"Ahhh!"
The sudden burst of Fire Release sent the gathered students into a panic.
This was a practical class, yes but it was not a battlefield.
It was clearly forbidden for first-years to use ninja tools or ninjutsu.
Sasuke's move was an undeniable violation of the rules.
The fireball roared toward Konome Taketori. Some of the more sensitive girls shut their eyes, unable to watch.
"Konome, dodge!"
Naruto clenched his fists and shouted, face tight with urgency, like Ash trying to wake Pikachu in the middle of a championship match.
Even Iruka and Shikamaru, who had the most confidence in Konome, frowned despite themselves.
The fireball was already less than a fist's distance from her. Too late to dodge. Too late to defend.
Not moving. Not using Water Release.
Even a jōnin would die if struck full-on by a Great Fireball.
What was she doing?
The answer came swiftly.
Konome calmly raised her left hand.
Bloop.
Bloop.
Deep-blue chakra bubbled up under the command of her ocular power, like boiling water seeping from her pores. It tinted into a faint crimson.
In moments, the red chakra cloak enveloped her pale hand.
Swoosh.
The fireball arrived.
In the blaze of light, her crimson-shrouded hand shot forward. In Sasuke's stunned eyes, she caught the Great Fireball.
Sizzle!
The sphere writhed violently in her grip, sparks spitting everywhere. But the destructive force of Fire Release was suppressed by something even greater the monstrous strength behind her hand. No matter how it thrashed, it could not break free.
Finally, the chakra fueling the fireball burned away.
Pfft.
It guttered out into a few stubborn embers and vanished in her palm.
The red cloak faded. Her hand remained pristine and white.
The field went silent.
The training ground was as still as death.
This was beyond their comprehension.
Students and even Iruka could only gape, speechless.
The thin beast cloak, hidden under the fire's glare, was nearly invisible. To the others, it seemed as if she had caught an Uchiha fire jutsu barehanded.
If they had not witnessed it themselves, none of them would ever have believed such a thing.
"Your fire jutsu isn't fit to light candles."
Tap, tap, tap.
Leaning on her blind cane, Konome walked past Sasuke's stunned form and returned to her place among the class.
No one dared block her way.
They parted instinctively, forming an empty circle around her. She was untouchable, the girl who had crushed fire in her bare hand.
The silence stretched long.
At last, Iruka's discipline as a teacher pulled him back. "Konome Taketori, ten points. Sasuke… keep working."
The words were the last straw.
Already battered, drained from pouring everything into the fireball, Sasuke collapsed unconscious.
"You three, take Sasuke to the infirmary."
Iruka pointed at the same trio who had bullied Naruto earlier. "When you return, you'll fight Chōji Akimichi, Shikamaru Nara, and Kiba Inuzuka in order."
"What?" All three gaped.
Everyone knew: Sasuke was the strongest in the elite class. Second, third, and fourth place were precisely the ones Iruka had just named.
"What do you mean, what? If you aren't back in five minutes, it counts as skipping class. Go!"
"Yes, sir…"
Grumbling, they hoisted Sasuke and ran toward the infirmary.
"Next bout: Sakura Haruno versus Ino Yamanaka!"
The training ground grew noisy again, but after witnessing what Konome had done, the smaller skirmishes seemed pale and dull.
And at the center of it all sat the culprit herself.
Konome clenched her fist.
Her hand still throbbed faintly.
Even with the Three-Tails' chakra cloak, catching that fireball barehanded had hurt. The small portion of Sanbi chakra she had consumed was thin and weak.
A true tailed-beast cloak had formidable defense against both physical and ninjutsu attacks. What she wore now was only a counterfeit, far inferior.
And that had only been Sasuke's childish fireball. If it had been Itachi's… she might already be roasted.
Still, the result was ideal.
She looked around at the nervous stares cast her way. Within the class, her position now rivaled even surpassed Iruka's.
Exactly as planned.
She had used the Uchiha boy to establish dominance, then she would show warmth to gather the heirs of the secret arts clans.
She did not care about the Hokage's seat.
But the knowledge of Yin and Yang Release stored within the great clans those she must have.
That was the foundation she needed for her own path of nin-taijutsu, and the stepping stone toward the Six Paths.
"Konome, how did you do that just now?"
Everyone else feared to speak. Naruto had no such restraint. He trotted over and plopped beside her.
"You'll be able to one day."
Konome's blindfold turned slightly toward him, her eyes hungering for the Nine-Tails sealed inside his body.
Using a beast cloak consumed massive chakra.
This was a weapon unique to jinchūriki, reckless in how it burned energy.
Her own kekkei genkai Shikotsumyaku and Byakugan were not built for vast reserves. Without the stolen Sanbi chakra, she would have already been drained dry.
"Really? Thanks!"
Naruto took her words at face value, grinning wide. In his head, he was already imagining himself crushing Sasuke's fireball with his bare hands.
Konome suddenly turned her face toward Kiba.
"You over there. What's your name?"
Kiba blinked, startled to be addressed by someone so terrifying. He jabbed a finger at himself. "M-me?"
"Yes. Your little dog is cute."
"Heh heh! I'm Kiba Inuzuka, and this is Akamaru. We're partners!"
"Woof, woof!" Akamaru barked, tail wagging.
Kiba scratched the back of his head and grinned, teeth bared. Anyone who liked his dog couldn't be bad in his eyes.
"And the two beside you?"
Shikamaru and Chōji stepped forward when called, exchanging names with her.
"I am Konome Taketori. May I ask a favor of you three?"
They exchanged glances. "What kind of favor?"
"In the upcoming taijutsu matches, I'd like you to 'take care' of your opponents for me. Consider it a debt owed. If you ever need something later, you can come to me."
Naruto's eyes went misty with emotion behind her.
The three boys, though, lit up with joy.
They had seen her strength with their own eyes. No one in the school could match her. To become her friends now meant walking tall in the academy.
And honestly, they already disliked those three bullies. Beating them up would be cathartic. Gaining Konome's favor at the same time was perfect.
"It's a deal!"
"Good. Please, do me the kindness of sending them all to the infirmary."
"No problem, leave it to us!"
Konome pressed her lips into a soft smile. They thumped their chests, Naruto all but sparkling beside her.
Strong friendships needed long-term exchanges of benefit. Let them taste a small favor now later, when the time came for greater things, trust would be ready.
At the same time, humiliating Sasuke so thoroughly had been a statement. She had shown strength, and shown her political stance.
She had displayed both might and openness.
Every heir in the class saw it. Konome Taketori was not just another student. She was a contender for the future of Konoha.
And children were the best messengers.
The more exaggerated their stories grew, the greater the attention she would draw from those who mattered.
One day, whatever she desired, she would only need to hint and eager benefactors would line up to provide it.
The strong grew stronger.
And the snowball had already begun to roll.
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