---Previously---
"Huh?" Kakashi's single brow rose in confusion. "Wait, what are you talking about? You're a civilian, aren't you?"
"...Nope," Alaric shook his head, his smile widening into a full, confident grin.
"Jōnin Alaric Jonathan Kenway, at your service."
"..." "..."
"HUUUHHHH!?"
---Now---
Seeing the Jōnin tense at his sudden appearance and declaration, Alaric let out a short sigh. He shifted his weight, resting a hand on his hip as he looked directly at Hiruzen.
"I lead an unnumbered team composed of a single student with the name Haku Yuki," Alaric stated, his voice calm and carrying easily over the murmurs. "I, Alaric Jonathan Kenway, recommend the said student for the Chunin Selection Exams, alone."
The room erupted in low whispers.
"Haku Yuki?"
"What does he mean by unnumbered?"
"A genin taking a chunin exam alone? That's suicide."
Iruka looked ready to object again, stepping forward, but Hiruzen raised a hand to silence the room. The Hokage studied Alaric for a brief moment, his eyes betraying a hint of resignation mixed with trust.
"Okay," Hiruzen said, dipping his brush into the inkwell. "I trust you know enough about your student's skills to recommend him to the exams."
He wrote quickly on a fresh scroll, stamped it with the Hokage's seal, and held it out.
Alaric stepped forward, taking the scroll. "Thanks, old man."
Without another word, he vanished. There was no smoke, no hand sign, just a blur of motion that left the air displacing in his wake.
"..."
"..."
"..."
The office fell into a heavy silence. The smoke from Hiruzen's pipe drifted lazily toward the ceiling, the only movement in the room.
"H-Hokage-sama," Kurenai finally spoke, her voice laced with confusion. "Who was that?"
"Hokage-sama, may we know who that guy was?" Asuma added, his unlit cigarette forgotten in his hand. "I've never seen a Jōnin like him in the bingo books or the roster."
They all looked to their leader. A Jōnin was a high-ranking military asset; it was impossible for one to exist within the village without the others knowing. Yet, this Alaric had walked in, made demands, and left as if he owned the place.
Hiruzen took a long drag from his pipe, exhaling slowly. "He is... a special case."
Kakashi remained silent in the back, his visible eye fixed on the spot where Alaric had stood. He recalled the mission to Wave, the impossible feats, and the casual power the man displayed.
'Hmm...' Kakashi thought, narrowing his eye. 'Things are about to get interesting.'
---
The following morning, the sun was shining over a random training ground in Konoha. The area was secluded, surrounded by a dense thicket of trees that muffled the sounds of the busy village.
Alaric stood in the center of the clearing, his crimson coat discarded on a nearby stump, leaving him in his white shirt and trousers. Haku stood opposite him, dressed in his combat gear, the new Konoha headband tied securely around his forehead.
"You accepted the exams pretty easily," Alaric noted, rolling his shoulders to loosen them up. "I thought you'd put up more of a fight about being separated from Zabuza."
"Zabuza-sama believes it will be beneficial for me," Haku replied calmly, adjusting his gloves. "And I am curious. I wish to see the strength of the shinobi in this village."
Alaric smirked. "Curiosity is good. But before you face them, you have to get past me."
"I know you're gonna probably stomp most Genins, but…" He gestured to the open space around them. "I want to see where you stand, Haku. No holding back. Use your bloodline, your senbon, everything you have. Treat this like an S-rank threat."
Haku's expression hardened instantly. He knew better than to underestimate Alaric. From what he had seen in Wave and the brief displays of power since, he knew that holding back would only result in a quick defeat.
Without a word, Haku's hand blurred.
Three senbon flew through the air, aiming directly for Alaric's eyes and throat. There was no signal, no shout to start. Just sudden, lethal intent.
Alaric didn't flinch. He tilted his head to the left, then the right, letting the needles sail harmlessly past his ears.
"Good," Alaric said, a genuine smile touching his lips. "That's how a real fight starts."
Haku didn't wait for praise. He performed a one-handed seal, the air temperature plummeting instantly. "Secret Jutsu: A Thousand Flying Water Needles of Death!"
Moisture from the air coalesced into hundreds of sharp icicles, hovering menacingly around him. With a flick of his wrist, Haku sent them raining down on Alaric like a hailstorm.
