"Shisui-senpai, really."
Seeing Shisui's fighting spirit burning high, Izumi let out a soft sigh. To her, this was nothing short of bullying.
True, Hakken Yoru was someone acknowledged by Itachi. Yet a week had already passed, and none of their classmates had noticed anything particularly special about the boy. He still slept through class as usual.
Even though the first round of entrance exams hadn't taken place yet, no one expected much from him. Slacking off in class earned him neither the teachers' approval nor the respect of his peers. He was, without question, the class underachiever.
Meanwhile, Shisui-senpai was already a hero—one who had returned from the battlefield with renown. A hero of the Uchiha clan.
To challenge a kid who had just entered the academy with such status—what else could that be if not bullying?
"Izumi, you're still seeing things too shallowly."
Yūgao Uzuki shook her head. "Putting everything else aside, if it's purely a Kenjutsu match, I actually think Hakken has a pretty good chance of winning."
Are you brainwashed or something?
Izumi tugged at Yūgao's sleeve, confusion written all over her face.
"Hey, you didn't start getting any strange ideas after that bath he treated you to, did you?"
"Huh?"
The moment those words left her mouth, Yūgao's face turned pale, and she hurriedly covered Izumi's lips with her hand. "You little brat, how did you even find out about that?"
"Heh, we shared the same bed last night."
Izumi snorted, prying Yūgao's delicate hand away from her mouth. "Listen, Yūgao, I can let it slide that you kept stealing my blanket while sleeping, but you mumbled that guy's name at least a hundred times in your sleep, didn't you?"
"And you even said something about inviting him to a bath next time to repay a favor or something."
"I think you've been completely charmed."
Yes.
Since there were no classes today, and Izumi had already invited Yūgao to the Uchiha compound to view the cherry blossoms, she had simply dragged her friend home with her the night before.
Perhaps because the last encounter with Hakken had left quite an impression, Yūgao still vividly remembered the scene.
Dreaming about it was perfectly normal behavior.
But her sleep-talking—especially with Izumi hearing everything—made it far from normal.
"What did I even say?"
Yūgao's face flushed scarlet. If not for her purple hair hiding her ears, her utter embarrassment would have been completely obvious.
"Hmm, I won't mention the unspeakable parts, but I do have one question."
Izumi pursed her lips, eyes glinting with curiosity. "Yūgao, that thing boys have... you know... what's different about it? You get what I mean!"
What the hell do I know!
Yūgao was completely flustered.
How could she even begin to explain that it was all a misunderstanding? It really was just a simple bath together—but that didn't mean they bathed together!
And why did it sound like Izumi thought she'd seen everything?
Never underestimate how quickly girls in this world mature.
Developing feelings can happen in an instant.
Or maybe it's just curiosity—one that spirals completely out of control.
Two examples.
Hinata. Sakura.
A guardian who had silently watched Naruto's back for years—the only one brave enough to stand up and protect him when all hope was lost.
A loyal devotee who fussed over Sasuke's troubles more than her own, and in the end, gained the "love" she had longed for.
Both of them succeeded.
Yet such gossip-filled thoughts had nothing to do with the two standing face-to-face beneath the cherry blossoms.
Gripping his blade, Hakken had already entered his battle state. Before him stood the legendary Shisui of the Body Flicker.
Though this was merely a contest of swordsmanship, Shisui was a true warrior—one who had returned from the frontlines.
Years of wielding a blade, and now, that long-suppressed thrill burst forth.
His body trembled—not from fear, but from the wild surge of fighting spirit and excitement roaring within him.
Battle intent surged!
He raised his arm and tossed the sake gourd behind him toward Itachi, who sat at the table.
Hakken's hand settled on the hilt of his sword.
"I crave a worthy opponent!"
Roar!
There was no deafening shout, yet Shisui, staring at the boy before him, felt as though he could hear the beast's growl echoing from deep within.
A beast lived inside his heart.
"I never thought I'd look forward to Ken-san's full strength this much."
Catching the sake gourd, Itachi's chest rose and fell unevenly.
All this time, he had trained beside Hakken as his sparring partner, growing stronger together. Yet never—not once—had he seen the peak of that man's power.
It was an unbridgeable gulf.
As for that day when Hakken shattered the artificial hill and fainted afterward, Itachi never believed that was his true limit.
From his judgment, that had simply been the exhaustion of his chakra reserves.
Just how strong was he, really?
As his friend, Itachi wanted to know too. To surpass Hakken, to earn his recognition and acknowledgment—that was what true friendship meant.
Swish!
Sword intent swept through the air like a storm. The beast swung its blade, the motion more akin to claws extending from its hands.
That seemingly ordinary horizontal slash pressed down on Shisui with tremendous force.
This was a man truly devoted to the path of the sword.
In that moment, Shisui finally understood the words Itachi had once told him.
"In terms of swordsmanship, no one will ever surpass him."
"I believe the name Hakken Yoru will one day be written into history."
Clang—
The clash of steel rang out. A sudden gale rose, scattering the cherry blossoms in a dazzling shower of petals.
The two gossiping girls turned their heads.
At that instant, the sight of the boy swinging his sword burned itself into their hearts.
They felt almost drunk on the moment.