Mother and daughter wandered through the Academy yard. Asami ignored any frivolous activities, such as engaging the other children in conversation. An unwise idea, she thought. They didn't understand her, and she didn't understand them.
Asami did what any rational person in her position would have done—she observed. Her sharp gaze swept the crowd, scanning for anyone remotely interesting. Her naturally heightened chakra sensitivity aided her.
"..." Little Asami scrutinized the other examinees, analyzing their chakra signatures. None posed a credible threat. Judging by their weak chakra levels, these children were no competition. They were harmless.
The girl with the bob-cut blue hair and pale white eyes stood out. She was shy—visibly trembling, her gaze darting away the moment their eyes met. She seemed to be hiding inside her jacket. Pitiful. The girl lacked even a sliver of self-esteem. Asami pitied her. She looked like she needed a protective hug more than anything.
Then there was the trio beneath the tree: an Akimichi boy munching on chips, a blonde girl with confident eyes, and a bored boy with his hair tied into a ponytail. Their parents stood nearby. They seemed close. So did their children.
"..." Asami suddenly froze. Her senses detected a chakra signature of immense scale—an ancient and overwhelming force that seemed to slumber beneath the surface like a shadow too vast to comprehend. The chakra felt primal and powerful.
Her gaze searched for the source. Was it a high-ranking jonin? Or perhaps the Hokage himself? No.
"..." Her expectations were shattered. Disappointment clouded her features. It was just a boy. A lone blonde boy sitting silently on a swing. His blue eyes radiated raw fury as they stared across the yard, catching her gaze with unwavering intensity.
To think that such immense chakra belonged to someone like him. He was a child, barely older than her. She could defeat him with a pinkie. Such incredible potential wasted on someone so... lost. So weak. He was not worth her attention.
"..." She paused again. Someone was watching her. She felt it. A lingering gaze. Sharp and unflinching. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted him—a boy a few years older, standing near the entrance with an indifferent expression. His posture was relaxed, but his eyes were calculating.
"..." Their stares met. Her deep black eyes locked with his. He didn't flinch. Neither did she. He studied her, and she studied him. A silent battle of wills unfolded between them. His face was stone, unreadable. He was formidable. That made him interesting.
"..." Asami's eyes flicked toward his family. A man stood beside a young child, all of them wearing the same insignia: a fan-shaped crest on their backs. Uchiha. That alone explained everything.
The bell rang. The staring contest was over. The Academy gates opened, signaling the beginning of the entrance exam. Time to part ways.
"..." Asami gave her silent rival a parting gift—a graceful wave paired with her most charming smile. It was enough to throw him off guard again.
"..." The boy stiffened. Her wave had surprised him—again. She smirked as she turned away.
"..." Sasuke sat silently near the Academy gates, scowling. He waited for his older brother to pick him up, his mood soured.
He was furious. Not at the exam, not at himself—but at her. The girl named Asami. He disliked her.
He had trained endlessly for this moment. All his efforts aimed at one goal—earning his brother's praise. Itachi was his role model, the embodiment of perfection. Sasuke wanted to shine, to prove his worth. But a single girl had humbled him. Her skill was undeniable. Everything had begun with the theoretical exam...
...
Sasuke sat at his desk, quietly awaiting the written test. He was calm, focused. His pencils lined up, his mind sharp. But then, the door opened.
A girl walked in. Not just any girl.
She wore a traditional kimono, elegant and embroidered with patterns of gold and silver. Her presence captured every eye in the room. She moved with the grace of nobility. Regal and composed, she walked like royalty.
Sasuke watched her. She was... pretty. Not that he cared. Definitely not. Maybe he blushed slightly. But only slightly.
Still, it didn't matter. She was just another face among many.
Their examiners entered. The whispers fell silent. The test began. Sasuke barely broke a sweat. The questions were simple—child's play.
A kunai struck wood with a dull thud. The blade barely nicked the target's outer ring. Not a miss, but not impressive either.
"Good work, Takumi," the chunin examiner said, marking the results on his clipboard. "Next—Uchiha Sasuke. Step forward."
"Hai," Sasuke replied, walking confidently to the front. The written test was over. Now came the practical exam, held in the Academy's training yard. A sizable crowd of parents had gathered, clapping and cheering.
Students were split into small groups. Sasuke's group, coincidentally, included the princess. He intended to prove himself here.
Target practice was first. Each student received kunai and a designated target.
Sasuke gripped his weapons, his heart resolute. He would stand out. He would show her what an Uchiha could do.
He threw. The kunai sliced through the air and buried itself dead-center in the bull's eye. Perfect.
"Excellent work, Sasuke. Full marks," the examiner praised.
Sasuke tilted his head slightly. "Huh..." That was... easy. His father had told him the Academy wasn't as strict as before. Clearly, he was right. They accepted anyone nowadays.
Then came her name. "Minami Asami."
The girl stepped forward. She still wore that ornate kimono, completely unfazed. No clan symbol marked her robes. She was a civilian—supposedly.
But her chakra... was anything but.
She held the kunai casually, almost mockingly, and threw.
A silver blur crossed the yard. The blade struck the center with such speed that most barely saw it move.
"Another perfect score!" the examiner announced, clearly thrilled. "Impressive. This is shaping up to be a fine group."
Sasuke narrowed his eyes. "..." She wasn't just good. She was dangerous.
It seemed the little princess was a rival he would have to acknowledge.