Months had passed, and Enso had already developed deep muscle memory for the Origin Blade Style. Through tireless repetition and sharp mental focus, he had not only grasped the principles behind each technique but also perfected their execution. Every movement was deliberate, refined through countless hours of solo training. His blade flowed with precision and intent, shaped entirely by instinct and honed by experience. The foundations of his swordsmanship weren't just learned—they were etched into his muscles, embedded in his bones, and carved into the rhythm of his breath.
His progress wasn't limited to the physical. Enso's shadow clone, stationed in class daily, had consistently scored the highest marks across every academic subject. His performance had earned him quiet nods of respect and open praise from instructors. Matching his academic performance was Itachi Uchiha—another prodigy who stood at the pinnacle of the class.
Living up to their nickname, "The Black and White Duo," Enso and Itachi proved time and again that their contrasting qualities—Enso's raw talent and Itachi's steady focus—complemented one another in ways that left everyone else in awe.
The two often trained together, twice a week. Enso, always seeking to make even simple routines more difficult, added the Leaf Concentration Technique to his daily rock climbing exercises. Maintaining chakra control while scaling sheer walls forced both body and mind into complete alignment. Itachi followed suit, and while neither admitted it aloud, each boy found motivation in the other's presence—a silent rivalry that pushed them beyond limits.
Though Itachi had once extended an open invitation to visit the Uchiha compound after seeking his father's permission, Enso had yet to take him up on it. Immersed in sword drills, sealing practice, and body conditioning, the invitation remained unfulfilled.
That morning, the class was buzzing with energy. The teacher had made an announcement that sent a ripple of excitement through every student present.
"Today, you'll be sparring against a very special guest," he said, smiling as whispers broke out in the room. "The Third Hokage himself will be joining us for Taijutsu Seminar."
As if that weren't enough, a second, brighter flash of excitement followed shortly after when the Yellow Flash, Minato Namikaze, appeared beside the ageing legend. Two Hokage standing shoulder to shoulder—one from the past, one from the present. The aura they carried made even the most unruly students straighten up. Being near them felt like standing in the presence of sheer respect and awe. Most Konoha Shinobi view the Hokage as the pinnacle of their shinobi careers, a position so revered that it becomes the ultimate dream for many to attain.
"I may be older than most of your grandfathers," he said with a chuckle, "but I'm still capable of testing the new generation of Konoha Shinobi."
Cheers and applause erupted among the students.
What followed was an orderly sparring session, one student after another stepping forward to test their mettle. Hiruzen, even in his advanced age, moved like water, effortlessly flowing between defensive stances and light counters. His years of experience showed in every feint and every calculated step. He never overpowered the students; instead, he guided them, using each exchange as a teaching moment.
Then came Itachi's turn. Silence fell across the field.
He bowed respectfully and took his stance. The sparring session was different from before—faster, sharper, more calculated. Itachi's footwork was pristine, and his strikes held a precision that impressed even Hiruzen. But Taijutsu was still not his strongest domain, and he had yet to awaken the Sharingan. Eventually, Hiruzen used a subtle feint to break Itachi's rhythm and lightly tapped his shoulder, signalling the end of the match.
"You're years ahead of your peers and your foundation is pretty solid," Hiruzen said with a smile and a nod of approval.
Minato, watching from the sidelines, nodded in agreement. "That was excellent work, Itachi."
Only one student remained.
The air shifted slightly as all eyes turned toward Enso, who had yet to step forward.
They had saved him for last, and it wasn't without reason. Hiruzen knew the boy had trained under the guidance of both Kushina and Minato, two of the most skilled and powerful individuals in Konoha. What's more, he could tell that Enso had already surpassed the capabilities of a typical academy student just from his demeanour and sculpture-like physique.
Enso exhaled softly and began unzipping his dark jacket, the motion slow and deliberate. He folded it once and handed it to Itachi, who kept it with a silent nod.
He stepped into the sparring area and rotated his shoulders, loosening the joints with the ease of someone who had done this routine a thousand times before. Then, with a wide grin that surprised many of the students, he began to lightly stretch his muscles and join in similarly to the infamous Goku warm-up when fighting Broly.
Enso finished with a bounce on his heels, then raised his right hand, extending two fingers in the traditional Seal of Confrontation.
The Old Man chuckled. "You've got some style, don't you?"
Enso didn't respond, his focus was unwavering. His eyes were locked on Hiruzen—not with hostility, but with razor-sharp focus, as if he were calculating every move before it even happened. He bowed once, a gesture of respect, and Hiruzen returned it with a nod.
