A dry crust had formed over the sand in the training ground, shattering underfoot.
Wooden posts stood scattered here and there, old scars layered over older ones.
Day had barely broken, but people were already there.
Hinata practiced palm strikes against a wooden post at the eastern end.
Strike after strike landed on the same spot.
Shino stood in the shade to the west, barely moving.
Now and then, a bug crawled out of his collar, then crawled back in.
Choji had claimed a spot by the south wall, a paper bag rustling beside him.
He ate a handful, got up to push against a post, then came back for another handful.
Kiba arrived a little later and tossed his jacket over the top of a post.
Akamaru circled his feet.
Kiyoshi entered the grounds and draped his jacket over a wooden rack. He rolled up his sleeves.
Kiba's eyes found him first. A lift of his chin toward the middle of the grounds served as a challenge.
Akamaru darted out first, a rumble in his throat. His claws scraped a white streak through the sand.
Kiba followed, kicking off the ground and charging straight at Kiyoshi with Akamaru.
The rush knocked the wind sideways, sending a ribbon of sand rolling low along the ground.
Kiyoshi shifted his toes aside.
The wooden post took the full force of the hit. Splinters burst into the air.
Kiyoshi stood three paces away.
The Substitution Technique he had learned from the scroll-this was his first time using it. He had swapped himself with a conveniently placed wooden post.
Kiba checked his momentum, glanced back at the battered post, then looked at him again.
"When'd you learn that?"
"Last night."
Kiba froze for half a beat, then grinned. His knuckles cracked as he clenched