Uchiha

The day after, I came to class free of scratches that would normally be there from the day before. The goal changed from surviving the after school training to landing hits on the instructors. They were caught off guard and I landed a bruising jab, which nearly received a revenge kunai to the face if the other instructors had not held him back. That training ended early.

Today was the day of the spar off. We were given a warm up lap to run as the arena was being opened and prepared. It was a wooden, stable platform that stood on stone pillars over a swampy area. It was approximately 20 square feet, shaped like a boxing ring. There were no ropes, and the platform was elevated so that anyone who fell would taking a face full of mud. This was explained to us, by the teacher, who would moderate the fight. Fights would end by surrender, knock out, or 2 ring outs.

"If anyone would like to surrender, you may do so now or at the beginning of a match or during the match if you've had enough. However, if you surrender now, whoever would have faced you would automatically defeat you, so you will lose a rank there. Any takers?" 8 people surrendered. I did not.

The first to face me was ranked second to last. He looked nervous, but his friends urged him onto the platform.

"It would be a waste to give up against the Possum. You might as well beat him and then surrender."

His stance was very open. His eyes were covered by his blonde hair that was dirtier than my own. His gray - brown attire gave off the impression that his parents were farmers. Maybe he wanted more than the potato digging life that could have awaited him. He may be a dreamer, craving adventure and craving the great wonders of the village hidden in the leaf.

Speaking of leaves, he spat out one after crawling out of the mud with broken hopes and teary eyes.

After 5 rounds of massacre, most people began to surrender their fights against me. One who did not was rank 4th in the class.

"Kiba Inuzuka." called the instructor.

"I'll take this fight," he smirked. "I want to see the Possum when he unsheathes his fangs." He stomped across the gangplank, leaving behind a small dog.

I wasn't that tired despite the number of fights. "Most of them surrendered anyways," I told myself. I took my stance and saw Kiba position himself on his hands and feet. While I hadn't taken much notice to him before, he looked wild, almost like a dog ready to bite. Fangs and claws grew on him and his chakra was visibly pouring our of him. I give an eye to the teacher. Ninjutsu wasn't allowed; he doesn't seem to care.

"Ready? Begin!"

He struck fast and I was immediately pushed to the edge of the ring. I got my feet under me just as he struck again and while I caught him, my feet lost their grip of the ring. I hung off Kiba's jacket but my feet were in the mud. "He hits like a truck." I rubbed my stomach where he struck me; it was bruised. I felt adrenaline pumping through my veins.

"Ring out! Get back in the ring and we can resume."

I slap my hands from Kiba's jacket, to the stage and pull myself up. We repositioned ourselves to the middle of the ring. I was clearly irritated by his arrogant smirk. "Fool me once, shame on you, but fool me twice..." I ready myself again as the match resumes.

I look at his eyes as he speeds towards me. They betray his straight-forward approach and I aim my punch there. Hit with a "Jolt Counter*", his head spins and he falls on his back, falling underneath the weight of his own speed. I turned and got on top of him and pulled my hand back to punch his face in when my hand was caught.

"He's done."

I look up at the instructor and look back down at Kiba. His jaw is slack and open and even though you can hear his breath, he was clearly out, cold. I look out and saw the crowd mostly in shock. They knew that Kiba was normally beaten by wit as the year came down to a close, but few people have ever knocked him out, and only one has knocked him out in a faster time. I'm sure it had nothing to do with my teachings to him. He should learn not to smirk like that. The next two surrender, leaving only one.

"Sasuke Uchiha." The crowd of students cheer for the popular one, hoping that he takes down the outcast competitor who has run the gauntlet from last to 2nd, compared to before. He glares at me. I glare at him. He smirks. My whiskers grow slightly more defined as the anger seeps through. We stand, facing each other like the ying and yang conflict of a twisted nature. We are the same, yet different in our treatment due to blood. The signal is given and I receive a kick to the face, followed by a backhand, followed by a third kick to the back of the head. I hit the ground twice and the platform cracks a little. I see blood on the floor.

Although I'm able to get up on my own, the match was called there and then. It was sloppy calling, but the sun was beginning to set as well. I blame him, but wonder how twice I was taken off guard by the first hit. I started walking back home at the end of class, ignoring the ANBU who watched with hawkish eyes.

*Reference to Hajime no Ippo