Chapter 18 — Fang and Gold
The children of Konoha scattered like startled birds. Some tripped and fell, others bolted for the trees, their shouts filling the training ground. The instructors barked orders, but three enemy shinobi had already broken formation and surged toward the heart of the chaos.
One of them lunged for the smallest Hyūga in the group.
He never made it.
A pale hand shot out, catching his wrist mid-strike. Akira's gold-flecked eyes gleamed as he met the stranger's stare. "You'll regret touching my friends."
The man hissed, twisting his arm to stab again. Steel flashed.
Clang!
The kunai met Kakashi's short blade, sparks scattering. The silver-haired boy's stance was steady, his eyes sharp despite his age. "Don't think you'll walk away from this," he said coolly.
The Iwa-nin's lip curled. "Brats."
---
A second shadow burst from the underbrush, targeting Kakashi's flank. Akira pivoted, his Byakugan whirring to life. He struck once, twice — clean, surgical taps of chakra into the man's wrist and shoulder. The enemy's grip faltered, his kunai clattering to the ground.
Kakashi didn't waste the opening. He drove his blade forward, nicking the man's mask and forcing him back.
"Two each?" Akira said quietly, glancing sideways.
Kakashi's expression didn't change, but his lips twitched. "Fine. Just keep up."
---
The training field erupted.
Three Iwa shinobi against two gifted children — but these weren't ordinary children.
Kakashi moved like water, his strikes fast and precise, his Sharingan-less eyes still sharper than most adults'.
Akira was different — his style elegant, almost dance-like, weaving around blows, golden Byakugan mapping every chakra point, every twitch of muscle before it landed.
Together, they were seamless.
---
The first Iwa ninja snarled, leaping back to weave hand seals.
"Earth Release—!"
"Not today," Akira muttered. He blurred forward, two fingers pressing against the man's chest. Chakra surged, disrupting the forming jutsu midstream. The enemy choked, his jutsu collapsing in sparks of earth chakra gone wild.
At the same instant, Kakashi feinted low and drove his blade across the second ninja's thigh, forcing him to stumble. Blood spattered the grass.
"You're just kids!" the injured man spat.
Kakashi's eyes narrowed. "And you're too slow."
---
The third Iwa shinobi finally joined the fray, his strikes heavier, more disciplined — a squad leader. His kunai arced toward Akira's throat—blocked at the last instant by Kakashi's blade.
"Focus on your side," Akira chided softly, twisting to drive his palm into the man's ribs. "I'll handle mine."
Kakashi clicked his tongue. "Tch. Don't order me around."
But he shifted anyway, covering the second ninja with ruthless efficiency.
---
The battle turned into rhythm — strike, block, counter, retreat.
Sweat gleamed on their brows, but neither boy faltered.
And then, as if by unspoken agreement, they pushed together.
Kakashi slid under a wild swing, slashing his enemy's weapon arm. At the same time, Akira forced chakra into his fingertips and struck the squad leader's shoulder, numbing the limb completely. Both enemies staggered back.
For a heartbeat, silence.
The children stood tall, side by side, eyes burning with the fire of Konoha.
---
The squad leader hissed through his teeth, clutching his limp arm. "This isn't worth it. Retreat!"
The Iwa shinobi melted into the forest as fast as they'd appeared, abandoning their mission.
The training ground fell quiet except for the ragged breaths of the children who'd watched it all.
---
Kakashi lowered his blade, eyes still fixed on the treeline. "They'll be back," he muttered.
Akira let his Byakugan fade, his golden eyes soft again. He glanced sideways at Kakashi, his voice calm but firm. "Then we'll be ready next time."
And for the first time, Kakashi didn't argue.
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