Naruto: One Eye Tenseigan

"Well done," Sayuri's voice rang out, smooth yet carrying an edge of authority that stopped Tomaru in his tracks.

She stood just a few paces away, her posture relaxed but her gaze sharp and unwavering. Not a single hair was out of place, her dark red scarf swaying gently in the faint breeze. Her presence was undeniable, calm and commanding.

"You've exceeded every expectation," she said softly, her green eyes appraising him. "Your perception, your reflexes, your stamina... It's extraordinary."

Tomaru's gaze remained steady, his breath controlled despite the intensity of their sparring.

Sayuri tilted her head slightly, a faint smile playing on her lips. "You're stronger than I expected," she continued, her voice calm but with an undercurrent of intrigue. "But strength alone isn't enough."

Tomaru didn't respond, his posture unshaken. Instead, he silently studied her, the moment of admiration in her eyes lingering.

Sayuri studied him closely, her sharp gaze missing nothing—the slight shift in his weight, the way his breathing steadied quicker than it should have, the focus burning in his expression.

He's learning as we fight, she thought, a flicker of admiration crossing her face. This kind of growth mid-battle... it's unheard of.

Her mind raced as she recalled the chakra control he had demonstrated, the precision of his Earth Spear technique. At his age?

Sayuri allowed herself a small, approving smile. This level of chakra flow requires decades of training. Even the most gifted shinobi spend years mastering it. And yet, here he is.

Her heart quickened, a rare flicker of excitement rising in her chest. Let's see how much further you can go.

Sayuri had faced countless shinobi in her life, but something about Tomaru intrigued her. You're something else.

—

From the sidelines, Mai Kisaragi watched the exchange in stunned silence. Her amber eyes were wide, her fists clenched tightly at her sides. She had always prided herself on her taijutsu skills, her confidence an unshakable foundation in her identity.

But now, that foundation felt cracked, shaken by the sheer gap between her and Tomaru.

Tomaru exhaled slowly, his arms dropping to his sides. Despite his steady breathing, a faint sheen of sweat glistened on his brow, evidence of the effort he'd expended. He turned and began walking back toward his teammates, his gaze calm but thoughtful.

As he approached, Mai and Mina's expressions shifted. The tension in Mai's posture eased, and the tight line of her lips softened into something closer to curiosity than frustration. Mina's sharp gaze lost its edge, her usual calm settling back into place.

Unbeknownst to them, this was the subtle effect of Tomaru's Aura of Serenity—a presence that quelled negativity and replaced it with focus and clarity.

Tomaru stopped a few paces from them, his sharp eyes scanning their faces. "You okay?" he asked, his tone steady.

Mai crossed her arms, her lips twitching into a reluctant smirk. "I should be asking you that. You just went toe-to-toe with a jonin and didn't get completely wrecked. What are you, some kind of secret prodigy?"

Tomaru shrugged, his smirk faint but genuine. "Just trying to keep up."

Mina adjusted her glasses, her voice thoughtful. "That wasn't just keeping up. You were reading her movements, adapting to her style. It was... remarkable."

Tomaru's gaze shifted slightly, his expression unreadable. "She's something else," he said simply, his tone cool but with a touch of awe.

Mina, sensing the undercurrent of Tomaru's admiration for Sayuri, tilted her head and smirked. "I knew it. Tomaru, you pervert."

Mai let out a sharp laugh, her golden eyes gleaming mischievously. "His mind was probably focused on hitting Sayuri-sensei's chest."

Mina raised an eyebrow, her expression teasing. "Or something else..."

Tomaru's eyes widened, his cheeks flushed. "Hey! What are you two talking about?" he demanded, his voice more flustered than he intended.

Mai leaned in, her grin widening. "Well then, you better stay calm, dear boy," she teased, her voice low and playful. "We have to pass the exam, and I'm not carrying you if you get too distracted."

Tomaru shot her a mock glare, the blush still lingering on his face. "I'm not distracted!"

Mina chuckled softly, adjusting her glasses with a small smirk. "You might want to work on that, Tomaru. Focus is key, even when your mind is... elsewhere."

Tomaru exhaled in frustration but couldn't hide the smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "You two..."

