The third lesson of the new week was dedicated to Taijutsu.
Iruka-sensei led the class out to the dusty training ground behind the Academy and drew a large white circle on the earth.
"A shinobi who cannot defend themselves in close combat is not a shinobi!" he announced, waving his clipboard. "The task is simple. The winner is the one who forces their opponent out of the circle or makes them surrender. No Ninjutsu. Taijutsu only."
The class buzzed. This was their first real test of strength.
"Let's begin! Sasuke Uchiha! Choji Akimichi!"
Sasuke stepped into the circle with an impenetrable expression. Choji shifted hesitantly from foot to foot, rustling a bag of chips.
"Begin!"
The fight lasted three seconds. The Akimichi lunged forward; the Uchiha dodged like a shadow and delivered a quick, precise shove to the back. His opponent flew out of the circle, landing on his chips. The girls gasped in delight.
"Winner: Sasuke Uchiha!" Iruka made a note. "Excellent speed. Next! Shikamaru Nara! Ino Yamanaka!"
Shikamaru slowly raised his hand without opening his eyes.
"Sensei, this is too troublesome. I forfeit."
"You didn't even try, you slacker!" Ino shrieked.
"Winner: Ino Yamanaka," the teacher sighed, already accustomed to this. "Alright... Next! Naruto Uzumaki! Against... Kiba Inuzuka!"
The class perked up. The "Outcast" against the loudest bully.
Kiba let out a joyous whoop and jumped off the bench. Akamaru barked excitedly from atop his head.
"Ha! Finally!" Inuzuka cracked his knuckles as he approached the circle. "I thought I'd get stuck with someone boring!"
He looked at Naruto, who was walking calmly to the line, and smirked, recalling the paper ball incident.
"Hey, Outcast! Try not to cry when Akamaru and I beat you!"
The puppy jumped to the ground, standing beside his master's leg.
"Kiba," Iruka said strictly. "Akamaru does not participate. This is one-on-one."
"What's the problem, sensei?" the student snapped. "He's part of my techniques! Besides, what is this weakling going to do against the two of us?"
Naruto remained silent, settling into the basic Academy stance. A prick of irritation touched his pride. He didn't want to lose, but he also couldn't openly use Qi enhancement.
I am not the Outcast. Since I can't use Qi... That means only speed and precision. Readiness to fight one against two.
"Fine," Iruka sighed. "But if Akamaru gets hurt, the fight stops. Begin!"
...
Kiba didn't wait. Instantly dropping to all fours, he curled his fingers like claws. Beast Style—wild, chaotic, unpredictable.
"Take this!"
Inuzuka shot forward. Simultaneously, Akamaru, like a white projectile, darted to the side, trying to flank the opponent and bite his ankle.
Naruto, thanks to Qi Concentration, saw both movements. His perception sharpened: the attack didn't seem chaotic, merely fast.
He didn't counterattack. He focused on controlling his balance.
Akamaru arrived first. Naruto didn't kick him—he simply took a sharp step to the side. The puppy missed. In that same second, Kiba threw a right hook aiming for the chest.
Uzumaki used the basic Academy block, but executed perfectly. He met the attack not with brute force, but with body structure, using the enemy's inertia against him.
Bam!
Kiba staggered back, surprised by the firmness of the "outcast's" defense.
"You!.."
A new series of rapid, wild strikes followed. Akamaru scurried underfoot, trying to trip him up.
The class watched with bated breath. It was a strange fight. Kiba attacked furiously, the puppy snapped and bit, and Naruto... simply moved.
He dodged, blocked, shifted. His footwork was flawless. Not a single wasted movement. He resembled a cork in a storm: tossed from side to side, but impossible to capsize.
"Stand still, damn you!" Inuzuka roared, beginning to tire.
"He's just dodging!" someone shouted from the crowd. "Come on, Kiba! He's weak!"
...
Enraged, Kiba decided to end it.
"Akamaru! Straight at him!"
The puppy obediently dashed toward the opponent's chest. His master followed, preparing to deliver a finishing blow the moment Naruto was distracted.
Mistake.
Uzumaki didn't retreat. Instead, he took a step forward.
He raised his forearm in a rigid block. Akamaru crashed into the barrier, yelped, and Naruto, using the momentum, tossed him upward with a light shove.
Whimpering, the living projectile flew straight into the face of Kiba, who was winding up for a punch.
"Woof!"
"Ow!"
Blinded by his own dog, Inuzuka lost his balance and staggered.
The chance.
Naruto stepped in. No Qi enhancement—just pure inertia and precise calculation. A simple double-palm shove to the chest.
Kiba, desperately trying to catch his pet, couldn't resist. Two steps back—and he collapsed onto his back... outside the white line.
Dead silence.
Iruka blinked in surprise, shifting his gaze from the winner to the loser, whose cheek was already being licked by Akamaru.
"...Winner: Naruto Uzumaki!"
...
Naruto didn't celebrate. He just took a deep breath, feeling a slight tremor in his legs. The victory had been harder than he thought.
I rely too much on evasion. I need to work on strength.
"You!" Kiba jumped up, red with anger. "That's not fair! You used Akamaru against me! You just got lucky, you damn weakling! You... you... Outcast!"
"I won."
Naruto turned and walked back to his seat, ignoring the shouting. The sting of pride felt good. A first victory, earned only through perfect basic defense. It was enough to stop the bullying.
Walking past Sasuke, he heard a quiet voice:
"Your movements... Too precise for a 'weakling.' You weren't fighting at full strength."
Naruto froze for a second. He looked at the Uchiha with calm blue eyes.
"Maybe. Were you?"
He walked away. Sasuke was left staring after him. Now, it wasn't just interest.