After all, the Uchiha Clan are descendants of the Sage of Six Paths, so members of this clan are rarely ugly.
At the very least, Ryota is a handsome little shota. Well, if you ignore that sinister gaze... If looks were ranked, he'd just barely make the cut!
'Hmph, I finally found an opportunity!!'
When Ryota saw that his opponent was Seiryū, he wasn't cautious at all. Instead, he was extremely excited and eager.
He had long wanted to teach this attention-seeking guy a lesson.
Especially since... he had recently created those annoying "workbooks," making Ryota experience real suffering. If he weren't still too young, he felt like he would've awakened his Sharingan by now... In the arena, the two faced each other.
Ryota stared at Seiryū with a sinister look, revealing the standard Uchiha Clan smile. "I'll let you know, the scores from written exams and practical classes are meaningless. Only actual combat is the true measure of a shinobi's strength!!"
His grades were decent overall, but nothing outstanding. He was above average, and not everyone in the Uchiha Clan was a genius.
However, he was very confident in actual combat.
Because he had an older brother who was already a Genin and often sparred with him, Ryota firmly believed he was definitely number one when it came to real fighting!
Seiryū nodded humbly. "Yes, I also understand that written tests and practical classes don't mean much. Please guide me, Ryota-san..."
After all, he had already agreed with Shinku to hold back and not injure his classmates too seriously. Otherwise, their parents would complain about him bullying others, which would look bad...
"Hmph." However, Seiryū's modest tone didn't reassure Ryota at all. Instead, it made him feel provoked, and he couldn't help but let out a cold snort.
The Uchiha Clan were exactly this kind of neurotic, they only accepted their own logic and rarely changed their views.
Commonly known as fanatics.
A trace of disdain flashed in his sinister eyes. "Then let's begin. I hope you can hold on for a while, so you won't disgrace the title of genius."
He deliberately emphasized the word "genius," clearly expressing his dissatisfaction.
He wanted to drag Seiryū, this so-called genius, down from his pedestal and use this actual combat test to restore the glory of the Uchiha Clan.
The Uchiha are the true geniuses!!
"Oh, let's start." Seiryū wasn't bothered by the other's hostility. The Uchiha Clan are neurotic. How could he, a transmigrator, not know that?
Besides, it's normal for capable people to be resented.
In the novels he'd read in his previous life, the protagonist was always followed by hate wherever they went. Conflict is what drives the plot forward, like a system triggering a mission.
The two formed the Confrontation Seal, signaling the start of actual combat!
Ryota didn't say a word and took the initiative to attack. As expected of someone from the Uchiha Clan, he was skilled.
His speed was quite good. With just a few steps, he was already in front of Seiryū. Clenching his fist, he punched straight toward Seiryū's face like a thrust aimed at his heart.
There was quite a bit of force behind it. Taking that punch directly would probably result in a bloody nose and tears flowing like waterfalls.
Even the most handsome person, looking like that, would suffer a severe blow to their image. Their popularity would drop fast!
'What a malicious thought!' Seiryū believed he had seen through the intent behind that punch—it was aiming for his face! How vicious!
Did he not even know the unspoken rule about not hitting someone's face?
How did the Uchiha Clan teach their kids?
Just as the punch was about to land, Seiryū tilted his head slightly, narrowly dodging it with a movement that resembled Observation Haki at work.
At the same time, he crouched and swept a kick at Ryota's legs!
"Not bad reaction!" Having mastered the Uchiha Clan's signature flair, Ryota smiled calmly. His first strike had failed, and the sweep came in fast.
He stomped off the ground with both feet and jumped into the air. While dodging, he twisted in midair and swung his right leg toward Seiryū's head.
Despite his short legs, the kick cut through the air with a faint whooshing sound, showing just how powerful it was.
This was a strike no one could block. It was the finishing move his older brother had taught him. He was certain of it!
"You're not bad either. Worthy of the Uchiha name." Seiryū felt that praising your opponent mid-battle made beating them later even more satisfying. This was how you show off properly.
Reacting instantly, Seiryū raised his left arm to block the kick, then immediately followed up with a counter-kick... Bang...
With a dull thud, Ryota, still midair, couldn't dodge at all. He was firmly kicked by Seiryū and sent flying like a sack of potatoes... He tumbled several times across the ground, clutching his stomach and groaning in pain...
Ryota's eyes were full of disbelief and confusion. Why did his opponent still have the strength to counterattack after blocking his guaranteed strike?
Impossible!!
The plot shouldn't go like this!
He was supposed to win gracefully! Where did it all go wrong?
"Phew, that was close!" Seiryū wiped the imaginary sweat from his forehead, speaking with a lingering sense of fear. "I almost lost!"
"..." Ryota's face flushed red. It was hard to say if it was from the shame of being defeated so easily or from Seiryū's words... Recalling the confident boasting he'd done just moments ago, his body trembled.
Too humiliating...
However, the Uchiha Clan's pride didn't allow him to deny his defeat. He slowly stood up from the ground, clenched his fists, then released them, lowering his head. Like a frostbitten eggplant, he muttered dejectedly, "I lost..."
[Mission Complete. System Rewards Issued...]
Hearing the system prompt and seeing the message appear in his mind, Seiryū smiled faintly. Mission complete, system rewards issued. Not bad, not bad.
He cupped his fist toward Ryota and humbly said, "You let me win."
Forming the Reconciliation Seal, the two left the arena in turn.
Once the winner was decided, the surroundings erupted in cheers, mostly from the girls, whose eyes were full of excitement.
Seiryū had actually defeated a member of the Uchiha Clan in actual combat, and he did it so easily! Too strong!
It was foreseeable that after this round of actual combat, Seiryū's popularity in class would only continue to rise...
"What the hell, it ended that fast?" Asuma, standing in the crowd, curled his lips, though his eyes were serious. "This guy was totally lying. You really can't trust a word he says..."
Was that the reaction of someone who didn't understand combat?
This guy never tells the truth!
Nearby, seeing Rin's slightly excited expression, Obito clenched his teeth secretly, feeling extremely upset. "Damn it, so what if he's a genius!"
Rin never used to show this kind of expression.
But lately, she had occasionally taken the initiative to talk to Seiryū. Even though he hadn't heard what they were saying, her smile said it all.
He's stealing her!
Damn it, so what if he's a genius? So what if he's handsome?!
He swore, one day, he would definitely make Rin smile like that at him too...
(To be continued.)