"So powerful..."
On the training ground, many first-year students stared with wide eyes at the two figures locked in combat before them. There was no denying that Naruto and Sasuke were in a completely different league when it came to taijutsu skills.
Even children from prestigious ninja clans like Shikamaru Nara and Ino Yamanaka couldn't hide the surprise in their eyes. These two were clearly exceptional, even among the next generation of shinobi from Konoha's most prominent families.
"Heh-heh," Naruto chuckled, glancing sideways at his classmates. When he caught sight of their awestruck expressions, a triumphant grin spread across his face.
It was in this brief moment of distraction that Sasuke suddenly made his move.
Naruto sensed the shift in force and tried to react, but Sasuke had timed his attack perfectly. The Uchiha flipped his palm and attempted to grab Naruto's arm. Anticipating resistance, he abruptly changed tactics, transforming his open palm into a tightly clenched fist that crashed into Naruto's chest.
"Bang!"
Sasuke's punch carried considerable power. Naruto, caught off-guard, was knocked backward by the impact. However, demonstrating remarkable resilience, he immediately tensed his calf muscles to stabilize his body. His feet carved deep furrows more than a meter long into the hard-packed earth of the training ground.
Ignoring the sharp pain blooming in his chest, Naruto quickly raised his gaze, knowing that Sasuke would never waste such an advantageous opening.
Swish!
As expected, Sasuke's eyes gleamed with predatory focus as he closed the distance between them with frightening speed.
Naruto shifted into a defensive stance and immediately launched a counter-attack.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Once again, the two young shinobi became entangled in a flurry of strikes and blocks. Having identified Naruto's momentary weakness, Sasuke's assault became increasingly violent and fierce—like a sudden storm unleashing its fury without warning.
He understood perfectly well that Naruto possessed greater physical strength, but in their previous encounters, Naruto had lacked the technical finesse that Sasuke had honed through countless hours of solitary training. Now that Naruto seemed to have improved his skills considerably, Sasuke knew this might be his only chance to secure victory.
Still reeling from Sasuke's powerful blow, Naruto found his movements slightly compromised. For several tense moments, he could only parry Sasuke's relentless barrage of attacks.
"Sasuke-kun is so amazing!"
"Come on! Knock him down!"
From the sidelines, Sasuke's dedicated "fan girls" cheered him on with fiery enthusiasm, their voices becoming increasingly shrill with each successful strike.
Ino Yamanaka was among the most vocal supporters, her platinum blonde hair swishing as she jumped up and down with excitement.
Standing nearby, Shikamaru Nara cast a sideways glance of mild disgust at his childhood friend's behavior. Beside him, Choji Akimichi seemed entirely unconcerned with the match, happily munching on a bag of potato chips with single-minded dedication.
"Naruto-kun..." Hinata whispered, her pale lavender eyes filled with concern as she watched him struggle against Sasuke's onslaught.
"You're too prideful," Iruka thought to himself as he observed the match. "In that aspect, you're completely different from the Fourth Hokage." He could see clearly how Sasuke had seized upon Naruto's momentary lapse in concentration to gain the upper hand.
If Naruto hadn't allowed himself to become distracted, he might have secured victory through his superior physical strength alone. But ninja battles were complex affairs, influenced by countless variables—raw power alone couldn't guarantee success. Sasuke's ability to identify and exploit his opponent's weakness so swiftly was a testament to his own exceptional skill.
"Haaahh... haaahh..."
The intense battle between Naruto and Sasuke continued for more than ten minutes. By the end, both boys were teetering on the edge of exhaustion, their breathing labored and their limbs heavy with fatigue.
"This guy..." Sasuke stared at Naruto without blinking, genuine surprise evident in his dark eyes. Despite enduring a barrage of his most powerful attacks, Naruto still refused to yield.
"Hey, I haven't lost yet," Naruto declared with a weary but defiant smile. Though disheveled and sporting a darkening bruise on his face, the determination in his deep blue eyes remained undiminished.
