Konoha, Central Commercial Street.
The afternoon sun warmed the flagstones, and shop banners fluttered in the breeze.
Mamoru pushed through the curtain and strolled out of a frozen-drink shop. The glare made him shield his eyes. He stepped into the shade, leaned against cool stone, tore the wrapper off a popsicle and stuck it in his mouth.
The chill swept through him, driving out the summer heat. He sighed contentedly, head back against the wall.
He'd skipped class again. So what if he got punished?
A soft whoosh overhead made him glance up. Three figures flitted across the rooftops, and vanished among the buildings.
He recognized them instantly: up front, the thick-browed Lee. Behind him, agile Tenten with her twin buns. Last, white-clad Neji, face stern.
Mamoru's eyes narrowed, a playful grin forming. He crunched the last of the popsicle, tossed the stick into a bin, and headed for a mask shop.
The doorbell chimed as he entered. Dim light, walls crowded with fox, demon, and animal masks—colorful, eerie.
The shopkeeper dusting shelves brightened. "Hey, kid, take a look. Fancy any style?"
Mamoru scanned the rows, and pointed. "The fox one. I'll take it."
...
A rooftop nearby.
"Should be here." Tenten said, pointing. "The old woman meant this spot."
A small, run-down park on Konoha's edge came into view.
"Didn't know we had a place like this." Lee muttered.
"Hope the target's still around." Tenten fretted, glancing at Neji.
Neji held a photo: a gaudy noblewoman clutching a struggling fat cat.
Retrieve the pampered pet—simple Genin mission.
"Move out before it bolts again." Neji said, leaping down.
Tenten and Lee followed.
The instant they vanished, Mamoru appeared where they'd stood, smirking as he watched them drop into the park.
...
Soon the three landed inside the deserted park.
"Neji."
The other two looked to him.
"Leave it to me."
Neji formed hand seals.
"Byakugan!"
As veins bulged, his sight pierced every obstacle.
"Found it. Over there."
He sprinted off, Lee and Tenten following him.
Beneath a leafy tree, the plump cat licked its fur, oblivious.
"At last." Tenten beamed. "This time, it's not getting away."
As she stepped forward, Neji blocked her arm. "Someone's in the canopy."
"Huh? In the tree?" Tenten stared upward.
"So you noticed."
A figure flashed down, seized the cat by the scruff before it could react, and lifted it easily.
Black sleeveless hoodie, black shorts, fox mask—Mamoru.
He said, "Hyuga eyes really are handy. You peek a lot, don't you?"
"Nonsense!" Neji snapped.
"P-peek?" Tenten muttered, blushing.
"Yeah, like seeing everyone naked." Mamoru grinned.
"Eek!" Tenten squealed, hugging herself.
"Neji, peeping is bad." Lee said solemnly.
"Enough!" Neji shouted.
"Focus, he has our target."
"Hand over the cat!" Tenten demanded.
"Why should I?" Mamoru petted the struggling cat.
"Then I'll take it." Neji said, stepping forward in Gentle Fist stance. "Get hurt and it's on you."
"You're fighting him alone?" Tenten was worried.
"I won't gang up." Neji replied.
"A man's duel!" Lee's eyes blazed.
"Sounds fun." Mamoru chuckled.
"Let's see the famed Gentle Fist."
He tapped the cat's forehead and the animal went limp, asleep.
"What did you—" Tenten gasped.
"Just a nap." Mamoru said, setting the cat beneath the tree and stepped into the open.
Sunlight dappled his fox mask as he crooked a finger. "Bring it."
Neji's eyes flashed coldly, and he charged. The instant he closed in, Chakra gathered in his right palm, ripping the air as it smashed toward Mamoru's face.
Facing the fierce assault, Mamoru sidestepped with unruffled calm. But Neji had read his reaction, the other arm following like a shadow, striking from an even trickier angle. Mamoru flung his right arm up to block.
Thud!
The searing pain told Mamoru in a heartbeat why the Gentle Fist was feared: the force pierced the muscle and slammed the Chakra network, needle-like Chakra stabbing at his organs.
Konoha's top taijutsu lives up to its name.
Knowing he couldn't trade blows, Mamoru yielded the momentum and sprang back to open space and reset.
Neji saw through it at once, clinging to him. Both palms snapped out, every strike locking on a vital point.
Forced to twist and dive, Mamoru used every limb just to blunt the barrage. Even a glancing brush of that Chakra-laden Gentle Fist sent cold force through muscle into the network, jolting his organs with dull pain.
