Chapter 3: First Clash

Konoha Academy buzzed with the excitement of the afternoon sparring session. It was a regular event where students were paired off to test their skills under the supervision of Iruka-sensei. For most, it was an opportunity to sharpen their basic techniques—shuriken throwing, taijutsu, and ninjutsu practice—but for Rayne Ashbringer, it was something more.

Rayne knew his abilities were progressing at a remarkable pace. He had mastered basic chakra control without difficulty and had quickly become proficient in the Academy's introductory techniques. But there was a problem: standing out too much would draw unwanted attention, and Rayne was cautious about revealing the full extent of his Copy Talent. He had kept his skills in check, quietly observing, learning, and growing.

But today, that restraint would be tested.

Rayne stood off to the side of the sparring field, watching the matches unfold.

He saw the usual participants—Naruto, predictably losing to another student, much to the other kids' amusement. Sasuke stood alone, brooding as always, but his eyes were sharp, taking in every movement, every weakness of his classmates. Shikamaru was lounging under a tree, clearly uninterested in participating, while Kiba was barking orders at his loyal dog Akamaru, preparing for his turn.

Rayne took a deep breath, centering himself. He had been paired with an older student today—one of the Uchiha clan's distant relatives. The boy wasn't as talented as Sasuke, but he had a superiority complex and a bad temper. Rayne could feel the tension building as the sparring session neared.

"I'll go easy on you, Ashbringer," the boy sneered, stepping into the makeshift arena with exaggerated confidence. "Wouldn't want to embarrass you in front of everyone."

Rayne didn't rise to the taunt. Instead, he let the boy's words wash over him, keeping his expression calm. He had learned from Naruto that most people in Konoha didn't pay much attention to orphans, especially those who didn't belong to any of the major clans. Rayne was a nobody in their eyes, and today, he planned to use that to his advantage.

"Whenever you're ready," Rayne said evenly, adopting a neutral stance.

The crowd gathered around the field, sensing that this match might be more interesting than the usual pairings. Sasuke's eyes flickered over to Rayne, curiosity piqued, while Naruto, nursing a new bruise from his latest loss, watched from the sidelines, hoping Rayne would win.

The fight began without preamble.

The Uchiha boy moved first, charging at Rayne with the speed and precision characteristic of his clan. His hands blurred into motion, launching a volley of shuriken aimed directly at Rayne's chest. The attack was fast, but not beyond Rayne's ability to read. His Copy Talent kicked in, and in an instant, he understood the trajectory of each shuriken.

Rayne sidestepped fluidly, avoiding the shuriken with minimal movement.

The crowd gasped at the smoothness of his dodge, but Rayne didn't waste time basking in the reaction. He had learned early on that predicting his opponent's next move was key to survival. The Uchiha boy's hands flashed again, this time forming the signs for a basic Fire Release jutsu—something Rayne had seen before.

"Fire Release: Fireball Jutsu!" the boy shouted, unleashing a swirling ball of flame from his mouth, its heat scorching the air as it raced toward Rayne.

Rayne's eyes narrowed as he quickly formed his own hand signs. He had copied the Fireball Jutsu after seeing older shinobi perform it around the village, and now it was time to put it to use. As the fireball hurtled toward him, Rayne inhaled sharply and released his own fireball, the two jutsu colliding in mid-air with a deafening explosion.

Smoke filled the training field, obscuring the vision of the spectators.

Rayne leaped back, using the cover of the smoke to his advantage. His Copy Talent had already deciphered the Uchiha boy's fighting style—aggressive, overconfident, and prone to leaving openings. He could use that.

As the smoke cleared, Rayne saw his opponent standing with a scowl, clearly frustrated that his attack had been countered. The boy rushed forward again, this time resorting to taijutsu. His fists and feet blurred in a series of rapid strikes aimed at Rayne's head and torso.

But Rayne had seen this pattern before. His Copy Talent activated once more, his body moving instinctively to mirror the Uchiha boy's attacks. Each punch was met with a block or a parry, and each kick was dodged with precision. Rayne wasn't just reacting—he was mimicking the boy's movements perfectly, as if anticipating every strike before it came.

The crowd was silent, watching in awe as Rayne continued to counter every move.

Naruto's jaw dropped, while Sasuke's eyes narrowed, a flicker of intrigue crossing his features. Even Iruka-sensei, who had been overseeing the sparring session, seemed taken aback by Rayne's skill.

The Uchiha boy's frustration boiled over. "Stop copying me, you freak!" he yelled, his voice cracking with anger. He launched a desperate roundhouse kick aimed at Rayne's head.

This time, Rayne didn't just dodge.

He ducked low, sweeping his leg under the boy's feet, sending him crashing to the ground. Before the Uchiha boy could recover, Rayne pinned him down with a swift, precise motion, pressing his knee into the boy's chest and holding him in place.

"I'm not copying you," Rayne said quietly, leaning in so only his opponent could hear. "I'm just better."

The fight was over.

Rayne released the boy and stood up, offering a hand to help him to his feet. But the boy slapped it away, muttering something under his breath as he stormed off. Rayne didn't take it personally; he had expected this reaction. The Uchiha clan's pride was well-known, and losing to someone they deemed inferior was a bitter pill to swallow.

The crowd erupted into murmurs, and Rayne could feel the eyes of his classmates on him, their previous indifference replaced with curiosity and respect. Even Sasuke, who rarely showed interest in anyone, gave Rayne a lingering glance before turning and walking away.

"Rayne, that was amazing!" Naruto shouted, running over with a huge grin on his face. "You totally destroyed that guy!"

Rayne smiled, though he kept his emotions in check. "Thanks, Naruto. I just got lucky, that's all."

Naruto shook his head. "No way! You were awesome! You gotta show me how you did those moves!"

Rayne chuckled, but before he could respond, Iruka-sensei approached, his expression thoughtful.

"That was an impressive performance, Rayne," Iruka said, crossing his arms. "You've been holding back, haven't you?"

Rayne hesitated, unsure of how to answer. He didn't want to draw too much attention to himself, but it seemed like he had already done that. "I've just been practicing a lot," he said carefully.

Iruka nodded, though there was a knowing look in his eyes. "Well, keep it up. You've got potential, but remember—there's always more to learn. Don't get complacent."

Rayne bowed slightly. "I won't, Iruka-sensei."

As Iruka walked away, Rayne exhaled slowly. He had managed to avoid revealing the true extent of his Copy Talent, but today's fight had shown him something important—he couldn't keep hiding forever. If he wanted to survive in this world, he would have to grow stronger, and that meant stepping out of the shadows.

Later that evening, Rayne sat by the edge of a quiet stream near the outskirts of the village, reflecting on the day's events.

His Copy Talent had been invaluable in helping him win the fight, but it had also made him a target. He could already sense the jealousy and suspicion growing among some of his classmates. The Uchiha boy wasn't the only one who would want to test him now.

As Rayne stared at his reflection in the water, he made a silent vow. He wouldn't let himself be consumed by the power of his ability. He would use it to protect those he cared about, like Naruto, and to carve out his own path in this world.

But deep down, Rayne knew that a storm was coming. The world of shinobi was unforgiving, and he had been given a power that could tip the balance. He would need to be careful—very careful—if he wanted to survive the challenges ahead.

The sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows over the village. Tomorrow would bring new challenges, new opportunities, and perhaps new enemies. But for tonight, Rayne allowed himself a moment of peace, knowing that his journey was only just beginning.