Escape From Konoha

Shiraishi and Ruri followed the rules and made their way to the designated arena. They prepared wooden shuriken and kunai from their shinobi pouch in advance. These practice weapons had low lethality, with their sharp parts removed.

Facing each other, Shiraishi and Ruri took a solemn stance, their hands forming opposing seals.

"Begin."

As the head teacher, Fujimura Taiga, saw the two students ready, he shouted loudly from his seat.

Before Shiraishi could even react, Ruri, standing in front of him, swiftly retrieved several wooden shuriken from her pouch. With a precise motion, she sent them flying towards Shiraishi's vital points, slicing through the air.

Shiraishi's face displayed a hint of surprise as he rolled sideways, managing to narrowly avoid Ruri's initial attack. Although he appeared slightly off-balance, he successfully evaded her first assault.

Before he could regain his composure, Ruri had already vanished from his line of sight. Suddenly, a gust of wind blew from behind. Shiraishi turned around only to encounter a leg swinging towards him, the leg connecting with his chest, sending him hurtling backward.

Defeated in an instant.

"Well, I thought I could hold out a little longer, but Ruri-san is truly formidable..." Shiraishi clutched his chest, struggling to stand up from the ground. He exerted all his strength, wearing a bitter and unwilling expression.

Ruri paid no attention to Shiraishi's defeated look. With a raised chin, she arrogantly flicked her long black hair and stepped out of the arena.

"She's a genius. But don't be disheartened, Shiraishi-san. You are the most diligent student I've ever seen, and you will undoubtedly become a great shinobi in the future," Fujimura Taiga consoled Shiraishi, patting him on the shoulder.

"I'm fine, Fujimura-sensei."

"That's good. Go rest and don't dwell on it too much."

Fujimura Taiga concealed his concern upon seeing the loneliness etched on Shiraishi's face.

In his eyes, Shiraishi had poured relentless effort into self-improvement, enduring countless hardships. Thus, witnessing his quick defeat in an actual battle must have dealt a significant blow.

However, Fujimura Taiga understood that competing against an exceptional talent like Ruri, it was already impressive that Shiraishi managed to hold on for a single exchange.

To him, Ruri's strength was almost on par with that of a genin.

Shiraishi's rapid defeat was a natural outcome.

As time passed, the day drew to a close. After a quick dinner, Shiraishi returned to the wooded area behind the academy as usual, engaging in practice with wooden stakes.

Shiraishi's speed was remarkable, and each strike carried considerable force, evident from the collision between his limbs and the stakes.

His face remained composed, his breathing steady. While striking the stakes, he synchronized his breathing, aiming to preserve his physical stamina while maintaining considerable speed and power.

Lost in this selfless practice, Shiraishi's ears suddenly caught the piercing sound of the air being cut. He quickly reacted as a kunai whizzed past, narrowly avoiding an unexpected attack.

Frowning, Shiraishi peered into the depths of the woods.

It was now past eight in the evening, and only the faint moonlight dimly illuminated the darker areas of the woods, rendering visibility poor.

A figure emerged from the darkness—a short individual with long black hair fluttering in the evening breeze. Their dark pupils shone exceptionally bright. The intense gaze sent a surge of tension through Shiraishi's nerves.

This person was none other than his classmate, Uchiha Ruri.

Shaking his head, Shiraishi greeted her with a relaxed smile on his face. "It's you, classmate Ruri. What brings you here so late? To be honest, I felt a bit frustrated by my quick defeat against you today, so I came here..."

Before he could finish his sentence, Ruri coldly interrupted, "Fight me with all your strength."

"Huh? All my strength? Well, during the day, I did give it my all..." Shiraishi stuttered, struggling to comprehend the meaning behind Ruri's words.

"I said, use all your strength!"

"Ruri, what are you talking about..."

Seeing Shiraishi's feigned confusion, Ruri's icy expression revealed a trace of impatience.

She withdrew a kunai from her pouch and pressed it against Shiraishi's neck without hesitation.

Unlike the wooden training tools used during the day, Ruri wielded a lethal weapon capable of easily severing Shiraishi's throat.

What made the situation more terrifying was Ruri's speed. Shiraishi's heart raced, knowing he couldn't afford to be careless.

Swiftly, he raised his own kunai, blocking Ruri's attack, causing a spark to ignite upon contact.

Two pairs of silent, pitch-black eyes pierced through the nighttime air, locked in a serious gaze.

"Ruri-san, were you planning to kill me just now?"

"Hmph!"

Unyielding as ever, Ruri's long black hair danced in the moonlight, providing her with cover as she launched another kunai towards Shiraishi's heart from a dangerous angle.

Shiraishi barely managed to block it before swiftly creating distance between them. His expression grew increasingly solemn.

In that moment, Shiraishi realized that his speed and strength were on par with Ruri's. However, Ruri possessed far more combat experience, and it was this difference that led Shiraishi to understand his slim chances of victory.

Thankfully, after a brief test, Ruri chose not to continue her assault. She shot Shiraishi a peculiar look, the arrogance fading from her face as she asked, "It's strange. You're clearly strong, so why do you deliberately conceal your true abilities?"

Answering this question was not easy, and Shiraishi couldn't find a suitable lie to convince Ruri. Thus, silence filled the air.

Just as Shiraishi wracked his brain for a response, Ruri spoke again, "Forget it. Now that I know you're hiding your strength, I've achieved my goal. I'm leaving."

With those words, Ruri departed without looking back, resolute in her decision.

"...What an unusual girl," Shiraishi murmured. Did she intend to expose his hidden strength?

If that were the case, it could lead to significant trouble.

Considering Ruri's nature, she was unlikely to meddle in his affairs.

With that thought, Shiraishi felt a wave of relief wash over him.

However, this encounter served as a reminder that even a child possessed the ability to see through him. Even someone like Chunin level head teacher Fujimura Taiga failed to realize it. Shiraishi understood one thing—never underestimate a ninja, regardless of their age.

He resolved to exercise greater caution in the future.