The sun blazed overhead in Konoha's training arena, where the air buzzed with anticipation.
Today's match was the one everyone had been waiting for—Naruto Uzumaki versus Sasuke Uchiha.
Two proud young shinobi ready to measure their strength, but there was a catch: neither had access to ninjutsu, meaning they would solely rely on their taijutsu skills.
"Hey Sasuke! Ready to lose?" Naruto shouted, bouncing on his heels, energy radiating from him like a sunbeam.
"Don't get too cocky, Naruto. You might regret it when I wipe the floor with you," Sasuke replied calmly, his eyes narrowing slightly as he prepared himself.
The tension was palpable, and the surrounding students hushed in anticipation.
As Iruka-sensei gave the signal to start, the two combatants rushed toward each other, exchanging a flurry of punches and quick kicks.
Their footfalls echoed like thunder on the training ground.
Naruto's Uzumaki blood granted him the stamina and natural athleticism that came with his lineage.
He was quick and agile, darting from side to side. "You can't catch me!" he shouted playfully, dodging a high kick from Sasuke.
Sasuke grimaced, his facade of calm fracturing as he smirked at Naruto's speed.
"I'll show you what real finesse looks like!" With that, he lunged forward, attempting to connect with a punch to Naruto's gut.
Naruto countered with a well-timed sidestep, grabbing Sasuke's arm and twisting it behind his back.
"No fair! We're supposed to fight fair and square!" he teased, using his momentum to flip Sasuke over onto the ground.
Sasuke landed with a thud but quickly rolled back to his feet, eyes blazing with determination.
He grabbed a kunai from his pouch and hurled it at Naruto, who effortlessly dodged it.
"Nice try, but it'll take more than that to beat me!" Naruto laughed, dashing forward with renewed energy.
The crowd was enchanted by the spectacle, cheers erupting from the students as they watched the two engage in the fierce back-and-forth.
Both boys began to sweat under the afternoon sun, but there was a glimmer of respect forming in Sasuke's heart, overshadowed by his competitive spirit.
"You think your bloodline makes you special?" Sasuke challenged, landing a quick jab to Naruto's side.
"I'll show you how a real Uchiha fights!"
With that declaration, Sasuke weaved through their current distance, retaliating with a series of swift punches, mixing in grappling moves and brutal knee strikes.
He caught Naruto off-balance, hitting him squarely in the abdomen, causing the blonde to double over.
Naruto gasped, but his resolve didn't waver. "You're not the only one with tricks!"
He launched off the ground, spinning in the air to deliver a fierce kick to Sasuke's shoulder, knocking him aside.
Sasuke stumbled but regained his footing. "Tch!" He quickly glanced at his opponent, the wheels of calculation turning in his mind as he calculated his next move.
He dashed toward Naruto, this time closing the distance a little faster.
Just when it seemed Sasuke had the upper hand, Naruto caught him off-guard, utilizing his sheer strength and Uzumaki endurance.
He flipped over Sasuke's head, executing a perfect landing behind him.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu might be banned, but I can still hit hard!" he shouted before jabbing Sasuke in the back, pushing him forward.
Despite the brutal exchange, Naruto had clearly gained the advantage through his stamina, surprising Sasuke with his exceptional tag-team-like endurance.
The competitive spirit grew within Sasuke, fueling his frustration. "Just you wait!"
Sasuke charged again, his frustration morphing into determination as he maneuvered through strikes with precision.
Using kunai and shurikens with acute accuracy, he forced Naruto to play defensively for a moment.
Shikamaru leaned against a nearby tree with a bored look.
"Is it really just throwing random tools and punches, or is there an actual strategy here?" he muttered, rolling his eyes.
"Just you wait! They'll reach a climactic moment," Ino chimed in eagerly, flanked by Sakura, both eyeing the match with interest.
Sakura nodded, her eyes trained on the two boys, but beneath the surface, irritation brewed.
"I can't believe Naruto's keeping up with Sasuke this time," she mumbled, crossing her arms.
Both boys were now panting heavily, sweat trickling down their foreheads as they exchanged a rapid flurry of strikes, occasionally utilizing shurikens.
Naruto's relentless spirit was pushing him beyond his limits, and he could feel the Uzumaki blood coursing through him with each strike.
Just as Sasuke was about to deliver a decisive blow, Naruto sidestepped and pivoted back to bring his knee up to meet Sasuke's chin, delivering a solid uppercut.
"I win!" Naruto yelled, practically bouncing on his feet in elation as Sasuke stumbled back, stunned and disoriented.
As Iruka-sensei declared Naruto the winner, Sasuke shot him an irritated look, rubbing his chin.
"Alright, I admit it. You're stronger today. But I'll beat you next time, got it?"
Naruto beamed, fist clenched in victory. "You can try, but you'll still lose!"
The atmosphere crackled with excitement, while Ino and Sakura exchanged glances, simultaneously rolling their eyes at the exchange.
"Boys," Ino scoffed, "so competitive over nothing."
