At the Ninja Academy's training field, a space was cleared.
This was the stage for Tengen and Hayate's spar.
"Tengen, Hayate, you may spar, but keep it light." The ninja instructor said. "No serious injuries."
This was just a student match. Minor scrapes were fine, but heavy wounds were forbidden. Ninjas were a bloody profession, but these were still students.
This was Konoha's way; nurturing its sparks was paramount.
In a place like the Kirigakure, things would be far grimmer.
Among the great nations, Konoha was arguably the most peaceful ninja village.
"Understood, Sensei." Tengen and Hayate nodded, then charged at each other.
Bam!
Their fists collided. Tengen stood firm, while Hayate staggered back.
"Hah!" Hayate flickered, appearing above Tengen. His right leg swung down like an axe, the sharp gusts whipping Tengen's clothes. Hayate's taijutsu was impressive.
For a kid his age to stand out at the academy, Hayate was no slouch.
Though he'd later peak as a special jounin, he'd become a chunin at thirteen. For now, he was just a kid.
Facing this fierce attack, Tengen didn't dodge. He raised both arms, blocking Hayate's strike.
"So, Hayate, let me show you what strength is." Tengen said with a sly grin. With a twist, he hoisted Hayate up, then sprang into the air, his right leg lashing out like a whip.
"Not good!" Hayate tried to block, but Tengen's speed overwhelmed him, sending him reeling.
In mere moments, their taijutsu clash resembled a duel between genin.
"Wow, Hayate's already strong, but Tengen's on another level!"
"Hayate's getting pushed back. Tengen's clearly dominating."
"Is Tengen going to win?"
"Why's he only showing this now? Maybe he's aiming to graduate early."
"He might just pull it off, revealing this kind of strength."
Anko huffed, impressed despite herself.
The instructor nodded with pride. Seeing standout students in his class was always gratifying.
"Uh-oh!" The instructor's eyes widened as Tengen drew a kunai, flashing toward Hayate. As a chunin, he couldn't intervene in time.
'Someone's going to die!'
He thought while the students gasped.
Hayate's reputation wasn't great, but a death here was unthinkable for kids unaccustomed to bloodshed.
Tengen eyed the kunai piercing Hayate's body, staying alert. With a poof, Hayate turned into a log.
Body Replacement Jutsu.
"Phew." The instructor exhaled, relieved that no one was dead. Their spar was like a real genin fight.
Tengen gripped his kunai, scanning warily. A laugh came from above.
"Tengen, I'm up here!" Hayate descended, hurling six kunai at him.
"Mudada." Tengen was deflecting each kunai with swift strikes of his own.
Hayate's expression shifted. Even this couldn't budge Tengen.
He didn't realize the gap between them. Hayate was barely genin-level, while Tengen was an elite genin, capable of facing average chunin.
Had Tengen used offensive ninjutsu, the fight would've ended faster.
But that might've killed Hayate.
For now, Tengen stuck to basic ninjutsu and taijutsu.
"Hayate, let's end this." Tengen pushed off the ground and vanished from Hayate's sight as he fell.
The students froze.
Where'd Tengen go?
The instructor looked up, spotting Tengen above Hayate. His speed was too fast for the students to track.
"That taijutsu..."
"Where is he?!" Hayate scanned frantically, finding nothing.
A voice whispered in his ear. "I'm above you."
Tengen appeared before Hayate, his right leg slashing down.
Bam!
The force sent Hayate crashing to the ground like a cannonball, kicking up dust.
"Cough, cough!" Hayate wheezed, collapsing, too battered to continue.
Tengen landed calmly beside Anko.
"You're too awesome, Tengen! I can strut around school now!" Anko said, thrilled.
"That's enough." The instructor said quickly. "Tengen held back at the end. Hayate, rest up, and you'll be fine."
"You guys are here!" A childish girl's voice rang out.
Hayate's eyes lit up, recognizing Yugao Uzuki.
"Tengen-senpai, are you okay?" To Hayate's dismay, Yugao rushed to Tengen's side, full of concern.
"I'm fine, Yugao." Tengen said, patting her head.
"Pfft!" Hayate felt like he'd been shot.
"Oof, Hayate, what's wrong? Let's get you to the hospital." The instructor sighed.
And so, our tragic student, Hayate Gekko, exited the stage.
***
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