First Place: Uzumaki Naruto,
100 points Second Place: Uchiha Sasuke,
98 points Third Place: Haruno Sakura, 97 points
Looking at the name above his, it was as if an invisible slap had landed heavily on Sasuke's face.
"Naruto? First place?"
Inuzuka Kiba rubbed his eyes, disbelievingly asking, "Iruka-sensei, is there a mistake?"
"Yeah, Sensei, how could Naruto get a perfect score?"
Questions and doubts arose from all around.
"Enough!"
Iruka-sensei's angry shout quieted the classroom. His expression was serious, and his voice held a hint of shock that he himself couldn't fully comprehend:
"Everyone has seen Naruto's efforts during this period. His answers... were even more perfect than the standard answers. And don't forget, he was the first to hand in his paper!"
Iruka-sensei's resolute words shattered the remaining hope of the others. Sasuke stared intently at that name. He could accept someone occasionally surpassing him, but why did it have to be that name?
His disdain for Naruto yesterday felt like a boomerang hitting him in the face, making his cheeks flush red. He lost? As a genius of the Uchiha clan, he actually lost to a former dead last in a theoretical class?
He abruptly turned his head to look at the empty seat in the back corner of the classroom. That guy still hadn't arrived. This disregard, this "taken for granted" attitude, angered Sasuke even more than direct mockery.
"Shinobi... ultimately still rely on their fists to speak."
Sasuke comforted himself, simultaneously looking forward to the practical exam that was about to begin.
When Naruto walked steadily into the training ground as the bell rang, he immediately drew everyone's attention. He clearly felt the doubt, curiosity, and even a hint of hidden expectation in those gazes. But Naruto seemed oblivious, nodding to Iruka-sensei before quietly taking his place in the line.
"The practical test begins now," Iruka-sensei's voice broke the silence. "Next, we will conduct the graduation simulation practical test. The rules remain unchanged: stop before causing serious injury, focusing on demonstrating overall training results..."
Before he could finish, a voice suddenly rang out.
"Wait, Iruka-sensei."
Uchiha Sasuke walked straight out, pointing his finger without hesitation to the back of the crowd.
"I challenge him—Uzumaki Naruto!"
The field instantly erupted in an uproar. Although everyone had expected it, Sasuke's direct, almost rude public challenge still ignited everyone's emotions. Iruka-sensei was momentarily in a difficult position. Logically, they should proceed according to student numbers. But adjusting the order wasn't a big deal; this was just a preliminary test after all. Most importantly... he also really wanted to see it.
Naruto slowly walked out under everyone's gaze. "Iruka-sensei, I accept."
Then he pushed up his glasses, his tone calm and unruffled:
"Sasuke-kun, please guide me."
The atmosphere on the field was instantly ignited. After the two formed the Seal of Confrontation, the duel began with Iruka-sensei's command.
Sasuke wasted no words, his body shooting out like an arrow from a bow. He had been holding a fire in his heart, wanting to repay the humiliation he felt from the theoretical exam tenfold. Naruto still steadily adopted a defensive stance.
However, hindered by the [Turtle Hermit Style Weight Bracers], his movements were noticeably sluggish. Each block seemed heavy, and each dodge was half a beat too slow.
"What's wrong, dead last? Is this all your strength?" Sasuke sneered, his attacks becoming a furious storm.
A side kick struck Naruto's blocking arm, sending him back several steps.
"Sasuke-kun, you can do it!"
"Sasuke-kun is still the strongest!"
Others were also whispering.
"Naruto-kun..." Hinata-chan couldn't help but clench the hem of her clothes.
Naruto seemed to be tottering, but he never truly showed a weakness. Sasuke's inability to land a decisive blow made him increasingly anxious. He keenly noticed an unnatural feeling in Naruto's arm whenever he blocked. Recalling his unusual behavior during previous running and practical lessons... after another exchange, Sasuke suddenly jumped back to create distance.
"Uzumaki Naruto! Are you insulting this duel by still wearing those boring things?" Sasuke yelled, pointing at Naruto's wrist, his voice distorted by anger. "Take off those ridiculous weights! Face me with your full strength!"
The entire arena erupted in an uproar.
"Weights?"
"What? He hasn't been serious this whole time?"
Nara Shikamaru narrowed his eyes. "I see."
He had also sensed something unusual about Naruto earlier, thinking it was due to extra practice, but he never expected Naruto had been wearing weights all along.
Naruto stopped, tilting his head slightly. "Are you sure?"
"Less talk!" Sasuke felt humiliated. "Do you think I'm afraid of you?"
[Ding!]
[Suggestion received: Remove weights.]
[Mission Requirement: Remove weight bracers and fight in full condition.]
[Mission Reward: E-rank Treasure Chest.]
A subtle curve appeared at the corner of Naruto's mouth. Since that was the case, he had no choice but to take them off.
"As you wish, Sasuke-kun."
Under everyone's focused gaze, Naruto slowly removed the orange bracers from his wrists.
Thump! Thump!
Two dull thuds made everyone's hearts skip a beat.
"What?" Inuzuka Kiba exclaimed. That sound was definitely not the weight of fabric!
Most importantly, when Naruto defeated him before, was he wearing weights?
After Naruto removed the weights, his entire demeanor seemed to change. The moment the bracers left his body, it was as if he had broken free from invisible shackles. The previous sense of stagnation instantly vanished, replaced by an indescribable lightness and coordination.
Naruto simply flexed his wrists, producing a crisp cracking sound. He didn't attack immediately, but instead took a deep breath.
Hiss—whoosh—
Long and powerful breaths echoed, as Water Breathing: Total Concentration fully activated!
"Come, Sasuke-kun."
A sudden sense of crisis made Sasuke's pupils constrict, and alarm bells rang wildly in his heart.
"Hmph, playing tricks!" He roared, charging forward at an even faster speed than before.
This time, he held nothing back. However, in Naruto's current perception, Sasuke's movements were too slow. But in reality, it wasn't that Sasuke was slow; it was that Naruto was too fast.
Naruto's figure seemed to blur, easily dodging Sasuke's full-power strike. At the same time, his right hand, like lightning, struck Sasuke's exposed ribs as he punched.
"Ugh!"
Unable to catch his breath, Sasuke stumbled, completely off balance. Before he could adjust, Naruto was already close. There were no flashy moves, just the simplest Taijutsu taught at the Ninja Academy. Straight punches, side kicks, elbow strikes... but the speed, power, and timing were completely different from before.
Sasuke could only block and dodge in a desperate state. But each collision left his arms numb, completely putting him on the defensive. The entire arena was silent, save for the dull thuds of punches and kicks, and Sasuke's heavy breathing.