"Is training really unavoidable?"
Shikamaru sighed as he strolled down the street.
It was Monday—the dreaded start of a new training cycle. He had no idea what Kitazawa-sensei had in store this time.
And the unknown? That was always the most terrifying part.
Especially after last week's Water Walking Training. That disaster still haunted him.
"I think Kitazawa-sensei's training is kind of interesting," Ino said, tilting her head thoughtfully.
Shikamaru shot her a look. "Did he use ninjutsu on you during water walking training?"
"Nope," Ino replied, shaking her head. "Sakura and I were just throwing kunai at each other."
Shikamaru winced. "Then you don't understand my suffering! Mine was way worse!"
"Why do you both have special training?" Choji asked, genuinely confused.
"Run!" Shikamaru exclaimed. "Ahead lies hell!"
Choji blinked. "Is it that bad?" He quickly dismissed the thought and mumbled, "I was just asking…"
"Ino!" Sakura jogged up, waving. "What are you talking about?"
"Kitazawa-sensei's special training," Ino replied, then added, "Aren't you starting medical ninjutsu today?"
"Yep!" Sakura beamed. "I've been looking forward to this forever!"
Ino and Shikamaru exchanged glances and said in unison:
"You lucky fool."
For a first-year student with no clan connections, Sakura's chance to learn medical ninjutsu was absurdly fortunate.
"Why are you insulting me?" Sakura frowned. "If you're jealous, ask Kitazawa-sensei to teach you too!"
"It's not that easy," Ino said sincerely. "If it weren't for Kitazawa-sensei, you'd never have had the opportunity."
Sakura blinked, surprised by Ino's serious tone.
But she understood. And she nodded.
"Be sure to thank Kitazawa-sensei properly," Ino reminded her.
"I will," Sakura said, her voice softening.
"Once I master the Mind Body Switch jutsu, I'll need to thank him too..." Ino added, but trailed off.
She still hadn't figured out how to properly show her gratitude.
"He said to meet him directly at the school's training ground this morning," Ino said as they arrived at the academy gates.
"Good luck, you two," Choji said, waving with one hand while munching on potato chips with the other.
For him, eating was training—his clan's jutsu depended on storing chakra-rich energy in body fat.
"What must come, will come..." Shikamaru muttered bleakly.
Ino laughed. "Don't be so dramatic."
"Sasuke-kun!" Sakura suddenly gasped, spotting him across the yard and running over.
"Don't come closer." Sasuke turned and exhaled—three fire dragons roared from his mouth.
The air shimmered from the heat, and Sakura screeched to a halt.
Kitazawa raised an eyebrow from across the field.
Already spitting three fire dragons?
He must've been training at home again.
Kitazawa's thoughts flicked immediately to one name:
Uchiha Itachi.
With a genius like that guiding him, Sasuke's progress was no surprise.
Still, he had a long way to go before true mastery.
Learning a B-rank Fire Release Ninjutsu was already impressive—especially given Sasuke's limited chakra reserves. Not because the Uchiha Clan lacked chakra, but because Sasuke was still young.
Chakra reserves could be cultivated. But the cap? That was determined at birth.
In short: it all came down to the body.
And a shinobi's body didn't peak until around age twenty.
"Sakura," Kitazawa called, "head to the school's artificial lake and catch a fish."
He'd decided to meet at the training ground today so he could teach medical ninjutsu without raising suspicion.
Not that anyone paid much attention to a first-year anyway.
"Huh? A fish?" Sakura blinked.
"Yes," Kitazawa nodded. "Stun it, but don't kill it."
Still confused, Sakura nodded and headed off.
"Ino, Shikamaru—come here."
Ino paused, uncertain.
Had her training changed too?
Shikamaru, however, felt hopeful.
If Ino was involved, maybe it wouldn't be as terrifying.
Kitazawa hadn't originally planned Shikamaru's new regimen, but that changed after he got hold of the Shadow Imitation jutsu.
Now, he had an idea:
Yin Release nature transformation training.
Yin Release, at its core, was about manifesting the intangible—shaping spiritual energy into physical effect.
Like controlling shadows.
Shadows weren't real. They were optical illusions.
But Yin Release could make them real—and useful.
The same for Ino's jutsu.
The Yamanaka Clan's Mind Body Switch made thoughts physical enough to control another's body.
"Today's training is Yin Release nature transformation," Kitazawa said, eyes on the two.
They exchanged stunned glances.
Yin Release training?
From a school teacher?
