章節 8: The compititive edge

Sasuke woke up early the next morning, his mind still lingering on his blocked chakra. He was no closer to figuring out why most of his abilities had been sealed, but he knew he had to focus on navigating the unfamiliar environment of this new world. After getting dressed, he left his dorm and headed to school.

As he walked, he overheard Ike and Yamauchi talking in their usual loud manner.

"I can't wait to see Kushida in her swimsuit today," Ike practically drooled at the thought. "She's gonna look amazing."

Yamauchi grinned, equally excited. "Yeah, but I was really hoping all the girls would participate. Hasebe is the one I really want to see."

They continued to snicker about their immature plan to measure the sizes of the girls' chests. Their crude banter was loud enough to attract disgusted looks from several girls passing by, though the two were too wrapped up in their fantasies to care.

Horikita, who was walking slightly ahead of Sasuke, shot them a cold, disdainful glance but said nothing. Sasuke, uninterested in their conversation, simply followed them to the swimming pool.

In the locker room, Sasuke silently changed into his swimsuit. While he was getting ready, several of the other boys couldn't help but notice his well-toned body. Hirata, always the friendly one, spoke up with a smile.

"Sasuke-kun, you're in really good shape! Do you train a lot?"

Sasuke, never one for small talk, nodded curtly. "Something like that," he replied in his usual detached tone.

Sudo, who had been flexing in front of the mirror, glanced at Sasuke with a raised eyebrow. "Man, you're built like an athlete. You into any sports?"

Sasuke didn't respond, simply continuing to change. His silence didn't go unnoticed, and the other boys quickly got the hint that he wasn't one for conversation.

Ayanokoji, who had been quietly observing from the side, took note of Sasuke's impressive physique. This guy... Ayanokoji thought, his expression as neutral as ever, though inwardly, he was growing more curious. He's definitely not an ordinary student.

As they made their way to the pool, the boys noticed that only a few girls were participating. Horikita and Kushida were among them, along with another girl named Ondora, but most of the girls had chosen to sit out.

Ike groaned in disappointment. "Where's Hasebe? What's the point if she's not swimming?"

"Yeah, this sucks," Yamauchi agreed, crossing his arms in frustration.

Kushida waved cheerfully at everyone, while Horikita stood off to the side, warming up with her usual stoic expression. Ondora, meanwhile, looked focused, ready to take on the competition.

Horikita glanced at Sasuke and Ayanokoji, her eyes scanning them briefly. "You two seem like you're in good shape," she commented. "Do you work out?"

Ayanokoji responded first, his tone casual. "Not really. It's just genetics, I guess."

Sasuke remained silent, as usual. Horikita didn't press him for an answer, and instead, they all turned their attention to the pool as the swimming instructor blew the whistle to start the girls' race.

The instructor stood by the edge of the pool, addressing the class. "Swimming is a valuable skill, not just for fitness but for survival. You never know when it might come in handy."

Sasuke's eyes narrowed slightly. There was something in the way the instructor said that which piqued his curiosity. It's not just about learning... he thought. There's more to this school's methods.

The girls lined up for their race, and the competition was intense. Ondora took the lead early on, her strokes swift and precise. Horikita wasn't far behind, pushing herself with her usual determination, while Kushida followed closely, her cheerful demeanor unchanged even in competition.

Ondora finished first, her victory clear as she touched the wall ahead of the others. Horikita came in second, just a few seconds behind her, and Kushida took third place, smiling as she caught her breath.

Ike and Yamauchi were still disappointed, clearly more interested in watching the girls than the actual race. However, the rest of the class seemed impressed by the results.

"Alright, boys, it's your turn now," the instructor announced, blowing the whistle again. "And remember, the winner gets 5,000 private points."

The prospect of winning points stirred excitement among the students, and many of the boys lined up with determination. Sasuke, as always, remained calm and detached, though inwardly, he was already calculating his strategy.

I don't need to reveal everything yet, he thought as he adjusted his goggles. But I can't be completely unnoticed either.

As they prepared to start, Sasuke couldn't help but notice one of his classmates, Koenji, stretching flamboyantly near the edge of the pool. Koenji's movements were exaggerated, as if he were putting on a show, and for a brief moment, Sasuke's eyes flickered with mild interest. Koenji was clearly talented, but also arrogant. Sasuke made a mental note to keep an eye on him.

The whistle blew, and the race began.

Koenji surged ahead immediately, his strokes powerful and smooth, but Sasuke quickly caught up. Even though he was holding back significantly, his natural speed and agility propelled him through the water at a remarkable pace. The rest of the boys, including Hirata and Sudo, struggled to keep up, while Ayanokoji observed from the sidelines, his expression unreadable.

As the race progressed, it became clear that it was a competition between Koenji and Sasuke. The two of them pulled ahead of the pack, their speed leaving the others far behind. For a moment, it seemed as though they might even break the current world record.

Koenji glanced over at Sasuke, a smirk playing on his lips as he realized they were neck and neck. But Sasuke, unfazed, remained focused, his strokes perfectly controlled.

In the final stretch, Sasuke surged forward, touching the wall just milliseconds before Koenji. The room erupted in surprise as the results were announced.

"Sasuke Uchiha takes first place, followed by Rokusuke Koenji in second!"

The girls in the class were thrilled by Sasuke's victory, many of them whispering excitedly about his handsome face and well-built body. Meanwhile, the boys were left in awe, with several of them clearly jealous of Sasuke's athleticism.

"How the hell did he do that?" Sudo muttered, looking annoyed. "I thought Koenji was unbeatable."

Ike and Yamauchi, though still disappointed about the lack of swimsuit variety, couldn't help but be impressed. "Damn, Sasuke's insane," Ike said, shaking his head. "Did you see how fast he was?"

Even Ayanokoji, who rarely showed any emotion, was mildly surprised by Sasuke's performance. Though he didn't express it outwardly, he couldn't help but wonder if Sasuke might be connected to the White Room. Could he be a White Room student? Ayanokoji mused, though he quickly dismissed the thought. No... there's something different about him.

As the students left the pool, the excitement from the race still lingered in the air. Several girls congratulated Sasuke, though he remained aloof, barely acknowledging their praise. Horikita, meanwhile, gave him a brief glance.

"You're faster than I expected," she commented. "Do you always hold back like that?"

Sasuke didn't answer, simply walking ahead without looking back. Horikita, true to her nature, didn't press further, but Ayanokoji silently observed the interaction, his mind racing with theories.

After the swimming class, the students changed back into their uniforms, preparing for the next period. Ike and Yamauchi continued to babble on about the girls, while Hirata tried to keep the conversation more appropriate.

"Let's focus on getting better at swimming," Hirata suggested with his usual optimism. "We can improve a lot if we keep practicing."

Sudo, still frustrated with his performance, glanced at Sasuke. "Next time, I'm gonna beat you," he declared, though Sasuke didn't seem to care.

As the day went on, Sasuke continued to observe his surroundings, his mind constantly analyzing the strange dynamics of this school. Though he was still getting used to the technology and the culture, one thing was clear—this world was full of challenges, and he had to be ready for whatever came next.