After explaining the trick to chakra extraction, the instructor announced that there would be a practical combat exercise that afternoon.
A so-called "ninja combat exercise" meant a free sparring session among classmates.
Each student could choose an opponent of roughly equal strength to train with, building up real battle experience—an essential step to becoming a true ninja.
The entire class was thrilled, eagerly awaiting the afternoon session.
Leo, however, could already sense a faint, ominous hostility. During the morning lesson, he had felt an intense gaze fixed upon him.
It came from a student about two years older than he was, face full of arrogance, his spiky hairstyle resembling a hedgehog's. The bold red fan emblem on his back made his identity obvious—
a member of the Uchiha clan, Uchiha Tsuki.
At this point in time—just before the Second Ninja World War—the Ninja Academy's system was far from as refined as it would be in later generations.
Most upper- and lower-year students shared the same classroom and trained together.
Because war could break out at any moment, students were allowed to graduate early and undergo further tempering—such as joining the ANBU, the elite corps directly under the Hokage's command.
Every academy student dreamed of one day becoming ANBU.
In later generations, the likes of Hatake Kakashi, Uchiha Itachi, and Yamato would all rise from ANBU ranks.
There was also another form of mentorship, where Jounin would personally select academy graduates, take them as disciples, and guide them through real missions to hone their skills.
In the original timeline, Namikaze Minato belonged to this second path—trained by Jiraiya, tempered during the Second Ninja World War, and later shining brilliantly in the Third as the legendary "Yellow Flash."
"Leo-kun, are you all right?" asked Kushina beside him.
Though she hadn't been in Konoha for long, she could already tell that trouble was brewing around Leo—and it was all because of her.
That Uchiha Tsuki was clearly a senior, and likely no weakling. Leo might not stand a chance.
"Don't worry," Leo replied calmly.
Although he'd been cautious ever since arriving in this world, he never shrank from a challenge.
If someone dared provoke him, they would have to pay the price.
Now that he possessed the Three Colors of Haki, what did the Uchiha clan amount to? Whatever malice they had—he would shatter it all!
When the afternoon combat class began, the instructor entered the room and, after a few brief words, led everyone to the training field.
He then began reading from a pre-arranged list, calling students up in pairs to spar one-on-one.
The shuriken and kunai used were all blunted training tools. While they couldn't cause fatal injuries, bleeding was still hard to avoid.
"Teacher, I want to challenge Leo-kun!"
As the matches went on, Uchiha Tsuki stepped out from the crowd, expression full of arrogance.
The instructor frowned. "You're a year above Leo—you entered the academy earlier. What's the point of such a challenge?"
At once, every student turned their gaze toward them.
Although Uchiha Tsuki wasn't as gifted or popular as Namikaze Minato, he wasn't far behind—and with the Sharingan at his disposal, his strength was already near that of a genin.
Leo had only been in Konoha for three months. How could he possibly be Tsuki's match?
It was plain bullying.
The students whispered among themselves—some mocking, some eager to watch the show, some pitying, and some expressionless.
This was a cold-blooded era, and the people born in it were the same.
They might still look like children, but as ninja, they could no longer be treated as such.
"This is just bullying!" Kushina shouted angrily, stepping forward.
"If you don't accept," Tsuki sneered, "then just hide behind that woman. You don't deserve to be called a ninja!"
"Enough!"
The instructor's sharp voice cut through the air. His eyes shifted to Leo.
"Leo, this is a free sparring session. The teacher will respect your choice."
Leo walked forward, his face calm. "Thank you, sensei. I'll accept the challenge."
"You're sure?" The instructor studied him again, surprised to find not a trace of fear on the boy's face.
A pity, though—Uchiha brats were notorious mad dogs, never knowing when to hold back.
Even if it wasn't a fight to the death, Leo would likely be seriously injured.
Tsuki's intent was clearly malicious.
Leo nodded. "I'm sure."
"Leo!" Kushina called anxiously, eyes glimmering with tears.
Tsuki, meanwhile, smiled smugly.
The students stepped back, leaving an open space for the duel.
"Remember," the instructor said coldly, "this is a sparring exercise—stop before it goes too far."
"Begin!"
The instant the word fell, Uchiha Tsuki flipped both hands, pulling out two stacks of shuriken and hurling them at incredible speed toward Leo.
Whoosh!!!
In a blink, eight shuriken became black streaks in the air—four targeting Leo's vital points, the other four cutting off every escape route!
With the aid of the Sharingan, the Uchihas were the flashiest in Konoha when it came to shuriken techniques.
Facing the incoming blades, Leo clenched his fists, eyes flashing.
He shifted slightly to one side, bent his arm, and drove his fist straight toward the path of the shuriken.
"He's insane!"
"He's trying to block the shuriken with his bare hands?!"
The watching students widened their eyes in shock—even Namikaze Minato's expression changed.
The smart move would've been to use the Body Flicker or a Substitution Technique to evade.
"Hmph."
Leo ignored their disbelief.
If there was nowhere to dodge—then why dodge at all?
Just smash through it!
"Foolish!" Tsuki snorted. "Typical of some small-village bumpkin—no sense at all."
"Armament Haki!"
Leo muttered under his breath, body tensing.
As the shuriken neared, he thrust out his fist—
Bam!
A metallic clang echoed through the training field. Armament Haki wrapped around his fist, his strength and defense surging in an instant!
The power of that strike shattered the volley of shuriken head-on.
With Haki fully unleashed, one could crush even mountains—
So what were a few shuriken?
The eight weapons were smashed mid-air, falling uselessly to the ground.
Some were bent, some cracked, some even broken in half—
but Leo himself didn't have a single scratch.
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