The sudden disappearance of the overwhelming auras left a vacuum, a stark contrast to the palpable tension that had gripped the gym just moments before. The students, still reeling from the display of raw power, exchanged bewildered glances, trying to process what they had just witnessed. The shift had been so abrupt, so complete, that it felt almost surreal, as if they had collectively imagined the entire episode.
Sonia Nevermind, ever the diplomat, attempted to smooth over the lingering unease with a polite smile. "My, that was… quite the demonstration of spirit," she said, her voice betraying a slight tremor despite her best efforts. "I believe it is a testament to the… unique individuals we have in our class."
Kazuichi Soda, however, wasn't buying it. His usual boisterousness had been replaced by a nervous fidgeting. "Spirit? That was freakin' terrifying! I thought they were gonna blow the whole gym up!" he exclaimed, his eyes darting between Naruto and Sasuke with a mixture of awe and apprehension.
Mahiru Koizumi, ever the pragmatist, stepped forward, adjusting her camera bag with a shaky hand. "Okay, let's just calm down, everyone," she said, her voice strained. "Whatever that was, it's over now. Let's try to focus on… you know… getting along."
Akane Owari, to everyone's surprise, remained silent, her initial defiance replaced by a thoughtful frown. The sheer power she had witnessed had clearly shaken her, forcing her to reconsider her own abilities. Her fists unclenched, and a hint of uncertainty appeared in her eyes.
Gundham Tanaka, despite his earlier bluster, seemed to have been similarly subdued. His hamsters, still clinging to his shoulders, were unusually quiet, their squeaks reduced to nervous twitches. He cleared his throat, attempting to regain his composure. "Hmph," he muttered, adjusting his scarf. "It seems the Supreme Overlord of Ice has underestimated the power of these… mortals."
Hiyoko Saionji, however, seemed to relish the lingering tension. A malicious grin spread across her face as she surveyed the room. "Well, that was certainly entertaining," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I was starting to think this class was boring, but it looks like we have a few freaks after all."
Naruto, sensing the need to defuse the situation further, stepped forward, offering a sheepish grin. "Hey, sorry about that, everyone," he said, scratching the back of his head. "Sasuke and I just got a little… carried away. We didn't mean to scare anyone."
Sasuke, however, remained silent, his arms still folded, his expression unchanged. He simply stood beside Naruto, a silent sentinel, his presence a constant reminder of the power he possessed.
Mikan Tsumiki, ever the empathetic one, rushed forward, her face etched with concern. "Are… are you both alright?" she stammered, her eyes darting between Naruto and Sasuke. "Did you… did you hurt yourselves?"
Nagito Komaeda, however, seemed to be in a world of his own, his eyes sparkling with an almost manic energy. "Oh, this is wonderful!" he exclaimed, clapping his hands together. "The clash of hope and despair, the struggle between light and darkness… it's all so beautiful!"
Teruteru Hanamura, regaining his usual jovial demeanor, chuckled suggestively. "My, my, such raw energy!" he exclaimed, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "I can only imagine the… passionate encounters that lie ahead for this class."
Fuyuhiko Kuzuryu simply scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Bunch of clowns," he muttered, turning away in disgust.
Chiaki Nanami, her attention seemingly refocused on her handheld console, offered a brief, almost imperceptible nod of acknowledgment before returning to her game.
Koichi, seated, thought, "They were short-staffed, so it couldn't be helped." He adjusted his hat. "I gotta just continue drinking and get up early in the mornings." It didn't sound too tough. He'd done it today, hadn't he? True, he'd been rather late, and yes, he felt like shit, but sacrifices had to be made for his booze. With this in mind, he settled comfortably on the stage, resting his back against the wood. He was about to fantasize about alcohol when Mahiru appeared, hands on her hips, angry.
"Geez. What kind of teacher are you!? You know the gym was almost destroyed, right!?"
Koichi knew she was annoyed. But what did she expect? All Ultimates were crazy. Bring them together, and bam—catastrophe.
Sitting up, Koichi was about to explain when he noticed the class staring with annoyance, disgust, and impatience, including Naruto and Sasuke. "I didn't make the best first impression, did I?" Koichi thought, smirking. "What's this? I thought you guys were fighting it out."
Naruto, comically annoyed, pointed at Koichi. "I calmed them down, and you're just sitting here drinking?!"
Koichi chuckled. "Oh, but you handled the situation perfectly…" he smirked.
Naruto, still frowning, looked to his left side and murmured, "Son of a bitch..."
"Right, anyway." Koichi coughed into his hand and put his flask away. "Well, we do have one more matter to attend to today," he told them as he stood up again. "Actually, more like two."
Fuyuhiko harrumphed. "And what are they?" he said with a serious expression. He just wanted to get this done with as soon as possible.
"It's a tour of the school, of course!" Koichi grinned. "I know some of you have been here before, but many of you haven't. That's why it's best if you get a feel for what your new campus looks like. You'll be here for the next three years, after all, assuming none of you fail the practical exams, of course."
All of the students were surprised at Koichi's suggestion for all seventeen students to pair up into groups of two. Naruto's eyes widened in surprise, while Sasuke frowned, folding his arms.
