Konoha Notes

Chapter 330 Failure
Screams and praise constitute part of Sasuke's school life, while accepting challenges and defeating all challengers is another part of his school career.

The battle with Hyuga Neji had been planned but never carried out.

There are various reasons for this: the teachers have become much stricter in controlling private fights between students, probably because they are afraid that the students of Yunyin will get beaten up.

Since he couldn't find an opportunity at school, Sasuke wasn't in a hurry. Among the people who came to see his father, fewer people were discussing Hyuga, and more were talking about Hokage and the village.

His confusion about the other person was also growing day by day.

"Shuji-nii has agreed to let me train with Gaara, Shikamaru!"

That idiot was yelling loudly again, but this time Sasuke's attention wasn't on him, but on the red-haired boy.

For some reason, he had some reservations about Shanks, but the feeling Gaara evoked was completely different from Karin's.

That's someone worth fighting, and someone we need to be careful with.

"Hehehe, does this mean that Brother Shuuji thinks I'm stronger than Sasuke?" Naruto said, hands on his hips.

The classroom fell silent instantly, followed by hushed whispers. Almost all eyes turned to Naruto—and, instinctively, glanced towards Sasuke as well.

Incredible, doubtful, scrutinizing...

Sasuke could sense the meaning in those eyes. Even Yamanaka Ino and the others were expressing doubt, wondering, "What exactly is it about Naruto that Naruto is better than Sasuke?"

His lips were pursed into a thin line.

Yes, that man, the village hero, whose status seems to be second only to the Hokage, yet he is a man who receives even more discussion among the clansmen than the Hokage.

"Last-place finisher." Sasuke was a little annoyed, and his tone was a bit aggressive. "Then let's see. I guarantee you won't even be able to touch me."

This was the first time he had shown such emotions in class.

Shikamaru covered his face, pressing his forehead against the table. If he could, he wanted to leave the classroom right now.

But he could guess that once Naruto repeated what he said yesterday—Shikamaru doubted the possibility of Naruto doing it, but it was possible.

And once Naruto says something like, "You guys are too weak to train with Gaara..."

My leisurely campus life will inevitably be ruined in the coming period.

We must change the subject immediately!

Just as Naruto was about to retaliate against Sasuke—

"That was just an arrangement made by the village for other reasons."

Shikamaru acted swiftly, cutting Naruto off.

"Furthermore, since it's a special agreement, it means the village will arrange for a high-ranking ninja to supervise, so the sparring partner's strength is actually irrelevant."

"Eh? Is that so..." Naruto's smug expression froze.

“Of course.” Shikamaru pressed on while the iron was hot. “To help Gaara practice his control, all we need is a training subject. Meeting that condition is enough.”

The atmosphere in the class eased as Shikamaru spoke. The initial surprise and scrutiny that had just arisen in Naruto's eyes were quickly replaced by understanding: "I see," and "Naruto was just overthinking it."

A few low complaints about Naruto's smugness rang out.

Naruto sheepishly walked back to his original spot, muttering to himself that he was better than Sasuke.

Just then, the red-haired boy who had been silent all along left his seat and walked to Naruto's desk.

"Thank you, Naruto Uzumaki."

Gaara's voice was calm and even, yet it silenced the last remaining noise in the classroom.

Naruto scrambled to his feet, then chuckled, "Ah, um... you're welcome!"

"We're classmates, right? Now we'll be training partners together, right?"

“Classmate…comrade…” Gaara repeated the two words, then nodded almost imperceptibly and returned to his seat.

Sasuke watched this scene coldly, and the irritation in his heart did not dissipate because of Shikamaru's explanation, but instead became even more intense.

This frustration continued into the afternoon's physical training class.

When Iruka announced that today's training would be a two-person taijutsu sparring session, Sasuke's gaze immediately locked onto the figure standing alone under the shade of a tree.

He didn't think he was inferior to Gaara. He hadn't approached him before simply because he respected his teacher's decision and didn't intend to fight someone who couldn't control his ninjutsu.

But now, things are different.

"Hey."

Sasuke walked through the students who were being divided into groups and went straight to Gaara.

"With that idiot's skill level, he can't test anything. Let me do it."

Gaara glanced at him: "You are no match for me."

This wasn't contempt, nor even a declaration. To Gaara, it was simply a description of the current situation—Shuji had assigned Naruto as his sparring partner, not Sasuke, nothing more.

Sasuke's pupils contracted slightly.

At this moment, the feeling of irritability finally crossed the threshold.

"Sasuke!"

Iruka strode between the two, looking at Sasuke with a serious expression: "Gaara's training arrangements are decided by the village; you can't do it on your own—"

"Iruka."

A calm voice, yet one that made all the Konoha teachers and students present instinctively straighten their backs, came from the direction of the tree-lined path at the edge of the training ground. Iruka immediately turned around and stood at attention: "Captain Shuji!"

Xiu Si walked out slowly.

