บท 35: The Spark of a New Rivalry
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Rai and his mother were strolling down the familiar path back home, the academy's buildings gradually fading into the distance behind them. Her gentle hand securely held Rai's as they walked in comfortable silence, enjoying the peaceful ambiance of their village during the late afternoon.
Rai was clearly distracted, fidgeting with the hem of his shirt and casting sidelong glances at his mother. Despite the tranquil ambiance, his mind seemed to be elsewhere, tangled in some thought or concern that made him unusually restless.
As they arrived home, Yoshino turned to Rai, her eyes filled with concern. "Rai, what's the matter?" she asked gently. "You've been fidgeting all the way home. It's clear you have something on your mind. Want to talk about it?"
Yoshino gave Rai a moment to collect his thoughts, observing him with a patient and understanding gaze. After a few seconds, she prompted, "Did something happen in class today?"
"No, no, nothing of the sort," Rai quickly reassured her. "It's just that we received our schedule for the year today and it only included all the mundane subjects." Rai's voice trailed off, his tone expressing his clear disappointment.
Rai continued, his gaze meeting his mother's. "I already have a good grasp of all the subjects. Nishimura-sensei taught me well. I was really bored in class today," he admitted.
He let out a sigh, running a hand through his hair. "I couldn't do anything but fall asleep today, and I'm certain it's going to be the same for the rest of the year. It's all too simple, nothing challenging," Rai expressed his concern, his words hinting at his craving for more stimulating learning.
"Go on. There's clearly more on your mind," Yoshino urged.
Rai hesitated for a moment, then continued, "Well, I kind of spoke with a classmate of mine today. He told me that students can apply to skip grades by taking early exams." His voice trailed off, as if uncertain about how his mother would react to this information.
Yoshino sighed softly and replied, "Yes, your father and I are aware of that option. But there's a reason we didn't suggest it or push you towards skipping grades."
She continued, "The sooner you graduate, the sooner you'll be involved in the ongoing war. Even if you become a medical-nin, you'll still be part of a three-man cell and could be sent to the front lines. This isn't something we want for you, not at such a young age."
At his mother's words, Rai's face turned pale. Rai's mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, but one stood out clearly above the rest. This was the reality he had been trying so hard to avoid. He didn't want to become a part of the war, he just wanted to be a medical-nin and save lives, not be a part of taking them.
Seeing the worry etched on Rai's face, Yoshino laid a comforting hand on his shoulder. "But there is a solution, Rai," she said gently, her voice breaking through his turbulent thoughts.
"Here's what we can do," Yoshino continued, "You can skip your first year at the academy. You've already grasped the basics, there's no need to waste time re-learning them. However, you will stay at the academy for the remaining years, as planned. This way, you can move forward at your own pace without rushing into the battlefield."
Rai's face lit up at his mother's words. It was a solution that he hadn't considered, and it brought him a great deal of relief. His eyes sparkled with newfound enthusiasm, a stark contrast to the worry that had been clouding his expression just moments ago.
Just as Rai was about to respond, Yoshino held up a hand to stop him. "Before you get too excited, I need to discuss this with your father," she cautioned. "This isn't a decision I can make on my own. I will write him a letter regarding this matter. Depending on when his reply comes, you'll have to continue attending the academy as a first-year student until then."
Finding his mother's proposal acceptable, Rai couldn't help but express his gratitude. He reached out and gave his mother a heartfelt hug, his young face beaming with relief and appreciation. "Thank you, mom," he said sincerely, his arms tightening around her in a warm embrace.
Yoshino returned the hug, smiling at her son. After a moment, she pulled back and gave Rai a gentle push in the direction of the kitchen. "Go on, get something to eat," she said warmly, "And remember, whatever happens, we're doing this for your best interest."
As Rai was about to head towards the kitchen, he paused and turned back to his mother, "Oh, mom," he started, "I forgot to tell you. I made plans to meet Shisui at training ground three around four. Can you reserve it for us?"
As Rai started to leave the room, Yoshino called after him, "Wait. Who's this Shisui?" Her eyebrows furrowed slightly in confusion.
Turning back towards his mother, Rai replied, "Shisui is the one who told me about the option to skip a year. His full name is Shisui Uchiha. He's a classmate from the Academy."
Yoshino's eyes widened as she processed Rai's words, before a bright smile spread across her face. Suddenly, she rushed towards her son, pulling him into an exuberant hug. "My little Rai, you've finally made a friend your age!" She exclaimed, cartoonish tears streaming down her face in an exaggerated display of joy. Rai could only blush in embarrassment at his mother's dramatic reaction.
