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[NTU] [ARC-03-GENIN] Chapter : 43
🕑 Added 2024-05-26 15:44:32 +0000 UTCEarly the next morning, on the Uchiha clan training ground, a refreshing morning breeze blew gently.
Perched atop a large tree, a young man sat cross-legged, his expression serene. His figure swayed gently with the breeze, and birds flitted by without any sign of panic. This young man was Toshiro, engaged in his daily meditation practice. Satoshi-sensei had requested special training at six o'clock that morning, so Toshiro had changed his practice location to this spot.
Before dawn, he arrived at the training ground to begin his meditation early. Years of practice had honed his ability to achieve a state of 'stillness' a term he used to describe entering an absolute state of calm. In this state, he blended seamlessly with nature, causing the birds and animals around him to remain unperturbed.
As the sun slowly rose, the training ground began to welcome new arrivals.
"Hey Kirishima, why are you alone? Hasn't Toshiro arrived yet?" A cheerful girl's voice called out, her tone teasing.
'Isn't he usually the first to arrive? Always getting in the way!'
Seeing that he was absent, the girl smiled happily, dimples appearing on her cheeks.
'Every time I'm with Kirishima, we're always with Toshiro and Satoshi-sensei. Such a nuisance! Now, it's just the two of us. I'm so happy! If only there was no special training today!'
"Toshiro and sensei aren't here yet. By the way, did you have breakfast, Asuka? The pies my mom makes are first-class. Want to try some?"
Kirishima didn't fully grasp why Toshiro's absence was a relief to Asuka, but he didn't hesitate to share the breakfast his mother had prepared.
Seeing Kirishima's generous and hearty smile, Asuka's mood improved. She even momentarily forgot about the impending special training and accepted the pie with a smile.
"This is amazing! Your mom's pies are really delicious! I wish I could enjoy this every day!" she exclaimed, savoring the pie and envisioning a future where Kirishima's mom could be her own.
Kirishima laughed heartily at Asuka's praise. Simultaneously, he scratched the back of his head with his free hand, his goofy grin emphasizing his silliness.
From his perch, Toshiro couldn't help but exit his meditative state and voice his annoyance. "Sorry to interrupt your happy time, Asuka!" he called out. "But could you please keep it down a little?"
With that, he jumped down from the tree and landed in front of them.
"Ah, Toshiro, you're here! Did you arrive early? Why haven't you come out until now?" Kirishima asked, looking puzzled. He didn't forget to pull another pie from his backpack and offer it to Toshiro.
A mischievous smile appeared on his face as he took the pie and bit into it, disregarding Asuka's irritated glare.
"I got here early and have been meditating for over an hour. When I saw you two chatting, I decided to come down and say hello."
"Hmmm! Auntie's cooking is really good. Asuka, you're lucky!" he said, enjoying the pie and teasing Asuka.
These pies were clearly prepared by Kirishima's mother for their breakfast. Concerned about her son's impulsive nature and possible conflicts with teammates or with the jonin-sensei, she supported him in this small yet meaningful way. She hopes her son can build strong relationships with his peers and get along well with his sensei.
When Toshiro teased her, Asuka didn't blush or feel shy. Instead, she glared at him, annoyed that he had interrupted her time with her 'Bakashima.'
"Are you really practicing that meditation? Does that strange method actually work?" Kirishima's focus was different from Asuka's. He was surprised to hear that Toshiro had been meditating in the tree for over an hour.
At their last dinner, Toshiro mentioned that practicing one-handed seals through meditation was very effective. Kirishima had thought these were just excuses to avoid him, but now he was intrigued to see that Toshiro was genuinely practicing it.
Seeing Kirishima's skeptical expression, Toshiro replied, "Of course it's true! Just looking at your face—I can tell you don't believe me!"
"If you don't believe it, don't try! We're in the same squad; why would I lie to you?"
He was frustrated. He had shared the training method of the ultimate and powerful ninja skill of senjutsu, and Kirishima thought he was joking. Did he really seem so silly?
Even their sensei, Satoshi, who was an elite ninja, seemed doubtful. Toshiro was disappointed. The two younger ones could be forgiven for their skepticism due to their inexperience, but their sensei should have known better.
For thousands of years, ninja training focused on refining chakra, enhancing physical capabilities, and improving ninjutsu. Meditation, typically practiced by monks, was seen as outdated. How could ninjas, who stand at the pinnacle of the current era, look back and adopt methods from ancient monks?
While enjoying the delicious pie, he passed the time chatting with the two, not forgetting to promote his meditation practice.
There is a saying that a single, thick branch is weaker than a bunch of thin sticks together. As a member of the Uchiha clan, the stronger his clan members are, the higher his own safety factor.
