Chapter 30: Sparring

As Teacher Aoyama called out names one by one, the young ninjas around the room, whether sitting solemnly on their knees or cross-legged, watched intently the sparring match between Teacher Ikeda and the new student.

Toshiro, like his classmates, found a spot near the window. He basked in the sunlight, leaning against the wall, and sat cross-legged, his gaze sweeping over the scene.

From his perspective, the moves of these young ninjas were quite basic. Even the few children from ninja families didn't stand out much. But this was normal. Not everyone was a prodigy like Uchiha Itachi or Kakashi, graduating from the ninja academy at five or six years old.

"Next, Uchiha Toshiro!"

Still sitting cross-legged on the wooden floor of the classroom, back against the wall, Toshiro, who had been waiting for half an hour, perked up. He stood up and walked towards the center of the room. Any longer, he suspected he might have dozed off from boredom. After all, springtime wasn't exactly conducive to studying.

As Toshiro took his steps, the entire classroom, including both teachers and students, had their eyes fixed on him. The Uchiha name carried too much weight. For ordinary civilians, every appearance of an Uchiha meant someone they knew might be arrested and taken to the security force for punishment. 

For ninja families, associating with an Uchiha was politically incorrect. No ninja from a clan would engage in such behavior, as their actions often represented the stance of their entire clan. This made the Uchiha appear particularly aloof to outsiders. Integrating into other ninja families was tough for them, blocked by an invisible barrier. And ordinary civilians, looking at their occasional fearful expressions, found the proud Uchiha disinclined to establish deep connections.

"Form the Seal of Confrontation, and let the sparring begin!"

Toshiro nodded, energy gathering under his feet for an instant burst. In a flash, he appeared before Ikeda Yuta, aiming a punch at his face.

Many students let out gasps of surprise. Toshiro's burst of speed was so fast that their eyes could barely keep up. Though he didn't use chakra to enhance his burst and was not in his best state due to creating a shadow clone, his speed still startled Ikeda Yuta.

But Teacher Ikeda, a seasoned Chūnin with rich combat experience, wasn't easily intimidated. Quick as Toshiro's burst was, he had faced faster opponents before. Slightly tilting his head, he dodged Toshiro's punch. Even before landing, Toshiro followed up with a series of kicks, but Ikeda deflected them all with effortless palm blocks.

Using the momentum, Toshiro launched himself again, appearing behind Ikeda with a low sweep kick. Realizing Toshiro's attack was not strong enough to topple him, Ikeda endured it, seizing the opportunity to kick at Toshiro's head. Toshiro blocked with both arms, but the force sent him five or six meters away.

"What strong leg power! My arms are numb!"

Toshiro was somewhat taken aback. Although Ikeda's kick was casual, he had held back to avoid injuring Toshiro. Even so, the force was almost unbearable. It was clear that Toshiro had a long way to go to truly reach the level of a Chūnin.

His expression grew solemn. Despite the exam atmosphere, Toshiro took the fight seriously, bursting with energy as he attacked Ikeda from all angles like a phantom. The students watched the intense fight, holding their breath. Toshiro's speed was astounding, his attacks powerful, while Ikeda's effortless dodging and blocking were equally impressive.

Those who considered themselves competent felt uneasy. Toshiro's outstanding performance made them pale in comparison, leading to resentment. After all, kids often liked being in the spotlight.

During a tricky angle kick, Ikeda caught Toshiro's ankle, slamming him to the ground and delivering a quick two-finger jab to his neck. The brief paralysis from the fall left Toshiro unable to react, and the fight was over.

"Excellent!" Teacher Ikeda praised briefly, unable to offer more comments. Toshiro's speed and strength were almost flawless for his age, only lacking experience and technique.

"It's hard to believe he's just six years old. His moves are crisp, senses sharp, and presence commanding. His taijutsu alone is nearing Genin level."

"No one this year might surpass him until they learn their family jutsus. And considering his surname, even those might not help. The Uchiha clan truly deserves its reputation for elite ninjas."

They exchanged the Seal of Reconciliation, and Toshiro felt uneasy under Ikeda's scrutinizing gaze.

"Looks like Toshiro will be the top student in the class and likely the top student of this year!"

(End of Chapter)