The match began.
Every movement was deliberate, designed to test, measure, and assess. Enso's stance shifted fluidly with each of Hiruzen's strikes, adapting to the old man's rhythm and timing. He adjusted his guard just below his chin, arms angled to cover both sides of his body while still leaving enough space to react swiftly and parry Hiruzen's incoming attacks. Every motion had a purpose.
He wasn't rushing in, nor was he seeking to overpower the older Hokage with sheer force. Instead, he was probing, testing the waters, seeking any hint of vulnerability. With careful, controlled strikes—jab, cross, and a roundhouse kick—Hiruzen countered with his signature fluidity, his defence as unyielding as iron. But Enso wasn't discouraged. He was smart, looking for any opening, especially around Hiruzen's midsection, where even the most experienced Shinobi could be caught off guard.
His body stayed just out of Hiruzen's reach, always calculating the exact moment to increase his range. Enso knew well that Hiruzen's experience was far beyond his own, but he also knew that age could be a disadvantage if one's opponent could adapt quickly enough. Though the old Hokage was still a head taller and had an advantage in reach, Enso's speed and agility were more than enough to exchange blows with the Old Legend.
As the two exchanged blows, the students could barely keep up with the pace. The air was thick with tension as the match unfolded before them. Their movement was not particularly fast, but their pace left everyone on the edge.
Enso's body moved with the fluidity of water, every strike an extension of his focused intent. Even Minato, usually the embodiment of calm, leaned forward slightly, his arms crossed in front of him. His eyes were narrowed, carefully studying every movement, every counter, every strategy unfolding between the two.
Hiruzen stood with a subtle yet commanding gesture, beckoning Enso to come forward. Without hesitation, Enso kept his guard up, his focus unwavering as he prepared to engage. The air felt tense, charged with the anticipation of the battle ahead.
Enso didn't waste time; as threw two rapid jabs, one after the other, towards the Third Hokage. Their short clash has given enough information to judge Hiruzen's capabilities and reaction speed, and now it's time to turn up the heat.
The crowd gasped. The normally impenetrable Hiruzen, known for his outstanding Taijutsu, was caught off guard. Both jabs landed squarely on his face, sending ripples of surprise through the gathered spectators. The quickness of the blow was something they hadn't expected—most of them had been struggling just to make contact with the Hokage, and yet here was Enso, landing two strikes in a split moment. The unexpected success stunned everyone into silence.
Enso's success was not merely a fluke. It was the result of his extensive understanding of modern combat. While the world of Naruto still adhered to traditional fighting styles and habits, one thing stood out—many opponents tended to leave their guard lower so it wouldn't hinder their movements for kicks. Straightforward attacks like a jab are extremely effective against those kinds of people as it speed would leave them unable to react instantly.
As the crowd stood frozen, Minato observed with a subtle nod of approval. This wasn't his first time witnessing Enso's skill. He'd already fought Enso during their sparring sessions, and when the boy had first demonstrated his modern techniques, Minato had been forced to use his signature 'Body Flicker' to keep up, dodging strikes that seemed to appear out of nowhere. During those training bouts, Minato hadn't taught Enso any form of Taijutsu; instead, he had let Enso gain practicality in combat. He knew that Enso's instincts were already well beyond those of a typical academy student. But still, to see Hiruzen, the God of Shinobi, struggle in this manner made Minato twitch his lips in amusement before quickly regaining his composed demeanour.
Enso, for his part, was calm. His movements were calculated, but each strike and defence was executed with precision and control, which suggested he had spent more than just a few hours practising. He understood the human body—its weaknesses, its fluidity—and how to exploit even the smallest opening in a fight. His style was efficient, almost clinical, and it had further proven once he landed on Hiruzen.
As the blows landed, Hiruzen was shocked by their force. He had expected Enso's attacks to be strong—but the control Enso demonstrated caught him off guard. When the jabs connected, Hiruzen thought, for a moment, that they might draw blood. Yet Enso showed remarkable restraint, pulling back just enough to barely grace his wrinkled face with a light tap. It was a subtle detail, but one that revealed Enso is adept at sparring.
The Third Hokage's mind quickly shifted gears. He wasn't about to let this sparring session be a one-sided affair. With a flicker of intent, he decided to take the offensive, stepping forward with a barrage of strikes, testing Enso's reflexes and adaptability.
