The Challenge

In the afternoon, Iruka made an announcement in the classroom, and Nara Shikamaru had informed Naruto about it.

"In the afternoon, we will have outdoor activities, two classes in total. The first one will be an exercise in the application of shuriken and kunai, focusing on throwing skills. The second class will involve simulated combat between ninjas. Please note that this is just practice, and there will be no real fighting. I've chosen two students, Naruto and Sasuke, to demonstrate the combat exercises for everyone."

Iruka's voice rang out from the podium, and as soon as he finished speaking, Naruto stood up. He was ready to decline, not interested in playing games with the other kids. He had a plan to start practicing shuriken and kunai throwing skills the following morning, as he was sure his accuracy would outshine his peers.

His strength far surpassed that of the average student, and with the added ability of the Mangekyō Sharingan, he could execute some clever maneuvers though not Hanabi-level tricky. For instance, he could use wrist movements to make Kunai spin unpredictably or have Shuriken rain down like flower petals, attacking from multiple angles.

But he had no need to flaunt his abilities.

Before he could express his reluctance, a girl seated nearby whispered in a hushed voice, "So, they're letting that demon fox fight against Sasuke? What is the teacher thinking?"

Another girl chimed in, "Oh, don't worry, he can't be Sasuke's match anyway."

"Sasuke is the strongest in our class. It doesn't matter who the opponent is; they won't stand a chance."

"The boys in our class are so jealous of Sasuke's good looks."

Even Haruno Sakura, with a contemptuous expression, cast a disdainful glance in Naruto's direction. It was clear from her demeanor that she wasn't optimistic about his abilities. Perhaps it was because he was teaming up with Sasuke that she had already taken a hostile stance.

The entire classroom was filled with various forms of mockery and ridicule from the girls. They were laughing at Naruto's obliviousness and ineptitude.

Naruto scanned the room, and beyond Nara's furrowed brow, he saw no one else speaking up for him. Even those boys who were frustrated by the girls' obsession with Sasuke seemed to harbor more hostility toward Naruto, and they remained silent, content to enjoy the spectacle.

In that moment, a smile crossed Naruto's face. He had been put in a difficult spot, and if he didn't showcase his skills and give them a taste of reality, he would be letting down their "expectations."

"All right, let me show you what true strength looks like," Naruto declared confidently. He clenched his right fist, pointed it toward Sasuke, and provocatively added, "Bring it on. Let's see the difference between the 'strongest' and someone like me from the back of beyond."

But Sasuke, with his characteristic coldness and detachment, didn't react to Naruto's provocation. He simply nodded in acknowledgment.

Naruto couldn't help but smile slyly. He'd been working hard for a reason, and it wasn't just to let go of his anger.

Why did Naruto consider leaving Konoha Village? Despite the relatively decent treatment he received as a Jinchūriki in Konoha, he contemplated departure not because of mistreatment but rather a different motivation. There was a sense that there was no place for him in the village, and he wanted to assert himself.

Iruka, the teacher, observed their interactions but attributed it to the natural dynamics of children.

Then, under Iruka's guidance, the students assembled to follow him to a hidden cave in the Ninja School's backyard, akin to a training ground. This area featured an open space with a row of targets, created from tree stumps with circular wooden boards hung on them, each marked with red dots. The aim was to practice throwing kunai and shuriken, with higher scores achieved by hitting the center of the target.

The smallest red dot in the target's center was particularly challenging, and for young and inexperienced students who weren't yet ninjas, it was a playful exercise in ninja games. Initially, Naruto couldn't afford kunai but later saved up money for them, thanks to the convenience of using his Shadow Clones for training. His throwing skills might not be at the level of mastery, but he rarely missed the target.

With only three tree stumps in the backyard, the students were divided into three rows based on their size, each with three people. Each student was allotted three kunai, offering three chances to hit the target. Naruto, now the tallest in the class, occupied the last spot.

However, his neighbors were not the familiar faces of Shikamaru and Chōji. Instead, he found himself flanked by two students he didn't know well, both somewhat clumsy and not particularly skilled.

Naruto couldn't help but hold his forehead in exasperation. Was his height the cause of this arrangement? Thankfully, he didn't share the same clumsiness as his fellow row members.

The students in the front row had already begun, and the sounds of 'Duang, Duang' echoed as kunai pierced the wooden targets.

Naruto subtly tiptoed, attempting to gauge their performance. Two students had hit the target, albeit at the edges. One, less fortunate, saw their kunai fly wide of the mark, an experience he could relate to, as he too had struggled when he first started practicing.

However, Naruto's extensive experience, thanks to his Shadow Clones, gave him a significant advantage over the others. As the team slowly advanced, those who had already practiced efficiently moved aside, and the skilled results began to surface.

After some time, it was finally Uchiha Sasuke's turn to step up to the challenge.

.....

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