Sasuke froze in shock, too startled to turn around. He flashed away in a somewhat panicked retreat, putting over ten meters between them.
At that moment, the lightning enveloping the training ground began to fade, and the onlookers gradually saw the situation clearly.
It turned out that after Sasuke unleashed his "Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique," he used the cover of the flames to throw a barrage of kunai tied with steel wires.
He hadn't expected the Fire Release to defeat Shinji, nor did he think the kunai could harm him.
His true trump card was the steel wires tied to the kunai and the powerful Lightning Release he could channel through metal!
The kunai weren't thrown haphazardly. Sasuke had anticipated Shinji's defense, and as the firelight and lightning dissipated, the crowd realized the kunai Shinji deflected had woven an invisible net of steel wires across the training ground.
This was why his Lightning Release had engulfed the entire field.
Yet, including Sasuke himself, no one saw when Shinji vanished from the field or how he appeared behind Sasuke.
Shinji walked slowly toward Sasuke. "Skip these boring ninjutsu and ninja tools. Show me your Mangekyo Sharingan!"
"Tch!"
Sasuke spat, his expression twisting.
As an Uchiha with the Mangekyo Sharingan, being so thoroughly suppressed by an Uchiha with only three-tomoe Sharingan was something his pride couldn't swallow.
Without hesitation, Sasuke lunged at Shinji.
Block, counter.
Shinji's movements were minimal, his expression unchanged, effortlessly sending the charging Sasuke flying.
Thud.
Sasuke crashed heavily to the ground!
On the sidelines.
Not only the watching students but even the jonin and Anbu exchanged stunned looks, unable to hide their shock.
They had all seen Sasuke's taijutsu.
He had simultaneously suppressed Haku and Lee, and though the two hadn't been prepared for an outside attack, his strength was still noteworthy.
Yet, with such taijutsu, Sasuke couldn't even put up a fight against Shinji, completely outmatched.
"What's going on?"
Yakumo's face was filled with uncertainty.
Shizune, beside her, looked grave. "That speed and strength—he's definitely using some kind of taijutsu secret technique, but I can't tell which one!"
Elsewhere.
Tenten, brimming with curiosity, asked Neji, "Neji, how did Shinji's taijutsu suddenly get so strong?"
Neji, observing with his Byakugan, said, "I don't know, but his chakra surged for a moment just now and then calmed down again!"
Among the jonin.
Asuma asked, "Is it some kind of taijutsu secret technique?"
After he spoke, their gazes turned to Guy, the taijutsu master among them, whose eyes rarely missed such techniques.
Guy, unusually, paused before saying slowly, "It's my first time seeing it. It doesn't seem like any taijutsu secret technique from the village!"
Kakashi stared at Shinji on the field, wondering, Is this the trump card Shinji's been hiding?
On the field.
Sasuke was clearly hurt this time, struggling twice before barely standing.
His chest heaved, his breathing erratic, and his mental state seemed shaken, bordering on frustration.
Being inexplicably dominated by taijutsu was something he couldn't accept.
Shinji didn't capitalize on Sasuke's unsteady footing to press the attack. Instead, he continued his slow approach. But this very deliberate pace overwhelmed Sasuke with an oppressive aura, piling on even more pressure!
At that moment, a villager among the onlookers exclaimed, "Is… is this the First Chair?"
Hearing this, the crowd shared the same sentiment.
When the title of "First Chair" was first introduced, everyone knew it carried weight and that whoever earned it would be exceptional. Yet, subconsciously, they underestimated it—after all, no matter how strong, the First Chair was just a shinobi academy student.
It wasn't until witnessing this challenge that they realized just how powerful the "First Chair" could be, overpowering even an Uchiha with the Mangekyo Sharingan like Sasuke!
Thud.
Another muffled sound rang out as Sasuke was sent flying again.
Soon, he crawled back to his feet, no longer able to suppress the urge to use his Mangekyo Sharingan. "You want to see my Mangekyo Sharingan? Fine, I'll show you!"
In an instant, a purple shadow projected from Sasuke's body, rapidly forming a towering half-body skeletal giant!
"Is that Susanoo!?"
The sidelines erupted in gasps.
The students and villagers hadn't expected to witness the Uchiha clan's Mangekyo Sharingan dojutsu, "Susanoo," today!
The jonin and Anbu were equally shocked, stepping in once more to push the crowd back several dozen meters.
After clearing the area, Asuma grinned. "Didn't expect it to escalate this far. Now it's the 'First Chair' who's got a problem!"
Kurenai shook her head. "Shinji only has a three-tomoe Sharingan. There's no way he can counter Sasuke's Susanoo. The outcome of this fight is decided! Still, forcing Sasuke to use his Mangekyo Sharingan proves Shinji didn't become First Chair by luck!"
The moment he saw Susanoo, Kakashi no longer doubted the fight's outcome. He only stared at Sasuke with concern, thinking, Sasuke, at this rate, how much longer can your Mangekyo Sharingan hold out?
On a distant high building.
Jiraiya and Tsunade, having heard the news, arrived to observe the challenge.
They had planned to arrange for Yakumo to challenge Shinji, as defeating the First Chair would be an honor and lay the groundwork for Yakumo to potentially take the title later.
They hadn't expected Sasuke to jump in so eagerly.
On another high building.
The Third Hokage, Koharu Utatane, and Homura Mitokado had arrived at some point, watching the challenge unfold in the training ground.
Seeing Sasuke activate Susanoo, Koharu furrowed her brow.
There was no precedent in the shinobi world of a three-tomoe Sharingan defeating a Mangekyo Sharingan. Once Sasuke unleashed Susanoo, the challenge's outcome was no longer in doubt.
On the field.
While everyone was awed by the might of Sasuke's Susanoo, Shinji remained unfazed. His steps didn't falter, their rhythm unchanged, as he continued walking toward Sasuke. As he walked, he spoke to Haku and Karin on the sidelines, "Today, I'll teach you how to deal with Susanoo!"