Takeshi thought for couple minutes on who could've been assigned to his team for protection before deciding to go with the flow and handle this tomorrow.
As next day arrived, Takeshi discovered the one assigned was his buddy Naoki Gekko, which made Takeshi happy because during their mission Naoki contributed alot of points to him. Though Naoki wasn't as happy.
Naoki, for his part, wrestled with a bruised ego. Outsmarted and outmaneuvered by a feline barely a year old, his confidence had taken a considerable hit. He'd even briefly entertained the absurd notion of human inferiority to ninja beasts, an idea quickly dispelled after a patrol with a particularly dim-witted Inuzuka pack.
With his self-worth tentatively restored, Naoki resolved to avoid future missions with Takeshi. Pride, he realized, could only withstand so many blows, especially from a creature barely knee-high. Little did he know, fate had other plans...
"Meow~. Naoki-senpai, I didn't expect they'd send you," Takeshi purred, a hint of amusement lacing his tone. Naoki, ever perceptive despite his current predicament, wondered if he detected a subtle mockery beneath the feline's casual words.
"Jiraiya-sama ordered me to accompany you for two sessions," Naoki stated, a sigh escaping his lips. He surveyed the clearing, noting the absence of the others. "Where are the rest?"
"They've already gone ahead. We'll leave now." Takeshi suppressed the urge to utilize the Flying Thunder God technique, mindful of Jiraiya's caution against overuse. Instead, he opted for the more pragmatic approach of riding on Naoki's shoulder, conveniently combining comfort with a subtle display of dominance.
Naoki sighed again, clearly unhappy about meeting Takeshi. Meanwhile, Kakashi, Obito, Rin, and Asuma were steadily progressing towards the training ground, albeit at an uneven pace. Asuma, brimming with youthful exuberance and a somewhat inflated sense of self, charged ahead, his movements fueled by an unwavering belief in the Will of Fire.
"Asuma, pace yourself," Rin pleaded, her gentle voice struggling to penetrate his competitive fervor.
"Do you need me to wait?" Asuma retorted, a hint of condescension in his tone. "Perseverance is also part of the Will of Fire. A little extra effort won't hurt."
Rin sighed, recognizing the futility of further argument. Obito, however, intervened, his voice laced with a pragmatic understanding of Asuma's impending downfall. "Let him be, Rin. We're all heading to the same place. His ego will get a reality check during training."
Kakashi, though secretly relishing Asuma's overconfidence, offered a begrudging agreement. *Asuma needs a lesson,* he mused, his visible eye crinkling in amusement behind his mask. *Overexertion will teach him humility. Perhaps, sharing my pain will broaden his definition of the Will of Fire.*
Kurenai and Raido Namiashi followed Team 7 at a more measured pace. Kurenai, while possessing the influence to moderate Asuma's reckless pace, chose instead to observe. She found a perverse satisfaction in anticipating his inevitable humbling, a small reprieve from his daily lectures on the Will of Fire and his incessant, irritating advances. Raido, ever the stoic observer, focused solely on learning through observation, a quiet sponge soaking up the dynamics of the team.
As the five reached the training area, they found Asuma, hands clasped behind his back, attempting to project an air of casual nonchalance, despite his labored breathing.
"Asuma," Kakashi began, unable to completely suppress his desire to offer some genuine advice. "You should take a soldier food pill to replenish your stamina."
"Soldier food pill?" Asuma puffed out his chest, dismissing the suggestion with feigned indifference. "I can last until the end of training."
Obito shook his head, while gloating on inside, while Rin looked reluctant. She knew Asuma will be suffering quite abit today, but since he doesn't listen, what can they do?
With Kurenai pulling her, Rin was too lazy to bother anymore. At this time, Naoki arrived slowly with Takeshi on his shoulder, and waved to everyone lazily.
He could have reached faster, but seeing Asuma's overflowing confidence, Takeshi held him down.
'This fool,' Takeshi thought, his feline eyes narrowed in contemplation. 'If even Kakashi advocated for pacing, he should have realized something was amiss. Perhaps this training will instill some much-needed maturity.'
"Meow. This is Naoki Gekko, a Special Jonin. He will oversee your training today," Takeshi announced, leaping gracefully to the ground. He clapped his paws together, pretending to use summoning jutsu to bring out mouse puppet and a Counter-Attacking Daruma, the tools of today's torment.