Although it was clear from their expressions that they didn't believe in the effectiveness of this meditation method, it didn't matter. Everyone has their own path to growth. Before he knew it, it was six o'clock.
With a "whoosh," the sound of Shunshin breaking through the air was heard.
"Good morning, Satoshi-sensei!" The three of them greeted in unison as they saw the familiar green vest of their sensei.
"Well! Everyone came early; it seems you are all looking forward to this special training!" Satoshi said with a satisfied smile, seeing his three disciples chatting together.
"Sensei, this is a pie my mother prepared. Please try it, it's very good!" Kirishima said, hurriedly taking out the pie from his backpack and handing it to the sensei while it was still warm.
Though Satoshi had already eaten breakfast, he didn't refuse the kind gesture from his disciple.
"Your mother is very thoughtful. Thank her for me!" Mr. Satoshi said as he casually took the pie from Kirishima, smiling as he tasted it. "The taste is excellent! It seems you have a mother who loves you very much!"
Satoshi saw through the thoughtful gesture of Kirishima's mother, who prepared breakfast to help her son bond with his peers and sensei. Such things were common in ninja squads. Just like he would invite his students to barbecue together, it was a way to strengthen their bond.
"Although I enjoyed a delicious pie, I won't go easy on you in the upcoming training!" After finishing the pie, he wiped his mouth and smiled. He then announced the first practice of the day: "We'll start with a 30-minute evasion training!"
"I'll be right behind you, pushing you at all times!" he added, forming hand seals and creating two shadow clones. With his original self, there were now three of him, each standing behind Toshiro and the others.
"Ten, nine, eight, seven..." he began counting down, signaling that when he reached zero, they would start the chase.
"Oh! This special training really gets the blood pumping! Bring it on, Satoshi-sensei. I'll show you my strength!" Kirishima exclaimed with enthusiasm. Without hesitation, he turned his head and was the first to sprint into the dense forest at great speed.
"This idiot!" Toshiro and Asuka thought in unison, silently cursing Kirishima's impulsiveness.
Kirishima had dashed off alone, leaving Toshiro and Asuka behind. In the dense forest, he would certainly face the sensei's pursuit. Without mutual support, his stamina would quickly deplete.
"Six, five, four..." Satoshi-sensei continued counting down.
Toshiro and Asuka exchanged exasperated glances before turning to face the three forms of their sensei. Without further delay, they sprinted in the opposite direction into the forest.
Given that the sensei had split into two shadow clones plus his main body, each one targeting them separately, trying to cover for Kirishima's recklessness would be even more challenging. It was better to fend for themselves.
"Just after eating the pie, this intense exercise would really be annoying!" Toshiro muttered while running through the dense forest.
He was accustomed to such training. Every morning, he sprinted with weights for an hour. Fortunately, he hadn't carried any weights today to prepare for this special training, so he considered this his makeup for the missed workout.
Suddenly, cries of "Ah! It hurts!" and "Sensei, you are despicable!" echoed through the forest.
Toshiro knew without looking that Kirishima and Asuka had already encountered the sensei's clones, or the main body, and were getting attacked. Their reactions were predictable.
A "click" sound came from behind Toshiro—the sound of a foot landing on a tree trunk. Then, with a "whoosh," Shurikens broke through the air towards him.
For such an attack with an obvious 'warning' signal, Toshiro was well-prepared. Pausing briefly on a nearby tree trunk, he swiftly dashed to the back of another tree. Using the trunk for cover, he effortlessly dodged the shuriken wave.
Even when the shurikens collided mid-air and changed trajectories for a second-wave of attacks, Toshiro deftly leaped into the treetops and evaded them.
Throughout the next half hour, the forest echoed with cries of pain from Kirishima and Asuka as they were hit. Meanwhile, Satoshi-sensei, following closely behind Toshiro, intensified his assault. The frequency and unpredictability of his attacks increased, pushing Toshiro to his limits. His stamina dwindled rapidly, and his breathing grew labored.
When the half-hour finally passed, the three students gathered in front of their sensei at the center of the training ground, visibly exhausted.
Kirishima was drenched in sweat, breathing heavily, and sporting a few bruises and a swollen face, evidence of having received some extra pounding. Asuka's face was pale, and her legs trembled as if she might collapse at any moment. Though she looked better than Kirishima, she was clearly exhausted.
Toshiro fared slightly better but showed signs of strain. His clothes were disheveled, his face covered in dirt, and sweat dripped from his forehead, his chest heaving.
In the woods, Satoshi had given Toshiro special attention, not just with shurikens and kunai but also with sudden physical attacks. The power, speed, and rhythm of these attacks escalated, making them increasingly difficult to parry and evade.
