"Ring, ring, ring—!"
The bell of the Konoha Ninja Academy rang, announcing the end of today's classes.
The classroom instantly became like an exploded birdcage as chirping students poured out the door, excitedly discussing the upcoming graduation exam, Ninja squad assignments, and their future lives as Genin.
"I heard a Chunin will be a temporary examiner tomorrow! I'm so nervous!"
"I definitely must..."
"Hey, did you guys do your Taijutsu sparring practice?"
Amidst the background noise of the crowd, Tejima Shinichi slowly walked out of the classroom with his hands in his pockets once no one else was left.
He had slightly messy black hair, with a few strands of dark brown faintly mixed in at the tips, looking like traces of fading after sun exposure.
The contours of his face were sharp and clean, with a straight nose and well-defined lips, combining into a face that revealed handsome features prematurely; his good looks were not at all childish, but rather full of heroic spirit, with the faint shadow of sharp, angular features visible within his clean, youthful Aura.
His eyes appeared a dark amber under the sunlight as his gaze swept indifferently ahead, showing no interest in the heated discussions.
He had long since seen through the noisiness of these brats.
Graduation?
Genin?
Boring!
In the hallway, the crowd was still dense.
"Hey, hey, who do you think will be the Top Student in this graduation exam?"
Inuzuka Kiba held Akamaru, his voice very loud.
"Is that even a question?" Nara Shikamaru let out a yawn and scratched the back of his head with a look of annoyance. "It's definitely that monster Shinichi. Perfect scores in theory, and in practical combat... no one has ever beaten him."
Though he spoke so casually, Nara Shikamaru's eyes held a look of solemnity.
Because Tejima Shinichi's strength was the kind that created a massive gap, a level of... terror that was simply not in the same league as people like them!
"Crunch, crunch..." Leaning against the wall, Akimichi Choji focused on munching his potato chips and echoed without looking up: "I think Shikamaru is right, Shinichi is truly terrifying!"
"Tch," Kiba curled his lip, "That guy is pretty amazing... but Sasuke isn't bad either!"
But as soon as he finished speaking, it was as if a fuse had been lit, igniting an unknown war!
"Sasuke-kun is of course very amazing!" Ino Yamanaka immediately cut in, raising her voice. "But Shinichi-kun is more stable! Every exam, he defeats Sasuke without any suspense to become number one!"
Hearing this, someone was instantly displeased!
Sakura Haruno immediately pushed Ino aside and retorted loudly: "Ino-pig, what do you know! Sasuke-kun is handsome and cool, and his strength progresses so fast! Shinichi is amazing, that's true, but Sasuke-kun is more..."
"More what?" Ino glared back defiantly, hands on her hips. "Billboard Brow, you're the one who understands nothing! Shinichi-kun's calm and composed manner is the true style of a powerhouse!"
"..."
In an instant, the hallway became a battlefield for the two of them, filled with constant bickering!
Akimichi Choji watched the scene, shrank his neck, and stuffed potato chips into his mouth even faster, muttering softly: "As expected... women are terrifying..."
Nara Shikamaru watched the escalating argument with a massive headache, sighed, and turned to the culprit beside him with a tone of helplessness:
"Hey, Kiba, look at what you've done."
Inuzuka Kiba also scratched his face in embarrassment, while Akamaru in his arms followed with a low "Whimper," before Kiba muttered softly:
"I-I didn't want it to be like this either, who knew the two of them would turn out this way..."
Tejima Shinichi stood not far away, his indifferent amber eyes sweeping over the arguing Ino and Sakura, then looking at the troubled Shikamaru and the sheepish Kiba, finally lingering briefly on Choji who was eating chips at an accelerated pace.
He looked at this group of companions who were about to graduate in the same class, watching them waste energy on this meaningless argument, until Shikamaru pulled away the still-muttering Kiba and Choji, and the two girls glared at each other before walking to the other side; only then did he slowly start walking.
Tejima Shinichi let out a soft sigh.
"I really don't get it..."
"They're all about to become Ninjas who put their lives on the line, so why can these girls argue until they're red in the face over such trivial things?"
