Chương 56: The Teacher’s Perspective
(Last chapter but Rika POV)
Rika Toriyama stood at the edge of the sparring circle, her sharp eyes watching every movement with the precision of a seasoned shinobi. As a chunin and the academy instructor, she had seen countless students over the years, each with varying degrees of talent, determination, and potential. But every now and then, a few students stood out from the rest—students who might become the village's future protectors. It was her job to nurture them, to observe their progress, and to see which ones could rise to the challenge.
Today's sparring sessions had already offered her some interesting insights, but as she called out the names of the next pair, she felt a flicker of curiosity.
"Haruto Takeda and Rin Nohara. You're up."
Rika crossed her arms, watching as the two students moved into position. Rin had always been one of her more diligent students. She was bright, kind, and talented in her own way—more suited for support roles than direct combat. Haruto, on the other hand, was a bit more of a mystery. He was quiet, often flying under the radar, but Rika had noticed the subtle signs of his growth over the past year. He had potential, though she hadn't quite seen the full extent of it yet.
This would be an interesting match.
"Begin," she said simply.
Haruto wasted no time. He moved with a speed and precision that surprised even Rika, who raised an eyebrow as he closed the distance between him and Rin in an instant. Two moves. That's all it took. A quick, solid blow to Rin's stomach, followed by a sweeping leg movement that sent her crashing to the ground. Haruto's movements were calculated and efficient, showing a level of focus that was rare in students his age.
As he stood over Rin, his fist poised to deliver a final blow, Rika saw it—restraint. He stopped himself just before the punch would have landed, pulling back with enough control to avoid hurting Rin any further. He wasn't ruthless, but he was decisive. It was an important distinction.
"Good," Rika muttered to herself, noting Haruto's restraint as well as his skill.
The match was over in an instant. Rin, while not untalented, wasn't a match for Haruto's calculated aggression. Rika had known it would be a quick fight, but even she was impressed by how efficiently Haruto had handled it.
She stepped forward, her voice even. "Good work, both of you."
As Haruto helped Rin to her feet, Rika's attention shifted. She could feel the tension in the room, especially from Obito Uchiha, who was clearly frustrated by Rin's loss. Rika considered calling him next, but she held off. There was another student who had been waiting for a real challenge.
"Next, Haruto Takeda versus Might Guy."
Guy's energy was palpable as he stepped into the circle, his usual enthusiasm radiating from him like a flame. Rika couldn't help but smile slightly. Might Guy was another student who stood out, not because of any innate genius, but because of his sheer willpower and determination. He had been improving at an astonishing rate, and she knew this match would be one to watch.
"Begin."
The moment she gave the signal, Guy was in motion, launching himself at Haruto with explosive speed. It was no surprise—Guy had always been fast, but today, Rika could see that his movements had become even more refined. His punches came in rapid succession, and Haruto, to his credit, was able to defend himself against the onslaught.
Rika's eyes narrowed slightly as she watched the two boys. Haruto was different today. His movements were sharper, his reactions quicker. He was still fighting defensively, but his mind was clearly ahead of his body, calculating every move, predicting each of Guy's attacks. Yet, despite his advanced cognitive ability, Guy's raw physical power and relentless energy kept the fight even.
It was fascinating to watch.
Guy pressed the attack, and Haruto absorbed a hard punch to his side, but he didn't falter. Instead, Rika noticed something peculiar—Haruto's stamina seemed to recover quickly. Even after taking a solid hit, he was back on his feet, ready for more. It wasn't just physical endurance—it was as if his body was healing faster, recovering between blows almost immediately. She made a mental note of it.
As the match progressed, it became clear that while Haruto was skilled, Guy held the upper hand in pure taijutsu. His stamina was nearly endless, his strikes more powerful, and he maintained control of the fight. Haruto, however, wasn't backing down. He fought defensively, dodging and blocking as best he could, and even managed to land a few solid hits on Guy.
For several minutes, they exchanged blows, the crowd of students around them growing more and more engrossed in the fight. But Rika could see the fatigue beginning to set in. Not for Guy, whose boundless energy kept him going, but for Haruto, whose body was still catching up to the incredible pace of the fight.
Finally, she stepped in. "Enough. Draw."
The two boys straightened up, both breathing heavily but clearly satisfied with the fight. Guy, of course, grinned from ear to ear, his usual excitement radiating from him as he praised Haruto for the match.
"You're pretty amazing, Haruto! But next time, I'm definitely going to win!"
Haruto nodded in return, his expression calm but focused. Rika watched the exchange closely, noting how the fight had changed both boys. Haruto had pushed himself hard, but she could see that he wasn't satisfied with just keeping up. He wanted more.
Rika returned to her spot at the edge of the sparring circle, her mind turning over what she had just witnessed. Haruto Takeda—an orphan, with no notable clan ties—was quickly proving to be a formidable student. He wasn't a natural-born genius like Kakashi, but his growth had been steady, and today's performance showed that he was beginning to step out of the shadows.
Guy, on the other hand, continued to impress with his relentless drive and stamina. He had a long way to go, but his potential was undeniable. If he kept pushing himself like this, there was no telling how far he could go.
Rika made a few mental notes for her report. Both students had earned her attention, and she would be watching them closely as the year progressed. Haruto, in particular, intrigued her. His strategic mind, combined with his rapidly improving physical abilities, made him a potential standout in the class.
As she called the next pair of students for sparring, Rika couldn't help but wonder what Haruto's limits were—and how far he was willing to push to reach them.
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