The Academy spars continued on the training field. While the matches proceeded, Naruto's attention was fixed on the glowing panel only he could see, displaying the missions issued by his System. He checked, a small, lingering fear quickly proven baseless, that his previous mission, "Mastered Your Own Foundation," was still listed. It was, nestled above a newly arrived notification. He sighed internally in relief. He began to focus on the details of the new mission. Just as the text solidified before his eyes, Iruka-sensei's voice cut through the air.
"Next match, Naruto vs Sasuke."
Sasuke Uchiha was already positioned himself in the center of the training ground, radiating an air of confident readiness. Naruto, meanwhile, walked leisurely towards the spar area, his eyes still scanning the System message. The details of the new mission became clear.
[Mission : Shattering pride of Uchiha]
[Task : Make a clean hard hit on the face of Sasuke Uchiha in front of whole class.]
[Reward : Fire Style : Great Fire Annihilation - Highly powerful A-rank Fire Ninjutsu]
Naruto felt a sense of satisfaction and pleasure. The mission was straightforward, and the reward, particularly the A-rank Fire Ninjutsu, was highly tempting. He knew he wasn't currently stronger than Sasuke in a direct fight, but landing a single clean hit seemed achievable. 'But punching on his face is really too much,' he thought for a brief moment. 'but whatever Fire Annihilation Ninjutsu is too tempting.' The potential power outweighed any reservations.
He reached Sasuke and made the standard hand gesture to signal the start of the spar. The brief formality complete, the spar began. As expected, a chorus of cheers erupted from Sasuke's fangirls among the watching students. Scattered cheers for Naruto came from some of the boys; even if they disliked Naruto, their jealousy of Sasuke was currently stronger.
Naruto immediately rushed towards Sasuke. He wanted to complete the objective quickly and efficiently, minimizing the risk of failure by prolonging the fight unnecessarily. Sasuke easily side-stepped Naruto's charge. With fluid motion, he aimed a punch at Naruto's right side, near his stomach. Naruto, still moving forward with his initial rush, couldn't block it. The blow connected.
Naruto stumbled slightly but did not fall. He didn't stop his advance entirely. He knew that his best chance to land a hit was to seize a moment when Sasuke, who considered him a weak dead last, would inevitably let his guard down. Sasuke flawlessly side-stepped again as Naruto continued to press forward. However, Naruto reacted this time, taking a step back just before Sasuke could land another hit. He immediately shifted his weight and lunged forward again, feinting a punch towards Sasuke's direction.
The cheers for Sasuke continued in the background, a constant affirmation of his perceived superiority. Spar after spar, Sasuke effortlessly dodged or evaded Naruto's attacks. He landed his own hits repeatedly. Yet, Naruto, despite taking blows, remained on his feet. He refused to fall, determined to fulfill the mission's requirement.
Just as Naruto anticipated, a brief moment of vulnerability appeared. Sasuke was beginning to show signs of irritation that Naruto was lasting this long against him. He decided to end the spar decisively and quickly. He momentarily closed his eyes, focusing his intent. Naruto recognized the opening instantly. Seizing the opportunity, he threw a punch, and subconsciously, without deliberate effort, coated his fist with Chakra.
Iruka's eyes widened slightly from his position. Low-level Chakra enhancement was a part of the Academy's Taijutsu training, but what Naruto did was different. Because of his naturally vast Chakra reserves, the Chakra coating his punch was visible to the naked eye, even to the students watching around the field.
Naruto focused solely on delivering a hard hit to Sasuke's face. When Sasuke's eyes snapped open, he saw a punch wreathed in visible Chakra hurtling towards him. It was already too close to dodge or block effectively. Sasuke knew he was too late. Naruto's Chakra-enhanced punch connected squarely and hard with the Last Uchiha's face. The force of the blow sent Sasuke staggering backward. He fell onto the ground.
