"Ahhh~ Wudi-kun and Sasuke are both so cool! Whose side should we even take?"
"Yeah, it's so hard to choose…"
While the other girls were agonizing over the choice, Sakura's eyes lit up with excitement. She planted her fists on her hips and shouted.
"Sasuke-kun is making his move! That idiot Wudi is doomed!"
"Sasuke-kun's going to win for sure! Sasuke-kun will crush"
Body Flicker Technique!
Before Sakura could even finish her sentence, Ye Wudi's body suddenly split into two without warning.
One of him stayed put, still holding Hinata.
As for the other
Whoosh!
Right before everyone's eyes, Ye Wudi's real body zipped across the training ground with an almost teleport-like speed, easily dodging Sasuke's lunging kunai.
In the same moment, he appeared right in front of Sasuke, casually raised his index and middle fingers and tapped them against Sasuke's forehead.
"I'm sorry, my foolish onii-chan. This is the last time."
"Nani?!"
Smack!
"Huh? Am I dreaming or what? Did Sasuke-kun just get one-shotted… by Wudi-kun?"
"And with a slap, no less! Actually, you know what? Maybe I am dreaming. I mean, I made a move when you were bending over to pick up the soap earlier, and you still haven't reacted yet."
"You… Aaaahhh! I'm shattered! SHATTERED!"
"..."
As the surrounding crowd stood in stunned silence, struggling to make sense of what they'd just seen
Sakura, who had been absolutely convinced that Sasuke could wipe the floor with all five challengers and Akamaru
was now wobbling on her feet.
Then, with a dazed thud, she collapsed to the ground.
Her legs trembled violently, her head shaking from side to side as she mumbled to herself in complete denial.
"No way! That's impossible! I must've seen it wrong. Yeah! That's it I just imagined it!"
"Because there's no way the strongest Sasuke-kun would ever lose… to some guy who only knows how to run away!"
Ding! Congratulations, Host. You've received 999 points of negative emotion from Sakura!
Unlike Sakura's meltdown, Sasuke was already back on his feet, face flushed with rage.
He knew this wasn't some cheap sneak attack.
Even in a straight-up hand-to-hand exchange, he probably wasn't a match for Ye Wudi.
After all, he'd struck first.
If he wanted to win… he'd have to use ninjutsu!
"Wait! I get it now!"
"That sneak Wudi must've caught Sasuke-kun off guard. But in a real, face-to-face fight? Sasuke-kun would win for sure!"
"Shut your mouth!"
Already in a foul mood, Sasuke's irritation exploded at Sakura's outburst.
"Sasuke… kun?"
Ding! Congratulations, Host. You've received 999 points of negative emotion from Sakura!
Sasuke didn't even spare her a glance. He had no time for her drama. His full attention was locked onto Ye Wudi.
"Your taijutsu's impressive. Especially your speed. But it doesn't matter. You can't use any ninjutsu and that means you can't beat me."
As he spoke, Sasuke began forming hand seals with practiced precision, clearly preparing to unleash a jutsu.
This time, he wasn't going to hold back.
No way Wudi could dodge it again, much less land another hit.
"..."
Meanwhile, up on the rooftop of the academy building, Iruka stood beside a few Hyuga clan guards, all watching the match unfold.
Their expressions were complicated, tinged with awe.
Clearly, they'd seen Ye Wudi slap Sasuke out of mid-jutsu just moments ago.
"Who would've thought that kid's speed had reached this level…"
"Indeed. Even we didn't expect the young master-in-law to be this powerful. He took down Uchiha Sasuke like it was nothing."
"Young… master-in-law?"
"Ahem! Never mind, never mind. You must've misheard."
Iruka blinked, then chuckled without saying anything.
Wudi, you sly brat.
A civilian-born student, rising up with nothing but his own strength, and somehow earning the recognition of the Hyuga clan… becoming their son-in-law, no less?
He could use this!
The next time he tried to steer Naruto down the right path, he'd have the perfect example:
Look at Ye Wudi! He's just one guy no family name, no bloodline limit but he got strong, and even won the heart of the Hyuga heiress!
But then, a frown crept over Iruka's brow.
Wait a minute… if I remember right, Wudi doesn't actually know any offensive ninjutsu yet.
So how is he going to defend against Sasuke's Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu?
"He doesn't need to."
Whoosh!
Before Iruka could ask, Kakashi suddenly appeared beside them, face buried in his copy of Icha Icha Paradise.
"Kakashi?!"
The Hyuga guards instinctively tensed up.
Not that Kakashi paid them any attention. His Sharingan eye was still open, but his gaze remained fixed on the book.
"Relax. I'm just here to spectate. Not gonna lay a hand on anyone."
Come on why would I interrupt a fight when I've got literature this spicy?
"Uh… Kakashi, I think your blood just dripped on the floor. You okay?"
"I'm fine. Just a nosebleed."
"A nosebleed? From what?"
"Cough cough anyway, that kid… he's not going to lose."
Please. Ye Wudi's been training in Shisui Uchiha's Body Flicker since he could walk.
And Sasuke? Just awakened his one-tomoe Sharingan. He couldn't even see Wudi's afterimage, let alone touch him.
Beat him? Don't make me laugh.
"Fire Style: Fireball Juts"
Whoosh!
Sure enough, just as Sasuke puffed out his chest and tilted his head back, preparing to spew out a massive fireball
Ye Wudi was already standing beside him.
Smack!
In full view of the entire crowd, Wudi slapped Sasuke across the face once again.
"You're forming hand seals in front of your opponent? Are you brain-dead?"
Ding! Congratulations, Host. You've received 666 points of negative emotion from Sasuke!
"You bastard…"
Sasuke clutched his stinging cheek, grinding his teeth, glaring at Wudi.
But before he could spit out another threat
Wudi cut him off cold.
"Besides what kind of real ninja still uses hand seals?"
Ding! Congratulations, Host. You've received 999 points of negative emotion from Sasuke!
Ding! Congratulations, Host. You've received 66 points of negative emotion from Iruka!
Ding! Congratulations, Host. You've received 666 points of negative emotion from Kakashi!
Ding! Congratulations, Host. You've received 666 points of negative emotion from the Hyuga guards!
Ding! Congratulations, Host. You've received 999 points of negative emotion from [random academy student]!
Ding! Congratulations, Host. You've received…...