Bab 3: Chapter 3 - Graduation
Year 25 AV.
A young boy crouched under the shade of a tree, its shadows nearly making him invisible. A head full of shoulder length, pitch black hair tied in a low pony tail and eyes mirrioring the emptiness and vastness of deep space, swirling within was a whirlpool of darkness that would suck anyone in if one were to look long enough. His face now having a ruddy glow to it, appeared chiseled with high cheekbone, an angular nose and handsome features.
He was taking deep subdued breaths, trying to calm his erratic breathing, to minimize his presence alluding to the teaching he recieved in his clan's private school.
In his perception, about 50 meters ahead, in their clan's training ground, also filled with tall trees and various shrubs, hinting at an intentional lack of human touch, stood 5 other children of similar age and features typical to Hattoris', who were also in deep concentration, trying to locate their supposed adversaries.
Hattoris' were born sensors, alluding their extreme Yin physique, also their profession being literal Shinobi Assasins, it was given that they would all be the highest calibre of sensors among their age group.
Shinjo being a genius among geniuses, nothing was hidden from his senses. He could even vaguely sense a few figures that stood high above among the foliage, 200 meters back, intently observing their mock battle royale. Easily locating his peers despite their efforts to hide their presence, who were having trouble locating him. It was this deficit that prevented them from trying to attack each other, none wanting to bear the brunt of a sudden attack. Because in their profession, it was all they needed, a singular opportunity that decided the outcome. i.e. Death.
It was soon clear that one of the participant, the youngest, a 6.5 years old couldn't hold back, implying a lack of patience, typical in children. He rushed towards his foe nearest to him in absolute silence, as if a spectre moving through the shadows, making nary a sound, hoping for a quick elimination and adjusting to the other's attack that was sure to come.
His opponent, a 7 years old girl, already aware of the impending attack, cursed under her breath,
"this brat, he is going drag me under with him too."
Braced herself and prepared contingencies in case her peers deciding to gang up on her and eliminate her next.
The boy crept up silently behind the girl, steadying his kunai for a quick wipe at the girl's back, intending to destroy one of the plates hung there that covered her vitals. In this mock test, that determined their strength, all wore a few brittle plates on their vitals, which once destroyed would mean they were out for the count. The girl showcasing astounding agility turned her torso back and flashed her kunai to intercept the attack, while steadying her legs to not compromise her balace. Their collision sending sparks in the darkness.
It was as if, a stone had fallen into still water. The moment they made contact, the others as if waiting for that exact moment, sprang up.
An 8 years old shunshinned silently behind the youngest boy aiming to destroy his plates, he could already see another 7 years old behind the girl, taking the opportunity to eliminate her as well. The last girl, 9 'old, oldest of them all, also sprung into action aiming for the plate hung behind the 8 y'old.
From the moment of spark to simultaneous attack from other 3, it only took a breath of time. A game of shogi, the first to strike and eliminate the threat, not giving the opponent a chance to think, determining the current threat and preparing for the coming attacks incase the assasination failed. Despite seemingly simple at first glance, it was a struggle between complex strategies, negating one, formulating more on the fly, responding to sudden changes, factoring in the opponents' preconceived plan, then planning to counter them, all the while accounting for other changes amidst the fight.
The young Shinjo was watching all this, eyes wide, chin tucked in, muscles tensed, aware of his advantages over his peers, ready to strike once an opportunity comes his way.
The 7 'old who was first attacked, pushed her younger opponent back, using the momentum and angular tension of her turned body to shoot back against the older boy to intercept the attack from her back, while giving a whipping kick to the youngster behind. Sparks flew, when they made contact. Feeling her kick having missed, she sensed a kunai flying towards her head, while the boy infront sending a flurry of swipes with his leg and kunai. Tilting her head out of the way, while moving her body in opposite direction, she evaded both the attacks, but sensed more coming. Showcasing her breathtaking agility, she moved in ways that seemed impossible for a human body. She dodged attacks coming from 2 different directions and counter-attacked them.
