Mizuki and Anko barely slid into their seats before the teacher walked in. Within minutes, Anko was already fast asleep, cheek resting on her desk in a surprisingly adorable pose. Mizuki, fighting his own drowsiness, cleverly raised his textbook to hide behind, giving the illusion of focus while sneaking in a few moments of rest.
At lunch, Anko grabbed Mizuki by the sleeve and dragged him over to a table where Kurenai and Asuma were waiting. She chattered happily with her friends, while Mizuki mostly listened, occasionally teased by Anko's playful remarks. When the final bell rang, Mizuki kept his promise—treating her to dango skewers before heading off to Duy's place for another grueling taijutsu session.
That evening, Mizuki arrived at a secluded clearing deep in the forest. There, Might Duy and his son, Guy, stood ready, both radiating burning passion.
Guy: "Right on time, Mizuki! Let's unleash the power of youth together!"
The training was brutal. Mizuki spent hours practicing chakra control, clinging to towering trees with chakra-infused feet until his legs trembled. When he faltered, Duy's booming encouragement and Guy's enthusiastic shouts pushed him to keep climbing. Sweat drenched his body, but Mizuki endured, matching their intensity step by step.
Four months later…
Mizuki's head was about to hit the desk when—splash! A wave of cold water jolted him awake. He gasped and looked up, dripping wet, to see Anko grinning, bucket in hand.
Anko: "Wake up, Mizuki! Do you know what time it is?"
Blinking, Mizuki turned to the clock. 7:57.
Panic shot through him. He scrambled to change, stuffed his things into a bag, and used the Body Flicker to just barely make it to class before the bell.
During the lesson, Anko leaned toward him with a mischievous smirk.
Anko: "Do you know what day it is?"
Mizuki:(sighing) "October 24th… your birthday, right?"
Anko: "Yay, you remembered! So… where's my present?" (she stretched out her hand expectantly)
Mizuki:scratching the back of his head nervously "I… might have forgotten."
Anko pouted dramatically, lowering her gaze.
Anko: "That's so disappointing…"
Mizuki: "Don't be mad—I'll treat you to dango after class, okay?"
Her eyes sparkled instantly, the pout vanishing as quickly as it came.
The past months had transformed Mizuki. Under Duy's harsh yet inspiring guidance, he had unlocked the Second Gate of the Eight Gates, though every use left his body aching. His taijutsu had sharpened to near mastery for a genin, and his chakra control had improved leaps and bounds. He sparred regularly against Obito, Guy, and Anko, each bout testing his growth in different ways.
From Kakashi, Mizuki had borrowed techniques—basic Earth Release and Shadow Clones—to expand his arsenal. With determination burning inside him, he set his sights on early graduation, knowing his time learning freely from Kakashi wouldn't last forever.
After class, Anko leapt onto Mizuki's back, laughing as he staggered under her weight. Together, they went to the dango shop, joined by Kurenai and Asuma. Mizuki winced at the dent in his wallet, but the joy on Anko's face made it impossible to regret.
Mizuki: "So… did you enjoy yourself?"
Anko: "Of course! By the way, Mizuki, when's your birthday?"
Mizuki: (blushing faintly) "It was… three days ago. But it's fine—you don't have to worry about it."
Anko blinked, then gave a sly grin.
Anko: "What a shame. I'll make it up to you next year!"
Mizuki: "You really mean that?"
Anko: "Absolutely."
As they parted ways, Mizuki turned to leave, but Anko suddenly called out.
Anko: "Mizuki… Happy Belated Birthday."
The warmth in her voice made him pause. Their eyes met for a lingering moment before Mizuki smiled softly and walked off toward the forest.
That evening, Duy greeted him with boundless energy.
Might Duy: "Ah, Mizuki! Ready to set your youth ablaze once more?"
Mizuki: (grinning) "Yes, Bushy Stache-sensei!"
They trained long into the night, Mizuki pushing himself through punishing exercises while Duy encouraged him with fiery words. When their training ended, Duy treated his exhausted student to a hearty barbecue dinner.
Side by side, master and student left the restaurant, their spirits blazing with determination—already looking ahead to the battles and growth the next day would bring.