บท 2: Chapter 2 -The Kunai and Shuriken Competition
A week and a half later, the day of the kunai and shuriken competition finally arrived. The sandstorm had passed, and the village was back to normal. Ayumu and his grandfather, Hajime, made their way to the training grounds on the outskirts of the square to watch Shin compete. The training field didn't have much scenery—mainly large boulders, cacti, and similar features—but it was crowded with families, friends, and fellow shinobi, all gathered to cheer on the young participants in this competition for kids 7 and under.
Standing at the edge of the field, Ayumu watched as Shin prepared for his turn. His brother's face was a mix of determination and excitement, his eyes focused on the targets ahead. Ayumu could feel the anticipation in the air, and even though he wasn't the one competing, he was eager to see what would happen.
There was an initial round to pick the qualified kids, where those with the best scores became part of the 64 kids that moved further in the competition, which Shin easily did. Now the rules changed a bit.
The competition had the kids stepping up to a field where a boulder sat with a board about 2 feet in diameter, marked with 2 rings and a red circle in the middle. The basic rules were: 1 point for the outer ring, 2 points for the inner ring, and 5 points for the red circle. Each contestant would go against an opponent in an elimination match with 5 kunai and shuriken to throw each.
Facing his first opponent, Shin stepped up to the throwing line, kunai in hand. He took a deep breath, steadying himself before he let the first kunai fly. It hit the target with precision, earning a cheer from the crowd.
Hajime, standing next to Ayumu, nodded approvingly. "Shin has been practicing hard for this," he said, his voice filled with pride. "He's got a real talent for it, just like his father."
Ayumu glanced at his grandfather, noting the glimmer of pride in the old man's eyes. Despite the loss of his leg and the hardships he had faced, Hajime's spirit remained unbroken. It was clear that he lived for moments like these, watching his grandsons grow and succeed.
Turning to his grandfather, he said, "I didn't know you were that eager about this whole shurikenjutsu competition." Hajime responded, "Of course, it's the basics that really matter. Most ninja don't have the ability to use too many techniques" then turning back to watch the competition.
Unknown to Hajime, Ayumu pondered deeply on the statement about the basics being important. This thought lingered in Ayumu's mind, making him realize the significance of what was said.
As Shin continued to throw, hitting target after target with remarkable accuracy, surpassing many of his peers, Ayumu's mind wandered. He thought about his own journey and the path he would have to take to become a shinobi. The road ahead seemed worrying, but seeing Shin gave him some ideas about his own future.
The competition progressed, and Shin's performance remained stellar. However, he faced a challenge when competing against older kids, almost losing in the fourth round to an older boy. He eventually won by just one point, with a score of 43 to 42, advancing to the fifth round.
There, he faced Shino, an upperclassman by one year.
Both boys stepped up to the field, where a ninja conducting the competition as part of a D-rank task asked who would go first. Shino confidently volunteered. As Shin walked to the side and Shino approached the platform, Ayumu watched with a worried heart. In previous matches, Shino had shown exceptional skills, surpassing all other contestants.
As everyone watched, Shino raised his right hand with all five kunai and, in one smooth motion, threw them all. The crowd's eyes followed the kunai to the board, then cheered as four of the five hit the red circle, with one just missing it, scoring 22 points.
The pressure was now on Shin as he stepped up to the platform. He took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the moment. Ayumu clenched his fists, silently cheering for his brother, hoping Shin's determination and hours of practice would pay off.
Shin took his position, his eyes locked onto the target. The crowd fell silent, waiting for him to make his move. He drew his first kunai, its metal glinting in the sunlight. With a swift motion, he let it fly. It soared through the air, striking the red circle of the target—5 points.
Ayumu and Hajime exhaled, realizing they had been holding their breath. Shin didn't pause; he quickly grabbed the second kunai, his movements fluid and practiced. This time, the kunai hit the inner ring—2 points. The crowd gave a small cheer, but the pressure was mounting.
Shin's third throw was crucial. He knew he needed to score high to stay in the competition. He focused intently, blocking out everything but the target. The kunai flew true, hitting the red circle dead center—5 points. The crowd erupted in cheers, and Ayumu couldn't help but shout out in excitement.
With three throws completed, Shin had a total of 12 points. He glanced at his remaining two kunai, his face a mask of concentration. His fourth kunai was like the third, adding another 5 points to his score, bringing it to 17. He repeated the same with the fifth throw, tying the score at 22-22 with Shino. Shin walked off to the side of the field as the crowd eagerly awaited Shino's next move.