A Ninja could lose their life at any moment; can being a fangirl help you survive a mission?
Though... you all did indeed live until the finale... Walking through the hallway, before even reaching the school gate, another familiar clamor reached him—
"Sasuke! You bastard! Why does Sakura always hang around you every day!"
A piercing voice exploded.
Tejima Shinichi stopped and looked over—as expected, it was that constantly shouting Uzumaki Naruto again!
At this moment, he was sporting a head of bright yellow hair, shouting at Uchiha Sasuke with a defiant expression.
And Uchiha Sasuke gave him a cold glance, not even stopping his pace.
"So noisy, Dead-last."
Uchiha Sasuke tossed out a sentence and continued walking forward.
"Who are you calling a Dead-last!"
Uzumaki Naruto instantly bristled, lunging forward with flailing arms, trying to grab Uchiha Sasuke's collar.
As a result, Uchiha Sasuke shifted his footing and landed a casual elbow strike... hitting him in the stomach.
"Waaah—!"
Uzumaki Naruto clutched his stomach, squatting on the ground in pain, but in the next second, he stubbornly looked up, baring his teeth as he made a threat:
"Damn it... Sasuke, you sneak attacked me... just you wait! Next time I'll definitely..."
Tejima Shinichi stood not far away, watching quietly.
Even though he was the Top Student of this class... Uzumaki Naruto just had to fixate on flirting with Uchiha Sasuke!
Of course... Tejima Shinichi didn't have any feelings of envy!
One can only say, as expected of Indra and Ashura, they truly are a pair of millenia-old rivals!
However... Tejima Shinichi looked at Uchiha Sasuke with a somewhat meaningful gaze... "Hmph, the inherently Wicked Uchiha... but I have to say, the Sharingan is truly an enviable Bloodline Limit!"
After all, it's just too cool!
Tejima Shinichi shook his head and continued walking forward.
But just then—
"Bang!"
A shadow suddenly flew in from the side, unexpectedly bumping into his shoulder.
Tejima Shinichi stepped aside, and looking closely, it was Uzumaki Naruto—
This guy had somehow rushed up to trouble Uchiha Sasuke again, only to be sent flying by a kick, crashing right toward him.
"Ugh! Ow, ow, ow..." Uzumaki Naruto rubbed his butt as he climbed up. Looking up, he saw Tejima Shinichi; he froze for a moment, then muttered somewhat sheepishly, "...It's, it's Shinichi."
Tejima Shinichi arched an eyebrow and slowly crouched down, propping one hand on his knee as he looked down at Uzumaki Naruto.
"Naruto, this is already the third time this week I've seen you get kicked flying."
Uzumaki Naruto's blue eyes widened, his face flushing with embarrassment: "You—! Stop talking nonsense! It hasn't been three times!"
Hiss... Naruto, why does your tone of voice sound so much like Naruko?!
"Thump!"
Without waiting for Uzumaki Naruto to say anything more, Tejima Shinichi directly flicked his forehead with a finger.
The force wasn't heavy, but it was enough to make Naruto cry "Ow" and clutch his forehead.
Tejima Shinichi stood up and continued walking out with his hands in his pockets, tossing back a sentence:
"Can't you just stay out of trouble!"
Behind him, Uzumaki Naruto clutched his head and jumped around in frustration:
"...Aaaaah! Shinichi, you bastard! Don't think you're so great just because you're the Top Student! If I could beat you... and Sasuke! You guys just wait for me!"
On the other side, Uchiha Sasuke stood in place, his gaze closely following Tejima Shinichi's back, his lips pressed into a thin line.
It's this guy—!
Since enrollment, he had been firmly suppressed by him.
Theory, Taijutsu, Ninjutsu... in every exam, that name always ranked above his—Tejima Shinichi.
He hadn't even truly forced out the other's full strength once.
That kind of ease, that bottomless feeling, made the proud Uchiha feel irritated.
Even though... he was also dubbed a Genius!
"Hey! Sasuke!" Uzumaki Naruto's shout pulled back his thoughts. "What are you dazing out for! Are you also scared of that guy Shinichi?"
Uchiha Sasuke gave Naruto a cold glance.
"Idiot."
