Time moved faster than I expected.
Five months passed in what felt like a blink. The leaves changed colour, snow covered Konoha in a soft blanket, and then disappeared before anyone could properly complain about it. Graduation season was suddenly right on top of us.
Naruto and Sasuke were grabbing each other by the throat in the Ninja Academy courtyard.
Iruka-sensei was already rubbing his temples.
"This match contributes to your final score," he reminded them, for what had to be the third time.
Neither of them listened.
'Just kiss and make up already,' I thought, watching from the sidelines.
"You think you can beat me, dobe?"
"Shut up, teme!"
They pushed each other apart to get some distance, then lunged right back at each other.
Sasuke's timing was precise. He dodged Naruto's frantic attacks easily.
But Naruto had endless stamina. Sasuke couldn't keep it up forever, and they ended up trading blows.
"Man, they really don't get along, huh?"
I sighed internally before even turning.
Kuro.
He slid up beside me, hands behind his head, mouth already running.
I hummed in response.
"Still," he continued, "Naruto's gotten better. Everyone's giving their best to graduate."
That was true.
Kuro glanced at me. "You too, actually. Honestly, nobody thought you had it in you."
"…Thanks," I said flatly.
"I mean, you already beat Tanaka, Hiro, and that other guy whose name I forgot in practice."
"Boro," I said.
"Oh—right," he continued, nodding toward the list Iruka was holding. "But yeah, too bad you drew Inuzuka Kiba."
I didn't respond. This was just taijutsu sparring, not the Chunin Exams. Nothing to be worried about.
"…That's rough," Kuro said honestly. "I mean, you've gotten pretty strong too, but come on—he's a clan kid, you know."
I'd be cursing his seven generations by now, but he seemed oddly concerned.
Kuro leaned closer, lowering his voice like he was sharing wisdom.
"Honestly? I'd just give up if I got matched up with one of those clan kids."
Looking at Naruto and Sasuke's bruised faces, I could see where he was coming from.
They were rolling on the ground, tangled together, refusing to let go.
'Literally made for each other. How sweet.'
"That's enough!" Iruka said, physically prying them apart. "Both of you—Seal of Reconciliation. Now."
Iruka practically had to hold their hands and make them perform the seal.
They glared at each other the entire way back.
Iruka checked his list.
"Next match. Inuzuka Kiba versus Daichi Takumi."
Kiba cracked his neck as Akamaru barked excitedly from the sidelines.
Kuro whistled softly beside me. "Oof. Yeah. Good luck with that."
I walked out and took my place across from Kiba as Iruka stepped between us.
"Alright, you two. Perform the Seal of Confrontation once you're ready," Iruka said, looking at both of us.
"Hai."
"Hai."
We both formed the seal, staring at each other.
Iruka raised a hand. "Begin."
Kiba moved the instant Iruka's hand dropped.
He came in fast, claws out, teeth bared, like he was trying to end it in one rush.
I leaned back and felt his swipe pass just short of my nose. Another came right after. I stepped aside again.
"Stop dodging!" Kiba snapped, swinging wide.
There was no point bickering with him. It would only rile him up.
I kept moving, my feet lifting a ton of dust as I tried to stay out of his reach.
"C'mon, Takumi!" Naruto yelled. "You've got this!"
"Kiba, finish him already!" Ino shouted from the sidelines.
Kiba grinned at that and pushed harder, attacking in bursts, trying to corner me.
"Get him! Get him!" Naruto shouted again. "You're doing great! I think!"
People were shouting Kiba's name—and, surprisingly, quite a few were screaming mine too.
Kiba's breathing grew heavier. His swings started to lose their edge.
To be honest, I could fight him head-on and win.
But that would attract too much attention, which I was surely starting to gather already.
"Stop running!" he snapped, clearly pissed.
I let a flicker of panic show, then stumbled over my own feet.
Kiba took the bait and rushed in, trying to capitalise on the opening.
'Now.'
I slipped past his claws and swept his legs in one smooth motion.
Kiba lost his balance and hit the ground.
Before he could get back up, I was already behind him, my arm around his neck, holding him still.
He froze.
For a second, everything went quiet.
"Winner," Iruka said, "Daichi Takumi."
It took a moment for the reactions to catch up.
"Whoa—did you see that?"
"Kiba messed up."
"He lost already?"
Naruto shouted louder than everyone else. "YES! Did you see that? That was awesome!"
Ino crossed her arms, annoyed. "Tch. He rushed it."
Kiba sat up, scowling. "Damn it…"
I offered him a hand.
Kiba clicked his tongue, grabbed my wrist harder than necessary, and pulled himself to his feet.
"You're pretty fast," I said with a smile. I didn't want any smoke.
He snorted. "You're pretty annoying."
We both performed the Seal of Reconciliation and stepped off the field.
"Um…"
Hinata was standing there, hands clasped together.
"Y-you were really great, Takumi-kun."
Before I could say anything, Naruto ran over and slapped my back hard enough to knock me forward.
"HEY! TAKUMI! That was awesome! You were like—whoosh—and then bam!"
He yelled, throwing an arm around my shoulders.
"Did you see his face? It was full of dirt!"
I saw Kiba's eye twitching and had a bad feeling.
Luckily, Iruka cleared his throat and moved on to the next match.
I let out a slow breath.
'That should be enough.'
Enough to get me on a good team.
I'd spent five months looking like a hardworking late bloomer.
Publicly, I could go toe-to-toe with Kiba—even if I wasn't as strong.
I had enough chakra to perform all three Academy jutsu barely, and my theory scores were slowly catching up to Sakura's.
That was the public version.
In reality, my chakra had reached forty points, though it had slowed recently, and I had a large collection of +8—and even some +9—paper shuriken and other upgraded ninja tools, all made of paper, of course.
I still only knew the three Academy jutsu.
But at least now, I wouldn't get beaten up by random thugs on my first mission.
As long as I didn't run into a rogue ninja right outside the village, that is.
'The graduation test is still a few days away, let's take it easy for a while till then.' I thought.
"Hey, Naruto, let's go grill some fish after this."
"Oh yeah!"
-To be Continued...