The sudden attack caught Nara Shikaku completely off guard. He never expected Uchiha Tsukiki to strike like that—a sharp blow to his lower ribs sent pain shooting through his body.
Stumbling back several steps, his guard dropped, leaving him wide open. A sense of dread washed over him.
Tsukiki didn't let the opportunity slip. As Shikaku retreated, Tsukiki's left foot stepped forward, anchoring his stance, and he followed with a swift thrust.
Before Shikaku could react, he took the full force of the strike. But since the training sword was blunt, it didn't incapacitate him. Tsukiki pressed on—an upward slash, then a rapid flurry of strikes.
Each blow landed on Shikaku's body, the sound alone cringe-worthy. Shikaku had no chance to fight back. Tsukiki was holding back; at full strength, Shikaku would have broken bones and struggled to stand. Blunt force could still be deadly.
"Hm?"
Tsukiki's eyes lit up. He knocked Shikaku to the ground and pointed the sword tip at his neck—declaring imminent victory. His opponent was helpless.
Thud!
"A substitution jutsu, as expected," Tsukiki murmured.
"What?!"
"Wow, Shikaku! You dodged that?"
"It's over! Shadow Possession Jutsu!"
Shikaku, having escaped with substitution, appeared behind Tsukiki and immediately cast his shadow technique—though he looked worse for wear.
Relieved to finally trap Tsukiki, Shikaku was about to raise his hand in surrender when a familiar voice spoke beside him:
"Giving up already? You haven't run out of chakra yet."
Shikaku broke into a cold sweat. It was Tsukiki's voice—right next to him, not attacking, just watching.
Poof!
The Tsukiki bound by the shadow turned into a log. It was clear now—both had used substitution and clone techniques.
Shikaku took a deep breath and dispelled his shadow jutsu. He raised his hand toward their teacher, Sarutobi Tetsusuke, and uttered, "I surrender."
Tetsusuke stepped between them, declaring Tsukiki the winner. He glanced at Shikaku, covered in bruises, and shook his head. In a real fight, Shikaku would have died multiple times.
"Winner: Uchiha Tsukiki. Both of you, form the Reconciliation Seal."
After sharing the seal, they parted. Tsukiki needed to reflect on the battle—his successes, mistakes, and how to improve.
Shikaku, however, was badly hurt. His friends Akimichi Kojiro and Yamanaka Yura helped him to Konoha Hospital. He was bruised all over, with likely broken ribs.
"Next match: Inuzuka Tsume vs. Aburame Gyokuichi!"
New matches began, but Tsukiki had no interest in gathering intel. That fight had been intense—restricted by rules, his sword reduced to a blunt tool. Otherwise, Shikaku would have been long gone.
Of course, Shikaku couldn't use explosive tags either. Otherwise, the outcome might have been different. Even jonin could fall to a well-placed explosion, let alone a trainee.
"You didn't hold back at all. That was ruthless."
Tsukiki didn't need to look to know who it was—Hyuga Rin, his seemingly introverted but fiercely passionate desk mate, with a mischievous streak.
"Like your opponents fare any better. We're both ruthless, so no judgment. You look gentle but are seriously cunning—how many boys have fallen for that act?"
"Including you, Tsukiki-kun?"
"Save it. I'm not buying it. And—" Tsukiki's eyes flicked to Rin's flat chest. She blushed and glared. He rubbed his nose awkwardly.
"What did you say? You're just a kid too! And with those thoughts? You're a little pervert!"
Even Rin had her limits. She fired back, even considering calling for backup.
"Save your breath. Even if I were into that, you're not my type. Give up."
"You—! Byakugan! Gentle Fist!"
Insulted, Rin activated her Byakugan and launched a fierce assault. Tsukiki knew he was in trouble—exhausted, he'd likely end up beaten. Rin didn't hold back.
He immediately fled, with Rin in hot pursuit, her Byakugan locked on him. She didn't care about conserving chakra now.
"Ah, they're at it again. Youth…" Tetsusuke sighed to himself.
This had happened multiple times since they became desk mates. At first, he intervened, but seeing they kept it under control, he let them be.
Teasing them about getting along was just talk—historically, Uchiha and Hyuga never intermarried. They were wartime rivals. Peaceful coexistence in Konoha was progress enough.
After leading Rin on a chase until she calmed down, Tsukiki finally broke away. If she'd persisted, she would have caught him—his chakra was nearly depleted.
He headed home to rest and train. Talent might be lacking, but hard work could compensate. Might Guy, who trained relentlessly for decades, was the perfect example. Tsukiki refused to waste time.
After practical classes, they had to clean the grounds and return for self-study. Many clan kids found ways to leave early—including the cunning Hyuga Rin.
Tsukiki and Rin had an unspoken understanding. They often seized chances for a "youthful sprint" and skipped the rest of the day, going their separate ways.
Don't underestimate kids—their mischief can be full of surprises. When discovered, it's enough to spike your blood pressure.
It took Tetsusuke a month to notice, but with nearly 80 students, he couldn't do much.
Many in his class were already skilled enough to graduate. Before the war, civilian graduates might not have matched their level.
At their age, such prowess was once only seen in Warring States-era major clans. With a few more years of growth, they'd easily become chunin. A shame they were born in troubled times.
Tetsusuke shook his head. He knew why the academy was enrolling so many—and it was tragic. The mortality rate for genin on the battlefield was terrifying.
Even with a strong jonin leader, safety wasn't guaranteed. Senju Nawaki was proof—he died right before his leader, Orochimaru of the Sannin, who couldn't save him.
Back home, Tsukiki finally began practicing the Lightning Release scroll. After all his preparation, he was ready.
He'd learned its origins: during the Warring States period, a Uchiha jonin acquired it on a mission in Lightning Country.
After generations of refinement, it became a staple of the Uchiha—accessible to any clansman learning Lightning Release, thanks to its low entry barrier.
Many Uchiha lightning techniques evolved from this foundation. Though overshadowed by their Fire Release, the Uchiha's lightning arts were far from weak.
Having studied the scroll repeatedly, Tsukiki was familiar with it. With improved chakra control, his progress was smooth.
If he trained for thirty years like the Third Raikage, developing new lightning techniques or body enhancements, his future looked promising.
Even as a supplementary practice, Lightning Release would significantly boost his overall strength. For a shinobi, a stronger body meant greater potential for growth.