The sun had barely risen when the training grounds filled with spectators.
Word had spread fast.
A spar between Henri the Jumper and Raiku the Shadow Fang? The Academy students, several genin teams, and even a few chunin gathered around Training Ground 7. Some came for the entertainment. Others… to see how strong the rumored System Shinobi really was.
Henri stood on one side of the field, stretching his legs and focusing his chakra.
He wore a modified training outfit: a dark-gray vest with blue chakra threads woven into the fabric, and reinforced leg wraps designed for chakra compression. The Leaf headband on his forehead gleamed in the morning light.
Across from him, Raiku spun a kunai lazily on his finger. His smug smirk hadn't left his face since he arrived.
"Still time to forfeit, jumper boy."
Henri rolled his shoulders. "Still time to back up your ego with skill."
On the sidelines, Jeneya watched silently, arms crossed, blade strapped to her back. Her eyes never left Henri.
---
🟢 [SYSTEM CHECK – DUEL MODE]
Opponent: Raiku (Level 7)
→ Strength: 31
→ Speed: 30
→ Chakra Nature: Shadow Element (Modified Yin Release)
→ Hidden Skill Detected: "Shadow Fang Clone"
Henri Stats:
→ Level: 5
→ Agility: 34
→ Strength: 26
→ Stamina: 30
→ Chakra Control: 21
→ Bond Buff Active: +10% Speed, +5% Willpower (Near Jeneya)
→ Skill Loadout:
Leaf Dash (Lv2)
Sky Weave (NEW)
Aerial Step
Passive: Rivalry Pressure
Combo Locked: Skyfall Strike (Cooldown: 19 hours)
---
The referee, a chunin, raised a hand.
"This is a friendly spar. No lethal force. First to yield or unconscious. Begin!"
---
Raiku moved first.
He blurred forward with pure taijutsu—fast, but Henri had seen faster. Henri ducked the opening palm strike and leapt back.
Mid-air, he triggered Sky Weave, shifting direction and circling Raiku midair like a hawk.
He threw three kunai with precision.
Raiku spun and blocked two—but the third sliced his cheek.
"Lucky shot," he muttered, forming a hand seal.
"Shadow Release: Fang Clone Jutsu!"
From the ground, his shadow lengthened unnaturally. It curved upward—and rose, forming a shadowy duplicate of Raiku, fanged and snarling.
---
⚠️ [SYSTEM ALERT – Advanced Clone Detected]
→ Behavior: Semi-independent
→ Weak Point: Root chakra thread near host's foot
→ Suggestion: Disable Raiku's footing with ground shock, then break shadow connection
---
Henri nodded, leapt high, and angled downward at breakneck speed.
Mid-air, he flipped and used Aerial Step, bouncing again mid-leap.
The crowd gasped—he was practically flying now.
He slammed both feet into the ground near Raiku's feet, sending a tremor through the field. Dirt cracked.
Raiku staggered—and Henri saw it.
A faint glowing thread connected the clone's foot to Raiku's heel.
"Gotcha!"
Henri used Leaf Dash, zipped forward low—and sliced through the thread with a kunai.
The clone collapsed into smoke.
---
Raiku growled, chakra flaring. "Fine. I'll show you my real jutsu."
He formed three hand seals and shouted:
"Shadow Fang Barrage!"
Suddenly, dozens of tiny fanged shadows erupted from the ground, snaking like wolves toward Henri. They came from every direction—biting, slashing, snapping.
Henri couldn't dodge them all.
He jumped, using Sky Weave, shifting in mid-air again and again—left, right, up, spin—using the system's full mobility.
But one of the shadows caught his leg—slicing a gash across his thigh.
Henri landed hard, breathing heavy.
---
🔴 [SYSTEM STATUS – Minor Wound]
→ HP: 63%
→ Status: Bleeding
→ Debuff: -5% Speed (Temporary)
→ Advice: Engage counterattack with surprise angle
---
Henri looked up—and saw Raiku flying toward him, kunai in hand.
"End of the line!" Raiku roared.
But Henri smiled.
"Not quite."
He jumped straight into the air—higher than before—then activated Sky Weave, flipping behind Raiku mid-air.
Raiku turned, shocked.
Henri's foot collided with his chest mid-flip—boom—sending the other boy crashing into the dirt below.
Dust clouded the field.
---
🟢 [SYSTEM COMBAT LOG]
→ Critical Hit
→ Opponent Status: Downed
→ Final System Boost: +1 Agility, +1 Strength, +50 XP
---
Raiku groaned, struggling to rise.
But the referee raised his hand.
"Enough! Winner—Henri!"
Cheers erupted from the watching students.
Henri landed gently, breathing hard but smiling.
Jeneya approached him calmly, handing him a water bottle. "Well done. You made him eat dirt."
"He deserved it," Henri said, wincing slightly as he sat down.
"He's strong," she said quietly, kneeling beside him. "But you're smarter. And faster. And—" she paused "—you fight for people, not pride."
Henri blinked. "Was that a compliment?"
Jeneya looked away, cheeks pink. "Shut up and drink your water."
---
💬 [SYSTEM NOTICE – BOND LEVEL INCREASED]
Jeneya Bond: 71%
→ Status: Deepening Affection
→ New Action Unlocked: "Hold Her Hand"
→ Success Rate: 84%
→ Side Quest Unlocked: "First Real Date"
---
As the crowd dispersed, and Raiku was dragged away by his own teammates, Henri looked up at the sky.
The air was warm.
The ground beneath him solid.
But he knew…
His journey was just getting started.
---
[To Be Continued…]