With the Chūnin Exams fast approaching, every ambitious Genin hoping to participate had thrown themselves into training with renewed intensity.
While the village of Konoha offered several public training grounds, their limited number often meant they were full. As a result, private dōjōs scattered across the village had become the primary spaces for intense training.
Since Kirito worked at Tenten's weapon shop, and because Tenten also ran a sizeable dōjō, the recent spike in training traffic had led the shop owner to reassign some staff temporarily to help manage the dōjō. Kirito was one of them.
As a combat-focused facility, sparring was naturally the main activity. Around the training floor, a three-meter-high spectator gallery circled the arena, allowing visitors to watch ongoing matches.
Kirito, now clad in the dōjō's blue uniform reserved for staff, stood off to the side, quietly observing the young shinobi pouring sweat into their practice.
What caught his attention was a match happening in the upper-left ring of the dōjō, a petite figure with short, fluffy bluish-gray hair and those unmistakable silvery-white eyes.
It was none other than Hinata Hyūga, heiress to the Hyūga Clan. Her opponent was an older short-haired girl of similar build.
The two were engaged in close-quarters combat practice, each movement fluid and clean. Hinata, despite her frail appearance, was holding her own with surprising grace.
She parried without brute force, using smooth, elegant counters to redirect attacks. Her technique held the audience's gaze. But not everyone seemed impressed.
A scoffing grunt came from beside the ring.
A teenage boy around sixteen or seventeen, roughly Kirito's height, walked up to the platform. Though shorter than most, his entire frame was coiled like a spring, radiating animalistic intensity. Red war paint lined his cheeks, and his eyes gleamed like a wild beast's.
Hinata blinked and asked tentatively, "You're… from Kiba's clan?"
"Oh? Got sharp eyes, huh?" the teen sneered, clearly spoiling for a fight. "Name's Inuzuka Fang. From the Inuzuka Clan."
"You're Hyūga Hinata, right? I heard you're on a team with my arrogant little cousin, Inuzuka Kiba."
The way he said "teammate" sounded more like "target."
Hinata frowned slightly. "Is there… something you need, senpai?"
Smart as she was, she immediately sensed the hostility. This guy clearly had a poor relationship with Kiba, and she, by association, had become his outlet.
Inuzuka Fang rolled his shoulders and let out a cold smirk. "Training alone doesn't seem very fun, does it, Hyūga princess?"
The girl who had just finished sparring with Hinata stiffened. Was he insulting her by implying she wasn't even a proper partner?
She opened her mouth to protest, only for Fang to shoot her a murderous glare that instantly made her go pale. Silenced, she bit her lip, flushed in humiliation, and fled the ring.
Fang snorted and turned back to Hinata. "Us senpai types? We've got a duty to guide our juniors. And lucky for you, I took the Chūnin Exams last year."
"..." Hinata hesitated. Timid by nature and unwilling to provoke conflict, especially with someone from Kiba's clan, she tried to retreat. "Thank you, senpai, but… if there's nothing else, I'll take my leave-"
But before she could step away, two more figures flanked her from behind. They blocked her exit, clearly allies of Inuzuka Fang, surrounding her with mocking smiles.
"Guh…" Hinata clenched her fists tightly, forcing herself not to tremble. She tried to sound steady. "What… is the meaning of this?"
"Oh, don't worry," Fang said casually. "I heard you're planning to enter the Chūnin Exams, yeah? As your loving senpai, I just thought I'd give you a lesson. Isn't that right, guys?"
"Yup, sounds good to me," the two lackeys snickered, tightening their formation.
The message was clear: she wouldn't be getting out of this unless she agreed to their demands.
As the Hyūga Clan's heiress, Hinata usually didn't get harassed, few dared cross her due to her family name. But the Inuzuka Clan was a major house in Konoha as well. While not as influential as the Hyūga, they were powerful enough that small squabbles between younger members wouldn't escalate into clan-level conflict.
Fang knew that. Which is why he wasn't afraid.
He had no real beef with Hinata. But he despised Kiba, and since Hinata was his teammate, she was a convenient stand-in. Add in Fang's love for causing drama, and today's situation was inevitable.
Trapped, Hinata could only stare at the ground as her vision blurred with tears. It wasn't fear of getting hurt, she wasn't that fragile. It was the overwhelming tension, the shame of being cornered, and the desire to avoid dishonoring her team.
The crowd? Silent. Amused, even.
The younger generation in Konoha had little love for the proud Hyūga. So seeing their "princess" get cornered was entertainment, not cause for concern.
Hinata bit her lip hard, not knowing what to do. Then,
"Hey, Hyūga princess, what's the matter? Cat got your tongue? Don't tell me you're looking down on us senpai?" One of the lackeys reached out, aiming to grab her shoulder.
"!" Hinata's eyes widened. She prepared to react.
But a figure suddenly stepped between them.
A familiar back.
That scent.
That presence.
Hinata gasped, "Kirito… Onii-chan?"
"What the hell?" The lackey's hand was suddenly caught midair.
And the one who stopped him? None other than Kirito.
"The dōjō's staff," he said calmly. "Senpai, our rules are clear, sparring only happens with mutual consent."
Fang sneered. "So what if someone breaks those rules?"
Kirito gave a faint, unfazed smile. "Then I'm afraid I'll have to escort them out."
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200 P.S = 1 Extra Chapters