The new semester arrived, and classmates who hadn't seen each other for a long time had endless topics to discuss. Over there, the chubby Akimichi Tōtō was bragging to Yamanaka and Nara about the delicious food he had eaten a few days ago. Over here, Obito Uchiha and Kakashi Hatake had erupted into another argument.
When Taiichi Matsushita walked into the classroom, he was greeted by this "harmonious" scene.
"Taiichi! I heard you interned at the hospital over the summer?" Gai was the first to spot Taiichi entering the door. He rushed over with sparks and lightning trailing behind him, only to ask the question belatedly.
Taiichi rolled his eyes. "You're probably the last person in the whole class to know."
"Huh? How could that be? Does everyone know?" Gai looked shocked. How am I the only one out of the loop?
At this moment, Rin Nohara, who was busy mediating the fight, also noticed Taiichi. She forcibly dragged the arguing Kakashi and Obito over. "Taiichi, thank you so much for what happened at the hospital last time." She knew that given her injury back then, if it weren't for Taiichi, other doctors might not have used ninjutsu to treat her, and she would have suffered much more.
Having come to their senses, Kakashi and Obito also expressed their gratitude.
"Haha, Rin, you're too polite. We're friends. Even if it wasn't at the hospital, I would have helped," Taiichi said generously.
"By the way, how did everyone find out about my internship later on? It got so crazy that even Director Fujita had to intervene." Taiichi was puzzled.
Rin and Kakashi simultaneously turned their faces toward Obito.
"Ah... haha. I accidentally let it slip once when we were hanging out. I didn't expect everyone to run to the hospital to find you." Obito looked embarrassed.
Looking at Obito, Kakashi and Rin were speechless. Accidentally let it slip? It was clearly Obito bragging with his big mouth. Of course, they didn't expose him right then.
"Alright then!" Taiichi didn't mind too much. "By the way, Kakashi, Gai, let's go to the small woods after school. I'll show you the results of my training during this time."
"Yeah! Yeah! Youth is about constant challenges! My blood is boiling!" Gai teared up with excitement.
Just then, the class bell rang. Students returned to their seats one after another, starting the first class of the new semester.
...
After school, in the small woods.
The sounds of pow, pow, crack—fists and feet colliding—rang out continuously. It was the trio of Taiichi and friends who had agreed to spar here after school. Currently, Taiichi was engaging in a Taijutsu match with Gai, while Kakashi watched from the side.
After dozens of rounds, Taiichi realized that he wasn't the only one improving; Gai's progress was significant as well.
After another clash, both stopped simultaneously by unspoken agreement.
"Taiichi, you're amazing! I underwent special training during the break, but I didn't expect you to fight me to a draw using only Taijutsu." Gai said somewhat dejectedly.
Before Taiichi could comfort him, Gai reignited his fighting spirit. "This is youth! Never give up, keep working hard!"
Saying that, he bolted off, his voice trailing from afar, "I'm going to train first! I have to run 10 laps around Konoha today! If I don't finish..." His figure gradually disappeared into the distance. Taiichi and Kakashi watched this scene with black lines over their heads.
"Taiichi, do you need a rest?" Kakashi asked, slowly starting to warm up his own limbs.
"Okay, give me a moment." Taiichi regulated his breathing, slowly recovering the stamina spent fighting Gai.
Ten minutes later, the two stood facing each other. As a leaf drifted between them, Taiichi initiated the attack.
He charged straight at Kakashi, throwing three shuriken mid-run while simultaneously drawing the short sword from his back with a reverse grip. Kakashi didn't hesitate either; he drew his own short sword, deflected the incoming shuriken, and moved to intercept Taiichi.
Clang, clang, clang. The sound of short swords colliding rang out continuously. In just four or five seconds, they exchanged over a dozen strikes.
After a few more moves, the two crossed paths. Taiichi seized the opportunity to form hand seals. "Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu." He spat out nearly thirty fireballs in one breath, attacking Kakashi from different directions.
Kakashi wasn't slow either. His hands formed seals rapidly, then he slapped the ground, raising a mud wall. "Earth Style: Mud Wall."
The incoming fireballs smashed into the mud wall one after another, creating booming explosions. Kakashi, preparing his next jutsu, sensed something was wrong. The noise indicated far more than the standard twelve fireballs of a Phoenix Flower Jutsu—way more.
Before Kakashi's next jutsu was ready, the mud wall collapsed under the bombardment, and the remaining fireballs continued to hurtle toward him.
This caught Kakashi off guard. Taiichi seized the chance to unleash a Wind Style: Great Breakthrough. The fierce gale, carrying the remaining fireballs, rushed toward Kakashi. Taiichi used the wind's momentum to close the distance rapidly.
