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Chapter 3 - Chapter 3: Showdown

The entrance exam officially began!

The rules were simple. A chunin instructor would randomly select two students to duel, while the others watched and waited from the sidelines.

Throughout the process, the instructors would observe each student's reflexes, coordination, and other essential ninja qualities. They even had a member of the Hyuga clan on hand to observe the students' chakra pathways, all to make a comprehensive judgment on whether a student had the aptitude to become a ninja.

Therefore, this exam wasn't about winning or losing but a test to gauge a student's potential through dueling.

Even if you lost your match, you wouldn't necessarily be eliminated.

Conversely, even if you won, you wouldn't be admitted if the examiners judged you to lack the aptitude of a ninja--like Guy, for example.

At that moment, Riku had an arm slung over Obito's shoulder, rubbing his slightly trembling calf. A moment ago, in order to stop Obito, he had patted him on the head, incidentally triggering the "Head-Pat System."

*Ding!* Patted D-Rank Ninja: Obito Uchiha - Rookie Ninja. Please select one of the following rewards:

Affection of Middle-Aged and Elderly Women

10,000 Yen Deposit

Goggles

"I choose the 10,000 yen."

As expected, there wasn't much to get from him at this stage, but having some savings was always a good thing.

Just then, Obito's voice rang out.

"You idiot, Riku! Why'd you let him off so easy?"

"Most importantly… how did you pull off that cool move?! What's the trick? You gotta teach me!"

Hearing this, Riku just smiled.

"You silly goose, Obito. Just watch the matches. Wait for your big bro Riku to beat that jerk."

"Huh? You're really gonna fight him? Are you nuts? I know what you're capable of. You're just asking for a beating, aren't you?"

This guy Obito, when he was in his hot-blooded idiot phase, it was really hard to get angry at him. He knew perfectly well that fighting that guy was asking for a beating, yet he'd still charged forward just now.

Riku didn't dwell on it, just tilted his chin, signaling for Obito to watch the matches seriously.

But inside, Riku was anything but calm.

*Thank goodness I coated the soles of my feet with chakra, using a sudden burst of speed to stop precisely in front of him. It made me look cool, otherwise I would have shamed all transmigrators.*

*But even with my superb chakra control, it's useless if I don't know how to apply it.*

It was like having Tsunade-level chakra control but being unable to save anyone because you didn't know medical ninjutsu.

Riku was currently stuck in this predicament, unable to properly utilize the reward he had swiped from the Third Hokage.

*If I really have to face that jerk, I'll need to think of a way to deal with him.*

*My weakness is that I have ninjutsu and chakra control, but my chakra reserves are minuscule. Besides the Three Basic Jutsu, I can only cast one other ninjutsu.*

*To beat Nostril Boy, I have to get the timing of that one ninjutsu just right.*

With this in mind, a glint appeared in Riku's eyes as a "wicked" plan began to form.

For the rest of the time, Riku was almost constantly refining his plan in his mind. This was his first battle, after all. The Uchiha clan respected strength above all else; if his opponent had no real skill, he wouldn't have dared to provoke Riku in the first place.

While perfecting his plan, Riku saw many familiar faces in the training grounds.

Ebisu, Aoba Yamashiro, and Asuma flashed by, one after another, and were ultimately accepted.

Kakashi also won his duel in a high-profile manner and left quickly.

Rin Nohara's duel had Obito scrambling over to cheer her on. In the end, both Rin and Obito were deemed to have the aptitude of a ninja and were admitted.

Riku's gaze, however, was fixed on the direction Kakashi was leaving. Next to Kakashi was a tall, silver-haired man with a short sword strapped to his back.

*The White Fang of the Leaf-–Sakumo Hatake. He really lives up to his name.*

*Just standing there, he's like a sheathed sword, its sharpness concealed within.*

*I wonder what would happen if he endorsed toothpaste. White Fang Toothpaste,* Riku thought with a mischievous sense of humor.

Meanwhile, things were getting heated in the training grounds. Nostril Boy had been matched with an unknown commoner ninja.

"Examiner, I won't deign to fight him. Where's Uchiha Riku? Let him fight me!"

His arrogant declaration drew the displeasure of the instructors on the field.

One instructor couldn't stand it and rose to his feet.

"Student, you don't decide who you fight. And you should not disrespect your opponent."

"A ninja's duty is to obey orders and execute missions. Your behavior is unacceptable."

The arrogant boy held his head high, unconcerned.

"This is private Uchiha business. It's not your place to interfere. Tell that coward Riku to come face me."

Riku, not the least bit intimidated, stood up and walked steadily toward the training ground, though he was complaining internally.

*If the Uchiha clan was full of people like this, they wouldn't have to worry about curing neck problems… or about being isolated by the villagers.*

Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, who had been about to leave on official business after watching Asuma's and Kakashi's duels, saw this and stopped, intrigued.

*Isn't that the child who touched my Hokage hat earlier? Interesting. Let's see how he does.*

*But this means my official duties will be delayed again.*

*Biwako is definitely going to yell at me.*

In any case, the Third Hokage was now focused on this showdown.

Riku and the master of neck-problem therapy stood facing each other, their eyes--and in the master's case, nostrils--blazing with boundless fighting spirit.

The examining instructor spoke first. "Both of you, form the Seal of Confrontation!"

While forming the seal, Nostril Boy was still talking trash, but Riku paid him no mind. He poured his entire being into this battle--his first since coming to this world.

The duel began!

In an instant, Riku and his opponent rapidly put distance between them. Just as Riku was looking for an opening, his opponent made a move.

It wasn't a quick dash to close the distance, nor was it a direct ninjutsu. It was a classic Uchiha clan skill Riku had forgotten about--shuriken!

The seemingly simple volley of shuriken subtly cut off all of Riku's escape routes.

There was no time to think. If there was no way to dodge, then he wouldn't dodge. Riku pushed his dynamic vision to its limits.

He drew a kunai from his ninja pouch, shot forward, and deflected the incoming shuriken, smoothly arriving in front of his opponent.

"Your training is still lacking. Your throws are too soft!"

Before his opponent could reply, Riku threw a straight punch.

Forced into a corner by the sudden close-quarters combat, the opponent had no choice but to cross his arms to block.

But who would have thought that a simple punch would produce such a muffled sound?

*THUD!*

His opponent was sent stumbling back ten steps, tumbling and rolling to disperse the force.

Opponent: (?;_?; That's not normal! He must be cheating!)

The crowd of boys watching all had looks of astonishment on their faces.

"Why? How are you so strong?"

The layman watches the spectacle, while the expert sees the technique. The Hyuga examiner and the Third Hokage both saw it.

Riku had almost no practical combat experience, and what little brawling experience he had was pitiful. The reason he could succeed with a single blow was due to his outstanding chakra control!

He had concentrated chakra into one part of his body and released it explosively upon impact, creating immense destructive force.

The Third Hokage nodded.

"This kid's move works on a similar principle to Tsunade's Monstrous Strength."

"But now that his opponent knows how painful his attacks are, he won't just stand there and let him hit him again."

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