The sun hung high over the training grounds as Kakashi waited for his classmates to arrive. He had been there for a while, already going through his morning routine, practicing on his own. For Kakashi, sparring with the other students had become almost monotonous. None of them could push him the way he needed. No one seemed to take the matches seriously enough to be a challenge.
When Obito and Rin appeared, Kakashi barely glanced up, already anticipating Obito's usual loud declarations. But today, there was someone else with them—Haruto Takeda.
Haruto wasn't like the others. He didn't seek attention, nor did he ever show off during class. He was quiet, serious, and precise. Kakashi had noticed this about him from the start. He had the look of an orphan, no family name or clan to support him. But there was something about the way Haruto moved, the way he fought in the rare sparring sessions—they were always intense, always measured.
Kakashi knew he fought like someone who had nothing to lose.
"How about you?" Kakashi asked, his gaze shifting from Obito to Haruto. He was curious to see what Haruto would do. Despite being an orphan with no formal background, Haruto's fights were always serious, calculated.
Haruto didn't hesitate. "Alright," he said, stepping forward, his expression as calm and focused as ever.
The Sparring Match
As they squared off, Kakashi immediately fell into his usual rhythm. He analyzed every movement, every shift in Haruto's stance. Haruto was serious, just like always—there were no jokes, no unnecessary movements. Everything Haruto did in combat had a purpose, from his defensive posture to the precise way he blocked Kakashi's strikes.
From the first exchange, Kakashi noticed something unusual. Haruto's movements were smooth, almost too fluid. There was a familiarity in his technique that wasn't typical of an Academy student. He wasn't simply using shinobi-style taijutsu—there was something else woven into his fighting style.
Kakashi attacked again, faster this time, testing Haruto's reactions. Haruto blocked and countered, his face still unreadable. He wasn't trying to overwhelm Kakashi with brute force or speed. He was playing defensively, calculating every move.
He's playing the long game, Kakashi realized. Haruto wasn't looking to win in the short term—he was trying to outlast him. But there was more to it than just tactics. As the fight wore on, Kakashi could see it—Haruto wasn't tiring. In fact, it was almost like he was recovering faster than expected.
Kakashi narrowed his eyes. Something's different. Haruto's breath, his stamina—it didn't match the level of exertion. His body seemed to recover more quickly than most, even during an intense sparring match.
Interesting, Kakashi thought. How does an orphan with no formal training have this kind of stamina?
Ending the Fight
But Kakashi wasn't one to drag things out longer than necessary. Haruto's long-game approach was clever, but Kakashi knew how to handle it. He increased the pace, pushing Haruto harder, forcing him to react faster. Haruto's movements were still precise, still controlled, but Kakashi could see the strain building.
In a fluid motion, Kakashi swept Haruto's legs from under him and moved in for the takedown. Before Haruto could fully recover, Kakashi was already behind him, locking his arm and pushing him down to the ground.
The fight was over.
Kakashi released Haruto and stood, offering him a hand. "You held out longer than I expected," he said, studying Haruto's expression. There was no frustration, no disappointment—just the same calm, serious focus Haruto always carried.
Haruto took the hand, standing up without a word. He brushed the dirt from his new clothes, his face still unreadable. "I had a plan," he said, his voice steady. "But you saw through it."
Kakashi nodded. "You recover faster than most. But dragging out a fight against someone faster won't always work."
Haruto didn't respond, but Kakashi could see that his mind was already analyzing the fight, considering what he could have done differently. Serious as always, Kakashi thought. He never lets anything slide.
Obito's Turn
Before Kakashi could reflect further, Obito stepped forward, full of his usual energy. "My turn!" he declared, clearly eager to show what he could do.
Kakashi turned to face Obito, though his thoughts lingered on Haruto. Obito was fast, faster than Haruto in terms of raw speed, but he lacked the discipline and control that Haruto displayed. Obito's attacks were wild, unfocused, driven by emotion rather than strategy.
The fight with Obito played out as expected. He charged in, throwing everything he had at Kakashi, but his lack of precision made it easy for Kakashi to counter. Within moments, Kakashi had Obito on the ground as well, though this time with more ease.
"Next time!" Obito shouted, his frustration evident. "I'll get you next time!"
Kakashi gave a slight nod, acknowledging Obito's effort, though his mind was already elsewhere.
Reflections
As Kakashi walked off the training grounds, his thoughts returned to Haruto. There was something about the way Haruto fought—serious, focused, always with a plan. But more than that, it was Haruto's recovery that stuck out. Kakashi knew stamina when he saw it, and Haruto's was far beyond what should have been possible for a kid with no clan, no teacher, and no special training.
Where did he learn this? Kakashi wondered. Haruto was supposed to be an orphan, with no formal background before entering the Academy. Yet his discipline and recovery were unusual, almost unnatural.
Kakashi couldn't help but feel a growing curiosity. Haruto was hiding something—whether it was his past or something else, Kakashi wasn't sure yet. But one thing was certain: Haruto was more than he appeared to be.
Interesting, Kakashi thought. Very interesting.