Chapter 100: Words like daggers

A stunned silence descended upon the assembled students as the dust settled from the shocking outcome of the spar between Ryu Hamura and Akira Uchiha. Their eyes were wide with shock as they tried to comprehend what they had just seen.

Even Tanaka-sensei, the experienced teacher, had a look of surprise on his scarred face that was impossible to hide.

Saya Uchiha, standing among the top-ranked students, felt her jaw drop. When Kenji said that Ryu was holding himself back in the academy exam, she believed him because she knew how hard his training schedule was and the fact that following it has also improved her physical parameters. But this display of combat prowess was beyond her expectations.

"Did... did that really just happen? What were those moves?" a student whispered, breaking the silence.

Everyone appeared to be startled out of their trance by the question. All of a sudden, the training ground was alive with conversations and arguments.

"He threw an Uchiha! Just like that!" exclaimed one wide-eyed boy, his voice filled with a mixture of awe and disbelief.

"But was it even allowed? He threw sand in her eyes," questioned another, her brow furrowed in confusion.

In the background, Fumi Suzuki and Takeshi Yamamoto, the civilian-born children who had lost their earlier matches, couldn't hide their grins. There was a noticeable sense of satisfaction among the non-clan students, a silent celebration of seeing one of the elite clan members being taken down a peg.

Suddenly, Akira's voice cut through the discussions, her tone sharp with indignation. "He cheated!" she accused, pointing at Ryu. "He threw sand in my eyes!"

Raising his hand, Tanaka-sensei commanded the audience to remain silent.

Ryu, who had been dusting himself off, turned to face her with a calm smile. "If I recall correctly, Akira-san," he said, his voice carrying across the now-silent training ground, "you said I could use any weapons I wanted and that the results would be the same. Did you not?"

Akira's face contorted with fury. "I said weapons, you coward! Not sand!"

Ryu's eyebrow arched slightly, a glint of amusement in his eyes. Turning to face the students, he asked them, "Can someone define a weapon for us?"

After a moment of hesitation, a civilian-born boy raised his hand. "A weapon is anything that can be used to hurt or kill someone," he offered, his voice slightly trembling under the sudden attention.

Ryu nodded appreciatively. "Thank you. Now, Akira-san, didn't I use the sand as a weapon? Didn't it hurt? You said 'anything,' correct? Does sand not fall under the category of 'anything'?"

"That's not fair!" Akira protested, her voice rising in pitch, a hint of desperation creeping in.

Ryu's expression shifted, a look of genuine surprise crossing his features. He tilted his head, as if considering her words carefully. "Fair?" he said, his tone incredulous. "You, a member of one of the most prestigious clans in Konoha, are lecturing about fairness?"

The training ground became even more silent. Even Tanaka-sensei seemed hesitant to intervene, sensing the importance of the moment.

Ryu continued, his voice taking on a more serious tone. "Life is never fair, Akira-san. It never was. If it were, everyone would be born with the Sharingan, wouldn't they? Everything can be a weapon if used correctly. Even words... and silence too."

He paused, his gaze sweeping across the assembled students. His eyes lingered on each face, stopping at the rank one holder of class, as if trying to impress upon them the gravity of his words. "The things you've said about civilians, about how they'll never amount to anything. For some, those words are like daggers. Have you considered how that feels to someone who's worked incredibly hard to get where they are?"

The weight of Ryu's words hung heavy in the air. Even Tanaka-sensei seemed taken aback, his eyes widening slightly at the young student's eloquence and insight.

There was tense silence for a moment, and then Tanaka-sensei cleared his throat, speaking in a slightly hoarse voice. "This match is declared a tie because both participants crossed the boundary," he said. "Both of you form the seal of reconciliation."

Akira rose to her feet, her eyes never leaving Ryu's face. The smile that played on his lips only seemed to fuel her anger further. Her fists clenched at her sides, trembling slightly with suppressed emotion as they formed the seal of reconciliation.

As the instructor began to break down the match, the students leaned in, eager to glean any insight from the unexpected outcome.

"What we witnessed here was a prime example of using one's environment to their advantage," Tanaka-sensei said, echoing over the training ground. "Ryu showed quick thinking and resourcefulness, which are essential for any shinobi. Although many will find Ryu's method questionable, your enemy will never be hesitating using any underhanded tactics to fight."

Tanaka-sensei continued, "This is it for today's class. From next class onwards, we will learn more about basic academy taijutsu and will continue the workout routine as today for building a strong foundation for taijutsu."

