31 Rivalries Ignite

Sensei nodded with a satisfactory look in his eyes, then turned back to the sheet of paper he was holding in his hands.

"Next up is Shiran Uzumaki vs. Benimaru Kugo. Please step up to the arena and make the hand signs."

I smirked and looked over at Benimaru, who had also turned to face me. Although he was acting subdued today, I could see the fighting spirit growing rapidly within his eyes with every passing second.

I stood up to make my way to the fighting area and stood in the center, watching Benimaru approach and enter as well. With each of us making the hand seal towards each other, I jumped back to make some space.

"Who would've thought that Sensei would put us together on our first fight? I mean, does he really think that poorly of me?"

I saw Benimaru's eye twitch, but surprisingly, he didn't react as he normally would have any other time.

'That's pretty interesting. I guess he can control his emotions when he wants to. Regardless, it's not like he has a chance to win against me, so I guess it wouldn't hurt to see how he's been training over the past 3 months.'

Smirking, I slipped into the Chainlink Vigil stance, synonymous with the Blitzchain taijutsu style.

"Since you seem somewhat serious, then I'll be serious as well, Benimaru," I said, charging forward using a taijutsu technique made to rush at the opponent, Thunderous Surge.

Benimaru slipped into a stance I'd later come to know as Whisperer's Veil. This stance was part of his clan's taijutsu style, the Silent Verse, and it aimed to minimize his presence and sound in a fight with a low center of gravity and staying on the tips of his toes.

He slid back into a defensive posture as naturally as could be, not looking flustered at all from my initial charge.

I smiled. 'He might not be just all talk and hot air then.'

Launching a couple of punches towards him in the pattern of a Razor Chain Assault, I tested the waters to see if he had the merit on the defensive side to be as cool and collected as he was right now.

In my head, I nodded and silently praised him. His stance, his reactions, the way he shifted his weight to minimize unnecessary movements and sounds - whoever trained him did a fantastic job, and you could easily see the hard work he'd put in through repetition over these first three months.

"You're quite impressive, Benimaru, just not as good as I am," I winked at him while dodging a and redirecting his Silenced Kick, while in the same breath launching a punch into his gut.

'I do love the Chainlash Counterflow technique; it's such an easy move to grasp and yet so effective, especially if your opponent overcommits even just a tiny bit.'

Benimaru gritted his teeth as he was pushed back just a little bit by the punch. Not wanting to overdo it and put him in the hospital, I held back when throwing the punch.

Using Echo Step, Benimaru made his way around me without making a sound, which was really cool, especially in the middle of a spar.

Coming up on the side of me, he lashed his palm out, trying to catch any part of my shoulder he could, but failed again.

'Let's leave an opening for him to see if he takes it,' I thought, wanting to test if he could stay smart and patient during the spar, unlike when he was acting his normal way.

Redirecting his momentum again, I left my left side open for attack, and sure enough, he went for it. 'Well, he is really talented, but at the end of the day, all of us have only been training in taijutsu for three months, so what are you gonna do?'

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Looking at the two most talented kids in the class, Takahiro stood frowning and waiting to jump in if absolutely necessary.

'Benimaru is so talented in every area that he has been tested in thus far in the academy, but he just pales in comparison to Shiran. Usually, there are only one or two standouts though, but this year it's crazy how much potential each one has. Perhaps they will be the ones to lead Uzushio into a golden era.'

*Thump*

'I mean, between the students in here, that little group of Shiran, Miki, Benimaru, Shin, Yuta, and Kiyoko could all be the number one student in any other year in the academy. Not to mention they're considered to be prodigies in their own clan's. To have them all in this year and for some reason hang out together, it has to be some kind of sign. Oh well, you know the saying, birds of a feather flock together.'

*Fling*

"Benimaru has been thrown out of the circle; Shiran is the winner."

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After the fight, I had no choice but to look at Benimaru in a different light. I mean, I'm pretty sure the dude could keep up in a fight with most sixth-year academy students. I am surprised, though, because most people who like to talk a lot don't always have the skills to back it up.

Unbeknownst to Shiran, similar thoughts were going through Benimaru's head as well.

In that moment after the fight, their eyes connected, and it was almost like they recognized something in each other. The hardworking spirit, the talent, and the skills to back up what they say - it was almost as if they were both looking in a mirror.

With a thoughtful look at Benimaru, I held out my hand and helped him stand up.

"You know, as much as I hate to say it, you have some really good skills. I think any other year you would've been the number one student in the class." I added the last part with just a hint of amusement playing in my tone.

Benimaru looked like he wanted to say more before he just sighed with a bit of defiance in his gaze. "Yeah, yeah, you can say what you want because you won, but don't come crying to me when I wipe the floor with you the next time we spar together."

I smirked at him and looked at him questioningly. "'Next time we spar together? What makes you think I want to spar with you? Why can't you just ask someone else?"

"Hmph, as if I'd ask someone weaker than me to take up my time with a spar. And you're acting like you have a choice; you're sparing with me whether you want to or not."

"We'll see," I answered ambiguously. The truth is I would never turn down one of my friend's requests for a sparring partner, but sometimes you have to put up a front for certain people who don't quite understand their emotions yet.

"Yes, we will," he answered back confidently.

(A/N: I'm not too sure I'll continue to put the different techniques names in the future chapters because it doesn't feel quite right. I'm still kind of trying to find the sweet spot)