Sparring Competition (3)

Konohagakure.

The students were still in shock from Minato and Hyuga Haruki's fight. Minato had always been popular, but after this battle, his reputation skyrocketed—especially among the girls. Seeing their reactions, some boys grew jealous, knowing there was little they could do about it.

Amidst the chatter, Tsubasa-sensei stepped forward and called out, "Takumi! Uchiha Kagero!" Instantly, the students fell silent. This was the most anticipated match of the month. Almost every student had heard of the Uchiha clan's invincible reputation, but few had ever seen one in action.

From the crowd, Takumi and Uchiha Kagero stepped forward. Takumi appeared relaxed, while Kagero exuded an intense, unapproachable aura as they entered the sparring circle.

"Activate the Seal of Confrontation!" Tsubasa-sensei commanded, following up with, "Begin!"

Both Takumi and Kagero activated their seals, but neither moved initially. The tension built as they stood still. Finally, Takumi was the first to act, pulling three kunai from his pouch and hurling them at Kagero.

Kagero coolly threw one kunai, deflecting all three. However, he quickly realized Takumi had vanished from his original position. His senses tingled; instinctively, he whirled around to block an attack from behind.

Reacting swiftly, Takumi tossed aside his kunai and aimed a knee strike at Kagero's stomach. Kagero, with lightning reflexes, jumped back, dodging the blow. He swiftly formed hand signs.

"Fire Release: Fireball Jutsu!"

As the fireball approached, Takumi executed a quick Body Flicker Technique, dodging it easily. Kagero knew this was a mere distraction. As Takumi dodged, Kagero also activated Body Flicker, appearing right before him.

Takumi, ever vigilant, noticed two kunai coming toward him. He quickly ducked, only to find Kagero standing in front, holding a kunai. Takumi performed a low leg sweep to destabilize Kagero, who jumped to evade it, giving Takumi enough time to leap backward.

Takumi then threw shurikens toward Kagero and lunged forward, aiming a swift kick at his midsection. Kagero sidestepped effortlessly and countered with a rapid series of punches aimed at Takumi's face, each moving like a blur.

Takumi blocked the first strike, redirecting Kagero's momentum, but the second punch grazed his cheek. Regaining composure, Takumi spun on his heel, launching a roundhouse kick that Kagero narrowly avoided by ducking low.

Following up immediately, Takumi executed a swift knee strike aimed at Kagero's torso. Anticipating the move, Kagero caught Takumi's leg and twisted it, throwing him off balance. Takumi rolled away, quickly regaining his stance.

Kagero narrowed his eyes, a determined glint flashing in them. He charged forward, closing the distance in an instant. Takumi barely had time to react as Kagero delivered a powerful uppercut. Takumi blocked it, but the impact sent vibrations through his arms, forcing him to stagger back.

Seizing the opportunity, Kagero pressed his advantage with a flurry of jabs and kicks, each executed with impeccable timing. Takumi's reflexes kicked in; he ducked, dodged, and parried the incoming strikes.

Finally finding an opening, Takumi countered with a low sweep aimed at Kagero's legs. Kagero leaped over the attack, twisting mid-air and delivering a powerful kick aimed at Takumi's head. With swift motion, Takumi caught Kagero's foot, using the momentum to throw him into a roll.

As Kagero hit the ground, he quickly recovered, flipping back to his feet with surprising speed. He immediately entered a defensive stance, his breathing steady. Sensing the shift, Takumi decided to change tactics.

Takumi activated the Body Flicker Technique, vanishing and reappearing behind Kagero. He launched "Water Release: Water Gun Technique!" sending a concentrated jet of water at him.

Kagero swiftly sidestepped the attack and countered with "Fire Release: Fireball Jutsu!" The blazing ball hurtled toward Takumi.

Ducking under the fireball, Takumi executed a quick Body Flicker, reappearing at Kagero's side. He aimed a punch at Kagero's ribs, but Kagero blocked it and countered with a swift kick aimed at Takumi's head.

Takumi rolled away, narrowly avoiding the strike. He sprang to his feet and unleashed "Wind Release: Gale Palm!" creating a gust of wind that sent Kagero stumbling back.

