The training grounds were quiet that morning, bathed in soft sunlight and the distant chirping of birds. Morning dew clung to the grass as Kayomi landed silently near the center, his bandaged eyes catching the faint chakra pulses of two familiar presences approaching.
He didn't have to wait long.
Mebuki showed up first, arms folded and a small satchel bouncing against her hip. "Morning," she said, brushing a strand of pink hair behind her ear.
"Yo," Kayomi nodded.
Seconds later, a blur of motion zipped in, landing with flair. Shisui, grinning, gave them a casual wave. "I wasn't late, right?"
"You were," Mebuki replied dryly, "but only by a breath."
Before Shisui could retort, a soft clap broke through the morning calm.
"Well, you're all here," came Sakumo's voice, warm and steady.
The trio turned to see the White Fang of Konoha walking toward them, his flak vest loose over his standard gear, a casual smile on his face.
"Sakumo-sensei," Kayomi greeted.
Sakumo gave a nod in acknowledgment. A casual smile still on his face.
Walking towards them. "I wanted to see how you three moved together," Sakumo said as he came to a stop. "I know Kayomi well. I've trained him myself. But you two…" his gaze shifted to Mebuki and Shisui with a gentle seriousness, "…you're still a mystery to me."
Mebuki straightened her posture at his gaze, and even Shisui's grin softened into something more focused.
"So," Sakumo continued, "today, we'll keep it simple. A two-on-one spar."
Mebuki raised a brow. "Against who?"
Sakumo tilted his head toward Kayomi.
Shisui blinked. "Oh, you mean against…?"
"Kayomi's the strongest of you," Sakumo said without bragging. "This isn't about winning or losing. It's about seeing how well you can adapt, communicate, and move as a unit."
Kayomi stretched his neck, letting out a breath. "No holding back, huh?"
"Don't break each other's bones," Sakumo smirked, "but don't go easy either."
He stepped back, folding his arms.
The three genin stood in silence for a heartbeat.
Then Shisui cracked his knuckles. "Well, I'm not planning to lose."
Mebuki nodded. "Same here. Kayomi, don't cry when we win."
Kayomi just smiled, lowering into a stance. "Let's see what you've got."
The air grew tense. No jutsu just chakra tightening like drawn wire, muscles coiled.
Sakumo gave a subtle nod.
Begin.
Kayomi shot forward like a bullet, closing the gap between them in an instant. Shisui met him head-on, deflecting a punch and spinning into a kick, which Kayomi ducked under smoothly. Their movements blurred quick, calculated.
Mebuki moved to the perimeter, reaching into her pouch. She tossed two small pellets into the field. One exploded in a puff of smoke; the other carried a subtle numbing agent meant to slow Kayomi down without disabling him.
The haze thickened. Kayomi paused, his nose twitching slightly.
Poison? Not strong, but enough to dull the senses…
He slowed his breathing and pivoted away just as a wire trap snapped shut where he'd been standing.
"She's setting traps," he murmured. "Smart."
From the edge of the mist, Shisui launched into a flying roundhouse. Kayomi raised his arm to block, the impact pushing him back slightly. He grinned.
"That all you got, Shisui ?"
"Not even close."
They clashed again, fists and feet meeting with sharp bursts of impact. Shisui moved with wild, sharp precision flickers of brilliance beneath his still-developing form.
Meanwhile, Mebuki adjusted her position again. She crouched low behind a tree and prepared a kunai coated in a paralytic salve non-lethal, but strong enough to slow limb movement for a few seconds.
She darted in, not for a killing blow, but for a surgical strike aimed at Kayomi's joints.
He turned just in time. The kunai grazed his side instead of hitting its mark. He flinched felt the sting but twisted his body and struck her with a light palm to the chest, sending her stumbling backward, winded.
"You're holding back," he said.
"I'm a support," she replied, panting. "I'm supposed to."
"Then support harder."
He turned just in time to block another of Shisui's punches. They locked arms for a moment, eyes reading each other.
"I like this," Shisui said through gritted teeth.
"Same."
They pushed off. Shisui's breath was coming faster now, bruises forming on his forearms. Kayomi was still breathing steadily, bandages undisturbed, his movements sharp but never wasteful.
From the edge, Mebuki knelt and began to heal a scrape on her leg with green-glowing chakra. At the same time, she flung a small vial toward Shisui's feet an energy-boosting mixture designed to dull fatigue. Shisui caught the message, leaping back, letting it shatter and inhale the quick stimulant through his breath.
He surged forward again with renewed speed, forcing Kayomi into a defensive position.
The ground was scarred from scuffles, leaves scattered from impact.
From the sidelines, Sakumo watched quietly. His expression unreadable, but his eyes shone with something close to satisfaction.
They're messy… but they're starting to click.
Kayomi finally landed a sweeping kick that sent Shisui tumbling. Shisui rolled, springing up with a wince. Mebuki tossed him a cloth to wipe his face, then stood beside him.
Kayomi lowered his stance, still unreadable beneath the cloth over his eyes.
Sakumo finally stepped forward. "That's enough."
The three genin looked up panting, bruised, but still standing.
"You did well," Sakumo said. "Not perfect. But you're learning. You're not just three individuals anymore."
Shisui chuckled, tossing the cloth aside. "Told you we'd break something."
Mebuki groaned, rubbing her shoulder. "Almost broke me."
Kayomi exhaled, wiping blood from his chin. "That was good."
Sakumo placed a hand on each of their shoulders. "Team Sakumo, huh? We've got work to do. But I like what I'm seeing."
The wind rustled the leaves overhead as the tension faded. No words were needed.