Chapter 8: The Prodigy's Duel
A wave of excited murmurs swept through the training ground as the two names were called. This was the match everyone had been waiting for.
"Wow! It's Sasuke versus Kamikawa Hiraoka!"
"Go, Hiraoka! You can do it!"
"Show him what you've got, Sasuke-kun!"
The cheers and shouts from their classmates created a charged, tournament-like atmosphere. The air itself seemed to crackle with anticipation.
"Hiraoka-kun, good luck," Hinata whispered, her hands clasped tightly over her heart, her eyes wide with concern.
Feeling her worry, Hiraoka gave her hand a gentle, reassuring squeeze before letting go. He leaned in close, his voice a soft, confident murmur meant only for her. "Don't worry. I'm not going to lose to him."
The certainty in his voice and the proximity of his face sent a fresh wave of warmth through Hinata. Her heart fluttered, and for a moment, all her anxiety was replaced by a steadfast belief in him. She simply nodded, a small, trusting smile touching her lips.
Hiraoka turned and walked to the center of the field, his gaze locking onto Uchiha Sasuke's. The Uchiha heir stood with his customary cool detachment, but Hiraoka could see the sharp, competitive fire burning in his dark eyes.
"Seal of Confrontation!" Iruka commanded, his own voice tinged with excitement.
As their hands formed the ram seal in unison, the system's prompt chimed in Hiraoka's mind.
"Ding! Host, please choose."
"Option 1: Defeat Uchiha Sasuke in combat."
"Reward: Fire Nature Affinity + Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique."
"Option 2: Immediately concede the match to Uchiha Sasuke."
"Reward: Fire Nature Affinity."
"Option 3: Demand Uchiha Sasuke's surrender."
"Reward: Fire Nature Affinity + Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique."
The choice was effortless. Conceding was unthinkable—he would never give Sasuke the satisfaction. And demanding surrender? That was just arrogant and pointless. No, he would win this fairly, and claim the full reward.
Option one.
A new warmth ignited within his chakra network, a flickering, potent energy that felt fundamentally different. Along with it came the intricate knowledge of chakra molding and breath control required for the Uchiha clan's signature technique.
"Begin!"
Sasuke moved first, a blur of motion as he closed the distance with practiced speed, aiming a sharp kick at Hiraoka's side. Hiraoka pivoted, deflecting the blow with his forearm, the impact sending a jolt up his arm. He didn't underestimate Sasuke; the boy was a prodigy for a reason.
He created space with a swift backflip, his hands already retrieving shuriken. In mid-air, he let them fly, not in a wild spray, but in a calculated volley designed to cut off Sasuke's angles of approach.
Sasuke's eyes narrowed. He didn't retreat. Instead, his own hands became a blur, throwing shuriken of his own. The air filled with the sharp clang and ping of metal colliding mid-flight, each of Hiraoka's projectiles perfectly intercepted and knocked aside in a dazzling display of precision from both combatants.
A collective gasp rose from the spectators. Aburame Shino, observing stoically from the sidelines, adjusted his glasses. "A significant gap in fundamental skill... I would have been hard-pressed to counter either of those assaults."
Hinata watched, her Byakugan unconsciously threatening to activate, her knuckles white as she clenched her fists. But then she remembered the absolute confidence in Hiraoka's eyes, and she forced herself to breathe, her faith steadying her nerves.
Iruka watched, impressed. This was a level of skill he rarely saw in academy students.
Seeing his projectile attack neutralized, a flicker of annoyance crossed Sasuke's face. This wasn't supposed to be this difficult. His expression hardened with resolve. He leaped backward, putting distance between them, and his hands began to fly through a sequence of seals.
Hiraoka recognized the pattern instantly: Ram, Snake, Boar, Tiger... He didn't hesitate, his own hands mirroring the seals a fraction of a second later.
Sasuke's eyes widened in sheer, unadulterated shock. How does he know that seal sequence?!
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu!" they shouted in unison.
Two massive orbs of roaring flame erupted from their mouths, colliding in the center of the field with a deafening WHOOSH. The intense heat washed over the spectators, and the light of the clashing fireballs illuminated their awestruck faces. The two jets of flame pushed against each other, neither giving ground, until they finally consumed each other in a burst of sparks and dissipating heat.
The effort left both boys breathing heavily. Sasuke fell to one knee, his chakra reserves severely drained. He looked up, expecting to see Hiraoka in a similar state of exhaustion.
He was not disappointed. Hiraoka was also on one knee, his chest heaving. A triumphant gleam entered Sasuke's eyes. He pushed through the fatigue, forcing his trembling body to stand. Drawing a kunai, he charged forward for what he believed would be the final, decisive strike.
"Hiraoka, get up! Don't lose to that teme!" Naruto yelled, jumping up and down on the sidelines.
Hinata's hand flew to her mouth, a silent gasp catching in her throat as she saw Sasuke charging the seemingly vulnerable Hiraoka.
What no one saw—not the crowd, not Iruka, and certainly not the charging Sasuke—was the subtle, triumphant curve that played on Hiraoka's lips. The trembling, the heavy breathing—it was a masterful performance. The system's chakra reward had given him more in reserve than he was letting on.
As Sasuke closed in, Hiraoka's body swayed, making it appear as if he was making a last, desperate attempt to rise. Sasuke, sensing victory, pressed his practice kunai against Hiraoka's neck.
"Admit defeat, Kamikawa," Sasuke stated, his voice breathless but firm.
Hiraoka remained silent, his head bowed. Internally, he was amused. Lose? To you? Not today.
Sasuke looked toward Iruka. "Iruka-sensei! The match is over."
Iruka, who had been captivated by the incredible display, snapped back to his role as proctor. He opened his mouth to declare Sasuke the winner.
But the words never came.
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What do you guys think of sasuke as a character? I personally think he could have been a lot better.
STONES