Solar Eclipse *Rewrite*

Chapter 12

On Wednesday, they sparred before lunch. However, they weren't asked to use the usual academy style. No, Iruka-sensei encouraged them to try things out. To find a style that best worked with both them and whatever jutsu they know. He then paired them up and jumped from group to group to help out and keep them from hurting each other too much.

As per usual, Naruto and Sasuke had been paired up. They always seemed to force the best out of each other. It was a weird relationship. There was a time when they seemed to hate each other, that by being in the same room together could almost warrant a fight. But now as they sparred, Naruto laughed like they often did when he spared with Koinu. Even Sasuke seemed to be enjoying himself. They sent kicks and punches at each other, and a barrage of clones and fireballs were shot, but there was no real malice in any of it. Naruto had earned Sasuke's respect and Sasuke was starting to see Naruto as less of a burden and more like an equal.

Koinu smiles as she watches out of the corner of her eye. She had been paired up with a girl by the name of Tenten. Tenten was hailed as a weapons genius, it was her preferred style. It wasn't very helpful against a water aura-type vessel. Every kuni and knife that was thrown in her direction was redirected by a wave of water. Tossed aside like it had been nothing. The future kunoichi was growing frustrated, she had never faced someone, besides Neji, who could brush aside her attacks like they were nothing, to begin with. In her frustration, she called out. "How are you even doing that?"

"This?" She lashed out a whip of water, it bubbled and gurgled. "It's my family's style, though no two vessels are the same."

"Yeah, but how?"

She shrugged. "Practice. If you want, I can lock away my aura and it'll be a more fair fight."

Tenten narrowed her eyes at her. "This isn't some kind of trick?"

"Nope."

"Okay. If it makes it fair." She got into position, a kuni held firmly in her hand, her dominant leg locked behind her. Koinu noted that she had at least gotten some level of professional training. And so to keep her side of the deal, she concentrated her spiritual energy to its core, an area deep down in the pit of her tummy, then with quick downwards jabbing motions, the usual hum that hammered through her bloodstream creased.

"Okay. Come at me." And she did. The kuni in her hand was jabbed in her direction, and Koinu caught her wrist. For a second, Tenten stopped to think about her next move. She twisted away on the ball of her foot, drawing a tanto from one of the seals stitched in the folds of her shirt. Okay, impressive.

Koinu held her position, her right leg planted firmly on the ground behind her, arms held out away from her body, protecting her chest and her abdomen. By the time Tenten started charging toward her, Koinu had already come up with an idea one how to overpower her. Tenten's style was simple, she was a long-range fighter like her brother, Akito. She summoned weapons one after another, so the best way to go against her was by attacking during those short periods of time when she didn't have some kind of weapon.

Excellent observation. The spirit hummed from the edge of the field. But how are you going to use it to your advantage?

She huffed, we'll see. She charged Tenten, without her aura she was a bit slower. Luckily, it wasn't much of a difference. With the tanto in her hand, Tenten now had some distance between them. Koinu reached into her pocket and pulled out a small white-gray knife. Whale-bone. It was light, flexible, and strong. Every swing was blocked by the dagger, which was no longer than nine inches.

"Are you sweating now?" Tenten teased.

"Maybe." Koinu diverted another swing from the tanto, using her blade to guide it away and she sidestepped. With a quick slash, she ripped right through one of the storage seals stitched on her shirt. One down, four more to go.