Chapter 7: The Moment to Act Cool (A new week, seeking Likes and fresh flowers)
Inside the Ninja Academy.
In the school's training field, many students were gathered, currently practicing Kunai throwing.
"Students, pay attention. The Kunai is a tool ninjas use often. It can be considered a ninja's most important partner. It can serve not only as a weapon for close combat but also as a hidden weapon for long-range attacks," the ninja teacher instructed. "I have already explained the method of throwing Kunai to everyone earlier."
"Now, everyone will practice Kunai throwing." The ninja teacher looked at the target in the distance. "Watch my hand. A ninja can control a Kunai using not just physical strength, but also Chakra. Now, I will demonstrate controlling it with strength for you."
"Look at the target of the attack." The ninja teacher's right hand threw it lightly, and the Kunai made a whistling sound as it cut through the air.
Bang.
It struck directly into the bullseye of the target, causing many students to show envious expressions because the students present could not do this at all.
"Alright everyone, start practicing," the ninja teacher said.
"Yes, teacher." Several students began practicing one after another.
It could be seen that a few students among them performed particularly well, such as Anko and Hayate Gekkō. However, they were just the best among the average.
The students in this class could not compare to those who had graduated in previous years, such as Kurenai Yūhi, Asuma, and Shizune.
It was just that in this class, Anko and Hayate Gekkō had decent aptitude.
This was only natural. Anyone familiar with Naruto knows that Kurenai Yūhi and Asuma would become Jōnin in the future, while Hayate Gekkō would only be a Tokubetsu Jōnin (Special Jōnin), and Anko would be about the same.
"Anko, is Tengen so scared that he doesn't dare to come?" Hayate Gekkō looked at Anko and said.
"Who says? Tengen will come today. Since when does he panic?" Anko retorted.
"That's not necessarily true. When it comes to Kunai throwing, Tengen isn't good at it, let alone comparing with me. So, isn't he afraid?" Hayate Gekkō laughed.
It was rare for the young Hayate Gekkō to be in such high spirits. Indeed, this was a form of rivalry, mainly because Hayate Gekkō was somewhat envious of Tengen's popularity.
In the school, everyone acknowledged Tengen, even if Tengen's strength wasn't high.
Just as Anko was about to continue retorting, a familiar voice reached them. "Hayate, don't you know I was saving my strength? Just so I wouldn't make you feel ashamed."
In everyone's eyes, Tengen walked into the training field with a face full of smiles.
"Tengen, interesting," Hayate Gekkō looked at Tengen. "You say you were saving strength?"
"Exactly," Tengen said, acting cool. With his current strength of an Elite Genin, dealing with these students who hadn't graduated yet was naturally a simple matter.
Anyway, Tengen planned to apply for graduation before long. With his current strength, muddling along in the school wouldn't improve his abilities.
And if he wanted to show off, there was no other place to do it.
Of course, there was still some time before graduation. During this period, Tengen needed to constantly search for video signals.
In Tengen's heart, the most important thing was that the Third Great Ninja War was about to begin.
So he had to constantly increase his strength. The fastest way to increase strength was to receive video signals. Not many refreshed in Konoha; more would refresh outside of Konoha.
However, currently, the strength of an Elite Genin wasn't enough. Tengen couldn't leave Konoha without graduating; he didn't want to become a missing-nin.
Returning to the scene at the Ninja Academy, Hayate Gekkō heard Tengen's pretentious words and got angry directly. "This is a Kunai class. If you have the skill, let's see you throw some Kunai."
"Kunai throwing?" Tengen smiled. He put his face forward to be slapped; it would be impolite to refuse.
"Hayate, watch closely." Tengen directly took five Kunai and threw them out. The direction deviated directly from the targets, causing Hayate Gekkō to freeze for a moment before laughing.
"Your Kunai throwing ability is inferior even to students who just enrolled..." Before Hayate Gekkō could continue, another Kunai appeared in Tengen's right hand, and he threw it with force.
This Kunai caught up with the previous five Kunai at an extremely fast speed, then lightly collided with them. The six Kunai shot out in six different directions.
Bang, bang, bang...
The sounds of six Kunai hitting the targets rang out.
All six Kunai struck the bullseyes of the targets. Hayate Gekkō's smile came to an abrupt halt, and the whole field went silent.
If one said Tengen was lucky, no one would believe it. Who could rely on luck to hit six Kunai into six bullseyes via collision? If you don't believe it's skill, try relying on luck yourself.
It could only be strength.
The ninja teacher was also somewhat stunned. With such a hand of Kunai throwing ability, even he felt inferior. Well, this ninja teacher was just an ordinary Chūnin.
"Good job, Tengen! It looks like you really were hiding your strength." Anko was the first to recover. She patted Tengen's shoulder heavily, expressing her approval. "No wonder you always let me do the work before and just watched from the side."
Anko figured it out. As the "Second Tyrant" of the school, it was always Anko who took action.
These words made Tengen speechless. The title of "Second Tyrant" was all hers. The reason he didn't take action was that it never came to his turn; with Anko's impulsive personality, she solved those kids directly.
So Tengen could only watch from the side.
"So Tengen is actually that amazing."
"Yeah, yeah. It looks like Tengen might graduate this year."
"It's possible. After all, he didn't reveal his strength before."
"Looking at it this way, Hayate seems to have been face-slapped."
On the side, some students whispered, making Hayate Gekkō's face look ugly.
Suddenly, he had become the fool.
"Damn it, Tengen. You must have practiced this one ability painstakingly. If you have the skill, compete with me!" Hayate Gekkō shouted loudly.
"Go for it," Anko said, never one to think a matter was too big.
"Hayate, that's not good, is it?" Tengen said, expressing a face of helplessness.
Well, Tengen was acting cool again, because he knew Hayate Gekkō would take the bait. "Don't give me that. I can tell, your actual combat strength isn't good at all."
"Since you put it that way, then I will compete with you." Tengen smiled.
It was time to show off.