Chapter 4: Combat Class
The Woods behind the Shinobi Academy
Shiraishi found himself surrounded by a barrage of shuriken and kunai coming from all directions. Calmly, he faced this terrifying scene, holding a kunai in one hand and twisting his body. With both hands, he quickly hurled the kunai, piercing through the air.
The only sounds audible were the of metal colliding and the clattering of shuriken and kunai falling to the ground. Shiraishi effortlessly deflected and dispersed every projectile that flew his way.
Taking a moment to sigh lightly, Shiraishi surveyed the dense collection of kunai and shuriken scattered around him. It was no easy feat to deflect such a large quantity without sustaining any damage. Even accomplished graduates from the ninja academy like Chunins would find it challenging to accomplish such a feat.
Shiraishi's ability to perform this feat was not solely due to his hard work but also his exceptional motor nerves and dynamic vision, surpassing those of an average individual.
This was Shiraishi's innate talent, honed further through scientific training methods he had practiced in his previous life. Thus, it was not surprising that Shiraishi achieved this level of skill after just two months of systematic study.
As a former senior doctor, he possessed an extraordinary understanding of the human body's structure and recognized the significance of motor nerves and dynamic vision for a shinobi.
His powerful dynamic vision enabled him to better track the enemy's movements and anticipate attacks, while his exceptional motor nerves allowed for swift reactions, granting him an advantage in combat.
Despite already possessing excellent motor nerves and dynamic vision, Shiraishi developed a tailored training regimen to further enhance these skills, striving for excellence.
He understood that his greatest strength lay not solely in his motor nerves and dynamic vision but in the vast knowledge from another world that resided within his mind.
This knowledge formed the foundation of his abilities, as its power was limitless. Knowledge could dispel ignorance, strengthen one's resolve, and prevent ignorance from dominating.
Moreover, knowledge could heal physical weaknesses, enabling one to utilize their body more efficiently and effectively, thereby becoming stronger.
Collecting all the damaged kunai and shuriken from the ground, Shiraishi meticulously ensured that not even a trace of their value went to waste. Despite being low on funds, he recognized the importance of maintaining a nutritious diet during this period of physical growth.
After tidying away the shinobi tools, Shiraishi remained in the woods, wrapping white bandages around his fists and legs. He proceeded to practice taijutsu, honing his skills against sturdy wooden stakes.
Night had fallen, and the forest behind the shinobi academy grew quiet. Only the faint sound of Shiraishi's breathing and the rhythmic thuds of his body colliding with the wooden stakes filled the air as time slowly passed...
The next morning arrived.
"Good morning, Ayane."
After two months of companionship, Shiraishi and his desk mate, Ayane Hyuga, had become quite familiar, addressing each other casually.
"Good morning, Shiraishi-kun."
While Shiraishi maintained a relaxed demeanor, Ayane, hailing from the prestigious Hyuga clan, adhered to the formalities expected of her prominent lineage.
During their time together, Shiraishi had learned that Ayane came from the powerful Hyuga family in Konoha, and the distinguishing feature of the Hyuga clan was their "Byakugan".
Members of the clan had a bloodline-limit eye technique known as "Byakugan" and were highly regarded in the shinobi world for their prowess in the gentle fist combat.
"Good morning to you too, classmate Ruri."
As Shiraishi walked to his seat and sat down, he greeted the girl on the other side of his desk with a smile.
Uchiha Ruri simply cast a cold gaze in Shiraishi's direction without responding. She appeared lost in her own world, as usual, her eyes fixed on the playground visible through the window.
"By the way, Shiraishi-kun, have you heard?"
"What is it?"
Ayane's voice piqued Shiraishi's curiosity, causing him to turn his head towards her with an inquisitive look.
"I heard there's going to be a practical combat class today."
"A practical combat class?"
"Yes, it's a different kind of training session where two students pair up and engage in combat instead of just throwing shuriken. It's more like a practice battle."
Ayane's voice was soft, barely above a whisper.
"I see. It might be a bit challenging for me, but you should have no trouble, Ayane."
Among the three students in Shiraishi's row, he was the most average and unremarkable academically. He only excelled in theoretical tests, whereas his performance in shuriken throwing and physical assessments placed him in the middle of the pack.
He intentionally aimed for this average standing—not too poor, yet not outstanding. This was Shiraishi's deliberate choice.
On the other hand, Uchiha Ruri, known for her aloof personality, seldom uttered more than three sentences a day, yet she consistently ranked first in the class, excelling in both theory and practice.
Ayane, although slightly behind Ruri, also secured a place among the top five in the class.
Shiraishi had come to understand these dynamics. He couldn't help but sigh, acknowledging that those from affluent families possessed a head start that commoners like himself couldn't match.
"Let's work together, Shiraishi-kun."
Ayane offered her encouragement.
"Sure, if I'm paired with you, Ayane, I'll make sure to go easy."
Shiraishi had no desire to reveal his true abilities, so he deliberately achieved moderate scores in previous assessments.
Maintaining a position in the middle suited Shiraishi perfectly.
Thus, if Ayane were his opponent, Shiraishi had already made up his mind. He would put up a strong fight before ultimately losing, having given it his all.
After all, he was an ordinary person and couldn't achieve remarkable feats.
Of course, if he were to utilize all his current strength against Ayane, the likelihood of losing would increase.
After all, she belonged to the esteemed Hyuga clan, and additional guidance from elders was available to her due to her family's standing.
Indeed, a significant gap existed between civilians and members of prestigious shinobi clans.
Shiraishi merely aimed to maintain the level expected of a civilian. However, endings often hold unexpected surprises.
During their first practical combat class...
As Ayane had mentioned, the class's head teacher, Fujimura Taiga, organized the first practical combat test for Class A's first-year students, pairing them off to engage in combat.
To Shiraishi's surprise, his partner was not Ayane but his other desk mate, Ruri—an Uchiha clan prodigy, hailing from a powerful Konoha family, renowned for their kekkei genkai, the "Sharingan."
In this practical combat class, students used wooden shuriken, the sharp edges dulled to ensure safety.
"These competitions feel so dull when we have to use these toys," remarked the Uchiha girl, standing side by side with Shiraishi, her eyes filled with evident disdain as she glanced at the two boys battling in the field.
"Well, Ruri-san, perhaps it's best not to voice such opinions. We are all still first-year students after all," Shiraishi whispered, cautioning Ruri against stirring up animosity.
For most students, using regular shuriken and kunai in such a setting could easily lead to injuries.
"Instead of worrying about others, you should focus on yourself. I won't show you any mercy in our fight," Ruri declared.
Shiraishi smi
led awkwardly and stopped talking.
Time swiftly passed, and soon it was Shiraishi's turn to compete with his partner.