Konoha Notes

Chapter 352 Sasuke's Choice
The training for Gaara could actually have ended by now.

The trained person is able to control the instinctive reaction of sand when exchanging ninjutsu with Naruto, and is also able to avoid stress attacks when facing Sasuke who has awakened the Sharingan.

The reason why Hiruzen Sarutobi, who temporarily took over the training, did not end the course immediately was simple: he was waiting for Shuji to return.

This special training was initiated by Shuji, so how to proceed—whether to continue deepening it, move to the next stage, or let Gaara return to the normal ninja academy curriculum—naturally, we should also listen to his opinion.

Moreover, there is another test to be witnessed today.

Therefore, when Shuji arrived at the training ground, the Third Generation was still there.

Sasuke and Naruto, who had already been notified, were already in position, while Gaara stood on the other side watching.

"How's it going in Iwagakure?" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked.

"It went pretty well."

Before the two could continue their conversation.

"Shuji-nii!" Naruto called out almost the instant Shuji stopped. "Can we start now? I've been waiting for so long!"

In contrast to his restlessness, Sasuke stood there calmly, awaiting the command to begin.

Seeing this, Shuji said, "Then let's begin. There are no restrictions. It will end when one side is unable to continue or concedes defeat."

Naruto immediately formed the opposing hand seal, and Sasuke returned the same hand seal.

After the hand landed, Naruto immediately activated the Shadow Clone Technique, using the same tactic that had brought him victory last time.

Faced with the familiar opening, Sasuke's reaction was completely different from before.

The moment the shadow clone appeared, his pupils turned red, taking in the chaotic and noisy scene before him.

As Naruto's shadow clones rushed in, Sasuke moved.

Instead of retreating, he darted to the side. His feet created shallow dents in the sandy training ground, his body lowered and leaned forward, gaining speed the instant he started moving. At the same time, his hands reached for his ninja tool pouch at his waist, and when he pulled it out, a cold glint was visible between his fingers.

Four kunai in each hand.

Each kunai was tied with a thin steel wire. The other end of the wire was wrapped around a specific joint of his finger.

As he sped off, Sasuke spun around and swung his arm.

The eight kunai were not shot at the shadow clone, but at the empty spaces in front of and to the side of his path of speed—upper left, upper right, directly in front, lower left, lower right... They were deeply embedded in the wooden stakes, tree trunks, or hard rocky ground at the edge of the training field.

Eight steel wires taut in mid-air, outlining several intersecting yet subtle trajectories.

Only then did the three fastest shadow clones reach his original position, their fists missing their mark.

"To the left!" "There's one behind too!" "Don't let him get out!"

The shadow clones shouted and quickly changed direction, surrounding and encircling Sasuke along his path.

The two clones that caught up from the left first struck Sasuke's ribs and back with punches from the left and right.

Sasuke took a half step to the left front, his body sliding sideways at an angle almost touching the ground. The clone's fist grazed his hair, and in the low posture of sliding, he suddenly flicked and pulled his right wrist!
A steel wire connecting the kunai on the right middle finger to the kunai nailed to the wooden stake in the upper left corner, which was originally loosely stretched diagonally in mid-air, suddenly tightened and sprang up, half a meter off the ground, and just across the path of the two subsequent clones rushing forward!
"Wow!"

"Varied……!"

The two shadow clones, unable to stop in time, slammed their calves into the steel wire, immediately losing their balance. They screamed and fell forward, turning into white smoke with two soft "bangs".

The third clone reacted slightly faster, attempting to jump over, but Sasuke's left pinky finger twitched almost simultaneously.

Another steel wire connecting the kunai to the ground suddenly sprang up from the sand, deftly wrapped around the ankle of the clone that had just left the ground, and pulled hard!
"Ugh!"

Another clone lost its balance, fell to the ground, and vanished.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes revealed his approval. This was the level of tactical skill that a traditional ninja should possess, which was most admirable. Although it lacked the visual impact of powerful, brick-throwing ninjutsu, it was still exceptionally pleasing to the eye.

“Beautiful.” Shuuji, standing next to him, also gave his evaluation. “Clean, efficient, and highly entertaining. This is the kind of match that audiences would be willing to pay a high price for tickets to watch.”

The offense and defense on the field did not stop at all after the initial few clones disappeared.

Using the recoil from the pulled steel wire, Sasuke nimbly changed direction, retreating swiftly to his right rear towards an area obstructed by wooden stakes. Along the way, his hands once again reached into his ninja tool pouch, this time pulling out more and lighter shuriken.

