The sudden change on the field sparked a chorus of gasps from the sidelines.
No one expected Sasuke to intervene at the critical moment of Haku and Lee's spar, let alone throw a provocative glance at the shinobi academy's First Chair!
"That guy Sasuke…"
Neji's face darkened.
He didn't appreciate Sasuke interrupting Lee and Haku's match—it was clearly a disrespectful act.
"Is Sasuke challenging Shinji?"
Yakumo's heart skipped a beat.
She had privately asked Tsunade if she could challenge Shinji, and Tsunade's response was to keep it as low-key as possible.
After all, the dignity of the First Chair could not be violated!
So she never imagined Sasuke would be so bold as to openly challenge Shinji in front of a crowd.
The jonin on the sidelines displayed varied expressions.
Guy frowned slightly.
While Sasuke's interruption of Lee and Haku's match was extremely rude, it also showcased his impressive taijutsu. In that situation, most people wouldn't have been able to intervene, let alone suppress both Lee and Haku as effortlessly as Sasuke did.
"Hmph, Uchiha!" Asuma snorted lightly, clearly displeased with Sasuke's flamboyance.
Kurenai, meanwhile, looked thoughtfully at Shinji standing on a nearby tree.
Kakashi was the most exasperated. Seeing Sasuke so boldly step up to provoke Shinji, a flicker of worry crossed his eyes.
He, too, wanted to know what Shinji was hiding, but he didn't want Sasuke to be the one to probe him!
On the field.
Haku and Lee were both visibly surprised.
Compared to Lee, however, Haku remained much calmer. Even before Sasuke acted, he had sensed someone was about to intervene—he just hadn't expected it to be Sasuke!
Sasuke released Haku and Lee, standing in the center of the field, his gaze burning as he stared at Shinji on the tree.
At that moment, Naruto and Sakura arrived at the sidelines, watching Sasuke with concern. Haku, meanwhile, decisively left the training ground and joined Karin under the tree where Shinji stood.
In an instant, the attention of everyone—both on and off the field—shifted from Sasuke to Shinji on the tree.
"The First Chair is being challenged!"
Everyone realized this, some excited, some worried, but most filled with anticipation.
This wasn't just a clash between the village's last two Uchihas—it was the first challenge to the First Chair since the title was established!
Compared to Sasuke, Shinji, still on the tree, remained calm.
"Since you want to challenge me, I'll indulge you!" Shinji said, leaping down from the tree and walking slowly toward the field. "But your insolence in challenging your superior must be punished!"
Sasuke's face darkened. "Hmph, challenging my superior? Shinji, you're too arrogant!"
Shinji didn't stop walking. "Make your move!"
Sasuke's dark eyes instantly turned crimson, his body lowering as a smirk curled his lips. "I've always had doubts about you becoming First Chair!"
Shinji raised an arm, beckoning Sasuke with a gesture.
Whoosh.
In an instant, Sasuke activated the Body Flicker Technique and vanished from his spot!
"What!?"
"So fast!"
"Where'd he go?"
The students on the sidelines instinctively looked around, searching for Sasuke's vanished figure.
The jonin, meanwhile, grew serious. Such speed demanded their full attention, leaving no room for carelessness!
Swish.
Sasuke abruptly reappeared behind Shinji, whispering, "Hey, where are you looking?"
Shinji turned slowly. "I'm looking at your doomed future."
On the sidelines.
Asuma's face was grim. "These two brats are too cocky!"
Kurenai was equally speechless. "Do they always talk like this?"
Kakashi opened his mouth but ultimately chose silence.
Uchiha, after all—understandable.
As the jonin grumbled, Shinji and Sasuke on the field began their clash in earnest.
They started with basic taijutsu. Sasuke, the aggressor, attacked Shinji, who stood his ground, while saying, "Shinji, rest assured, I won't use my Mangekyo Sharingan in this fight. I'll make you lose convincingly!"
After casually deflecting a flurry of Sasuke's attacks, Shinji replied, "Limiting yourself and still thinking you can beat me? Do you have some misunderstanding about what it means to be First Chair?"
Almost as soon as he spoke, Shinji struck. In an instant, he closed the distance to Sasuke.
Sasuke's expression tightened. Even with his Mangekyo Sharingan, he nearly lost track of Shinji's movements in that moment. His hands moved quickly to block.
But to his surprise, Shinji merely pressed down with one hand, and Sasuke felt an overwhelming force pinning his arms. Then, Shinji's other hand shot out, giving him no chance to react, and sent him flying.
Thud.
With a muffled sound, Sasuke crashed into a tree at the edge of the field, barely stabilizing himself.
"Cough, cough…"
Sasuke coughed twice, adjusting his breathing while warily eyeing Shinji.
He knew that being sent flying wasn't due to carelessness—Shinji had surpassed him in both speed and strength!
Having landed a hit, Shinji didn't pursue. He stood in place, looking at Sasuke indifferently. "Show me your Mangekyo. I hear it's pretty underwhelming!"
"You jerk!"
Sasuke was instantly enraged!
But anger aside, he knew he likely couldn't win with taijutsu alone. Changing tactics, he slowly raised his hands. "Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
Boom.
In an instant, a massive fireball erupted from Sasuke's mouth, carrying waves of scorching heat as it surged toward Shinji in the center of the field!
Before Shinji even moved, the spectating crowd scrambled back in a frenzy.
Ninjutsu had a far greater destructive range than taijutsu. Many of the onlookers weren't even shinobi—if they were caught in the technique's blast, they could lose their lives.
The jonin and hidden Anbu emerged, maintaining order and ensuring the students and villagers retreated to a safe distance.
On the field.
Having unleashed his Fire Release, Sasuke's hands darted to his ninja pouch. Immediately, kunai wrapped with steel wire, concealed by the fire's glow, were thrown one after another!
Shinji, however, merely stomped the ground, causing a violent tremor. A slab of earth jutted up, perfectly positioned in front of him.
Boom.
Just as the slab rose, Sasuke's Great Fireball Technique struck it, exploding with a thunderous roar!
But at that moment, the kunai pierced through the firelight and dust, shooting toward Shinji.
Holding a kunai in one hand, Shinji swung it casually a few times. Amid a series of clang, clang, clang metallic clashes, he deflected every kunai aimed at him, as if he'd anticipated them all along.
Sasuke, seeing this, smirked. Lightning sparked in his hands, traveling along the steel wires he held.
In an instant, the entire training ground was engulfed in lightning!
"Where are you looking?"
Just as a smug look crossed Sasuke's face, a voice came from behind him!