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Chapter 2 - Chapter 2 – Sparks of Rivalry

The days at the academy fell into a rhythm. For most children, it was dull: sitting through lessons, fumbling through basic chakra exercises, and sparring clumsily in the yard. But for Arata Uchiha, every moment carried weight. Every hour mattered.

With a single thought, the familiar screen shimmered into view.

Name: Arata Uchiha

Level: 3

Experience: 125 / 300

Strength: 9

Speed: 10

Chakra Control: 12

Special: [Bind: Minato Namikaze] (×10 Growth Active)

Arata studied it for a second, then dismissed the glowing text. His lips curved faintly. Each step Minato took forward dragged him along tenfold. Training beside the blond boy was like riding the crest of a rising wave.

"Spacing out again?" Minato's voice broke his thoughts. The boy leaned over the desk with an easy smile, his blond hair catching the sunlight. "You always look like you're measuring something nobody else can see."

"Maybe I am," Arata replied smoothly.

The teacher called for sparring matches, and the two were paired. A ripple of interest spread through the class—these two had already become the names everyone whispered about. The Uchiha heir's quiet younger brother, and the promising blond orphan with a natural knack for ninjutsu.

They stepped onto the practice field. Minato's stance was calm, measured, textbook perfect. Arata's was looser, almost casual, but there was an edge to it—his dark eyes fixed on Minato like a hawk sizing up prey.

"Ready?" Minato asked softly.

"Always."

The signal came, and Minato dashed forward with clean, precise speed. His movements were fluid, already sharper than most of the class. Arata slid aside, feeling the rush of air, and countered with a sweep at Minato's legs.

Minato twisted mid-motion, landing on his hands and springing back to his feet. The class gasped. Arata smirked.

"You're improving," he said.

"You sound surprised," Minato replied, eyes narrowing in quiet determination.

Their exchange grew faster. Fists, feet, blocks. Minato's technique was crisp, drilled. Arata's movements were adaptive, reading and reacting in ways that seemed almost instinctive. Each strike Arata landed was light, controlled, but it carried weight that Minato felt in his bones.

Still, Minato refused to yield. His counters grew sharper, his timing more precise. Arata noticed the faint flicker on his panel whenever Minato learned something new—his own growth spiking higher than it had any right to.

It was exhilarating.

The spar ended in a draw, both boys panting lightly as their teacher called a stop. Neither had managed a decisive blow, and the watching students broke into murmurs.

Minato extended a hand. Arata clasped it firmly, their eyes meeting. In that moment, there was no teacher, no class, no clan watching—only two boys who understood what the other represented.

A rival. A partner. A mirror.

Sparks had been lit, and both knew they would burn brighter with time.

Author's Note:

If you're enjoying this story and want to read ahead, you can support me on Patreon. New chapters are uploaded there earlier, and it really helps me stay motivated to keep writing.

👉 patreon.com/Wielder0529

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