Chapter 200: Sparring Exercise, Bullying Sasuke
The afternoon sun of deep autumn, carrying a lazy warmth, sprinkled across the spacious training ground of the Ninja Academy.
The compacted mud ground was marked with clear white circles, and the air was filled with the unique tension and excitement aura of young boys.
All the students sat surrounding the stone steps at the edge of the field, their gazes focused on the two about to battle in the center.
Sasuke Uchiha stood on one side of the field, wearing deep blue short-sleeved high-collar clan robes, his handsome little face tense under his black short hair, black eyes flashing with the confidence of a genius and a trace of imperceptible arrogance.
He slightly raised his chin, his hands swiftly and proficiently forming the “Rival Seal” in front of his chest, the movements clean and neat, carrying the unique rhythm of the Uchiha Clan.
From a young age crowned with the name “genius,” under his father’s and brother’s strict and high-standard guidance, whether chakra refinement, ninjutsu, or the family-inherited taijutsu and throwing technique, he considered himself far superior to his peers.
Across from him was Menma?
Though his usual grades were good and his performance in combat training was above average, Sasuke had never truly seen him as an opponent requiring full effort.
His goal had always been to surpass that figure named “Itachi.”
Menma stood opposite Sasuke, his simple black sportswear accentuating his upright figure.
Unlike Sasuke’s tension, he appeared extremely relaxed, even somewhat languid.
Under his black messy hair, a pair of clear blue eyes were calm and undisturbed.
He casually raised his hand, similarly forming a standard “Rival Seal,” the movements smooth and natural, yet lacking the sharp momentum Sasuke deliberately displayed.
Iruka-sensei held a record board and pen, standing at the edge of the field, his expression serious as he scanned the two: “Sasuke Uchiha, Menma! Battle rules: stop at contact! Focus on taijutsu, basic three transformations, and basic ninja tool throwing taught at the Ninja Academy; prohibited from using lethal ninjutsu!”
“Prepare—begin!”
The word “begin” had just fallen when a sharp glint flashed in Sasuke’s eyes, his movements fast as lightning!
His right hand fiercely drew three wooden training kunai from his ninja tool pouch, his wrist flicking, and the three kunai shot out in a triangular formation with a slight sound of air breaking!
Aiming straight at Menma’s upper, middle, and lower routes, precisely blocking his main evasion directions!
The throwing technique was exactly the foundation of the Uchiha Clan’s proud throwing technique, with tricky angles and full force!
In the instant the kunai were thrown, Sasuke himself shot forward like an arrow off the string, charging toward Menma right after the kunai!
His footwork was swift, assuming the starting stance of Uchiha Style Taijutsu, his right fist charged, clearly planning to use the kunai’s interference to close in and quickly suppress the opponent with taijutsu!
“Wow! Sasuke-kun is so fast!”
“Such amazing throwing! He sealed off all directions at once!”
“Menma’s in danger!”
Exclamations from the girls and admiration from the boys rose from the sidelines.
Naruto clenched his fists nervously: “Menma! Be careful!”
Facing this textbook combination assault, Menma remained unusually calm.
He didn’t even retreat half a step.
His left hand swiftly reached into his ninja tool pouch, drawing only one wooden shuriken, and with an extremely subtle angle, lightly flicked it!
Whoosh!
That shuriken didn’t directly meet any kunai, but precisely struck the tail of the one aimed at his chest!
Cling!
With a light ring, the struck kunai’s trajectory instantly changed, flying off at an angle.
And this deflected kunai then perfectly hit the side edge of the one aimed at Menma’s knee!
Cling!
The second kunai was also knocked off course.
In the chain reaction, this deflected kunai, with its remaining momentum, finally collided with the one aimed at Menma’s face!
Cling! Clang!
The three originally menacing kunai, under the clever collision guidance of Menma’s single shuriken, collided with each other, bounced apart, and finally scattered powerless on the ground beside Menma!
The entire process happened in a flash, flowing smoothly as if rehearsed thousands of times!
“What?!” Sasuke’s forward momentum abruptly halted, his eyes showing disbelief for the first time!
His proud throw had been so casually resolved by the opponent?!
“So… so awesome!” Choji, holding half a bag of potato chips, exclaimed in a low voice.
“This… how did he do that?” Kiba Inuzuka’s eyes widened, his face full of incredulity.
“Menma-kun… so cool…” Hinata covered her flushed little face with both hands, her eyes sparkling.
