Naruto: Blacksmith

The atmosphere on the field grew increasingly tense.

Classmates who had been talking and shouting fell silent one by one as they sensed the shift.

Even Iruka was momentarily stunned.

Where is this intensity coming from?

He had never imagined that Kuro, who always seemed absorbed in his books, could radiate such a captivating and serene aura.

Perhaps I haven't been paying enough attention to him…

But whatever others thought, Kuro and Sasuke were ready, forming the **Seal of Combat** in the center of the field.

The purpose of paired training was clear: to identify one's weaknesses and improve through real combat.

As fellow villagers, the rules dictated they perform the Seal of Combat before starting, a gesture of mutual respect to formally begin the duel.

And at the end, they were to perform the Seal of Harmony, a reminder that regardless of what happened during the fight, they remained comrades.

Both understood these rules well, thanks to their theoretical lessons. As diligent students, they didn't need Iruka to remind them.

They extended their left hands, pressing their index and middle fingers against their chests.

The combat began.

Boom

Sasuke moved first.

His right leg pushed off the ground with such force that it left a deep mark in the dirt. With the speed and agility of a cheetah, he launched himself toward Kuro.

Academy training emphasized basic fundamentals: shuriken, kunai, physical skills, and fitness.

While Sasuke had started training earlier due to his clan, he was still operating at a basic level.

That's why his opening move was simple and direct—a preemptive strike. But that didn't mean it was weak.

Sasuke had full confidence in his strength.

He had started training at two years old and, by three, was joining adults on hunts for boars and tigers using bows and arrows.

This type of training not only strengthened his body but also bolstered his courage—something few his age could match.

Although he had seen Kuro training at Training Ground Number 9 and acknowledged his skill, Sasuke didn't believe he could lose.

Swish

The two- to three-meter distance between them disappeared in an instant.

To the spectators, Sasuke seemed to vanish in a blur and reappear directly in front of Kuro.

His right fist was clenched, aiming squarely for Kuro's face with tremendous force.

But Kuro didn't move.

Holding his book in his right hand and adjusting his glasses with his left, his face remained calm, without a trace of concern.

Is he crazy?

That was the reaction of most of the spectators. Naruto and Ino shouted warnings.

But Sasuke thought differently.

This doesn't make sense.

He had watched Kuro train. He knew he wasn't slow enough to fail reacting to his speed.

Kuro's expression wasn't that of someone caught off guard; it was one of confidence.

Even so, Sasuke couldn't stop now.

An arrow once released cannot be recalled.

Though he didn't know what Kuro was planning, he decided to increase the force behind his punch.

"Stop acting so smug!"

With a shout to boost his morale, he channeled all his strength into the blow, making his punch even faster and more powerful.

If my strike is fast and strong enough, it won't matter what he's planning. He won't have time to react.

At that moment, Sasuke was brimming with confidence.

No matter how skilled he is, he won't be able to stop me.

A flicker of resignation crossed Kuro's eyes.

This kid… so confident. Will he ever succeed with this mindset?

But there was no time for deeper thought. Sasuke was already upon him, and Kuro knew he had to stay sharp.

Calmly, he tilted his head slightly, dodging Sasuke's fist by mere millimeters.

Without hesitation, Kuro extended his left hand, aiming for Sasuke's collar. But the Uchiha was already adjusting his stance to launch another attack.

Is that all?

Kuro's eyes gleamed with curiosity.

Typically, a committed attack ends in one of two outcomes: either you defeat the enemy in one blow, or you push them back. If the attack fails, you should retreat or defend, as a follow-up strike requires time and energy.

While good physical condition can reduce that time, facing someone on the same level makes this an obvious weakness.

But Sasuke seemed to ignore this logic. After missing his punch, he neither retreated nor defended. Instead, he tried to adjust his stance to continue attacking.

Is he underestimating me… or blinded by overconfidence?

Kuro didn't let the thought distract him. Before Sasuke could stabilize, Kuro moved swiftly.

With a nimble twist of his neck and precise positioning of his left leg, he tripped Sasuke, throwing him off balance.

Sasuke's body lurched forward.

Despite the situation, Sasuke reacted quickly, reaching his hands toward the ground to cushion his fall and use the momentum to counterattack.

But Kuro didn't give him the chance.

Seizing the moment, Kuro used his weight and strength to pin Sasuke to the ground.

The outcome was clear.

Sasuke fell, and before he could recover, Kuro had him immobilized.

With one knee pressed against the back of Sasuke's neck and his right hand holding him firmly, Kuro used his free hand to pull Sasuke's hair back.

Each time Sasuke tried to free himself, the pain in his scalp and the pressure on his neck increased, making it harder to breathe.

"Give up," Kuro said calmly. "I'm not letting go."

"W-Who wants to admit defeat?!" Sasuke growled, struggling desperately.

But his efforts only wasted more oxygen, and soon his face began turning red.

Iruka stepped in before things went too far.

"Stop, Kuro! You've won this match."

Hearing this, Kuro released Sasuke and calmly took a few steps back.

Sasuke slowly got up, coughing and trying to catch his breath.

Once he could breathe normally, he looked at Iruka, his eyes filled with dissatisfaction.

"Sensei, you can't call it so quickly. The fight isn't over yet."

Iruka shook his head, his expression stern.

"Sasuke, I understand that you want to compete, but when you lose, you lose. Acknowledging your weaknesses and working to improve them is the purpose of these exercises."

"But I…"

"Do you want to question my judgment as a ninja?" Iruka asked, meeting his gaze firmly.

Sasuke fell silent.

"If Kuro hadn't shown mercy, your neck could have snapped in an instant. Even without that, you would have passed out from lack of oxygen."

Iruka's words hit Sasuke hard.

He lowered his head, biting his lip. His fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

He knew Iruka was right, but the thought of losing to a classmate was hard to swallow, especially since he had entered the fight so confidently.

How did he beat me so easily?

The gap between his expectations and reality left him frustrated.

Iruka observed Sasuke, sighing internally.

Though they were still young, Sasuke had consistently been the best in regular practice. Being defeated so easily by Kuro was a blow to his pride.

But this is the way of the world. Not everything will go as you expect.

If Sasuke couldn't overcome this failure, it could become a barrier to his future as a ninja.

"Sasuke," Iruka said sternly, "perform the Seal of Harmony."

Sasuke slowly raised his head, his piercing gaze fixed on Kuro.

Kuro remained calm, returning the gaze with composure.

"Next time, I'll definitely win."

Sasuke extended his right hand toward Kuro, his fighting spirit burning even stronger in his eyes.

Kuro extended his own right hand, a faint smile on his face. "I'll never lose."

________

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