As soon as the final school bell rang, Mizuki dashed out of the classroom. He had found a quiet patch of forest earlier and decided it would be the perfect place for his personal training.
Determined to improve, Mizuki began working on several basic jutsu he had asked about from one of the academy instructors. Without wasting time, he dove into practice, focusing on three essential body techniques and the Body Flicker Technique.
"Tiger → Boar → Ox → Dog → Snake… Substitution Jutsu!" Mizuki called out, weaving hand signs rapidly.
Poof!
In an instant, his body vanished, replaced by a log that clattered to the ground with a puff of smoke.
"Yes!" he grinned, satisfied. After countless tries that morning, he had finally nailed the Substitution Jutsu. Now it was time to move on to the next.
Taking a deep breath, Mizuki focused again.
"Ram → Snake → Tiger… Clone Jutsu!"
Another poof echoed through the trees. This time, a faint copy of himself appeared beside him. It was imperfect but visible.
Exhausted from the chakra drain, Mizuki collapsed onto the ground, breathing heavily. His stomach growled loudly.
"Ugh… I really should've eaten lunch," he muttered.
Just then, a savory aroma drifted through the air, making his mouth water. Curious, he followed the scent through the trees until he spotted an older man seated by a bubbling hot pot over a campfire.
"Hey, old man," Mizuki called out, his voice carrying the weight of exhaustion. "Who are you? What're you doing here?"
The man looked up, offering a kind smile.
"Just making hot pot with some ingredients I found nearby," he replied. "And you, boy? What brings you out here?"
Mizuki's eyes widened slightly.
{Wait a second… isn't that Kosuke Maruboshi? The Eternal Genin from the Naruto series? But he looks much younger. This must be before he became a permanent genin.}
His stomach growled again, louder this time. Mizuki felt his face flush with embarrassment.
Kosuke chuckled. "You sound hungry. Come, join me if you'd like."
Mizuki hesitated for a moment, his pride almost stopping him from accepting, but the thought of food won out. "Thanks, old man."
Kosuke nodded, motioning for him to sit. "Don't just stand there, have a seat."
As they ate together, Mizuki found himself unable to stop glancing at the older man. "So, are you really a genin?"
Kosuke nodded. "Yeah, I've been a genin for many years."
Mizuki blinked, confused. "But… why haven't you been promoted to chunin or jonin?"
Kosuke's smile faded just slightly, and his eyes took on a distant look. "I have my reasons, kid."
The silence hung for a moment, before Mizuki's curiosity got the better of him. "Would you train me? I need someone to spar with and help me grow stronger."
Kosuke raised an eyebrow, an amused grin tugging at his lips. "You sure you want an old genin like me to train you?"
Mizuki shrugged, determination lighting his eyes. "Doesn't matter to me. Maybe you've got some secret techniques I could learn."
Kosuke laughed softly. "Alright then. But don't expect me to go easy on you. I'll train you hard."
Mizuki grinned. "Thanks, old man!"
Kosuke's expression turned more thoughtful as he stirred the pot. "By the way, have you checked your chakra nature with chakra paper?"
Mizuki nodded eagerly. "Yeah, I've got Fire and Earth Release. I think I might have an affinity for Yin and Yang Release too, but I'm not sure yet."
Kosuke's interest seemed piqued. "Interesting. Alright, we'll start working on that tomorrow. But be on time, kid."
"I won't be late!" Mizuki said with a grin, his stomach finally at peace after the meal.
"Oh, and before I forget," Mizuki said, wiping his mouth. "This hot pot is amazing! I couldn't stop eating."
Kosuke chuckled. "Good! Eat well, grow strong."
After dinner, Mizuki helped clean up before heading home. As he walked back to his apartment, his mind was abuzz with thoughts of his upcoming training and the future.
{The Third Great Ninja War is coming soon… but I'll be ready. I've got the time to train, and now I have someone to guide me.}
Yawning, Mizuki entered his apartment, threw himself into bed, and pulled the blankets over his head.
{I need rest if I'm going to be prepared for tomorrow.}
Within moments, sleep took him, and he drifted into dreams filled with hand signs, battles, and the hope of becoming stronger.