Two Monsters

The life-and-death experience at the Uchiha compound acted like a potent catalyst, genuinely altering the perceptions of Shikano Nara, Chiba Akimichi, and the others toward the Hatake brothers.

Fear and alienation remained, but they were now mingled with a greater sense of gratitude, awe, and a peculiar bond forged by the shared secret they guarded. On the training ground, when their gazes happened to meet Sakuya's or Lian's, they no longer simply looked away; instead, they would offer a slight nod or exchange a look of tacit understanding. During lunch, although Sakuya and Lian still sat in their usual spot under the cherry blossom tree, Shikano would occasionally drag his lazy gait over, drop a "Thanks for last time," and leave before receiving a reply. Chiba would sometimes share snacks with Lian, who seemed more approachable, while Kazamatsuri would offer them a friendly, albeit still slightly timid, smile.

However, this change in perspective was limited to their small circle. To most of the other students in the class, Hatake Sakuya and Hatake Lian—and later, Nadeshiko Haku, who displayed the same inhuman strength—remained synonymous with "monsters."

This impression was reinforced, and even solidified, during a practical sparring lesson.

It was a free-form combat exercise. Whether by coincidence or the teacher's deliberate arrangement, Sakuya and Haku were paired together.

As the two stood their ground in the arena, the surrounding air changed instantly. There was no clamor, no cheering, only a silence so heavy it felt stagnant. Every student, including the teacher, subconsciously held their breath.

"Please advise me," Haku's cold, clear voice rang out, carrying the etiquette unique to Nadeshiko kunoichi, yet her ice-blue eyes burned with a scorching desire for battle.

Sakuya did not speak, merely nodding slightly; his deep purple eyes were like bottomless pools, revealing no emotion.

"Begin!"

The moment the command fell—

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

There was no probing! Haku's figure moved like an arrow released from a bow. As she lunged forward, her hands flickered like phantoms, throwing over a dozen senbon wrapped in pale blue chakra, covering every vital point on Sakuya's body like a rain of ice! The speed was absolute!

At almost the same moment, Sakuya moved! His motions were devoid of any excess; he side-stepped, slid, and with a kunai that appeared in his hand from nowhere, he parried with pinpoint precision!

Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang!

A rapid, crisp series of metallic clashes erupted! Sparks showered around his body! Every single senbon was deflected with unerring accuracy!

Haku's assault did not cease! Using the senbon as cover, she had already closed the distance! She unleashed the Nadeshiko Style's unique soft-fist taijutsu; her palms, fingers, elbows, and legs struck with cunning and ruthlessness, targeting joints and chakra points—her movements were as beautiful as they were lethal!

Sakuya's response was even more astonishing! He seemed able to predict the trajectory of every one of Haku's attacks. Though his Sharingan was not active, his dynamic vision and physical reflexes had been pushed to their limit! He dodged and parried with the smallest possible movements; the kunai in his hand moved like a living thing, sometimes held in a reverse grip to block a hand-blade, other times thrust forward to break a kick! Both their movements were so fast they left only afterimages, and the sounds of their taijutsu clash were suffocatingly dense!

Bang! After a heavy collision, the two pushed off each other and leaped back, forming hand seals simultaneously! "Water Style: Water Colliding Wave!" A rapid stream of water erupted from Haku's mouth, shooting toward Sakuya like a high-pressure water cannon! "Earth Style: Earth Wall!" Sakuya slammed his palm into the ground, and a solid earthen wall rose instantly, perfectly blocking the torrent!

The clash of ninjutsu left all the onlookers dumbfounded once again! This was simply not a battle at the level of genin!

The fight was eventually called to a halt by the examiner, ending in a draw. Both of them still seemed to have energy to spare.

A deathly silence fell over the arena.

Every student, including Shikano and the others, had faces etched with shock and... a profound sense of powerlessness. The gap between them was no longer a chasm that could be bridged by "hard work"; it was a total crushing defeat in terms of talent, bloodline, and the training they had received.

"Monsters..." someone muttered unconsciously.

The word echoed clearly in everyone's heart once more. The small sense of closeness that had just begun to grow from their shared hardships was shattered completely in the face of this inhuman duel. Awe turned into an even deeper estrangement. Except for the few who had traveled with them, no one dared to approach the brothers easily, as if an invisible force field surrounded them, isolating the "ordinary" from their presence.

Yet, amidst this invisible barrier, one figure took the initiative to walk into the "forbidden zone."

After training ended, the crowd dispersed, still discussing the astonishing duel with lingering fear. Sakuya was wiping his sweat with a towel, preparing to leave as usual.

A cold, clear figure blocked his path.

It was Nadeshiko Haku.

Her short silver hair reflected the sunlight, and her ice-blue eyes stared directly at Sakuya. The desire for battle from moments ago was gone, replaced by a pure, inquisitive interest.

"Hatake Sakuya." Her voice remained devoid of inflection, yet it was exceptionally clear. "Your taijutsu and reaction speed are extraordinary. That is not something gained through ordinary training."

She paused, as if organizing her thoughts, then asked very directly: "On the next day off, can we have another sparring match? Pure taijutsu and shurikenjutsu."

The request was abrupt, yet it fit her perfectly—direct, pure, and seeking only strength.

The surrounding students subconsciously slowed their pace, sneaking glances at them with expressions of surprise. A monster... taking the initiative to seek out another monster?

Sakuya's hand, mid-wipe, paused. He looked at Haku, meeting her undisguised gaze of interest in a strong opponent. He was no stranger to this look. During his training with Obito, he had seen similar eyes—it was the recognition of an opponent worthy of a fight.

He remained silent for a few seconds. The air around them seemed to freeze.

Just as everyone expected him to refuse coldly, as he had with others, he spoke, his voice as flat as ever:

"Fine. Time and place?"

The corners of Haku's mouth curved upward almost imperceptibly. It barely counted as a smile, but it did soften her icy demeanor for a fleeting moment.

"Tomorrow at eight in the morning, Training Ground 3." She finished crisply, nodded, and turned to leave without the slightest hesitation.

Sakuya watched her retreating back, slung his towel over his shoulder, and turned to walk in the opposite direction with an expressionless face.

He left behind a group of stunned classmates, still trying to digest this shocking scene.

"Are... are monsters attracted to each other?" someone whispered in disbelief.

From that day on, one could often see two figures clashing intensely at Konoha's Training Ground 3. Sometimes it was a collision of taijutsu, other times the precise exchange of shuriken. They rarely spoke, communicating more through fists, feet, and ninja tools. A peculiar, cold tacit understanding quietly sprouted between the two "monsters." Nadeshiko Haku became the first person, aside from his life-and-death companions, who could truly "approach" Hatake Sakuya.

Though it remained unspoken, everyone knew. They could now be called partners who stood side by side.