Naruto: Mixed Heritage(Rewrite)

The training ground in the Senju compound was alive with the quiet symphony of nature, even though the night had long since taken hold. Between towering trees and the cool shadows they cast, Riku stood poised, his tanto held low yet ready. The remnants of the earlier explosion still clung to the air, with Riku already moving immediately after the explosion. He moved swiftly, scanning the forested terrain, and soon enough, he found his first opponent.

Hiro stood amidst the trees, gripping his twin short swords with the effortless confidence of a seasoned dual-wielder. His stance was solid, his eyes gleaming with determination. Riku smirked, breaking the silence. "Let's see how well you handle a one-on-one fight when your weapons are too light to land a clean hit," he said, his tone teasing but edged with challenge.

Hiro responded with a grin, his voice brimming with self-assuredness. "The lighter the weapon, the faster the strike."

Without hesitation, Riku moved first, his tanto slicing through the air in a direct strike aimed at Hiro's torso. Hiro parried effortlessly, one short sword intercepting the blade with practised ease. His other sword followed in an immediate counterattack, a sharp upward slash aimed at Riku's face.

Anticipating Hiro's speed, Riku sidestepped gracefully, creating distance with precise footwork. But Hiro was relentless, closing the gap as quickly as it was made.

His twin short swords became a blur, cutting through the space around Riku with rapid strikes aimed at his sides, shoulders, and legs. Each movement was precise, calculated, and designed to dismantle Riku's defences.

"I don't need just one weapon to overwhelm you," Hiro taunted, his strikes unrelenting.

Riku, impressed but composed, countered with a series of swift parries and measured blocks. His single tanto moved deftly, redirecting Hiro's dual blades, but the onslaught was relentless.

For every attack he deflected, the second blade threatened from an unexpected angle.

"Quick," Riku admitted with a smirk, "but not quite enough."

Channelling his chakra, Riku slammed his Earth Release: Earth Fist into the ground, sending a burst of jagged rocks surging toward Hiro. The attack forced Hiro to retreat momentarily, but Riku didn't let up.

Following through, he unleashed a Kenjutsu technique, the Earthquake Slash, a powerful horizontal cut meant to send Hiro off-balance.

Hiro reacted with a masterful display of agility, activating one of his Taijutsu techniques Shadow Step. His movements left afterimages in their wake, a confusing illusion that allowed him to dodge the attack with precision. Landing in a crouch, he narrowed his eyes at Riku, the glint of strategy lighting them.

"You've got speed, but not the edge," Hiro said, his voice steady despite the growing tension.

'I was hoping on getting Renjiro first so that I can use that, but my options are running out.' Hiro thought.

He knew Riku's experience would be a formidable barrier, but Hirodecided not to rely on speed alone. Determined, he formed a series of hand signs, his chakra flaring visibly as he activated Earth Release: Sandstorm Blade. In an instant, the area around him was engulfed in a swirling cloud of fine, sand-like particles, their movement synchronized with his blades. The particles amplified the cutting power of each strike, transforming his offence into a deadly shield as well.

"Try reading me now," Hiro challenged, charging forward with renewed confidence.

This was a jutsu he came up with to try and counter Renjiro's Sharingan which was a nuisance to go against.

The disorienting cloud surrounding Hiro made it difficult for Riku to track his movements, but he remained calm. Instead of meeting the attack head-on, he relied on subtle misdirection. Using Water Release: Mist Clone, he created multiple water clones that moved seamlessly within the obscured battlefield.

"You're fast, Hiro," Riku's voice echoed through the mist, "but there's always a trick to every jutsu."

Frustrated but undeterred, Hiro pushed forward. His twin swords sliced through the clones one after another, dissipating them into harmless vapor. "I won't fall for clones again!" he growled, his resolve hardening. But as the mist cleared, Riku had already moved behind him.

"Predictable," Riku said calmly, his voice sharp as a blade.

