[Ding! Your bound target has initially mastered Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!]
[You have received a Hundredfold Return… Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique mastery increased by 100%!]
A memory of the Great Fireball Technique suddenly appeared in Sora's mind.
It felt as if, as long as he wanted to, he could instantly release this Ninjutsu.
"Finally… I'm starting to learn new Ninjutsu!"
Sora excitedly jumped out of bed and rushed straight toward the Gekko Clan's training ground.
The Great Fireball Technique wasn't like the Three Body Technique—this wasn't something he could test inside his room.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
Although it was his first time using this jutsu, Sora's hand seal speed was astonishingly fast.
At his current level, Sasuke would need three or four seconds to release it.
Sora only needed one.
Not only that—the number of hand seals he used was noticeably fewer.
With enough mastery, some shinobi could even release Ninjutsu with a single clap of their hands.
For Sora to reach that level, Sasuke would need to work even harder.
At that moment, a sickly-looking young man suddenly appeared beside Sora.
He stared at the scorched crater left behind by the Fire Release, shock written all over his face.
Is this what a true genius looks like…?Releasing a C-rank Ninjutsu at just six years old…
"Sora… cough, cough."
"The Clan Head sent me to teach you swordsmanship."
"No thanks."
Sora turned around and started to leave without hesitation.
Before, he learned swordsmanship only because he had no choice.
Now that he was bound to Sasuke, he wasn't worried about strength at all—so why bother?
More importantly, even if the Gekko Clan's swordsmanship were practiced to perfection, the limit was still only Jonin.
A mere Jonin no longer interested Sora.
Hayate grabbed Sora by the collar and pulled him back.
"Cough… Whether you learn or not isn't up to you. The Clan Head ordered me to teach you."
"Please have mercy. I've practiced swordsmanship for three years and still struggle to chop a wooden stake."
Sora looked utterly defeated, but Hayate gave him no room to refuse.
"If you don't practice, your allowance will be cut in half. If you manage to master swordsmanship…""Cough… your allowance will be doubled."
When Sora first arrived in this world, his parents had already died during the Nine-Tails' rampage.
As an orphan within the clan, his daily life depended entirely on clan support.
His house, his expenses—everything was provided by the clan.
As for the inheritance his parents left behind, it was pitifully small.
In the Clan Head's words:"We raised you until you were three. Your parents' inheritance was already used up."
That alone showed how poor his parents had been.
But thinking about it, it made sense.
How much savings could two Genin really have?
Ninja tools, medical treatment, food, daily expenses—just surviving cost money.
The fact that they didn't leave behind debt was already fortunate.
Because of financial pressure, Sora was forced to continue learning swordsmanship under Hayate.
Unfortunately, he truly had no talent in it—and no interest either.
After half a month, he had made no progress at all.
This made Hayate seriously doubt Sora's reputation as a genius.
Is this really the one who suppressed the Uchiha clan's prodigy at the Academy?Or does he simply lack talent in swordsmanship?
While the clan doubted Sora, Sora himself was thinking of ways to slack off.
Training personally was impossible.
But letting Sasuke train—and receiving the Hundredfold Return—was still feasible.
Ninja Academy
While Sora was thinking about how to get Sasuke to help him practice swordsmanship,
Sasuke, confident that his Ninjutsu had improved, suddenly issued a challenge during the break.
"Sora, I challenge you!"
"?"
The public challenge caused an uproar throughout the class.
"Sasuke actually challenged Sora!"
"Who do you think will win?"
"That goes without saying—it'll definitely be Sora-kun!"
Ino and Sakura's eyes sparkled as they stared at Sora with excitement and admiration.
More handsome and stronger than Sasuke, Sora had unknowingly captured their attention.
Inuzuka Kiba snorted unhappily.
"I don't think so. The Uchiha Clan is a major clan. Sora comes from a small clan even weaker than ours. There's no way he can always stay ahead. Since Sasuke dared to challenge him, he must've made a breakthrough. Sora won't win!"
Sora glanced at Sasuke.
He had originally planned to refuse.
But since he was already thinking about using Sasuke to practice swordsmanship, this opportunity came at the perfect time.
"Let's go."
Sora yawned, his lazy demeanor unchanged.
Yet even with half-lidded eyes, the girls burst into excited screams.
"Ahhh!"
"Sora-kun is so handsome!"
"He's so calm even when facing an Uchiha genius—Sora-kun really is amazing!"
"Sasuke-kun is definitely going to lose!"
Inside the Ninja Academy's training ground,
Students crowded tightly around the area.
At the center stood the top two students of the class—
Uchiha Sasuke and Sora Gekko.
They exchanged glances.
Without any unnecessary words, the battle began.