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As soon as Daikoku Funeno finished speaking, the classroom erupted into noise.
The students who usually trained hard in taijutsu and practiced seriously after class were all smiling, clearly excited. For them, combat class was their moment to shine.
The slackers, on the other hand, looked miserable. Practical combat meant one thing for them: embarrassment.
Everyone reacted differently.
Generally speaking, aside from what was taught at the ninja academy, post-class guidance mattered a lot too. If a student's parents were chuunin or even jounin, their child was usually stronger. But if their parents were just ordinary villagers, the difference showed.
Some of those kids might stay genin their entire lives. Only the lucky ones would ever make it to chuunin.
Take Itachi, for example. Being that strong at such a young age didn't come out of nowhere. Behind it was Fugaku's full dedication to training him.
"What are we supposed to do about the combat class this afternoon…" Hitomi frowned slightly, her voice tinged with worry.
All she wanted was to attend class quietly and focus on learning. Fighting her classmates wasn't something she enjoyed.
Sarutobi Kei, on the other hand, was the complete opposite.
He looked eager, cracking his knuckles, his eyes fixed on Ken with clear ill intent.
Ken shot him a sideways glance, completely unconcerned.
With his current strength, he could easily handle most of the class. All he needed to do was win while keeping a low profile.
If he really ended up facing Sarutobi Kei… well, he'd just go easy on him.
After all, this was a sanctioned combat class. Nothing wrong with teaching someone a lesson.
…
By the afternoon, Class 1-3 had gathered at the training field.
Daikoku Funeno stood in the center, going over the rules.
"I'll be pairing you up based on your recent performance."
"You may use chakra, but no ninjutsu!" he declared.
Most of the students had already learned to use chakra, but very few had mastered any techniques. A handful of kids from big clans had, but banning ninjutsu kept things fair for everyone else.
"Give it your all and earn your own glory!"
His words were brief, but they fired up the class.
"First match: Inuzuka Kiba versus Akimichi Choji."
Two boys stepped forward.
One was skinny, with the signature red inverted triangle markings on his cheeks. Clearly from the Inuzuka clan. He was the type who spent more time playing with dogs than paying attention in class.
The other was large and round, casually munching on a bag of chips as he walked out. No question he was from the Akimichi clan.
"Form the Seal of Opposition!" Daikoku Funeno called, already feeling a headache coming on.
"Here I come! Try not to cry!" Inuzuka Kiba snorted after forming the seal, clearly underestimating his opponent.
"Bring it on!" Akimichi Choji cracked his knuckles, his chubby face wobbling slightly, making him look oddly comical.
"Ahh!"
"Ahh!"
The two charged at each other.
Then—
Everyone froze.
There were no techniques. No form. No strategy.
They grabbed each other's ears. Pulled hair. It looked less like a ninja duel and more like a street brawl between kids.
Both of them were complete amateurs.
"Stop! Stop!" Daikoku Funeno covered his eyes, unable to watch any longer, and quickly called off the match.
If other instructors saw the kind of students he was teaching, he'd never live it down.
"Teacher, give me five more minutes—no, three! I can definitely beat this fatty!" Inuzuka Kiba protested angrily.
"Who are you calling fat? I'm not fat!" Akimichi Choji flared up instantly, rolling up his sleeves.
"Bring it on! I'm not scared of you!"
"Enough!" Daikoku Funeno barked.
His chuunin-level pressure burst out, instantly silencing both boys. They froze, not daring to move.
"Form the Seal of Reconciliation!"
The two reluctantly complied.
Several more matches followed.
The quality improved a lot. There was actual back-and-forth, real exchanges.
Far better than that first disaster.
"Next match: Sarutobi Kei versus Uchiha Ken!"
"So it's really him." Ken noticed the smug grin on Sarutobi Kei's face.
No need to guess. This matchup was definitely arranged behind the scenes.
With the Sarutobi clan backing him, Kei had the influence.
Since he'd been trying to challenge Ken for a while, maybe it was time to put an end to it. Beat him once, and he might stop causing trouble.
The two formed the Seal of Opposition and stood three meters apart.
A crowd quickly gathered.
"Kei, you've got this! You're definitely winning!"
"That Uchiha's all talk! You'll crush him!"
His lackeys shouted at the top of their lungs.
"Ken, do your best!" Hitomi watched him the entire time, silently cheering him on.
Daikoku Funeno observed quietly.
Before class, Sarutobi Kei had approached him, asking for this match.
He hesitated at first, but eventually agreed.
After all, this was a clash between the Sarutobi clan and the Uchiha bloodline with the Sharingan.
It was bound to be interesting.
"I'm attacking!" Kei said, excitement trembling in his voice.
He imagined the thrill of victory, his body practically shaking with anticipation.
Despite his bulky appearance, he moved fast.
In the blink of an eye, he closed the four-to-five-meter distance, his massive fist crashing down.
But the moment he moved, Ken had already mobilized his chakra, channeling it through his body. Strength surged instantly.
He simply raised his arm.
And blocked it.
Effortlessly.
"So fast…"
"The Uchiha really live up to their name."
Kei was shocked.
He had been confident that his speed would overwhelm Ken. Instead, his attack was stopped like it was nothing.
He didn't hesitate.
A kick followed immediately.
For someone his size, he was surprisingly agile.
But Ken seemed to have already seen through it. He sidestepped casually, avoiding the attack with ease.
Then—
A single palm strike.
It landed on Kei's chest.
A powerful force surged through him, sending him stumbling backward.
Step after step—
Until he fell flat onto the sand.
If that had been a kunai instead…
Kei felt a chill run down his spine.
He might already be dead.
"You lost," Ken said lightly, standing there as if nothing had happened.
"I… lost?" Kei stared blankly, disbelief filling his eyes.
He had thought this would be an easy win.
Instead, he was defeated just as easily.
Only now did he realize—
The Uchiha he had been so eager to challenge was far stronger than he'd imagined.
"I'll train harder… and beat you next time!" Kei said firmly, locking eyes with Ken before turning back to the crowd.
"Kei, that was just luck! You'll win next time!"
"Yeah!"
Kei nodded, his voice steady and resolute.
"In the ninja world, who dares call themselves invincible? Who dares say they'll never lose? A single defeat will only push me to grow stronger!"
"I'm going to become Hokage!"
"That's right, Kei! You'll definitely become Hokage!" his followers echoed.
Daikoku Funeno shook his head slightly.
He had seen it clearly.
Ken hadn't even gone all out.
If Kei wanted to surpass him, it wouldn't be easy.
"This match—Uchiha Ken wins!"
"Next match: Hyuga Sora versus Hyuga Hitomi."
"....."