Chapter 20: Training Session Test
The afternoon sun was particularly lazy, casting its golden glow across a sky so clear that only pure white clouds drifted above.
"Hey!"
"Hah!"
At the Ninja Academy's training field, the entire class had already assembled before the lesson began.
Outdoor classes were the favorite of six- to eight-year-olds. Without needing Kaoru Iwabe's supervision, they were already eagerly warming up, fists clenched, eyes gleaming with anticipation.
Veigar lounged in the sunlight, uninterested in joining the warm-up drills. In real battles, enemies wouldn't give you time to stretch.
Combat was always instantaneous.
Just as class was about to start, Kaoru Iwabe arrived fashionably late.
"Good afternoon, everyone."
"Good afternoon, Sensei!"
Kaoru nodded before continuing, "It looks like everyone is ready. Let's begin today's lesson."
"We've already learned how to use kunai and shuriken. Today, our focus will be on throwing techniques."
"First, I'll demonstrate the proper way to throw a shuriken."
As he spoke, Kaoru reached into his ninja pouch and pulled out three shuriken. His sharp gaze locked onto a target twenty meters away before he flicked his wrist.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Without fail, all three shuriken struck dead center, embedding a third of their length into the target.
"Whoa, Sensei! That was amazing!"
Gasps of admiration spread through the students. Their eyes sparkled with awe as they looked at Kaoru, admiration clear in their expressions.
At this stage in their training, Veigar and his peers were still laying down the foundations, making it difficult to match Kaoru's precision.
"Throwing shuriken requires coordinated movements from multiple muscle groups—your upper arm, forearm, and wrist must work in perfect harmony. More importantly, you must learn to use your eyes effectively."
Kaoru launched into a detailed explanation, and Veigar listened intently, even pulling out his personal notebook to jot down key points.
"Alright, remember the throwing techniques I just explained," Kaoru concluded.
"Now, begin practicing on your own. In three hours, we'll conduct a performance test."
Hearing the word "test," the students immediately grew more serious. Excitement and determination flared as they retrieved their shuriken and got to work.
Soon, the air was filled with the steady whirr of shuriken slicing through the air. The Academy's spacious training ground was the only reason an entire class could practice simultaneously without it turning into complete chaos.
Veigar never intended to rely on kunai or shuriken as his primary weapons, but mastering the art of throwing had its advantages.
Unlike his classmates, who tried mimicking Kaoru's three-shuriken throw, Veigar focused on one at a time, refining each movement with precision.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
His supply of shuriken and kunai wasn't large. After every round of throws, he would walk over, retrieve his weapons, and mentally analyze his performance, adjusting as needed.
After several cycles, Veigar gradually grasped the essentials of shuriken throwing—his accuracy had significantly improved.
Though he wasn't yet able to hit the bullseye from thirty meters, his progress was undeniable.
Under the blazing sun, sweat dripped freely from his brow as he finished another round of throws. He glanced at the target and nodded in satisfaction—all of his shuriken had landed within the center ring.
Just as he was preparing for another round, Kaoru stepped into the training field.
"Alright, that's enough. Gather up."
Before anyone realized it, three hours had already passed.
Once everyone had assembled, Kaoru spoke.
"Next, we'll begin the shuriken throwing test. Anyone who fails will stay behind to clean the training grounds."
"Now, let's divide into groups."
After three hours of practice, the real challenge had arrived.
The students instinctively lined up, forming groups of five. One by one, they stepped up to take their tests.
Veigar found himself in a rather unfortunate group—alongside Might Guy, a taijutsu fanatic, Obito Uchiha, the class's notorious dead-last, Asuma Sarutobi, the son of the Third Hokage, and Ibiki Morino, a future proctor of the Chūnin Exams.
As the test progressed, each group took their turn. Before long, it was Veigar's team's turn.
Kaoru, pen in hand, recorded each student's score when—
"I'm going first! Me first!"
Obito Uchiha jumped forward enthusiastically, completely ignoring his poor track record.
Kaoru sighed and relented. "Alright, next up—Obito Uchiha."
"Watch closely, everyone! This great me will land every single shot!"
His confidence was sky-high. Unfortunately, reality was cruel.
Obito's ten shuriken spun wildly through the air… only for every single one to miss the target. Not even a near hit.
"Obito Uchiha—zero points. You'll be staying after class to clean."
Kaoru's expression darkened. He had assumed Obito's confidence was backed by at least some skill, but the result left him seething.
The Uchiha Clan was renowned for producing geniuses. So how had they ended up with Obito?
Truly, a disgrace to his prestigious lineage.
"Hahahaha!"
The class erupted into laughter. The contrast between Obito's bold proclamation and his abysmal performance was just too much.
Even Rin Nohara, normally kind and reserved, couldn't stop a tiny smirk from forming.
A properly trained shinobi wouldn't usually laugh at a comrade's failure—unless it was truly impossible to hold it in.
After Obito's disastrous attempt, the rest of Veigar's group took their turns.
Thud! Thud! Thud…
One after another, Might Guy, Asuma Sarutobi, and Ibiki Morino completed their tests. The only one left was Veigar.
Despite his slower approach to throwing, no one dared mock him.
After all, his first nine shuriken had all hit their respective bullseyes.
Now, only one final throw remained.
If Veigar landed this last shot, he would achieve a perfect score.
Holding the shuriken between two fingers, he exhaled.
Under the silent scrutiny of the entire class, he let it fly.
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