Chapter 5: Tournament
The training ground buzzed with the chatter and excitement of the Academy students. The sun shone brightly, casting shadows of young shinobi-in-training as they stood in a loose semi-circle around Iruka-sensei. Positioned in the center of the group, Iruka exuded his usual air of approachable authority.
"Alright, everyone!" Iruka began, raising his hands to calm the crowd. "Today, we'll be practicing the Leaf Style as usual. But to spice things up, we'll be doing it in the format of a simulated tournament!"
Gasps and whispers broke out among the students, the announcement clearly piquing their interest. Even Shin perked up from his usual state of boredom. But when he raised his hand, the reactions were immediate.
From the girls came hushed, biting comments:
"He's that bastard."
"Yeah… he's that shithead that insulted Sasuke."
"Isn't he the one who dared to bring up his family? Doesn't he know what happened?"
"Really? How did he dare?!"
Meanwhile, several boys grinned and whispered amongst themselves:
"Shin! He's the one who put that prick Sasuke in his place!"
"Finally, someone stood up to him!"
"He's got guts, that's for sure."
Shin's emerald eyes darted briefly to each group, his expression unreadable, but his clenched fists betrayed his inner turmoil. Brushing aside the murmurs, he focused on Iruka and asked, "Sensei, what will the winner of the tournament receive?"
Iruka blinked, caught slightly off guard. Before he could respond, a familiar "Tch!" cut through the crowd. Sasuke stood near the back, his arms crossed and his onyx eyes narrowed. His displeasure was palpable, though he chose to remain silent.
"The tournament is just for practice, Shin," Iruka explained. "There's no prize. It's not an actual competition."
Shin frowned but didn't back down. He needed another way to get stronger now that his father took away the Medical Scroll. Taking a step forward, he spoke again, his voice calm but determined. "But sensei, wouldn't it be more motivating if there was a prize? Some of us might work harder if there's something to win. And—" his tone grew sharper, "—it's not like all of us come from important families with plenty of resources. Some of us have to fight for every opportunity to grow stronger!"
A murmur of agreement rippled through the crowd, especially among the civilian students. They nodded, their expressions showing approval and shared determination. Even some of the clan-born students looked intrigued. The girls who had criticized Shin fell quiet, and their expressions shifted as they considered the stakes. None of them wanted to miss the opportunity to learn a valuable Genjutsu.
Iruka sighed, scratching the back of his head as he weighed the idea. "Alright, alright," he conceded after a moment. "If it'll make you all more motivated, we can add a small reward." A knowing smile crossed his lips. "How about this: the winner of the tournament will receive personalized instruction from me in my signature Genjutsu, the Demonic Illusion: Hell Viewing Technique."
The students gasped, excitement washing over them like a wave. Genjutsu was a tricky art, and learning a technique directly from a skilled shinobi like Iruka was a rare opportunity.
"That's perfect!" Kiba exclaimed, cracking his knuckles. "I'm totally going to win this!"
"You wish!" Ino shot back, flipping her hair confidently. "Even if I hate that it was him who suggested this, I'll be the one to win the tournament!"
Shin allowed himself a faint smile. He could feel his blood pumping, and his resolve solidified even further.
I need this. I need to win!
If he could learn the Hell Viewing Technique, it might be another step closer to outpacing Sasuke and proving his strength.
Iruka clapped his hands to refocus the students. "Alright then, no more delays. I'll assign the pairs myself. Line up, everyone! We'll begin the first round shortly."
The students shuffled into position, the air buzzing with anticipation. The tournament was about to begin.
Iruka cleared his throat. "Alright, listen up! The first match will be between… Sasuke Uchiha and Naruto Uzumaki!"
The reaction was immediate. Naruto's face lit up with a confident grin as he stepped forward. "Heh! Finally, I'll show that smug bastard what I'm made of!" he declared, pointing at Sasuke, who remained cool and composed as he walked to his starting position.
Sakura and Ino cheered in unison. "Sasuke-kun, you've got this!" Their voices rang out, drowning out Naruto's attempts to rally support from the crowd.
"Just watch! I'll be the one standing at the end!" Naruto shouted, clenching his fists.
Shin, watching from the sidelines, suppressed a sigh. Naruto's energy was commendable, but his taijutsu left much to be desired. This fight felt like a foregone conclusion. He crossed his arms, wondering if he should even bother paying close attention.
Iruka raised his hand. "Alright, both of you ready?"
Naruto nodded enthusiastically, dropping into a stance that looked more improvised than practiced. Sasuke, meanwhile, moved with deliberate ease, his stance flawless.
"Begin!" Iruka declared.
Naruto charged forward immediately, shouting at the top of his lungs. "Here I come, Sasuke!"
Sasuke sidestepped the wild attack effortlessly, his movements fluid and precise. Before Naruto could recover, Sasuke landed a clean strike to his gut, sending the blond boy staggering backward.
"That's it, Sasuke-kun!" Sakura cheered, her voice filled with admiration.
Naruto stumbled but didn't give up. He threw another series of punches and kicks, each one telegraphed and easily dodged. Sasuke's expression didn't change as he swept Naruto's legs out from under him and pinned him to the ground with a knee on his chest.
The match was over in seconds.
Iruka raised his hand. "Winner: Sasuke Uchiha!"
The crowd erupted, some cheering loudly for Sasuke while others groaned in disappointment for Naruto. The blond boy struggled under Sasuke's grip, muttering about how it wasn't fair.
"Get stronger, dobe," Sasuke said, standing up and walking back to the line without a backward glance.
Naruto scrambled to his feet, his face red with frustration. "Just you wait, Sasuke! Next time, I'll totally crush you!"
Shin shook his head slightly, his lips twitching into a faint smile. "As expected," he muttered under his breath.
Iruka clapped his hands to quiet the noise. "Alright, settle down! Let's move on to the next match!"
The matches continued, with students showcasing varying levels of skill in the Leaf Style. Some bouts were fierce, others ended in clumsy fumbles, and the energy in the training ground remained high. Shin watched each match carefully, analyzing techniques and anticipating how he might approach his eventual opponent. His fists stayed clenched at his sides, his resolve unwavering.
Iruka finally raised his hand for attention again, clipboard in hand. "Alright, for the next match: Shin Hamada and Sakura Haruno!"
Gasps and murmurs rippled through the students.
Sakura immediately let out an excited squeal. "Yes!" She spun on her heel to face Sasuke, her face alight with determination. "Sasuke-kun, I'll beat this asshole for you!" she declared, her voice carrying a surprising amount of venom.
Sasuke raised an eyebrow but said nothing, his disinterest palpable. He crossed his arms and gave a dismissive glance toward Shin, as if the outcome was already decided.
Sakura turned sharply to Shin, her face contorted with a mixture of anger and pride. "Shin!" she snapped, pointing an accusatory finger. "I'll make you regret insulting Sasuke-kun!"
The students broke into hushed whispers, some thrilled by the dramatic setup while others exchanged skeptical looks.
Shin, however, remained calm, his expression unreadable. His emerald eyes locked onto Sakura's, and he took a slow, deep breath. Inside, his determination burned brighter than ever.
"Alright, both of you step forward," Iruka called, gesturing to the center of the training ground.
...to be continued.
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Also, be sure to check my original novel, Hyperborea, you won't surely regret it!