Hiyoko tapped her cheek. "Then can we start right now?" she said, straight to the point. She, too, wanted to leave already. She wanted to go home and eat her candy on her bed like she usually did during this time of the day.
"Not so fast." Koichi walked up to the podium on top of the stage. There, he pulled out a basket and showed it to the class. "All your names have been written on sheets of paper and put in here. One of you will come up and draw a name, and whoever you get will be your partner for today," he said. "So I want you seventeen Ultimate students to pair up into groups of two."
Koichi hadn't been the one to come up with this idea. He was originally just going to let them do whatever they wanted. But then Tengan had come to him a few days ago and suggested this idea. While it was rare for the advisor to do something like that, Koichi went with it, mostly so that he could seem sophisticated to his students.
Hiyoko huffed in annoyance. "Why do we have to pair up? I don't want to be close to any of these idiots."
Teruteru chuckled nervously. "Your appearance doesn't match your attitude at all…"
Nagito, on the other hand, seemed excited about the idea. "Hahaha. So wonderful. I'm sure everyone will get closer because of this activity."
Mikan glanced at Naruto and Sasuke, who was scratching his head. She was hoping she would get paired up with one of them. But would they even want that? I mean, Naruto definitely would agree to team up with her, but Sasuke, on the other hand, she wasn't sure enough about. She would probably just be a burden to him.
Koichi placed the basket by the edge of the stage as Mahiru went down to join the others. "Well? Who wants to go first?" he said to the students, with a serious expression.
"Ibuki! Ibuki gets to be first!" Once again, it was the enthusiastic girl who volunteered herself. Naruto was amused, finding her enthusiasm very addicting.
The girl was humming to herself as she stuck her hand in the basket. She ravaged through the sheets of paper for a few seconds, probably to build up suspense. It was just her style to do something like that.
"Ugh, just pick one already!" Hiyoko shouted, annoyed.
"Kay, kay~" Ibuki finally pulled out one paper, which was folded. Opening it up, she read the name out loud. "Nanami Chiaki." She started laughing. "Hahahaha, Ibuki's partner is Chiaki-chan!"
Said girl was too busy gaming to pay attention, making Ibuki pout. There needed to be more excitement here!
The second person to choose was Kazuichi, who stepped up to the plate almost immediately.
"Stay back, all of you! I have to choose Miss Sonia!" Kazuichi Soda shouted to all of the students.
Naruto tilted his head. "Huh? Why? Do you have a crush on her or something?" Sasuke remained silent next to Naruto, his expression stoic as he folded his arms and looked at Kazuichi Soda.
Let it be known that Naruto wasn't one to be very subtle about stuff like this, and Sasuke didn't really care that Kazuichi Soda had a crush on Sonia Nevermind.
Kazuichi spluttered. "W-What!? I-I mean, that's none of your business, man!" He said, trying to deny it, but Naruto, Sasuke, and everyone who heard it didn't buy it.
Naruto smirked mischievously and said, "Yeah, yeah, whatever..." He said, waving his hands.
Hiyoko looked away with a smug look. "Just get it over with already, you loser. It's not like any girl would want to be paired up with you in the first place."
"Y-You don't have to say it like that!" Kazuichi shouted, his heart nearly broken by Hiyoko's words.
The mechanic went for the basket and quickly picked out one of the folded papers. His heart was beating fast inside his chest. Was it going to be Miss Sonia? Please let it be Miss Sonia! He needed to get closer to the girl, and this activity was just right for the job! His hopes were shattered a moment later.
"K-Komaeda Nagito…" Kazuichi Soda said with a sad expression on his face.
Nagito chuckled. "Oh, I see. I'm so lucky to be paired up with someone as talented as you, Soda-kun."
Kazuichi turned to Koichi with a pleading look. "Can I have a do-over!?"
"Nope~ Now move along for the next person to get their turn."
With slumped shoulders, Kazuichi walked back to the others.
The one who went third was Mahiru, since none of the others seemed very interested in going up, except for maybe Sonia. The name the redheaded photographer picked up was none other than…...
"Saionji Hiyoko-san," Mahiru said, announcing her pair.
Saionji looked at Mahiru. "So I guess I'm with you then." Her face displayed some measure of annoyance. No matter who she was paired up with, it would still feel like a chore to her.
Mahiru, though, offered her a friendly smile. "Mhmm. I hope we can get along."
Hiyoko was taken aback a bit by the smile but quickly recovered. "Whatever," she said, looking away with a pout.
Naruto's eyebrow rose, and whispered next to Sasuke, "Is it just me, or was Hiyoko happy just now?"
Sasuke, still in the same position, spoke with an uninterested expression. "I don't know, and don't care..." he said to Naruto.
Naruto sighed, already expecting Sasuke's answer. But still, it's hard to tell with someone like her or not, he said, whispering to Sasuke. Sasuke, on the other hand, didn't say anything, because, like what he said earlier, he didn't care at all.
Sonia decided to go up next, a bounce in her step. This was the first time she was ever doing something like this. It made her heart beat with excitement! Although she was a bit wary of the looks that Soda was giving her. She should probably stay far away from him.
