Ryo adjusted the shinobi pouch at his waist, its weight unfamiliar yet oddly grounding. He stood in the middle of the training ground, a wide clearing bordered by towering trees. The air was still, save for the occasional chirping of birds. The light filtering through the leaves bathed the ground in a patchwork of gold and shadow.
Kakashi stood across from him, relaxed yet alert, one hand holding his ever-present book. His lazy demeanor belied the sharpness of his gaze, which tracked Ryo with an intensity that made him feel like an insect under a magnifying glass.
"This is simple," Kakashi began, shutting the book with a snap and slipping it into his pouch. "I want to see what you're capable of. No lethal moves. And try not to destroy the training ground."
"Got it," Ryo replied, the weight of the System pulsing faintly in his mind. His peripheral vision was alive with a faint blue overlay, presenting his stats and skills as if daring him to unleash them all. But he couldn't. Not here. Not now.
Kakashi's visible eye curved upward in a smile.
"Good. Let's begin."
The words had barely left Kakashi's mouth before he disappeared.
Ryo's instincts screamed at him, and he ducked just in time to avoid a kunai that sliced through the air where his head had been. The weapon embedded itself in a tree with a solid thunk.
He twisted, searching for Kakashi, but the jōnin was nowhere to be seen. The clearing felt too quiet, the usual forest sounds drowned out by the pounding of Ryo's heart.
Behind you, the System warned.
Ryo spun on his heel, raising his arms just in time to block a kick aimed at his ribs. The force of the blow sent him skidding back, his feet digging shallow grooves into the dirt. Kakashi landed gracefully, kunai in hand, his posture as casual as if they were discussing the weather.
"Quick reflexes," Kakashi remarked, twirling the kunai lazily. "But reflexes alone won't save you."
Ryo narrowed his eyes, adrenaline sharpening his focus. He wasn't about to let Kakashi dictate the pace of this fight.
He darted forward, his movements fluid thanks to the System's automatic enhancements. Drawing a kunai of his own, he slashed at Kakashi, who parried effortlessly. The clash of metal on metal echoed through the clearing as the two exchanged rapid blows, their movements blurring with speed.
Kakashi pressed the attack, forcing Ryo to retreat under a relentless barrage of strikes. Each slash and stab came with pinpoint precision, testing Ryo's reactions.
He's gauging me, Ryo realized, deflecting another blow. Looking for openings. Trying to figure me out.
Deciding to change tactics, Ryo leaped backward, putting some distance between them. He formed a quick sequence of hand seals, the motions smooth and practiced thanks to Instant Mastery.
"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!" he shouted, releasing a massive orb of flames.
The fire roared to life, illuminating the clearing as it surged toward Kakashi. The jōnin's eye widened slightly, the only indication that he hadn't expected such a precise execution. He flipped backward, avoiding the flames with ease, but his casual demeanor shifted ever so slightly.
"Well, that's interesting," Kakashi muttered, landing softly on a tree branch.
Ryo didn't give him time to analyze further. He darted toward Kakashi, channeling chakra to his feet for a burst of speed. In a heartbeat, he was in the air, launching a spinning kick toward Kakashi's head.
Kakashi blocked with his forearm, the impact sending a sharp jolt up both their limbs. But Kakashi's counterattack came almost instantly—a downward strike aimed at Ryo's exposed flank.
Ryo twisted mid-air, narrowly avoiding the kunai, and landed in a crouch. He immediately launched himself forward again, this time aiming a flurry of punches and kicks at Kakashi.
The exchange was fast and brutal, their movements blurring as they clashed repeatedly. Ryo could feel the strain of holding back. The System whispered in the back of his mind, offering countless ways to end the fight instantly—an overwhelming firestorm, a precise lightning strike, or even a technique to disable Kakashi without harming him.
But he couldn't risk it.
Kakashi suddenly vanished again, his body flickering like a mirage. Ryo's eyes darted around the clearing, searching for his opponent.
Above you, the System alerted.
Ryo looked up just in time to see Kakashi descending from the canopy, kunai aimed straight for him. Reacting instinctually, Ryo rolled to the side, avoiding the strike by a hair's breadth. Kakashi's kunai hit the ground with a sharp clang, kicking up dirt and leaves.
"You're holding back," Kakashi said, straightening. His voice carried a note of curiosity, his eye studying Ryo like a puzzle to be solved. "Why?"
Ryo hesitated, wiping sweat from his brow. He couldn't exactly say, I'm an interdimensional traveler with godlike powers trying not to destabilize your world.
"Let's just say I prefer not to go all out unless I have to," Ryo replied cryptically, brushing off his clothes.
Kakashi tilted his head, his eye narrowing slightly. "Interesting answer. Let's see if you stick to it."
Before Ryo could respond, Kakashi attacked again, faster this time. The jōnin's movements were a blur, his strikes coming from every angle. Ryo barely managed to keep up, deflecting and dodging with everything he had.
Deciding to switch tactics, Ryo formed another set of hand seals.
"Wind Style: Gale Palm!"
A powerful gust of wind exploded from his palms, tearing through the clearing and sending leaves and debris flying. Kakashi leaped backward, caught off guard by the sudden change in element.
"You're full of surprises," Kakashi remarked his tone light but his stance more cautious now.
Ryo smirked, but inside, he was anything but confident. Did I overdo it?
The fight continued, with Kakashi pushing him harder and harder. Ryo found himself adapting on the fly, using a combination of elemental jutsu and close-quarters combat to keep Kakashi at bay. The jōnin, however, remained one step ahead, countering every move with an almost infuriating ease.
Finally, Kakashi landed a solid blow, his foot connecting with Ryo's chest and sending him sprawling to the ground.
"That's enough," Kakashi said, lowering his kunai. His voice was calm, but there was a glint of something unreadable in his eye.
Ryo lay on the ground for a moment, breathing heavily. Despite the System's enhancements, the mental strain of holding back and calculating every move had left him exhausted.
"Well?" he asked, pushing himself to his feet. "Did I pass?"
Kakashi didn't answer immediately. He tucked his kunai away and pulled out his book again, flipping it open as if the fight had been nothing more than a casual exercise.
"You're skilled," Kakashi said finally, his tone measured. "Too skilled for a random traveler. But you're not reckless, and you don't seem like a threat—for now."
Ryo raised an eyebrow. "For now?"
Kakashi's visible eye crinkled in what might have been a smile. "Consider this a provisional pass. Don't give me a reason to change my mind."
Ryo nodded, relief washing over him. But as Kakashi walked away, Ryo couldn't shake the feeling that he'd been exposed, if only a little.
Later That Evening
Ryo sat on the edge of the small cot in the guest room he'd been assigned, staring out the window. The moon hung high in the sky, its pale light casting long shadows across the room.
The fight replayed in his mind on an endless loop. Kakashi's words, his movements, the subtle shifts in his demeanor—it all felt like a puzzle Ryo couldn't quite piece together.
"You did well," the System chimed in, its voice as calm and detached as ever.
"Did I?" Ryo muttered. He leaned back against the wall, his thoughts swirling. "He knows I'm hiding something. They all will eventually."
The System was silent for a moment before responding. "Trust is earned, not given. You've taken the first step. Now, you must decide how much of yourself you're willing to reveal."
Ryo sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Easier said than done."
He closed his eyes, letting the exhaustion of the day wash over him. But even as sleep began to claim him, a nagging thought lingered in the back of his mind.
Kakashi's watching me. And if he's suspicious... how long before the rest of the village is too?