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	His fist bashed into Mentor's arms with a thud but as usual the man simply slid it aside and counterattacked. Their exchange was quick and fluid, a practiced motion of combat that took them sliding across the small ring etched in the dirt. The Sharingans in their eyes flickered in their sockets, taking in the minscule muscle movement in each others bodies. 

	Daiki jumped back as Mentor through a kick at him, barely dodging the blow. His hands formed signs as he took in a deep breath. [color=red]"Fire Style,"[/color] he uttered, his voice a gentle echo.[color=red]"Great Fireball Jutsu."[/color] 

	The van-size ball of fire sped towards Mentor, tearing up the earth and turning the soil black. Daiki landed on bent legs, his arms out by his side as he waited. The fire lit the area up with a sunset hue before smoldering and fading back to normal. Mentor was gone, nowhere to be seen and it sent Daiki's senses on alert. Unfortunately it was too late, by the time he got a read, Mentor had shot up from the earth with a kunai in hand, holding it to his throat. 

	[b]"See clearer, Dai. You're not using your Sharingan to it fullest. If I was your enemy, your head would be flying."[/b] 

	[i][color=red]Again...[/color][/i]

	He had said the same line again. After every conflict, Mentor always repeats those words. And as usaul, the two sat down and talked about where he went wrong and how he could do better. When Daiki asked to cut the review short for the graduation party, Mentor simply smiled and hurried him into the house so that he could get ready. 

	A warm shower later and Daiki was throwing on his clothes. He slid a black v-neck over his head, pulled on a pair of denim jeans, and stepped into his black boots. Before leaving his room he grabbed his pink-stoned necklace from his dresser. Heading out of the Naito compound had been troublesome. All the members wanted to congradulate him and some even wanted pictures. It was a hassle but once he was out, he quickly made his way to Yamato estate. 

	He paused in front of the small path that led to the man's house and subsequently to the party. Harsh and raw emotions squinted his eyes as he looked beyond it, he could see his classmates. Most of them ignored him, treated him like he was invisble. A ghost. But a few of them, Aoi in particuliar, actually spoke to him once or twice. 

	[color=red][i]If only to say hi,[/i][/color] he reminded himself before strolling onward. 

	He paused once inside the circle of commotion, unsure of where to sit or what to do. As usual "the prodigies" seemed to occupy a space outside of the present. Only coming out when bothered by the regulars. Sometimes he felt like he did too, only his space was widely left alone. He walked onward to the edge of the lake and gazed out at its expanse. 

	[color=red]"What am I doing here?"[/color] he thought aloud and stoic. [color=red]"I should have stayed home."[/color] Some of the lesser students were enjoying the lake, playing on its surface. Others were running atop and kicking the water at one another. Daiki settled onto the edge, arms laid across his knee caps, and legs bent. He guess he could stay just long enough to be counted.