Chapter 12: Sparks of Rivalry
Arata stepped out of the Ninja Academy, his mind still buzzing from the day's events. Before he could take another step, a voice cut through the air. "Hyuga Arata! I've been waiting for you!"
Uchiha Genka stood with five other Uchiha kids, his eyes burning with hate. "You got my father stripped of his examiner role, and you humiliated me in class today. I'll make you pay. You'll see the Uchiha's true strength!"
Arata raised an eyebrow, unfazed. "Oh?"
Genka's face reddened. "What's so funny? You think you can run from this?"
"Run?" Arata's voice was cold, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "Why would I? Honestly, I'm sick of your clan's attitude. Like someone said, maybe your eyes need a new color—say, black and blue."
The Uchiha kids bristled, their fists clenching. Genka stepped forward. "Big words, Hyuga. Let's see who's overconfident!"
Arata sized them up. Six against one wasn't great, even with his Body Flicker. He braced himself, Byakugan flaring, ready to move—when a figure darted in front of him.
"Want to gang up on him? You'll have to go through me first," Minato said, his voice steady, blue eyes sharp.
Genka sneered. "The dreamer who wants to be Hokage? Fine, we'll crush you both!"
"And me!" Kushina's voice rang out as she stepped up, cracking her knuckles. "Let's see how tough you Uchiha really are."
Arata glanced at his new allies, surprised but amused. Minato and Kushina looked ready to throw down, their energy almost contagious. The three exchanged a quick nod, no words needed. They'd been itching to shut the Uchiha up.
No more talk. The fight was on.
The Uchiha kids charged, banking on their numbers. But they weren't ready for what hit them. Minato was a blur, too fast for the two Uchiha assigned to him. They swung and missed, unable to touch him.
Arata vanished in a Body Flicker, reappearing behind his opponents. He toyed with them, dodging effortlessly, his speed leaving Genka and another kid stumbling. But Kushina? She was a force of nature. Taking on three Uchiha at once, she fought with raw power, knocking them back with heavy punches. "Stay down!" she growled, her red hair flying.
Genka, red-faced and furious, shouted, "Enough!" He stepped back, hands flashing through seals. "Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"
Arata's eyes narrowed. He'd seen this move coming—Sasuke's signature in the stories. Before Genka could finish, Arata flickered, appearing behind him in an instant. His foot lashed out, catching Genka in the back and sending him sprawling. The fireball shot skyward, fizzling uselessly.
"Sneak attack!" Genka coughed, scrambling up.
Arata smirked. "Your jutsu's too slow."
Genka glared, out of chakra and out of options. Arata raised a fist, ready to add those promised dark circles—when a bang interrupted. Unno appeared between them, arms crossed. "Enough! School's over, and you're brawling? Think today's training was too light?"
Arata froze. It was just a shadow clone, but Unno's glare felt real. The Uchiha kids backed off, grumbling. Genka pointed at Arata, his voice venomous. "This isn't over, Hyuga. I'll make you pay for today."
Arata didn't bother responding. He turned and walked away, Minato and Kushina falling in beside him. "Thanks," he said quietly.
Kushina grinned. "Anytime. Those Uchiha needed a lesson."
Minato nodded. "They'll come for us again. Stay sharp."
By the next morning, the academy was buzzing. Whispers followed Arata down the halls. "The Uchiha got beat up?" "Who's crazy enough to take them on?" The story of the fight at the gate had spread like wildfire.
In the teachers' room, Unno and Sai sat across from each other, discussing the incident. Sai's smile was as polished as ever. "You're not going to step in, Unno? That was quite the fight."
Unno snorted, leaning back. "Kids being kids. If they can't handle a scrap, they don't belong here. Besides, my clone shut it down."
Sai's eyes glinted. "True, but you still warned them. Worried about your students?"
"Worried?" Unno scoffed. "I want them to save that energy for class. The Land of Rain's a powder keg, and the Land of Earth's circling. These kids need to be ready, not wasting chakra on playground fights."
Sai nodded, his smile unwavering. "Fair point. The situation's tense. Maybe we should push them harder. How about a test?"
Unno raised an eyebrow. "A test?"
"Yes," Sai said, his voice smooth. "A real challenge. Winners get rewards—losers get cut. Ninjas don't need dead weight."
Unno studied him, suspicious but intrigued. "What kind of test?"
Sai's smile widened, but his eyes stayed cold. "Something to separate the strong from the weak. Let's see who's really worthy of Class A."
(End of Chapter)
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