“Go on! Menma bro! Teach that arrogant Sasuke a lesson!” Naruto shouted excitedly.
Shino Aburame pushed his sunglasses, and even Shikamaru shed his previous laziness.
Sasuke’s shock lasted only an instant, his strong pride instantly ignited by rage!
With a low shout, he exerted force underfoot, charging at Menma at even greater speed, his right fist carrying a sharp wind sound, straight for Menma’s face!
Standard Uchiha Style Taijutsu rush punch!
Menma seemed to have anticipated it, advancing instead of retreating!
His foot shifted, body slightly sidestepping, using the most basic blocking stance of Konoha Style Taijutsu, right arm raised, forearm precisely blocking the inside of Sasuke’s wrist, easily dissipating most of the fierce punch’s force!
Bang!
A muffled sound of body collision rang out.
Sasuke’s strike missed, his left leg sweeping low in sequence toward Menma’s lower body!
Menma, as if foreseeing it, withdrew his left leg half a step, knee slightly bent, easily dodging the sweep while his right hand knife-struck like lightning toward Sasuke’s slightly exposed side ribs from the sweep!
Sasuke’s heart chilled, hurriedly retracting his leg to defend, arms crossing to protect his ribs!
Bang!
Another muffled sound, Sasuke’s arm went numb from Menma’s seemingly casual yet skillfully powered hand knife, his body involuntarily staggering back a step!
Menma pressed his advantage relentlessly, or rather, his movements had no pause at all, flowing as smoothly as running water.
Basic moves of Konoha Style Taijutsu—rush punch, block, side kick, hand knife, elbow strike—came effortlessly to him, combined seamlessly!
His actions had no flair, yet were exceptionally concise and efficient, each strike precisely hitting the moment when Sasuke’s old force was spent and new force not yet born, each block perfectly resolving Sasuke’s assaults.
Sasuke’s proud Uchiha Style Taijutsu now seemed constrained everywhere before Menma’s plain yet flawless Konoha Style Taijutsu!
He felt every attack of his like punching cotton, while the opponent’s counters clung like maggots to bone, always finding gaps in his defense!
His proud speed and technique seemed ineffective before Menma!
He could only passively block and dodge, his footwork growing chaotic, breathing increasingly rapid, forced to retreat repeatedly by Menma’s relentless, tide-like assaults!
Silence fell over the sidelines!
Everyone stared wide-eyed, incredulous at the scene!
The acknowledged top student Sasuke, worshipped by countless girls, was completely suppressed by Menma in taijutsu sparring, beaten back step by step?!
“This… this is impossible!” Ino covered her mouth.
“Sasuke-kun…” Sakura’s face was full of worry.
“Hahaha! See that? I told you Menma is the best! Beat him flat! Menma!” Naruto danced with excitement, as if he were the one dominating the field.
Shikamaru watched Menma’s fluid movements in the field, a glint of sharpness flashing in his lazy eyes: “This guy… his taijutsu basics are solidly over the top…”
Iruka-sensei was also stunned, forgetting to record with his pen.
He had never imagined that the Ninja Academy’s most basic Konoha Style Taijutsu could be used to such pure mastery and overwhelming suppression!
Menma’s movements were concise to the extreme, yet contained indescribable coordination and predictive ability.
Finally, in an intense close-quarters tangle, Menma seized a moment when Sasuke’s balance wavered, his right leg whipping out like a lash in a clean midsection kick!
Bang!
This kick solidly struck Sasuke’s hastily blocking forearm!
The immense force made Sasuke unable to hold his stance, his whole body flying back like a kite with cut strings, crashing heavily into the mud several meters away, kicking up a cloud of dust!
“Sasuke!” Ino, Sakura, and the other girls cried out.
Sasuke rolled once on the ground before barely stopping.
He knelt on one knee, panting heavily, his forehead black hair soaked with sweat, sticking to his temple.
He lifted his head, his fair little face flushed red, black eyes filled with shame, unwillingness, and incredulous rage!
From childhood to now, when had he ever suffered such defeat before his peers?
Especially under so many watching eyes!
Though he loathed those fangirl girls, with so many gazes on him, the second pillar heated up.
“Damn…!” Sasuke growled low, abruptly standing from the ground, intense humiliation completely clouding his mind!
He forgot Iruka’s announced rules, forgot this was class sparring!
His hands rapidly flipped before his chest, forming several complex and familiar seals.
