The afternoon sky above Kumogakure rumbled with distant thunder.
The academy arena had been cleared.
No training posts.
No obstacles.
Just one ring at the center.
Students gathered along the stone railings, voices low but excited.
Word had spread.
The Elite Class Leaders were sparring.
That alone was enough to draw a crowd.
Five figures stood inside the arena.
Raizen Tenrai.
Rei Kisaragi.
Masato Igaru.
Sayuri Takeda.
Jin Raiga.
Instructor Takeshi Aran stepped forward.
"These matches are not about victory."
His gaze swept across them.
"They are about growth."
A brief pause.
"First duel."
His eyes settled.
"Raizen Tenrai."
Then—
"Jin Raiga."
A ripple moved through the crowd.
Anticipation.
Jin stepped into the center.
Lightning chakra flickered along his arms.
Not wild.
Controlled.
But aggressive.
His presence alone felt fast.
"I've been waiting for this," he said with a grin.
Raizen stepped forward.
Calm.
Measured.
He drew his training blade.
No flash.
No wasted movement.
From the railing, Daigo leaned forward.
"This is gonna be good."
Akari didn't respond.
Her eyes were already locked on the ring.
The whistle blew.
Jin vanished.
Or—
That's how it felt.
His body launched forward in a blur, lightning chakra surging through his legs.
Distance collapsed instantly.
Raizen didn't retreat.
He shifted.
Barely.
His blade rose—
Clang.
Steel met speed with a sharp crack that echoed through the arena.
The crowd reacted.
Jin didn't slow.
Punch.
Kick.
Sweep.
Each movement faster than the last.
Lightning flickered with every step.
Raizen responded with precision.
Step.
Turn.
Angle.
His blade intercepted every strike.
Not overpowering.
Not clashing head-on.
Redirecting.
Controlling.
Inside his mind, Astra spoke.
"Opponent speed increasing."
Raizen focused.
Fast fighters always followed rhythm.
Even chaos had structure.
You just had to survive long enough to see it.
Jin pressed harder.
Angles shifted.
Timing changed.
He wasn't just fast—
He was adapting.
Raizen's footwork adjusted in response.
Subtle.
Minimal.
Efficient.
From the edge of the arena, Kaito Ren watched closely.
Arms folded.
Eyes sharp.
"Good," he muttered.
"Don't chase the speed."
Jin stepped back suddenly.
Lightning chakra surged brighter.
"You're too calm."
Raizen lifted his blade slightly.
"You're too predictable."
Jin grinned.
"Let's fix that."
He moved again.
Faster.
Sharper.
Unpredictable bursts.
Short-range acceleration.
Sudden angle shifts.
This time—
Raizen had to react.
Steel clashed again.
And again.
And again.
The rhythm broke.
Then reformed.
Then broke again.
Inside his mind, Astra accelerated.
"Pattern forming."
Raizen narrowed his focus.
Where?
"Right-side feint precedes acceleration."
Raizen didn't move.
Not yet.
Jin attacked again.
Right shoulder dipped—
Just slightly.
Then—
Explosion.
Raizen stepped forward.
Not away.
Into the attack.
His blade slipped past Jin's guard—
And stopped.
An inch from his chest.
Silence.
Instructor Aran raised his hand.
"Match."
The arena exhaled.
Jin blinked.
Then laughed.
"Yeah… alright."
He rubbed the back of his neck.
"You got that."
Raizen lowered his blade.
"You're fast."
Jin smirked.
"You're annoying."
They stepped back.
A short nod.
No ego.
Just acknowledgment.
From the sidelines, Rei watched in silence.
Eyes sharp.
Calculating.
Speed.
Control.
Adaptation.
Because eventually—
He would face both of them.
The crowd began to disperse.
Excited voices filled the arena again.
Students replaying the fight in their heads.
Daigo shook his head.
"I still think lightning punches are cooler."
Akari smirked.
"You would."
Raizen didn't respond.
He looked up.
Storm clouds gathered above the cliffs.
Lightning flickered faintly in the distance.
Inside his mind, Astra spoke.
"Combat efficiency increased."
Raizen exhaled slowly.
Good.
Because this wasn't about winning.
Not really.
It was about refinement.
Adjustment.
Understanding.
And step by step—
The gap between talented students and true shinobi—
Was beginning to widen.
Among them—
The Seven Stars continued to rise.