Hearing Sasuke's declaration, Shouta Kazuki raised an eyebrow. So, he was about to unleash the Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu? As expected of the Uchiha, their affinity for fire techniques was unmatched. But what Sasuke didn't know was that Shouta had already mastered this technique as well.
As Sasuke inhaled deeply, his hands moved with precision, forming the distinct sequence of seals necessary for the Great Fireball Jutsu. Shouta recognized the movements instantly. This was the signature jutsu of the Uchiha clan, a technique that required significant chakra control. If Sasuke was confident enough to use it in a training battle, then it meant he had already honed his chakra reserves and control to a considerable degree.
The students watching from the sidelines were in an uproar.
"Wait… Is Sasuke forming hand seals?!" One of them gasped, eyes widening in disbelief.
"He's using ninjutsu?! Already?! That's not fair!" Another complained, fists clenched.
"Damn it! We're all just Academy students! How is Sasuke so far ahead of us?!"
"What kind of jutsu is this? It looks powerful!"
"If it's real ninjutsu… then Shouta is doomed, right? There's no way he can fight back against a fire-style jutsu!"
The tension in the air was almost suffocating. Some students watched with amazement, others with envy, and some, like Yamanaka Ino, with genuine concern. Her hands clenched into tight fists, her gaze locked onto Shouta. Just moments ago, he had gone toe-to-toe with Sasuke, even after the latter had activated his Sharingan. That was already an incredible feat. But now… facing ninjutsu?
The thought of him losing so easily left an uneasy feeling in her chest.
"Shikamaru… do you know what jutsu this is?" she asked, her voice slightly shaky.
The lazy genius sighed, rubbing the back of his head as he carefully observed Sasuke's hand signs.
"This sequence… It's definitely a fire-style jutsu," Shikamaru muttered. "I didn't think Sasuke had already mastered ninjutsu. This is bad. It looks like he's using the Great Fireball Jutsu… which means Shouta is in trouble."
On the other side of the training ground, Iruka-sensei was visibly alarmed.
"Wait! Sasuke, stop!" he called out, stepping forward. "This is just a spar! You're not supposed to use such dangerous techniques against a classmate!"
But Sasuke wasn't listening. His pride as an Uchiha had been challenged. He had already announced his next move. There was no turning back now.
Clenching his teeth, he glared at Shouta, who still stood calmly, unshaken by the threat.
"You don't understand!" Sasuke shot back. "This is a C-rank ninjutsu! It's not something you can just block or dodge! I'm warning you, Shouta! If you don't surrender, you're going to get seriously hurt!"
But to Sasuke's—and everyone else's—shock, Shouta smirked.
"I already know that," Shouta replied, his voice steady. "Because I also know the Great Fireball Jutsu."
Silence.
For a moment, nobody spoke. Nobody even breathed.
Then—
"What?!"
The entire class erupted in disbelief. Even Iruka's eyes widened. Did Shouta just say that he also knew the Great Fireball Jutsu?!
"Impossible!!!"
"Wait, wait, wait! We already have one prodigy who knows ninjutsu… and now we have TWO?!"
"How the hell did Shouta learn that jutsu?!"
Sasuke, still mid-seal, felt his fingers tremble for a split second. His Sharingan spun slightly as he analyzed Shouta's expression. Was he bluffing? No… That confidence in his eyes… It wasn't a lie.
And then, just as Sasuke completed his final seal—so did Shouta.
The exact same sequence. The exact same speed.
The two finished at the same time.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!!!"
They exhaled together, and two roaring fireballs erupted from their mouths, clashing in the center of the training ground with a deafening explosion. A wave of heat surged outward, forcing the nearby students to shield their faces. Thick clouds of smoke and dust billowed into the air, covering the entire area in a suffocating haze.
The battlefield was silent.
Iruka stared in shock, unable to comprehend what had just happened. Not only had one of his students performed a powerful C-rank jutsu… but two of them had done it simultaneously.
As the smoke began to clear, Sasuke staggered backward, his body swaying. The battle, the ninjutsu, the Sharingan—everything had drained him. His chakra was gone. With one last exhale, he collapsed to his knees, panting heavily.
Shouta, on the other hand, remained standing, though he was visibly exhausted. The fire jutsu had consumed a lot of his chakra as well. But compared to Sasuke, he was in better shape.
It was at this moment that Iruka snapped out of his daze and rushed to Sasuke's side, checking his condition. Seeing that he was only exhausted and not injured, the teacher let out a relieved sigh before turning toward the class.
"I declare the winner of this battle exercise—Shouta Kazuki!!!"
For a moment, nobody reacted. Then—
"SHOUTA!!! YOU WERE SO COOL!!!" Naruto yelled, jumping up and down. His excitement was through the roof.
"When did you even learn ninjutsu?! You have to teach me too!!!"
Ino let out a long breath, her heart finally calming down. A smile spread across her face as she watched Shouta stand tall.
"As expected of Shouta-kun…" she murmured, her eyes gleaming with admiration.
Meanwhile, Shikamaru sighed, shaking his head.
"Tch… Just how strong is this guy? I was already worried about Sasuke, and now Shouta is a monster too…" He yawned. "This is getting troublesome."
As Shouta stood there, catching his breath, he couldn't help but reflect on everything that had led up to this moment. His training, his chakra control, his countless beatings from the summoned Madara… It was all paying off.
But this was only the beginning.
He had far more to accomplish.
Far more power to claim.
And most importantly—
Far stronger opponents to defeat.
4o