As soon as the after-school bell rang, the classroom of children attending school for the very first time instantly erupted in chaos.
The little brats rushed out as if fleeing a disaster, their schoolbags flying everywhere.
Makoto leisurely packed up his things, his mind still spinning with thoughts of the Third Shinobi World War and the Uchiha Clan Massacre.
He picked up his schoolbag and walked outside, and as soon as he stepped out of the classroom door, he saw Obito jumping up and down at the other end of the corridor.
“Makoto! Over here, over here!”
Makoto walked over and asked, “Didn’t we say we’d meet at the training ground tonight?”
“Yeah!” Obito scratched his head, “But I was afraid you’d forget, so…”
“So you’re coming back with me?”
“Uh…”
Too lazy to deal with him, Makoto turned around and walked toward the Uchiha clan land.
Obito quickly followed behind like a tail.
“Makoto, what you said in class today… beating three people with one hand, is that true?”
“What do you think?”
“I think…” Obito hesitated for a moment, “It should be… possible… probably… true?”
Makoto glanced sideways at him.
“Hey, hey, hey, what kind of look is that!”
Obito panicked, “It’s not that I don’t believe you! I just… I just feel that Aoki’s dad is a Jonin and taught him a lot of Ninjutsu…”
“So you think I can’t beat him?”
“No, no! I just…”
Before Obito could finish speaking, Makoto suddenly stopped in his tracks.
At the intersection ahead, three figures were blocking the way.
Aoki, along with his two lackeys.
“Yo, isn’t this our great genius?”
Aoki crossed his arms, smiling sarcastically.
“Ran pretty fast after school, didn’t you?”
Makoto sighed inwardly; he had genuinely forgotten about this matter.
His mind was full of the Third Shinobi World War, the clan massacre, the system, and growing stronger; who would remember a fight appointment with a brat?
“Aoki, what do you want?” Obito stepped forward to block in front of Makoto.
“None of your damn business?” Aoki rolled his eyes, “Get lost, loser.”
“You!”
“Obito.” Makoto reached out and pulled him behind himself, “Stand in the back.”
“But…”
“Stand in the back.”
Obito opened his mouth, but ultimately obediently retreated behind Makoto, though his fists were clenched tightly.
Makoto looked at the three of Aoki, calculating rapidly in his mind.
One against three?
Can’t beat them.
The enhancement given by the system was only a quarter manifestation of the lie of fighting three with one hand.
If he actually fought three, it would probably be tough.
But…
Makoto glanced sideways at Obito behind him.
The leek is right here!
If he chickened out today, the “genius” persona he had established earlier would collapse.
Obito’s 50% trust rating would probably drop straight to 0.
“What, scared?” Seeing that Makoto wasn’t speaking, Aoki became even more smug.
“Weren’t you quite the boaster back at school? Fighting three with one hand? Come on, now’s your chance.”
Makoto didn’t take the bait, his gaze sweeping over the faces of the three.
Aoki had an arrogant expression, one of the lackeys was sneering, and the other was warming up his wrists.
“Training ground.” Makoto suddenly spoke up.
“What?”
“Aren’t we going to fight?” Makoto pointed toward the Uchiha clan land, “Let’s go to the training ground. If we fight here and get seen by the patrolling Military Police Force, both of us will get punished.”
Aoki was stunned for a moment, then sneered, “Fine, you even know how to pick a spot. Let’s go!”
He turned around to lead the way, with the two lackeys following closely on his left and right.
Makoto stepped forward to follow.
“Makoto…” Obito grabbed his sleeve and lowered his voice, “Are you really going to fight? The three of them…”
“I know.” Makoto interrupted him, “Stand further back later, don’t interfere.”
“But!”
“Don’t interfere.” Makoto repeated, his tone serious, “This is a matter between him and me.”
Obito stared at Makoto for a few seconds before finally letting go of his hand, though his eyes were filled with worry.
Truth be told, Makoto was also feeling a bit nervous inside.
But there was no helping it; the act had already reached this point, he couldn’t just yell “cut” on the spot, could he?
The group walked all the way to the public training ground of the Uchiha clan land.
Right now was mealtime, so there was no one at the training ground.
The setting sun dyed the sandy ground an orange-red, and a few wooden stakes stood there lonely and isolated.
Aoki walked to the center of the field and turned to look at Makoto.
“Right here.” He stretched his neck a bit, “Don’t say I’m bullying you, one-on-one.”
Makoto raised an eyebrow, “Are you sure?”
“Duh.” Aoki snorted, “Do I need three people to gang up just to beat you? I can’t afford to lose face like that.”
Makoto breathed a sigh of relief inwardly; thankfully, this kid still cared about his dignity.
“Then let’s do it.” Makoto threw his schoolbag to Obito, “Hold this for me.”
Obito caught the schoolbag, retreated to the edge of the field, and stared fixedly into the arena.
The two lackeys also retreated to the other side, crossing their arms to watch the show.
Aoki assumed a starting stance; his posture was quite standard, showing at a glance that he had trained properly.
Makoto also assumed a stance.
Although the taijutsu enhancement given by the system hadn’t reached the level of “fighting three with one hand,” it should be more than enough to beat a single Aoki.
“Ready?” Aoki asked.
“Yeah.”
“Then—”
Before Aoki could finish speaking, his entire body suddenly rushed forward!
Quite fast.
But Makoto was even faster.
Just as Aoki ran halfway, Makoto had already sidestepped out of the way and simultaneously kicked him in the calf.
“Bang!”
Aoki staggered, almost falling over.
He steadied his footing, turned his head, and glared at Makoto, “You!”
Makoto didn’t give him a chance to speak, directly closing in on him.
Close combat, throwing punches, elbow strikes, knee strikes.
The movements were clean and neat, without a trace of unnecessary flashy techniques.
Aoki tried to block, but Makoto’s fists always managed to slip in from tricky angles.
He wanted to counterattack, but every time he just raised his hand, Makoto’s next move had already arrived.
Completely suppressed.
“This… How is this possible…”