That was usually Jonin-level stuff.
"The exercise is simple," Kitazawa said, setting down a wooden dummy.
"Shikamaru, control its shadow."
Shikamaru formed hand signs. His shadow stretched out, merging with the dummy's.
"Now reshape the shadow into an office desk."
Shikamaru blinked.
'What kind of request was that?'
Controlling a body with the shadow was one thing.
But sculpting its form?
Still, he gave it a try.
Sweat beaded on his brow, but eventually…
The dummy's shadow warped and formed a crude desk shape.
"Not bad," Kitazawa grinned—and summoned a pile of dummies.
"They're all yours."
"...Huh?"
Shikamaru stared, stunned.
If Water Walking was physical torment, this was mental torture.
Which was worse? He couldn't tell.
"What about me?" Ino asked eagerly.
"Wait until Sakura returns," Kitazawa replied.
That only deepened her curiosity.
A few minutes later, Sakura came back, holding a live carp.
"Today's Medical Ninjutsu is the Healing jutsu," Kitazawa said, setting up a small table.
He gently sliced the carp with a kunai. Blood trickled from the wound.
"Healing jutsu." He formed hand signs and placed his hand on the fish.
A pale green glow lit up. The cut slowly closed and vanished.
Ino's jaw dropped.
"You actually know medical ninjutsu?"
"Your turn," Kitazawa said, cutting the carp again.
Sakura stepped up, nervous but determined.
She mimicked the signs. A faint green light flickered—then fizzled.
"Don't worry," Kitazawa reassured her. "That's normal. Keep trying."
Half an hour later, she finally succeeded. The wound vanished beneath her glowing hands.
"Excellent." Kitazawa nodded. "This will be your training now—until you master it."
"Yes, Kitazawa-sensei!" she said brightly.
"Now, Ino—it's your turn."
"Huh?"
"This carp's still alive. Your task is to take over its consciousness using your Mind Body Switch jutsu."
"Oh!" Ino's eyes lit up.
A perfect way to practice her clan jutsu.
"But," Kitazawa warned, his tone sharp, "Sakura will keep injuring the fish. So, to avoid taking damage yourself, you'll have to exit before each cut."
Ino froze.
If she stayed too long and got hit… the damage would transfer to her.
Right now, she had thirty minutes between each wound. But as Sakura improved, that window would shrink.
Just like before… it was a competition again.
"To keep you motivated," Kitazawa added with a smirk, "the loser doubles their homework."
Sakura and Ino locked eyes. Sparks flew.
"One more thing."
Kitazawa raised his voice. "Be sure to attend this afternoon's combat class. We're having a joint session—with Second Year, Class A."
Shikamaru, Ino, and Sakura showed no reaction.
But Hinata and Sasuke both tensed.
Hinata didn't know how to face Neji.
Sasuke, on the other hand, couldn't wait.
He'd wanted to fight Neji during their last joint session, but the spotlight was stolen by Yakumo.
This time, he was stronger.
And he was ready.
Afternoon arrived.
For many students, this was their first joint practical combat session between classes, and the novelty was palpable. Some of the bolder ones had already begun mingling, seizing the opportunity to make new connections.
After all, they'd all clashed during the previous friendly match—conflict had a way of building familiarity.
"Lee!"
The moment Naruto arrived at the training grounds, his voice rang out like a trumpet.
"Naruto! I'm here!" Lee sprinted over with blazing enthusiasm.
"This is the grand reunion of youth!" Lee cried.
The two locked eyes, then charged forward dramatically—only to crash into a spirited, over-the-top embrace.
"Ugh, I can't watch this..." muttered Tenten, pressing her forehead with a sigh.
Beside her, Neji's eye twitched.
One Lee was already a handful. Now Naruto was here too?
Double the chaos. Who could survive this?
"It's over," groaned Kiba, watching the tearful, overly passionate display with horror. "How did two lunatics like that end up in the same Ninja Academy?"
"I'm starting to think this class merge was a mistake," Sakura muttered, glancing at Sasuke. "Good thing Sasuke-kun is normal."
Sasuke imagined himself striking those exaggerated poses and felt a chill run down his spine.
He would sooner leap from a rooftop than become like that.
Hinata, meanwhile, seemed lost in thought.
Then, a warm hand gently landed on her head.
She blinked up—meeting Kitazawa's eyes.
"Class is starting," he said with a small smile before stepping forward.
"First Year Class A, line up on the left. Second Year Class A, to the right."
