Out in the open, a circle had been formed by the students. At the center stood Onizuka-sensei.
On this day, practically everyone was wearing different clothes than usual.
Some had even brought bags with ninja tools.
Among them, there were those who wanted to prove themselves more than the others, looking like excited children about to go on a school trip, waiting for the bus to arrive.
"First, I want to evaluate each of your performances, so we'll begin with a simple training match." Onizuka-sensei said: "Those whose names I call, step forward!"
"""Yes!"""
Satisfied with their response, Onizuka-sensei began calling the names of the first two students.
"Shin Tanaka and Hayato Watanabe, step forward!"
As soon as Onizuka-sensei's voice fell, two ordinary-looking little boys stepped out, walking toward the sensei.
"The rules are simple." Onizuka-sensei said: "It's forbidden to use jutsus other than the three basic jutsus, and it's also forbidden to use ninja tools. The main focus is to evaluate your fighting coordination, as well as endurance. And when I say stop, the fight ends. Now, stand facing each other at least 100 steps apart.
As soon as Shin Tanaka and Hayato Watanabe did as instructed, Onizuka-sensei shouted: "Begin!"
Maki, beside Luka, held his hand tightly. However, her grip loosened until she let go of his hand and brought both hands to her mouth, shocked by what she saw.
It was a very cute expression in the "Shocked Princess" style from Sleepy Princess.
Luka enjoyed her expression, but thought internally: 'It's still too early to be shocked...'
"You may stop." Onizuka-sensei announced: "The winner is Hayato Watanabe!"
The students began applauding, some even offering praise.
It was the second time Maki displayed the "Shocked Princess" expression.
The third came right after when Kiba and Sasuke were called.
"H-How?"
She couldn't even put into words the shock she was feeling.
The students' level was so low that she felt like she was dreaming, to the point of pinching herself to confirm.
Finally, she looked at Luka, seeing him look back at her with an amused, somewhat teasing smile, and she understood.
Extending her hand toward his waist, she twisted while pinching: "Oniichan, you tricked me, right!?"
"Ow, that hurts, hahahaha!"
Luka laughed loudly in response.
Their actions did not go unnoticed.
"I don't believe you!" Maki crossed her arms, puffing out her cheeks and turning away: "I'm not talking to you, baka Oniichan!"
"Haha, Maki, sorry." He said: "I didn't want to trick you, but you were always so cute when you worked hard, that I simply..."
"I don't know anything!" She continued sulking, even if slightly blushing from him calling her cute.
"I already said sorry." He tried to calm her anger.
"Hey, you two siblings!" Onizuka-sensei reprimanded them: "I don't know what happened, but if you don't keep quiet, you'll be punished."
"Yes...!" Maki replied with an elongated yes.
Luka simply smiled, remaining silent.
Maki still continued ignoring him, but he knew it was only a matter of time before her anger dissipated.
Because of the 'small chaos' caused by them, many students kept studying their faces, curious about the reason they had gotten worked up. But when Onizuka-sensei called the next ones, the focus returned to the center of the circle.
This time it was two girls: Sakura and a girl named Yui.
Mmm... How to put this?
It was a total disaster.
It looked more like a fight between two ordinary children, grabbing each other by the hair, than a friendly spar between two ninjas.
Well, not everyone came from a ninja family and had training from a very young age.
Sakura was only slightly better than Yui, coming out victorious.
"Did you see that, Sasuke-kun? I won!!" She smiled brightly, making a peace sign toward him.
"Hmph!" Sasuke simply snorted and turned his face away.
"Kyahh! So cool!" Sakura didn't get upset, but instead screamed like a little fan.
"What's so cool about that?" Maki cast a deadpan look.
"Right?" Ino beside her, laughed a little.
Little did she know that, in another universe, she was exactly like Sakura.
However, Ino's level of obsession with Sasuke was much lower compared to Sakura.
It was as if, from 1 to 100, Ino had at most 50, while Sakura was at least 99.
