Iruka's hand cut through the air.
"Begin."
Naruto and Sasuke shot toward each other like two angry missles. No testing each other, No feeling out. Just straight into it.
Sasuke threw a punch. Naruto blocked. Threw one back. Sasuke ducked.
They went at it hand to hand. Naruto was using the basic Academy style, the same stuff Iruka had been drilling into them for years. Solid, but predictable.
Sasuke was different. Uchiha style. Interceptor fist. He wasn't just blocking—he was redirecting. Every punch Naruto threw, Sasuke guided it away. Every kick, Sasuke stepped around it.
«Sasuke has a 33% advantage in technique. But Naruto's physical strength is compensating.»
Yeah, even I could see it. Naruto's hits were heavier. When he landed a blow, Sasuke felt it. But Sasuke was landing more blows then him.
They disengaged. Both breathing hard.
Then Naruto grinned.
Poof. Poof. Poof. Poof.
Four clones appeared next to him. E-Rank illusions.
All five Naruto's charged.
Sasuke's eyes darted between them. For half a second, he looked confused.
Then he looked at the ground.
The real Naruto was kicking up dust. The clones weren't.
Sasuke's hand went to his pouch. took out Five kunais. Threw them in one smooth motion.
Swish. Swish. Swish. Swish.
Four clones vanished dissipated. The fifth kunai, aimed at the real Naruto, he barely dodged and Rolled to the side. Came up on one knee.
"Nice try," Sasuke said.
Naruto didn't answer. He clapped his hands together.
Then he pulled them apart.
Wind swirled between his palms. Compressed air.
"Wind Release: Gale Palm!"
He thrust his hands forward. A blast of wind roared across the ring.
Sasuke's eyes went wide. He tried to dodge, but he was Too slow.
"Shit."
The Gale Palm caught him in the chest. Sent him sliding backwards, His sandals scraped against the dirt. He was almost out of the circle, inches away, when he dug his heels in and stopped mid way.
His hair was a mess.
But he was still in the circle.
The class was dead silent. No one had seen Naruto use wind jutsu before. with the sole exception of me... Yeah gojo wasn't there at the time he was in the prison realm.
Sasuke's face was different now. He was Not arrogant. Not angry. just Focused.
He reached for his pouch. Two kunai.
Threw them twords naruto.
Naruto dodged the first. Ducking under it. The second came low, he jumped over it.
But that's what Sasuke wanted.
While Naruto was in the air, Sasuke moved Fast. He appeared behind Naruto, swept his leg.
Naruto hit the ground hard. The air left his lungs in a whoosh.
Sasuke was on him in a second. Kunai at his throat.
Naruto froze. Then he grinned.
"Good one."
Iruka stepped forward. "Winner: Sasuke Uchiha."
The class erupted.
"Did you see that?! Naruto almost had him!"
"Since when can Naruto use wind jutsu?!"
"maybe He's not the dead last anymore!"
Sasuke offered Naruto a hand. Naruto took it. Pulled himself up.
"You've gotten stronger," Sasuke said.
"Yeah, well." Naruto dusted himself off. "I'm gonna beat you next time."
"We'll see."
They walked back to their spots. Naruto was limping a little. Sasuke's vest had a tear in it.
Both of them were smiling.
---
= After Class =
The courtyard was chaos. Everyone was still talking about the fight.
"Nice using Gale Palm on him."
"GOOD! That means it worked!"
Sasuke walked past us. Headed toward the gate.
"Hey," I called out. "You coming?"
He stopped. Turned around. "Coming where?"
"Ichiraku. My treat."
He raised an eyebrow. "Your treat?"
"I got money. Don't worry about it."
Naruto's head snapped toward me. "YOU'RE BUYING RAMEN?!"
"I'm buying ramen."
"I LOVE YOU!"
"FOR THE LOVE OF THE SAGE OF SIX PATHS I AIN'T GAY!!!." Ryu shouted on top of his lungs.
«Uh huh and?...»
"..."
I looked around. Shikamaru was leaning against a tree, looking at clouds.
"Hey, Shikamaru. Ramen?"
He shrugged. "I guess. Not like I got anything better to do except watching some clouds."
Choji was already walking toward the gate, chips in hand. "Is there food?"
"There's ramen."
"I'm in."
Hinata was standing by herself near the classroom door. Looking at me then Looking away then Looking at me.
"Hinata?"
She flinched. "Y-yes?"
"Ramen?"
Her face went pink. "W-with everyone?"
"Yeah sure. Everyone."
She nodded. Looked at the ground. "Oo-okay."
«You have assembled a social gathering. This is unusual for you.»
Shut up, that's because I want to prove I am not gay.
«I am merely observing.»
Observe quieter.