The princess pulled out a name from the basket with ease and read it out loud. "Um, let's see. It says Tsumiki Mikan."
Mikan's eyes widened in surprise as Sonia announced her name. Even Naruto and Sasuke were surprised as well. Naruto was surprised, and Sasuke raised an eyebrow. Mikan squeaked and said, "M-Me?" She didn't think anyone would pick out her name. Or, more like, she had been hoping Naruto would. Her dream didn't come true, though.
Sonia quickly ran up to her. "Let's get along on this adventure, Tsumiki-san!"
Mikan nearly tripped from having the girl so close to her.
Naruto held Mikan's right shoulder and said, "Good luck, Mikan, do your best, alright..." He said with a big smile. Sasuke didn't say anything as he closed his eyes, folded his arms, and smirked.
Mikan, seeing Naruto's big smile and Sasuke's smirk, blushed heavily as she looked to her side and said, "T-Thank you... Let's do our best!"
Sonia, seeing the interaction between Naruto and Mikan, smiled warmly. Naruto and Sasuke were happy to see that the girl was getting along with the others.
Nekomaru followed afterwards, his massive hand reaching for one of the names inside the basket. "My partner for today shall be…..KUZURYU FUYUHIKO!"
Fuyuhiko didn't look all that pleased by this development. Then again, he hadn't looked happy once since he had gotten here.
Laughing, Nekomaru made his way over to Fuyuhiko. "Hahahaha! We shall make sure to have the best record out of everyone else here!"
Fuyuhiko twitched. "This isn't a competition, dumbass." He said, a vein popping out of his head with annoyance. Nekomaru didn't look fazed at all by his comment and instead continued to laugh.
Naruto decided to take his turn, hoping that he would be paired with Sasuke, since he was the only one he knew in this gym. His heart was beating fast with pure excitement and adrenaline. But before he could walk, Sasuke held his left shoulder with his right hand, which made Naruto turn and look at him. "Good luck, Naruto..." He said with a smirk. Naruto returned the word, giving him a thumbs up and a big smile and said, "Yeah, thanks, Sasuke."
Mikan also cheered for him, albeit more softly and hesitantly. "Y-You can do it, Uzumaki-san." She said to Naruto, to which Naruto also responded, "Yeah, thanks to you too, Mikan," while Nagito, next to Kazuichi, smirked at Naruto.
While Naruto appreciated the support, all he was doing was pulling out a name from a basket. Nothing difficult about that. Naruto decided not to say anything, though, and merely accepted the encouragement. He quickly fished for one of the papers in the basket. And the name he pulled out was none other than Pekoyama Peko.
Naruto's expression turned sad, as he was hoping to team up with Sasuke, but it was someone else instead. He looked to where the girl was standing. She had been one of the quiet ones so far, not speaking very much. He walked towards Peko and said, "Looks like it's you and me, Peko-chan."
Sasuke, on the other hand, followed Naruto as he walked towards his pair. His posture changed, and he saw that his pair was Peko Pekoyama, the woman he commented was also a swordswoman like him. Sasuke already knew that Peko was a quiet person like him, so he didn't need to worry about Naruto handling quiet people, since he had experience talking to him.
Peko closed her eyes. "I'd prefer if you didn't address me so casually, Uzumaki-san," she said with a serious expression, as she folded her arms.
Naruto chuckled at her words. He thought that she and Sasuke might get along very well, since Sasuke was also a quiet person. She kind of reminded him of Neji, as Neji, like Sasuke, was a quiet person as well. "Don't be so stiff, Peko. No reason to act like old farts here."
Peko's eyebrows twitched, as she spoke with a stoic expression. "Regardless, I feel as if-"
Naruto cut her off and patted her on the back. "Again, don't act so stiff. We're in the prime of our lives. Not old people." Peko twitched again. Dealing with Uzumaki was going to require all of her patience, it seemed.
As for Naruto, he was once again forgetting about his rule not to make any friends here. By this point, there was no turning back, though. His usual friendly nature was just rooted in him. He acted without thinking about it. That's just the kind of person he was. Not only that, but the students here seemed just like the type of people he'd like to hang out with.
Fuyuhiko found the whole scene to be somewhat annoying. No one got that close to Peko. Almost everyone they met was scared of her. The only exception was their family. But this guy…...
'What's his deal?' Fuyuhiko thought, looking at Naruto. Something was definitely up with the blond; Fuyuhiko just didn't know what it was.
"H'mph. Let's see which of you fools shall serve as my unfortunate companion for this trip in the Netherworld."
Gundham walked forward and took a name from the basket. "It seems…...my companion shall be none other than the angry beast who dared to attack me earlier!"
Sasuke frowned at these abnormal words, again finding this man a deranged moron. Naruto, on the other hand, sighed at Gundham's words. He was hoping that he wouldn't be paired with Sasuke, because he could tell that Sasuke would insult Gundham, which would make Gundham angry at Sasuke.
Mahiru frowned a little. "Just…...what?" she said, as she, too, found Gundham's words annoying. It was all the girl could say.
