"There will be a shuriken-throwing test shortly. Everyone, take this time to prepare."
Instructor Ryuta stepped aside, allowing the students to practice on their own.
Casually picking up a shuriken, Uchiha Saitama slipped his middle finger through the hole and spun it confidently.
"Hey, Uchiha!"
A boy with pale lavender eyes and the unmistakable white pupils of the Hyūga clan approached.
His expression was proud, and even though he was a little shorter than Saitama, he stared him down without hesitation.
"Got a problem?" Saitama asked coolly. He knew the Uchiha and Hyūga clans had long been rivals, but he hadn't expected to be targeted so directly.
Though his tone was calm, he was puzzled as to why this Hyūga was picking a fight.
"Do you dare to compete with me during the test?" the boy challenged, lifting his chin.
"Whatever. Just don't cry when you lose," Saitama replied, amused.
Sigh... Maybe I've been too low-key lately, he thought. Now even clowns think they can mess with a tiger.
"Sensei! Let me take the exam alongside Uchiha Saitama!" the Hyūga boy called out.
Ryuta looked at the boy in surprise—Hyūga Tokuma, if he recalled correctly. Then he glanced at Saitama.
Considering the longstanding competitive history between the Hyūga and Uchiha clans, he quickly understood the motive and nodded.
"There's no harm in a little rivalry," Ryuta said. "Permission granted."
To him, Saitama had never stood out much. Just another student from the Uchiha clan.
But Tokuma? He was considered a rising star of the Hyūga. That made the challenge all the more interesting.
In truth, Tokuma had originally wanted to challenge Uchiha Shisui, who had demonstrated exceptional talent early on. But Shisui was currently on leave from the Academy.
So, Tokuma settled for another Uchiha—Saitama—who was known to be close with Shisui.
Tokuma wasn't worried. He'd trained in jūken (Gentle Fist) from a young age and spent countless hours mastering kunai and shuriken throwing.
Soon, Instructor Ryuta called everyone to gather as the test was about to begin.
"First group: Hyūga Tokuma and Uchiha Saitama."
"The test includes ten targets: two stationary and three moving targets at ten meters; two stationary and two moving at fifteen meters; and one moving target at twenty meters," Ryuta explained. "Each successful hit is worth one point. A perfect score is ten."
He nodded to the two boys, signaling them to begin.
Saitama touched the pouch strapped to his thigh and glanced at the targets ahead.
Ever since awakening my Sharingan, he thought, my perception and dynamic vision have been sharper—even when deactivated.
Lowering his stance slightly, he centered his weight, ensuring stability and force behind his throws.
"Ding!"
"Ding!"
Two sharp clangs rang out as Tokuma swiftly struck the nearest stationary targets, earning early applause.
"Hmph." Tokuma smirked, tilting his head arrogantly.
"Wow! The Hyūga really are something!"
"As expected of someone from a noble clan!"
Some classmates couldn't help but whisper in admiration.
Tokuma's shuriken had hit both bullseyes, clean and centered.
Instructor Ryuta nodded slightly. "Impressive," he muttered.
But Saitama wasn't fazed. Without hesitation, he launched his own pair of shuriken.
"Ding! Ding!"
Both hit dead center as well.
"Ooh! Not bad!"
"Didn't know that Uchiha was this good!"
"Maybe just luck? Let's see what happens next!"
Encouraged—or provoked—by the crowd, Saitama kept his cool.
Without breaking rhythm, he drew five shuriken in a single motion and threw them simultaneously.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
All five struck the targets—three of which were moving—dead on.
Tokuma's eyes widened. He had planned to take out the three moving targets one at a time. Now, seeing Saitama land five in one go, his confidence wavered.
He clenched his jaw, drew another set of shuriken, and took careful aim.
Ding!
Ding!
Ding!
Ding!