—

The trio huddled at the edge of the clearing, their voices low and hurried. The aftermath of Tomaru's intense bout with Sayuri still lingered in the air, but there was no time to dwell on it.

"She's faster than us," Mina began, her tone calm but urgent, her sharp gray eyes glinting Tomaru's eyes flicked toward Sayuri. "She's a jonin, and she's only using taijutsu," he said quietly, voice calm but serious. "That means raw strength isn't going to win this."

Mai frowned. "Then what? We can't just sit here."

Tomaru's gaze sharpened. "We don't need to win a fight. We need the bell. It's not about overpowering her—it's about distracting her."

Tomaru smirked, rolling his shoulders. "Then I'll improvise."

Mai's expression darkened. "Improvising isn't a strategy, Tomaru."

"It is when you trust your team," he shot back, his tone steady. "We're not fighting her alone. Together, we've got a chance."

Mina adjusted her glasses, the faintest smile tugging at her lips. "It's risky," she said, "but it might work. Let's move."

The plan unfolded quickly. Mai darted forward first, her strikes more focused and deliberate than before. Her fists came fast and hard, aiming for Sayuri's midsection. Sayuri deflected with ease, her movements fluid and unhurried, but Mai didn't let up. She pressed forward, forcing Sayuri to remain on the defensive.

Meanwhile, Mina circled the perimeter, her eyes scanning every step, every shift in Sayuri's stance. She observed the kunoichi's subtle adjustments, the way her weight shifted before each strike, the angles she favored when deflecting. Her mind raced, calculating probabilities, piecing together a pattern.

Sayuri noticed the shift in Mai's fighting style, a slight smile forming on her lips. "You're improving," she said, her voice calm.

Mai gritted her teeth, sweat beading on her forehead. "Don't get comfortable," she shot back, launching into a spinning kick.

Sayuri sidestepped effortlessly, her hands still at her sides, but the momentary distraction was all Tomaru needed.

He sprang from his crouched position, his body a blur as he closed the distance. His fist sliced through the air, aimed at Sayuri's side.

Sayuri turned at the last second, her arm coming up to block, but Tomaru had already anticipated it. Twisting mid-strike, he shifted his weight, driving his other hand toward her stomach.

The attack grazed her, forcing Sayuri to step back for the first time.

"Keep the pressure on!" Mina called from the sidelines, her voice sharp. "She's pivoting to her left—exploit it!"

Mai's breathing came in steady bursts, her punches and kicks deliberate, but even she knew this wasn't working. Sayuri evaded her strikes with almost playful ease, like a leaf caught in a gentle breeze. Every movement was efficient, smooth, and untouchable. Mai's fist swung wide, missing Sayuri by inches as the jonin leaned back effortlessly, her dark red scarf fluttering around her shoulders like a banner of invincibility.

"You're slowing down," Sayuri observed, her voice as calm as still water. "Tiring already?"

Mai's teeth clenched. "Just getting warmed up."

But she wasn't. Every second stretched her endurance thinner, and they all knew it. That was part of the plan. Sayuri's focus remained entirely on Mai, just as Tomaru had predicted. And as far as Sayuri could tell, it was only Mai she had to worry about.

Mina's movements were soundless as she wove through the underbrush like a shadow. Her fingers danced over the kunai tied with near-invisible wire, securing them into place with meticulous precision. She wasn't fast or strong, but she was precise. A single miscalculation would give Sayuri time to counter. Yet her hands were steady. She could hear Mai's grunts, the thudding of feet against the earth, and the soft hum of the wire as it stretched taut between kunai.

"Ready," Mina whispered into her comm, a small device tucked discreetly into her collar.

Tomaru's voice answered, calm but tight with focus. "Wait for my signal."

Sayuri was still untouchable, still moving with that frustrating ease. Mai's frustration boiled over, and she lashed out with a hard kick aimed at Sayuri's side. Sayuri dodged—but Mai stumbled slightly, exaggerating the motion. It looked real.

Sayuri's eyes narrowed. A mistake?

That was enough. Sayuri stepped into the opening, faster than Mai could react, aiming to knock her off balance with a well-placed palm strike. Just as her hand darted forward, the trap was sprung.

"Now!" Tomaru's voice rang out, firm and steady.

