Konoha: Gu master

The practical combat class proceeded as usual and was divided into two sections—Iruka Umino’s teaching in the first half and the actual combat in the second.

This time, Iruka was well-prepared, pulling out all the stops.

"Today, we’ll focus on key movements of Taijutsu—the basics of Konoha’s fighting technique, which most of you have already learned."

Iruka opened a storage scroll and pulled out a wooden training post. Stepping back a bit, he leaned forward, raised his right arm, and drove his elbow into the post.

Thud!

The wooden post shook and toppled backward.

Clap, clap, clap!

The students from both classes broke into applause. However, a few remained unmoved, like Neji Hyuga, Sasuke Uchiha, and Shinho Aburame.

Naruto Uzumaki scratched his head. To him, Iruka’s move looked a lot like the Leaf Rock-Destroying Rise that Might Guy had been teaching him, except what Iruka showed seemed weaker and slower in comparison.

"I call this move the Strong Elbow Strike," Iruka said with a proud smile as he exhaled deeply.

Judging by the students’ reactions, it was a success, though Iruka wasn’t surprised by the lack of response from students like Shinho or Sasuke—they were considered geniuses, after all.

"The technique is simple," Iruka continued in a loud voice. "Repeat after me: 'shoulder drives elbow, elbow drives wrist, wrist drives hand.'"

After a brief pause, he reset the post.

"Now for the second move," Iruka said, standing in front of the post. "This time, the power comes from your waist and legs."

He rotated his body slightly and delivered a precise, powerful roundhouse kick to the top of the post.

Wham!

The post was kicked several meters away by the force.

"Wow!" the students responded, even more excited than before. This move looked significantly stronger than the first.

"Damn that Iruka!" Mizuki, watching from a distance, clenched his fists in jealousy. He had forgotten that his lacklustre teaching had led to his current situation, and now Iruka’s growing popularity only stoked the fire of his resentment. Mizuki despised geniuses, especially those better than him.

"Not bad," Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, commented as he observed from afar.

It had been his decision to pair Naruto Uzumaki with Iruka as a teacher. Iruka had lost his parents in the Nine-Tails attack, but he possessed a strong will of fire.

Sarutobi had been curious to see what would happen if the two were placed together—Naruto, often misunderstood as a reincarnation of the demon fox, and Iruka, someone who had every reason to hate him. The results had been even better than expected.

But Mizuki… What a disappointment, Sarutobi thought. He doesn’t deserve to remain in the academy any longer.

"Now it’s time for free practice," Iruka wiped the sweat from his forehead as he spoke.

"Sensei," a boy named Shinnosuke raised his hand, "can we engage in friendly sparring?"

Before Iruka could respond, whispers broke out among the second-year A class.

"Shinnosuke’s at it again."
"What a jerk."
"Keep your voice down, or he’ll come after you."

Iruka frowned slightly. He remembered that Shinnosuke had skipped class the last time, but his request was reasonable, and Iruka couldn’t refuse it.

"Alright," Iruka nodded. Worst case, I’ll intervene before things get too rough.

"Fellow students!" Shinnosuke strolled to the center of the training ground with a friendly smile. "Anyone up for some guidance from a senior?"

"Neji, should we stop him?" Tenten, wearing her usual pink cheongsam, asked quietly.

"Ignore him," Neji replied, his face emotionless. "The weak must accept their fate."

His gaze shifted briefly to Hinata, who was standing quietly beside Shinho. She seemed completely different from the dignified Hyuga heiress he remembered—How disgraceful, Neji thought, deeply disappointed.

So this is what she’s come to—standing with someone from the Aburame clan. What could they possibly offer her?

Neji wondered if the Hyuga elders had already given up on Hinata and placed their hopes on her younger sister, Hanabi. If that were the case, it was truly pathetic. He subconsciously touched the cursed seal on his forehead—the Caged Bird seal, a mark of the fate he was bound to.

Tenten, curious, asked, "Isn’t that Sasuke Uchiha? His brother is Uchiha Itachi, right?"

Neji glanced at the first person who stepped forward—Sasuke.

He narrowed his eyes, wondering how much of Itachi’s talent Sasuke had inherited. Even Neji, a prodigy himself, couldn’t deny Itachi’s overwhelming genius.

"I’ll accept your guidance, senpai," Sasuke said calmly, stepping forward.

Shinnosuke gave him a condescending glance, noticing the Uchiha crest on Sasuke’s clothes. Oh, it’s a little Uchiha, he thought with a sneer.

"Very well," Shinnosuke cracked his knuckles. Not every Uchiha is as strong as Itachi.

"Begin!" Iruka shouted, glancing around the field.

In an instant, Shinnosuke launched forward without performing the traditional combat hand signs.

Iruka frowned, preparing to intervene, but stopped when he saw Sasuke’s response.

Swish, swish!

Two kunai flew from Sasuke’s hands—one to the left and one to the right, aiming directly at Shinnosuke.

Shinnosuke was startled by Sasuke’s speed but quickly parried both kunai with his own.

"Not bad," he muttered, but before he could react, Sasuke had already thrown two more kunai.

"The same move again? It won’t work!" Shinnosuke smirked, batting them away with a powerful swing.

But Sasuke’s fingers twitched.

If anyone looked closely, they’d see that nearly invisible threads were tied to two of his fingers, connected to the kunai.

With a cross of his arms, the four kunai—two that had fallen to the ground and two that had been deflected—suddenly reversed direction, flying straight back toward Shinnosuke.

Whoosh!

Shinnosuke’s smug expression froze.

What’s happening?

He spun around, only to feel sharp pain as the kunai struck his limbs. Despite being wooden, they carried enough force to inflict significant damage.

"Damn it!" Shinnosuke cried out, collapsing onto the ground. Before he could get up, Sasuke pulled on the wires, causing the kunai to tighten and wrap around his neck.

Shinnosuke went rigid, not daring to move a muscle.

"A second-year, huh?" Sasuke said coldly. "Nothing special."

As expected, it wasn’t his lack of skill holding him back—it was Shinho. Even a so-called second-year prodigy was no match for him.

"Sasuke-kun!" Sakura and the others cheered loudly. Even those who normally weren’t fond of Sasuke had to acknowledge his victory, for the sake of class pride.

"You’re next," Sasuke said, lifting his chin and staring arrogantly at Neji.

A sudden silence fell over the training grounds.

"Pathetic fool!" Mizuki, watching from a distance, was stunned that Shinnosuke had lost so easily.

"What a beautiful shuriken technique," Hiruzen Sarutobi mused, taking a drag from his pipe. Sasuke’s skills reminded him of Itachi Uchiha.

Itachi had been promoted to the Anbu at the age of eleven. Despite his youth, he had quickly surpassed many seasoned Anbu members. Sarutobi reflected. At this rate, it wouldn’t be long before he became a captain.

Itachi possessed not only extraordinary skill but also a profound understanding of the Will of Fire, much like Uchiha Kagami, Sarutobi’s old teammate. If only there were more talents like Itachi, Sarutobi sighed wistfully.

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