The next day, inside the Ninja Academy classroom—
"Sanada Aran, Uzumaki Naruto, Uchiha Sasuke, Haruno Sakura. The four of you have been assigned to Team Seven. Wait here for your squad leader."
The moment Sanada Aran realized he'd finally ended up in the same team as Naruto, he could hardly contain his excitement.
Perfect. Once we get to the Land of Waves mission, I'll finally have the chance to absorb Naruto's Nine-Tails chakra… and then settle the score with Danzō.
While Aran was lost in thought, Naruto was already at the door, mischievously holding the chalkboard eraser.
"Man, I wonder who our sensei's gonna be. Showing up this late—whoever it is deserves some punishment, hahaha!"
"Instead of just an eraser, Naruto, you should put a kettle of hot water up there," Aran joked.
"A kettle? Isn't that going a bit too far?" Naruto snickered back.
As the two laughed, Sasuke suddenly stormed over, his face dark with irritation.
"Aran. I want to fight you. One on one."
"What?" Aran frowned. This again? He didn't have the time—or patience—to keep entertaining Sasuke's obsession.
"Haven't we already fought? And didn't we already settle the outcome back then?"
"Don't give me that crap!" Sasuke snapped. "That time, I wasn't at my best. If you're a real man, fight me again! I, Uchiha Sasuke, will not lose to some dead-last failure like you!"
"That's too much, Sasuke!" Naruto immediately jumped in, stepping between them. "Aran's not a failure!"
"Shut your mouth. You're a failure too. Aran—if you've got any pride, then prove it. Fight me!"
Aran sighed, watching Sasuke's glare burn with intensity. Unbelievable… he loses once and he's already this worked up?
Stretching lazily, Aran finally stood. "Fine. I was going to let you keep a little dignity, but if you're this desperate to lose again, I'll oblige."
"Aran, use your taijutsu secret technique on him!" Naruto urged with a grin.
"Secret technique?" Sasuke's eyes narrowed. He turned to Aran in shock. "Don't tell me… you've mastered a taijutsu stronger than Lion's Barrage?"
"That's right," Aran answered calmly. His smirk, however, matched Naruto's mischievous grin.
"Bastard! Don't think learning a new move makes you untouchable. The Uchiha clan will never lose to anyone!"
"Tiger—Snake—…" Sasuke began forming hand seals at lightning speed.
"Again with the Fireball Jutsu?" Aran scratched his head in annoyance. "That won't even scratch me."
"Shunshin no Jutsu!"
With a sudden blur, Aran's figure vanished from his spot. By the time anyone registered what had happened, he was already standing behind Sasuke.
"Besides," he said casually, "your hand seals are way too slow."
"What—?!" Sasuke froze mid-jutsu, stunned. He hadn't even finished his seals, and already Aran was at his back. This ghostlike speed was something he simply couldn't comprehend.
But whether Sasuke could believe it or not, the truth was clear—Aran had completely taken the upper hand.
"Now then," Aran said with a sly grin, "time for my taijutsu secret art… Thousand Years of Death!"
"AAAHHHHHH!"
With a howl of pain, Sasuke's body shot through the air in a perfect arc.
"You… you bastard!" he gasped, collapsing awkwardly to the ground. "To use such a cheap trick…!"
But as he struggled to rise, trying desperately to maintain his proud image, his body betrayed him. The pain was too sharp—he could barely stand, curling up in defeat.
"A good technique is any technique that defeats the enemy," Aran said with a shrug.
"Ahahahaha! Aran, that's the best thing I've heard all day!" Naruto doubled over, laughing so hard he nearly fell to the floor. He had never seen Sasuke look so humiliated.
For him, it was priceless.