Naruto: The Beast Within

The final day of their punishment.

After three long days of punishment, exhaustion, and humiliation, this was their last challenge.

The sun is low; after school, Raimu and Takuma are out behind the Academy at the training arena.

Iruka-sensei stands across from them, arms crossed, his expression unreadable.

The silence lingers.

Then, he finally speaks.

"Do you two understand why you're here?"

Takuma stiffens. He already knows the answer, but hearing it out loud—

"You two are reckless," Iruka continues, his voice calm but firm. "You act without thinking. You believe that just because you're talented—just because you're strong for your age—you don't have to listen."

Takuma grits his teeth. Raimu's golden eyes remain half-lidded, his usual sleepy expression in place, but his posture is… different. Like he's actually paying attention.

Iruka's gaze sharpens.

"If you were real ninja, you'd be dead already."

Neither of them speak.

"You think just having power is enough?" Iruka shakes his head. "Takuma, you're strong. You have raw talent, you fight with passion. But you let your emotions control you. You rush in without a plan, without strategy, without thinking about what comes next. You're predictable. That's why you keep losing. That's why you'll always lose—until you learn to think."

Takuma's nails dig into his palms, his heart pounding. He wants to say something—anything—but he can't. Because Iruka's right.

Then, Iruka turns his focus to Raimu.

"And you."

Raimu tilts his head slightly, blinking slow. "Mmm?"

Iruka's expression hardens. "You pretend not to care. You hide behind laziness, behind jokes, behind that constant sleepy attitude—but you do care, don't you?"

Raimu stares.

Takuma actually glances at him, surprised.

Iruka continues, unwavering. "You hold back. You don't push yourself. Because deep down, you're afraid. Afraid that if you actually try, you'll still fail. That if you give it your all, it won't be enough. So instead, you act like nothing matters."

A heavy silence follows.

Raimu's golden eyes flicker. His fingers twitch slightly at his side.

But he doesn't say a word.

Iruka exhales. "If either of you acted like how you did on a real mission, you'd never make it back."

The weight of those words sinks in.

Takuma stares at the ground, his jaw clenched. He knows it's true.

Raimu, for once, doesn't have a teasing remark. He looks away, hands stuffed in his pockets, silent.

Iruka watches them for a moment longer. Then—

"That's why," he says, stepping back, "you're going to fight me."

Takuma tenses, fire burning in his eyes. Finally, a chance to prove himself. This wasn't like fighting Raimu—this was Iruka-sensei, a real ninja. If he could land even one hit, he'd show everyone he wasn't just some loudmouth who kept losing.

Raimu, on the other hand, lets out a long sigh, rubbing the back of his head. His golden eyes remain half-lidded, his entire presence as lazy as ever. But a flicker of something serious beneath the surface.

The moment Iruka gives the signal, Takuma attacks.

He bursts forward, moving as fast as his tired body allows. His frustration fuels him—he won't let himself lose this easily.

His fist swings toward Iruka's gut.

But—

Iruka sidesteps effortlessly.

Takuma stumbles, but recovers fast. He throws another punch—Iruka blocks. A kick—Iruka dodges.

"Your strength is good," Iruka comments mid-dodge. "Your speed is improving."

Takuma grins—for a second.

Then—

THUD.

A sharp pain shoots through his gut—Iruka counters in an instant, grabbing Takuma's wrist and twisting him off balance.

Before Takuma even realizes what's happening—

His back slams into the ground.

The sky spins above him.

Iruka steps back, unfazed. "But you're still too direct."

Takuma coughs, wheezing. His body screams at him to get up, but his pride hurts worse. He barely lasted seconds.

"Too predictable," Iruka says, watching as Takuma struggles to his feet. "You telegraph your attacks. You don't think ahead. Like I said, If this was a real battle, I'd have already finished you."

Takuma growls, his fists shaking—but he doesn't argue.

Because again, for the second time—Iruka is right.

Iruka turns to Raimu.

"Your turn."

Raimu yawns.

Takuma almost screams. "You're yawning right now?!"

Raimu rubs his eye, stretching lazily. "Mmm… I mean, yeah? Fighting first thing in the morning's kinda rough, y'know?"

Iruka raises an eyebrow. "You're not taking this seriously?"

Raimu tilts his head. "Didn't say that."

Then, he moves.

It's fast—way faster than Takuma expected.

Iruka dodges, but his expression shifts slightly—like he didn't expect that level of speed.

"Oh?" Iruka muses. 

Raimu exhales, shaking out his wrist. "Didn't feel like getting tossed like Takuma."

Takuma, still on the ground, glares. "Screw you!!."

Iruka wastes no time. He counters instantly.

Raimu dodges the first hit. Then the second. He moves fluidly, like he's gliding, but—

Iruka adjusts.

BAM.

Raimu is sent flying backward.

He crashes onto the ground, rolling several feet before stopping.

A heavy silence hangs over the field.

Iruka doesn't let up.

"Your instincts are sharp," he says as Raimu pushes himself up, dazed. "Your reaction time is excellent. But you don't commit."

