Iruka's words hit the class like a thrown kunai—instant uproar.
"He's challenging Sasuke on his first day?"
"I'm not exactly Sasuke's fan, but even I have to admit—his strength is no joke."
"Still, Senju-kun is a few years older than him."
A few voices chimed in on Haruto's side, but they were quickly drowned out.
"Age has nothing to do with it. Remember last time? Even real genin couldn't beat Sasuke."
"Yeah, I saw it myself—Sasuke-kun wiped the floor with those troublemaking genin."
"That was such a cool moment!"
"What do you mean was? Sasuke-kun's still cool right now!"
The girls' excited voices quickly turned into high-pitched cheers, rallying behind Sasuke.
Sasuke, however, remained indifferent, hands in his pockets as if none of this concerned him.
Truthfully, he couldn't care less about the praise. The last time he'd fought was only because someone had insulted the Uchiha clan to his face. They'd brought it on themselves.
At the moment, Sasuke's only real concern was getting back to the Uchiha compound to train his Fire Release—or, if he was lucky, to go hunting with his brother Itachi.
"What do you think, Senju-kun?" Iruka pressed. To him, this seemed like the perfect chance to see what Haruto could do.
"No need."
The voice didn't come from Haruto, but from Sasuke.
Iruka blinked in surprise. He had assumed Sasuke would welcome the opportunity. For kids their age, a spar was usually a good lesson.
"Huh?"
"No need?"
"You're not serious—Sasuke's backing out?"
"Hmph."
Sasuke stood in the center of everyone's attention, hearing every murmur of doubt—yet he didn't care. He just wanted to get back home, maybe catch his brother before he left again.
"Just count it as his loss," Sasuke said in his steady, low voice.
That set off another wave of chatter.
"I knew it—that's so like Sasuke!"
"So cool! He's not telling Senju-kun to give up—he's outright declaring him the loser."
"Bada**! No wonder he's the Uchiha prodigy!"
"Sasuke-kun is so cool… unlike that loudmouth Naruto," Sakura muttered.
They'd all thought Sasuke was chickening out. But no—he simply didn't see Haruto as worth fighting.
And, in fairness, Sasuke wasn't just top of the class—he was the Uchiha genius. This was confidence.
Nearly all the girls gazed at Sasuke with starry-eyed admiration.
"Why does it always come back to me?" Naruto muttered sourly. He just couldn't understand why Sasuke always ended up in the spotlight.
Then, as if on impulse, Naruto pointed straight at him. "Sasuke! If you've got guts, fight me!"
"All right, all right," Iruka sighed. Sasuke was brilliant, no doubt, but sometimes it was hard to get him to mesh with the group. Still, genius was no exaggeration for Uchiha Sasuke.
That's just like you, second pillar, Haruto thought with mixed feelings.
Sasuke always managed to radiate that infuriating, unshakable swagger—like every casual movement was charged with superiority.
Still…
As the surrounding students' eyes filled with disdain, Haruto found it hard to just stand there and let it slide.
In truth, he hadn't planned on fighting Sasuke at all. He was here to check in and collect whatever rewards came his way, not to make a scene.
But if he turned it down now, it would look like pure cowardice.
It was like being in middle school and having some random grade-schooler jump out and try to shake you down for lunch money—you couldn't just walk away.
"All right, Iruka-sensei, we can end class now," Sasuke said impatiently when Iruka hesitated.
"I really don't want to fight you," Haruto muttered, shaking his head as he stepped forward, coming to stand opposite Sasuke.
The noise around them quieted almost instantly.
Even Naruto, who had wanted to challenge Sasuke himself, fell silent. His eyes flicked between Sasuke and Haruto, his fists unconsciously clenching.
On one hand, Sasuke was the guy who always hogged the spotlight. On the other, Haruto was the one person who had encouraged Naruto's dream of becoming Hokage.
Part of him wanted Haruto to win.
But another part knew Sasuke better than anyone.
He was strong.
Really strong.
Being top of the class didn't even cover it—there were full-fledged genin who wouldn't stand a chance against him.
Haruto would lose. And lose badly.
As for the rest of the class? No one was betting on Haruto.
"Go, Sasuke!"
Sakura's voice rang out first.
"Go, Sasuke-kun!"
Ino cupped her hands like a makeshift megaphone, her voice even louder than Sakura's.
"Ino-pig!"
"Billboard brow!"
The two glared daggers at each other before launching into a full-on cheering battle.
"Go, Sasuke!"
"You can do it, Sasuke!"
The intensity of it made some of the boys take an involuntary step back.
Unlike the girls, a few of the boys were quietly hoping Sasuke might take a hit or two—though they didn't expect it.
After all, Uchiha Sasuke's strength was undeniable.
"You probably don't understand what the name Uchiha means," Sasuke said coolly, hands still in his pockets.
"I'm from the Senju clan…" Haruto muttered dryly.
"Heh."
Sasuke gave a cold, dismissive chuckle. He knew about the Senju-Uchiha history. But the Senju clan of today was a shadow of its former glory—a fallen house, nothing like the Uchiha now.
"Come on, newbie," Sasuke said, his voice edged with impatience. His hands still didn't move from his pockets.
"Sasuke," Iruka cut in, "this is a spar, not a fight. The Seal of Reconciliation is important too."
"I know, Iruka-sensei," Sasuke said, finally forming the seal.
Haruto mirrored the gesture, meeting him halfway.
Meanwhile, in the Hokage's office, the Third Hokage—Hiruzen Sarutobi—was watching the scene unfold through his crystal ball, the Telescope Jutsu active.
He hadn't expected Senju Haruto's first day to involve a match against Sasuke Uchiha.
Senju versus Uchiha…
It stirred memories of two legendary figures at the Valley of the End.
But the policies of the Second Hokage had left the Uchiha clan with lingering resentment.
And now, here they were—two descendants, standing across from each other.