Stale

The excitement of the Chunin Exam and the departure of the visiting Kages had left a noticeable calm over the academy. Iruka and Mizuki were taking advantage of the relative peace to focus on Taijutsu training at the outdoor grounds. Ryomaru found himself between Hanabi, Hinata, and Temari, their eyes trained on the duel unfolding before them.

It was Choji battling Shino, a matchup that surprised everyone, not for its intensity but for its duration. Shino had the upper hand in Taijutsu, executing smooth and precise moves. Choji, on the other hand, was showing remarkable resilience, his body absorbing blows that would've felled lesser opponents.

"Wow, Choji's really hanging in there," Hanabi remarked, clearly impressed. "He's usually not so...persistent."

"Yeah, it's like a new fire's been lit inside him," Hinata added softly.

Sakura nodded. "Must be the Shikamaru effect. Ever since he went to the Sand Village, Choji seems more determined."

Ryomaru watched as Choji dodged a close-range attack from Shino, his chubby face flushed but set in a look of pure focus. "He's digging deep, for sure. It's not just about strength; it's about spirit too."

Just then, Choji pulled off a surprising counter-attack, catching Shino off guard. The crowd let out a collective gasp. Shino quickly recovered but now seemed more cautious, eyeing Choji with newfound respect.

Ino clapped her hands together. "I never thought I'd see the day where Choji would make Shino second-guess himself."

Ryomaru smiled. "Goes to show, never underestimate anyone. Everyone has their hidden depths."

As the fight dragged on, it was evident that both Choji and Shino were reaching their limits. Recognizing this, Iruka lifted his hand and called, "Halt!"

Both combatants were visibly relieved. Smiling, they approached each other and interlocked their fingers in a sign of mutual respect before making their way back to where the rest of the students were standing.

Iruka glanced at the list of names, his brow furrowing when he saw Ryomaru's name. More than a year into his student exchange program in Konoha, it had become quite clear that pairing him up for spars was problematic; no one in the class was a match for him. Mizuki caught Iruka's eye, nodded, and then left momentarily, returning with a young Hyuga who was a year older than the rest.

As he approached, the older Hyuga—Neji—bowed formally to Hinata and Hanabi. "Hinata-sama, Hanabi-sama."

Hinata started to reply, "Neji, you really don't have to—"

But Neji cut her off gently. "It's a matter of respect, instilled by my father. I must honor the main family."

Hinata offered a small, resigned smile, understanding Neji's unyielding sense of duty and family honor.

Iruka cleared his throat. "Since Ryomaru is somewhat... advanced, we've decided to pair him with Neji for today's Taijutsu training. If everyone is agreeable?"

Neji turned his gaze toward Ryomaru and nodded, a flash of anticipation lighting his eyes. "I'm honored."

"Same here," Ryomaru responded, meeting Neji's gaze without flinching. "It's always good to spar with strong opponents; helps us both grow."

Iruka and Mizuki stepped back to give them room, and Ryomaru and Neji moved to the center of the training ground. The rest of the students, including Hanabi, Hinata, and Temari, watched with keen interest. It wasn't often they got to see two powerful young shinobi go head-to-head.

Neji's eyes flickered as his Byakugan activated, casting a translucent hue over his gaze. He crouched low, taking a position that emphasized his natural agility. "Ready when you are," he announced.

Ryomaru shifted his weight, grounding himself. His ice-blue eyes locked onto Neji's. "Let's do this," he said, mirroring Neji's intensity.

With that, Neji shot forward like an arrow, his speed amplified by his activated Byakugan. His palm aimed straight for Ryomaru's torso. But just as quickly, Ryomaru sidestepped, dodging the direct hit while countering with a forceful punch. Neji nimbly evaded it, but not without sensing the immense power lurking behind Ryomaru's fist.

Ryomaru grinned. "You're quick, I'll give you that."

Neji repositioned and charged again, targeting Ryomaru's chakra points with laser precision. His fingers narrowly missed as Ryomaru displayed a peculiar fluidity in his movements, a combination of raw power and uncanny grace. With an elegant pirouette, Ryomaru dodged and countered, his attack emitting a subtle, icy sheen.

It was Neji's turn to be impressed. "Your movements... They're like water, but there's an underlying force to them."

"Perks of a mixed heritage," Ryomaru replied, relishing the challenge.

Frustration flickered in Neji's eyes. His Byakugan allowed him to read movements and predict attacks, but Ryomaru's style was something he'd never seen before. It was as if water and lightning had learned to dance together in perfect harmony.

Neji, realizing that traditional tactics wouldn't suffice, took a risk and leapt into the air, spinning and descending toward Ryomaru with a powerful kick. Ryomaru countered by jumping up to meet him, his body twisting in mid-air as he dodged Neji's kick and aimed a powerful chop at Neji's exposed side.

Neji was growing visibly frustrated as the sparring match continued. Every one of Ryomaru's strikes carried immense force, making them dangerous to block or absorb. On the flip side, landing a hit on Ryomaru was proving to be a nearly impossible task; the boy moved with a fluidity that seemed to bend and weave through Neji's calculated strikes like water.

After narrowly dodging another one of Ryomaru's attacks, Neji couldn't hold back a grunt of irritation. He decided to switch strategies, unleashing a flurry of jabs toward Ryomaru's chakra points in quick succession. But Ryomaru flowed around them effortlessly, his own body movements uncannily unpredictable yet precise.

Neji gritted his teeth. "Why won't you stay still?!"

Ryomaru's eyes twinkled, but his expression remained serious. "Still water goes stale. I prefer the current."

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