Kakashi's visible eye twitched, a clear indication of his growing apprehension. 'The difficulty just ratcheted up again,' he thought, recalling the arduous training sessions centered around the mouse puppet. 'Just when we adapt, he changes the game. No, this isn't mere creativity; it's a calculated escalation of our suffering.' A wave of foreboding washed over him.
Obito's thinking was also same, but no matter what their thoughts were, they had to accept it. Instead of guessing what the black-hearted cat was going to do and overstressing, it was better to listen and wait prepare.
"Meow. Rin, Kurenai, Asuma, and Raido, you will catch forest rats. Rin will demonstrate the technique. Kakashi and Obito," Takeshi's gaze shifted to the two genin, a hint of mischief glinting in his eyes. "You will train with this." He gestured towards the Counter-Attacking Daruma.
Kurenai's brows furrowed in confusion. 'Catch rats? Perhaps it's a code for something else. This cat is undeniably smart.'
As the most capable points contributors, Kakashi and Obito can't slack off. They've been catching rats for the past few days, but since they were adapting to it quite fast, so it's a good idea to give them a change of taste.
'These two... am I too weak to train with them?' Asuma seethed inwardly, maintaining a façade of indifference despite his bruised ego.
"What's this?" Obito asked, his curiosity piqued by the unfamiliar Daruma.
"A Counter-Attacking Daruma. You can familiarize yourselves with it. Oh, and Naoki-senpai, please infuse it with chakra," Takeshi requested, his tone deceptively casual.
'He can do it himself,' Naoki grumbled internally. 'Why am I relegated to the role of a mobile chakra battery? Such is my miserable existence.'
'A Special Jonin reduced to this,' Kakashi mused, a flicker of sympathy crossing his face.
"Let's begin," Takeshi announced, settling himself comfortably on a nearby tree branch.
'What are we doing?' Asuma wondered, his confusion mounting. 'This is supposed to be special training. Why hasn't he explained the specifics?'
Rin beckoned the group closer and began outlining the task. "Our objective is simple. We will catch rats throughout the forest without using chakra, while wearing weights."
"Catch... actual rats?" Kurenai's face paled, her hope that 'rat-catching' was a euphemism shattered. Yet, she didn't protest, her determination overriding her revulsion.
'No chakra?' Raido mused, considering the implications. 'Forcing us to rely on raw physical strength and speed will undoubtedly improve our conditioning. But catching rats without chakra... that will be challenging.' He glanced at Asuma, remembering Kakashi's advice. 'He will suffer the most.'
"I... I can do it!" Asuma declared, his teeth clenched in resolve. Without prompting from Takeshi, Kakashi summoned three small ninja dogs to assist them. As an inheritor of the Will of Fire, he couldn't afford to falter. He would simply have to endure the hardship. The four began their arduous search for rodents throughout the forest.
Naoki observed the peculiar scene, his initial reservations about the training's severity giving way to a grudging admiration for its effectiveness.
"So, what do I do?" Naoki asked in a low voice.
"Meow. Follow them. Encourage them to persevere. Ensure their rest periods don't exceed an hour, and prevent any laziness," Takeshi purred, a deceptively sweet smile gracing his feline features. 'Oh Asuma, your overconfidence will be your undoing. Every moment of doubt will be met with increased training. Your precious Will of Fire will burn brighter than ever before. And upon your return to camp, Shinku Yuhi will provide additional motivation.' Takeshi chuckled to himself, relishing the intricate web of torment he had woven, he couldn't releasing an evil laughter,
"Hehehe!"
Naoki, though irritated by his assigned role, nodded and departed in a burst of Shunshin, leaving Obito to offer Takeshi a surreptitious thumbs-up and a vigorous nod of approval.
"Meow~ Alright, now it's your turn, start practicing, for unarmed you can train with it normally, but for armed combat use a stick instead of the sword." Takeshi laid on a tree branch, and began to urge Kakashi and Obito to start.
Kakashi thought for a moment, cut a branch from nearby tree to use as stick and held it in his hand. While he thought it was better to train with the sword, mainly because sword actually more durable and can be used for blocking.
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