Sakura wasn't the only one to do that kind of action. Other girls who fought either showed off for Sasuke or for Luka.
However, unlike Sasuke, Luka wasn't completely indifferent. Sometimes he smiled, or simply waved back.
"Luka-kun, how was I?"
After finishing her fight, winning by a large margin against her opponent, Ino approached him with a shy smile.
"You did well." He replied, then smiled.
"..." Maki beside him looked at him in disbelief.
Even if Ino's level was in fact an acceptable level, for Maki, who trained almost every day with Luka, this level of fighting was simply very disappointing.
However... She didn't dislike Ino, so she remained silent with a lot of tact for her age.
"Next, Naruzo Otani and..."
Before Onizuka-sensei finished, Naruzo raised his hand, shouting: "Sensei! I want to challenge Luka!!"
Onizuka-sensei fell silent, seeming to consider it.
"Okay, then... Next is Luka Namikaze against Naruzo Otani!"
"That idiot..." Kiba grumbled with envy.
Obviously, he also wanted a chance to challenge Luka, but regretted not being as bold as him.
Onizuka-sensei's acceptance left some quite surprised, but very interested as well.
"Go, Luka-kun, you can do it!!"
"Luka-kun is the best!"
"Don't lose to a Naruzo!"
"Everyone, everyone, everyone only cheers for Luka, Luka..." Naruzo stepped forward, kicking the ground, upset: "Even Sakura-chan seems more interested in him than in me... But, I'll prove that I'm the best, I'm sure of it!"
"What is that idiot talking about?" A girl grumbled.
"Who knows..."
"Whatever, what matters is seeing the handsome Luka-kun in action!"
Instead of starting, Naruzo turned in Sakura's direction, saying: "Sakura-chan, watch how I defeat this guy!"
"Hmph! Hope you lose!" She turned her face away.
"Sakura-chan..." Naruzo looked like a sad puppy with drooping ears.
"Still want to fight?" Luka teased: "Otherwise, you can give up. I promise I won't laugh."
Those words seemed to hit Naruzo's ego directly. His fighting spirit was revived. Shouting full of passion, he said: "Get ready, here I come!!"
Naruzo's speed was fast compared to the other orphans, but to Luka, it was still very slow.
When Naruzo got in front of him, he tried to kick his waist horizontally.
With his left hand, Luka grabbed his leg. Naruzo then tried to kick his head with his free foot, but that foot was also caught.
Holding both of his feet, Luka spun and threw him into the air.
Like a bird with an injured wing, Naruzo started spinning in the air, but managed to regain his balance. Landing on the ground, he almost fell, breathing heavily.
Luka remained in the same place with a calm smile.
That irritated Naruzo a lot: "Bastard...!"
Clenching his teeth, Naruzo charged toward him again, but this time, attacked with punches.
Luka didn't even need to dodge. He defended with an open hand, as if he were Naruzo's cutman.
"Finish him, Oniichan!"
When he heard that, Luka's smile disappeared.
Naruzo had a bad feeling about that.
Faster than a whip, yet with controlled force, Luka struck Naruzo's stomach.
"Pfff-ahhhhh!"
Bending forward with his hands on his stomach, Naruto fell to his knees.
'Did I go too far?'
Seeing Naruzo's reaction, Luka scratched his head, a little regretful.
"Luka Namikaze wins!" Onizuka-sensei announced.
"Luka-kun won!!"
No one worried about Naruzo, instead, they were more excited about Luka's victory.
Feeling guilty, Luka extended his hand to him: "Sorry, I went too far. Need help?"
Naruzo looked at his hand for a brief moment, but didn't accept the friendly hand, getting up on his own.
He became calmer after that, returning to where he had been before.
"What's his deal?"
"So rude...!"
"Right?"
Luka shook his head upon seeing that.
He could sympathize with Naruzo's situation, but being too prideful wasn't a good choice. It was necessary to know when to advance and when to retreat.
Rejecting his kindness wouldn't make him seem strong, but instead, had the opposite effect.