"Who are you calling an idiot!"
"Whoever answers me is the idiot."
Sasuke's voice carried its usual mockery, but as his gaze swept again toward the direction where Tejima Shinichi had disappeared, a fire of competition burned deep within.
Clearly, Uchiha Sasuke cared quite a bit about Uzumaki Naruto's words!
He ignored the shouting Naruto, stepped forward, and followed in that direction.
With graduation approaching, Uchiha Sasuke really wanted to know... just how strong was this Top Student who had always suppressed him!!
"Aaaah! Sasuke! You're ignoring me again!"
Uzumaki Naruto clutched his hair in frustration, but as he watched the direction in which the two had left, a flash of competitive spirit flickered in his blue eyes!
"Hmph, so what if he's the Top Student! I, the great Uzumaki Naruto, will surpass you all sooner or later!"
However... despite being beaten like that, Uzumaki Naruto still seemed quite... happy!
Tejima Shinichi had just stepped out of the school gates and hadn't gone far when he noticed a gaze behind him.
He didn't stop walking, only glancing back out of the corner of his eye.
It was Uchiha Sasuke.
The black-haired boy was following him, his dark eyes staring straight at him with a challenging intent.
Uzumaki Naruto was still hopping around beside him, but Sasuke ignored him completely.
Tejima Shinichi didn't bother to pay them any mind and continued toward the school gate.
"Shinichi!"
Uchiha Sasuke's voice rang out from behind, calling him to a halt.
Tejima Shinichi stopped and half-turned around.
Uchiha Sasuke had already walked up close to him, with barely a meter between them.
Uzumaki Naruto followed as well, looking at the two of them with a face full of curiosity.
"Is something the matter?"
Tejima Shinichi spoke.
Uchiha Sasuke looked at him with a sharp gaze.
"Tejima Shinichi," he said his full name with a serious tone, "every Combat Assessment over these past few years, you were the one who won."
Tejima Shinichi didn't say anything, waiting for Uchiha Sasuke to continue.
"With graduation near," Uchiha Sasuke continued, seemingly having made up his mind, "I want to know exactly how large the gap between us is."
As he spoke, Sasuke slightly tilted his chin up. The pride of the Uchiha ensured that even when issuing a challenge, he carried an extraordinary Aura.
Tejima Shinichi showed an interested expression:
"And so?"
"Fight me again, right now."
Uchiha Sasuke stated his intention directly.
Beside him, Uzumaki Naruto's eyes suddenly widened.
"Eh?! Sasuke, you... right here, right now?!"
Tejima Shinichi looked at Uchiha Sasuke's serious demeanor and actually found it somewhat interesting.
This kind of stubbornness—knowing the gap yet insisting on clashing anyway—was truly the style of the Second Pillar.
Thinking of this, Tejima Shinichi smiled. Looking at Uchiha Sasuke's act of forced maturity, he spoke:
"In that case... hmph, Wicked Uchiha brat, then come at me."
Hearing this, Uchiha Sasuke was stunned for a moment, then immediately became furious:
"What did you say?!"
The words "Wicked Uchiha" were like a sharp thorn driven deep into Uchiha Sasuke's fragile heart. His face darkened instantly, fire surged in his eyes, and the last shred of his composure vanished.
"The glory of the Uchiha... shall not be desecrated!" He growled through gritted teeth. "You dare... I will definitely make you pay the price!"
Uchiha Sasuke wasted no more words and instantly launched himself forward.
A sharp kick swept directly toward Tejima Shinichi's waist.
However, facing an attack that would be enough to take down an ordinary upperclassman, Tejima Shinichi did not retreat but instead moved forward, reaching out with his left hand.
"Pa!"
A dull thud sounded.
He accurately caught Uchiha Sasuke's incoming ankle.
Uchiha Sasuke's expression changed. He tried to break free, but felt as if his ankle were locked in an iron shackle, completely immobile.
Dammit, why is the power gap still so large!
"Uchiha Taijutsu is only this much?"
Tejima Shinichi looked at his panicked expression and suddenly grinned.
"Your speed is too slow, and your strength is too scattered. If it's only like this... Sasuke, you're still far from surpassing me!"
