The First Sparring Session
The second year at the academy had kicked off in full swing, and it wasn't long before the students found themselves facing each other in their first sparring sessions. Haruto stood among his classmates, waiting for his name to be called. His mind was sharp, and his body felt ready. After months of training and constant improvement, he was confident that this year would be different.
Unlike the anime where the female students rarely sparred with the boys, the Hidden Leaf Village academy believed that strength was the only thing that mattered. Gender meant nothing in a world influenced by chakra, where anyone—man or woman—could rise to the top. The academy didn't hold back based on who you were. Here, everyone fought, and everyone earned their place through ability.
Haruto's thoughts were interrupted as the teacher, Rika Toriyama, called out the names for the first sparring match.
"Haruto Takeda, Rin Nohara. You're up."
Haruto's gaze shifted to Rin, the soft-spoken, kind-hearted girl who had always seemed gentle, even in this environment. But this wasn't the place to let kindness interfere. Haruto had seen the aftermath of real battles in the hospital, the gruesome injuries and the bloodied bodies that came in for treatment. He knew that holding back could be a mistake, especially when lives were on the line. This was a world where strength mattered above all else, and Rin would have to face that reality soon enough.
They stepped into the sparring circle, surrounded by their peers. Rin wasn't bad at taijutsu, but Haruto knew it wasn't her specialty. This wouldn't take long.
"Begin," Rika called out.
Haruto didn't waste a second. He rushed forward with precise intent, his movements fluid and fast. In two quick motions, he delivered a solid blow to Rin's stomach, knocking the wind out of her. As she gasped for breath, Haruto swept her legs from beneath her, sending her crashing to the ground. He moved in to deliver the final blow, stopping just short of her face as his fist hovered inches away.
The match was over.
Rin blinked up at him, still dazed, as she struggled to catch her breath. Haruto offered her a hand, pulling her to her feet. It wasn't personal—just reality. Rin had potential, but taijutsu clearly wasn't her strength.
As Haruto returned to his spot, he could feel the weight of someone's gaze on him. Obito Uchiha stood not far away, his expression tight. He had watched Rin's defeat closely, and there was a spark of frustration in his eyes. But before Obito could step forward to challenge Haruto, the teacher called another name.
"Haruto Takeda versus Might Guy."
The atmosphere in the room shifted. The name Guy was synonymous with raw power and determination, even at this age. Haruto felt his muscles tense in anticipation. This was the match he had been waiting for.
Guy stepped forward with his usual infectious energy, his grin wide and confident. He was always full of life, ready to prove himself at every opportunity. Haruto knew this would be a far different fight from the one he just had with Rin.
Rika gave the signal. "Begin."
Guy wasted no time. He exploded forward with a burst of speed, launching a punch toward Haruto. Haruto barely had time to react, his body moving on instinct as he blocked the blow. Guy had gotten stronger since their last encounter. The impact of the punch was intense, sending a shock through Haruto's arms, but he held firm.
The sparring session quickly became a blur of motion. Guy was relentless, throwing punches and kicks with a speed and power that pushed Haruto to his limits. It was a constant barrage of attacks, and Haruto found himself defending more than attacking.
But even as he fought, Haruto noticed something interesting. Everything felt slower. His Tier 2 Cognitive Ability allowed him to anticipate Guy's moves before they came. His mind processed everything with ease, but his body still struggled to keep up. He was just a step behind, not because of lack of skill, but because Guy's natural ability in taijutsu was phenomenal.
Haruto took a punch to the side, feeling the sharp sting of the blow, but he didn't back down. He had pushed his body hard over the last few months, and now it was paying off. His recovery abilities kicked in almost immediately, allowing him to keep going even after taking hits that would have worn him down last year.
The fight raged on, a back-and-forth exchange of blows. Haruto managed to land a few solid hits of his own, but Guy held the initiative. His stamina seemed endless, his energy unyielding. Haruto fought defensively, dodging and blocking as best he could, but Guy's strength and stamina were overwhelming.
Still, Haruto wasn't outmatched. His recovery abilities allowed him to keep pace, and he fought with a calm focus that came from months of intense training. He knew he wasn't going to win in a straight taijutsu fight, but he didn't need to. The key was staying in the fight long enough to force a draw.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity of exchanging blows, the teacher stepped in.
"Enough. Draw."
Haruto straightened up, his chest heaving from the exertion, but he was still standing. Guy grinned at him, his excitement barely contained.
"You're amazing, Haruto! That was a great fight! But next time, I'm going to win for sure!"
Haruto smirked, nodding in return. Guy's enthusiasm was contagious, and though Haruto had fought hard, he couldn't help but admire the boy's boundless energy. It was clear that Guy had improved tremendously since last year, and Haruto had pushed himself just to keep up.
As they left the sparring circle, Haruto felt a deep sense of satisfaction. Guy was an incredible fighter, but Haruto had held his own. His recovery abilities had kept him going, but Guy's stamina and willpower were on another level. It was a draw, but it felt like a victory in its own way.
Haruto knew there was still work to be done. He had survived his first real test of the year, but the challenges ahead would only get tougher. Guy's taijutsu was amazing, but Haruto wasn't discouraged. He was ready to keep pushing, to train harder, and to continue growing stronger.
The year was just beginning, and Haruto was determined to keep up.