"Class A students! Class A students! Gather over here!"
Standing in the open space beneath the school building, Nakamura Hino shouted loudly through a megaphone.
"Today—we will determine the top student of Class A!"
Once everyone had assembled, he continued:
"I will now announce the matchups."
In the ninja world, the title of "top student" was never decided through simple tests.
Not chakra measurements.
Not physical evaluations.
Only real combat mattered.
Ninjas were fighters—tools of war.
Even first-year students were no exception.
Every strong individual rose through battle.
If you wanted the title of top student—
You had to defeat everyone.
"Inoue Shihei vs Miyahira Kenta!"
…
"Minato Namikaze vs Yamamoto Shota!"
…
"Hoshino Yoru vs Hyuga Yasuda!"
…
"Kushina Uzumaki vs Mikoto Uchiha!"
…
Minato's opponent was an ordinary student.
The moment he heard his name paired with Minato—
His face turned pale.
He already knew the outcome.
The most eye-catching matchups were clear:
Yoru vs Hyuga YasudaKushina vs Mikoto
Yasuda, despite being quiet before, came from the Hyuga clan—no one dared underestimate him.
Meanwhile—
Kushina and Mikoto stared at each other in disbelief.
Minato's Match
Minato moved first.
No suspense.
The moment he rushed forward—
His opponent froze.
Seconds later—
Victory.
"Minato, you're amazing!"
A girl named Takanashi Kyoko looked at him with admiration.
After several rounds—
It was Yoru's turn.
" Yoru is so handsome!"
"I heard he once defeated a genin!"
"That must be a rumor… but his opponent is from the Hyuga clan!"
…
All eyes were on the arena.
The genius of Class A vs a Hyuga clan member.
"Hey… we don't even know each other, right?"
Yoru looked confused.
From the moment Yasuda stepped forward—
He had been glaring at him with hostility.
"Shut up!"
Yasuda shouted.
"Do you think being good-looking means you can do whatever you want?!"
"…What?"
Yoru blinked.
"Why?! Why does Miyuki only look at you?!"
Ah.
Now it made sense.
Akiyama Miyuki—one of Yoru's biggest admirers.
Even knowing about his closeness with Mikoto—
She still proudly called herself his number one fan.
"You think you're special?! Yoru-kun will crush you!"
Right on cue—
Miyuki shouted loudly from the crowd.
Yasuda's face twisted with anger.
His breathing grew heavy.
"Alright! Match start! Perform the seal of confrontation!"
After forming the sign—
Yasuda immediately took a stance.
"That's the Hyuga clan's Gentle Fist!"
"He can already use it at this age?!"
" Yoru is in trouble…"
Even teachers from other classes had gathered to watch.
This match mattered.
" Yoru! Here I come!"
"Byakugan!"
Yasuda's pale eyes sharpened—
Veins bulging near his temples.
"I may only use two strikes… but that's enough to defeat you!"
"I'll prove to Miyuki that I'm stronger!"
He dashed forward.
"Gentle Fist—Two Strikes!"
Yoru remained calm.
His right fist—
Partially transformed.
A faint red glow.
Steam rising.
Heat distorting the air.
"Lava… Flame Fist."
He threw a punch.
BOOM!
Fist met palm.
In that instant—
Yasuda's expression changed completely.
The heat—
Overwhelming.
It shattered the chakra coating his attack instantly.
Then—
A terrifying force followed.
BANG!
Yasuda was sent flying.
He tumbled across the ground—
Before collapsing, unable to stand.
The crowd erupted.
"What?! The Gentle Fist was broken in one hit?!"
"So the rumors were true—he really defeated a genin!"
"That heat… is that Fire Style?!"
The watching teachers were stunned.
The famed Gentle Fist—
Defeated so directly.
Nakamura Hino quickly checked Yasuda.
Just minor burns.
Knocked out by impact.
He let out a breath.
"Winner—Hoshino Yoru!"