Chapter 59: Promotion
Hikari and Chizuru stepped onto the sparring ground. The final match was about to begin, and the crowd was eager to witness what Hikari could do.
Hikari stood tall, her eyes filled with determination. Chizuru, known for her exceptional skills, took her position with a confident yet cautious stance. Both activated their Byakugan, veins pulsing around their eyes as their vision sharpened.
"Begin!" the referee announced, and the match commenced.
Hikari wasted no time, closing the distance between them with breathtaking speed. She launched a series of rapid strikes, each one precise and powerful. Chizuru struggled to keep up, her defenses barely holding against the onslaught.
"She's fast," Chizuru thought, her mind racing to find a gap in Hikari's attacks. She tried to counter, but Hikari's relentless offensive left her with little room to maneuver.
Hikari's created a loupan circle around herself, positioning at the center, giving Chizuru with less room to maneuver. Each strike from Hikari was a seamless blend of power and grace, exploiting every weakness in Chizuru's defense.
Chizuru attempted to create distance, executing a series of agile maneuvers. "I need to find a way through," she thought, her mind running through countless scenarios. She launched a counterattack, aiming for Hikari's chakra points, but Hikari's Fist of Flowing Waters technique allowed her to redirect the strikes effortlessly.
"She's reading my every move," Chizuru realized, frustration building. She executed a spinning kick, hoping to catch Hikari off guard. Hikari anticipated the move, sidestepping and countering with a powerful palm strike that sent Chizuru stumbling back.
The crowd watched in awe as Hikari's refined techniques and relentless pressure overwhelmed Chizuru. Hikari's use of the Byakugan was unparalleled, allowing her to see and react to Chizuru's every move.
Chizuru's mind raced, trying to find a gap in Hikari's defenses. "She's incredible," Chizuru thought, admiration mingling with her frustration. "But I can't give up now."
Chizuru pushed forward, her strikes becoming more desperate yet determined. Bseing overwhelmed, Chizuru's tenacity kept the battle going. She fought with everything she had, her skills shining through even in the face of Hikari's dominance.
With a final, powerful strike, Hikari broke through Chizuru's defenses, sending her to the ground.
Chizuru was utterly dominated in her fight, her skills no match for Hikari's refined and powerful techniques. The spectators were in awe, witnessing Hikari's strength and mastery. Weeks passed, and the memory of that overwhelming display lingered in their minds.
Far away, standing amidst the rubble of a battle, Daniel held a person who barely seemed alive. His expression was one of boredom and mild frustration. "It may be the Saiyan blood in me, but I kinda want to fight someone strong. These guys are just pathetic," he muttered, tossing the body aside with a sigh.
"Haa, kidnapping kids and selling them to a mysterious person. I'm sure this is tied to that guy, but I'm not sure about confronting him now. It'd be great if I could fight him at full power, though. But whatever, I'll take care of things when the time comes. I just hope he doesn't disappoint me," Daniel sighed again, teleporting back to Konoha.
He had finished his mission, dealing with mercenaries who were kidnapping children from poor, isolated villages and selling them to a single buyer. With the mercenaries taken care of, Daniel returned to hand in his report. Upon arrival, he was greeted by his temporary team, now all Chunin.
"You're back early. Did you miss us that much?" Daichi teased as Daniel arrived at the gate.
"You've all been promoted," Daniel remarked, a hint of pride in his voice. "Although you still have a lot to learn," he added, their greetings brief as he headed straight to report his mission.
"So that's it. You can leave for now," Tsunade dismissed Daniel after hearing his report.
"That was some quick work," Shizune remarked after Daniel had left the office.
"Fitting of those three's sensei," Tsunade said, a smile playing on her lips.
"Speaking of which..." Shizune began.
"Yeah, I'll inform them later," Tsunade said, her expression turning somber. The former sensei of the Hyuga trio had died on his mission. "After handling his promotion, notify him that that will be his permanent team going forward," Tsunade added, referring to Daniel.
"Right! It's about time I take care of that Danzo clone I made. I initially wanted it to keep things fair according to the original story, but it's too late at this point. I'll just make up something and make it seem like Danzo went a little bit too far and got himself killed or something," Daniel muttered to himself, pondering his next steps.
"That will leave Sai... What should I do with him?" Daniel thought, but he decided not to dwell on it. He could assign Sai to a random team or even send him to join Team 7. "Well, that's solved, and now it's just..." he muttered, but a messenger Shinobi interrupted him, appearing next to Daniel and handing him a note.
"Promotion? Well, that's unexpected," Daniel remarked, reading through the note. He was being made a Jonin, something he hadn't anticipated nor particularly cared about. But it marked another step in his journey, one that he would embrace with his usual confidence and resolve.
"What!" Daichi exclaimed, his voice filled with shock and disbelief as Team 16 heard the news of their sensei's passing. The weight of the revelation settled heavily on their hearts, and grief washed over them.
Shizune stood before them, her expression somber. "We decided to make Daniel your permanent sensei. I'm sorry for your loss," she informed them gently before leaving them to process the news.
Team 16 stood in silence, grappling with the reality of their former sensei's fate. They had hoped to show her how far they had come, but now that opportunity was lost forever.
"Damn it!" Daichi muttered, his voice thick with anger and sorrow as he walked away, unable to contain his emotions.
"Maybe this would've been our fate as well," Ryuu pondered, his thoughts drifting back to their early days. There had been little hope for Team 16 to last long, but things had changed. It felt as though they had been given new chances in life, new opportunities to grow and succeed.
"I'll carry on your light always," Hikari whispered to herself, her voice trembling with resolve. She turned and made her way home, leaving Ryuu standing alone at their sensei's grave.
"You really believed in us and poured your all into us... We... I'll never forget that. Thank you for everything," Ryuu said softly, his voice a mixture of gratitude and grief. He stood there for a moment, his heart heavy with loss, before finally turning to leave.
As they each found their way through their emotions, the trio knew that their sensei's legacy would live on in them. They were determined to honor her memory by becoming the best shinobi they could be, guided by the lessons and strength she had imparted to them.
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