Chapter 10: A Bitter Claim

The training ground was alive with murmurs and exclamations, the students still electrified by the shocking conclusion of the final match. Shin Hamada stood at the center, his breath steadying as Iruka-sensei approached him. In his hands was the prize Shin had fought so desperately to claim—a scroll containing the secrets of the Demonic Illusion: Hell Viewing Jutsu

Iruka offered a proud smile as he extended the scroll toward Shin. "You earned this, Shin. Your resourcefulness and determination in the face of a stronger opponent demonstrate what it means to be a shinobi."

Shin's heart raced as he reached for the scroll. The sight of it, the feel of its rough parchment beneath his fingers, made every bruise and ache from the battle worth it. He had fought Sasuke not just for pride but for this very moment. He bowed his head slightly. "Thank you, Iruka-sensei. I'll—"

Before Shin could finish, a flash of pink and blonde streaked across his vision. The scroll was snatched from his hands so swiftly that for a moment, he thought he'd imagined it.

"Got it!" Sakura declared triumphantly, holding the scroll aloft.

Ino stood beside her, smirking. "As if someone like you deserves this," she said, her tone dripping with disdain.

Shin blinked, disbelief and frustration flashing across his face. "What—what are you doing?!" he demanded, stepping toward them.

"You call that a victory?" Sakura shot back, her green eyes narrowing as she clutched the scroll tightly. "Everyone here knows Sasuke-kun should've won! You used dirty tricks to cheat him out of his rightful victory!"

Ino nodded, her arms crossed. "Yeah! You're nothing but a coward, Shin Hamada. Taking advantage of Sasuke-kun's momentary weakness? Pathetic."

The crowd around them buzzed with tension, their whispers and gasps rising in a crescendo. Some of the students nodded in agreement, their loyalty to Sasuke unwavering, while others exchanged skeptical glances, unsure of what to make of the confrontation.

"Iruka-sensei already decided the winner," Shin said through gritted teeth, his fists tightening at his sides. "I fought with everything I had and used the environment like a true shinobi should. This scroll is mine."

But Sakura wasn't listening. She held the scroll higher, as though proclaiming herself its rightful owner. "You don't deserve this kind of power. Sasuke-kun is the only one worthy of learning something this advanced."

Shin's glare sharpened as he took a step forward, his voice steady but laced with irritation. "Give it back, now."

Ino placed her hands on her hips, smirking. "Or what? You're going to fight us? Please. There's no way you can beat both of us alone."

Shin's lips curled into a defiant smirk. His emerald eyes locked onto hers with an intensity that silenced the murmurs of the crowd. "Are you saying that you two combined are stronger than Sasuke?" he asked, his voice low and mocking.

The words hit their mark like a kunai. Sakura and Ino froze for a moment, their expressions faltering. The crowd buzzed with excitement, some students laughing nervously at the bold jab.

"What did you just say?" Ino shot back, her cheeks flushing with indignation.

Sakura's grip on the scroll tightened as she glared at Shin, her pride forcing her to respond. "We're not saying that, but—"

"Then hand it over," Shin interrupted coldly, taking another step closer. His fists were clenched at his sides, and his entire demeanor radiated an unshakable confidence. "If I can beat Sasuke, I can handle you two. And, besides, I've already beaten one of you in one move, right Sakura?"

The crowd erupted into a mixture of gasps and cheers, some students egging Shin on while others whispered among themselves.

Ino scowled, crossing her arms. "Don't get cocky, Hamada. Just because you got lucky once doesn't mean you'll win again."

Shin raised an eyebrow, his smirk unwavering. "I guess we'll find out. Or you could just give me the scroll and save yourselves the embarrassment—"

Iruka's voice finally cut through the noise. "Enough!" he shouted, stepping between them. "This is no way to handle things. The tournament is over, and the scroll is Shin's. If anyone disagrees, take it up with me."

Sakura hesitated, her grip loosening on the scroll. Ino frowned but didn't step forward. The crowd quieted, watching Iruka intently.

Seeing his opportunity, Shin stepped forward without hesitation, plucking the scroll from Sakura's hands. His movements were deliberate and calm, his emerald eyes fixed on hers with a cutting gaze.