Snake—Goat—Monkey—Boar—Horse—Tiger!
“Sasuke! Stop!!” Iruka saw those hand seals, his face drastically changing, shouting sternly while rushing forward to stop him!
But it was too late!
“Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!”
Sasuke’s chest swelled, chakra surging madly toward his throat!
He fiercely inhaled, spitting viciously toward Uzumaki Menma, still calmly standing a few meters away!
Roar——！！！
A scorching hot, two-to-three-meter diameter massive orange-red fireball appeared from nowhere, roaring forward with momentum to incinerate everything toward Menma!
The scorching heat wave instantly swept the entire training ground, the surrounding air distorting!
The students let out a chorus of terrified screams!
“Menma!”
“Danger!”
Hinata turned pale with fright, nearly fainting.
Naruto was also stunned, mouth agape.
However, just as that terrifying fireball was about to engulf Menma, a bizarre scene occurred!
The “Menma” standing in place was solidly swallowed by the Great Fireball!
But the expected scream didn’t ring out.
The fireball whistled past, crashing into the specially made protective earth wall at the training ground’s edge, exploding into a charred mark, sparks flying.
And in place, only a section of charred wooden stake remained, standing alone, emitting wisps of green smoke.
“Substitution Jutsu?!” Sasuke’s pupils contracted sharply, mind blank!
When?
He hadn’t detected the opponent forming seals at all!
Just as Sasuke’s mind reeled, a calm voice sounded like a ghost behind his side, carrying a faint trace of teasing:
“I win.”
Sasuke’s body hairs stood on end, whipping his head around!
There stood Uzumaki Menma, somehow already within half a meter behind him, right hand gripping a cold wooden kunai, its blunt rounded tip now steadily and lightly pressed against his vulnerable neck side artery!
He could even feel the wood’s slight cool touch!
Time seemed to freeze in that moment.
Sasuke stiffened in place, blood draining from his face, leaving only endless shame and defeat.
He lost…
Lost utterly and completely!
His proud taijutsu suppressed, his final Great Fireball toyed with by the opponent’s most basic Substitution Jutsu, even stealthily closed in on and “killed”!
“Stop! Battle ends! Menma wins!” Iruka-sensei dashed into the field in one stride, his voice laced with lingering fear and sternness.
“You two! Way too reckless! Sasuke! Who told you to use C-rank Fire Style in class battle?! Menma! You…” He watched Menma calmly withdraw the kunai, swallowing the rebuke at his lips.
After all, Menma had only used basic taijutsu and Substitution Jutsu throughout, with flawless reactions.
Iruka’s stern gaze swept toward Sasuke: “Sasuke! You violated the rules! Punished to clean the training ground after class for a week! Now, return to your spot immediately!”
Sasuke hung his head, biting his lips hard, shoulders trembling slightly.
He looked at no one, ignored Iruka’s scolding, abruptly turned, and dashed out of the training ground without a word, his figure soon vanishing down the path to the school building.
Menma watched Sasuke’s fleeing back, shrugging helplessly.
Sasuke would probably rush into Itachi Uchiha’s arms crying at home again.
Menma stowed the kunai, patted non-existent dust off his black sportswear, and casually walked toward the stone steps where his classmates were.
“Wow! Menma! Awesome! Did you see that guy’s face? Hahaha! So satisfying!” Naruto was the first to pounce, excitedly slapping Menma’s shoulders as if he had won the victory himself.
“Menma-kun… are you okay? Just now… you scared me to death…” Hinata’s little face still somewhat pale, timidly approaching, her voice mosquito-like, eyes full of concern and lingering fear.
“Well done, Menma.” Choji offered a potato chip, admiration on his chubby face.
“Hmph, not bad, you’ve got some skill.” Though Kiba said that, his eyes were full of respect.
“What a hassle…” Shikamaru glanced at the direction Sasuke vanished, then at the relaxed Menma, issuing his signature sigh again.
Iruka watched Menma surrounded by classmates, glanced at Sasuke’s departure direction, wiped the cold sweat beading on his forehead, and let out a long breath of relief.
He thought with lingering fear: “Good thing… good thing Menma this kid is strong enough, reactions fast enough. If the Substitution Jutsu had been half a beat slower, or grazed by the Great Fireball… the consequences don’t bear thinking! Sasuke that kid, his competitive spirit is too intense…”
He secretly decided to have a good heart-to-heart with Sasuke after class.
