Game of the Year: A Naruto Quest

Ahh, Rivalry. It is the beautiful dance of two Leaves as they Stoke The FIRES Of Each Other's YOUTH! - Maito Gai, The Green Beast of Konoha

It's the second to last day of class. Your final exams, and with them your genin headband are coming tomorrow. Naturally, you're rather pleased with the situation. You're still a long, long way from your goal, but with your spot as Rookie of the Year all but set in stone, today feels like the first step on that journey.

You saunter into the classroom and take your usual seat in the back of the class. It's unfortunate that you're far enough from the teacher's eye that your "fans" feel bold enough to bother you during class, but at least there's nobody behind you this way.

The day starts off with a soundtrack of groans and one particularly wolfish grin as Iruka-Sensei declares that today you'll be doing a surprise examination on your bunshin skills. You're not worried, you've got the clone technique down pat and then some.

You scoff contemptuously as Iruka goes through the first row, honestly the technique isn't that hard, how does Naruto fail at it so thoroughly?

Whatever. You shrug the thought off as you turn your attention back to Iruka and the student he's examining. Oh, this should be good, he's not quite as incompetent as everyone else.

You're taken aback as you look at Sasuke Uchiha - no wait, you're Sasuke Uchiha!

You blink, stunned at Daisuke Satomura's downright perfect replica of you, from the hair you keep perfectly styled, to your eyes that could (and would, one day) send shivers down the spine of even the strongest shinobi, to your imperious expression. It's unbecoming to gawk, but the way he looks and acts like you is almost uncanny, like you're staring into a mirror you didn't know was there.

Daisuke reverts back to his normal self with a particularly smug grin, and that exact moment is when you resolve to wipe it off his face.

Iruka eventually gets to you, and your own bunshin is obviously flawless, but you can't help but feel like you lost. When the hell did Satomura get so damn good at the clone technique!?

Well, you shrug to yourself. You knew he was a worthy rival from day one. It's only natural that he'd begin to approach your skill level until you outstripped him permanently thanks to your heritage. Besides, isn't there a saying that the worth of a shinobi can be determined by looking at his enemies? Thus, it's only natural that a powerful shinobi such as yourself ought to have a powerful rival.

The class proceeds to Taijutsu practice, where you really shine. You feel your blood begin to pump as you psych yourself up for a spar with Satomura, after his showing in class just now, you'll have to remind him who's boss lest he get a big head all of a sudden.

You are, unfortunately, thoroughly disappointed when instead of your usual sparring partner and rival, you end up with Choji Akimichi. Honestly, with his mass and clan techniques, he'd be a pretty good fighter if he was a bit more aggressive. But he's not, so he isn't.

Well, you suppose that since today seems to be test day, the instructors must already know where you stand - at the top of the heap - so they're putting you up against a mediocre student while they rank everyone else.

You put Choji down in five seconds flat. You're not angry, just… frustrated. You look over at your rival's ring and -

WHOOMP

What. The. Hell.

You see the kid Daisuke's up against - you can't remember his name for the life of you - just get blown away by your rival, who sheathes his sword like he didn't just blast his classmate out of the ring and starts staring into space.

Iruka-Sensei stares openly for a moment before coming back to his senses and blowing the whistle. "That's enough!" He calls. "That's enough for this round! Now everyone, move to your left and switch partners!"

You feel, and immediately quash, a brief thrill of fear as you realize who your next matchup is. He moves slowly, casually, really it should be called a stroll, up to your ring before he even looks up at you.

Unbeknownst to you, you feel your lips twitching into the beginnings of a fierce grin. Now THIS is a challenge fit for you!

"Fits," you say with a shrug, thinking back to the very first sparring match you had at this academy. "We started by fighting. Last spar should be ours too."

He nods, glancing around 'casually', you feel your lips twitch as you catch Mizuki-Sensei keeping an eye on your ring out of the corner of your eye. You don't look of course, right now Satomura has your full and undivided attention.

"Hn. What do you suppose they're looking at?"

Satomura shrugs, the attention of the teachers slides like water off his back. "They probably want to see who's better."

You feel your fists clench, your eyes narrow. Well, you suppose it's been some time since you had the chance to properly prove your superiority. "They know whose better. You may inch me out in hand-to-hand, but I outclass you in every other way."

"For now," he smirks, "let's see if you still feel that way after we're done here."

You realize your teeth are grinding as you've involuntarily clenched your jaw. You take a moment to loosen it as you grit out your next words. "Fine. Do you want to make this interesting?"

He just watches you placidly, like he thinks he can take all you can dish out and more. You feel your mind settle in and get ready for combat, you'll show him you're right, that you outstrip him by far. "No limitations. We both use whatever we can and go all out. First one to submit or fall unconscious loses."