"Next time," Shin said, his voice sharp enough to make the crowd hold their breath, "if you want to play the heroes, at least have the strength to back the role up. Not wavering like two cowards just because someone with more authority than you says something."

Sakura's face flushed with embarrassment and anger, but she said nothing. Ino clenched her fists, opening her mouth to retort, but no words came. The crowd buzzed with a mixture of awe and unease as Shin turned his back to the pair, the scroll firmly in his grasp.

Without another word, he walked away, his pace steady, his demeanor cool and unbothered. The sea of students parted before him, the whispers growing louder as he disappeared into the crowd. For a brief moment, his figure was lost among the throng, merging seamlessly as if he had never been the center of attention.

Iruka watched him go, his expression unreadable but tinged with approval. His gaze then shifted back to Sakura and Ino, his stern eyes reminding them of their place. "I expect this kind of behavior won't happen again," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

The two girls nodded reluctantly, their heads bowed slightly. The crowd began to disperse, the tension easing as students murmured about what they had witnessed. But even as the training ground emptied, the memory of Shin's bold words and composed exit lingered, leaving an impression that none of them would soon forget.

...

The quiet streets of the village were bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun as Shin Hamada made his way home, the coveted scroll tucked securely under his arm. The buzz of the training ground had faded, but the adrenaline still lingered faintly in his veins. His emerald eyes scanned the familiar path ahead, his pace steady.

Beside him, Ayaka matched his stride, her hands clasped behind her back and her gaze occasionally flickering toward him. Over the past week, walking home together had become a familiar routine. Despite the silence between them now, her presence felt natural, as though it had always been a part of his day.

"You really stirred things up today," she finally said, breaking the quiet with a light, teasing tone. "The way you shut Sakura and Ino down? That was… bold."

Shin smirked faintly, tilting his head. "Bold? More like necessary. They had it coming."

Ayaka laughed softly, though her cheeks turned a faint pink. "Still, not everyone would have called them out like that. Most people would've just avoided the fight."

"I'm not most people," Shin replied, glancing her way. "If they're going to act like that, someone has to put them in their place."

She nodded, the flush on her face growing as she tried to suppress a small smile. "I guess that's why everyone notices you now. You're always so… direct."

Shin raised an eyebrow, his expression skeptical. "Not everyone. More people probably hate me than like me."

"That's not true," Ayaka said quickly, then immediately looked down, her face turning crimson. "I mean... not everyone thinks that way. Some of us are—uh—rooting for you."

Shin's emerald eyes lingered on her for a moment, his expression softening.

"Thanks," he said, his voice quieter now, almost thoughtful.

Ayaka blinked, her face turning an even deeper shade of red. "F-for what?"

"For sticking around," Shin said, his lips curving into a rare, genuine smile. "Even when things get messy."

Her mouth opened slightly, but no words came out at first. She looked away, her steps faltering for a moment as she tried to steady herself. "Oh… uh, well… y-you're welcome," she stammered, her fingers fumbling with the edge of her sleeve. "Someone has to… I mean, it's not like I—"

Shin chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Relax, Ayaka. I know. If not, I wouldn't have said that words to you during the tournament."

She froze mid-step, her eyes widening as she looked up at him. "You know what?"

Shin didn't answer, his smirk growing just enough to confirm what she feared—and hoped—he understood. The realization made her heart race, and she quickly turned her gaze back to the path ahead, her cheeks burning.

The rest of the walk was quiet, Ayaka too flustered to speak, and Shin content to let her have her space. As they approached his home, the warm light spilling from the windows signaled the end of their routine.

"See you tomorrow?" she asked, her voice a little higher than usual as she forced herself to meet his gaze.

Shin nodded, his expression back to its usual calm. "Yeah. Tomorrow."

With a hurried wave, Ayaka turned and walked away, her steps faster than before. Shin watched her retreating figure with a faint smile before stepping inside, the scroll still secure in his grasp.

To be continued...

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How was this chapter? Wrote it in a hurry so if it there's some mistake, please just comment them!

Also, don't forget to check out my original novel Hyperborea!