But Enso wasn't fazed. He parried Hiruzen's blows effortlessly, his movements smooth and fluid. Every time Hiruzen advanced, Enso's footwork shifted to maintain balance, and his defensive posture adapted on the fly. Enso's guard remains tight as he responds and parries any incoming attacks. His body adjusted to each of Hiruzen's moves as if it were second nature, and he skillfully delivered quick counterattacks, each strike forcing Hiruzen to be in a defensive position.
The crowd looked on in disbelief. Here they were, watching the legendary Hokage, who had faced countless adversaries in his long career, struggle to land even a single clean blow on this young boy.
Minato couldn't help but be impressed with Enso's performance. He had always believed in Enso's potential, but seeing it unfold in real-time was something else entirely. People tend to adapt to their sparring partner, and he wouldn't be surprised that Enso had gotten used to his fighting habit. But against Hiruzen, Enso remain calm and responds perfectly without any hesitation.
His speculation wasn't entirely off—Enso had indeed adapted to his rhythm after countless sparring sessions with his mentor. Familiarity had bred instinct. However, facing a new opponent introduced an entirely different challenge. The familiarity that once gave him an edge was now absent, and the lack of intel worked both ways.
Enso, unfamiliar with Hiruzen's fighting habits, lacked the insights he usually relied on. However, the playing field remained balanced. Both fighters were exceptional in their own right. While Enso had no prior experience with Hiruzen's techniques, the former Hokage also found himself up against the unpredictable nature of Enso's modern combat style—a style rooted in fluid adaptation and unconventional tactics.
Hiruzen was having trouble keeping up. With each step he took, Enso closed the distance between them. And then, with the precision of a well-timed predator, Enso launched his counterattack. He feinted, baiting Hiruzen into closing the distance just slightly, before unleashing an overhand right—a devastating blow that, had it connected, would've surely knocked the old man down.
But Hiruzen reacted just in time, stepping back with a swift retreat, narrowly avoiding the fatal blow. Enso smiled faintly, sensing the new opening. He closed the distance, stepping right into the Hokage's striking range, forcing him to maintain constant pressure.
The battle continued in this way—fast, precise, and deadly. Hiruzen, despite being forced into a more defensive stance, tried his best to land a decisive blow. He attempted a spinning back kick, a signature move that could easily catch an opponent off guard, but Enso anticipated the attack. He countered with a sharp front Teep, pushing the Hokage back several feet.
Not giving the old man any room to recover, Enso pressed on, stepping into range and unleashing a vicious combination of jabs and low kicks. Each strike landed with precision, and the Hokage was forced to retreat again, his feet shifting rapidly to avoid being knocked off balance.
But then, Enso threw a question-mark kick—a deceptive strike that arced over Hiruzen's defences and landed cleanly, knocking the old man to the ground.
For a moment, the crowd stood frozen, unsure of what had just happened. Enso's kick had landed perfectly, knocking the Hokage to the ground, yet something didn't sit right. Then, in a puff of smoke, Hiruzen's form vanished. A collective gasp echoed through the spectators as they realised the truth. It had been a shadow clone all along.
The murmurs of disbelief rippled through the audience. The real Hiruzen had been among them the whole time, blending seamlessly into the crowd. It was only now that the fog lifted, revealing how deftly the Hokage had used his 'Transparent Escape Technique' to hide his presence. The technique allowed him to blend with his surroundings, making it nearly impossible for anyone to spot him.
A low chuckle escaped Hiruzen's lips as he emerged from the crowd. His face was twisted into a grin, his eyes shining with respect and approval for the young fighter. "Well done, Enso," Hiruzen said, his voice warm with admiration. "You've shown more than enough today."
The crowd watched in awe, some still recovering from the revelation that they had all been fooled so effortlessly. Enso, despite his usual calm demeanour, allowed a small smile to creep onto his face.
He paused, his eyes scanning the group of students, before nodding toward Enso and Itachi. "You two have set a new standard for all of us. Keep training, keep pushing your limits."
The Third Hokage's gaze softened as he turned toward the gathered students. "Remember, Taijutsu is not just about brute strength; it's about fluidity, adaptability, and knowing when to strike. Enso's style today was a perfect example of that—control, precision, and timing. Itachi, your ability to read the flow of the fight and counter with minimal effort is something all of you should strive to learn."
With that, he gave a final nod of approval. "Now, I think that concludes today's lesson. Well done, everyone. Take pride in your growth, and don't forget that every battle is a chance to learn something new."