Across rooftops of varying heights, three figures zipped by in a blur, chasing one another—like gusts of wind sweeping through Konoha's leafy skyline!
"Damn it, they're catching up!" Taro turned to glance behind, and his expression changed. He quickly called out a warning.
Though they had been a bit flustered at the start, now that the competition had officially begun, there was no room for hesitation. Genius top student Neji? Taro wasn't afraid—not with Ishikawa leading the way!
Ishikawa shot a look at Neji and the others gaining on them. He showed no concern—instead, a faint smirk tugged at his lips. "I remember there's a small lake straight ahead on the way to the mountain peak. Let's cross it directly—just tread water instead of detouring."
All three had completed tree-climbing and water-walking training, so they weren't afraid of Neji's team catching up. Especially not Lee, who was clearly lagging behind. He likely hadn't learned how to tread water yet—Tenten might not have either.
"Got it. Brother really is the best." Jiro grinned in agreement. With a glance exchanged between him and Taro, the two immediately understood the plan.
If they could cross the lake using water-walking, they'd shave off at least thirty seconds—an enormous advantage in a speed-based challenge!
"Speed up!" Behind them, unaware of Ishikawa's strategy, Neji gave a low command. His chakra burst forth as he accelerated once more.
To be outpaced by three average students? That was a blatant insult to his title as top student!
"Chakra, now." Ishikawa noticed Neji's acceleration and issued a quick order. Chakra surged beneath his feet, propelling him forward with even more speed.
His two younger brothers didn't hesitate, releasing chakra from their soles and dashing ahead.
However, unlike Ishikawa's and Neji's refined control, their chakra usage was a bit sloppy—more wasteful than precise.
'This guy's chakra control… It's nearly on par with mine. How is that even possible?' Watching from behind, Neji was secretly shocked. His mastery of chakra control stemmed from the Hyuga clan's Gentle Fist techniques.
But Ishikawa? A civilian ninja… showing this level of control? Was he really a hidden genius?
"Damn it… I'll rip off your mask and expose the truth!" Neji's eyes narrowed sharply, his face darkening with resentment as he stared at Ishikawa.
It wasn't jealousy that filled him—it was anger. This guy was clearly gifted, yet he'd pretended to be mediocre back at the Academy. Why? What was the point of Neji earning top rank if someone like Ishikawa was playing dumb the whole time?
It was as if he'd been made into a clown, performing for someone else's amusement.
Unforgivable.
'What the… why is his gaze suddenly so hostile? Is that what being the top student does to people?' Sensing the burning intent behind Neji's stare, Ishikawa glanced back and inwardly grumbled.
Still, he didn't dwell on it. Grabbing his two brothers, he led the charge onward. After dashing for a while, the three finally arrived at an irregular oval-shaped lake—about 100 meters across.
Without hesitation, the trio stepped onto the water's surface and ran straight across, as if walking on solid ground.
Neji followed closely, sprinting across the lake just as fluidly.
"Huh?! Wait—what are we supposed to do now?"
"They're actually running on water?!"
Behind them, Rock Lee and Tenten screeched to a halt and exchanged panicked glances. Neither of them had learned water-walking—how were they supposed to keep up?!
"Damn it!!" At the center of the lake, Neji suddenly halted, a bitter expression forming as realization hit. With clenched fists, he turned and sprinted back along the same watery path.
Teacher Guy's instructions were clear: this wasn't an individual competition. It was a class challenge—and the team had to move forward together!
"Follow me." With a disapproving glance at his two teammates dragging behind, Neji held his breath. The veins at the corners of his eyes bulged as he activated the Byakugan. In an instant, a black-and-white image covering a kilometer radius surged into his mind like a radar sweep.
Spotting the three Ishikawa brothers within his field of vision, Neji let out a cold snort and immediately led Tenten and Rock Lee along the shortest path.
But in a race, being one step late meant falling further behind with every step. Even with the Byakugan's advantage in route planning, they couldn't match Ishikawa's team, who had taken the most direct line across the lake.
More than ten minutes later, when Neji's team finally reached the mountaintop, they found Ishikawa and his brothers already waiting alongside Kakashi and Might Guy.
"You're one minute late," Might Guy announced with a serious tone, though tears welled up in his eyes. "So, Kakashi's team wins the first round!"
Woohoo! As expected from my eternal rival… even his students are so exceptional!
"The second match will be a real combat exercise—three versus three, best of three rounds." Kakashi nodded toward Ishikawa and his teammates, speaking on behalf of the visibly emotional Might Guy.
Since the two teams had arrived just a minute apart, and their stamina consumption was virtually the same, there was no need for rest.
"Ishikawa," Neji spoke the moment Kakashi finished, voice low and intense, "show me your real strength."
"He's my opponent, Neji!" Rock Lee immediately rushed forward, visibly agitated despite having arrived last in the race.
Well… not that Ishikawa minded. Frankly, with how weak Lee was at the moment, he could probably take down two like him at once.
"A failure has no business challenging a genius," Neji snapped coldly, brushing Lee aside and stepping up to face Ishikawa.
"As you wish," Ishikawa replied without flinching. "I've been wanting to see what the top student of our class is truly made of."
After weeks of intense training and a little bit of 'cheating,' Ishikawa had not only mastered a semi-complete Spiritualization Jutsu and Summoning Jutsu but had also greatly improved his chakra control and physical prowess through practicing the Mystical Palm Technique.
This was the perfect opportunity to gauge how far he had truly come—against someone hailed as a true genius.
"You'd better live up to the Jonin ninja's praise," Neji scoffed, his frown deepening at the mention of Ishikawa being called a top student.
If he defeated Ishikawa today, fine—but if he lost, that title would become a bitter irony.
"This guy's really boiling over," Ishikawa muttered, stepping forward with a twitch at the corner of his mouth.
But he didn't take Neji's bad attitude to heart. After all, if I'd lost my father at four, been shackled by the Hyuga clan's cursed seal, and treated like a disposable branch member… I'd probably be ten times angrier than Neji.
Sensing the tension, Ishikawa's younger brothers immediately stepped back to give them space, while Tenten also pulled Rock Lee away to clear the field.
"Now, according to ninja tradition, sign the Seal of Opposition." Kakashi's voice broke the silence as the two of them faced each other.
"Kakashi is right," Might Guy added, nodding firmly. "Don't forget to sign the Seal of Reconciliation afterward! Fight fiercely, but don't carry that emotion beyond the battle!"
"Tch. How childish," Neji muttered. Still, despite the complaint, he raised one hand and made the proper seal.
Ishikawa followed suit, forming the Seal of Opposition with a single hand—just like the legendary statues of Hashirama and Madara at the Valley of the End.
"Then let the match begin!"
"Byakugan… open!" Neji activated his dōjutsu once more as he slid into his signature Gentle Fist stance.