As the class dispersed, whispers followed in their wake. The events of the day had shaken the established order.

Later that evening, in the Uchiha compound, a gathering took place. All the Uchiha kids who witnessed the fight between Ryu and Akira were there, their faces a mix of concern and curiosity. Akira sat apart from the others, her head bowed in shame, her usual confidence notably absent. Someone had leaked Akira's duel today to the clan elders, harming her reputation as the most talented person of her generation.

Fugaku, who was eager to hear firsthand accounts, listened as a number of young clan members related what had seen what happened today at the academy. 

Sensing Akira's dejection, Fugaku's stern gaze softened slightly as he said, "Akira, it is not important that you lost. What's important is what you gained from this loss. Think about your mistakes and learn from them. Feeling sad and dejected will not earn you anything."

After losing to Ryu earlier, Kenji could not help but feel satisfied. As he saw someone else take the brunt of the clan leader's piercing gaze, a tiny, covert smile appeared on his lips. He felt a surge of gratitude for his awakened Sharingan, which had spared him from similar criticism.

Akira, who was on the verge of tears, suddenly looked up, meeting Fugaku's eyes with a newfound determination. "I will learn from my battles and improve myself," she declared.

Fugaku nodded, a hint of approval in his eyes. He said, "You all can leave."

When he was alone, he looked towards the darkness, where his oldest son was hiding. "What do you make of this Ryu Hamura, Itachi?"

Itachi stepped forward, his face thoughtful, his eyes distant as if replaying the events in his mind. "To use sand as a weapon against an Uchiha requires great skill," he mused. "And his words after the fight... they show wisdom beyond his years. I find myself intrigued by this boy, Father."

"Indeed," Fugaku muttered as he considered what his son had said. "I would also like to meet this boy."

Meanwhile, in the Hokage's office, Tanaka-sensei finished his report on the day's events. The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, listened attentively, his pipe sending lazy spirals of smoke towards the ceiling. His eyes twinkled with interest as he absorbed the information.

"So," Hiruzen mused after Tanaka had finished his report, "young Ryu Hamura is not only academically gifted but also shows promise in combat and psychological warfare. I already know he has a good head on his shoulders. The stunt he pulled at the entrance exam also confirms that he is also a brilliant strategist."

Elsewhere in the village, the night air was filled with the sound of blades whistling through the air. Akira Uchiha leaped from tree to tree, her movements fluid and precise despite the darkness. Her face was set in grim determination as she hurled shuriken and kunai at targets scattered throughout the forest.

Suddenly, she launched herself high into the air, her body twisting gracefully. In mid-air, she released a barrage of blades, her hands moving so fast they were almost a blur. The weapons collided in mid-air, their trajectories altering as they ricocheted off each other. With uncanny precision, every target was struck, even those hidden behind trees and out of direct line of sight.

As Akira landed, tears began to stream down her face. The frustration and anger she had been holding back all day finally broke free. She fell to her knees, her body shaking with silent sobs.

Then, slowly, she looked up, her eyes burning with a renewed resolve. As she opened them fully, a gasp escaped her lips. She saw her own face staring back at her in the reflection on her dagger, but then her eyes changed. Where once there was only darkness, now a red hue bloomed in the centre of each eye, a single tomoe spinning lazily in each iris.

##PoWeR StOnEs##

Hey everyone!

I hope this note finds you all well.

For those wondering why Akira awakens just like Kenji. I have a plan for her.

Tomorrow is my wedding anniversary, and I'll be spending some quality time with my partner on this day. Due to this, I won't be able to post a new chapter tomorrow.

Additionally, I've been receiving -ve feedback on the earlier chapters, and I wholeheartedly agree that they could use some improvement. To be honest, I wasn't the best writer back then. I still am not, but I'm committed to enhancing the reading experience for both new and returning readers. To that end, I'll be taking two extra days to edit and polish those initial chapters. I must take this action to attract new readers; it's crucial to create a positive first impression for those who are new to my work.

For readers who are up to date, the changes will not affect the story overall, and you will not have to read them again.

If I manage to finish the edits before the weekend, I'll release a few chapters then. Otherwise, I'll be back with new content after my weekend break.

Thank you for your understanding and continued support.

-PJ

 Lasest chapter on Patreon: Chapter 124: Most Dangerous Forbidden Seal in existence

25+ more chapters, including 5 free chapters for everyone, are available to read on patreon. com/PageTurnerPJ.

Your support is what gets this story going, so please donate power STONES to the story and add it to your library.

Keep supporting the story.