Chapter 13 – The Hunter and the Prey
Ding! Ding! Ding!
The sharp clang of metal echoed through the air, ringing out like firecrackers in the vast training ground.
A small, lithe figure darted through the dense Hyuga forest, weaving between the trees with agile grace. This was Ryosuke, stretching his body to its limits across the clan's expansive, private training area.
Hot on his trail was a tall, broad-shouldered figure—Hyuga Hiashi. Calm and composed, he followed steadily, occasionally hurling kunai from his tool pouch to disrupt Ryosuke's movements.
But Ryosuke was no easy target. With nimble fingers, he returned fire with a flurry of kunai and shuriken, launching them with pinpoint accuracy. His aim wasn't just to hold off Hiashi's pursuit—it was also to deflect his attacks midair.
Speed and power were pushed to their peak. Ryosuke's spirit was on high alert, his mind razor-sharp. Every organ in his body was working overtime, adapting to the intense physical demands of the moment. He abandoned all unnecessary thoughts, focusing only on one thing: battle.
This kind of raw, physical confrontation—the clash of cold weapons, the thrill of combat—had never existed in his past life. Back then, such fights were strictly forbidden. And yet, here he was, in the middle of one, feeling not fear or discomfort but… exhilaration.
Scenes he once only watched in anime or films were now his reality. And it felt incredible.
Still, despite the excitement, he remained unnervingly calm. It was the kind of clarity that only came when excitement peaked. His face was expressionless, focused. This wasn't a game to him. This was real, and he loved every second of it.
There was no need to look back. Even with kunai and shuriken flying at his blind spot, Ryosuke could see everything thanks to his Byakugan. The 360-degree vision let him track every threat, every movement.
His small, youthful frame twisted and turned with elegance, effortlessly slipping past each attack like a spirit of the forest. His movements were almost artistic, like a deadly dance.
But Ryosuke wasn't aiming for beauty. He wasn't trying to look cool. His goal was pure practicality. Every dodge, every twist, was calculated with precision—barely evading danger to minimize movement.
A wider dodge meant more inertia. More inertia meant fewer options. If the enemy shifted attack patterns, a large movement could leave you completely exposed.
Like a person who jumps into the air—once airborne, you have no traction, no leverage. You're vulnerable.
By keeping his movements tight and minimal, Ryosuke ensured he always had options. Always had control.
Behind him, Hiashi's stern gaze followed his every move. He was impressed. Just a few training bouts in, and Ryosuke was already handling such a fierce pace with ease.
He's ready for a bigger challenge, Hiashi thought.
With that, he increased his throwing speed. Chakra surged in his arm, and the kunai shot forward—faster, sharper.
But just then, Ryosuke stumbled.
Hiashi's eyes narrowed. A mistake!
The kunai he had just thrown was flying straight toward the back of Ryosuke's head!
In an instant, Hiashi's calm demeanor shifted. A dangerous glint flashed in his eyes as chakra exploded from his soles, propelling him forward like a missile.
The air howled. Leaves were torn cleanly in half by the wind he kicked up.
In a blur, he caught up to the kunai, his hand shooting out to intercept it midair—
But just then, Ryosuke, who had been running ahead, twisted his body and turned back.
With no regard for the incoming kunai, he lunged forward, palm glowing with chakra—aiming directly at Hiashi!
Under normal circumstances, such a move would be reckless. But as Hiashi caught the kunai and glanced forward, he saw it for what it truly was—
An illusion.
The Ryosuke he was seeing... passed right through the kunai. Just like that, the palm strike missed him entirely, and Ryosuke's body faded.
For the first time in all their training, Ryosuke had tried to become the hunter, not the prey.
But—
"I won't fall for the same trick twice," Hiashi said calmly, spinning sharply on his heel.
His palm struck out behind him with perfect precision.
Last time, he'd been caught off guard. He'd underestimated Ryosuke—treated him like a mere child.
Not this time.
Now, he saw Ryosuke as a true ninja.
Though his Byakugan wasn't active, Hiashi's instinct as a veteran warrior told him something was wrong. He sensed it—a faint shift in the air behind him.
Sure enough, a second Ryosuke had appeared there without warning, charging at him with a precise Gentle Fist strike aimed at his chakra points.
Hiashi smirked and countered, both of them using Gentle Fist techniques.
This boy—this child of the Hyuga's main family—was no ordinary student. His brilliance filled Hiashi with pride.
Ryosuke was the heir the clan needed.
But just as Hiashi was about to press forward, something stopped him cold.
His body locked up. Every nerve screamed.
Danger.
Not from the Ryosuke in front of him. Not from the clone behind.
Something else.
Without a second thought, Hiashi activated his Byakugan. Veins bulged around his eyes as chakra surged toward them.
What he saw made his breath catch.
Nothing had changed—everything looked normal.
Too normal.
That's when he realized—the Ryosuke in front of him was also a clone.
There was no chakra flowing in his body.
So where was the real Ryosuke?
Pushing even more chakra into his eyes, Hiashi sharpened his vision. And then—he saw it.
Two figures stood before him.
The first was the illusion—expressionless, mid-palm strike.
The second was real—Ryosuke, just two steps away, grinning as he swung a kunai toward Hiashi's left shoulder.
He planned to lure me in—
If Hiashi had taken even one more step, that kunai would've cut into his shoulder.
It wouldn't be fatal. But it would've been a win for Ryosuke.
Even if this was just training… it would've been an embarrassing defeat.
Ryosuke lowered the kunai and smiled. "I figured I couldn't attack you silently with my level of skill, so I created a setup to make you walk into the attack instead. I didn't think you'd actually sense it."
"So this is what they call combat awareness, huh? Even if your eyes don't see it, your body can feel the danger."
Hiashi was silent for a moment, then chuckled.
The boy had talent. There was no denying it.
After learning the Gentle Fist technique, Ryosuke had trained with Hiashi in actual combat exercises every week. And this was the first time… the first time he'd dared to flip the roles.
To stop running.
To become the hunter.
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