Despite the sudden outburst of emotion, Rai managed to pull away slightly, his cheeks glowing a light pink. "Mom, he's not... he's not a friend, just a classmate," Rai tried to clarify.
Yoshino chuckled softly, "Sure, sure, whatever you say," she said playfully. "Now, go on, get something to eat. You don't want to be late. I'll make sure to reserve the timeslot for you."
*
As Shisui moved towards the training ground, he couldn't help but feel a surge of happiness. He had always been somewhat solitary, not because he didn't want companionship, but because making friends had always seemed like a puzzle that he could never quite solve.
While there were children of similar age within his clan, Shisui found it challenging to truly connect with them. They often struck him as immature, their worldviews limited and their concerns trivial. Their incessant chatter and childish antics felt alien to him, a stark contrast to his own, more mature disposition.
The thought of Shikarai Nara brought a hopeful glimmer to Shisui's thoughts. He found Rai different from the rest; he didn't possess the typical childish demeanor that was so common among their peers. There was a sense of maturity and understanding in Rai that Shisui found refreshing and intriguing. He felt a spark of connection, a sense of camaraderie that he hadn't felt with the other children in his clan.
As Shisui entered the training ground, his eyes landed on Rai, who was deeply engrossed in practicing the feather floatation exercise. His eyebrows shot up in surprise as he noticed not one, but two feathers floating in the air, each gently swaying above one of Rai's palms.
Shisui was taken aback by the sight. Even though he was hailed as a prodigy within his clan, controlling even a single feather was a challenge for him. He had managed to master the skill, yes, but it required significant concentration, and he definitely couldn't handle two at once with the same ease as Rai.
This revelation about Rai's exceptional chakra control was a bit shocking, but also intriguing. It made Shisui realize that Rai was not just another ordinary student at the academy. Despite his laid-back appearance, he clearly had a level of skill and control that was far beyond the average student's. This only added to Shisui's interest in getting to know Rai better.
On top of Rai's outstanding chakra control, Shisui also realized that Rai was the only other student in their class who was from a well-known shinobi clan like himself. This fact made Rai stand out even more in his eyes.
The shinobi clans of Konoha were known for their unique abilities and techniques, and the Nara clan, to which Rai belonged, was no exception. Shisui found himself curious about Rai's abilities and how they compared to his own.
Not wanting to disturb Rai, Shisui tread lightly, making sure to minimize his noise as he moved further into the training ground. He found a spot a fair distance away and started stretching to warm up his muscles.
Once he finished stretching, Shisui took a deep breath and reached into his pocket, pulling out a small, soft feather. He placed it on the palm of his hand, focusing his chakra to his hand. His brow furrowed in concentration as he tried to imitate Rai's control, trying to get the feather to float.
Shisui was known as a prodigy in his clan, but even he found the exercise difficult. He could only float one feather at a time and that too with considerable effort.
Both boys continued their solitary practice for several minutes, each engrossed in their own world of focus and control. Rai's concentration was so intense that he didn't even notice Shisui's arrival until he decided to take a break.
Slowly, Rai opened his eyes, the sensation of floating feathers gradually fading. He was pleasantly surprised to see Shisui there, practicing the same feather flotation exercise.
Rai quietly observed Shisui, not wanting to disrupt his concentration. He watched as Shisui continued to practice the feather flotation exercise. Once Shisui finally finished, Rai decided to make his presence known.
"Hey, Shisui," Rai greeted, How long have you been practicing?"
"I've only been here for a few minutes. I saw you practicing and didn't want to disturb you." Shisui responded.
"Are you done with the feather flotation exercise?" Rai asked
"Yes, I just finished," Shisui replied, a hint of curiosity in his voice. "Why do you ask?"
Rai's eyes sparkled with excitement as he asked, "Would you like to spar? It could be a good way for us to learn from each other."
Shisui hesitated, only looking at Rai but not giving an answer. It seemed like he was contemplating the offer, perhaps unsure of whether or not to accept it.
Observing Shisui's hesitation, Rai quickly added, "We'll only use taijutsu, nothing else. Just a friendly match to learn from each other."
Snapping out of his thoughts, Shisui gave Rai a small nod, "Sure, I'd be happy to spar with you."
The reason for his initial hesitation wasn't fear or reluctance, but rather surprise. As someone considered a prodigy within the Uchiha clan, Shisui rarely found others his age who could match his abilities, much less spar with him.
"All right then, let's not hold back," Rai declared, a gleam of anticipation in his eyes. The two of them stepped back, creating ample space between them as they adopted their respective fighting stances, ready to begin their spar.
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