Just then, Shizuka stepped forward with a playful smirk, having just dusted herself off after quickly finishing her taijutsu training against a few peers.
"Well, while you two were busy, I managed to kiss Gojo!" she smirked, crossing her arms and eyeing the two boys with satisfaction.
The reaction was instantaneous. Ino and Sakura's expressions shifted from boredom to disbelief.
"Wait, what?!" both girls exclaimed, their eyes widening simultaneously.
"Yeah, she didn't just kiss him; she practically attacked him!" Kiba called, a triumphant grin plastered on his face.
"I think some people just can't handle the Uchiha charm, huh?"
"Maybe she was trying to get attention," Sasuke said, glancing at Naruto, who simply shrugged, feeling a twinge of jealousy himself.
Meanwhile, Gojo had been watching the match from a distance, comfortably leaning against a tree, blissfully unaware of the chaos he had inadvertently caused.
He let out a loud yawn, stretching leisurely.
"Lucky bastard," Shikamaru muttered, shaking his head. "Sleeping through all this fun."
Shizuka blushed furiously, covering her embarrassment at being talked about so openly while also furtively gazing at Gojo, who had returned to searching the clouds with dreamy eyes.
In a heartbeat, she found her emotions shifting: humiliation mixed with pride.
"My reward for the kiss is Chunin-level taijutsu, so…take that!" she declared, radiating newfound confidence even as she felt the heat rising in her cheeks.
"Chunin-level taijutsu," Sasuke scoffed, crossing his arms. "You think that'll impress anyone?"
"Sure will!" she shot back, grinning. But inwardly, she felt a pang of frustration as Gojo merely yawned again, as if her kiss didn't matter to him at all.
Why wasn't he asking about it?
"Wait, is he actually just going to act like it never happened?" Shizuka thought, gritting her teeth in annoyance.
"What does it take to get through to that guy?"
Beside Gojo, Hinata fidgeted, her fingers twisting nervously.
She took a step forward. "G-Gojo," she stammered, her cheeks pink. "If you want, I—I could kiss you too…to, um, show support?"
Before Gojo could respond, Ino and Sakura swiftly pulled Hinata back, their expressions filled with vehement overzealousness.
"No way! Don't just throw yourself into a lip-locked situation!" Ino protested. "You can't just offer kisses like the that!"
"Yeah! And besides, you're—" Sakura added, but a sudden wave of red washed over her cheeks.
"Um, I mean…that's not the kind of thing you just suggest!" She cleared her throat, glancing at Gojo.
"Not that you're not worthy!"
Gojo chuckled, scratching the back of his head. "Well, I mean, no one's stopping you or anything. But, uh, maybe take your time?"
"I swear. Everybody's somehow getting whipped around by this boy's charm," Shizuka grumbled, crossing her arms while scowling at Gojo.
"What's so special about him anyway?"
As this conversation unfolded, the atmosphere shifted back to the arena where Iruka had called for the next match.
"Now, for a little bit of a change-up: Ino versus Sakura!"
The two girls stepped into the arena, their posturing filled with determination, albeit nervousness.
"Let's see who gets the best of the other!" Ino proclaimed, tossing her hair back confidently.
Sakura smirked, definitely taking on a more competitive tone. "Prepare to taste defeat, Ino."
The match began with swiftness as both girls began to dodge and weave, their eyes locked in focus while trying to outmaneuver the other.
They exchanged taijutsu strikes, landing soft punches that had more punches taking the form of flailing hands than actual strategic moves.
"Is this a taijutsu battle or a rhythmic gymnastics competition?" Shikamaru remarked dryly, leaning against the tree with an unimpressed look.
"Hey!" Ino shouted as she nimbly ducked a punch from Sakura, "This is serious business!"
"Is it? Because I feel like we're just warming up over here!" Sakura shot back, her eyes glinting with playful determination.
Both girls seized shurikens from their pouches and threw them at each other, but both missed comically as Ino's went wide while Sakura fumbled to catch one mid-air.
The spectating boys, including Gojo, laughed at the whole charade.
"What are they doing?" Gojo asked Shikamaru, who shrugged, equally amused. "I don't think it's even a fight at this point.
They just tossed some metal, and no one got hurt!"
"Yes! Go, Sakura!" Naruto cheered, despite being more invested in his own earlier victory against Sasuke.
"Keep dodging, Ino!" Hinata murmured under her breath, clutching her fingers nervously.
As the battle wore on, Sakura landed a few solid punches while Ino performed quick dodges and counters with the finesse of a dance routine but soon faltered.
Exhaustion was creeping in for everyone involved.
Finally, Sakura, using her enhanced physical condition, managed to transition into a powerful lunge.
"This is for all the girls who think they can outlast me!" she yelled as she connected a punch squarely to Ino's stomach.
Ino stumbled back, panting. "Okay, you've got me, but I'll be back!" she gasped before falling to her knees, grinning despite her defeat.
As the match concluded, Gojo cheered for both girls, brimming with pride, "You both did amazing! Taijutsu training has never been so entertaining!"