"You...!" Uchiha Sasuke's face turned ashen, burning with rage.
Standing on one foot, he suddenly leaned his body back, using the momentum to twist and sweep his other leg toward Tejima Shinichi's head like a whip!
This change of technique was extremely fast, carrying the sound of rushing wind.
"Don't you understand yet?"
Tejima Shinichi spoke calmly.
As he spoke, the arm holding Sasuke's ankle suddenly exerted force!
"It's time to end this."
The massive force from the arm caused Uchiha Sasuke to instantly lose his balance, and he was easily swung into the air!
"Bang!"
"Bang!"
He slammed him hard against the solid ground twice, cleanly and decisively.
The movements were incredibly rough.
Dust rose slightly.
Tejima Shinichi let go.
Uchiha Sasuke collapsed on the ground, his head spinning and his vision darkening. Pain radiated from every part of his body, and even his breathing stalled for a moment.
"...Ugh... Ungh..."
He groaned and whimpered, struggling to crawl back up, but for a moment he couldn't muster the strength.
Uzumaki Naruto, watching from the side, stood frozen with his mouth wide open and his eyes round with shock.
Tejima Shinichi patted off non-existent dust from his hands and looked down at Uchiha Sasuke on the ground.
"Satisfied now?"
Seriously—occasionally acting cool for a second, only to turn around and get thrashed again.
Having said his piece, Tejima Shinichi didn't spare the two another glance and turned to leave.
Uzumaki Naruto, who had been watching, had long since forgotten to breathe, staring blankly at the scene with his mouth agape.
The Sasuke he always wanted to catch up to was always like this in front of Tejima Shinichi... unable to even last a single move!
"So... so amazing..."
Uzumaki Naruto subconsciously murmured.
A second later, as if just reacting, Naruto quickly ran to Uchiha Sasuke's side and crouched down, his tone frantic:
"Hey! Sasuke! You okay? Are you alright?"
Uchiha Sasuke lay on the ground, his eyes somewhat out of focus as he stared at the sky, his chest heaving as he gasped for air.
Every part of his body was in pain, especially his back and internal organs, which felt as if they had been shifted out of place.
Amidst the ringing in his ears, he vaguely heard Uzumaki Naruto's noisy voice, but he had no heart to pay it any mind.
After a good while, the spinning sensation finally began to recede.
Gritting his teeth, he used his elbows to prop himself up and sat up with great difficulty.
Avoiding Uzumaki Naruto's hand that reached out to help him, he relied on his own strength to shakily stand up.
But his footsteps were still a bit unsteady!
Uchiha Sasuke's gaze first fixed on the direction Tejima Shinichi had left, though it was already empty.
Then, he turned to the worried Uzumaki Naruto, pursed his pale lips, and spoke in a voice low and raspy from pain:
"I'm going home... Also, about today... you're not allowed to tell anyone!"
Without waiting for Uzumaki Naruto's response, he dragged his aching body and limped toward the Uchiha Compound.
Uzumaki Naruto stood there, watching Sasuke's receding back. He scratched his bright blonde hair with a look of confusion and a hint of worry, finally just muttering a small sentence:
"Fine, I get it... stuck-up Sasuke!"
Uzumaki Naruto curled his lip and had just turned to leave when his footsteps suddenly paused.
Wait... that guy Sasuke... did he just say... "About today... you're not allowed to tell anyone!"
A thought lit up in Naruto's brain like a lightbulb.
Not allowed to tell?
Does that mean... this is a secret for Uzumaki Naruto alone? An embarrassing story that Sasuke doesn't want others to know?
"Hehe..."
The corners of Naruto's mouth began to curl upward uncontrollably. A sly and triumphant smile slowly widened on his face, eventually reaching almost to his ears.
He could already see it. The next time Sasuke gave him a stuck-up face or called him a "Dead-last," he would just slowly bring it up—
"Sasuke, you wouldn't want others to know what happened at the school gate that day..."
What kind of wonderful expression would that stuck-up guy make... "Jie jie jie..."
In the empty space before the school gate, the blonde youth's somewhat "malicious" silly laughter echoed.