January 1, Konoha Year 37.
Exactly one month had passed since Konoha declared war on Amegakure.
Although it was New Year's Day, there was little festive atmosphere in Konoha.
Large numbers of ninja ranked Chunin and above were on the battlefield in the Land of Rain, fighting Rain Ninja and Sand Ninja...
Although the war had not yet reached the stage of large-scale battles, and squads were still maneuvering against one another with relatively light casualties, reports of deaths and injuries were already coming back regularly.
Konoha's Genin and Chunin under sixteen had not yet joined the war directly. Instead, they handled the few mission requests that could not be turned down. Everyone had tacitly agreed to keep celebrations subdued, however, so they would not seem out of place among ninja families whose loved ones had gone to war.
At the Third Training Ground.
Akaseki was fighting Might Duy. With a whoosh, he threw out a wooden sickle attached to a chain. Might Duy immediately dodged, but Akaseki tugged the chain, sending the sickle spinning back toward him from behind while the chain restricted his room to evade... Might Duy had anticipated this. Curling up, he nimbly rolled out of the encirclement—as Akaseki grew stronger, Might Duy could now use some chakra when sparring with him!
Likewise, although Akaseki had not activated his eyes or used ninjutsu, he was actually using chakra to control the chain.
After catching the long-handled sickle again, Akaseki immediately charged with the sickle in one hand and the Gunbai in the other. Might Duy remained stubborn, refusing to use ninja tools, even wooden ones, and fought Akaseki with nothing but his fists and feet.
Akaseki had noticed long ago...
Although Might Duy was called a disgrace to ninja... his Taijutsu truly was outstanding!
It was