"Brother Shuji!" Naruto immediately squeezed through the crowd. "Can my training with Gaara begin? Shikamaru said someone would come to supervise. Is that person Brother Shuji?"

He looked at Xiu Si with great excitement.

Shuji nodded to Naruto, then his gaze swept across the crowd, noticing a red-haired girl who was also looking in their direction. He nodded slightly to her as well. Finally, his gaze returned to Gaara.

"Give it a try, Gaara."

"Ugh—!" Naruto said in frustration, "Didn't Shuji-nii say this was my mission?"

"Okay, no rush. Your sparring sessions will continue afterward."

Shuji said.

Konoha has a large barrier that dates back to the time of Mito Uzumaki, used to assist the immature Nine-Tails Jinchuriki in sealing the Nine-Tails.

The Ninja Academy was located within this barrier, and Naruto couldn't draw out the Nine-Tails' chakra while training here, so he originally planned to take his people outside to train.

But seeing this scene piqued his interest again.

When Naruto heard that there were more arrangements after class, he pursed his lips and calmed down a bit, but he still stared longingly at the center of the field.

Seeing that Shuuji had made his decision, Iruka said no more. He simply took a deep breath and began to maintain order: "All students, retreat to the edge of the arena! Sit down and watch! Do not approach! Sasuke, Gaara, come to the center of the arena!"

The students, both nervous and excited, quickly retreated, forming a loose circle. Sasuke and Gaara stood facing each other in the center of the playground, on an open space directly exposed to the sunlight.

Iruka loudly announced the rules, but Sasuke wasn't listening at all. His entire attention was focused on the red-haired boy opposite him, who stood with his arms crossed, seemingly indifferent to the upcoming battle.

With a start, Sasuke's figure disappeared from the spot.

So fast!

A low gasp of surprise rose from the students watching.

A black blur swept across the ground and appeared in front of Gaara in the blink of an eye. A clean and crisp straight punch, accompanied by the sound of wind breaking, struck Gaara's chest!

However, just before his fist was about to touch the red-haired boy's clothes, a layer of fine sand appeared, blocking Sasuke's straight punch.

boom!
A muffled thud. The sand shield remained unmoved, but Sasuke's fist felt an incredibly solid feedback force, which made his wrist slightly numb.

Sasuke's eyes flashed with a fierce light. Without hesitation, he spun around, twisted his waist, and unleashed a powerful whip kick that swept towards Gaara's side!
It was blocked by another layer of sand.

A feint with the right fist, but actually a left elbow strike to the ribs! The Sand Shield reappears.

After three consecutive attacks failed, Sasuke leaped backward to create distance.

Gaara then spoke up: "This is Sand's self-protection."

Sasuke's eyes darkened, and he charged forward again. This time, his steps became unpredictable as he tried to bypass the sand's defenses.

Snapped!Snapped!Snapped!Snapped!
A series of soft, dense collision sounds rang out in the center of the playground.

Sasuke's figure was so fast that he almost left afterimages, launching attacks from all angles—fists, palms, elbows, knees, and legs—like a sudden storm.

However, that thin layer of sand shield always appeared at the exact moment before the attack hit, protecting Gaara perfectly.

The playground was completely silent. All the students stared wide-eyed, holding their breath as they watched this offensive and defensive maneuver, which was beyond their comprehension.

Only now did most of the students in Iruka's class intuitively and deeply understand why their teachers were so adamant about not letting Aira participate in regular combat training.

This is not even in the same league as "practice"!
The high-frequency, high-intensity continuous attacks took a huge toll on his physical strength. Gradually, Sasuke's breathing became clearer, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

Just as he feigned a retreat, actually preparing to change direction and charge forward again, Gaara, who had been as still as a rock, moved.

His movements were not flashy; in fact, they could be described as simple and direct.

With a swift forward step, he closed the distance, followed by a straightforward straight punch aimed at Sasuke's chest, which was rising and falling slightly from his panting.

In his haste, Sasuke could only cross his arms to protect his chest.

Gaara's not-so-heavy punch broke through the defenses, and as Sasuke's center was exposed, Gaara raised his knee, twisted his body, and delivered a side kick.

"Ugh—!"

Sasuke grunted and flew backward.

The playground was deathly silent.

Sasuke Uchiha, the strongest in the class and who had never had a rival before, was defeated.

Exhausted, Sasuke was unable to stand up for a moment. He supported himself with his hands on the ground, his head down, his black bangs falling down and obscuring his expression. Only his slightly trembling arms revealed the turmoil in his heart at that moment.

“We were unable to control the sand from activating its automatic defenses throughout the entire process.” Shuji’s voice broke the silence. “In terms of the goal of control training, it was a complete failure.”

Gaara met his gaze and nodded in agreement.

Sasuke's still somewhat groggy mind was jolted awake by the word "failure".

The second son of the Uchiha clan looked up at Shuuji, then at Gaara.

He... Gaara is a failure...

So, what am I...?

(End of this chapter)