Chapter 415: Geniuses

Chapter 415: Chapter 415: Geniuses

Although Sasuke had once been thoroughly beaten by Hyuga Kagami while he was disguised as the leader of Kamigami, and had even been abducted by Orochimaru while the latter was disguised as a member of Akatsuki, among children his own age, Sasuke was unquestionably one of the very best.

Among his peers, he had never once suffered a defeat.

Of all the children his age he had encountered, not a single one was his match. Even when fighting two or three opponents at once, he could defeat them with ease and emerge victorious.

If his older brother, Uchiha Itachi, hadn’t simply been too outstanding—so outstanding that practically anyone would feel inferior standing beside him—Sasuke would probably have long since been crowned with the title of genius and become famous throughout Konoha.

Because of that, Sasuke was extremely unhappy about Hyuga Neji’s gradually spreading reputation as a genius.

"Hmph! I could beat him in ten moves!"

Sasuke deliberately snorted loudly, hoping to attract his father’s attention.

Fugaku didn’t expose Sasuke’s little attempt to get his attention. Instead, his gaze casually swept across the plaza.

In fact, aside from the Uchiha and Hyuga—the two great prestigious clans possessing ocular Kekkei Genkai—virtually every other prominent clan in Konoha had gathered in the plaza as well.

With just a casual glance, Fugaku spotted members of the Nara, Akimichi, Yamanaka, Aburame, Inuzuka, and several other ninja clans. Without exception, each clan had brought along the members of the next generation they intended to focus on cultivating.

Fugaku folded his arms across his chest and calmly said to Sasuke, "See them? Those children will be your opponents in the future!"

Brimming with confidence, Sasuke grinned. "Father, just wait and see! I will never allow the dignity of the Uchiha clan to be trampled on while I’m around! In the future, I’ll take first place and dominate the Ninja Academy just like Big Brother did!"

Fugaku merely smiled. He did not, however, say the words he so often used to praise Itachi:

As expected of my son.

Slightly disappointed, Sasuke asked, "Father, why didn’t Big Brother come to the alliance ceremony today?"

Fugaku’s smile faded as his expression returned to its usual sternness. "Itachi is taking care of Shisui."

Fugaku had also been quietly keeping an eye on Shisui’s physical condition. After all, Shisui was publicly recognized as the strongest member of the Uchiha clan, and Fugaku was extremely pleased with how close Itachi and Shisui had become.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, Itachi, as the clan head’s eldest son, would become the next head of the Uchiha clan. Therefore, his close relationship with Shisui, the clan’s strongest fighter, would not only help maintain stability within the clan but would also solidify Itachi’s position as its future leader.

Just then, Sasuke pointed toward a group from Otogakure approaching the plaza in the distance and asked, "Father, which ninja village are those people from? Why have I never seen the symbol on their forehead protectors before?"

Fugaku looked over and explained, "They’re ninja from Otogakure, a small ninja village that was only established recently."

"Oh."

After responding, Sasuke began looking over the Otogakure group.

As though sensing Sasuke’s gaze, Kimimaro, who was among the Otogakure group, raised his head slightly and looked back.

The moment he spotted the conspicuous Uchiha fan crest on Sasuke’s clothes, Kimimaro’s brow lifted slightly, and an unmistakably eager-for-a-fight expression appeared on his face.

Kimimaro knew very well that Orochimaru had always coveted the Uchiha clan’s Sharingan, yet had never been able to obtain one. Because of that, Kimimaro particularly despised the Uchiha—and despised the Sharingan!

As the Otogakure group, led by Anko, crossed the plaza and approached the Uchiha clan...

Kimimaro suddenly stepped out in full view of everyone and addressed Sasuke, who had been staring at him.

"Are you an Uchiha?"

Seeing the surrounding gazes immediately converge on him, Sasuke straightened his back and replied proudly, "That’s right! My name is Uchiha Sasuke!"

Kimimaro said coldly, "I challenge you."

Sasuke froze for a moment.

He had never expected a complete stranger from Otogakure to suddenly challenge him.

But immediately afterward, a surge of wild excitement swept through him, because he realized this was the perfect opportunity to display his strength in front of everyone—

and more importantly, in front of his father.

Suppressing his excitement, Sasuke snorted. "Hmph! A mere Otogakure ninja dares to challenge the Uchiha clan? Fine! Then I’ll show you what a true prestigious clan is capable of!"

Anko, who was responsible for receiving the Otogakure delegation, immediately shouted, "You two brats, behave yourselves! The alliance ceremony is about to begin!"

Kimimaro stared at Sasuke and said indifferently, "Don’t worry. It won’t take long."

Sasuke planted his hands on his hips as well. "Yeah! Three moves are all I’ll need to finish you!"

Anko was speechless.

"What a pair of troublesome brats!"

At that moment, Orochimaru stepped forward and said with a smile, "Why not let the two children spar? I’ve also heard of the Uchiha clan’s great reputation for quite some time. I’d like to see it for myself today."

Anko hadn’t expected the Jonin leading the Otogakure delegation to be so unreliable. Just as she was about to step forward and try to persuade him otherwise, Fugaku, standing opposite them with his arms folded across his chest, spoke.

"Since our allies from Otogakure wish to see what the Uchiha clan is capable of..." Fugaku turned toward Sasuke. "Sasuke, don’t disappoint them."

"That’s right! Show Otogakure how strong we Konoha ninja are!"

"The Uchiha are one of Konoha’s great clans! Looks like we’re in for a good show today!"

The surrounding crowd began joining in on the excitement. On such a festive occasion, everyone simply treated a spar between two children as a little entertainment before the ceremony began.

Before long, the crowd voluntarily moved aside, clearing an open area for the two children. The Uchiha clan and the Otogakure delegation stood at opposite ends, everyone’s attention now focused on the two children in the center.

Anko was the most helpless of them all and had no choice but to temporarily act as the referee.

Standing in the middle of the field, she addressed Sasuke and Kimimaro. "Ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu are all allowed, but no explosive tags. The first person to be knocked down loses. Understood?"

Although she had said that ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu were all permitted in the spar, Anko didn’t believe these two brats could possibly have mastered any high-level ninjutsu.

At most, she expected a contest of taijutsu mixed with a few simple applications of the Three Basic Techniques.

The corner of Sasuke’s mouth curled upward as he urged, "Can we start already?"

"Impatient little brat..." Anko muttered before waving her hand.

"Begin!"

The instant Anko finished speaking, Sasuke abruptly leaped backward and began forming hand seals.

"Snake... Ram... Monkey... Boar..."

Watching the sequence of hand seals flashing through Sasuke’s hands, Anko’s expression suddenly darkened.

"Not good! This Uchiha brat has actually mastered a ninjutsu of this level?!"

Outside the ring, Orochimaru extended his tongue and slowly licked his lips.

"Sasuke, huh... To have already mastered a ninjutsu like this at such a young age..."

At the opposite end, Fugaku stood with his arms folded across his chest, a faint smile appearing on his face.

He could already sense the fluctuations of Fire Release chakra.

Across from Sasuke, however, Kimimaro remained completely indifferent, as though he didn’t even consider the hand-seal-forming Sasuke, who was preparing to unleash his ninjutsu, worth taking seriously.

As he was about to complete the final hand seal, Sasuke secretly laughed to himself.

"Has he already been scared stiff? As expected, ninja from some tiny village are nothing special! Father, just wait and watch everyone cheer for me!"