[Real Combat (Part 1/2)]

For the last few days, Sasuke hasn't attended the ninja academy in person to focus on his Nature Transformation and instead sent shadow clones in his absence. However, after having completed the initial steps to perfecting his Fire Nature Transformation, he decided to attend the academy in person as a way to relax and interact with his friends there. 

In the classroom, Sasuke settled into his normal seat, observing as students trickled in at a leisurely pace. Shikamaru and Choji occupied the seats beside him as per their usual routine. However, today brought a new addition – right in front of Sasuke, Naruto took his place, still donned in his trademark, conspicuously orange outfit.

"Yo, Sasuke! Are you feeling any better now?" Naruto inquired with a concerned expression appearing on his face instead of the usual optimistic smile.

"Yeah don't worry about it, something just happened in training. Today there's shuriken practice in the afternoon, anyone bothered practising?" Sasuke reassured Naruto, swiftly shifting the conversation away from the minor training setback.

"Troublesome... Shuriken practice today, huh? Can't say that I've bothered training." Shikamaru replied with a dispirited tone, his mind obviously yearning for anything other than a round of physical exercise.

"Shuriken practice this afternoon? Yeah, I've put in some practice." Choji responded between him munching his snack.

"Haha, you know how it is! Been practising for this since, like, forever," Naruto replied with an embarrassed, sheepish grin spreading across his face.

The quartet of young boys swiftly found themselves within the confines of the academy training grounds. Iruka, positioned at the forefront of the class, earnestly warned them, cautioning against the potential dangers brought by handling shurikens.

"Sasuke can you come and show the class a demonstration?" Iruka asked Sasuke, who responded with an albeit reluctant nod to the teacher.

Sasuke walked to the front of the class. Holding three shurikens in one hand, he paused his movements allowing Iruka to briefly point out to the children the correct form for throwing shurikens. He then threw the shurikens in his hand towards the wooden target in the distance.

The class watched rapt in awe as the shurikens hit the centre of the target dead on, before shattering it. 

"""Woah""" Exclamations echoed from the crowd.

"Dang, he's got the hang of it. But I'll definitely pull that off someday," Naruto thought, brimming with enthusiasm. Watching his friend effortlessly unleash the shurikens sparked a surge of determination within him, igniting an urge to hit the training grounds and practice.

Despite the acclaim Sasuke received for his shuriken prowess, he found himself less than impressed. 

'Haven't practiced this in a while. Better not let my skills get too rusty,' Sasuke contemplated inwardly. His perspective on shurikens differed markedly from the prowess of his brother, Itachi, instead considering the pursuit of excessively high shuriken skills as a rather futile investment of his time.

For Sasuke, shurikens were merely auxiliary weapons—a resource for conserving chakra or probing the enemy during a battle. His primary reliance rested on the diverse array of Jutsu in his arsenal, resorting to Taijutsu when conserving chakra or needing a more strategic approach.

He understood that, for his own purposes, achieving pinpoint accuracy in hitting a moving target from a distance sufficed. Sasuke had already honed this skill to a level of proficiency that met this standard.

As the moment arrived for his classmates to engage in shuriken practice, Shikamaru and Choji showcased commendable accuracy, hitting three out of five targets. Others struggled to hit the target even once. Naruto's performance, however...

"Naruto!!!" Iruka shouted as he dodged the shuriken that was thrown towards his face.

"Sorry, sensei..." Naruto muttered, his head hanging low.

'Hah, what was I even thinking? Practicing or not, it's not like I'll ever succeed. I'm just a demon fox, after all,' he gloomily pondered in his mind.

"When throwing it keep your arm straight, make sure to flick your wrists to and don't keep them taut." A voice suddenly disrupted his thoughts, it came from Sasuke who stood right beside him and with Shikamaru and Choji following him. 

"Guys?" Naruto said in confusion.

"Naruto, don't sweat it. There's always a next time," Shikamaru nonchalantly remarked, his usual lazy persona intact. "You might want to consider taking Sasuke's advice too. Could save you some hassle," he added, with Choji by his side nodding in agreement.

Naruto's gaze froze for a moment as he glanced at them briefly. However, his face soon morphed into a bright smile, and he said, "Thanks, guys."

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

After completing his academy training, Sasuke found himself at the entrance to the renowned 'Forest of Death' alongside Kurenai.

"Remind me again why I'm here?" Sasuke inquired, his brows furrowed as he surveyed the ominous entrance. The forest was shrouded in darkness, an eerie atmosphere created by the dense congregation of tall trees, their branches casting a ghostly shadow over the ground below. Strange, low-pitched roars emanated from the forest depths, sending shivers down the spines of anyone approaching it.