Nagito decided to translate for them. "Seeing as Uzumaki-kun already has a partner, I believe he is referring to Owari-san."
"Huh? Me?" Akane placed a hand on her hips and grunted in annoyance. "You should have just said something in the first place, hamster man."
Gundham visibly recoiled at the nickname. "You fool! You dare refer to my Four Dark Devas of Destruction by such a term!" He gripped his wrist in anger. "They have the power to destroy this entire world!"
Kazuichi deadpanned. "I think you're totally overestimating the power of those hamsters of yours."
"Alright, that's enough." Koichi decided to take charge before another argument could break out. He needed them out of here ASAP so that he could take a nap. "The last two remaining are Hanamura and Mitarai. That means the two of you are together."
Teruteru flashed the animator a grin. "Let's get along, okay?" He said, trying to defuse the situation. Ryota didn't know why, but he didn't trust that grin one bit.
Koichi waved them off. "Now go. Explore the school to your heart's content. Or whatever."
"Wait, what about Uchiha-san? He's the only one without a pair here..." Kazuichi said to Koichi, which made all of the students look at Sasuke. Sasuke, on the other hand, frowned as all of the students were looking at him now; he was starting to feel annoyed again. He folded his arms and remained silent, but there was a deep frown on his face.
Koichi also forgot that the Ultimate students were seventeen instead of sixteen, making Sasuke the only one without a pair. He held his chin, trying to think of an idea. "Oh yeah, I forgot; there are seventeen students in this gym. Everyone already has a pair, which leaves Uchiha by himself. I can't just let them all go without pairing Uchiha with someone," he thought to himself.
Koichi, scratching his head under his hat, surveyed the remaining students, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Hmm, well, this is a pickle," he muttered, mostly to himself. The class waited with bated breath, curious as to how the teacher would resolve this unexpected situation. He then said to the students, "Since one of you is without a partner, and all students have partners now... I guess this leaves me with a choice." Koichi then said something which made all of the students surprised.
"I have an idea!" Koichi announced, snapping his fingers. All eyes turned to him, a mix of curiosity and apprehension in their gazes. Sasuke's frown deepened; he already sensed that whatever Koichi was about to suggest, he wouldn't like it.
"Since the pairings are all set, and we can't exactly redraw names now..." Koichi paused for dramatic effect, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Why not make it a trio for one lucky group?"
A collective murmur rippled through the gym. A trio? Was that even allowed? Hiyoko scoffed, "That's even more annoying than being stuck with someone you hate."
Mahiru looked at Koichi and spoke. "Yeah, you said earlier that we could only pair with two people."
"Then what do you want? You want Uchiha alone to wander the entire campus by himself?" he said to Mahiru. "Besides, with everyone having a pair, how about we make one group a team of three? I can't just leave Uchiha alone, so someone has to team up with him."
Kazuichi eyes widened and shouted. "What! That's not fair. Why would he be the one to choose his group?"
"Exactly! Why does Mr. Good looking get to choose?" Hiyoko chimed in, pointing a finger at Sasuke with a sneer. "I know he is very mysterious and good to look in the eyes, but doesn't mean he gets special treatment!" She said in a mischievous smile looking at Sasuke.
Which Sasuke glared at her with an annoyance in his eyes. He is unfazed by their complaints, remained silent, arms still folded. He was starting to feel very angry, but he tried to calm himself down, since their is no point to crash out at them.
Sonia tilted her head, a thoughtful expression on her face. "Perhaps Koichi-sensei believes that Uchiha-san possesses unique qualities that would benefit a group dynamic," she suggested, ever the optimist.
Nekomaru chuckled, flexing his massive biceps. "Hahahaha! A trio! Now that's what I call a challenge! But it's unfair to let Uchiha choose!"
Gundham adjusted his scarf, his hamsters squeaking in agreement. "Hmph. Such a decision should be determined by fate, not by the whims of a single individual!"
Naruto stepped forward, a hand raised in a placating gesture. "Whoa, whoa, hold on a second, everyone," he said, his voice rising above the rising clamor. "Let's not jump to conclusions here. Maybe Koichi-sensei has a good reason for doing this."
Sasuke, however, remained silent, his arms still folded, his expression a mask of stoic indifference. He honestly couldn't care less about this whole charade. Whether he was paired with someone or not was of no consequence to him.
Koichi chuckled, scratching his head. "Alright, alright, calm down, everyone. I get your concerns. But think about it this way: it's not about fairness, it's about… compatibility! We want Uchiha to be with a group he won't murder within the first five minutes, right?"
A few nervous glances were exchanged among the students. Teruteru, however, seemed intrigued by the idea. "Oh, so you're saying that Uchiha-kun is the picky type, eh? I wonder what kind of ingredients he prefers in his… companions."
"Shut it, pervert," Hiyoko snapped, glaring at the chef.
Wait, this means he have a change to team up with Miss Sonia, before me. He thought to himself with an angry expression. This is no unfair.
Mikan hope that Sasuke will groups up with her and Sonia, since she also wanted to know more about Sasuke as well.
"Anyway," Koichi continued, ignoring the bickering, "Since Uchiha is the odd one out, it's only fair he gets a say in who he spends the tour with. So, Uchiha, any preferences? Anyone you feel like you could… tolerate for a few hours?"
