Chapter 7 — A Step in Sync
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Morning sunlight spilled across the Academy yard, catching on the faint dust clouds that always hung over the training grounds. Today's class was outdoors — obstacle drills.
"Alright, brats!" barked Instructor Ishikawa, clapping his hands once. "You'll be running the course in pairs. Teamwork matters more than speed — fail to coordinate and you start over."
Groans echoed through the class.
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Akira tilted his head, scanning the field — low hurdles, balance beams, a rope climb, and a final dummy target at the end. He already knew the rhythm of the course. Timing, positioning, chakra control… easy.
Beside him, a familiar mop of silver hair caught his attention. Kakashi was scanning the obstacles too, expression unreadable.
Ishikawa read the pairings from a scroll.
"Hatake Kakashi… Uchiha Akira."
A small ripple went through the class.
Figures, Akira thought. Let's see if Mr. Genius can keep up.
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As they stepped forward, a voice piped up from the back.
"Oi, oi, Akira! Don't get smoked too badly, yeah?"
Akira turned just in time to see Shisui grinning, leaning on the fence with casual swagger. The boy's dark eyes sparkled with mischief.
"I'll try to keep my dignity, Shisui," Akira replied dryly.
Kakashi didn't even glance back. "…You're both loud."
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The Whistle Blows
They shot forward at the same time. Akira cleared the first hurdles effortlessly, matching Kakashi's pace without pushing ahead.
"Don't slow me down," Kakashi muttered.
"I was going to say the same thing," Akira shot back, landing lightly from a vault.
Balance beam — Kakashi sprinted it without hesitation, Akira right behind him. Rope climb — Kakashi took the left rope, Akira the right, both reaching the top in near-perfect sync.
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He's fast, Akira admitted inwardly, pulling himself over the ledge. But predictable. If I…
Without warning, Akira swung across a lower beam, cutting the corner to the next obstacle. Kakashi's single visible eye narrowed — and then he adjusted his own path to match without missing a beat.
For a moment, neither spoke — just the sound of breath, the thud of feet, and the quiet challenge between them.
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They hit the final stretch — the dummy target.
"I'll take the left flank," Akira called.
"Too late, I'm already there." Kakashi lunged in — only for Akira to twist around him, striking the target's back at the same instant Kakashi's kunai met the chest.
The instructor blinked. "Perfect sync… Huh. Didn't expect that."
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They stepped back, breathing lightly.
Kakashi glanced sideways. "…Not bad."
Akira smirked. "Same to you."
From the fence, Shisui cupped his hands around his mouth. "You two looked like a married couple out there!"
Akira's eye twitched. "I will end you, Shisui."
Kakashi didn't say anything — but under his mask, Akira swore he saw the hint of a smile.
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From the rooftop beyond the training yard, a faint chakra signature lingered. Akira didn't look toward it, but his Byakugan flicked on just for a heartbeat. Still watching, huh…?
He exhaled slowly. Then watch. I'm not the one who'll blink first.