Mina yanked hard on the wire.

The kunai she had planted whipped upward in a blur, the wires snapping into place like an intricate web around Sayuri. They were placed perfectly—no room to twist or leap without entangling herself.

Sayuri's eyes flashed in realization. She leapt, twisting mid-air, graceful as ever, narrowly avoiding the wires' grip. But as she landed, her eyes flicked upward in surprise.

Tomaru had already moved.

The kunai that Tomaru had been holding wasn't aimed at Sayuri. It wasn't meant to pierce or trap her—it was meant to mislead.

The kunai arced through the air and embedded into the ground near Sayuri's feet. A faint click echoed in the clearing as a hidden pouch tied to the weapon erupted into a cloud of fine white powder. The scent was faint but distinct: chalk dust, meant to obscure vision for precious seconds.

Sayuri's reaction was instant, as expected from a jonin. She stepped back, raising an arm to shield her eyes, already preparing to counter whatever came next.

But Tomaru wasn't attacking. He slid low, his body pressed against the ground like a predator stalking prey, using the dust cloud as cover. His target was not Sayuri—but the bell at her waist.

Sayuri sensed him just as his fingers brushed the cord holding the bell.

She twisted, aiming a sweeping kick. It was fast, almost too fast to see, but Tomaru had anticipated it. He let his body drop further, rolling beneath the arc of her leg, dust swirling around him.

Sayuri's foot struck the ground where he'd been a heartbeat before, and she spun, her eyes narrowing as she realized too late—

The bell's silver chime broke the tension, soft and sweet, as Tomaru's hand closed around it and he rolled out of range.

He came up on one knee, panting but steady, holding the bell high. His dark brown hair was mussed, streaks of dirt across his face, but his eyes gleamed with triumph. The bell dangled from his fingers, the soft jingle echoing in the clearing like a victory cry.

For a moment, the world was still. Even the wind seemed to pause.

Sayuri straightened, the dust settling around her, her dark green eyes locking with Tomaru's. There was no anger in her gaze, no frustration—only a faint smile of approval. "Clever," she said softly, brushing her scarf from her shoulder. 

Tomaru nodded, still catching his breath. "The real trick… was the kunai placement. You were focused on the wires, on Mai… but it was always about the dust. And timing."

Mai stumbled forward, collapsing onto her knees with an exhausted but victorious laugh. "We… we actually did it," she gasped, chest heaving. "We beat her!"

Mina emerged from the brush, her hands still holding the remaining wires, a small smirk tugging at her lips. "We didn't beat her," she corrected, adjusting her glasses. "We outthought her. There's a difference."

Sayuri crossed her arms, the smile still lingering on her lips.

"You passed," she said, voice low but firm. 

Mai puffed up her chest, trying to look less like someone who'd just been pancaked by exhaustion. "Teamwork is what we do best!"

Mina gave her a sidelong glance. "Since when? We've been a team for less than a day."

"Yeah, but we're awesome," Mai replied, throwing her arms around Mina and Tomaru in an exaggerated group hug.

Tomaru groaned, trying to wriggle out of her grip. "Get off me. Your sweat's getting on my jacket."

"Oh, come on, Tomaru," Mai teased, tightening her hold. "This is what bonding feels like! Just embrace it. Literally."

Sayuri cleared her throat, and the trio snapped to attention—well, mostly. Mai still had an arm slung over Tomaru's shoulder, grinning cheekily.

"You succeeded," Sayuri continued, her tone softening slightly.

"Not because of raw skill, but because you recognized your strengths and weaknesses. You adapted, you supported each other, and you used the resources available to you." Her eyes lingered on Tomaru for a moment longer.

"And you, in particular, showed remarkable perception."

Mai snickered. "Remarkable perception? Is that what we're calling it when someone stares at Sayuri-sensei for ten minutes straight?"

Tomaru's eyes widened, a faint flush creeping up his neck. "I was watching her movements! Not—"

"Sure you were," Mina interjected, adjusting her glasses with a knowing smirk. "Your 'movements' just happened to focus around her—"

"Enough!" Tomaru barked, his face redder than a ripe tomato.

Sayuri's lips quirked into the faintest smile, though she said nothing, her arms folding neatly across her chest.