All eyes turned to Sasuke, anticipation hanging in the air. The tension was palpable as everyone waited for his decision. Sasuke surveyed the groups, his gaze sweeping over each of them. Most of them he dismissed instantly. The loud ones, the annoying ones, the clingy ones… none of them appealed to him. His eyes lingered on Naruto Mikan group.
Sasuke could paired himself with Mikan and expecially Sonia, as he can tell that Sonia is not that quite annoying to be with. But if he would pair with Mikan's group, all of the students here will think that he have something for a stranger like mikan, and might tease him in the future, expecially his blonde idiot friend Naruto. He thinks that pairing with Naruto and Peko, might he the best option, since Naruto is the only person in this gym that he knows very well, and he noticed that peko is a silent person just like him, so it will not be a problem with him.
Sasuke finally decided to what team he will be with spoke in a stoic expression. I'll be teaming up with Naruto and Pekoyama... He said folding his arms seriously.
A wave of reactions swept through the gym once more. Naruto grinned, slapping Sasuke on the back, albeit a little too hard. Peko simply nodded, her expression unchanging, but a faint hint of curiosity flickered in her eyes. The rest of the class, however, had varying opinions on Sasuke's choice. It makes sense why Sasuke would choose to team up with Naruto, since he is the only one in the gym that Sasuke was very close with, and Sasuke can tolerate Naruto's annoyance, even if it's just a bit.
Naruto, who had been watching the scene unfold with a mixture of amusement and concern, grinned widely. "Good choice, best bud!" he exclaimed, giving a thumbs up to Sasuke as he smiled wildly. "We're gonna have a blast, right, Peko?"
Sasuke walked towards Naruto and Peko spoke with an annoyed expression, "Don't call me best bud, moron."
Peko, however, remained impassive, her expression unchanged. "As long as we can maintain a reasonable level of decorum, I have no objections," she said, her voice as cool and controlled as ever.
Mikan, on the other hand, looked visibly disappointed. Her shoulders slumped slightly, and she averted her gaze, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. She had been hoping that Sasuke would choose her group, but it seemed her wish had gone unfulfilled.
Sonia, ever the gracious one, offered Mikan a comforting smile. "Do not fret, Tsumiki-san," she said, her voice gentle. "I am sure that we shall have a splendid time together, regardless."
Kazuichi, who had been silently seething at the thought of Sasuke potentially stealing Sonia away, breathed a sigh of relief. "Phew," he muttered under his breath. "Dodged a bullet there."
Hiyoko, however, seemed unfazed by Sasuke's decision. "Hmph," she scoffed, crossing her arms. "Good riddance. I didn't want him in my group anyway." Although, she did want Sasuke to team up with her and Mahiru.
Koichi, having finally finished his task of pairing the Uchiha with a group, clapped his hands and said, "Well, that settles everything now. You're all free to wander Hope's Peak Academy to your heart's content."
Mahiru narrowed her eyes. "And you're not coming with us?" she said to the teacher.
"Why would I?" Koichi said with a shrug.
"You're our teacher! It's your job!" Mahiru said to Koichi.
"Pfft. You brats are old enough to know right from wrong. I'm not gonna hold your hand," Koichi said jokingly at them.
Fuyuhiko frowned and spoke. "Let me guess, you're going to go back to drinking alcohol, correct..."
"You're goddamn right, kiddo. You kids drain my energy to keep an eye on you all. The least you could do is let me be and allow me to drink..." Koichi said to the students.
"Damn this guy… he was rather blunt, wasn't he?" Naruto whispered to Sasuke, who didn't respond and remained silent with an uninterested expression on his face.
"Oh, that reminds me." Koichi suddenly looked up. "After you're finished, go to the nurse's office on the first floor. There, you'll get fitted for your uniform." He shrugged a little. "If you want to wear a uniform anyway. Like classes, it's not mandatory for you to do so."
Many were pleased to hear that it wasn't mandatory, mainly Hiyoko, Kazuichi, and Nekomaru. And Teruteru, too, since he rather enjoyed wearing his usual getup. It was a constant reminder of what he was here to accomplish. And with that, the seventeen students began to file out of the gym in order to explore this new school of theirs. It was going to be a big chunk of their lives, after all.
Meanwhile, outside the gym, the seventeen students began to split off into their assigned pairs and trio, each eager to explore the vast and mysterious halls of Hope's Peak Academy. Laughter and chatter filled the air as they discussed their plans, their initial apprehension slowly giving way to excitement and anticipation. For example, Teruteru was excited to see what the cafeteria had to offer, as was Ryota for some reason. The animator was even bouncing in excitement when Teruteru offered to cook him something.
Hiyoko was complaining about walking so much, but Mahiru was somehow able to get her to keep going. The redhead apparently wanted to see the courtyards since, according to rumors, they were pretty beautiful.
Kazuichi kept sulking that he wasn't with Sonia while Nagito tried to console him, the two vanishing down the hall.
Speaking of Sonia, Mikan had been curious about the nurse's office, so the two girls had headed off in that direction.
