The training field of the Ninja Academy.
The first‑year Class A students were rubbing their hands in anticipation, ready for the special training ahead.
Yamanaka Ino cast a glance at Haruno Sakura, who was hovering around Uchiha Sasuke.
Although Ino had been training under Kitazawa, the time had been too short for any obvious results.
In yesterday's combat class she lost to Sakura again during the water‑walking drill.
Even so, Ino felt a glimmer of hope: the number of times she was hit by the wooden kunai had dropped.
A few more days with Kitazawa and she should be able to switch smoothly between offense and defense.
Sakura, absorbed in Sasuke, had noticed none of this progress.
Just then, Kitazawa strode over.
The students needed no reminder; they snapped into neat formation at once.
"Today's combat class won't be a drill," Kitazawa announced with a smile. "Class 1‑A is about to have its first real sparring session."
"Sparring?" Inuzuka Kiba shot up his hand. "One‑on‑one fights?"
"Exactly."
The answer set off a cheer among the class.
In the ninja world, strength matters more than theory.
After nearly two months of school, they finally had a chance to prove themselves, and excitement was only natural.
"What a drag," muttered Nara Shikamaru.
"No snack prizes?" Akimichi Chōji asked, disappointed.
"I wonder if I'll get matched with Sakura," Ino thought, arms folded.
Coming from the Yamanaka Clan, her fundamentals were stronger, so her chances looked good.
"Ah, man!" Kiba groaned. "I still haven't found my dog!"
As an Inuzuka, all his clan's secret arts required a canine partner.
He hadn't met one yet—or rather, hadn't found a dog with whom he shared true rapport.
In the original story his ninken is Akamaru, but Akamaru hasn't even been born yet—two years to go.
"This round I'm definitely winning!" Uzumaki Naruto declared.
Training with Might Guy, he'd done endless running and already learned Leaf Whirlwind and Leaf Great Whirlwind.
For someone who'd been enrolled less than two months, mastering two taijutsu moves was a huge edge.
Uchiha Sasuke snorted at Naruto's confidence.
After a month with Kitazawa, his chakra control and nature transformation had soared.
A nine‑meter‑tall Great Fireball would stun everyone.
In a true fight, he would beat them all—after all, the Uchiha were "unbeaten one‑on‑one."
"Students whose names I call, step forward to spar," Kitazawa said, clapping his hands.
He paired them by two criteria: similar strength, and from weaker to stronger.
As homeroom teacher he had a fair sense of everyone's level.
And indeed …
Well, it was a bit hard on the eyes.
Except for a few standouts, most could only use Clone Technique and throw basic tools.
The matches were plain—hardly entertaining.
"Haruno Sakura versus Yamanaka Ino," Kitazawa announced with a grin.
He admittedly loved watching girls fight—especially pretty ones.
"Ino, who'd have thought we'd face each other," Sakura said in surprise.
"Sakura, I'll hold back," Ino answered, clenching a fist and smiling.
"You've been my punching bag all week!" Sakura snapped, catching the provocation.
"Real combat is different," Ino snorted, taking her place at center field.
They formed the seal of confrontation.
Sakura struck first—a wild, unstructured punch.
Ino slipped aside easily, pivoted at the waist, and whipped out a half‑spin kick.
Sakura took the hit, staggered, and fell.
Kitazawa merely raised an eyebrow—no surprise at all.
Sakura was flailing; Ino was using Konoha‑ryū taijutsu.
That style, widespread in the village, isn't flashy but builds solid fundamentals—though not everyone can learn it.
More advanced forms like the Eight Gates or Uchiha‑style are even harder.
"I win, Sakura," Ino said sweetly, offering a hand.
"Just wait for the next water‑walking drill!" Sakura growled, grabbing the hand and getting up.
She would regain her pride there.
"We'll see about that," Ino replied smugly, glancing at Kitazawa.
"Nara Shikamaru versus Akimichi Chōji," Kitazawa called after a moment's thought.
"So it's students of similar strength," Shikamaru murmured, having guessed the pattern, and shuffled to the center.
"Careful, Shikamaru," Chōji warned—then charged.
But before he arrived, Shikamaru simply collapsed.
"???" Chōji froze.
Throwing the match already?
"I lose, Chōji," Shikamaru muttered from the ground.
"But … I didn't even hit you," Chōji said helplessly.
"Shows how accurate your punches look, right?" Shikamaru answered lazily.
"All right, you two—off the field!" Kitazawa sighed. "Next: Inuzuka Kiba versus Aburame Shino."
"Kiba, don't you dare lose!" Naruto cheered with a thumbs‑up.
"Those are my lines," Kiba grinned. "I'm going to hand you a defeat myself!"
Aburame Shino silently adjusted his sunglasses, hands in pockets, expressionless.
Four Legs Technique!
Kiba dropped to all fours like a hound, drawing gasps—it was the crowd's first look at an Inuzuka secret art.
By focusing chakra into all four limbs, it boosted traction and attack power.
"Here I come!"
Kiba shot forward, a blur of speed—after‑images trailing—straight at Shino.
Spectators felt as if they were meeting a new Kiba; the notorious loudmouth really had skill.
"As expected of my rival!" Naruto stared, eyes shining.
"No threat," Sasuke said coolly—then his gaze sharpened a heartbeat later.
A stir rippled through the crowd: countless kikaichū—parasitic insects—swarmed from Shino's body, homing in on Kiba's limbs.
They bound him tight; he couldn't move an inch.
"Whoa, strong!" Naruto gawked.
"Kinda gross," Sakura shuddered at the dense writhing bugs.
"Hope I don't face Shino next round," Ino muttered, likewise squeamish.
Sasuke stayed silent—he felt a flicker of danger.
"Winner: Aburame Shino," Kitazawa declared.
The Aburame Clan's secret techniques turn insects into versatile weapons—attack, defense, scouting, even healing.
Shino, in particular, carries a reputation for never being defeated.