Chapter 10: The Arena's Spotlight
The sheer audacity!
In that moment, Ren Arakawa's extraordinary graduation results sent shockwaves through the Ninja Academy. The news spread like wildfire, instantly making him the talk of the school and quickly capturing the attention of the entire Hidden Leaf Village. His name was now on the lips of every major clan.
"Ren Arakawa! I challenge you to a one-on-one duel!"
Just as the graduation ceremony was about to conclude, Uchiha Sasuke stepped forward, his fist clenched tightly, his voice cutting through the murmuring crowd. He issued a direct, public challenge.
During the graduation exams, any student dissatisfied with their ranking had the right to challenge another. A successful challenger could rightfully claim their opponent's position. This rule existed for those whose practical combat skills far exceeded their performance in basic tests. In the shinobi world, battle prowess was the ultimate measure of strength.
Witnessing Uchiha Sasuke's challenge, Mikoto and Fugaku Uchiha felt a wave of panic. They knew all too well the extent of Ren's current power. He had not only inherited the Uzumaki clan's formidable vitality but had also swindled an arsenal of powerful jutsu through his bizarre livestream. Furthermore, Minato Namikaze's combat experience and taijutsu mastery had elevated Ren's fighting capabilities to Kage-level. It was no exaggeration to say that his current strength surpassed that of an elite jōnin and might even hold its own against a full-fledged Kage.
Uchiha Sasuke was talented, yes, but he was still just a fresh graduate from the academy. Challenging Ren was nothing short of a death wish.
[Uchiha Mikoto: Streamer! Please, I'm begging you, go easy on my son! He's still just a child!]
Mikoto Uchiha was on the verge of tears.
"And why doesn't anyone say that I'm still a child, too?" Ren retorted internally, decisively ignoring Mikoto's pleas. He believed this arrogant Uchiha brat needed a harsh lesson from reality. A good beating was the only way to curb his future troublemaking.
[Uchiha Fugaku: Damn it! What is that fool Sasuke thinking, challenging that scoundrel? He's courting death! Can't he read the situation? How did I ever father such an idiot!]
Fugaku Uchiha was fuming, his spirit trembling with rage. He was terrified that his foolish son might be permanently crippled by that unscrupulous streamer. If Sasuke were truly maimed, the last hope of the Uchiha clan would be extinguished.
"In a friendly spar, you will stop when a clear hit is scored. The match ends the moment one party yields. Is that understood?" Iruka quickly escorted Ren and Uchiha Sasuke to the school's training grounds.
By the time they arrived, the grounds were already surrounded by a dense crowd of spectators. It wasn't just the students; even the jōnin instructors had emerged from the main building to watch the match. It was no surprise. Ren had just shattered records once held by Kakashi himself, marking him as a true dark horse. Uchiha Sasuke, the genius of the Uchiha clan, had been the undisputed top student until Ren's sudden rise. A duel between these two was destined to draw everyone's attention.
The arena was set. The air crackled with anticipation. All eyes were fixed on the two figures standing opposite each other, the stage set for a clash that would etch itself into the academy's history.