With a powerful kick off the ground, En spun in the air, both feet aiming straight for Ryosuke's face.
Ryosuke raised his hands, blocking each strike in turn.
En's Sharingan darted back and forth, searching for an opening even as he attacked.
But Ryosuke—now carrying the battle experience of both Sasuke and Kabuto from the Card system—was far too seasoned to let a newly awakened Sharingan user see through him.
They clashed fiercely, neither side yielding ground. En felt his confidence waver when his flurry of blows failed to land.
Dropping down from a spin, he braced himself with one hand on the ground.
But before he could reset, Ryosuke was already on him. A fist shot toward his face, forcing En to duck, then counter with a sweeping kick.
Their exchanges were so fast that even the chūnin instructor nearby had trouble keeping up.
"This is incredible!"
Gasps and cheers rippled through the crowd.
"What a taijutsu showdown!"
"Wait—look! He's got him!"
Seizing a brief opening, Ryosuke slipped past En's guard, moving to his back in a flash. He caught both of En's arms in a reverse hold before the other boy could react, then planted a foot between his shoulder blades.
"He's pinned him?"
Some students were left unsatisfied—it felt too quick. They had expected a drawn-out match, yet the winner seemed clear in moments.
"I lost?"
Half kneeling, En's face twisted in disbelief and humiliation. The mixture of pity, surprise, and judgment in his classmates' eyes burned him to the core, and his Sharingan tomoe began to spin faster.
"I don't believe it! I can't lose!"
He lunged forward, dislocating one arm just to break free from Ryosuke's hold.
"—Tch!"
En gritted his teeth against the pain, glaring at Ryosuke as he began forming hand seals with a trembling hand.
"A jutsu?!"
The instructors around the training field immediately tensed and moved in, but one person was faster.
"Fire Style—"
Before En could even finish the name of his jutsu, Ryosuke's form blurred into view right in front of him.
"Shadow of the Dancing Leaf."
His calm voice came with a heavy kick to En's face, sending him flying. The half-formed seals for the Great Fireball Jutsu were broken instantly.
Thud!
En crashed to the ground and lost consciousness.
"Get him to the infirmary!"
Among the crowd, a pale-faced shinobi allowed a small look of approval to cross his features before quietly leaving the academy.
Having just defeated En, Ryosuke shot straight to the top of the academy's ranking matches, becoming the number one student.
No one had expected this outcome. Only a short time ago, Ryosuke had been the kid who slept through class, zoning out during sparring, scraping by with barely passing grades.
And now, relying solely on taijutsu, he had defeated someone with an awakened Sharingan—an even greater shock than En's awakening itself.
Ignoring the stares and whispers, and turning down a "youthful" taijutsu duel from Might Guy, Ryosuke quietly slipped away to the rooftop with Kurenai.
"I did what I promised."
He sat down with his back against the railing, enjoying the breeze with a smile.
"Not just that—you even got first place," Kurenai added knowingly.
She knew he hadn't fought at full strength, but her flushed cheeks and bright eyes gave away her excitement.
"Ryosuke! The top ten in the practical rankings can apply for early graduation—no exams required! Are you going to graduate now?"
He shook his head.
"Graduating now is only a month earlier than the normal time. Not much point."
Just then, a figure flickered onto the rooftop.
"Uchiha Ryosuke. The Hokage summons you."
"Yes, sir."
Rising slowly, Ryosuke brushed the dust from his pants.
"Kurenai, head home. I'll be back soon."
He followed the ANBU operative away.
Hokage's Office
"Reporting as ordered, Lord Hokage!"
"Ryosuke, you're here."
The Third Hokage looked up, smiling warmly.
"I heard about your performance today. Well done."
"Thank you, Lord Hokage."
The boy's modest demeanor made Hiruzen even more satisfied.
"There's something I need your help with."
"My help?" Ryosuke tilted his head.
"Tsunade—how has she been treating you?"
Hiruzen took a slow draw from his pipe, his cloudy eyes taking on a more serious glint.
"Lady Tsunade hasn't treated me any differently for being an Uchiha. She's been teaching me medical techniques earnestly, doing her duty as a teacher," Ryosuke replied.
Naturally, he wasn't about to badmouth her—after all, she was this old man's student.
Hiruzen nodded. He already knew as much.
"And if Tsunade were to leave the village—what would you do?"
"Leave? She's fine at the hospital. Why would she leave?" Ryosuke understood exactly what the Hokage meant, but chose to play dumb.
The Hokage sighed.
"Blame it on the cruelty of war…"
He told Ryosuke about Tsunade's lover Dan Katō and her younger brother Nawaki, both killed on the battlefield.
"She gave her all for the village in the Second Great War, and I grieve for her losses. I'd like her to rest, but right now, the village still needs her.
Ryosuke, you've been at the hospital with her a lot lately. You need to convince her to stay in Konoha."
Yeah right, Ryosuke thought, flipping him the mental equivalent of a middle finger.
"Lord Hokage, Lady Tsunade has her own mind. I doubt she'd listen to me. I can't promise I can make this happen…"
Unless an Uchiha literally swept her off her feet, she wasn't likely to be persuaded.
Hiruzen smiled faintly.
"I understand. Just do your best."
He patted Ryosuke's shoulder.
As long as it wasn't an official mission, Tsunade's decision wouldn't be tied to him—keeping the task vague meant avoiding being cornered.
"Yes, Lord Hokage. I'll do my best to persuade Lady Tsunade."
"I know you won't let me down, Ryosuke. One day, the village will rely on your generation."
"Here he goes with the emotional blackmail."
Ryosuke quickly gave a spirited reply, declaring his own "Uchiha-style" Will of Fire.
[End of Chapter]
[100 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]