Chapter 5: 5: Battling in the Woods with a Talented Girl...
Shiraishi and Ruri followed the rules and made their way to the designated arena. They prepared wooden shuriken and kunai from their shinobi pouch in advance. These practice weapons had low lethality, with their sharp parts removed.
Facing each other, Shiraishi and Ruri took a solemn stance, their hands forming opposing seals.
"Begin."
As the head teacher, Fujimura Taiga, saw the two students ready, he shouted loudly from his seat.
Before Shiraishi could even react, Ruri, standing in front of him, swiftly retrieved several wooden shuriken from her pouch. With a precise motion, she sent them flying towards Shiraishi's vital points, slicing through the air.
Shiraishi's face displayed a hint of surprise as he rolled sideways, managing to narrowly avoid Ruri's initial attack. Although he appeared slightly off-balance, he successfully evaded her first assault.
Before he could regain his composure, Ruri had already vanished from his line of sight. Suddenly, a gust of wind blew from behind. Shiraishi turned around only to encounter a leg swinging towards him, the leg connecting with his chest, sending him hurtling backward.
Defeated in an instant.
"Well, I thought I could hold out a little longer, but Ruri-san is truly formidable..." Shiraishi clutched his chest, struggling to stand up from the ground. He exerted all his strength, wearing a bitter and unwilling expression.
Ruri paid no attention to Shiraishi's defeated look. With a raised chin, she arrogantly flicked her long black hair and stepped out of the arena.
"She's a genius. But don't be disheartened, Shiraishi-san. You are the most diligent student I've ever seen, and you will undoubtedly become a great shinobi in the future," Fujimura Taiga consoled Shiraishi, patting him on the shoulder.
"I'm fine, Fujimura-sensei."
"That's good. Go rest and don't dwell on it too much."
Fujimura Taiga concealed his concern upon seeing the loneliness etched on Shiraishi's face.
In his eyes, Shiraishi had poured relentless effort into self-improvement, enduring countless hardships. Thus, witnessing his quick defeat in an actual battle must have dealt a significant blow.
However, Fujimura Taiga understood that competing against an exceptional talent like Ruri, it was already impressive that Shiraishi managed to hold on for a single exchange.
To him, Ruri's strength was almost on par with that of a genin.
Swiftly, he raised his own kunai, blocking Ruri's attack, causing a spark to ignite upon contact.
Two pairs of silent, pitch-black eyes pierced through the nighttime air, locked in a serious gaze.
"Ruri-san, were you planning to kill me just now?"
"Hmph!"
Unyielding as ever, Ruri's long black hair danced in the moonlight, providing her with cover as she launched another kunai towards Shiraishi's heart from a dangerous angle.
Shiraishi barely managed to block it before swiftly creating distance between them. His expression grew increasingly solemn.
In that moment, Shiraishi realized that his speed and strength were on par with Ruri's. However, Ruri possessed far more combat experience, and it was this difference that led Shiraishi to understand his slim chances of victory.
Thankfully, after a brief test, Ruri chose not to continue her assault. She shot Shiraishi a peculiar look, the arrogance fading from her face as she asked, "It's strange. You're clearly strong, so why do you deliberately conceal your true abilities?"
Answering this question was not easy, and Shiraishi couldn't find a suitable lie to convince Ruri. Thus, silence filled the air.
Just as Shiraishi wracked his brain for a response, Ruri spoke again, "Forget it. Now that I know you're hiding your strength, I've achieved my goal. I'm leaving."
With those words, Ruri departed without looking back, resolute in her decision.
"...What an unusual girl," Shiraishi murmured. Did she intend to expose his hidden strength?
If that were the case, it could lead to significant trouble.
Considering Ruri's nature, she was unlikely to meddle in his affairs.
With that thought, Shiraishi felt a wave of relief wash over him.
However, this encounter served as a reminder that even a child possessed the ability to see through him. Even someone like Chunin level head teacher Fujimura Taiga failed to realize it. Shiraishi understood one thing—never underestimate a ninja, regardless of their age.
He resolved to exercise greater caution in the future.
