The Next Shinobi, Chapter 1

I stood frozen in place, my eyes glancing in every direction for any sign of movement. My ears listened for the slightest rustle of leaves as I drew my kunai from my thigh strap. Suddenly, I felt a presence fly at me from behind. My body whirled around and blocked the attack with my knife. "You're getting faster," Kai smirked, his face just inches from mine while our knives were in a deadlock between us.

I returned his cocky smirk. "And you're getting sloppy,"

His face dropped at my words as my body fell to the ground in a puddle. "A water clone," he gasped.

"That's right," I said in a sing-song tone. I darted at him from behind and grabbed his wrist, hurling him as hard as I could into the trees behind me. His body broke clean through the first trunk and slammed into a second one before collapsing to the ground in a heap. I quickly slapped my hands together and contorted them into hand signs. "Water style, mouth of the serpent!"

Kai was pushed back against the trunk as a wave shaped like a serpent's head crashed down onto him. I watched eagerly as the water retreated for his surrender.

"Not bad, Hikari," he chuckled, spitting water out as he spoke. He clapped his palms together. "But you're not good enough. Fire style, phoenix flower!"

A spiral of flame fired toward me so fast I could barely move in time. The flames singed my right shoulder, sending a searing shock of pain through my arm. I clasped my hand over the burn, wincing at the exposed under layer of skin. Before I could think of my next move, there was a kunai blade to my throat. "I win again,"

"Shut up, Kai," I spat, jamming my elbow into his ribs. He staggered backward and took a minute to catch his breath.

"Very good," Kakashi-Sensei nodded from his seat under an oak tree, his precious book in front of his face. "Hikari, you need to focus more on what's going on around you. Your injuries take a backseat until your opponent is taken down."

I sighed and nodded in understanding. "Reina, you're up next against Kai."

"Pfft, I don't think so," Reina scoffed, flipping her ebony locks over her shoulder. "I'm not getting all dirty and sweaty."

"Why'd you even become a ninja?" I wondered, the annoyance thick in my voice. "You're never any help, anyway."

"I do too help!" she retorted in her shrill, girly tone that pierced my ears like needles. "I'm a medical nin and without me you guys would've been dead a long tim ago."

"Somehow, I think we'd be fine," I fired back at her as I plopped down on the grass, giving my legs a much needed break.

Alright you two, that's enough," Kakashi intervened. "I guess if no one wants to go against Kai, then we're done for today."

"Fine by me," Kai muttered apathetically, stuffing his hands in his pockets. "I'm over fighting a girl, anyway. Besides, she's not even strong enough to beat me."

"Don't get ahead of yourself, Uchiha," I spat his name like poison on my tongue. "You're not your dad so don't go throwing around words."

"She's right," Kakashi agreed. "Her father is the Hokage, afterall."

"So what?" Kai shrugged, unimpressed. "My father's one of the most skilled ninjas the Leaf has."

"Ugh, can we leave already?" Reina whined. "These two are giving me a headache."

"Not a chance," I replied quickly, standing up again and preparing my hand signs. "If Kai thinks he's so strong then let's do a rematch."

Kai laughed loudly. "You want more, Uzumaki? Fine, let's do this."

"Water style, giant vortex!"

Kai and I breathed heavily as we laid on the evening grass. Every ounce of chakra was drained from my body; I'd never felt so limp and lifeless from a sparring session before. I could tell Kai was drained too by his lack of trash-talk. I rolled my head to the left and saw Reina leaning against a tree fast asleep and Kakashi-Sensei still reading. I rolled my head the opposite direction to look at Kai. "It's a tie," I breathed softly. I barely had the energy to talk anymore.

He smiled briefly. "No way, Uzumaki, you're still a loser."

I giggled gently. "Whatever, Uchiha, whatever."

"You two done yet?" Kakashi called over to us.

I staggered to my feet, my various burns stinging like hot irons with every move I made. "Yeah, we're done."

"Good, because you're going to have to replenish your chakra for tomorrow," he said, finally closing his book and standing. "Do you need help, Kai?"

"I'm fine," Kai replied. His voice quivered with pain as he stood and made his way over to us. He looked down at Reina. "There's no way we're waking that up."

Kakashi sighed heavily and took Reina on his back. "Let's get you home, we have a big day tomorrow."