Each shuriken is also tied with a thin steel wire.

Even in a fast-moving and chaotic environment, the Sharingan can still steadily lock onto the subtle movements of every target.

He swung his arm again.

The shuriken were launched in a fan shape, landing on ground depressions, tree trunks, and the tops of wooden stakes that could provide leverage or hide in the clones' path of attack.

"Don't be afraid! He can't hit us!"

"Charge! He won't be able to do anything once we get close!" Naruto's shadow clones had clearly learned from their previous experience and were not flustered by their initial setback.

They spontaneously split into three groups: about six or seven clones launched a seemingly fierce feint attack from the front, shouting loudly to attract attention; the other two groups, each with four or five clones, silently and quickly circled around from the flanks, attempting to form an encirclement.

Naruto has a new tactic, but Sasuke has even more tactical preparations.

Facing the seven clones charging head-on, Sasuke advanced instead of retreating. He took a step forward and suddenly pulled with his right hand.

The steel wires at the ends of the two shuriken nailed to the row of thick tree trunks on the right side of the training ground were tightened.

The steel wire, which had been loosely hanging on the tree trunk, suddenly lashed out at the knees of the group of figures facing forward.

"careful!"

"Jump up!"

The two clones at the front reacted extremely quickly, leaping up to narrowly avoid the wire. But the two clones following closely behind were not so lucky. With their vision blocked by the person in front, they didn't realize the wire was about to hit them until their ankles were tightly wrapped.

The two collided awkwardly and turned into smoke.

Almost at the same time, Sasuke pressed his left palm down.

The steel wires attached to the ends of the shuriken he had previously tucked into the ground had already been quietly laid out. Now, with Sasuke's finger tug, seven or eight steel wires sprang up from the sand and intertwined into a net at a height of about twenty centimeters above the ground.

Three shadow clones, flanking from the left, were sprinting at full speed, intending to coordinate with their teammates in front to complete the encirclement, completely unaware of the trap beneath their feet. The three felt their calves simultaneously crash into a series of resilient obstacles, their momentum abruptly halted!

"There's something on the ground!"

Amidst cries of alarm, the three fell forward and turned into white smoke one after another.

The originally formidable clones were rapidly reduced under this combined tactic, and the number of shadow clones on the field decreased at a visible rate.

Naruto's main body was hidden among the remaining clones, and just as he raised his hand to form hand seals again.

Sasuke, who had been moving at high speed and seemed to be constantly avoiding and reducing the number of clones, locked onto the person in the group of clones who was making an unusual move.

He raised his hand and threw three shuriken toward Naruto's position. A shadow clone blocked the way, a move that confirmed Sasuke's location.

He immediately formed a hand seal.

"Art fire escape ho fireball!"

Naruto immediately stopped forming hand seals and scattered to the side; however, he had just escaped the range of the Fireball Jutsu.

A figure had already closed in instantly.

Naruto instinctively tried to retaliate with a punch, but before he could even get halfway through, his wrist was firmly grabbed. Then, his ankle was tripped, he lost his balance, and the world spun around him.

boom!
Naruto slammed heavily onto the sandy ground, the dust kicking up and choking him. He coughed and tried to struggle, but found himself firmly locked in a joint lock, unable to move.

Sasuke pressed one knee against his back, one hand gripping his wrist, and the other against the back of his neck.

The Sharingan looked down at him from close range, its crimson pupils reflecting Naruto's disheveled expression.

“It’s over,” Sasuke said calmly.

The remaining shadow clones disappeared one after another with a series of "bangs," turning into white smoke and dissipating.

Sasuke released his grip, stood up nimbly, and turned his back to Naruto, who was still lying on the ground.

"The last place winner only gets that one stroke of luck."

"Aaaaah!! You arrogant Sasuke! Once again! One more time!" Naruto jumped up from the ground, yelling angrily.

"I still……"

"That's enough, Naruto."

Shuji interrupted Naruto's shouting and walked to the center of the training field.

"You passed the test, Sasuke."

Shuji said.

"As agreed, you can apply for a leave of absence to receive more specialized training. Have your father submit the application to the Ninja Academy."

The Third Hokage, standing to the side, also looked at Sasuke, awaiting his answer.

“Thank you very much, Mr. Shuji. However,” Sasuke Uchiha raised his head, his dark eyes filled with determination, “I am withdrawing my application for leave of absence.”

“I think there are still some things I can only learn at the Ninja Academy.”

(End of this chapter)