Alchemy

1,4) FATE

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Tenten:

Although the balmy breeze carried the reek of rotting fish throughout the camp I smirked with satisfaction. This was going to be easy.

  Besides I had to win this match if only because everyone had gathered around to watch and I had no intention of being the latest victim to derision by the camp boys.

  Not after I had come so far to gain their respect. I had to work ten times harder than anyone else because all they saw when they looked at me was a short, lanky boy who kept to himself. In other words an easy target, despite my skill. 

Compared to the other heavily muscled boys in the camp I was like a thin reed to be kicked around. Know they knew better. I couldn’t let it go back to the way it was just to spare the prince's pride.
I was going to win.

He stood in a fighting stance, ready, waiting. Waiting for me to make the first move.

I  closed the distance between us before anyone could blink lashing out for his left side. His unprotected side. I should have known better. He had my wrist almost pulling me into a firm hold.

''BYAKUGAN'' he said activating the legendary dojutsu of the Hyūga clan.

As we met in clashes of fists and steel every one of his moves were deliberate and astute.

No breathe was wasted.

He had the air of an old warrior and must have been proficiently trained since birth.

That must be the way of the Hyūga clan. It must be why it they had rose to power  so many years ago and why they continued to run over the Land of Sun.

I had made a grave mistake. I had judged a book by its cover. Neji Hyūga was not some snivelling prince but a ninja, an extremely skilled one who just as I was not prepared to lose this match.

I had no choice. I summoned a fighting pole. It was time to switch to bukujutsu.

He launched himself directly at me, going straight for the centre of the staff, hoping to break it.

I whirled away as he struck nothing but air, however as if anticipating the attack he blocked before a could strike the staff into his spine. I staggered as he attacked again closing two of my chakra points with his byakugan. I recovered quickly striking again, this time the force of his own answering blow  sent the staff straight into his face. He didn’t so much as stumble as he frowned.

A trace of anger on his once aloof yet handsome face.

I swiftly struck again sweeping his feet out from under him. Taking advantage of the fat that I had hurt him a second ago. I didn’t have the time to act soft-hearted or altruistic. I had to be firm and pragmatic.
A trace of blood trickled from his nose but he wiped it away as I struck again as he launched himself upright.

He anticipated this and blocked another one of my chakra points. 
He drove closer the more I moved back, striking with a renewed intensity. He wasn't playing around anymore, because until now this had all been a game to him. He attacked aggressively searching for any weaknesses to exploit as he seized the advantage.

He's better than me… the knowledge tasted like a rot in  my mouth as if I had bitten into a fruit to find it foul inside. The difference in our training was visible. I had been trained to defend myself while he had been trained to kill.

He didn't just have one mode of attack that I cold single out or predict. Every twist and strike was precise and deadly. I was fighting a losing battle.