Than Hassan goes to his apartment and jumps into his bed and starts sleeping. The moment his head hits the pillow, he lets out a huge sigh of relief and just melts into the mattress. Within minutes, he's knocked out — and then…
Snoooore.
Snooooooore.
Loud snoring fills the room. A bird outside the window flies away in fear.
The moon slowly drifts past the sky. The lights of Konoha dim. The village sleeps. And so does Hassan.
---
The next morning, he suddenly wakes up.
His eyes open sharply.
He checks the clock.
7:00 AM.
"Still early," he says, stretching his arms and twisting his back until it pops.
"Time for another perfect morning."
He gets up and walks over to the fridge, slowly opening it like a king opening his royal treasure chest.
Inside, stacked neatly, are:
A basket of fresh fruits
Slices of soft white bread
A container of salad
And a plate of grilled chicken, leftovers from the day before
Without hesitation, he takes the bread, salad, and chicken. He lays it all on the table. He carefully spreads the salad over the bread, then places the tender chicken on top. He adds another slice of bread, cuts it in half, and holds it up.
> "Perfection," he whispers.
He takes a big bite and grins. Still chewing, he walks over to his closet.
Today, he wants to stand out — to be different.
He picks his best outfit:
A shiny white jacket with silver trim
Black pants that fit just right
A dark blue belt tied tight like a ninja sash
And clean sandals that shimmer in the light
He checks himself in the mirror. His white hair glows under the morning sun. His blue eyes shine. He adjusts his collar.
> "Looking like a legend," he says, still chewing on his sandwich.
He slings his bag over his shoulder, takes another big bite, and heads out the door.
---
As Hassan walks through the streets of the Hidden Leaf Village, the morning air is cool and fresh. People are opening shops, kids are walking to the academy, and ninja dash across rooftops above.
The village is alive — and so is Hassan.
He finishes his sandwich as he walks. Birds fly overhead. The chatter of people fills the streets. The smell of bread from a bakery nearby floats through the air.
Everyone who walks past him turns their head slightly. The shiny outfit, the serious walk, the white hair — he doesn't look like a normal kid. He looks like someone special.
He finally reaches the academy gates, takes a deep breath, and steps inside. "Let's see what today has planned for me."
The classroom buzzed with chatter as students filed in, some still yawning, others full of energy. Naruto was already yelling something at Kiba, while Shikamaru leaned his head on his desk, whispering, "What a drag..."
Then, the door slides open — Iruka-sensei steps in with his clipboard in hand.
Everyone goes quiet.
Iruka looks around with a serious face, then speaks clearly, "Alright, class. Today's lesson will not be inside the classroom."
A few students blink. Naruto perks up.
"We're heading outside," Iruka continues. "Today is all about taijutsu combat matches. I want to see how well each of you can fight with your bodies alone — no chakra, no jutsu, no weapons. Just fists, feet, and form."
Gasps echo in the room.
Naruto jumps out of his seat. "YES! I'm gonna win this for sure!! Believe it!!"
Sasuke sits silently, eyes already narrowed. He isn't reacting to Naruto. He's staring directly at Hassan.
The memory of the kunai test plays again in his head — the perfect throws, the center strikes, and the fact that he lost.
His pride boiled under the surface.
> "He humiliated me. A nobody… an Uzumaki… beat an Uchiha."
Iruka finishes his announcement and says, "Let's move to the academy courtyard."
---
Later — Academy Courtyard
The sun is shining high in the sky. The stone courtyard is large, flat, with marked circles in the dirt to act as combat zones. A few teachers and assistants watch from the side.
Iruka claps his hands. "I'll call names for the matches. You'll bow, fight, and stop the moment I say so."
After a few pairs go up — Neji vs Lee, Kiba vs Choji, Sakura vs Ino — everyone is watching closely.
Then Iruka speaks again.
> "Next match: Hassan Uzumaki... versus Sasuke Uchiha."
Gasps spread like wildfire.
Naruto shouts, "WHAT?! Hassan's fighting Sasuke?! This is gonna be awesome!!"
Hinata watches silently from the edge, biting her lip.
Hassan walks forward, calm and expressionless, his shiny white jacket glimmering in the sunlight. He takes it off slowly, folding it, and places it on the bench.
Across from him, Sasuke steps forward, black eyes sharp like a blade.
Iruka nods. "Both of you. Bow."
They bow slowly, never taking their eyes off each other.
Sasuke breaks the silence.
> "Last time... you got lucky."
Hassan doesn't answer. He just stares, his eyes calm.
> "This time," Sasuke says, clenching his fists, "I'll show you the power of an Uchiha."
Iruka raises his hand and shouts, "Begin!"
---
The fight starts.
Sasuke dashes forward first — quick, precise, elite Academy speed. He swings a fast jab toward Hassan's face. Hassan leans back, avoiding it by a hair.
Whip! A second strike comes — a side kick — Hassan blocks it with his forearm and spins away.
The students watching are silent, tense.
Hassan's feet are light. He glides like a trained gymnast, every step calculated. Sasuke moves like a blade, trying to pressure and break through.
They exchange fast blows — fists clashing, feet sweeping, bodies twisting. Dust kicks up around them as their shoes scuff the dirt.
Sasuke feints left, then slides to the right, aiming a low sweep — Hassan jumps over it and lands behind him.
Sasuke growls, spins around, and with a sharp motion, aims a precise strike to Hassan's neck.
Time slows for a moment.
Just as Sasuke's hand reaches forward, ready to land the blow—
—he freezes.
Something cold touches his skin.
He glances down…
> A kunai is already pressed lightly to his own neck.
Hassan stands calm, holding the blade with perfect control.
Sasuke's hand stops mid-air. His eyes widen.
Iruka shouts, "Match over!! Hassan wins!!"
---
Everyone gasps. Naruto jumps up. "WOOOOAH!! DID YOU SEE THAT?! HE BEAT SASUKE AGAIN!!"
Kiba's jaw drops. Even Shino raises an eyebrow.
Sasuke grits his teeth, stepping back. He looks at the ground, fists clenched, humiliated once again.
> "That Uzumaki… again… how… how did I not see it?"
He storms off, eyes burning with frustration.
Hassan slowly puts the kunai back into his pouch.
He doesn't gloat. He doesn't smirk.
He just looks at Iruka and nods once.
Hinata stares at him from across the courtyard — blushing, hands together, completely in awe.
Iruka smiles a little. "Well done, both of you. That was high-level taijutsu for Academy students."
Hassan walks back to the bench, picks up his jacket, and puts it on slowly. His heart is calm. His breath is steady.
> "I didn't come here to play games. I came to rise."