Chapter 9: A Shadow's Gaze
Iruka, still processing the stunning reversal, finally found his voice. "The winner of this match is Uchiha Sas—"
The last syllable died in his throat.
A faint, knowing smirk had appeared on Kamikawa Hiraoka's face just before he vanished. Uchiha Sasuke saw it a split second too late, his eyes widening as a cold dread washed over him. A collective, sharp intake of breath came from the entire class. Where Hiraoka had knelt, exhausted and defeated, now stood only a single, innocuous log—a basic Substitution Jutsu executed with flawless, battle-winning timing.
Sasuke's face, usually a mask of cool indifference, twisted into a grimace of pure frustration. He had been outmaneuvered, tricked by the oldest trick in the academy book.
"The match isn't over."
The calm, steady voice came from directly behind him. Sasuke froze, feeling the cool press of a practice kunai against the back of his neck.
"Admit defeat, Uchiha Sasuke," Hiraoka said, returning the other boy's own words back to him.
A bitter taste filled Sasuke's mouth. His fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white, but the pressure on his neck was undeniable. Pride warred with pragmatism, and pragmatism won. "I… surrender," he forced out, the words tasting like ash.
Hiraoka withdrew the kunai, his expression not one of gloating, but of simple acknowledgment. "You're strong," he said, his tone genuine. "You just got careless."
Sasuke said nothing, turning away and stalking off the field, his shoulders stiff with humiliation and a burning, newfound resolve. He would not be caught off guard again.
"I… the winner is… Kamikawa Hiraoka!" Iruka announced, his voice reflecting the shock they had all just witnessed.
A wave of cheers erupted. "Hiraoka-kun, you did it!" Hinata whispered, her worry melting into radiant relief and pride.
"Hah! I knew he could do it!" Naruto whooped, punching the air as if he'd won himself.
The field quickly swarmed with excited students, their voices overlapping in a chorus of admiration. "That was amazing, Hiraoka!"
"You're the best in the class!"
"Can you teach me that move?"
A bold girl with bright red hair pushed to the front, clutching a pink envelope. "Hiraoka-kun, this is for you!" she said, her face flushed as she thrust it into his hands.
Hiraoka accepted it with a graceful, practiced smile. "Thank you, I'll be sure to read it." The girl squealed with delight and retreated back into the crowd. He glanced down at the letter, then at the several other girls who were now eyeing him with similar intent. Internally, he sighed. The attention is flattering, but it's a bit of a handful. Still… a man has to face his responsibilities, right?
"Alright, everyone!" Iruka called out, clapping his hands to regain order. "That concludes our assessment for the day. Class dismissed!"
As the crowd began to disperse, Naruto bounded over, slinging a friendly arm around Hiraoka's shoulders. "That was so cool! You totally fooled him!"
"Just a basic tactic," Hiraoka replied modestly.
"Hiraoka-kun, congratulations," Hinata said, her voice soft but filled with genuine happiness.
Before Hiraoka could respond, a cold voice cut in. Uchiha Sasuke was standing a few feet away, his dark eyes narrowed. "You were holding back. The whole time."
Hiraoka met his gaze, his own smile not faltering, but not offering a denial either. His silence was all the confirmation Sasuke needed. With a final, intense look, Sasuke turned and left, the lesson learned etched deeply into his pride.
Hokage's Office
Sarutobi Hiruzen listened intently as Iruka finished his detailed report on the day's events, his expression shifting from curiosity to deep interest, especially at the description of Hiraoka's tactical use of the Substitution Jutsu.
"The boy shows remarkable promise," Hiruzen mused, exhaling a plume of smoke. "Not just in skill, but in intellect."
The door to the office opened without a sound, and a figure emerged from the shadows. Shimura Danzo, his form leaning heavily on his cane, radiated an aura of cold authority. His single visible eye fixed not on the Hokage, but as if he could see through the walls to the academy itself.
"The Kamikawa boy," Danzo stated, his voice a low rasp that brooked no argument. "He is precisely the kind of raw talent the Foundation exists to mold. I will take him."
Iruka felt a chill that had nothing to do with the room's temperature. "With all due respect, Danzo-sama," he interjected, his voice tighter than he intended, "Hiraoka is still an academy student. He hasn't even graduated. He's a child."
Danzo's head turned slowly, his lone eye pinning Iruka in place. The jonin felt as if the air had been squeezed from his lungs, the sheer weight of Danzo's presence silencing him completely. "Do you presume to lecture me on the needs of this village, instructor?"
"Danzo," Hiruzen's voice cut through the tension, firm and final. He had risen from his seat, his posture that of the Hokage, not the old friend. "Iruka is correct. The boy is a student of the academy, under my purview. He is not yet a tool for your shadows. The matter is closed."
Danzo's face remained an impassive mask, but the air grew heavy with his displeasure. He turned his back on the Hokage, his cane tapping softly on the wooden floor as he moved toward the door.
"You will come to regret this sentimentality, Hiruzen," he said, pausing at the threshold. His voice was deceptively calm, but the threat laced within it was unmistakable.
"I am the Hokage," Sarutobi Hiruzen replied, his voice low and steely, his gaze unwavering. "It is my duty to protect all the leaves on the tree. Even the newest buds."
For a long, silent moment, the two old rivals held each other's gaze, a lifetime of conflicting ideologies passing between them. Then, without another word, Danzo disappeared into the hallway, his departure leaving a silence more profound than any noise.
Iruka finally released a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. The brief, silent confrontation was over, but he knew with chilling certainty that for Kamikawa Hiraoka, it was only the beginning.
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Hiruzen is a shit hokage on my opinion. What he did to Naruto and what he didn't do to Danzo is bs + the uchiha massacre could have also been avoided.
STONES PLS