"Thank you, Contestant One, for your clone demonstration. Final score: eight points."
"The next performer—Contestant Two."
As the crowd shifted, Asuma leaned toward Hanyū Yuuma, confused.
"Teacher… why are we even here? These clone tricks are so basic. No real shinobi would bother with this competition."
Yuuma smiled faintly. "Asuma, did you already forget your last match with Shisui? Never underestimate anyone."
Asuma stiffened. If Yuuma hadn't comforted him afterward, he might've spiraled into permanent embarrassment.
Yuuma continued, voice casual but steady. "There's nothing wrong with taking a look at the strength of the next generation. Besides… someone I'm responsible for is competing."
And if Obito crashes and burns, I'd rather be here to deal with it, he thought quietly.
Asuma scanned the crowd—and froze.
"Kakashi? He's here too? If he's competing, that'd be unfair… The guy graduated at five, became Chunin at six… He shouldn't be allowed in kids' events."
While most were still learning the Three Body Techniques, Kakashi was already juggling ninjutsu types and nature-change.
And nearby—Uchiha Shisui, the same boy who crushed Asuma before.
Asuma sighed. "Those two monsters can fight each other."
"Contestant Two, Hagane Kotetsu!" the host announced with theatrical enthusiasm.
Kotetsu swaggered up to the stage.
"Let's go, Kotetsu!" Kamizuki Izumo pumped a fist from below.Anko was absent today, so the duo's third troublemaker wasn't around.
"What ninjutsu will you be performing?" the host asked.
"It's a technique to confuse the enemy—one I co-developed with my friends!" Kotetsu declared proudly.
Izumo folded his arms, wearing a smug little smile.
"The new generation is impressive," the host praised. "Developing new jutsu at such a young age… What grade are you in?"
"First grade," Kotetsu answered honestly.
The crowd buzzed in disbelief. First-year students barely had time to learn basics; designing jutsu was unheard of.
Yuuma already had a guess—but he wasn't sure how far Kotetsu had managed to… evolve the idea.
"Let's enjoy Hagane Kotetsu's new technique!"
Kotetsu formed seals at high speed.
Poof.
A pillar of smoke rushed upward—and when it cleared…
A chair stood onstage.
A chair taller than Kotetsu.
Silence fell. Thick, oppressive silence.
The host froze. Five years of hosting—and this broke him.
"A…hem. Contestant Kotetsu… your ninjutsu is…" he struggled.
Kotetsu explained earnestly, "It's a hybrid of Clone Jutsu and Transformation Technique. To confuse the enemy."
"Then… why a chair?"
Kotetsu blinked. "Because chairs are easier. I can't change anything else yet."
The audience erupted into laughter.
"This kid—he's got talent all right," Asuma muttered, halfway between laughing and crying.
Yuuma sighed internally. I told him to start with chairs, but… only chairs?
Still, he offered his neutral assessment. "For a first-year, his control isn't bad. His form and chakra use are solid."
Asuma blinked, impressed. "Teacher… you really don't get fooled by appearances."
Izumo shrank behind the crowd, realizing the whole school would learn of this disaster by morning.
"Judges' score: twelve points! The technique has potential—if improved, it could be excellent."
Kotetsu grinned. "I'll keep developing it with my two brothers—Kamizuki Izumo and Mitarashi Anko!"
Shisui, hearing the murmurs around him, felt his soul leave his body.
"Next, Contestant Three—Uchiha Tetsuka!"
"Fire Style: Great Fireball!"
A human-sized inferno roared across the stage—clean, powerful, textbook Uchiha technique.
"As expected of the Uchiha. Mastering Great Fireball at this age is remarkable," a judge said.
Scores rolled in—"Twenty-six points!"
First place.
Tetsuka stepped down calmly. Without the 8,000-ryō prize, he wouldn't have bothered coming.
"Shisui, what do you think of that fireball?" Tetsuka asked.
"You're training seriously," Shisui replied politely.
But he didn't consider Tetsuka a contender—not after witnessing Obito's new fireball technique.
"Now, Contestant Four—Uchiha Obito!"
The crowd shifted.The air thickened.
Obito stepped onto the stage—his goggles reflecting the bright tournament lights, his heartbeat syncing with the quiet roar of chakra in his chest.
Underneath his jacket, the training from Hanyū Yuuma surged like a quiet engine.
Today… I win.Today… Kakashi sees the gap.Today… Rin sees me.