Chapter 28 – A Day Without the Toad Sage
The sun broke through the morning mist, painting the Uchiha district in soft gold. It was quieter than usual — not because the clan was absent, but because Akira's usual morning routine had changed. Jiraiya had left for a mission two days ago, leaving Akira without his towering, eccentric mentor at his side.
For the first time in weeks, Akira's morning felt… empty. No booming laughter, no outrageous comments, no sudden detours into "training methods" that often looked more like pranks than lessons. Just silence.
Akira finished his breakfast quickly, tugged on his clothes, and stepped outside into the crisp air. He wanted to train, but training alone felt incomplete now. His feet carried him instinctively toward the familiar road to the academy.
When he arrived, the yard was lively with students sparring, shouting, and showing off small tricks. Akira's golden Byakugan flickered for a moment, scanning the crowd until his gaze settled on one figure leaning against a tree: Kakashi.
Silver hair caught the light, his posture relaxed but his eyes sharp as ever. Both of them.
Akira walked over, and Kakashi lifted his head just slightly, acknowledging him.
"You're alone today," Kakashi remarked, his voice neutral but tinged with curiosity.
"Jiraiya-sensei's gone on a mission," Akira replied, folding his arms. "So I've got the day free. Thought I'd train here."
Kakashi studied him for a long moment, then straightened.
"Training alone is pointless. You'll never know your weaknesses if you don't fight someone who can see them."
Akira smirked faintly. "You volunteering?"
Without another word, Kakashi stepped into the yard. The other academy students quickly noticed, giving them space. A hush fell — everyone knew these two were on another level compared to the rest.
Akira activated his golden Byakugan, veins surfacing around his eyes. Kakashi's gaze sharpened, both of his dark eyes narrowing as he raised his guard.
The spar began.
Kakashi was quick, darting in with speed that left blurs in his wake. Akira read his movements, the Byakugan mapping each strike, but Kakashi's precision kept him constantly on edge. Akira countered with fluid rotations, palm strikes aimed at Kakashi's tenketsu, but Kakashi always slipped just outside their reach.
Steel clashed when Kakashi drew a kunai, testing Akira's reaction. Akira caught the movement, twisting his wrist and deflecting the blade with chakra-coated fingertips. The clash echoed through the yard.
The fight stretched on, neither yielding. Kakashi's stamina and speed pressed Akira, but Akira's vision and adaptability kept him in the game. By the time they both stepped back, panting lightly, the entire academy yard was silent in awe.
Kakashi lowered his kunai. "Not bad," he admitted. "You're sharper than before."
Akira smirked, though sweat clung to his forehead. "You too. You've got no wasted movements. It's like fighting someone twice your age."
Something flickered across Kakashi's face — not quite pride, not quite annoyance. Then he looked away.
For a moment, Akira felt something unspoken between them. Not rivalry. Not friendship, either. Something deeper, harder to name.
He didn't press it. Instead, he straightened and exhaled slowly.
"Guess a day without the Toad Sage wasn't wasted after all."
Kakashi gave the faintest of smirks before turning his gaze skyward.
"Don't get used to training without him. If Jiraiya chose you, there's a reason. Don't let it go to waste."
The words were sharp, but Akira heard the meaning beneath them.
He nodded once.
"Yeah. I won't."
The two of them walked back toward the academy steps in silence, the whispers of awestruck students following behind them like shadows.
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