---
= Ichiraku Ramen =
The place was small. Counter seats. A few tables. The smell of pork broth and noodles hit us before we even walked in.
Teuchi was behind the counter. His daughter Ayame was wiping down the tables.
"Whoa," Teuchi said, looking at our group. "You kids take over the whole place?"
"Six bowls of miso pork," I said. "Extra egg on all of them."
Naruto grabbed my arm. "EXTRA EGG?!"
"You heard me."
"I'M GONNA CRY!"
"Nah Please don't."
We sat. Naruto squeezed between me and Sasuke, Sasuke looked annoyed but didn't move. Shikamaru sat at the end, already looking bored. Choji sat next to him, eyes locked on the kitchen. Hinata sat across from me, fingers fidgeting in her lap.
The ramen came.
Naruto attacked his bowl like he hadn't eaten in weeks. Maybe he hadn't. I didn't ask.
Choji ate fast but methodically. Every bite was deliberate.
Shikamaru slurped his noodles quietly. Staring at nothing.
Sasuke ate slow. Proper. Like someone had taught him table manners. Which, I guess, someone had.
Hinata picked at her noodles. Took tiny bites. Kept glancing at me.
"HmmThis is good," she said quietly.
"Best in the village," I said.
Naruto looked up, noodles hanging out of his mouth. "THE BEST IN THE WORLD!"
"Chew before you talk," Sasuke said.
"YOU'RE NOT MY DAD!"
"Being one because you don't have one."
"NEITHER DO YOU!! THAT'S FRIENDLY FIRE"
Shikamaru snorted. The first sign of life he'd shown all day.
Choji finished his bowl. Looked at mine.
"You gonna eat that?"
"It's mine."
"You're not eating it."
"I will eat it."
"You haven't touched it in three minutes."
"I'm savoring it."
"You're wasting it..."
I slid my bowl toward him. He dove in.
Naruto pointed his chopsticks at Sasuke. "Next time, I'm gonna win."
"You said that last time."
"This time I mean it."
"You said that too."
"SHUT UP!"
Hinata giggled Quietly. Almost under her breath.
Everyone looked at her. Her face turned crimson.
"S-sorry."
"Don't apologize," I said. "It's nice to hear you laugh."
She looked at me, Blinked. Then looked back at her noodles.
Her ears were red.
«Heart rate: 122 beats per minute. You should say something else.»
I should leave her alone.
«That is not what her heart rate suggests.»
JARVIS, she's ten.
«I am aware. I am also aware that you are ten. The math works.»
"..."
---
The sun was setting when we finished. Orange light spilled through the windows. The bowls were empty. Everyone was full.
Naruto patted his stomach. "I'm gonna need a nap."
"You're always tired after ramen," I said.
"Ramen makes me sleepy!"
"Ramen makes you everything my guy."
Choji stood up. "Thanks for the food, Ryū."
"Yeah, thanks," Shikamaru said. "Even though the company was troublesome."
"You love us."
"For the last Time, I'M NOT GAY!."
«There's a 67% chance of the Readers Reading this fan-fiction suspecting that you are gay»
"huh?"
«I did not say anything you are hallucinating»
I swear I heard something.
---
Sasuke stood up. Brushed off his pants. Looked at me.
"Why'd you invite everyone?"
I shrugged. "Figured we could use a break. Training, school, all that. Just... hanging out."
He stared at me for a second. Then he nodded.
"It was nice."
"Don't let it go to your head."
"Wouldn't dream of it."
He walked out. Naruto waved at him.
"BYE, SASUKE! TRAIN HARD! I'M GONNA BEAT YOU NEXT TIME!"
Sasuke didn't turn around. But he raised his hand. A wave.
Naruto grinned.
Hinata stood up. Brushed her skirt. Looked at me.
"Thank you, Ryū-kun."
"No problem, Hinata."
She stood there for a second. Like she wanted to say something else.
Then she turned and walked out.
«She wanted to say something else.»
"..."
«Why didn't you let her?»
Because she's ten. And I'm ten. And whatever she wanted to say... she can say it in a few years, Plus I'm not some island owner who'd go after little girls.
«and?»
Yeah, talking to you is useless.
---
END CHAPTER 24
A/N: ladies and gentleman we have reached the final part of the volume 1, now with the next chapter we will start with the main timeline. thank you for reading till now, I really appreciate it. Plus I will be uploading a full character sheet maybe tomorrow so you can know the power levels of the characters after graduation. Tomorrow finally the main timeline starts so you guys can have even more fun. Anyways, see you tomorrow.
Xx-----xX
A/N: Leave some power stones and if you don't... The next chapter might be mysteriously late....
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Btw if you want to read some advance chapters then check out my P@treøn, links in the synopsis.