Alaric moved. He didn't use any flashy jutsu or barriers. He simply weaved through the barrage, his movements minimal and precise. He side-stepped a cluster of needles, ducked under another, and swatted a few away with the back of his hand, his chakra coating his skin just enough to deflect the ice.
Seeing his ranged attack fail, Haku surged forward. He engaged Alaric in taijutsu, his speed impressive for his age. He aimed kicks at Alaric's joints and thrust senbon toward vital points, moving like water.
Alaric remained silent, his face a mask of concentration. He blocked Haku's kick with his shin, parried a thrust with his forearm, and weaved his upper body away from a high slash. He didn't counter-attack, only dodged and deflected, forcing Haku to press harder.
Frustrated, Haku leaped back, his hands forming a familiar seal. Mirrors of ice erupted from the ground, surrounding Alaric in a dome of crystal.
"Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals."
Haku merged into the mirrors. Instantly, he was everywhere, his reflection darting between the surfaces at blinding speeds. Needles flew from every angle, a 360-degree assault designed to overwhelm any defense.
Alaric stood in the center, closing his eyes for a fraction of a second. When he opened them, he moved.
He spun, twisting his body in a tight corkscrew to avoid a volley from behind. He ducked low, letting a needle graze his hair. He tracked Haku's movements not with his eyes, but with pure instinct and reflex.
The fight dragged on. Haku pushed his chakra to the limit, moving faster and faster between the mirrors, trying to find a single opening. Alaric matched him step for step, his movements efficient, wasting no energy. He was a ghost, untouchable within the storm of ice.
Minutes turned into an hour. Haku's breathing grew ragged. His movements slowed, the transitions between mirrors losing their snap. Finally, exhausted and low on chakra, Haku lunged out of a mirror for a final, desperate strike.
Alaric caught Haku's wrist mid-air.
"That's enough," Alaric said quietly.
He let go, and Haku dropped to the ground, panting heavily, sweat dripping from his chin. The ice mirrors shattered into snow around them, fading away as Haku's control slipped.
Alaric stood over him, barely winded. He offered a hand, pulling Haku up to his feet.
"You have the skill," Alaric began, his tone analytical. "Your taijutsu is fluid, your ninjutsu is potent, and your speed is well beyond a standard Chunin. In terms of raw ability, you are exceptional."
Haku wiped his brow, managing a tired nod. "Thank you, Sensei."
"But," Alaric continued, his voice dropping an octave, "you're lacking."
Haku blinked, looking up. "Lacking?"
"You hesitated," Alaric stated flatly. "Three times during that fight, you had a clear shot at a lethal point. Once at my jugular, twice at my kidneys. You pulled your punches. You aimed for non-vital areas instead."
Haku looked away, his gaze falling to the grass. "I... I did not wish to harm you seriously. It was a spar."
"I told you to treat it like an S-rank threat," Alaric countered, his eyes narrowing. "If I were an enemy, I would have killed you the moment you flinched. You have the tools of a killer, Haku, but you don't have the intent."
"It is not in my nature," Haku whispered. "I fight for Zabuza-sama. I disable my enemies so they cannot pursue us. Killing... unless necessary, I do not desire it."
Alaric sighed, running a hand through his hair. He stepped closer, forcing Haku to meet his gaze.
"And what happens when you meet someone you can't disable?" Alaric asked softly. "What happens when you meet someone who doesn't care about your mercy? It's either you or your opponent who lives to see the next day."
Haku remained silent, his jaw tightening.
"Think about Zabuza," Alaric pressed. "How would Zabuza feel if the only thing he receives is news that you're six feet in the ground because you hesitated to kill a man who wanted you dead?"
Haku's eyes widened. The image struck him viscerally… Zabuza, standing alone, receiving word of his death because he was too soft. The thought was a cold knife in his gut.
"You have the speed, the chakra, and the technique," Alaric said, his voice firm but not unkind. "But without the intent to kill, you are weak. And that weakness will get you, and eventually Zabuza, killed."
Haku clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms. He looked at Alaric, the uncertainty in his eyes replaced by a steel resolve.
"One more," Haku said, raising his fists. "Please. Spar with me one more time."
.
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