The students snapped to attention and lined up.
"Though it's a joint class," Kitazawa said in his usual calm tone, "there's no need for formality. We'll continue in the same groups as last time."
"Kitazawa-sensei!" Sasuke raised his hand.
"Yes?"
"I want to challenge Neji."
The moment he spoke, both classes buzzed with excitement. Whispers spread like wildfire.
Back during the friendly match, everyone had expected Neji and Sasuke to clash—but instead, Yakumo had stolen the spotlight.
Kitazawa glanced at the clear, blue sky above. 'Yep. Clear skies. No rain. Sasuke must be feeling bold again.'
"I accept your challenge," said Neji, his tone even and unreadable.
"Very well." Kitazawa nodded. "Keep it clean and stop when the winner's clear."
If Sasuke was begging for a beating, Kitazawa wasn't going to stop him.
Sasuke and Neji stepped into the open space, facing off.
"Begin," Kitazawa announced, acting as referee.
Sasuke immediately darted back, revealing three shuriken in each hand.
With a sharp gaze, he flung them all at once as Neji charged forward.
Byakugan: Activate.
Neji's white eyes glowed. The shuriken's paths lit up in his field of vision.
With a sharp spin, his body twisted mid-run, and the six shuriken slammed harmlessly into the dirt around him.
"Whoa! That was amazing!" Hinata gasped, hands clutched tightly.
Even with the Byakugan's vision, reacting in time to that kind of speed was something else. If it were her, she would've panicked.
"Using ninja tools against Neji?" Tenten smirked. "That's a rookie move. My throwing's even sharper than Sasuke's, and it barely fazes him."
She'd trained with Neji enough to know. That kind of attack was nothing more than child's play.
"Do you think Sasuke-kun can win?" Sakura asked anxiously.
She always believed in him—but Neji's reputation was nothing to scoff at. That first exchange alone made it clear: this wouldn't be easy.
"He's got this!" Naruto shouted with full faith.
Ino nodded. "Don't forget Sasuke's been training hard. He hasn't even used his trump card yet."
Sakura was about to reply when a chorus of gasps rang out.
Sasuke raised his arms in a smooth, controlled motion—like playing an invisible piano.
The six shuriken embedded around Neji suddenly shot upward.
The ninja wire attached to them glinted for just a second.
Now they hovered all around Neji, forming a deadly trap.
"You fell for it, Neji!" Sasuke declared, grinning. "My Manipulated Shuriken caught you off guard!"
But Neji simply raised an eyebrow.
"Is that so?"
With a swift motion, his body accelerated—nimbly dodging all six incoming blades.
"What?!"
Sasuke's eyes widened in disbelief.
"I'm from the Hyūga Clan," Neji said coolly, tapping his temple. "Your ninja wire may be hard to notice—but not to these eyes."
Byakugan sees all. Sasuke's 'surprise' tactic hadn't even scratched the surface.
"Damn it..." Sasuke clenched his fists.
'Those were my lines to say after awakening my Sharingan!'
But Neji wasn't done.
He closed the gap in a heartbeat, hands flowing like water, palm strikes aiming straight at Sasuke's chakra points.
Panic flickered in Sasuke's eyes.
He knew what would happen if he got hit with Gentle Fist—he'd lose all control of his chakra.
In a moment of desperation, Sasuke leaned back hard, one hand on the ground to support himself.
Neji's palms narrowly missed—but his leg swept in next, catching Sasuke squarely in the ribs.
He skidded several meters across the ground.
But Sasuke grit his teeth, forced himself up, and formed hand seals.
Fire Release: Great Fireball jutsu!
The air rippled with heat. A massive fireball surged forward, just like the one that had stunned everyone during the friendly match.
Neji had no choice but to halt and dodge it.
"Now's my chance!"
Sasuke's fingers flew through another series of seals.
Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire jutsu!
Though still imperfect, three blazing fire dragons spiraled forward.
Both classes gasped in awe.
"Three dragons?!" someone whispered.
Neji narrowed his eyes.
He was impressed that Sasuke could already handle multiple Fire Release jutsus.
But this move?
Too slow. Too weak.
He stepped around the flames with practiced ease and surged forward again—his palms striking in a blur.
Four rapid blows landed squarely on Sasuke's chest.
Sasuke dropped to the ground.
"You lost, Sasuke," Neji said, calm and composed.
"I—I haven't—!"
Sasuke tried to get up, but his chakra was a mess. Neji's strikes had shut it down completely.
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