After explaining the next day's training schedule, Mikoto left—reminding him not to obsess over history just yet, since he'd eventually learn it all at the academy.
Shun let out a sigh of relief. His excuse about being bullied had diverted her suspicion about his sudden interest in ninja history.
A firm look crossed his face. I need to blend in. If anyone discovers another soul is inhabiting this body… even I don't know what the consequences would be.
-------------------------
After preparing dinner, Naoki left. Once Shun finished eating, he lay down, the lingering sensation of chakra still fresh in his mind. His thoughts raced toward the upcoming training session before he finally drifted to sleep.
He woke early the next morning and freshened up. Locking the door behind him, he placed the keys inside the flower pot for Naoki to use later and set off toward Mikoto's house, excitement bubbling inside him.
When he arrived, he called out for her. A disheveled Mikoto peeked through the door, her hair messy and eyes half-closed.
"Why are you here so early in the morning?" she muttered groggily.
"Of course—for training, Nii-san," he said with a smirk tugging at his lips.
"I know that," she replied, annoyance flashing in her sleepy eyes, "but didn't I tell you the time for our session?"
"How forgetful are you?" he deadpanned. "You didn't tell me anything except that we're training today."
"Oh, sorry, Shun… give me a minute. I'll freshen up and come out." She rubbed her eyes and hurried back inside, slamming the door in his face.
A few minutes later, Mikoto reappeared—her hair tied neatly in a ponytail, her eyes now sharp and alert, a stark contrast to her earlier laziness.
"I'm ready. Now follow me—and don't lag behind." She started jogging lightly, Shun following close behind. "We're heading to Training Ground Five near the forest, so don't lose my trail."
Her pace gradually increased, forcing Shun to push harder. Sweat drenched his shirt, and his breathing grew ragged, yet not a single complaint escaped his lips.
"You really do want to grow stronger, huh?" Mikoto said with a smile, not a trace of sweat on her face.
"Now, give me twenty push-ups," she ordered, her expression turning strict—more like a teacher's than a sister's.
"Ten pull-ups."
"Fifteen sit-ups."
She continued giving instructions, and he followed without resistance. Impressed by his determination, she finally granted him a ten-minute break.
He collapsed onto the ground, too tired to even stand. His breaths came in heavy bursts as he greedily gulped down the bottle of water Mikoto handed him. It tasted odd, but it soothed his dry throat.
Without warning, Mikoto kicked him lightly on the rear. "Break's over. Get up," she said firmly.
He groaned, rubbing the sore spot as he stood.
"Now, I'll explain how to utilize chakra and form hand seals," Mikoto said, slipping into her teacher mode.
As she guided him through the concept, Shun sat cross-legged, focusing on her words. He nodded occasionally, showing he understood. Following her instructions, he began channeling chakra once again.
This time, the flow felt smoother—stronger. The soreness in his muscles faded rapidly, replaced by a soothing warmth spreading through his body. A calm smile rested on his face, mirrored by Mikoto's gentle one as she watched.
Afterward, she began a lesson on hand seals—how each one guided chakra in specific patterns to mold it for various effects: spewing fire, summoning lightning, and performing countless other jutsus.
She demonstrated several. Placing her left palm over her right fist, she said, "This is the Dog hand seal—it's mainly used for water-style jutsus."
Forming another, she explained, "This one's the Tiger hand seal—commonly used for fire and earth-style jutsus."
She went through all twelve basic seals, each based on the animals of the Chinese zodiac. They were used in different sequences to shape chakra into ninjutsu.
After Shun's persistent requests, she finally promised to show him one of those jutsus at the end of the session.
When she finished explaining, Mikoto formed a half-ram seal—her little and ring fingers curled while the middle and index fingers pointed upward.
"This is called the Seal of Confrontation. It marks the start of a spar or battle, but practically, it helps regulate your chakra flow and strengthens your body."
She dropped her hands. "This seal is important—you'll use it during spars. But before that, your chakra control must improve. Tomorrow, I'll teach you chakra control exercises."
As the sun hung high and her stomach began to grumble, she declared the session over.
"Meet me at the lake in the Uchiha compound this evening," she said before bolting through the forest, not giving him a chance to respond.
Exhausted, Shun let out a deep sigh of relief. Seeing her leave, he gathered his strength and walked home, eager for the nutritious meal he'd asked Naoki to prepare.