It was unknown where Ibuki and Chiaki had gone off to, but knowing Ibuki, it definitely wasn't going to stay quiet around here for too long. Sasuke didn't really care where the two had run off.
Gundham and Akane were also a mystery, as were Nekomaru and Fuyuhiko. There was no telling what kind of trouble they could get into, but Naruto decided not to worry about it too much. It was a good thing Sasuke wasn't paired with these two because there was no telling what would happen to Gundham and Akane.
Naruto, Sasuke, and Peko found themselves walking side by side in comfortable silence. Naruto, as usual, was brimming with energy, his head swiveling from side to side as he took in the sights and sounds of his new surroundings. Sasuke, ever the stoic, remained impassive, his eyes narrowed in observation. Peko, walking slightly behind the two boys, maintained her usual air of quiet composure, her gaze sharp and alert.
"So, where do you guys wanna go first?" Naruto asked, his voice filled with enthusiasm. "What about we go to the cafeteria, I'm starving!"
Sasuke frowned, his gaze hardening. "The library would be the most logical starting point. We should familiarize ourselves with the layout of the school and gather any information that might be useful."
Naruto groaned. "Ugh, boring! Can't we at least grab a snack first? I'm pretty sure my stomach is about to start eating itself!"
Peko, who had been listening to the exchange with quiet amusement, remained silent. Naruto turned towards Peko and spoke. "So, Peko-chan, where do you wanna go?" He said, curious as to where Peko wanted to go.
Peko frowned at Naruto, not liking him, calling her by her first name. "Call me Pekoyama, Uzumaki-san, and also, I'm going to the dojo. I need to finish my training," she said with a stoic expression.
"Sorry, Pekoyama-chan," Naruto said, apologizing. Then he spoke, "Oh, are you referring to your swordmaster skills?"
Peko nodded. "Yes, indeed..." She said in a serious expression.
"Training, huh?" Naruto mused, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Sounds intense! But a dojo… is there even one in a school like this?" He tilted his head, genuinely curious. He'd never been to a proper school before, let alone one that catered to individuals with unique talents.
Sasuke, who had been silently observing, spoke up, his voice low and even. "It's Hope's Peak Academy, moron. It caters to the 'Ultimate' in every field. A dojo for the Ultimate Swordswoman is not an unreasonable expectation."
Naruto blinked, processing Sasuke's words. "Right, right, Ultimates… I keep forgetting!" He chuckled sheepishly, then turned back to Peko, his expression earnest. "Well, if you gotta train, you gotta train! But after that, we're hitting up the cafeteria, right? I'm not taking no for an answer!"
Sasuke rolled his eyes, and Peko sighed softly, a hint of amusement dancing in her eyes despite her stoic demeanor. "Very well, Uzumaki-san. After I have completed my training, I will accompany you to the cafeteria." She paused, then added, "However, I make no promises regarding the quality of the food."
Naruto grinned, pumping his fist in the air. "Awesome! With that decided, lead the way, Peko-chan!" He chirped before stopping himself, then adding, "Oops, Pekoyama-san! Sorry!"
Peko simply sighed, turning and beginning to walk down the hallway. Sasuke and Naruto followed closely behind, their contrasting personalities creating an interesting dynamic as they traversed the school's corridors.
Sasuke sighed heavily and thought, "This idiot will be the death of me..." as he facepalmed.
As they walked, Naruto peppered Peko with questions about her sword skills, his curiosity boundless. "So, do you use a katana? Or maybe a samurai sword? What about those cool ninja swords? Do you know any cool sword moves? Can you teach me some?"
Sasuke facepalmed and said, "Idiot, a katana and samurai sword are the same things." He said, correcting Naruto's mistakes. "And besides, don't bother, idiot. You're not even going to use a sword."
"Hey, how the fuck am I supposed to know that, bruh? I never used a sword in my life as a ninja, bro. I'm not a swordsman like the both of you..." Naruto said to Sasuke. "And besides, I'm just making conversation, asking if she can teach me some sword fighting techniques; I'm not complaining about learning it." He said, sticking his tongue out at Sasuke.
Peko, despite her initial reluctance, found herself begrudgingly answering Naruto's questions. His enthusiasm was infectious, and she couldn't help but be drawn in by his genuine interest. Sasuke, on the other hand, remained silent, his presence a steady anchor amidst Naruto's whirlwind of energy.
After a few minutes of walking, they finally reached their destination: a large, unassuming door with a simple wooden sign hanging above it, emblazoned with the kanji for "Dojo." Naruto, Sasuke and Peko were already at the fifth floor of the school, because Peko wanted to continue her training.
As Naruto, Sasuke and Peko finally reached the Dojo, they saw a two-sided door. Naruto and Sasuke looked up and down at the Dojo with different reactions. While Naruto's eyes widened in intrigue, Sasuke only remained silent.
Peko stopped in front of the dojo first, as she pushed her hand to the two-sided doors, opening it completely. The door was opened, so they were able to admire the inside of the room. It was pretty well-kept, and it had the standard training equipment she would expect from a dojo. Naruto and Sasuke looked at their surroundings with different reactions; Naruto was intrigued, while Sasuke remained stoic. They could say that the dojo was massive and also very clean.