Regaining his balance, Kagero quickly formed hand signs. "Fire Release: Phoenix Fire Technique!" He fired a series of small fireballs toward Takumi.

Takumi dodged the first few, then leaped into the air to avoid the last one. As he landed, he charged forward, combining Taijutsu with a powerful kick aimed at Kagero's midsection.

Kagero caught Takumi's leg, twisting to throw him off balance, then followed with a swift jab to Takumi's face. Takumi staggered but quickly regained his footing, executing a quick "Water Release: Water Gun Technique" to push Kagero back.

Kagero stumbled slightly but retaliated with a rapid series of punches. Takumi blocked and weaved through the strikes, countering with his own punches and kicks.

With a final push, Takumi unleashed "Water Release: Water Gun Technique" again, soaking Kagero and momentarily stunning him.

Undeterred, Kagero quickly formed hand signs for "Fire Release: Fireball Jutsu!" launching a powerful fireball at Takumi.

As the fireball approached, Takumi activated "Wind Release: Gale Palm!" redirecting it into the ground with a fierce gust of wind. He closed the distance between them, using Body Flicker Technique to dodge Kagero's incoming punch and retaliating with a swift uppercut.

Kagero was knocked back but quickly rolled to regain his stance, eyes blazing with determination. The two exchanged blows, seamlessly combining Ninjutsu and Taijutsu, each trying to outmaneuver the other.

In a final flurry of action, Takumi unleashed "Water Release: Water Gun Technique" while Kagero countered with "Fire Release: Phoenix Fire Technique!" The clash of elements erupted in a stunning explosion of steam and light, filling the training ground with excitement.

As the dust settled, both boys stood panting. Tsubasa-sensei watched intently from the sidelines, his mind racing with disbelief. He had seen many young ninjas spar, but the intensity and skill displayed by Takumi and Kagero were beyond what he had anticipated for their age. The way they seamlessly combined Ninjutsu and Taijutsu left him momentarily speechless.

They're so strong for their age... he thought, eyes widening as he recalled the flurry of water, wind, and fire that had filled the air. Shaking off his shock, Tsubasa approached the two boys, who were still riding the adrenaline from their battle.

"Time's up! Both of you activate the Seal of Reconciliation!" he called out. They complied, activating the seal and looking toward Tsubasa.

Tsubasa raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms. "You both performed exceptionally well today. I'm impressed by your skill level, especially at your age. However…" He paused for effect, allowing them to anticipate his critique.

"Takumi, your use of the Body Flicker Technique was excellent, but you relied too heavily on it to evade Kagero's attacks. You need to balance your movement with strategic positioning. Don't forget to read your opponent's movements!"

Takumi nodded, absorbing the feedback.

"And Kagero," Tsubasa continued, turning to the fiery boy. "Your Fire Release techniques were powerful, but I noticed you used them too predictably. When Takumi began dodging your fireballs, you needed to change your approach instead of relying on the same jutsu. Surprise your opponent with different tactics."

Kagero gave an indifferent nod.

Tsubasa smiled, his tone softening. "Overall, you both showed remarkable talent and creativity. Keep training hard, and remember that even the strongest shinobi have room for improvement. This is just the beginning for you two."

As Takumi and Kagero jogged off, Tsubasa watched them, a mix of pride and anticipation bubbling within him. These two will definitely become powerful shinobi; I can feel it.

Since the match ended in a draw, the next bout didn't commence, as both boys were thoroughly exhausted.

Takumi quickly returned to the sidelines, and the crowd roared with excitement. It was perhaps their first time witnessing a battle of such intensity. Takumi, who had been relatively less popular, was now among the most talked-about students.

As Takumi rejoined his peers, Minato passed him a bottle of water and asked, "Are you feeling okay?"

"Hm. It was a tough match. The Uchiha are truly strong. Kagero doesn't even have the Sharingan, yet he's this formidable. If he awakened it, I wouldn't stand a chance against him," said Takumi.

"That's not necessarily true. You also didn't fight with your all right now. But what is true is that we have come a long way." said Minato with a warm smile.