Raimu groans. "Mmm… you hit harder than you look, sensei…"

"You hesitate," Iruka continues. "You dodge, but you don't counter. You move, but you don't act."

Raimu sighs, wiping dust off his sleeve. "I mean… fighting's kinda exhausting."

Iruka's eyes narrow.

"Or maybe," he says, "you're afraid of what happens if you stop holding back."

Raimu pauses.

Takuma watches, stunned.

For the first time, Raimu doesn't have a comeback.

Takuma glances at him, heart pounding. Did Iruka actually shut him up?

The silence drags.

Then, Raimu exhales through his nose. 

Slow. Deep.

And then—he moves.

It happens so fast that Takuma almost doesn't register it.

One moment, Raimu is standing still. The next—he vanishes.

Iruka's eyes flicker sharply to the side.

Raimu reappears in his blind spot.

His foot slams toward Iruka's head.

Iruka ducks.

The force of the kick whips the air, sending dust flying. Takuma blinks, completely caught off guard—that was way faster than before.

Iruka notices.

"So now you take this seriously?" he muses, dodging as Raimu's hand slices toward his ribs.

Raimu's golden eyes are sharp now. Awake.

"You wanted me to," he mutters.

Iruka barely tilts his head to avoid a sharp elbow strike. "No."

Raimu's eyes flicker.

And then—Iruka grabs his wrist.

SLAM.

Raimu hits the ground.

Pinned.

Takuma winces.

Iruka crouches down, holding him there. "I wanted you to wake up."

Then—softly now—he speaks.

"Power isn't dangerous," Iruka says. "A ninja who doesn't put his all into things is."

Takuma watches, stunned.

Silence.

Raimu breathes heavily.

Then, low and quiet—

"…Come out."

Iruka's eyes widen.

The ground beneath them flares with heat.

Then—

ROAR.

 A massive fire being erupts from the ground, glames twisting into a roaring beast. It's golden eyes glowing with molten metal, fangs dripping embers.

A Fire Lion.

Takuma stumbles back.

Raimu's breathing is heavy, his golden eyes sharp. "Your move."

Iruka simply sighs.

Then, he moves.

The fire lion lunges.

Raimu follows—fast, precise, deadly.

But Iruka is faster.

He sidesteps the lion's claws, twisting mid-air—

Then—SLAM.

His foot crashes into the fire lion's skull—extinguishing it instantly.

Raimu's eyes widen.

Iruka doesn't stop.

In the same breath—he grabs Raimu by the collar.

Then—he slams him back to the ground.

Pinned. Again.

Iruka exhales.

 "This isn't gonna cut it!!" he says simply.

Raimu grits his teeth.

And for the first time—

He understands.

Raimu's chest rises and falls, his breath heavy, golden eyes staring up at Iruka. The lingering heat of his now-destroyed fire lion crackles faintly in the air before fading into nothing.

Iruka doesn't move, his grip firm but not cruel. He's watching Raimu.

Waiting.

Takuma stands off to the side, silent.

Something about this moment feels different.

Raimu has fought before. He's played around, dodged, teased, and made everyone underestimate him. But now?

Now, he knows.

Iruka was right.

It wasn't about being strong. It wasn't about having the coolest jutsu or looking impressive in a fight.

It was about discipline.

It was about knowing when to fight, how to fight, and most importantly—why.

Raimu exhales, slowly. His muscles relax beneath Iruka's grip, his golden eyes half-lidded again.

"…Okay," he mutters, voice quieter than usual. "I get it."

Iruka watches him for a second longer. Then—he lets go.

Raimu doesn't move right away. He just lies there, staring at the sky.

Takuma, who has been quietly fuming since he lost, finally speaks up. "…That's it?"

Raimu tilts his head, blinking at him. "Huh?"

"You're just giving up?" Takuma asks, eyes burning with frustration. "Just like that?"

Raimu stares at him for a long moment. Then, slowly—a small smirk tugs at his lips.

"I don't know, Takuma…" he murmurs, stretching his arms behind his head. "Feels like we both already lost."

Takuma flinches.

Iruka nods, standing up. "You finally understand."

Takuma grits his teeth. He wants to argue, to fight back, to prove that he isn't weak.

But he can't.

Because he knows.

Iruka had crushed them.

Not just in skill, but in understanding.

Iruka stands before them, arms crossed, his usual stern expression returning. "I want both of you to think about what happened today."

Takuma and Raimu both stay silent.

"Next week is your guy's graduation exam. You two have to be ready."

Takuma's fists clench.

Raimu just yawns.

Iruka sighs. "And finally, you're both writing apology letters to the teachers."

Takuma groans. "Seriously?"

Raimu blinks, tilting his head. "Can I just—not?"

Iruka glares.

Raimu smiles sleepily. "Didn't think so."

Iruka rubs his temples, exhausted. "Just—get it done. And next time? Think before you act."

Takuma exhales, calmer now.

Raimu stretches, his golden eyes soft, but thoughtful.

"...Yeah," he murmurs. "I think we will."

For once, he actually means it.