Naruto:The avenger of the uzumaki clan

Chapter

17: Crushing defeat

The boys of the Nara clan bear

significant responsibilities from a young age. Within the Ino-Shika-Cho trio (猪鹿蝶), the Nara

clan has always served as the strategic brain among the three.

'There's something special about

him...' Shikamaru sighed quietly, thinking to himself. At almost 12 years old,

they would officially become ninjas next year. With a peer like Menma

graduating with the same class, Shikamaru naturally had to consider many

things.

Above the venue, Menma and Sasuke

stood facing each other, preparing for their duel. Menma observed Sasuke's

seemingly calm but intensely focused demeanor. Reflecting on their previous

duels, Menma realized he might have underestimated Sasuke's determination.

'It seems I need to teach this

second pillar a profound lesson!' Menma narrowed his eyes slightly, making up

his mind.

At Iruka's signal, the two formed

the seal of confrontation (対立の印).

"Boom!" In a swift

movement, Sasuke lunged forward. He knew he was at a slight disadvantage, so he

had to take the initiative. The previous failures were due to his inferior

skills, not tactical errors. If he wanted to win, he had to gain an advantage

in rhythm. No gaps could be exposed, no mistakes made.

"Whoosh!" Chakra burst out

as Sasuke's speed surpassed that of his peers. Menma remained calm, sinking his

waist to release power. His arm swung out from top to bottom like a whip,

aiming directly at Sasuke's head.

"!?" Sasuke's pupils

shrank as he adopted a defensive posture. "Peng!" The dull sound of

impact echoed. Sasuke felt a powerful attack, and his blocking posture almost

broke.

'How has this guy's power become

stronger again!?' Sasuke gritted his teeth. A month ago, Menma's power didn't

seem so exaggerated. Now, it felt overwhelming. The only explanation was that

Menma had held back a month ago.

"Asshole!" Sasuke's expression became grim. This

was the most unacceptable answer for him. The more he thought about it, the

more determined he became to defeat Menma. If he couldn't surpass a peer, how

could he seek revenge on that man? How could he revive the Uchiha clan?

"Drink!" With a deep shout, the veins on Sasuke's

forehead became prominent as he forcibly raised his arms. The numbness in his

face dissipated as he channeled his chakra.

"Huh?" Menma's eyes revealed a strange color as

the space opened up in an instant. He hadn't expected Sasuke to block his

attack. He had used 80% of his strength to deal with Sasuke quickly. This kid

had grown significantly.

But.

'It's still far behind!' A sharp look flashed across

Menma's pupils. Leaning forward, he quickly closed the distance. In a flash,

Menma appeared behind Sasuke on the left side. Sasuke, caught off guard, had no

time to defend. Menma used his palm as a sword and struck Sasuke's left

shoulder hard, transmitting a huge force and causing obvious pain. Sasuke's

expression changed accordingly, and Menma took the opportunity to place his

right hand on Sasuke's throat.

Sasuke's eyes widened in shock. The pain radiated through

his shoulder, and he felt the cold steel of Menma's kunai against his throat.

He had been outmaneuvered and outclassed once again. The realization hit him

hard, but it also fueled his determination. He couldn't afford to lose, not

when he had so much at stake.

Menma's grip tightened slightly, and he whispered,

"Yield, Sasuke. There's no shame in it."

Sasuke gritted his teeth, his pride wounded, but he knew

Menma was right. "I yield," he admitted reluctantly.

"That's it," Iruka's voice sounded from the side.

Sasuke's face became extremely gloomy, but he couldn't refute the fact. Taking

a deep breath, he stood up silently, made the seal of reconciliation (和解の印) with Menma, and retreated into the queue with a blank look.

His hands clenched tightly, revealing the turmoil in his

heart. Failed! Failed again! This was already the thirtieth time he had lost to

Menma. As a proud Uchiha, Sasuke couldn't tolerate his own failure. But he

still failed.

Uzumaki Menma, I will definitely defeat you!' Sasuke

thought with steely determination.

"Wow, Sasuke-kun lost again." "And it's the

most decisive loss, right?" "It's still Menma." "It seems

that the top spot in our class is stable." "Maybe he'll be the first

in the entire school!" "It's very likely." "That depends on

the graduation exam next year."

The students whispered among themselves, shocked by the

duel's result. Menma had crushed Sasuke in a rough and direct way, and the gap

between them was clear. They communicated with each other through subtle

glances, careful not to say these words in front of Sasuke. They weren't as

bold as Naruto. Furthermore, Sasuke couldn't beat Menma, and they didn't want

to risk offending him.

Iruka, observing from above, shook his head helplessly. He

had been reluctant to arrange duels between Menma and Sasuke, knowing the

significant difference in their strength. Despite being a teacher at the ninja

school, Iruka was also a seasoned Chunin. He could easily distinguish the

disparity between Menma and Sasuke.

The boys of the Nara clan, like Shikamaru, had to think

about many things. As the strategic brains of the Ino-Shika-Cho trio,

Shikamaru's responsibilities were significant. With a peer like Menma,

Shikamaru knew he had to be prepared.