Clang, clang, clang...
The crisp ring of metal striking metal, accompanied by piercing whistles cutting through the air, echoed continuously through deserted streets, quiet woods, and secluded alleyways.
Two unbelievably swift figures, like a pair of phantoms, darted back and forth in battle through the village's streets and alleys.
Pedestrians occasionally stopped in confusion, wondering what the shadow that had flashed past them just now could have been.
Even the Anbu secretly patrolling the village and the Uchiha Police Force responsible for maintaining order were startled in turn by the two figures' skirmish, clicking their tongues in amazement.
Clearly, the two fighting were none other than Sasuke and Neji, both hailed as "geniuses" by their respective clans, the two great dojutsu bloodline families of Konoha.
Atop the crown of a large tree.
Several Anbu watched the two combatants gradually disappear into the distance, each wearing a different expression.
After a moment, one Anbu asked, "Captain, is it really all right to let them fool around in the village like this?"
The Anbu squad captain smiled. "They seem to know their limits."
If it had only involved the Uchiha, there would have been no problem stepping in to restrain them. But Hyuga Neji, the Hokage's disciple, was involved as well, so it was inconvenient for Anbu directly under the Hokage to intervene.
Besides, there was another reason he could not bring himself to say aloud.
The Anbu squad captain simply had no confidence that he could successfully stop Sasuke and Neji, because the two were moving far too quickly.
An older-looking Anbu beside him shook his head and sighed. "Kids these days are ridiculously strong!"
Though they knew that the two combatants were both "geniuses" from the two great dojutsu bloodline families, being surpassed by thirteen- or fourteen-year-old boys did not