After harshly scolding Naruto Uzumaki, Iruka marked a bold zero on the assessment sheet.
Naruto looked like he was about to cry.
"Next, Sasuke Uchiha!"
Ignoring Naruto's desperate pleas, Iruka continued the test.
Sasuke stepped forward with both hands in his pockets.
"Ahh, Sasuke!"
"Go, Sasuke!"
The moment he appeared, several girls screamed in excitement. Among them, the most enthusiastic was the pink-haired girl—Sakura Haruno.
"Tch, all he does is act cool…" Naruto muttered bitterly from the side.
Ever since school started, Naruto had taken a liking to Sakura. Seeing her cheering for Sasuke only made him dislike Sasuke even more.
"Hmph, I'll show you what I'm capable of," Sasuke thought, glancing at Kazama Shin, who was leaning casually nearby.
He would prove to everyone that he was the true top student.
Sensing Sasuke's challenging gaze, Shin merely curled his lips slightly and ignored him.
Sasuke walked up to Iruka.
"Begin," Iruka said encouragingly.
He had high expectations for Sasuke—after all, he was one of the top students.
Sasuke slowly reached into his ninja pouch.
Click.
He pulled out two kunai at once, gripping one in each hand.
"Huh? What is he doing?" some students wondered.
Normally, only one kunai was needed per throw, with three chances total. Hitting the target once was enough to pass.
Under everyone's gaze, Sasuke flicked his left hand.
Whoosh!
The kunai shot forward toward the farthest target.
"That angle's off… it won't hit," Iruka thought, frowning.
Some students could tell as well—the throw would miss.
"Haha—" Naruto was just about to mock him—
But then Sasuke smirked, eyes sharp and focused.
With a sudden motion, he threw the second kunai.
Whoosh—!
The second kunai shot out like an arrow, faster than the first.
It caught up instantly—
Clang!
The two kunai collided midair, changing direction at once.
Thud! Thud!
Both struck dead center on the target.
"…!"
The students were stunned.
Sakura even jumped up, shouting, "That was amazing, Sasuke!"
Naruto pouted, folding his arms in frustration.
"Full marks!" Iruka declared.
Even he was surprised. Using collision to redirect trajectory required incredible precision and control.
"Hmph." Sasuke stepped back under the admiring gazes, then lifted his chin slightly toward Shin.
—
"Next, Kazama Shin!"
After the brief commotion, Iruka called the next name, eyes filled with anticipation.
"Shin's up!"
"Go, Shin!"
The crowd stirred again.
Everyone knew Sasuke had wanted to challenge him. Even though Shin hadn't accepted, in their minds, the competition had already begun.
Sasuke stared at him with clear provocation.
Shin calmly walked forward.
"Begin, Shin," Iruka said with a smile.
Shin nodded slightly and looked toward the targets.
There were three distances: five meters, ten meters, and twenty meters.
Hitting five meters meant passing. Ten meters was considered good.
Sasuke had hit twenty meters with two kunai—hence full marks.
"What a boring test…"
Feeling Sasuke's persistent gaze, Shin smirked faintly.
If you're so eager to be crushed…
A glint flashed in his eyes.
Whoosh!
In one motion, he drew eight kunai, each finger holding one.
"What?!"
Before anyone could react—
Whoosh—!
Swish! Swish! Swish!
A storm of kunai shot into the air like streaking meteors.
Each followed a completely different trajectory, chaotic like scattered petals.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
A rapid chain of metallic collisions echoed midair.
In a blink—
Thud! Thud! Thud!
All the kunai converged—
And buried themselves into the bullseye of the farthest solid wooden target.
Every single one—deeply embedded.
"…!"
Everyone stood frozen in shock.
Sasuke's pupils shrank violently, his mouth hanging open.
"How… is that possible?"
He had only seen such precision and skill once before—
From his brother.
But now… someone his own age had done it.
And that terrifying speed… that power…
In that instant—
Sasuke's confidence took a devastating hit.