[Hyūga Honnō]

Ataru had gotten faster already. Look at that, immediate results… Hon slowly realized his skill as a teacher during these kinds of lessons, too. His old sensei had hit the bullseye, introducing him to his Genin Team and to this career – he was grateful to be of use for the next generation of shinobi, aiding them in honing their crafts.

His evaluation of Ataru grew as well – the boy was a quick learner. And a ferocious fighter, too – he didn’t seem to be the type to pull any of his punches, but having learned the extra space he could gain from feint attacks and the like, he was now a force to be reckoned with in close combat. Obviously, he wasn’t nearly as fast as a Jōnin like Hon-sensei, but at this rate, he’d reach his speed soon enough. Maybe after the upcoming Chūnin Exams, he’d already be able to keep up with an all-out Ghost of the Leaf. It was a reassuring imagination – that the growing kids of today would become great shinobi that would surpass his generation, even if Hon wasn’t that much older than the rest.

That… pleasant feeling didn’t distract Hon from Ataru’s first counter-attack from dodging his arcing kick, but upon watching that it was another feint attack, the next attack wasn’t dodged… the sensei had wrapped his hand and wrist around Ataru’s knuckle, turning his arm into a spring that absorbed the blow. "Keep going faster, Ataru. Never slow down,” Hon-sensei parted these words of wisdom, not letting go of the boy’s fist until he calmed down and caught the cue that Hon requested a break, "You will certainly surpass me, one day. I know that, because you don’t hesitate – and you never should. Put your mind to something and see it through – that’s how you bring out the best in you.”

[Uzumaki Ataru]

Despite his listless nature and seeming apathy, Ataru could see that the man truly cared and it had done wonders on not only his confidence but helping the timing and tempo of his strikes. Giving valuable insight and advice from both words and simply giving him the opportunity to fight a superior opponent helped him to experience the sheer difference in level and acknowledge the disparity. But it also served to spur him on in wanting to reach out towards greater heights, amber eyes staring into ashen white whilst trying to read his movements desperately and anticipate accordingly while also throwing out a suitable offense.

His star laced eyes darting back and forth as they became embroiled in a heated exchanged at least on his end, pushing themselves to the absolute limit of their abilities exponentially picking up in frequency and force. Pacing his strikes to impart a full blow before coming easily retracted in order to either launch into another or mount a suitable defense. Entering into an altered zone of absolute focus, completely immersed in their fight as if it was a dance - feeling as this altered zone freely flowed picking it up with the same ease as breathing.

Snapped out from his stupor of intense fixation at the same moment that his fix is caught and held in place, initially trying to snap or pull it back before Hon Sensei began to talk. Stopping as he told them to keep this up and never falter with it one day he would surpass even him, such a sentiment brought a wide beaming smile to they young boy's face and helped to uplift him to near sky high levels. A pang of gratefulness coursed through him as things seemed to reach a natural end between them, signaling an end to the sparring session. "Hai, Sensei. Arigato..." He takes on a more normal stance and reciprocates the symbol of challenge, formally ending their little pitted duel but not before covering his fist with their other hand and bowing to the man in a show of respect and gratitude. Afterwards the boy departs, saying goodbye and coming away better from the whole experience having found a kindred teacher and fond memory to look back upon.