The atmosphere in the Academy training hall was tense. Today's sparring matches weren't anything like the Chūnin Exams arena battles people sometimes whispered about. There would be no promotions, no championships, and no titles waiting at the end.
This was simply an Academy competition—a test of strength, skill, and spirit among students. Still, for the children gathered, it felt far more important than a simple exercise. The results would echo through their friendships, rivalries, and pride.
Iruka-sensei stood at the front, clipboard in hand. His warm smile did little to calm the anticipation buzzing among the students. He cleared his throat.
"The matchups have been decided by random draw," he announced. "I'll be calling them now."
The room grew silent. Everyone leaned forward, eager to hear.
"The first pair in the ninja competition…" Iruka paused for effect, "Haruno Sakura… and Hyūga Hinata!"
A stir went through the crowd. Ino Yamanaka's eyes widened, her breath catching in her throat.
What?! Sakura and Hinata?
To her, this was more than just a fight. It was a collision between two girls tied together by a delicate thread of feelings and friendships.
Hinata loved Uzumaki Naruto.
Naruto loved Sakura.
Sakura… had her heart set on Uchiha Sasuke.
The triangle of emotions made this matchup sting even deeper.
Both girls were excellent students, each striking in her own way. Sakura was clever, outgoing, and occasionally brash. Hinata, quiet and reserved, carried a subtle determination beneath her shy exterior. Their personalities clashed as sharply as their feelings did.
And now, fate had placed them against one another.
Under the eyes of the entire class, Sakura and Hinata walked toward the center ring.
Hinata's pale eyes flickered with nerves, but she bowed politely. "S-Sakura… please… please guide me."
Sakura crossed her arms, her expression tight. "Hinata. Last time, you stopped me—you even wanted to fight me over Naruto." Her lips pressed together. "Well, today's the perfect chance to settle this."
Hinata's face went crimson. "T-That wasn't… it's not—"
Sakura cut her off. "Forget the excuses. Let's fight."
Hinata swallowed hard, then nodded. "…Okay."
Off to the side, Naruto scratched his head, utterly lost. His heart tugged in two directions. Deep down, he still liked Sakura—he always had. But when he saw Hinata standing there, so determined despite her usual shyness, something inside him wanted to cheer for her instead.
But… if I cheer for Hinata, wouldn't that be unfair to Sakura?
He cupped his hands around his mouth and yelled anyway, "Go for it! Do your best!"
Even he wasn't sure who he was cheering for.
Ino bit her lip, choosing silence. The tension was thick, and words felt unnecessary.
Iruka raised his hand. "Begin! Create the Seal of Confrontation!"
The two kunoichi formed the seal together, their hands briefly touching. For just a heartbeat, their gazes met—Sakura's sharp and challenging, Hinata's trembling yet resolute.
Then Sakura roared, her confidence boiling over. She lunged, throwing a powerful straight punch aimed directly at Hinata's guard.
Hinata braced herself. Her arms moved smoothly, blocking the strike. The impact stung, but she didn't falter.
I don't like fighting… but today, I can't run away. I can't lose. Because…
Her memory flashed to Naruto's clumsy grin, the way he had once promised to work hard and support her. That promise was her strength now.
"Byakugan… activate!"
Her pale eyes sharpened, veins bulging at her temples as the Hyūga clan's dōjutsu flared to life. Suddenly, every twitch of Sakura's body, every chakra pathway within her was visible.
Hinata exhaled, then thrust her palm forward.
"Gentle Fist—Eight Trigrams Palm!"
The blow struck with deceptive softness, but the hidden force sent a jolt through Sakura's defenses. Her eyes widened as she staggered backward.
"Wha—!"
Hinata didn't let up. The moment the formation was invoked, it was relentless. Each strike flowed into the next, graceful yet merciless.
Pat! Pat! Pat!
Palm after palm hammered into Sakura's guard, each one rattling her further. Sakura's face drained of color as her arms numbed. The pressure was overwhelming.
With one final strike, Hinata's palm slammed into her chest. The blow lifted Sakura off her feet and sent her flying out of the ring.
The room gasped.
Iruka immediately raised his voice. "The match is over! Hyūga Hinata wins!"
Hinata's eyes widened. She hurried forward, bending down to help her classmate. "S-Sakura, are you okay?"
Sakura coughed, brushing dirt off her clothes. Her pride stung more than her body. She shook her head silently.
Naruto, oddly, felt a weight lift from his chest. "Phew… good, good…" He let out a sigh of relief.
Across the room, Ino caught his eye. For a brief moment, their gazes locked, and both realized they were thinking the same thing. They looked away quickly, cheeks flushed.
Hinata and Sakura performed the Seal of Reconciliation, then returned to the sidelines.
The following matches passed by without much excitement. None carried the same charged emotions or stakes as that first duel.
But Naruto wasn't paying attention anymore. He was waiting—waiting for his turn.
His eyes never left Sasuke.
It has to be him. It has to be Sasuke. I'll show everyone… I'll prove I'm not just some dead-last.
Iruka cleared his throat, glancing at the next slip of paper.
"Ahem… the next match will be… Uzumaki Naruto—"
Naruto's ears perked up. He clenched his fists, muttering under his breath. Please, please, let it be Sasuke!
Iruka continued, "—against Uchiha Sasuke!"
The room exploded in cheers and gasps.
Hinata's heart lurched. Ino's breath caught. Sakura clasped her hands tightly to her chest.
Even Sasuke, who had been expecting this outcome, narrowed his eyes, tension tightening his shoulders.
Naruto leapt to his feet, fists pumping in the air. "YES! This is awesome!"
Sasuke snorted, unable to stop a smirk from curling across his face. "Hn. Don't get too excited, dobe. Facing me only means one thing—you're walking straight into defeat."
Naruto didn't flinch. He grinned wide, his blue eyes blazing. "Heh, I've been waiting for this forever! Finally, I get to fight you fair and square. This time, in front of everyone, I'll beat you and prove my strength!"
Sasuke's expression cooled. "You're overestimating yourself."
Iruka frowned slightly, worry tugging at him. He knew their rivalry well. He also knew this clash was inevitable. Still, he hoped it wouldn't spiral out of control.
The crowd of students pressed closer, whispering eagerly. This wasn't just another spar. This was the match everyone wanted to see.
Naruto and Sasuke stepped into the center of the ring, facing each other. Their stances mirrored one another—tense, coiled, ready to strike.
Two flames, destined to clash.
Iruka raised his hand. "Begin!"
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