Before Hiro could react, Riku unleashed Kenjutsu: Water Vortex Slash. His tanto cut through the air with a force that summoned a spiraling vortex of water. The sudden attack forced Hiro to twist and leap backward, narrowly avoiding the slicing torrent.

"I'm not done yet," Hiro said, his breathing heavier but his resolve unbroken.

Gambling on a decisive move, Hiro formed another set of hand signs, pouring chakra into his short swords. The weapons glowed with earth chakra as he activated his signature technique: Earth Release: Twin Earth Spire Strikes.

With each slash, jagged stone pillars erupted from the ground, forcing Riku to dodge not only the swords but also the deadly spires.

"You can't dodge everything!" Hiro shouted, his strikes relentless.

But Riku, ever the veteran, anticipated the attack's rhythm. He used Taijutsu: Flowing Step, gliding effortlessly across the terrain as though carried by a gentle stream. Sliding past the stone pillars, he closed the gap once more, his tanto poised for a counterstrike.

"Impressive," Riku admitted, his voice steady as he shifted his stance. "But I've seen this before."

Activating Earth Release: Stone Shell, Riku enveloped himself in a dense layer of rock armor, fortifying his defense against Hiro's relentless assault. When Hiro's swords clashed against the stone, Riku seized the opportunity. With a swift movement, he grabbed Hiro's arm, using his superior strength and positioning to disarm one of the short swords.

"You've got potential, Hiro," Riku said, his tone firm but not unkind. "But you've underestimated me."

Left with only one weapon, Hiro refused to yield. He summoned his chakra once more, activating Earth Release: Mud Wave. A thick surge of mud erupted toward Riku, aiming to slow him down.

Riku, however, leapt high into the air, evading the wave entirely. As he descended, he propelled himself forward with Water Release: Water Jet, his speed almost too fast to follow. In an instant, he landed behind Hiro, his tanto gleaming in the moonlight.

Hiro attempted one final counter with his remaining sword, but Riku was already two steps ahead. With a precise strike, he disarmed Hiro completely, the short sword clattering to the ground.

"It's over, Hiro," Riku said calmly, his tanto held steady.

Hiro stood still, breathing heavily as sweat dripped down his brow. Though the fight was lost, his spirit remained unbroken. A small smile crept onto his face. "Next time, it'll be different," he said, his voice tinged with determination.

Riku chuckled, sheathing his tanto before extending a hand to Hiro. "Yeah, yeah," he said with a grin. "Just get out of the training ground."

Elsewhere in the compound, a battered Renjiro lay sprawled on the ground, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. His breath came in ragged gasps, each one sounding more strained than the last.

His eyes fluttered half-closed, and his hand slowly rose as if reaching toward Aiko, who stood a few feet away, watching him intently.

Renjiro's fingers shifted subtly, and Aiko blinked in confusion as his hand, which had seemed like a plea for help, suddenly turned into a gesture. His two fingers pointed away, drawing her attention to another spot nearby.

Following his silent directive, Aiko turned—and rolled her eyes.

Sitting not far from where she had first found him, another Renjiro rested casually, legs stretched out and posture relaxed. He looked almost bored, his head tilted slightly as if this entire situation was beneath him. The only notable difference between this Renjiro and the one on the ground was the ominous crimson glow of his Sharingan.

Aiko narrowed her eyes, her lips pressing into a thin line. "Really, Renjiro?" she said, her tone exasperated. "Was all of that theatrics necessary?"

The second Renjiro yawned, the faintest smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Dramatics? Me?" he replied, his voice laced with mock offence.

Rolling her eyes, Aiko crossed her arms over her chest. "You do realize I specialize in Genjutsu, right? You can't honestly think pulling me into one is going to work. Defeating me with it? That's a steep hill even for you."

The sitting Renjiro chuckled softly, his Sharingan glinting as his gaze locked onto hers. "Are you sure," he asked, his voice carrying an edge of playful menace, "you're not already in one?"

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