Naruto: One Eye Tenseigan

The early morning sun bathed the Konoha training grounds in soft golden light, the gentle rustling of leaves and distant chirps of birds creating an idyllic calm. But within the clearing, the air crackled with anticipation, and the peace was anything but serene.

Tomaru stepped into the training grounds, the chatter of his teammates greeted him.

Mai Kisaragi stood with her hands on her hips and her grin as wide as the horizon, her energy as vibrant as ever. "You're late!" she called out, her voice carrying across the clearing.

Tomaru raised an eyebrow. "The sun's barely up. I'm right on time. You're just early."

"That's called dedication," Mai shot back, thumbing her chest with mock pride. "Something you wouldn't understand."

Tomaru strolled toward her, his expression unfazed. "Dedication or impatience?"

Mina Harada glanced up from the notebook she was scribbling in, her tone as dry as the pages of her notes. "Or preparation. Some of us believe in planning ahead."

Tomaru exhaled through his nose, rubbing his temple. "If this is preparation, I'd hate to see chaos."

Mai's grin widened. "Oh, you will. We're sparring today!" She hopped on the balls of her feet, brimming with energy. "And I'm gonna wipe the floor with you!"

Tomaru rolled his shoulders, his voice flat. "Bold words for someone who trips over her own feet."

Mai gasped theatrically, clutching her chest as if struck. "Sensei! Did you hear that? Tomaru's being mean to me!"

A calm, steady voice interrupted from the edge of the field. "And I see you're still mastering the art of melodrama, Mai."

The team turned as Sayuri Koizumi approached, her long auburn hair catching the sunlight, a steaming cup of tea cradled in one hand, and a scroll tucked neatly under her arm. Her emerald eyes swept over her team with the precision of someone who missed nothing.

"Good morning, Team Two," she said, her tone warm but tinged with amusement.

Mai instantly brightened, pointing toward Tomaru like she'd just solved a great mystery. "Morning, Sensei! Tomaru's volunteering to spar with me."

Tomaru didn't bother hiding his exasperation. "I didn't."

Sayuri raised an eyebrow, the faintest smile curving her lips. "Good, because today's sparring matches are already decided. Mai, you'll face Mina. Tomaru…" Her gaze settled on him, calm but challenging. "You'll face me."

Mai's confidence vanished as quickly as it had come. She froze mid-bounce, her face a mixture of shock and betrayal. "Wait. What?"

Tomaru tilted his head, his brows furrowing slightly. "You want me to spar against you, Sensei?"

Sayuri set her cup down gently on a nearby log, the sound punctuating her words. "You heard me."

Mai snapped out of her daze, bursting into a loud cackle. "Oh, this is gonna be good! Finally, someone's gonna knock that stoic expression off your face, Tomaru!"

Tomaru shot her a sidelong glance, unfazed. "You mean the way you knocked yourself out by tripping over a log last mission?"

Mina, who had been quietly watching, snorted into her notebook, hastily covering her mouth. "He's not wrong."

"Traitor!" Mai hissed, jabbing a finger at Mina, though her grin returned soon enough.

Tomaru turned back to Sayuri, his tone calm and composed. "Fine. I'll go easy on you, Sensei."

Sayuri's faint smile widened, but there was something in her expression—something sharp and unsettling, like the edge of a blade hidden beneath silk. "How generous of you," she said, her voice smooth. "I'll try my best to keep up."

Mai let out another laugh, nudging Mina with her elbow. "Did you hear that? Tomaru thinks he's being generous!"

Mina glanced up from her notes, her gray eyes flicking between Tomaru and Sayuri. "I think we should start placing bets."

Mai's grin grew conspiratorial. "You're on. Ten ryo says Sensei wipes the floor with him."

Mina adjusted her glasses, her expression thoughtful. "I'll take that. But not because I think Tomaru will win—because I think neither of them is holding back."

Tomaru sighed audibly. "You two done yet?"

Mai leaned in, smirking. "Aw, c'mon, Tomaru. Don't be so serious. This is gonna be fun."

—

The training ground bustled with energy, its two sparring circles bearing the scars of countless battles. Dust and worn earth painted a picture of the countless shinobi who had honed their skills here. In the first circle, Mai and Mina squared off, their personalities as clashing as their fighting styles.

Mai bounced on the balls of her feet, radiating enthusiasm like an untamed firecracker. "Ready to lose, Mina?" she teased, flashing a confident grin.

Mina adjusted her glasses with a calm flick of her fingers, her stance balanced and deliberate. "I'd be more worried about tripping over your own excitement."

Mai gasped dramatically, clutching her chest like Mina had physically struck her. "Excitement? This is pure confidence! Besides, I'm going easy on you."