The two rivals locked gazes for a moment, each recognizing the other's resolve. Simultaneously, they prepared to launch themselves forward for one final exchange.
"Stop!"
Iruka suddenly appeared between them, his hands extended to prevent further combat.
"Iruka-sensei! We haven't decided the winner yet!" Naruto protested loudly. This was a perfect opportunity to settle things with Sasuke once and for all, and he wasn't about to relinquish it easily.
Although Sasuke remained silent, the combative spark in his eyes hadn't diminished in the slightest.
"That's enough," Iruka said firmly. "This is merely an examination to assess your progress over the past academic year. You've both sustained injuries that require immediate medical attention." His tone brooked no argument.
"Then how will our exam results be calculated?" Naruto reluctantly conceded, but his competitive nature wouldn't allow him to let the matter drop entirely.
Iruka glanced between the two exhausted boys and declared, "Both of you pass with perfect scores."
Until that moment, no student had received a perfect score on the physical assessment. When Iruka announced his decision, a ripple of surprise passed through the gathered students. However, having witnessed the extraordinary display of skill from both Naruto and Sasuke, no one could reasonably object to the instructor's judgment.
"Alright!" Naruto jumped up excitedly, his previous exhaustion seemingly forgotten as he was infused with renewed energy.
"Idiot," Sasuke muttered, rolling his eyes as he walked back into the crowd.
After celebrating for a few moments longer, Naruto also bounded away, his spirits clearly restored.
"Aren't you two going to visit the infirmary?" Iruka called after them.
"These are just minor scratches—nothing to worry about!" Naruto patted his chest confidently and flashed Iruka a thumbs-up accompanied by a bright smile.
Sasuke merely crossed his arms over his chest, making no move to seek medical attention.
Seeing that neither boy appeared to be seriously harmed, Iruka felt relieved and turned his attention back to the ongoing examinations.
"It's my turn now!"
From among the crowd, a boy significantly taller than most of his classmates ran eagerly onto the training ground, his excitement palpable.
"Please take your positions."
At the same moment, the petite figure of Hinata Hyuga finally emerged from the gathered students. She walked slowly but deliberately into the designated combat area, her movements careful and measured.
"It's her?" Naruto murmured when he spotted Hinata. His gaze shifted to her opponent, and immediately his expression transformed into one of concern. "This is totally unfair! How can they make a girl fight against someone like that?"
He wasn't alone in his worry. Many students around the training ground exchanged uneasy glances, concerned for Hinata's well-being.
In everyone's perception, Hinata was exceptionally fragile and timid.
Even her opponent seemed uncomfortable with the match-up. The tall boy frowned and looked toward Iruka. "Sensei, could I possibly change opponents?"
Iruka simply shook his head and offered a knowing smile. "This is a ninja academy. You should never underestimate your opponent."
Noting the serious gleam in his teacher's eyes, the boy became more attentive. He turned to face Hinata with newfound caution.
Hinata clasped her hands together and bowed respectfully to her opponent before the match began. When she straightened, something in her demeanor had subtly shifted.
She widened her stance, her palms positioned in a distinctive fighting posture that seemed entirely at odds with her usual hesitant demeanor.
"What is that?" Naruto asked in surprise. He had never seen such an unusual fighting stance before.
Instinctively, he glanced at Sasuke beside him. Though the Uchiha typically showed little interest in most people or activities, he was now watching the training ground with intense focus.
This unexpected reaction from his rival left Naruto puzzled.
"Begin!" Iruka's command rang out across the training ground.
Naruto's attention snapped back to the match at the sound of Iruka's voice.
The tall boy heard the signal and dug his feet into the ground, preparing to launch forward in attack.
But before he could complete his movement, a small figure materialized directly in front of him.
"She's so fast!" Naruto couldn't help but exclaim in astonishment.
The boy on the training ground was equally shocked, his eyes widening as he looked down at the opponent who had closed the distance between them with incredible speed.