Chapter 8: Friendly Match?
Chapter Text
Koby was in for an interesting morning, as he woke up about two weeks after starting his studies on becoming a ninja. He found the training hard but rewarding, and the entire process was quite challenging for him. He recognized that this was a new style of fighting, so he did his best to prepare for all situations where he wouldn't have a disadvantage. If Koby committed to something, he gave it his all, putting in two hundred percent effort. This mindset stemmed from him viewing himself as lacking natural talents, which drove him to work much harder than others to keep up.
He put his strong work ethic to good use, dedicating himself to reading and having his shadow clone read different books simultaneously throughout the day. This allowed him to gather as much information as possible in a short amount of time. However, on this particular day, he received an intriguing request. It appeared that one of the clans in the village wanted to witness him in battle against their best. The clan was curious about how a Marine fought and how it compared to their own abilities. They had submitted this request about a month ago, and it had taken some time to get approved.
Now that the request was greenlit, Koby received a letter instructing him to report to the Uchiha compound for a sparring match against the pride of the Uchiha clan, Itachi. The outcome of this encounter was uncertain, but Koby had extensively researched the Sharingan and was eager to see it in action. He got ready, donning his old Marine outfit, as he thought it would be suitable for this friendly battle. It was meant to be a fun experience, at least on the surface, with no serious implications.
The notion that the Uchiha simply wanted to witness a friendly match was deceptive. In truth, they aimed to gain insight into the enigmatic outsider who had resided in the village for three years. Rumors had circulated about his abilities and the unpredictable factor he represented, which could potentially disrupt their future plans. The primary objective of this request was to ascertain whether they should consider Koby a factor or dismiss him entirely.
Bets were circulating among the Uchiha clan members and villagers alike, speculating on how long Koby would last against Itachi. Most placed their bets at a maximum of half a minute, while some were more generous, giving him up to three minutes. It was all in good fun, but it demonstrated the Uchiha's confidence in their own members and the villagers' fascination with the power of ninja, especially when pitted against an outsider.
Koby arrived at the scene, exchanging smiles and greetings with the Uchiha members. He was focused on this friendly match and had a strategy in mind for his bout against Itachi. As he entered the ring, he noticed the Uchiha clan members watching him closely. With kindness and respect, he removed his glasses and stowed them away.
"Hello, Mr. Uchiha, Itachi," Koby greeted respectfully, offering a bow before the fight.
"Likewise, Koby," Itachi replied calmly, his curiosity piqued by the unknown pink-haired young man.
Koby took a deep breath and moved to the edge of the designated combat area. Unbeknownst to him, the academy students were also gathered to observe the fight as a learning experience in high-level combat. The presence of an unknown fighter in the ring, combined with people's natural curiosity about his fighting style, turned the event into a bit of a spectacle. The crowd was taken aback as Koby pulled a bandana over his eyes, effectively blinding himself. They viewed him as eccentric and underestimated his abilities. Facing Itachi, he raised his hand and assumed a fighting stance.
"I am ready when you are, Mr. Uchiha," Koby declared respectfully, issuing a challenge to Itachi to engage him in combat.
The fight commenced with Itachi swiftly advancing on Koby, launching a straight punch to test his opponent's reaction. Koby deftly deflected the opening strike to the right and swiftly countered, forcing Itachi into a defensive stance. His movements and abilities showed no signs of blindness, surprising both Itachi and the crowd witnessing the spectacle.
As they stood following their exchange, Itachi attempted to discern how Koby was able to perceive him. He speculated that Koby might rely on his hearing, so Itachi tested this theory by launching a quick fireball. When Koby effortlessly dodged the attack, it became evident that his perception went beyond hearing. Itachi decided to escalate the fight by launching an aerial attack using a clone to test Koby's abilities. However, Koby evaded the incoming attack with ease and even counterattacked as if he could foresee the clone's actions.
The audience watched in astonishment as the intense and closely matched battle unfolded before them. Koby was holding his own against Itachi, even though it was merely a friendly sparring match. The two fighters exchanged blows, captivating the spectators, with Naruto enthusiastically cheering for his adopted guardian and Sasuke simultaneously supporting his older brother.
Koby adopted a defensive stance, cautious about pushing the fight further, while Itachi was equally uncertain about Koby's capabilities. Koby's apparent ability to foresee movements troubled Itachi, and it was clear that the fight would need to escalate.
Koby gained the upper hand by utilizing Soru, and although Itachi managed to counter his movements, Koby's foresight allowed him to dodge effectively. Itachi's Sharingan enhanced his abilities, but he was unable to employ genjutsu on Koby due to the blindfold. Koby evaded a counterstrike by leaping into the air and using Geppo, soaring above the battlefield. He launched a flying kick directly at Itachi, sending him tumbling backward from the powerful strike, intensified by the force of gravity. Koby then employed several of the Six Paths techniques to handle Itachi's fierce and robust counterattack.
The two warriors were both holding back to some extent, and the crowd watched in mostly stunned silence. Koby was enjoying the battle, knowing he could easily predict Itachi's movements with his advanced observation Haki. While both combatants were not going all out, their styles created a captivating display for the village.
The two engaged in a battle filled with counters, each gradually understanding the pace and style of their opponent. Koby and Itachi weren't taking the fight too seriously; it was more of a fun training exercise. Itachi had a good idea of why this match was arranged. The Hokage wanted to showcase the threat posed by the young man as a bargaining chip against the Uchiha. Although it might not prove overly effective, it demonstrated that the village had a strong defender who could effortlessly counter their Sharingan. Itachi was also aware that his opponent had been training with ninjutsu, so he likely had those tricks up his sleeve as well. This made him a highly unpredictable wildcard, and powerful leaders disliked dealing with such unknown factors as they could act unexpectedly in critical situations.
As the fight concluded after an intense 10 minutes, the two opponents bowed. "Thank you very much," Koby said with a smile, adjusting his bandana and donning his glasses. He looked at Itachi, who remained perplexed by the encounter. Koby seemed content, as was Itachi, but there was something that was bothering him a bit. How he was able to fight like he did without using his sight
"How did you see me?" Itachi inquired out of curiosity.
Koby explained, "Well, it's something called observation Haki. It allows me to see a bit into the future and sense people's intentions. I also have a pretty good range on both abilities, about a mile and a half, I think." Itachi was stunned, as very few individuals, aside from select ANBU and the Hokage, were aware of these abilities. Koby continued, "I know other Haki skills that are far more destructive, but I'm sure you were also holding back your big guns. My teacher used to destroy mountains for practice using one of them." With that, he bid farewell and left.
Itachi asked directly, "What is your intention with your power? It's impressive."
Koby replied firmly, "To protect Naruto Uzumaki, to raise him to be Hokage, and to protect this village from threats against it." This declaration left Itachi surprised. Koby's power posed a significant threat to any plans the Uchiha might have against the village. They would need to consider him in their future actions.
Unaware of the political implications, Koby returned home to a warm hug from Naruto, who was excited to show off his father figure to his fellow students. Koby and Naruto had Onigiri for dinner, a meal that Koby also enjoyed. They relished their time together, sharing a father-son bond over a meal that wasn't ramen but was equally delicious.
As they dined, discussions were taking place between the Hokage and Fugaku about the future of their relationships. They recognized their differences and understood the need for an outside perspective to help negotiate any agreements. This would happen in the coming days, but for now, Koby and Naruto could relax without being entangled in the village's politics.