Three weeks had passed since Iruka banned sparring at the Academy.
During this period, classes in the courtyard were reduced to sweat, calluses, and falls. The civilian children, and even the clan heirs, were forced to repeat the katas exhaustively. They learned how to fall without getting hurt, how to roll to absorb impacts, and how to keep their center of gravity low.
To most, it was torturous boredom. To Matsuri, it was like finding water in the desert.
He absorbed every anatomical detail of the training. At home, he spent hours in the backyard, merging that new solid foundation with the ideas of his Interception Style. His childish muscles ached, but he could already feel the difference. His steps were firmer, his balance almost unshakeable.
Finally, the day everyone was waiting for had arrived.
"Alright, class," Iruka called out in the center of the courtyard, clipboard in hand. "You have built the foundation. Today, let's see how you apply it under pressure. We will begin the sparring sessions."
A cheer of excitement echoed through the class. Naruto jumped up and down, punching the air, while Sakura and Ino were already arguing about who would cheer louder for Sasuke.
Matsuri, wearing his dark outfit and the mask over his face, merely relaxed his shoulders. Before heading down to the courtyard, he had left his wooden sword leaning against the classroom wall. Today was strictly Taijutsu.
The first matches were predictable. Naruto was paired with a random boy, and despite having a lot of energy and stamina, he fought so messily that he ended up tripping and losing by pin down.
Sasuke, on the other hand, won his match in less than five seconds, taking down his opponent with a fast, precise kick. The choir of girls screaming his name was deafening.
Sasuke returned to the shadows beneath a tree, leaning against the trunk with his hands in his pockets, clearly bored. The level of his classmates was pathetic.
"Next match," Iruka called out. "Kiba Inuzuka versus Matsuri Haruno. Step into the center and perform the Seal of Confrontation."
Kiba ran to the center, a small white puppy resting comfortably inside his jacket.
"Sorry, Matsuri!" Kiba grinned, showing his pointed teeth. "Akamaru and I won't go easy on you just because we trained together in the forest!"
Matsuri walked to the center with an unsettling calmness. Unlike Kiba, whose adrenaline was pumping, Matsuri closed his eyes for a second and activated his Nature Breathing. The cold air filled his lungs, and his heartbeat stabilized.
He raised his right hand and formed the Seal of Confrontation, using his index and middle fingers, while Kiba did the same.
"Begin!" Iruka shouted.
Kiba didn't waste a millisecond. Driven by his wild instincts, he lunged forward like a small predator. With a low jump, he threw a violent cross punch, aiming straight for Matsuri's face.
Most of the children in the audience stepped back, frightened by the Inuzuka's ferocity.
Beneath the tree, Sasuke opened one eye, fully expecting to see the pink-haired boy get thrown to the dirt.
But Matsuri didn't step back.
Applying the Konoha katas he had trained to exhaustion over the past weeks, he lowered his center of gravity, bending his knees. When Kiba's fist was mere inches from his face, Matsuri slid his left foot forward, stepping inside his opponent's guard.
Using his right arm, Matsuri didn't try to block Kiba's brute force head-on. Instead, he palmed Kiba's forearm, redirecting the punch to the side. The momentum forced Kiba to keep moving forward, losing his balance.
Simultaneously, following the principle of interception, Matsuri used his left arm to strike Kiba's shoulder joint, forcing him downward, while delivering a surgical sweep to the Inuzuka's supporting leg.
It was fast, fluid, and silent.
BAM.
Kiba's back hit the dirt hard, kicking up a small cloud of dust. Before the wild boy could even react, Matsuri already had his knee lightly pressing against Kiba's chest, holding his arm in a simple joint lock.
The class fell into dead silence. The fight had lasted exactly three seconds.
Sasuke, who was leaning against the tree, involuntarily straightened his posture. His dark eyes widened slightly.
He didn't use strength, Sasuke analyzed, his Uchiha pride being poked by curiosity. He used Kiba's own weight against him. There wasn't a single wasted movement. It was... perfect.
"Ow, ow, ow! I give up! Let go, man!" Kiba slapped his free hand on the ground, laughing out of frustration.
"Match over! Winner, Matsuri," Iruka announced, unable to hide his surprise. He had expected a good performance, but the boy's clinical efficiency exceeded his expectations.
Matsuri immediately released Kiba and extended a hand to help his friend up.
"Perform the Seal of Reconciliation," Iruka instructed.
They intertwined their fingers in a sign of shinobi respect and camaraderie.
"Damn, Matsuri!" Kiba exclaimed, dusting off his jacket while Akamaru barked in approval. "You got strong! Where did you get that move? It felt like I hit a rubber wall!"
"Just basic physics, Kiba," Matsuri replied, his voice muffled by the mask as he patted his friend's shoulder. "You have a lot of power. Next time, don't throw all your weight into the first strike."
As he walked back to the edge of the courtyard, Matsuri felt that familiar heavy presence in the air. Without turning his neck, his enhanced senses pinpointed the direction.
He met Sasuke Uchiha's gaze across the yard. There was no pity or contempt in the heir's eyes, only a cold assessment and a silent challenge.
Matsuri simply blinked slowly and looked away, returning to his spot in the back. He had shown exactly what he wanted, to the right person.
[Author's Note]
Hello everyone, I hope you are enjoying Matsuri's journey! Writing and planning each chapter takes a lot of time, dedication, and effort (even more so dealing with hand pain from the keyboard!). If you like my work, believe in the potential of this story, and want to encourage me to keep posting frequently, please consider supporting me with any amount. Every bit of help makes a huge difference and motivates me a lot!
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