Chapter 3: Sparring

The week later...

The Academy courtyard buzzed with anticipation as students gathered in a circle around the sparring ring. Sasuke Uchiha stood in the center, his confidence radiating as he adjusted his stance. The crowd, dominated by cheers from Sakura and Ino, leaned forward eagerly.

Facing Sasuke was Shin Hamada, his emerald eyes locked onto his opponent. He tightened his grip on the kunai in his hand, ignoring the mocking smirks and whispers from the sidelines.

"You sure about this, Hamada?" Sasuke taunted, a smirk tugging at his lips. "You've been acting weird all week. What, still chasing that 'healing' nonsense? Or is it something else this time?"

Shin's jaw tightened, but he didn't reply. The week had indeed been unusual for him. He'd spent long hours in quiet corners of the Academy library, poring over advanced medical scrolls, and even longer hours practicing the Healing Jutsu. It wasn't enough to attract much attention, but when paired with the additional time Shin had spent sneaking away after class for something else entirely, it had drawn Sasuke's suspicion.

"Let's just get this over with, Uchiha," Shin said evenly.

The words drew gasps from the crowd, and even Naruto, leaning lazily against a tree, chuckled. "This is gonna be good."

...

Iruka-sensei signaled the start, and Sasuke wasted no time closing the distance. He struck with practiced precision, each blow forcing Shin back. Their kunai clashed, the metallic sound ringing across the courtyard.

Shin's movements were controlled but defensive, his mind racing. I need more than just defense. I'll need to use that... even if I can't still perform it that good... it's now or never!

From the sidelines, Sakura called out, "Take him down, Sasuke-kun! Show him who's better!"

The cheers only fueled Shin's determination. Retreating a few paces, he formed the hand seals he had practiced tirelessly—Ram, Snake, Tiger—and channeled his chakra into the kunai.

A puff of smoke erupted, and three kunai flickered into existence beside him. The illusions danced in the air, indistinguishable from the real one in Shin's hand.

The crowd murmured in confusion, their voices blending into an excited hum.

"What just happened? Why did other kunais suddenly appear out of nothing?" Ino asked, narrowing her eyes.

Sasuke hesitated, his sharp gaze darting between the weapons. His confidence wavered for the briefest moment. Shin seized the opportunity, hurling the kunai and its clones in a synchronized arc.

Sasuke deflected two kunai, only for the real one to slip past his guard, grazing his shoulder before embedding itself in the wooden target behind him.

Yes! It worked!

The courtyard fell silent, stunned by the outcome. Even Iruka-sensei paused, studying Shin with a mix of curiosity and approval.

Sasuke touched his shoulder, his expression darkening. "A cheap trick," he muttered, though his tone betrayed grudging respect.

Shin wiped his brow, exhaling slowly. "It worked, didn't it?"

From the sidelines, Ayaka cheered, her voice breaking through the tension. "That was amazing, Shin-kun!"

Sakura crossed her arms, frowning. "He just got lucky!"

Sasuke narrowed his eyes, clearly annoyed at the outcome of Shin's last move. "Let's see how you handle this."

Shin steadied his stance, his body tense as Sasuke began forming a series of hand seals. The air around the Uchiha seemed to grow hotter, the intensity of his chakra palpable.

"Wait," Shin muttered, eyes widening as realization dawned. He's going to use ninjutsu? Here?

The crowd murmured excitedly as Sasuke inhaled deeply, his chest swelling with the buildup of fire chakra.

"Great Fireball Jutsu!" Sasuke roared, releasing a torrent of flames that surged toward Shin with blinding speed.

Shin's mind raced, but his body froze—he had no counter for a technique like this.

"Shin, move!" Iruka shouted from the sidelines. In a blur of motion, the instructor dashed into the ring, grabbing Shin and pulling him out of the fireball's trajectory just as the flames seared the ground where he'd been standing.

The courtyard erupted into chaos as the crowd backed away from the heatwave, and smoke billowed across the field.

"Enough!" Iruka's voice was sharp as he stepped between the two boys, his gaze fixed on Sasuke. "That was uncalled for, Sasuke!"

The Uchiha crossed his arms, his expression unreadable. "What? It's not my fault if he's too weak to keep up. If he doesn't have ninjutsu to use against mine, that's his problem."

Shin clenched his fists, his emerald eyes blazing with frustration, but Iruka raised a hand to stop him. The teacher sighed heavily, his voice softening. "You can't resort to such excessive force in a sparring match, even if you think you're proving a point."

Sasuke shrugged, his tone dismissive. "I didn't hit him, did I?"

After a long moment of tense silence, Iruka turned back to Shin with an apologetic look. "Shin, you showed incredible creativity and resourcefulness, but this match has gone too far."

He turned to the crowd and raised his voice. "Sasuke Uchiha is the winner."

The announcement drew scattered cheers from Sasuke's supporters, though some students exchanged uneasy glances. Naruto glared at Sasuke, muttering under his breath, while Ayaka ran to Shin's side.

"Are you okay, Shin-kun?" she asked, her golden eyes full of concern.

Shin nodded stiffly, though his gaze remained fixed on the ground. Inside, his mind churned with determination. I'll get stronger. Next time I won't lose!

Sasuke smirked, turning to leave. "Maybe next time, Hamada," he said, his voice dripping with condescension.

I won't let him look down on me like this anymore!

As the crowd began to disperse, Iruka placed a hand on Shin's shoulder. "Don't let this discourage you," he said gently. "You've got potential, Shin. Keep working hard, and you'll find your own strength."

Shin nodded at Iruka's encouragement, though his heart felt heavy. "Thank you, sensei," he muttered before turning and walking away from the sparring ring. The chatter of the crowd faded as he headed toward the quieter edges of the courtyard.

"Shin-kun!"

Ayaka's voice rang out as she hurried after him. Shin paused, glancing over his shoulder as she caught up, her golden eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"That move you did back there," she said, her excitement evident. "How did you make your kunai multiply like that? It was amazing!"

Shin hesitated for a moment before replying. "It's a new technique I've been working on," he admitted. "I call it the Kunai Clone Jutsu. It's just a variant of the normal Clone Jutsu to be honest, so the multiplied kunais aren't real, just illusions. They may not be able to deal any physical damage to the enemy, but they will be sure a great distraction for him."

Ayaka's jaw dropped. "So you... like... invented a new jutsu?"

Shin shrugged, a small, almost sheepish smile tugging at his lips. "I wouldn't say invented... just used it differently."

"That's incredible!" Ayaka beamed, punching his arm lightly. "You're way cooler than you give yourself credit for, Shin-kun. Don't let Sasuke get to you, okay? He's just a show-off."

Shin's smile grew slightly, her words lifting some of the weight from his shoulders. "Thanks, Ayaka. I'll keep working on it."

As they walked back together, Shin's mind raced with possibilities for improving his jutsu. Next time, I'll make sure no one underestimates me again.

...to be continued.

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The author here! How was this third chapter?

Also, be sure to check my original novel, Hyperborea, you won't regret it!