Chapter 012

"This isn't supposed to be fun, Naruto," Iruka suddenly spoke up, silencing the gawking crowd and drawing the jinchuriki's attention. The Chunin glared across at him. "This is supposed to be a serious test meant to determine your current level of skill and strength in your group. If you keep messing around the way you are now, I have no choice but to disqualify and fail you for your outrageous behavior."

"What?" the jinchuriki blinked, abruptly stopping his swaying movements and raising a hand meekly in protest, "B-But sensei…"

"Last chance, Naruto," Iruka interrupted, his gaze hardening the moment he shot down his response. "You can either show me something of value, anything at all you may have learnt, or you can give up. I don't like wasting my time with your antics."

"Yeah, Naruto," Kiba shouted at him while waving his fist, "Stop playing chicken and do something already!"

"You can't beat, Sasuke-kun!" Ino also yelled with a cocky smirk. "You'll never be able to beat him! You're just a loser and a slacker!"

"Yeah, dead-last!"

"Fight for real or don't fight at all!"

"Stop dancing around like a pansy and do some proper fighting!"

"Kick his ass, Sasuke-kun!"

"Beat him already, Sasuke! You can do it!"

"Knock his punk ass down!"

The combination of his teacher's glare, the seriousness of his voice, and the way everyone started rooting for Sasuke again while at the same time insulting him and dismissing his oddball performances from before, had Naruto's confused gaze slowly transform into a harsh glare. He lowered his head and allowed his eyes to become overshadowed, all aspects of his previously cheerful demeanor melting away before he turned back to face his opponent now back in an offensive stance several feet in front of him.

What was wrong with him? What would it take to impress these people? How much more did he have to do to get them to side with him, to get them to see that what he was doing was just as good as the genius's abilities? Was his presence that repugnant? Was his smile that unpleasant? Was it him that they despised, despite how carefree and friendly he was?

Well… it didn't matter now.

The jinchuriki looked up at his foe and narrowed his eyes.

"Fine…"

Naruto dug his feet into the ground and widened his stance. He froze just outside of Sasuke's reach, telling everyone he was now ready to duke it out. No more running.

The crowd continued jeering and cheering, whereas Iruka kept his eyes on his student to see how the fight would progress now. If anything interesting was going to happen, it was going to happen in this round.

Sensing an opportunity, the Uchiha frowned and shuffled forward carefully, his left held out in front of him to gauge the distance and his right at his side. With the change in the atmosphere the genius knew right then and there that he was going to be guaranteed an actual fist-fight this time, one that would be fought on his own terms and not on his opponent's.

Right now, he was more certain than ever that he'll be able to get his foe in an exchange and win.

"Come on. Let's see what you've really got," Sasuke thought, clenching his left for a straight.

The distance between them was quickly cut away and the Uchiha was ready to begin.

However, just as Sasuke's left was being drawn back for a punch, a sudden flash of light froze him, followed shortly by a sharp pain and the distinct echo of a sharp thump, like a deft bag was just hit by a jackhammer.

From the crowd's point of view, it was instantaneous.

Naruto was the one to make the first move against his opponent, but instead of pulling off some predictable wild swing or busting out one of his stupid moves from before, what he did stunned every single person on the field.

All the crowd saw from where they were standing was the blurred motion of his fist, the boy's left being drawn back from a clear hit and a cloud of sweat exploding off of Sasuke's face, the latter's head recoiling from the unexpected impact of a blazingly fast punch nobody was able to see.

The Uchiha stumbled back a few, head still cocked upwards and a shocked look slapped clean across his face.

With his left still swinging in front of him, Naruto glared straight into his opponent's astonished eyes, awaiting a response. But when none came and his attack wasn't met with any retaliation, the jinchuriki grunted, straightened up out of his stance and placed his hands behind his head.

In a shocking turn of events, Naruto was the one to turn his back on his rival and begin walking away, his nose held high and eyes closed. The crowd and his teachers watched him leave the ring with astonishment emanating off of every one of them.

"This is boring. I've had enough," Naruto said in his usual dejected tone. "I'm going to go find someone who can put up an actual fight…"

Shaking the shock out of his head, Iruka gritted his teeth and stepped forward, "N-Now hold it right there, Naruto! You only threw one punch and you didn't even give the sign of reconciliation! Get back here!"

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