As he fell, a trickle of blood appeared from his nose. The loud cheers for Sasuke died down instantly, replaced by stunned silence. Everyone watching was in shock, not just because Naruto had managed to hit Sasuke, but because Sasuke had actually fallen to the ground. This meant Naruto had won. NARUTO WON? AGAINST SASUKE-KUN? IMPOSSIBLE? These incredulous thoughts echoed in the minds of every girl in the class who harbored a crush on Sasuke.
Naruto himself was momentarily shocked. He hadn't consciously intended to enhance his blow with Chakra, let alone make it visible. He was surprised that simply improving his Chakra Control had this effect. 'Tree Walking really works like wonder for me!' he realized, understanding the connection.
Sasuke lay on the ground, not unconscious, but clearly hurt. His face was already bruising, blood was flowing from his nose, and he was glaring intensely at Naruto. He cursed and shouted, "DAMN YOU!!" then began making hand signs, preparing to unleash a Fireball Jutsu.
Iruka, snapping out of his slight shock at the unexpected outcome, reacted quickly. He moved forward and stopped Sasuke before he could complete the sequence for the Fireball Jutsu. "Sasuke," Iruka said firmly, "you can't hurt your fellow colleagues with such Techniques!"
Sasuke snorted in defiance and pushed himself up, turning to walk back towards the edge of the field. "Haa, who needs colleagues," he said dismissively. "i alone am good enough for me." Iruka called out to the retreating Sasuke. "Sasuke you need to go to infirmary." Sasuke did not respond, continuing his walk away from the training area.
Sakura, who had been standing in a daze, recovered and shot a venomous glare at Naruto, joined by a few other Sasuke fangirls. Naruto simply ignored them.
Naruto felt a sense of satisfaction. Simple Tree Walking practice had indeed significantly improved his Chakra Control. He knew he hadn't consciously channeled the Chakra for the punch, but he understood that the ability to do so, and the visible effect, stemmed directly from his enhanced control combined with his naturally vast Chakra reserves.
Iruka walked over to Naruto, a small, proud smile on his face. "Winner of the spar is Naruto," he announced to the class. Naruto, pulled out of his thoughts, looked at Iruka and smiled back. Since their match was the final one scheduled, the class began to disperse.
As they walked back towards the Academy building with Shikamaru, Choji, Kiba, and Shino, Naruto glanced towards Hinata. She was staring at him, her pale white eyes wide with admiration, a thought running through her mind, 'I knew Naruto-kun is strong.' She was staring subconsciously, seemingly unaware that Naruto had even noticed her. Naruto chuckled softly to himself and shook his head.
Kiba, still looking surprised, turned to Naruto. "How did you improve in just one week huh?" he asked excitedly. "What kind of training were you doing?"
Shikamaru, unusually engaged, also questioned him. "Defeating Sasuke isn't any easy task," he said. "how did you do it?" Shino and Choji looked at Naruto, waiting for his answer with curiosity.
Naruto shrugged nonchalantly. "I just focused on improving chakra control nothing else," he replied. "and about defeating Sasuke, that was just luck, Sasuke let his guards down momentarily and I take the opportunity and subconsciously enhanced my punch."
Hearing his explanation, the four friends nodded, accepting it as plausible. They seemed to believe, and stated, that Naruto had only defeated Sasuke because of a stroke of luck. Naruto privately agreed; luck, combined with Sasuke's momentary lapse in focus and his own subconscious chakra application, had indeed played a large part.
"I know Naruto can't actually become this strong in just a week!" Kiba declared with enthusiasm, Akamaru barking in agreement from his head. "Woof!" Naruto didn't particularly care about Kiba's comment, but he couldn't help noticing that even Akamaru seemed to look down on him.
Chatting among themselves, the group made their way back towards their respective homes.
...
Later that evening, Naruto lay on the bed in his small apartment. A joyful, pleased, and excited smile played on his lips. His eyes were fixed on the notification in his mind.
[Congratulations Host, you have been Rewarded with Ninjutsu - Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation]
***