Naruto: One Eye Tenseigan

The morning sun streamed through the canopy of the Konoha training grounds, casting shifting patterns of light and shadow across the clearing. Birds chirped rhythmically in the background, the breeze carrying the faint scent of earth and grass. The tranquil setting, however, belied the intensity brewing in the air.

At the edge of the clearing, Tomaru adjusted his gloves, his motions deliberate and precise. Across from him, Sayuri Koizumi stood tall, her stance relaxed but her emerald eyes sharp, radiating the calm authority of a seasoned shinobi.

On the sidelines, Mai Kisaragi and Mina Harada sat on a fallen log, their expressions contrasting as they watched the two prepare to spar. Mai, usually brimming with cheeky commentary, sat uncharacteristically quiet, her amber eyes focused. Mina, ever the observer, adjusted her glasses, the light reflecting off the lenses.

"Do you think Tomaru can keep up?" Mina asked, her voice low and thoughtful.

Mai's arms were crossed tightly, her lips pressing into a thin line. She hesitated before answering, her tone softer than usual. "He's good—really good. But Sensei? She's on a different level. He'll last, but… I'm not sure for how long."

Mina glanced at Mai, catching the flicker of uncertainty in her expression. "You sound worried."

Mai's expression quickly shifted, forcing her trademark grin back onto her face. "Worried? Nah. Just wondering how long it'll take for Sensei to show him who's boss."

Mina didn't press the point but made a mental note. Mai's humor was hiding something—an unspoken frustration.

—

Without warning, Sayuri surged forward, her form a blur as she closed the gap between them in a heartbeat. Her leading palm strike was fast, precise, and aimed for his center mass—a textbook opener to test his reflexes.

Tomaru stepped aside smoothly, his body rotating just enough to let the blow skim past him. Sayuri followed up immediately, twisting into a sharp elbow strike aimed at his ribs. Tomaru raised his forearm to block, absorbing the impact and countering with a swift low kick that targeted her legs.

Sayuri jumped back, her movements fluid, her feet barely brushing the ground as she reset her stance.

Good. He doesn't overcommit to his counters anymore. But let's see if he can handle real pressure.

"You're holding back," Sayuri remarked casually, twisting mid-strike to aim a sweeping kick at his ribs.

Tomaru deflected the kick, stepping back to reset his stance. "Wouldn't want to break my sensei."

Sayuri's chuckle was sharp, almost amused. "Flatter yourself less. I've fought S-rank shinobi, Tomaru. You're my warm-up routine."

Sayuri's next attack came with greater intensity. She darted in with a spinning back kick aimed at his head, the force of her strike slicing through the air audibly. Tomaru ducked low, narrowly evading the attack, and pivoted into a sweeping kick of his own. The move was fast and deliberate, targeting Sayuri's supporting leg to unbalance her.

But Sayuri was faster. She flipped backward, her body arching gracefully over the sweep, and landed lightly on her feet. She pressed forward immediately, delivering a rapid flurry of strikes that forced Tomaru onto the defensive.

Sayuri's attacks came in a flurry now, her strikes flowing like water. "Your reaction time's improving," she noted, her tone almost conversational as she aimed a punch at his shoulder.

Tomaru ducked, rolling to the side and countering with a swift palm strike of his own. "Thanks. You're not half bad yourself—for a morning warm-up."

He blocked and parried with precision, his arms absorbing her blows with practiced efficiency. A jab aimed for his shoulder slipped through his guard, but Tomaru twisted with the hit, dissipating its force. Using the momentum, he spun into a counterstrike, his fist glowing faintly with earth chakra as it arced toward her midsection.

Sayuri sidestepped just in time, the chakra-infused punch grazing her side and sending a ripple through the air. The ground beneath them cracked slightly from the residual force.

Chakra infusion at the right moment. He's learned to control it well. But earth chakra has its drawbacks. It slows the body. Let's see if he can manage that.

"Clever," Sayuri said, her voice even. "But you'll have to be more unpredictable than that."

Sayuri feinted a high kick, her foot cutting through the air toward his head. As Tomaru raised his arm to block, she shifted mid-motion, pivoting into a low strike aimed at his thigh.