The youngest who had initiated the attack found himself in a precarious condition when he sensed his older peer attacking from behind and the girl who he thought would be easy to handle, dealing him a good amount of counter-attacks that overwhelmed his senses. What broke his proverbial back, was a shrewd attack coming from the oldest girl. While she was feigning to attack his own assailant, she sent a flurry of shurikens flying his way from tricky angles that bloked all this escape routes. He managed to dodge, but the flurry of attacks that seemed to come at once, seemed to be too much for him, a well placed swipe from the 8 y'old broke his plates, with that he was out for the count.
A shuriken he dodged cleverly redirected after few collisions mid-air to attack the other boy engaged with the 7 year old girl. She had the front view seat to the coming attack, so she increased her intensity, aiming to take out the unaware boy with the coming shuriken. Sending a deluge of attacks, all aiming for vitals had the boy in a fluster. He was having difficulties even touching the girl due to her inhuman agility. He would have to pause his attacks midway to defend against the ever-changing onslaught from the young girl. It was then he felt a sting in his back, somehow finding the plate broken.
In a moment, he understood what had transpired and turned his gaze to the girl and screamed in a shrill voice, "you tricked me, you witch."
The girl had a vein popping up on her forehead, made a fist and punched him on the head. It was at this moment, she knew, she fucked up. Like a specter, Shinjo who was waiting for this exact opportunity, with handsome features marred by an impassive expression seemed to materialized behind her and sent a swift stab, breaking the plate and then moving on to the other side. All in a span of a blink, rendering the girl frozen and the boy stood there with eyes wide open, all he saw was a faint blur.
Simultaneously, the 2 remaining registered a fast approaching presence, nearly blending into the shadows. They stopped attacking each other and moved to brace the attack in tandem. However the boy had his back to him, by the time, he turned around to get into a position to defend, his plate was already shattered.
The attack smoothly changed direction after eliminating the boy and moved towards the girl with frightening accuracy. If before, the girl felt slightly relaxed, now facing the tricky attack coming for her vitals, she had goosebumps, her face contorting into a grimace. She awkwardly moved her body to get out of harm's way. But when she was just finishing getting into a defence posture and preparing to block, i.e. when the old force was spent and the new force was yet to be generated, the attack came, making her very uncomfortable.
The assailant as if knowing exactly what she was going to do, betrayed his genius and experience in such surprise attacks. Seemingly tailored for assasination.
He kept on attacking the girl and her momentum from each movement got smaller and smaller, until she couldn't summon anymore strength to defend due to rhythm of attacks always hampering her from building up strength. A whipping kick sent her flying back and colliding with a tree. She felt tightness in her throat and blood spilled from her mouth. She struggled to sit up and looked at the boy in agony.
The youngster's impassive face gave way to a more concerned and worried look as he approached the girl to check on her. But suddenly, he felt a fast approaching presence from behind and before he could react, a hand materialized above his shoulder, patting his back in an encouraging manner.
The middle aged man, a.k.a. Hattori Kaemon, the clan leader announced, "Alright, that's enough! Winner, Hattori Shinjo. Elder Kenji, please tend to your granddaughter and then everyone else."
Elder Kenji, who Shinjo recognized as one of the old men present during his initiation ceremony, gave him an impassive look, as if complaining why he had to hurt his granddaughter to this extent and moved to the young girl leaning against the tree to administer first aid and iryo ninjutsu.
After everyone was tended to, they returned to the clan head's mansion, where they would be given their Ninja forehead protector by the second hokage, Senju Tobirama himself.
.....
PERTIMBANGAN PENCIPTA 
rorschach
rorschach whew. I had a lot of fun writing that scene. Thought i couldn't write as much scenes as i wantes to. The story would have become stale and long, otherwise.
Anyways, more such scenes are incoming. Damn, I have planned quite a few fight scenes of complex tactics, as a ninja should fight. Can't wait to share with you guys.
Like it? Then add this to your library and hit me with them powerstones. Ciao.
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