Sakura blushed at the praise, while Ino rolled her eyes in playful annoyance.
"You know we're supposed to be rivals, don't you? Not cheerleaders?"
Gojo just shrugged, a smile playing on his lips.
"Maybe you should consider specializing in comedy as well. That could take you places!"
Shizuka, still seething from earlier, crossed her arms tightly and narrowed her eyes at Gojo. "Honestly, what's so special about him? I bet he just thinks he's a multi-talented heartthrob. It's infuriating!"
Shikamaru chuckled, rolling his eyes at Shizuka's jealousy. "Get in line. He's a natural at making friends while we're all grinding it out here.
He's like a magnet for attention."
"Clearly, it's working," Shizuka retorted, still fixated on Gojo who was chatting happily with the now-victorious Sakura and Ino.
Iruka stepped back forward to wrap up the match, raising a hand. "Alright! Great job, girls! We'll regroup for critiques later."
As the crowd dissipated, Shizuka plotted her next move. "I have to make him realize how serious I am.
First, the kiss, and next—" she pondered, trying to think of a plan that would grab Gojo's full attention.
Suddenly, there was a rustling noise in the crowd, and another familiar figure stepped into view—it was Tenten, who had been observing quietly from the sidelines. "What's all the fuss about?" she asked, arching an eyebrow in amusement.
"Oh, you know, just the usual," Kiba piped in with a punchy smile. "Boys fighting about nothing and girls trying to figure out how to survive without fainting over Gojo."
Naruto appeared, still buzzing with excitement. "I mean, I kind of understand. It's not like we're just having fun, right?!"
Sasuke folded his arms, trying to rid himself of the fiery competitive spirit left bruised after his earlier match with Naruto. "You just won't get it.
You're all too focused on silly competitions to even see what really matters."
"What really matters is that He—wait, are we seriously giving Gojo too much attention for being impressive?" Tenten remarked, glancing at Gojo, who was animatedly discussing the latest techniques to improve taijutsu with Ino.
Her tone was full of sarcastic disbelief.
Gojo caught sight of Tenten's bemused expression and waved. "What's up? Need some pointers on taijutsu too?"
Tenten couldn't help but laugh. "I think I'll stick to weapons; you're welcome to keep all the adoration to yourself, Gojo."
"Adoration? I'm just enjoying life!" He leaned back comfortably, folding his arms behind his head, nonchalantly basking in the ever-growing affection.
Meanwhile, Shizuka bit her lip, marking how easily Gojo charmed others around him.
If she didn't act fast, all those cheers towards him would drown out any impact she could make.
As the day went on, friendships solidified, rivalries sparked, and new confessions of feelings swirled within the group like leaves caught in autumn winds.
The air crackled with rivalry, laughter, and innocent youthful exuberance, bustling with newfound connections.
"Everyone, let's meet back here tomorrow!" Iruka announced, gathering everyone's attention again.
"Expect another round of practical tests, but first, let's tackle some real-world scenarios! Prepare for anything, and don't forget your lunch!"
"Real-world scenarios?" mentioned Kiba, arching an eyebrow, "What's next, will we have to go to the grocery store and dodge bad guys?"
"Hey, those cabbage thieves are formidable!" Ino shot back with mock seriousness.
"Those dang cabbage thieves, always on my case!" Naruto quipped, bursting with laughter.
"Can you imagine if Gojo befriended the cabbage thieves? He'd make them all start a vegetable medley band."
"I can hear it now: 'Cabbages for Konoha'!" Shikamaru chuckled, shaking his head at the absurdity.
"Just picture it—using melody to lay down the law while dancing around!" Tenten added with an exaggerated gesture.
Gojo grinned widely, reveling in the humor of the group. "I would totally lead the cabbage brigade! But only if we grill them afterward."
The laughter circled around him as the sun began to sink lower, casting warm shades of orange and gold across the training ground.
Shizuka still felt resentment bubbling inside her but couldn't help but admire the camaraderie and laughter swirling around Gojo.
"What am I doing?" Shizuka muttered to herself furtively. "Why am I letting him steal my thunder? I've got to make my move!
The kiss has to mean something…who cares if he yawns through it?" She firmed her resolve.
As the sun finally began its descent beyond the horizon, the echoes of laughter faded gently, wrapping around the academy like a comforting blanket.
As students trickled out, palpable excitement lingered in the air—a promise of more adventures yet to come.
---
In the shadows beyond the training ground, another plan succeeded. Madara watched from a distance, intrigued by the complex web of relationships developing around Gojo.
He began to envision the threads weaving together more intricately than he had anticipated. "Let them play… It only brings them closer to the conflicts to come."
---
Chapter 30 Ends
---Want to read advanced chapter?
Give me your stone to this novel to reach the milestone that will give you bonus chapter per day!!!
5-10 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter / Day
10-20 Power Stones = 2 Bonus Chapters / Day
20-30 Power Stones = 3 Bonus Chapters / Day
Please support me?
See ya!