Tomaru anticipated the feint. He stepped back, narrowly avoiding the blow, and immediately retaliated with a thrusting palm strike. Sayuri leaned to the side, letting the attack pass by inches, and closed the distance between them, aiming a swift punch toward his sternum.

At the last moment, Tomaru activated the Earth Spear Technique, his chest hardening with chakra-infused durability. Sayuri's fist connected with the reinforced defense, the impact echoing like a hammer on stone. She pulled back instantly, her expression betraying a flicker of surprise.

Timing. Perfect timing. He's not just reacting anymore—he's anticipating. But that technique will slow him down if he overuses it. Let's push him further.

Sayuri pressed the attack, her strikes unrelenting as she tested his ability to adapt under pressure. Each blow came faster, each movement sharper, designed to overwhelm and expose any flaws in his defense.

Tomaru stayed composed, his movements efficient and measured. He didn't waste energy on unnecessary counters, focusing instead on deflecting her attacks and looking for openings. When Sayuri pivoted into a high kick, he slipped under it, aiming a precise punch at her exposed ribs.

Sayuri twisted her body, narrowly avoiding the strike, and retaliated with a spinning backhand. Tomaru ducked, closing the distance between them in a seamless motion. His knee shot up, forcing Sayuri to twist away and reset her stance.

For a brief moment, they circled each other, their breathing steady but their eyes locked. The ground beneath them bore the scars of their clash—scattered cracks, displaced dirt, and faint imprints from their movements.

As Tomaru and Sayuri's sparring continued, Mai watched from the sidelines, a mixture of awe and frustration building within her. The way Tomaru moved—fluid, precise, and seemingly effortless—was nothing like her own style. Sayuri's attacks, fast and unforgiving, tested Tomaru's limits, but he was adapting with remarkable speed. He was already countering her moves almost instinctively, as if he had fought her hundreds of times before.

Mai's hands clenched at her sides. She prided herself on her taijutsu skills, but watching Tomaru dodge Sayuri's blows with such grace and deliver counters that left Sayuri on the defensive, made her feel... inadequate.

Why am I so far behind? She thought bitterly, watching as Tomaru ducked under Sayuri's spinning kick and swept her leg out from beneath her. Tomaru's calm face remained unchanged, not a single bead of sweat forming on his brow despite the intensity of the fight.

She bit her lip, watching the two combatants continue their dance of strikes and counterattacks.

It wasn't just his skill. It was how easily he adapted, how much he had grown since the bell test. Back then, Tomaru had been competent, yes, but now? He was a different person altogether. His growth had been exponential.

"What's the matter, Mai?" Mina's voice interrupted her thoughts. Mai didn't realize that Mina had come to stand next to her.

"Nothing," Mai muttered, though the tightness in her voice betrayed her. "Just thinking about how much I still have to learn."

Mina tilted her head, her expression softening. "You're not far behind," she said, though her tone was measured. "But you're right. Tomaru's not like the rest of us."

Mai looked over at Tomaru, who had just landed a successful low kick that forced Sayuri to retreat. Despite being Sayuri's equal in many ways, Tomaru didn't seem to treat her as an obstacle. He was learning, testing his limits, and improving at an unimaginable rate.

Mai let out a frustrated sigh. "Yeah, I know. It's just hard to catch up when you're always so far ahead."

Mina raised an eyebrow but didn't respond immediately. She simply watched the sparring match unfold. "You've been at it for years, Mai. And Tomaru's abilities are different from yours. It doesn't mean you're any less capable."

Mai shot her a look. "I know that," she snapped, though the edge in her voice softened. "It's just frustrating. I've been training so hard, but... it feels like I'll never catch up to him."

Mina sighed softly, but her gaze remained steady. "You won't catch up if you keep comparing yourself to him. You need to focus on your own strengths, not on where Tomaru's at."

"He's like Kakashi-Sensei," Mai muttered under her breath, her voice tinged with frustration. "Genius-level talent. How am I supposed to compete with that?"

Mina's smile was small but sincere. "You're strong, Mai. Don't forget that."

The conversation paused as Sayuri landed a powerful strike that sent Tomaru back a few paces. He recovered quickly, though, and nodded in acknowledgment before resetting his stance. The fight wasn't over, and it was clear Tomaru wasn't holding back.

Mina adjusted her glasses, her expression thoughtful. "Tomaru's improved since the bell test. Sayuri-sensei is in for a challenge."