His hand falls to his sword's hilt as he drops into his stance. Starting out with his strengths, huh? Well, you suppose that's not a terrible idea.

"Sounds fair. Ready?"

Your hands form the seal of confrontation and he mimics you.

"Let's do this."

His eyes dilate for a fraction of a second before refocusing on you.

"Ready?" Iruka-Sensei calls from the sidelines. "Fight!"

In a world where we maxed manipulation:

Hah, you that it was Crack, but it was me ANGST! - The little gremlins living in Rhodes's head

"Ready?" Iruka-Sensei calls from the sidelines. "Fight!"

The first moments of the match are probing taijutsu strikes. Neither of you has reached for your weapons yet.

You dart back as your grey-haired rival closes the distance. The taijutsu exchange is brief and brutal, and you both take hits before jumping back to recoup.

"You know," he says, "I just thought of something."

Your eyes narrow, looking for a trap or some kind of misdirection. You find nothing, and took a couple of hits more than he did, so the brief interlude can only be to your advantage.

"What?" You ask

"I just realized," Daisuke says, breathing heavily, "whoever wins this fight is probably going to be Rookie of the Year."

You scoff, rolling your eyes. "Duh, you just now realized that?"

"Well, I mean… Do you really want it?"

Your eyes narrow. Is this some kind of trick? "Of course I do, what, do you not?"

Daisuke shrugs, stepping out of his combat stance. "I mean, not really." You could attack right now, end the fight he apparently wants to lose. But… it wouldn't prove anything. That's the only reason you hesitate. "Seriously, think about it. Is being the Rookie even worth it?"

Your brow furrows as you glare at him "Of course it is! It proves you're better than everyone else in class!"

Daisuke just rolls his eyes, "We already both know we're better than everyone else in class. Think about it practically. What does being Rookie of the Year even mean? It's just a made up award to get us to 'try our best'."

You growl at him, you don't want to admit it, but… is there any reason you want to be the Rookie - aside from proving yourself the best?

"And seriously, think about the disadvantages!"

"Like what?" You venture, even as you feel yourself stepping into a trap. It doesn't matter, as he is now, distracted by his pontifications, you can take him down in a second or less.

"Like…" Daisuke blows out a breath and gestures widely with his arms. "Like, if you're the rookie, then a bunch of people are gonna expect stuff from you, y'know?"

"That doesn't seem like an issue to me."

"Sure, if they just expected stuff and did nothing about it, then fine. But there's probably going to be a ceremony crowning you Rookie, then they'll want you to show off your skills, then they'll probably end up pairing you off with some lazy-ass Sensei and the dead last, expecting you to carry the team! Think about how much time that would take away from your training!"

Your eyes widen as you realize Daisuke might have a point. You remember back when you were a kid how busy It- that man was, how often he was sent out on missions, how he was never home, never had time to train, never had time to spend with you.

"On top of that, if you become Rookie, you'll be popular." The way Daisuke says the last word is filled with such disgust that it nearly mirrors your own.

"The fangirls are already nigh-unbearable, but at least we split their attentions, y'know? Imagine what it'll be like if you alone become the Rookie. That means you alone would get all the attention!"

You feel your face pale, literally feel the blood draining from it. "No…"

"Yes. That's why, Sasuke, I'm sorry but I-"

"I surrender!" You cry out. You regret that you left your rival with this fate, but your ambition is too important for you to waste any time on this non-

You look up at his smug, grinning face. "Well, I guess that means I win, doesn't it."

It takes you a moment to comprehend what just happened, then you burst into a fit of rage, "What! No! I! YOU! THAT'S CHEATING!"

Daisuke just shrugs, "You said 'until one of us submits or falls unconscious', you submitted, thus you lose."

"YOU BASTARD!" You roar, flying at that smug asshole, only for Iruka-Sensei to swoop in and stop you. "THAT'S NOT FAIR, I'M BETTER THAN HIM, I'M BETTER!" You cry out, shutting your eyes against the shameful tears you feel forming in their corners. He was supposed to be your friend! Your rival! You were supposed to prove you were better than him not… not get all twisted up and confused because of his stupid words!

If you had had them open, you might have seen Daisuke's gaze go unfocused for a second, before crumpling into a guilt-ridden façade. But they're not, so you don't.

"Hey Sasuke…"

"What!?"

"I… I'm sorry, it wasn't. I didn't mean." He stops, takes a deep breath. "We should fight. For real this time, no word tricks, no manipulation.

"Y-you mean it?" You ask. You hate the pleading note in your voice, the desperation. You hate him for having heard it, for having seen your teary eyes, but-

But this time around, you'll show him who's better.