We're all kids, so why are you so ridiculously good???
But the one who shocked everyone most was none other than Sasuke's opponent... Naruto.
Kiba Inuzuka: No way... this guy is actually that strong? Was he holding back when he fought me earlier?
Shikamaru Nara: What a headache. If the adults hear about this, it's bound to cause another uproar.
Hinata Hyuga: Naruto-kun is amazing. He can actually fight evenly with Sasuke. He's so incredible!
The most excited spectator of all was the girl munching on sunflower seeds.
"Go! Get him! Naruto, throw a straight punch, then sweep his legs! Oh my god, his face is covered in lumps... Sasuke, that won't do! Attacks that obvious won't work on Naruto. Pull out all your shuriken and kunai and throw them like you mean to kill him!"
Chinatsu acted as though she had a split personality, switching between Naruto's perspective and Sasuke's as she cheered them both on, seemingly afraid they weren't fighting hard enough.
Chinatsu, doesn't it hurt you to watch?!
Chinatsu: Hurt me? Haven't you heard that hitting is affection and scolding is love? This will help the two little guys grow closer~
The main reason was that Naruto and Sasuke were the "protagonists." As long as Chinatsu, who had transmigrated into this world, didn't interfere with the plot too outrageously, their protagonist halos would keep them from dying.
Chinatsu, on the other hand, had no such guarantee of survival. How depressing.
Naruto and Sasuke kept overturning everyone's understanding of the world out on the training ground. Even when the five minutes were up and class ended, neither had emerged the victor.
Sasuke: "Tch. Naruto, you really can take a beating."
Naruto: "You really hit hard, Sasuke. If I'd already learned a ninjutsu with some serious firepower, I'd definitely have you on the ropes!"
Naruto and Sasuke followed the rules and stopped attacking the instant class ended, but neither was quite satisfied. After all, they hadn't settled who was stronger.
"Well... um... everyone did very well today. Keep working hard... but I think you need more theoretical knowledge right now than actual combat practice. We'll leave formal combat training for a little later."
Iruka clapped awkwardly as he spoke. His original plan had actually been to hold a practical combat class once a week, starting today.
But after seeing Naruto and Sasuke in action, Iruka truly had no confidence in his ability to teach those two combat.
Iruka: I love peace. ╮(￣﹏￣)╭
After that day's practical combat class, not a single classmate dared overlook Naruto anymore. Still, the only people willing to approach him were the same few as before. That hadn't changed.
After all, the real reason they avoided Naruto was that he was the "Demon Fox's Child." As long as that rumor remained unchallenged, shedding his reputation as the dead last wouldn't help.
But Naruto had a good attitude and didn't take any of it to heart.
After school, just as always, Naruto and Sasuke picked up their bags and were the first to hurry out of the classroom.
"I wonder if Big Sis will come back today..."
"I'm still waiting for Big Sis to teach me some powerful ninjutsu~"
"What do you mean, 'Big Sis'? Watch it, Naruto. She's my big sister."
"Don't be so stingy. Your big sister is my big sister~"
Sasuke looked thoroughly annoyed, while Naruto strolled beside him with both hands behind his head, laughing without a care.
When they reached the Ninja Academy's entrance, their eyes immediately landed on a girl leaning against its wall.
"Big Sis?! You're back!"
"Mm-hmm~"
As Sasuke ran up to her, Chinatsu landed a Tathagata Palm on his head, then ruffled his hair as though she were petting a cat.
"Let's go home~"
"Yeah!!!"
Before you continue