After dodging repeatedly, Kakashi barely survived the two jutsu attacks only to face Taiichi's close-quarters assault. This put him in a difficult spot; having lost the initiative, he could only defend constantly. After a dozen rounds, he finally managed to turn the tide thanks to his greater familiarity with Hatake Style Kenjutsu.
Taiichi wasn't discouraged. Kakashi had a Kenjutsu master for a father to guide him, while Taiichi could only train hard. Being able to fight to this level with swords was satisfying enough.
Just then, Kakashi launched an offensive. He also used Fire Style, but it was the Great Fireball Jutsu. The fireball, over two meters tall, completely blocked Taiichi's vision. Seizing the opportunity, Kakashi used the Clone Jutsu and charged at Taiichi alongside his clone.
Facing the high-temperature fireball, Taiichi didn't panic. While retreating rapidly to dodge, he also used the cover of the flames to cast Clone Jutsu. When both dodged the fireball, they were momentarily dumbfounded. Two Kakashis faced two Taiichis. After a brief observation, both sides picked a target and clashed. Poof, poof. Two clones dispersed one after another, and the real bodies continued their sword fight.
This battle lasted until both exhausted their Chakra. naturally, it ended in a draw.
Sitting on a log to slowly recover their Chakra, the two boys felt thoroughly satisfied after such a hearty match. They began sharing their experiences from the vacation.
When Kakashi learned that Taiichi had not only interned at the hospital but also received guidance from the Sannin, he couldn't help but marvel at Taiichi's luck. No wonder his improvement was so massive. The current Taiichi was fully on par with him. Moreover, Kakashi was certain Taiichi hadn't used his full strength in the fight just now; he only used two jutsu at the start and then relied entirely on Kenjutsu...
The setting sun gradually stretched their shadows. After resting, the two boys said their goodbyes and headed to their respective homes.
Passing through the bustling streets, the closer he got to home, the fewer people there were, until there wasn't a soul left on the road. Taiichi sensed something wrong; suddenly, the hairs on the back of his neck stood up. Three shuriken pinned into the ground in front of his feet, the tips of the kunai glinting with an ominous purple light.
"Good reaction." Danzo stepped out from the shadows atop a wall, the sound of his cane tapping the green bricks causing the air to stagnate. Taiichi immediately formed seals, and three smoke bombs exploded in his palm. "Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!" Sixteen fireballs pierced through the thick smoke but were swallowed by a suddenly rising mud wall two meters from Danzo.
Amidst flying gravel, Taiichi leaped up, drawing his sword. As his diagonal slash was blocked by the cane, he used the momentum to spin and kick toward Danzo's ribs. Chains shot out from Danzo's sleeve, the iron rings grazing Taiichi's cheek and gouging deep pits into the wall.
"To last a few moves against this old man." Danzo shook the brick dust off the chains. "You're comparable to some Chunin."
Taiichi panted, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth. His Chakra was more than half depleted. He saw three Root ninjas blocking the alley entrance, moonlight shining on their animal masks with green fangs.
"Come to Root. You can get real training." Danzo used the tip of his cane to lift Taiichi's dropped short sword. "Medical ninjutsu combined with assassination techniques would be spectacular."
"I appreciate the offer." Taiichi secretly gathered Chakra in his heels. "But the Ninja Academy regulations..."
"Those rules only bind the mediocre!" Danzo raised his voice suddenly, startling the crows under the eaves. "Your blade shouldn't be used to cut bandages!"
Taiichi took a half-step back, stepping into a puddle. The water reflected Danzo's sinister single eye. "Last time, Lord Hokage said..."
Bang! The cane smashed the puddle, Danzo's face twisting in the splashing water. "My Root is specifically for training ANBU for the Hokage! Besides, should your talent be wasted in a sickroom?"
A cold whirlwind picked up in the alley. Taiichi gripped his sword hilt, looking Danzo in the eye. "If Lord Hokage agrees, I will report to Root tomorrow."
The air suddenly became quiet enough to hear a pin drop. Danzo's eye narrowed into a thin line, and he suddenly let out a cold laugh like a night owl. "Very good... Very good!" His black robe flared as he turned. A kunai grazed Taiichi's hair and embedded itself in the wall—a demonstration and a warning.
The three Root ninjas vanished along with Danzo. Taiichi supported himself against the wall and slowly sat down. Today was way too stimulating. Moonlight illuminated a tattered Hokage Rock poster at the alley entrance, the Third Hokage's stone face appearing faintly in the night.
Looks like I'll have to find the Hokage tomorrow. I don't know if I can even meet him. If not, I'll have to find Tsunade, but I have no idea where she is right now. Taiichi had a headache.