Students whose names were called stepped into the training field, taking positions on opposite ends. The instructor had them perform the Seal of Confrontation before signaling them to begin.
Both boys charged at each other, throwing punches and kicks. Their movements were wild and clumsy, with no real technique. They didn't bother to block or dodge either, which only earned them more bruises with every exchange.
After a few seconds of awkward grappling, one of the boys tripped and stayed down. His ragged breathing made it clear he was completely out of stamina. The instructor had them form the Seal of Reconciliation before sending them off.
'This looks more like a middle school brawl than a taijutsu spar,' Obito sighed but in relief. He had half expected to embarrass himself in this class too, but if this was the level everyone had reached during his absence, maybe he was worrying for nothing.
Even though he had never fought before, he was a quick learner. He felt like he could already put into practice the basic taijutsu movements he had practiced earlier this morning.
But the next match quickly shattered that bit of relief.
"Begin!"
One of the students — a boy from the Hyūga Clan — rushed forward in a blur. His opponent barely managed to raise his hands before a single palm strike slammed into his chest, sending him sprawling out of bounds.
Obito blinked. 'Of course. How could I forget the clan kids?'
As more matches went on, the pattern became clear. Most students from civilian backgrounds were like the first pair. Some of the better ones could at least perform the basic taijutsu movements properly. But the clan kids — they were on a completely different level.
Their movements were sharp and deliberate. They had proper technique, not the generic academy forms. They knew when to push and when to retreat, reacting with the kind of instinct you only got from sparring with all sorts of opponents.
It was obvious they'd been getting extra training outside of school.
Obito could only hope he wouldn't end up facing them. Technically, he was a clan kid too—but that didn't count for much. His parents were dead, and the Uchiha only cared about children who showed talent or produced results.
He hadn't shown either yet, so no one paid him any attention. The only thing the clan had ever given him was a congratulatory scroll with the Three Body Techniques when he got into the academy.
He supposed he should be grateful for that atleast. Three body techniques weren't taught until second year in the academy. Moreover, there were still some of his parents' past contributions that hadn't been used. As their child, he could use those to request techniques or ninjutsu from the clan.
He didn't know the exact amount, but his grandmother said it should be enough for one A-rank ninjutsu and a few B-rank ones. He planned to use them when the time was right.
"Next — Hatake Kakashi and Might Gai!"
The chatter immediately died down. Everyone turned their attention to the two boys stepping into the ring. Kakashi was calm and unreadable, hands loose at his sides, while Gai stood across from him practically buzzing with energy, a huge grin on his face.
They formed the Seal of Confrontation.
"Begin!"
Gai shot forward like a cannonball, his fist slicing through the air toward Kakashi's jaw—
—but Kakashi wasn't there.
'How did he do that?' Obito's eyes widened.
Kakashi had sidestepped the instant Gai moved, as if he already knew what was coming. Using Gai's momentum, Kakashi countered with a precise kick that forced Gai to raise his guard.
The flow of the fight shifted immediately. Kakashi pressed forward, giving Gai no space to counterattack. He threw fist after fist at him from different angles, pushing him back bit by bit.
Just as it looked like Gai was about to be driven out of bounds, he suddenly caught Kakashi's fist. Judging by the brief grimace on his face, that definitely hurt—but it gave him the opening he needed.
Gai twisted his body and launched into a spinning kick with a loud shout. "Dynamic Entry!"
Kakashi remained calm. He leaned back slighly then caught Gai's leg under the knee mid-swing, locked his hips, and turned with the momentum instead of resisting it. Using Gai's own spin, he flipped him over in one clean motion
Gai hit the ground on his back with a solid thud, the impact kicking up a small cloud of dust.
The field went silent.
"Enough," the instructor said. "Winner — Hatake Kakashi."
Gai lay there panting for a moment, then grinned wide from the dirt. "As expected of my eternal rival! Next time, I'll beat you!"
Kakashi gave a small nod, slid his hands into his pockets, and walked off the field like nothing had happened. A few girls followed his figure with starry eyes.
Obito's eyebrow twitched. He wouldn't believe if someone said this guy wasn't acting cool on purpose.
Before he could think more, the instructor's voice snapped through the air.
"Next — Obito Uchiha and Asuma Sarutobi!"
Obito froze. 'Asuma!? The Hokage's son!?'
Great, He had really jinxed it!
Asuma walked into the ring with a grin. "Try not to cry when I hit you, Obito."
Obito stepped forward and extended his hand for the Seal of Confrontation.
"Ready?" the instructor asked.
Obito nodded expressionlessly. Across from him, Asuma rolled his shoulders, wearing the confident look of someone who expected an easy win.
"Begin."
Asuma charged in first, closing the distance faster than Obito expected. His fist shot toward Obito's chest in a sharp jab.
'He's almost as fast as Gai—!' Obito barely had time to react.
He raised his arms into a guard, but Asuma's punch slammed into his forearm with enough force to knock him off balance. A dull numbness spread up his arm.
Before he could regain his footing, a low kick drove into his ribs. Obito tried to twist away, but the kick still caught him in the ribs. He stumbled back, his feet slipping in the dirt.
Asuma was on him again. A solid punch struck Obito square in the chest, knocking him off his feet and sending him sliding across the dirt. His back hit the ground near the boundary line.
A few laughs could be heard from the crowd.
Obito began coughing nonstop, rolling onto his side as he gasped for breath. His chest felt like it was burning.
"Get up, Obito," Asuma said mockingly. "Don't tell me that's all you've got?"
Obito gritted his teeth and forced himself to his feet. His arms trembled slightly, but he raised them back into position.
He had expected to lose as soon as the matchup was announced. After all, he had only begun practicing taijutsu that morning. What he hadn't expected was this humiliation.
In the original story, Asuma was portrayed as level-headed and reliable character; seeing him like this really opened Obito's eyes.
Still, since the match had already started. He wasn't going to quit halfway. This was also a precious battle experience for him.
Even if the price was a few bruises and some humiliation.
This time, Obito stayed patient. He watched Asuma closely—the slight lift of his shoulder before a punch, the shift of his back foot before a kick.
Asuma lunged again.
Obito managed to sidestepped just in time, the punch grazing his sleeve. He twisted his hips and threw a quick counterpunch. It barely tapped Asuma's arm, doing no damage, but it connected.
For a brief second, a faint spark crossed Obito's eyes
Then Asuma's counter came like a hammer.
A roundhouse kick whipped through the air and struck Obito across the face. His vision spun, and before he could process what happened, he was back on the ground, cheek pressed against the dirt.
"Enough," the instructor said loudly, stopping Asuma who wanted to continue. "Match over. Winner—Asuma Sarutobi."
Asuma lowered his hands and shot Obito a condescending look. "Dead last."
Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced toward a red-eyed girl in the crowd and flashed a confident smile before walking off the field. The instructor didn't tell him to perform the Seal of Reconciliation; maybe he simply forgot—or maybe that was just one of the perks of being the Hokage's son.
Obito stayed on the ground for a moment, the dirt cool beneath his palms. Then he dusted himself off, stood, and left the field without a word—though a cold glint flickered in his eyes as they passed over Asuma's retreating back
He had always been a vindictive person.
This humiliation… he would repay it tenfold in the future