Taking a deep breath and feeling the eyes of the crowd, Shino walked up to the line. Instead of the kunai, he picked up the shuriken. Initially, he tried to hold them all in one hand but then decided to place just one shuriken in his right palm. This caused great worry on Shin's face as he watched.
Raising his right hand, Shino threw the shuriken. With a Thud, it landed dead center, and the crowd cheered. Shino repeated this feat with the second, third, fourth, and fifth shuriken, bringing the crowd to rejoice as the score was now 47-22 in Shino's favor!
Shino walked off with a proud look, facing the crowd, while Shin nervously walked to the line under the watchful eyes of all spectators. Looking into the crowd, he saw his younger brother watching worriedly, while his grandfather Hajime still had a smile on his face, giving Shin a sense of confidence.
Shin took a deep breath and stepped up to the line, picking up the shuriken one by one. The crowd fell silent, watching intently. He raised his right hand and threw the first shuriken. It flew straight and true, hitting the red circle dead center—5 points. The crowd erupted in cheers, and Shin felt a surge of confidence.
He quickly grabbed the second shuriken, focusing intently on the target. With a swift motion, he let it fly, and it landed in the red circle again—another 5 points. The crowd's cheers grew louder, and Shin felt the pressure mounting.
His third shuriken followed suit, hitting the red circle for another 5 points. By now, the crowd was buzzing with excitement, and Shin's total score had reached 37. He grabbed the fourth shuriken, his movements fluid and precise. It hit the red circle once more—5 points. Now, his score was 42, just five points shy of Shino's 47.
As Shin reached for the fifth and final shuriken, he glanced at the crowd. This momentary distraction caused his focus to waver. He took a deep breath, trying to regain his concentration, but the pressure was immense.
He threw the fifth shuriken, closing his eyes after the release. Hearing the roar of the crowd, he felt his nerves loosen, bringing a smile to his face. Looking up, he saw the conductor of the competition walking to the board and observing with great focus. The conductor then announced that it was 2 points instead of the expected 5, confusing everyone.
Shin walked up to the board and noticed the shuriken had landed right on the edge, likely due to a slight clash with a prior shuriken already on the board. A disappointed expression came to his face as the other contestant, Shino, walked up with a comforting smile. Shino raised his hand with his middle and index fingers pointed upward, while his thumb touched the other two fingers bent down in his palm, making the seal of confrontation—a sign usually used before and after a duel, used oddly in this instance.
Seeing this, Shin repeated the gesture. They faced each other, bringing a loud uproar of claps from the surrounding shinobi at the great competition and sportsmanship shown by the two fledgling academy students.
Pardoning himself, Shin walked into the crowd toward Ayumu and Hajime as they waved at him. Hajime mainly talked about the competition with a proud smile, while Shin boasted to his little brother.
"You saw how great I was?" he asked, seeking praise from Ayumu, even though he lost the match in the end. Ayumu, reluctant to praise, responded noncommittally. While they chatted, the final match started, in which Shino won with a perfect score of 50 points compared to his opponent's 40. The crowd cheered as the Kagero family started making their way to the exit. As they walked home, Ayumu reluctantly tapped Shin and pridefully said, "I have to start training soon and need your help with my shuriken," causing Shin to stop with a surprised look.
Shin was surprised by Ayumu's request, his eyes widening in disbelief. "You want to start training with shuriken already?" he asked, a hint of excitement in his voice.
Hajime chuckled, teasing Ayumu, "You're barely old enough to hold a kunai properly, let alone a shuriken."
Despite his grandfather's teasing, Shin puffed out his chest with a boastful grin. "Don't worry, Grandpa. I'll help him out. After all, he needs to learn from the best!" he said confidently, patting Ayumu on the back.
As the Kagero family walked home together, Shin looked proud with a renewed sense of purpose. Ayumu glanced up at his brother, eager for practice. He pondered this when his grandfather talked about shinobi not using too many jutsu, or techniques.
Ayumu realized that mastering the basics, like shurikenjutsu, was crucial for his future as a shinobi. With his brother by his side, he felt ready to take on the challenges ahead.
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tylermoney
tylermoney This chapter mainly introduces the characters. With this fanfic, I aim to provide character development and proper progression of both character and personality.
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