The training ground fell silent.
Dust swirled in the summer air. The crowd, mostly Genin and Chūnin on break from missions, leaned in. A few brave Jōnin stayed, arms crossed, watching from the shadows.
In the center, Sasuke Uchiha activated his Sharingan, the crimson glow pulsing behind his dark lashes. He looked like a predator preparing to pounce.
Across from him stood Rei, blindfolded, completely at ease, spinning his black katana once with lazy elegance. His long black hair shifted in the breeze, catching sunlight as if it had a shine of its own. He didn't seem to have a guard. He didn't even look like he knew where Sasuke was.
Sasuke narrowed his eyes.
"Mock me and I'll make you regret it."
"I'd say the same," Rei said, tapping the flat of his blade against his shoulder, "but I don't want to be rude to toddlers learning to walk."
That did it.
Sasuke moved—a blur of speed and chakra, faster than most of the audience could follow.
CLANG.
Steel shrieked.
Sasuke's kunai had been intercepted mid-swing. Not parried. Not blocked. Intercepted—Rei's katana was already resting lightly against the side of Sasuke's neck before the boy even realized what had happened.
Gasps echoed through the training field.
Sasuke leapt back, eyes narrowing.
"How—?"
"I heard you breathe in," Rei said, voice calm, almost bored. "Left foot hit the dirt half a second before your right. Weight shift gave away your center. Sharingan or not, you're still a boy trying to fight a man."
Sasuke's jaw tightened. Chakra flared.
He charged again.
This time faster, sharper—spinning, striking from low angles, his eyes tracking every motion.
But Rei…
He danced.
Footwork like falling leaves in a summer breeze. He never stood still for more than a heartbeat. Every slash of Sasuke's kunai was answered by a subtle tilt of Rei's blade, a deflection that looked more like a conversation than combat.
The audience had stopped whispering.
They were just… watching.
Awed.
[Skill Progression: Fluid Blade Movement – Level Up to Advanced. Your body now flows in sync with surrounding chakra currents. Evasion bonus: +20%. Style points: +∞]
Sasuke snarled, a hint of desperation in his chakra now.
"Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!"
Small, fast fireballs shot toward Rei in a scattered pattern.
People started to panic—but Rei didn't even flinch. His sword moved.
Whisper-slice. Whirl. Tap. Slash.
Every fireball was cleaved mid-air. Flames fizzled before they touched him.
"Nice fireworks," Rei said. "You do birthday parties too?"
Sasuke lunged with a roar—but this time, Rei moved first.
It wasn't fast.
It was perfect.
One step forward. Katana flicked upward. Sasuke's kunai flew from his hand, clattering across the field. Rei stopped with the tip of Yamikaze inches from Sasuke's forehead.
The Uchiha froze.
Rei lowered the blade, sliding it back into its sheath with a soft click.
"Sight is a crutch," he said simply. "You should try listening for once."
Hinata's face was red. Very red.
She sat on a branch, legs swinging slightly, eyes wide. She had watched every second of the duel. Her Byakugan hadn't been able to follow all of Rei's movements—and that shouldn't have been possible.
Was it chakra control? Muscle memory? She didn't know.
But there was something else.
When he moved, she felt… calm. And excited. Like watching a storm from inside a warm house.
[Hinata Hyuuga: Affection Level – 24/100. Status: Confused. Curious. Heartbeat abnormal.]
"You could have taken that seriously, you know," the system said in its usual smug female voice. "Sasuke's kind of a big deal. You just gave the Uchiha clan an ego bruise."
"Maybe I'll buy them an ice pack," Rei replied, reclining on a futon, arms folded behind his head. "Or a pair of glasses. Might help them see the obvious."
[New Title Unlocked: "Uchiha Problem." Expect grudges. Probably teenage angst.]
"...That doesn't sound good."
[Nope. But it'll be fun to watch.]
There was a knock at the door.
Rei sat up, one hand on his sword.
"Come in."
A girl peeked inside. Blonde, slim, with sea-green eyes and a sharp expression that spoke of confidence.
Ino Yamanaka.
"Hey, mystery swordsman," she said, raising an eyebrow. "I don't like not knowing people who humiliate Sasuke in public."
"Oh? And here I thought you came to flirt."
Ino smirked. "Maybe both. Mind if I sit?"
Rei gestured. "Be my guest."
She crossed her legs on the floor across from him, eyes narrowing slightly. "You're not from here. You fight like someone with nothing to prove. What's your story?"
"Let's just say I've died once already," he said softly. "And I'm not wasting this second chance."
Ino blinked.
For the first time, her smile wavered.
[Ino Yamanaka: Affection Level – 9/100. Status: Intrigued. Slightly turned on. Confused.]
Rei woke the next morning with a scroll shoved under his door.
A mission request.
Rank: B.Client: Tsunade of the Sannin.Details: Escort delivery to the Land of Rivers. High probability of ambush. No visual confirmation needed.Note: You were specifically requested. Don't ask me why.
Rei's eyebrow twitched.
[New Quest: "Rivers of Blood." Accept? Y/N]
Bonus: Accompanying ninja team includes one (1) overly serious Jōnin, one (1) flirtatious weapons specialist, and one (1) ninja puppy with a flatulence problem.]
Rei sighed.
"This world is ridiculous."
[Welcome to the ninja life, blind boy.]