Late afternoon sunlight filtered through the high towers of the academy in Kumogakure.
Training fields buzzed with activity.
The Challenger Tournament had energized the entire campus.
Students sparred across every platform.
Kunai clattered against wooden targets.
Taijutsu drills echoed through the stone terraces.
Near one of the outer training rings, Raizen practiced alone.
His hands moved slowly.
Carefully.
Forming seals.
Tiger.
Snake.
Ram.
He stopped.
Then repeated the sequence.
His movements were precise.
But not fast.
Yet.
Astra Observes
Inside his mind, Astra's calm voice spoke.
"Your finger positioning improved."
Raizen continued forming the seals.
"By how much?"
A brief pause.
"Approximately twelve percent increase in accuracy compared to yesterday."
Raizen smirked slightly.
"That specific?"
"I am learning."
There was a faint hint of curiosity in her tone.
"You appear focused on hand seals today."
Raizen completed the sequence again.
"Yes."
He lowered his hands.
"In real combat, faster jutsu means survival."
Astra processed this.
"Observation confirmed."
A brief pause.
"However, your current hand speed ranks below several elite academy students."
Raizen chuckled.
"I know."
"That's why I'm training."
Astra's Early Analysis
Raizen watched several students spar on the nearby field.
Astra spoke again.
"I am attempting a new analysis function."
Raizen raised an eyebrow.
"Go ahead."
Her focus shifted.
"Estimated attributes."
A simple mental outline appeared.
Student A
Speed: Moderate
Strength: Moderate
Agility: High
Chakra: Low
Combat Skill: Moderate
Student B
Speed: Low
Strength: High
Agility: Low
Chakra: Moderate
Combat Skill: Low
Raizen studied it briefly.
"Not bad."
Astra responded honestly.
"Accuracy uncertain."
"Data limited."
Raizen nodded.
"Still useful."
A Tense Encounter
Footsteps approached behind him.
Raizen turned.
Three students stood nearby.
Lightning-affinity users.
One stepped forward.
"You're Raizen Tenrai."
Not a question.
Raizen nodded.
"Yes."
The student crossed his arms.
"You beat Kaito."
"Yes."
His expression tightened.
"Kaito is one of the strongest lightning users in our division."
Raizen remained calm.
"He fought well."
The student studied him for a moment.
Then scoffed.
"Maybe."
"But don't think beating him once makes you the best."
Raizen shrugged.
"I never said it did."
The tension lingered.
Then they turned and walked away.
Astra spoke quietly.
"Social hostility probability: moderate."
Raizen smiled faintly.
"Yeah."
"Winning fights tends to do that."
The Final Elite Leader
Later that evening, the Thunder Ranking Board updated once again in the central hall.
Students gathered around it as usual.
Whispers spread quickly.
Because one name had just issued a challenge.
The final elite class leader.
A name spoken carefully.
Riku Seishin.
Akari studied the board.
Daigo let out a low whistle.
"Oh."
"That guy."
Raizen glanced at them.
"You know him?"
Akari nodded.
"Yes."
"He rarely fights."
Daigo added,
"But when he does…"
He grinned.
"People lose."
Across the hall, a tall boy with calm grey eyes stood silently.
Riku Seishin.
The final elite class leader.
His gaze rested on the ranking board.
On one name.
Raizen Tenrai.
Then—
He turned.
And walked toward the arena.