Saiki's throwing results didn't draw gasps of amazement.
But some people began to discuss in low voices.
"Hey, Saiki's last throwing results were all off-target, right?"
"No, I think one didn't miss!"
"This time, not a single one missed the target!"
"So amazing!"
For a moment, pairs of eyes quietly sized up Saiki.
However, for now, it was just curiosity.
Such a result was not bad.
But it wasn't overly outstanding either.
No one felt too surprised.
Until—
[One Month Later]
"Uchiha Sasuke! Ten points!"
Another month passed.
Looking at Sasuke's shuriken throw results, Iruka announced loudly.
Sasuke had a smug look on his face.
The cheers by his ears made him even more smug.
'After knowing this result, older brother will definitely feel happy for me too!'
Sasuke thought silently.
Peak little brother energy.
At this time—
"Saiki! Ten points!"
'?'
Sasuke's smile instantly froze.
He turned around.
Looked in disbelief.
Those girls who were originally cheering for him were also stunned.
On the wooden stump, the shuriken thrown by Saiki had all hit the bullseye.
Every. Single. One.
Saiki smiled happily.
"Not bad!"
Iruka praised him.
Such a result exceeded even his expectations.
'Sure enough. Truly a diligent and hardworking student!'
"Thank you, Iruka-sensei!"
Saiki acted pleasantly surprised.
As if genuinely happy about this result.
'Oscar-worthy performance, if I do say so myself.'
The surrounding students couldn't help but cast frequent glances at Saiki.
"That guy!"
"So strong!"
"As expected, he's been cultivating hard all along!"
Voices of surprise rang out continuously.
If Saiki had hit the bullseye from the start?
Those students wouldn't have thought much of it.
But becoming stronger step by step?
That surprised everyone the most.
For a time, the students all believed Saiki was a very hardworking person.
Gentle personality. Firm determination.
'The persona is working perfectly.'
"Wow! Saiki-kun is quite handsome too!"
"Yeah, yeah! He looks so cool!"
"So amazing!"
Saiki himself had a clean and handsome appearance.
Complemented by his "hard work," he attracted even more attention from the girls.
Under these attentive gazes, Saiki returned to the crowd.
'Fangirls acquired. Not that I was trying.'
"That guy!"
Uchiha Sasuke frowned.
His eyes locked onto Saiki.
He felt that a hardworking person like this needed to be paid attention to.
'Hmph! Absolutely no one can surpass me. The glory of the Uchiha clan will be protected by me!'
Classic Uchiha internal monologue.
Saiki didn't know he was being targeted by Sasuke.
'Oh, I definitely know. I can feel the edgy rivalry energy from here.'
[Next Shuriken Training]
Sasuke threw five shuriken out.
All at once.
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
They hit the bullseye simultaneously.
Amidst another wave of gasps, Sasuke let out a smug snort.
Looked in Saiki's direction.
"Hmph!"
'This is the shuriken throwing technique I begged my older brother to teach me.'
'The glory of the Uchiha clan will be defended by me!'
'...'
'Where did this inexplicable desire to win come from?'
Saiki noticed Sasuke's gaze.
The intense rivalry radiating off this kid was almost visible.
He merely smiled.
Not taking the provocation seriously at all.
'Bro, I'm just trying to level up quietly. Chill.'
"Next! Saiki!"
At Iruka's call, Saiki stepped forward.
"Maintain your mindset. Don't be influenced!"
Worried that Saiki would be affected by Sasuke's performance, Iruka offered advice.
"Yes!"
'In reality? I don't care about this provocation at all.'
He threw consecutively.
However, it wasn't a five-shuriken rapid fire like Sasuke's.
Three first. Then two.
Hitting the bullseye.
"Not bad!"
Such a result made Iruka happy.
'Truly worthy of being the student I value!'
"So amazing!"
"So what? He's not as amazing as Sasuke!"
"That's only for now! In the future, Saiki-kun will definitely be even more amazing!"
"Yeah! Saiki is so hardworking!"
The surrounding little girls were actually arguing about who was stronger.
'A fandom war. In the Ninja Academy. Over shuriken throwing.'
'This world is wild.'
"Damn it! That guy!"
Sasuke became serious.
Saiki's "hard work" made him feel pressure.
'No! For the glory of the Uchiha clan, I must become even stronger!'
'Great. I've accidentally created a rival subplot.'
'Wasn't in the plan. But whatever.'
[The Following Days]
For several consecutive days, Saiki maintained the persona.
Cultivating hard.
Making up for lack of talent with diligence.
Besides the Chakra Cultivation Method and Shuriken Throwing Technique, he only simplified one new skill.
Hand Seals.
[Hand Seals — Simplified — Moving the wrist!]
He only needed to move his wrist to cultivate hand seal speed.
'Convenient.'
In his own courtyard, Saiki moved his wrist with one hand.
Casually threw stones with the other.
Multitasking his way to power.
He lowered his head, deep in thought.
'Under the current circumstances, the most suitable thing to learn should be Taijutsu.'
Although Ninjutsu is the fundamental ability of a ninja, Taijutsu is equally important.
Just look at the later stages of the Fourth Great Ninja War.
It was all a war between Kekkei Genkai.
Without a powerful bloodline limit, you simply didn't have the qualifications to join the battlefield.
But Konoha's Emperor Guy?
He furiously opened the Eight Inner Gates with pure Taijutsu.
Kicked Six Paths Madara.
'That alone reflects the power of a Taijutsu ninja.'
However, Taijutsu cultivation isn't just about swinging fists.
'There must be basic theoretical teaching before it can be simplified.'
Here, Saiki set his sights on Iruka.
He clearly had a plan.
[The Next Day]
Before classes started.
Saiki was surrounded by students.
There were small circles within the class.
The most typical ones?
The ninja clan circle.
And the civilian ninja circle.
As a civilian ninja, Saiki had shown great talent and firm perseverance.
Naturally, the civilian ninjas crowded around him.
A friend sitting next to him suddenly sighed.
"I really don't know when we'll be able to learn Ninjutsu!"