"Don't be silly. You can't just practice Genjutsu without using it on an actual living entity. Plus, I'm not here to teach you Genjutsu alone; I'm also here to help develop your combat skills," Kurenai replied, a playful smile dancing on her face as she envisioned Sasuke's reactions in his first proper battle within the forest.

Her demeanour took an unusual turn as recollections of her own initial experiences in the forest resurfaced, complete with a fair share of tears and runny noses. 'Guess this is what they mean by the tables have turned. It's a shame you weren't here to see it, old man.' Shaking off her reverie, she refocused on Sasuke.

"Have you learned the Body Flicker Jutsu?"

"Yeah," Sasuke responded, nodding in affirmation.

"Good, follow me." Kurenai leaped from the ground to a tree branch above, with Sasuke swiftly mimicking her. Together, they moved into the heart of the darkened forest.

As time elapsed, Kurenai abruptly halted, signalling Sasuke to do the same. She approached him and whispered, "See that big guy there? He's going to be your first target."

Sasuke shifted his gaze to where Kurenai indicated, his visage adopting a deadpan expression. On the forest floor sprawled a formidable beast—a colossal bear boasting opulent brown fur, its dense and matted coat reflecting years of survival in the cruel wilderness. Its massive form, with powerful shoulders and sturdy limbs, stretched an intimidating seven meters in length. The bear's muscular build hinted at its raw strength, and scars etched into its fur told tales of battles and survival in the forests harsh environment.

The creature's head, crowned with rugged fur, featured a pair of small, rounded ears twitching with alertness. Its eyes, dark and piercing, spoke of a cruel, predatory intelligence. The snout, adorned with even more scars and wear, housed a set of formidable teeth, each the size of Sasuke's forearm.

The sheer enormity of the creature, combined with its battle-hardened appearance, left Sasuke visibly surprised and taken aback. The bear exuded a ferocious presence, its imposing size and weathered features painting a vivid picture of a dominant force in the heart of the forest.

'You're joking?' Though unspoken, Kurenai sensed Sasuke's disbelief.

"Don't worry, I'm not crazy. Your task is to use your Genjutsu to affect it from a distance," Kurenai reassured, prompting Sasuke to breathe a sigh of relief.

However, she wasn't finished. "After practicing your Genjutsu for a bit, you'll get to face that big guy using whatever methods you have in your arsenal. Exciting, isn't it?"

Sasuke couldn't shake the feeling that Kurenai had taken a turn for the worse in her teaching approach, revealing what he believed to be her true, sadistic nature.

"Wouldn't it be more reasonable to start off with something, well, less bloodthirsty?" Sasuke's voice carried tension, his eyelids twitching with his growing unease.

'It's not about cowardice. I could take that big guy on right now, but it would be smarter to strategise and come back later. After a few years of preparation, I could return and put an end to this bea—' His thoughts swirled in his mind until they were interrupted by Kurenai's voice.

"I know. For most people, I would obviously start with something tamer and probably less inclined towards murder. But not for you, Sasuke." Her playful expression shifted into seriousness as she continued.

"I may not know much about you, Sasuke, only having known you for a few weeks. But I can probably guess you're thinking about how you shouldn't fight the bear right now and should instead come back with a plan at a later date." Her words caused Sasuke's eyes to narrow in surprise.

'How did she...?'

"Nevertheless, I'm here to teach you something, Sasuke. Not everything in this world goes according to your plans or ideas. As a ninja, to survive in this cruel world, you'll have to learn to be adaptable, cunning, and yes, sometimes cruel." Kurenai's words flowed, her voice adopting a despondent tone as she spoke of the loss of her own innocence and compassion over the years in her career. A transformation into something less human.

As the echoes of her wisdom lingered in the air, Sasuke's gaze met hers, absorbing the gravity of the lesson.

The forest, with its towering trees and ominous atmosphere, became the backdrop for a cruel realisation for Sasuke. Now he began to recognise that survival in the ninja world required more than just skill and strength; it demanded adaptability, cunning, and a certain degree of ruthlessness.

In that moment, Sasuke felt a shift within himself—a subtle understanding of the harsh realities that lay ahead. As Kurenai's teachings sank in, he acknowledged the necessity of embracing the true complexities of the ninja world. The forest, that was once seen as a mere training ground by him, now symbolised a crucible where his naive ideals met the unforgiving trials of the shinobi world.

*Sigh*

Sasuke sighed, steeling himself as he readied to face the monstrosity that lay below him in the forest clearing.

As Sasuke poised to unleash his Genjutsu, a low growl emanated from below, arresting his attention. The bear, previously reclined on the forest floor, rose to its full height, locking eyes with him. In that brief moment, the creature's gaze held a flicker of doubt, before transforming swiftly into an unbridled rage as it registered the realisation that it had nearly become the unsuspecting prey of the creature perched on the tree branch above.