"Oh, good," Mina replied dryly, taking a step forward. "Confidence in failure, perhaps."

Before Mai could retort, Mina dashed in with surprising speed. Her palm connected squarely with Mai's shoulder, sending her stumbling back with a surprised yelp.

"Hey!" Mai protested, dropping to one knee to steady herself. "That was a cheap shot!"

"Calculated," Mina corrected, her tone as precise as her strike. "There's a difference."

Tomaru leaned against a nearby post, arms crossed and a small smirk playing on his lips. "She's right, you know. You're like an open book—predictable plot twists and all."

Mai shot him a glare, her cheeks flushing. "Why don't you worry about your own fight, Mr. Know-it-all?"

Tomaru shrugged. "I'm just saying—at least be an interesting book if you're going to lose."

"Oh, I'll show you 'interesting,'" Mai grumbled, picking herself up. "Just wait until it's your turn in the ring."

—

The training grounds seemed quieter than usual, the tension thick in the crisp morning air. Sayuri Koizumi stood with her usual calm composure, her emerald eyes fixed on Tomaru. In contrast, Tomaru's demeanor was stoic, his movements deliberate as he adjusted his stance.

"Let's see how far you've come since the bell test," Sayuri said, her voice even but with a hint of curiosity.

Tomaru didn't reply immediately. Instead, he settled into his stance, feet grounded, hands poised to strike. "You might regret asking," he said finally, his tone calm but edged with determination.

Sayuri chuckled softly. "Confident, are we? Show me."

Tomaru stepped into the sparring circle, the morning sun casting long shadows across the training ground. Opposite him, Sayuri Koizumi adjusted the scarf draped over her shoulder, her emerald eyes calm but focused. The usual warmth she showed her team was absent, replaced by the calculated sharpness of a seasoned shinobi.

Tomaru knew better than to expect mercy. Sparring against Sayuri wasn't a lesson; it was a battlefield.

"Are you ready?" Sayuri asked, her voice smooth but carrying the weight of challenge.

Tomaru didn't answer immediately. He rolled his shoulders, loosening his stance, his dark eyes locked on hers. "Ready as I'll ever be," he replied, his tone steady.

Sayuri's lips curved into a faint smile. "Good. No holding back."

"Wouldn't dream of it."

—

Mai growled, leaping back into the fray with renewed vigor. She launched a flurry of strikes, her movements aggressive but unfocused. Mina sidestepped each blow with precision, her counterattacks striking true.

Mai pivoting into a spinning kick. The motion was fast, her leg slicing through the air, but Mina ducked under it with minimal effort, her glasses catching a glint of sunlight as she countered with a precise palm strike to Mai's side.

The blow didn't hurt much, but it threw Mai off balance. She stumbled back, her footing unsteady.

"Gotta do better than that," Mina said, her smirk barely visible.

This time, Mai feinted a high kick before lunging low, aiming for Mina's legs. It was a clever move, designed to exploit Mina's preference for defensive maneuvers.

But Mina wasn't fooled. Anticipating the feint, she sidestepped again, this time bringing her elbow down to intercept Mai's strike. The force of the block sent a shock up Mai's leg, momentarily freezing her momentum.

"You're fast, Mai," Mina admitted, her tone analytical, "but speed means nothing if you can't think two moves ahead."

Mai's frustration boiled over. "Stop talking like a textbook!"

She launched into a flurry of punches and kicks, each strike faster and more aggressive than the last. Mina retreated step by step, her movements deliberate as she deflected and redirected each attack.

"You need to think before you move," Mina chided, her tone almost academic.

"I am thinking!" Mai snapped, narrowly dodging a sweep kick.

"Think smarter, then," Mina quipped, stepping into Mai's guard and tapping her lightly on the forehead with her palm.

Mai stumbled back, her frustration mounting. "Traitor," she muttered under her breath, planting her feet and preparing for another charge.

Mai's relentless assault began to take its toll. Her breathing grew heavier, her strikes slightly less precise. Mina, ever patient, waited for the moment when Mai's frustration would lead to a mistake.

It came with a poorly aimed kick.

Mina seized the opportunity, pivoting smoothly and sweeping Mai's legs out from under her. Mai hit the ground with a loud thud, groaning as she stared up at the sky.

Mina adjusted her glasses, her expression calm but tinged with satisfaction. "The key is balance, Mai. You rely too much on your instincts, but instincts alone can't win a fight. Strategy complements strength."

Mai groaned, rolling to her feet. "Fine, fine. I get it. Think more, flail less." She shot Mina a teasing grin. "Next time, though, you're going down."

Mina smirked faintly. "We'll see."