Chapter 53: Hidden
In the backyard of Konoha Village Ninja School, a row of targets hung on three tree stumps, and many students had already completed their practice. It was now Sasuke's turn to showcase his skills.
As Sasuke prepared to demonstrate his abilities, a group of girls had gathered around him, their eyes filled with anticipation.
"Sasuke, go for it!"
"Sasuke, you're the best!"
Their enthusiastic cheers echoed in the open space. For Sasuke, these girls were probably nothing but an annoyance, distracting him as he aimed his kunai. Perhaps they were merely a hindrance to his precision, or maybe they just made him uncomfortable.
Suddenly, the crowd erupted in cheers again. Sasuke had not only hit the target accurately but had also scored a bullseye.
Naruto, however, couldn't help but feel a touch of disdain. Sasuke came from the prominent Uchiha clan and was even the patriarch's son. With the resources and training he had received from a young age, anyone could excel.
The other two students attempting the exercise with Sasuke had been completely overshadowed. Even the male classmates couldn't help but look at Sasuke with envy. Iruka, the teacher, also found himself getting a bit nervous for some inexplicable reason, wondering why he was so affected by all this.
Sasuke, without hesitation, raised his hand and threw a second kunai. The sound of 'Duang' echoed, and once again, the kunai hit the bullseye.
The exercise involved three targets on a tree stump, divided into upper, middle, and lower sections based on the student's height. The students had to land three kunai on the targets, each with only one bullseye. If a student managed to hit the bullseye on all three targets, they would achieve the highest score.
Sasuke did just that. His first two kunai hit the top and middle targets respectively, and without pause, he launched the third kunai. It accurately struck the bullseye of the third target.
Even Naruto had to acknowledge Sasuke's prowess. At this age, Sasuke was undeniably one of the most skilled in their class.
Of course, there was one exception to that rule— Naruto himself.
The students in their class at Konoha Village School were talented, but they couldn't quite match some of the prodigies in the village. Kakashi graduated at the age of five, Uchiha Itachi at six, and there were rumors that Moonlight Hayate started school at the age of three.
As for Naruto, if he wished, he could graduate early, even apply for the Chūnin exam, and perhaps even pass the Jōnin exam.
"Sasuke scored a perfect hit. Now, let the others continue," Iruka announced, trying to restore order among the excited crowd.
The enthusiasm from the girls had turned into a chaotic whirlwind of congratulatory cheers for Sasuke.
Observing Sasuke's demeanor, Naruto couldn't help but notice the tight and unsmiling expression on his face. He seemed to be harboring some inner darkness or resentment. It was common knowledge that Sasuke had a high-cold personality, and yet here he was, overtly involved in this activity.
Naruto refocused on the training at hand, taking a few steps forward with the rest of the team.
Naruto eagerly anticipated the opportunity, imagining the expressions on the faces of those who had once laughed at him. He couldn't help but smile at the thought, his excitement building.
"Next up is Naruto. It's your turn," Umino Iruka announced.
Finally, it was Naruto's turn. Iruka handed him the kunai, recovered from the previous students. Three kunai for Naruto, and three for his less skilled companions. Naruto took the kunai, making sure to grip them differently to maintain the element of surprise. He clamped one with his thumb and index finger, another with his index and middle fingers, and the last with his middle and ring fingers. His initial impulse was to throw them simultaneously, confident that he could hit three different targets, but he decided against it. Drawing too much attention would be counterproductive.
Naruto opted for a more subdued approach. He loaded three kunai onto his left hand and pretended to struggle with his right to extract one. To remain inconspicuous, he acted as if he were taking careful aim, telling himself not to exert too much force, lest the kunai go off course.
With a practiced flick, he launched the kunai. However, there was an abrupt silence in the backyard. The reason wasn't that Naruto had impressively hit the bullseye; rather, the situation was quite the opposite. Naruto's kunai hadn't come close to the target. Instead, they had plummeted to the ground just after leaving his hand.
Everyone present was left bewildered, initially staring at Naruto in disbelief before bursting into laughter.
"What on earth is this? It's not just a miss; it didn't even reach the target. This is pathetic."
"Hahaha, and you were boasting about practicing against Sasuke? What a joke."
"Don't get too ahead of yourself. Who was acting all arrogant just a moment ago?"
Laughter echoed throughout the backyard as Naruto stood there, mouth agape, staring at his fallen kunai in utter astonishment. What had just happened?
.....
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