"Think he'll win?"

Mina glanced at Mai, her tone calm. "No. But he'll make her work for it."

"Even if you're not on his level right now," Mina added quietly, "it doesn't mean you can't get there. Every fighter has their own path. Just keep fighting and improving, and you'll find yours."

Mai's gaze lingered on Tomaru as he faced off against Sayuri once more. A quiet resolve settled over her. "You're right," she murmured. "I won't stop. I'll catch up. Maybe not today, but someday."

Mina gave her a small nod, turning her attention back to the fight. The tension was palpable as Sayuri unleashed a flurry of attacks, but Tomaru dodged with precision, never allowing her to land a decisive blow.

"Maybe I can't match Tomaru's speed or talent," Mai thought, watching him move with effortless grace. "But I'll find my own way. And when I do, I'll make sure no one forgets who Mai Kisaragi is."

As the sparring session continued, the realization grew stronger in Mai's chest: this fight was not about keeping up with Tomaru. It was about finding her own strength, her own place in the team.

One day, she vowed silently. One day, I'll fight like that.

—

Sayuri's strikes grew faster, more deliberate. Tomaru's enhanced perception allowed him to keep pace, weaving through her attacks with a blend of instinct and technique.

"Impressive," Sayuri remarked as Tomaru narrowly avoided a spinning kick. "But reaction time alone won't win a fight."

Tomaru countered with a swift strike, his fist infused with a faint ripple of earth chakra. Sayuri caught the motion and pivoted, her hand snapping up to deflect the blow.

He's relentless. And calm. Not many shinobi can maintain this level of focus in a fight. He's using every ounce of what I taught him—and then some.

Sayuri decided to escalate. She surged forward, her speed increasing as she feinted a low strike and transitioned into a sweeping kick aimed at his midsection. Tomaru shifted to block, but the moment her leg made contact, she redirected her momentum, using the recoil to spin into a powerful roundhouse kick aimed for his shoulder.

The blow connected, sending Tomaru sliding back several feet. He dropped to one knee, his hand pressing into the ground to steady himself. But even as he rose, there was no hesitation in his movements—no sign of retreat.

He's tough. I'll give him that. Most genin would've stayed down from that hit.

Tomaru adjusted his stance, his dark eyes sharp and unwavering. His next move came with calculated precision—a series of rapid strikes infused with earth chakra, each one aimed to corner Sayuri and force her on the defensive.

Sayuri countered with equal ferocity, their movements blurring as they clashed in a flurry of blows. Each strike, block, and counter resonated with power, the ground beneath them trembling from the force of their attacks.

In a decisive moment, Sayuri spun low, her leg sweeping toward his ankles. Tomaru jumped to evade, twisting mid-air to deliver a downward punch as he descended. Sayuri raised her arm to block, the impact reverberating through her body, and countered with a palm strike that connected with his side.

Tomaru staggered slightly but recovered instantly, stepping back and resetting his stance. His breathing was heavier now, beads of sweat glistening on his brow, but his focus remained unbroken.

Sayuri straightened, her stance relaxed but her expression serious. "Match," she declared smoothly, stepping back with an approving nod. "Better. But you still hesitate when switching between offense and defense."

Tomaru pushed himself back to his feet, dusting off his pants. "I'll work on it. Next time, you'll be the one on the ground."

Sayuri raised an eyebrow, her faint smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "We'll see. Don't let your overconfidence trip you on the way."

Mai burst out laughing from the sidelines, doubling over. "Did she just—she totally stole my line! Mina, did you hear that?"

Mina, observing the fight with her usual analytical calm, pushed her glasses up her nose. "Yes, but unlike you, she actually made it land."

As Sayuri walked back toward the sidelines, Mai cupped her hands around her mouth. "Tomaru, are you blushing? Is it the 'you'll be on the ground' line? Or is it because Sensei smiled at you?"

Tomaru grabbed a discarded towel, tossing it at Mai. "Maybe I'll spar you next."

"Bring it on!" Mai shot back, catching the towel and flinging it back with a laugh. "But you'd better warm up properly first—I'd hate for me to be your warm-up routine."

Tomaru sighed, shaking his head. "Remind me why I'm on a team with you two again?"

Mina deadpanned, "To humble you."