The morning air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of pine as Haruka jogged toward the Academy. His body still hummed from last night with Sora—the bath, the raw intensity, the way they'd claimed each other in defiance of the world. He shook his head, silver hair catching the sunlight. No time to get lost in that. Today was about sharpening his edge, and the Quincy System was itching to show him more.
The Academy grounds were already alive with students warming up for taijutsu drills. Haruka spotted Minato near the training dummies, his blonde hair a beacon as he tossed a kunai with casual precision. But someone else caught his eye—a lanky kid with a sharp jaw and blonde hair tied back in a loose ponytail, fiddling with a scroll. Inoichi Yamanaka, one of Minato's crew. Haruka hadn't talked to him much, but the guy had a rep for being nosy and whip-smart.
"Yo, Haruka!" Minato waved him over, grinning like he'd just pulled off a prank. "You're late. Sleeping in again?"
"Had to handle some stuff," Haruka said, flashing a smirk as he joined them. "What's the deal today? More kunai contests?"
Inoichi snorted, not looking up from his scroll. "Only if you're ready to lose. Minato's been practicing trick shots all week."
Haruka raised an eyebrow, sizing Inoichi up. The guy had a chill vibe, but there was a glint in his eyes—like he was always analyzing, picking things apart. "You throwing, too, or just here to critique?"
Inoichi grinned, finally meeting his gaze. "I'll stick to watching. Gotta figure out how you and Minato keep making the rest of us look bad."
"Natural talent," Haruka said, shrugging. He liked Inoichi's vibe—sharp but not pushy. No questions about his glowing clones or weird speed, just easy banter. Exactly how he wanted it.
Before they could keep going, a sharp *ding* echoed in Haruka's head. The Quincy System's screen flickered into view, glowing faintly:
**Quest Available: Master the Basics**
**Objective: Complete today's taijutsu drills with 90% efficiency using Hirenkyaku and Blut. Bonus: Integrate one wind jutsu.**
**Reward: Unlock System Menu - Advanced Options (Skill Tree Access)**
**Note: Experiment with chakra allocation for optimal performance.**
Haruka's lips twitched. A skill tree? Now that sounded juicy. He'd been itching to dig deeper into the system, see what else it could do. The quests were new, too—popping up more often since he'd started pushing his power. He focused, pulling up the system's main interface with a thought. The screen expanded, showing a sleek menu:
- **Core Abilities**: Hirenkyaku (87% mastery), Blut (62% mastery), Chakra Bow (75% mastery)
- **Synergies**: Tempest Bolt (Wind Jutsu + Bow), Enhanced Mobility (Wind Jutsu + Hirenkyaku)
- **Quests**: Master the Basics (Active), Graduate the Academy (Ongoing)
- **System Options**: [Locked - Requires Advanced Options Unlock]
He dismissed the screen as the teacher called for drills. Time to get to work.
The taijutsu session was paired sparring, and Haruka got matched with Minato. No surprise there—the teachers loved pitting them against each other. Inoichi lounged on the sidelines, scribbling in his scroll but clearly watching.
Minato cracked his knuckles, grinning. "No holding back, pretty boy."
"Wouldn't dream of it," Haruka shot back, dropping into a stance. He let his power flow, chakra sharp and focused like a Quincy's Reishi. Hirenkyaku kicked in, his movements a blur as he dodged Minato's first strike. The blonde was fast—stupid fast—but Haruka's speed was otherworldly, letting him weave through punches like he was dancing. He activated Blut, feeling his skin harden just as Minato landed a glancing kick. The impact barely registered, and Haruka countered with a palm strike, lacing it with a subtle burst of wind chakra to give it extra snap.
Minato stumbled, eyes wide but laughing. "Okay, that was new! Where do you get this stuff?"
"Trade secret," Haruka said, winking. He fired a quick chakra bolt from his invisible bow, low-powered, just to keep Minato on his toes. It grazed the ground, kicking up dust, and Minato flipped backward, already planning his next move.
Inoichi called from the sidelines, "You two are ridiculous. Save some glory for the rest of us!"
The spar ended in a draw, both of them panting and grinning. The teacher gave them top marks, and the system pinged: **Quest Progress: 92% efficiency. Wind jutsu integrated. Complete the drill to claim reward.** Haruka smirked. Almost there.
After class, Inoichi caught up with him as they headed to the lunch area. "You're something else, man," he said, tossing his ponytail over his shoulder. "That speed, that weird wind trick—makes me glad I'm not your sparring partner."
Haruka chuckled, keeping it light. "Just trying to keep up with Minato. Guy's a monster."
"Tell me about it," Inoichi said, rolling his eyes. "He's already got half the girls in class swooning. You're not far behind, though. You two are bad for my ego."
"Get used to it," Haruka teased, clapping him on the shoulder. Inoichi laughed, and Haruka felt a spark of camaraderie. This generation—Minato, Inoichi, and whoever else he'd meet—was starting to feel like a crew he could roll with.
Back home, the sun was setting, and Sora was waiting in the living room, her sketchbook open to a half-finished drawing of him sparring. Her silver hair glowed in the fading light, and her smile hit him like a kunai to the heart.
"Good day?" she asked, setting the sketchbook aside.
"Kicked Minato's ass, made Inoichi jealous," Haruka said, flopping onto the couch next to her. "You know, the usual."
She laughed, scooting closer until her shoulder brushed his. "My hero." Her voice was teasing, but her eyes were soft, and the air between them crackled with that familiar heat.
Haruka's system pinged one last time: **Quest Complete: Master the Basics. Reward Unlocked - Advanced Options (Skill Tree Access).** He ignored it for now, his focus entirely on Sora. The skill tree could wait. This—her, them, the forbidden love they'd carved out—was what mattered.
He pulled her into his lap, her legs straddling his, and kissed her, slow and deep. She melted against him, her hands sliding into his hair, tugging just enough to make him groan. The kiss turned hungry, a tangle of lips and whispered promises, and when they finally broke apart, her cheeks were flushed, her eyes blazing.
"Bed?" she whispered, her voice a dare.
Haruka grinned, lifting her as he stood, her legs wrapping around his waist. "Thought you'd never ask."
They barely made it to the bedroom, their kisses a wildfire that burned away the world.