"Wow, this dojo is big..." Naruto said, looking from side to side with widened eyes. "Do you think it's big just for you, Peko-chan, I mean, Pekoyama-chan..."
Sasuke corrected Naruto, his expression stoic. "That's exactly the point of a dojo; it is being big..." He folded his arms and closed his eyes.
Naruto then scratched his belly. "Man, I'm starting to get hungry. I wonder if the Teruteru guy is in the cafeteria with his partner right now," he said with a chuckle. "Maybe I should ask Teruteru to cook me up some ramen." The cook could probably pull off something divine if his ultimate talent was all about cooking.
Sasuke then noticed a sword stand with kendo swords in them, in the left-side corner wall. As he slowly walked towards them, looking at all of the kendo swords in the stands. Peko shook her head. "You get familiar with people really quick, don't you, Uzumaki-san?"
Naruto shrugged. "I guess? I've just never bothered with etiquette and stuff like that. In my life, there was never a need for it. It was more about survival than anything else."
Peko's face took on a more somber mood. She could kind of guess some of the implications that came with his statement. "I see. I'm not sure whether I should envy you or not."
"And by the way, what was Teruteru's partner's name again..." Naruto said, trying to remember Teruteru's partner's name. Peko was about to answer his question, but Sasuke cut her off and said, "It's Ryota Mitarai..." looking at the swords with a stoic expression.
"Hmm... how did you know that..." Naruto said, looking at Sasuke standing next to the wooden swords.
"Because I remember all of our classmates' names..." Sasuke said stoically, as he slowly reached his right hand for one of the kendo sword handles. Naruto and Peko noticed what he was doing. Sasuke gripped the handle of one of the kendo swords and slowly removed it from the stands, and then swung it to his right side, trying to study the kendo sword itself. "The crafting of this sword is very good..." he thought to himself. "Whoever made this sword is a very talented craftsman."
Naruto and Peko watched with interest as Sasuke examined the kendo sword, his movements precise and deliberate. He tested its weight and balance, his keen eyes scrutinizing every detail of its construction. It was clear that he possessed a deep understanding of swordsmanship, a knowledge that transcended mere skill and delved into the very essence of the weapon itself, which made Peko start to respect Sasuke now. As an ultimate swordswoman, she too understood her weapons clearly. It made sense why he was carrying his chokutō on the back of his waist.
"Hmm, not bad," Sasuke murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "The craftsmanship is decent, though the balance is slightly off. Still, it's a respectable weapon for training purposes." He thought, as his lips started to form a smirk. He then took a stance on his right side with the sword.
Naruto, oblivious to the subtle nuances of Sasuke's movements, simply scratched his head in confusion. "Uh, Sasuke, what are you doing?" he asked, tilting his head. "Don't tell me you're going to start training, too?"
Sasuke, still looking at the sword, spoke. "Nothing, just studying the sword itself..." He said as he pointed the sword to his right side.
"Whoa, you really know your stuff, huh, Sasuke?" Naruto exclaimed, his voice filled with admiration. "I had no idea you were such a sword expert!"
Sasuke, however, remained unfazed by Naruto's praise. He simply shrugged, his expression unchanged. "Of course I would understand the concept of swords, moron; I'm a swordsman as well..." He said as he lowered the sword. "I possess a large understanding of sword weaponry," he said, his voice dismissive. "It is a necessary skill for any shinobi."
Peko, who had been silently observing the exchange, finally spoke up, her voice calm and measured. "Sasuke-san's knowledge of swords is more than just 'large'," she said, her gaze fixed on the kendo sword in his hand. "I can sense a deep connection between him and the art of swordsmanship, a connection that goes beyond mere training and skill."
Sasuke raised an eyebrow, his eyes narrowing in suspicion. "What are you implying, Pekoyama?" he asked, his voice laced with a hint of warning.
Peko, however, remained undeterred by Sasuke's hostility. "I am simply stating the truth," she said, her voice unwavering. "You possess a natural talent for swordsmanship, a talent that should be nurtured and honed."
Sasuke then looked at the kendo sword in his right hand, responding as his right hand slowly tapped into the sheath of his chokutō sword. "Hmm... you are indeed correct; I do have a deep connection with my own weapons as well. And I can say that you too have a deep connection with your sword."
Pekoyama nodded in agreement with what Sasuke said, as she too had a deep connection to her sword. After a moment of silent contemplation, Sasuke finally spoke, his voice low and measured. "This is a decent weapon," he said, his eyes narrowing slightly. "But it lacks the sharpness and precision of a true blade. It's more suited for practice than actual combat."
Peko nodded in agreement, her gaze unwavering. "Indeed," she said, her voice as cool and controlled as ever. "A kendo sword is designed for safety and training. It's meant to hone one's skills without the risk of serious injury."
Sasuke looking at the wooden sword and spoke. "I see, that makes sense a lot," he said stoically.
"Why, you never practice your swordsmanship with wooden swords before?" Pekoyama said with a serious expression.