He realized this was no ordinary Genin. Those pale eyes held a precision that put him on thin ice. Keep this up and he would lose.
He spotted an opening, deliberately bared his right shoulder, and punched back in a gamble for mutual damage. As expected, the seasoned Neji switched from offense to defense, sweeping a palm to guard his chest.
Seeing his chance, Mamoru disengaged and leapt away.
"A guy who keeps chasing gets disliked by girls." He quipped, though behind the mask his face was grave.
Neji's insidious Chakra still roamed inside him, a thousand fine needles in his organs.
Neji snorted. "To take my Gentle Fist and stand, you're no small fry.
"Hah… barely, huh?" Mamoru gave a thin laugh.
His self-taught taijutsu could never match the Hyuga's century-old Gentle Fist.
Since taijutsu fell short, he would call on something else. He closed his eyes.
Six Eyes—activate!
When they opened again, his black irises wore the color of the open sky.
"How?" Neji's pupils shrank.
In his Byakugan's sight, the foe's Chakra blazed an unfathomable blue, vast as the sky, flowing unlike any normal ninja's.
"So, how long can you last?
Before the words faded, Mamoru shot forward like black lightning.
Neji's heart tightened and he set his stance, not daring to slack. The speed had more than doubled.
In the next instant, the two clashed again in the clearing.
A crisp straight punch lanced for Neji's chest. Neji slipped past and countered with a palm to the heart.
"Huh?"
But the sensation jolted him: no solidity, no warmth, no recoil—only emptiness.
In that instant of doubt, Mamoru's hand locked round his wrist.
"Gotcha!"
Neji stayed calm, fingers stabbing for the throat, yet again they met that strange void.
"What is this?" He muttered, brows knitting.
Behind the mask, Mamoru grinned and drove a knee at the stomach. Neji tucked in and blocked with an elbow, then felt Mamoru pivot for a shoulder throw. He dropped his weight, only for Mamoru to erupt with monstrous strength and fling him skyward.
Mid-flip, Neji pressed a hand to Mamoru's shoulder, slipped free, and landed in balance.
"As expected of Neji!" Lee cheered, eyes blazing.
Mamoru's eye twitched.
Pure taijutsu wouldn't cut it, he had underestimated Neji and overestimated himself.
Neji stared at his palm, still feeling that eerie absence. "Hey, what was that?
"Guess." Mamoru said.
Then he glanced at the tree. "Don't try anything sneaky."
"Oops, busted!" Tenten, crouched beneath the tree, gave an awkward smile and stuck out her tongue.
"Naughty." Mamoru murmured, flicking a hand.
An invisible force hoisted Tenten into the air with a yelp.
"Tenten!"
Her teammates shouted, but instead of crashing, she landed in warm arms. Opening her eyes, she met fox-masked blue eyes.
"Wh-what?"
A fat, fluffy cat plopped into her lap, drawing another squeak. Then she gave a relieved exhale when she saw it was only the cat.
"Let her go!" Neji shouted.
"I'll be your opponent!" Lee dropped into a stance.
"Put me down!" Tenten shrieked, face scarlet.
"Noisy." Mamoru said and released her.
Thud!
Tenten hit the dirt, eyes watering. "Ow…"
"Are you okay?" Lee rushed to help.
"Lee—together!" Neji shouted, charging Mamoru.
"Right!"
Facing the pincer, Mamoru didn't budge. The instant fists and palms would land, he vanished.
Lee spun around. "Huh? Where'd he go?"
Neji looked up. "Above!"
On a thick branch, Mamoru lounged, legs swinging, gazing down. Even Neji's Byakugan hadn't traced the motion.
"Unbelievable!"
Tenten sprang up, pointing. "He didn't say a word and just dumped me!"
Ignoring her, Mamoru spoke to Neji, "Hyuga prodigy, you're impressive."
"Hey, don't ignore me!" Tenten hopped below.
"Next time we'll play." Mamoru said, and dissolved into the breeze.
"He just left? Jerk!" Tenten fumed. "Who is that fox guy?"
Neji grimly said, "No ordinary ninja. We'll ask Guy-sensei when we get back."
Lee's eyes flared. "A worthy rival."
"You two…" Tenten sighed.
"Whatever. Mission first, let's go."
When the trio left with their objective, the park fell silent.
—
That night, ignoring Sasuke's glare, Mamoru ransacked the house and finally found the Shadow Clone scroll in Itachi's room.
(End of Chapter)
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