"Explosive Tag"

Konoha, Training Ground.

The afternoon sunlight filtered through gaps in the branches, scattering across the open space of the Training Ground.

Nawaki leaped into the center of the field first, eager to get started as he watched Namikaze Yoru approach at an unhurried pace.

"Yoru! Today, I'll show you the results of my training with Orochimaru-sensei. I'm going to wipe away the shame of my last defeat."

Namikaze Yoru followed close behind, looking relaxed. His gaze seemed to sweep carelessly over the surroundings, but he was secretly using Mind's Eye of the Kagura.

After taking in everything around him and confirming a few suspicions, he prodded the ground in front of him with his toe. Then he said to Nawaki,

"Come on. Let's see how much you've improved."

Nawaki's expression was serious as he attacked first, quickly forming Hand Seals—Dragon, Ox, Rabbit.

"Water Style: Water Turbulent Wave."

A stream of water, like a high-pressure hose, shot from Nawaki's mouth straight toward Namikaze Yoru.

Namikaze Yoru didn't panic. This was the opening move Nawaki always favored, and Yoru knew it well. He dodged the jutsu with an easy sidestep.

His attack missed, but Nawaki wasn't discouraged. He was about to keep forming Hand Seals for a follow-up jutsu when Namikaze Yoru's figure suddenly flickered before him.

"Water Style: Water Clone."

Suddenly, Namikaze Yoru became two, and they charged at Nawaki from the left and right.

"His Clone Technique is so fast!"

Nawaki was secretly startled. He stopped forming Hand Seals and threw a Kunai at one of the two Yorus.

At the same time, he pivoted and planted his foot, swinging a heavy punch at the other figure as it closed in.

"Take this!"

Nawaki's punch was powerful and domineering. It couldn't match his older sister Tsunade's Strength of a Hundred, but it still far surpassed that of an ordinary ninja—a classic Senju Clan fighting style, pure brute force.

Normally, Namikaze Yoru would have dodged, but this time he sank into his stance and threw a punch of his own.

"Thud—"

Their fists collided with a dull thump. Both took several steps back, but Nawaki was astonished. He was surprised that the one he'd punched was the real Yoru, and even more surprised by how much Yoru's strength had improved.

Namikaze Yoru's arm was numb, too, and he understood why. The Uzumaki Constitution had indeed enhanced his physical abilities, but it seemed they still needed time to develop. He was still a little weaker than Nawaki.

Nawaki had no time to think. The other clone was already closing in behind him. In a flash, he turned and swung another heavy punch, reducing the clone to a puddle of water.

Meanwhile, Namikaze Yoru had no intention of giving Nawaki much time to catch his breath. He shook out his numb arm, recovered, and immediately unleashed a Fire Style jutsu.

"Fire Style: Flame Bullet!"

Scalding flames rushed toward him, and Nawaki didn't dare take them lightly. He twisted around with all his might.

"Earth Style: Earth Flow Wall."

A wall of earth surged from the ground, barely managing to block the flames. Yoru looked at the bare wall, without even a dog's head on it, and muttered that Nawaki's bloodline wasn't pure enough.

Nawaki seized the chance to counterattack, forming Water Release Hand Seals again.

"Water Style: Water Turbulent Wave."

"Fire Style: Flame Bullet."

Nawaki wanted to exploit the brief window while Yoru's chakra recovered. If this had been the old Yoru, he really would have run out of chakra. But now, Yoru had just as much chakra as Nawaki.

The clash of water and fire erupted into a cloud of scorching steam. Seeing that Yoru wasn't pressing the attack, Nawaki retreated after their exchange, trying to put some distance between them.

Just then, a sudden round of applause rang out across the Training Ground.

"Clap, clap~"

Clapping as he stepped out of the steam, Namikaze Yoru smiled at the still-wary Nawaki.

"That's enough. Let's go eat."

"???"

Nawaki was completely baffled. He had no idea what had happened, and stared blankly at Namikaze Yoru, who had already lowered his guard.

Yoru pointed down at his feet, and Nawaki looked down.

He realized he was standing exactly where Namikaze Yoru had stood at the start. A shallow hole, prodded into the ground with Yoru's toe, lay beneath him.

A corner of white paper peeked out from the hole. Nawaki pulled it out and saw three crooked characters written on it: Explosive Tag.

Namikaze Yoru walked over and pulled the paper from Nawaki's stunned hands. He waved it at him. "Now do you see why we're stopping?"

Nawaki stared at the ridiculous fake Explosive Tag, then looked at where he was standing. His expression changed like a kaleidoscope, shifting through every color.

It took him a long while to recover. Then he protested indignantly, "But the spar hadn't even started yet!"

"There are no turns in a fight between ninja. Using every means at your disposal to win is the norm." Namikaze Yoru patted Nawaki on the shoulder and replied calmly,

"Remember, after you graduate from the Ninja Academy, any fight could be the last of your life."

With that, he headed for the edge of the Training Ground. He hoped this spar would serve as a warning to Nawaki, and perhaps change the fate that awaited his friend.

Nawaki scratched his hair, frustrated, but followed along anyway, still grumbling stubbornly. "Yoru, you're just too well-rounded... You beat me and still had to lecture me. I'll definitely beat you next time."

Once Nawaki had caught up and accepted his defeat, Yoru continued, "Come on, third place. A bet's a bet. I'm eating at Yakiniku Q!"

Nawaki naturally had no objections. Even though the Senju Clan had officially disbanded and merged into Konoha, its reserves remained intact, and Nawaki certainly wasn't short on money.

During his earlier scan with Mind's Eye of the Kagura, Namikaze Yoru had also detected clan ninja and a figure that seemed to be Anbu following them in secret. That was another reason he hadn't used too many of the jutsu he'd learned from Mist Village.

A Genin escaping the slaughterhouse of the Land of Whirlpools was already strange enough, especially since he'd even brought back a Secret Technique Scroll. If he revealed too many unfamiliar jutsu as well, he was bound to draw suspicion.

Smoke curled through the barbecue restaurant. Namikaze Yoru was busy devouring the meat before him, with a towering stack of empty plates piled beside him.

Across from him, Nawaki refused to be outdone. As if trying to make up for his defeat, he kept clearing the plates in front of him.

Only after his stomach had grown round did Nawaki finally put down his chopsticks. He looked up and saw Namikaze Yoru still wolfing down food, and his eyes widened.

"Did you not eat anything while you were out on your mission?"

"I'm still growing," Namikaze Yoru replied without looking up.

When there was no more room to stack empty plates beside the table, Namikaze Yoru finally set down his chopsticks, satisfied.

He called over the owner to settle the bill, and watched as the smiling proprietor of Yakiniku Q tallied everything up.

"That'll be 3,300 Ryo."

Nawaki was surprised by the bill. The two of them had managed to spend as much as a whole group on a barbecue meal.

After saying goodbye to Nawaki, Namikaze Yoru headed straight for the Hokage Building.

He needed to collect the reward for his earlier mission. The information and scrolls he'd brought back needed time to be evaluated before the final bounty could be determined.