"No, I always trained with a real blade..." Sasuke said stoically, still looking at the wooden sword. Pekoyama's eyes widened as she heard that Sasuke had never trained with a wooden sword before, as he trained with a real blade instead. Sasuke turned to Peko, a flicker of curiosity in his eyes. "You are skilled with a sword, aren't you?" he asked, his voice laced with a hint of challenge.
Peko met Sasuke's gaze without hesitation, her expression unwavering. "I have dedicated my life to the art of swordsmanship," she replied, her voice firm and confident. "I am the Ultimate Swordswoman, after all."
A faint smirk played on Sasuke's lips. "I see, well then. How about a sparring match then..." He said to Pekoyama. Naruto and Pekoyama's eyes widened in surprise.
Pekoyama smirked and said, "Sure, Uchiha, I'll spar with you..." accepting Sasuke's declaration. Naruto, on the other hand, knew that Sasuke was millions of times stronger than Pekoyama; if these two actually sparred, Sasuke might end up killing Pekoyama.
Naruto walked towards Sasuke and whispered. "Are you sure about this, Sasuke? You do realize that you're a million times stronger than her, right? If you spar with her, you might end up killing her," he said, whispering to Sasuke so that only the two of them could hear. Pekoyama noticed the two were talking to each other, but she couldn't understand because they were whispering to each other.
Sasuke looked at Naruto with a stoic expression and spoke calmly. "I know, I was not planning on fighting her at full power..." he said, making Naruto understand. "I will only use a fraction of my power," he whispered, then turned to look at Pekoyama. "And besides, I wanted to see how good her swordsmanship is..." he said with a smirk.
Naruto sighed in relief, knowing that Sasuke wouldn't do anything too reckless. Still, he couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that settled in his stomach. After all, even a fraction of Sasuke's power was enough to obliterate most opponents. If it were back in their world, Sasuke would be allowed to use his full power, but in this world, he was too strong for them to handle.
"Alright, but promise me you won't go overboard, okay?" Naruto said, his voice laced with concern. "I don't want to see anyone get hurt."
Sasuke merely nodded in acknowledgment and spoke. "You have my word, Naruto..." He said stoically. Sasuke then slowly reached down to the handle of his chokutō sword and removed it from the back of his waist, giving it to Naruto.
"Are you giving your sword to me..." Naruto said, looking at Sasuke.
"No, it's not a gift for you..." He said, making Naruto understand. "I want you to hold it for me for a moment..." Sasuke said to Naruto, who nodded and grabbed Sasuke's sword, as he stepped aside and let the two have their spar.
Sasuke then turned to Peko and spoke. "Are you ready, Pekoyama?" he asked, his voice calm and measured.
Peko nodded and said. "Ready when you are, Uchiha-san..."
Sasuke then turned around to the sword stand and grabbed another kendo sword with his left hand. He walked in front of the ring and threw his right-hand kendo sword towards Peko, which Peko caught with her left hand and slowly switched it to her right hand. Sasuke, however, didn't switch his sword to his right hand, as he would fight her with Peko with his left hand.
Peko noticed Sasuke didn't switch his kendo sword to his right hand, as he held the sword with his left hand. His chokutō sword handle was facing towards his right side. She thought that Sasuke might be an ambidextrous swordsman.
With the kendo sword firmly gripped in her right hand, Peko adopted a classic stance, her posture radiating focus and readiness. Her eyes, sharp and intent, were locked on Sasuke, analyzing his every move, searching for any hint of weakness. The air crackled with anticipation, the only sound the gentle rustling of their clothes as they prepared to face off.
Sasuke, holding his own kendo sword in his left hand, mirrored her stance, his expression as stoic and unreadable as ever. Though he appeared calm and collected, a flicker of excitement danced in his eyes. He was eager to test his skills against the Ultimate Swordswoman, to see if her reputation matched her talent. Even though Sasuke wielded his chokutō in his right hand, his left hand was his dominant hand. He trained his right hand to wield his chokutō equally to his dominant left hand, since he uses Chidori with his left hand.
Naruto, clutching Sasuke's chokutō tightly, watched with a mixture of excitement and apprehension. He knew how skilled Sasuke was, and he also knew that Peko was no slouch. The thought of them clashing blades made his heart pound in his chest, but he couldn't help but be thrilled to witness such a display of skill. He had to admit, their postures both looked so cool.
"Whenever you're ready, Uchiha-san," Peko said, her voice cool and steady, breaking the tense silence. "I won't hold back."
Sasuke smirked, a flicker of amusement in his eyes. "I wouldn't expect anything less, Pekoyama," he replied, his voice as smooth as silk. "But don't think I'll be taking it easy on you either."
With that, the sparring match began. Peko made the first move, lunging forward with surprising speed and delivering a swift, precise strike towards Sasuke's head. Sasuke, however, was more than prepared. He effortlessly parried the blow with his kendo sword, the sound of wood against wood echoing through the dojo. The two combatants engaged in a flurry of strikes and parries, their movements a blur of motion. Peko, true to her word, was holding nothing back, unleashing a relentless assault of calculated attacks. Sasuke, however, met her every strike with unwavering resolve, his defense impeccable.
To be continued.