The morning sun bathed the training grounds in a warm glow as Naruko and Yuto arrived for their first day of training with Guy-sensei. Despite being only 5 and 6 years old, both kids were brimming with excitement. They were determined to prove themselves and show Guy that they could handle whatever test he had in store for them.
"Guy-sensei!" Naruko called out, hopping on her feet. "What are we doing today? Something cool?"Guy, standing with his arms crossed and a serious expression on his face, smiled warmly at them. "Today, my youthful students, we will test not just your strength, but your patience and focus. These are as important for a shinobi as raw power!"
Yuto narrowed his eyes. "How do we do that?"Guy grinned, kneeling down to their level. "Today, you'll be carrying weights. Not too heavy, but enough to make you feel the burn in your muscles. But here's the catch—you won't just be running or lifting. You'll be standing still and holding these weights above your head for as long as you can."
Naruko's eyes widened. "Standing still? That sounds easy!"Guy shook his head. "It sounds easy, but it's not. It will test your endurance, your mental focus, and your ability to keep going even when your arms feel like they're going to fall off. Shinobi must have the strength to endure not just physical battles, but the long stretches of patience that come with missions."
Yuto glanced at Naruko, then back at Guy. "We can do it. Right, Naruko?"Naruko puffed out her chest. "Totally! We're gonna crush this test!"Guy gave them each a small wooden block, tied to which were bags filled with sand. The blocks weren't too heavy, but for a 5 and 6-year-old, they would be challenging after a while. "Hold these above your head and keep your arms straight," Guy instructed. "The moment your arms drop, the test is over."
The two kids lifted the weights over their heads. At first, it didn't seem too bad. Naruko smiled confidently, wiggling her fingers. "This is a piece of cake!"But after a few minutes, the strain began to show. Naruko's smile faded as her arms started to tremble. Yuto clenched his jaw, doing his best to keep his arms steady. The weights weren't heavy at first, but as time passed, they felt like they were growing heavier and heavier.
"Focus!" Guy called out. "Don't let the discomfort distract you. Imagine your goal! Picture yourself succeeding at the academy exams. Hold onto that vision!"Naruko grunted, her arms shaking. "It's... hard…"Yuto remained quiet, his brow furrowed in concentration. He closed his eyes, breathing deeply, trying to block out the burning sensation in his shoulders. Guy's words echoed in his mind—focus on the goal. He thought about the academy exams,about how he promised to become stronger than everyone and be Naruko's right hand man.To become strong enough to protect Naruko and himself against madara and the otsusuki clan.
After what felt like an eternity, Naruko's arms finally gave out. She dropped the weights, panting heavily. "I couldn't do it…"Guy gave her a reassuring smile. "You did well, Naruko. The test isn't about perfection; it's about learning your limits and pushing past them. You held on longer than most would at your age."
Yuto, still holding his weights, was visibly struggling. His arms were shaking uncontrollably, but he refused to give up. His face was red with effort, sweat dripping down his forehead. Just as he thought he couldn't hold on any longer, Guy clapped his hands."That's enough!"Yuto dropped the weights and collapsed onto the ground, gasping for breath. His arms were burning, but he couldn't help feeling a surge of pride. He had pushed himself further than he thought he could.
Guy knelt beside them, placing a hand on each of their shoulders. "Both of you did well today. Remember, it's not about how long you can hold something—it's about your willingness to keep going even when it hurts. That is the true strength of a shinobi."Naruko wiped the sweat from her brow, still catching her breath. "That was... really hard.""But you didn't give up," Guy said with a smile. "And that's what matters. Now, let's take a break before the next part of the training."
Naruko and Yuto exchanged a glance, their exhaustion temporarily forgotten. "Next part?" Naruko asked, wide-eyed. "There's more?"Guy stood up, giving them a thumbs-up. "Of course! The path of youth never ends! But don't worry—the next test will be fun."After a brief rest, Guy led them to the river that was near the training grounds. He handed each of them a small bucket. "For this next challenge, I want you to fill these buckets with water from the stream and bring them back here. But here's the catch—you can't spill a single drop!"
Yuto furrowed his brow. "That sounds hard..." Guy winked. "It's a test of control and focus. You'll have to move carefully and steadily, just like a shinobi in the field. If you spill too much water, you'll have to start over."Naruko grinned. "I like this one! Let's do it!"The two of them ran to the stream, quickly filling their buckets. Yuto moved carefully, taking small steps as he made his way back to Guy. Naruko, ever the energetic one, dashed back with her bucket sloshing wildly. Water spilled out the sides, leaving her bucket half empty by the time she reached Guy.
Guy shook his head with a chuckle. "Remember, Naruko—speed isn't everything. Sometimes, slow and steady wins the race." Naruko frowned, glancing at Yuto, who had managed to keep his bucket nearly full. "Okay, I'll go slower this time!"They continued the exercise, with Naruko learning to control her pace and Yuto focusing on staying steady. By the end, both kids had successfully completed the challenge, their buckets filled to the brim with water.
"Good job my youthful students,I can see the fire in your hearts is still burning brightly!Now we can move onto the next part!"Naruko tilted her head. "Why do you always talk about fire? Isn't it bad to catch on fire?"Guy laughed heartily. "It's a metaphor, young Naruko! The fire of youth is the passion inside each of us that drives us forward! It's the will to never give up, no matter how tough things get!"
Yuto nodded thoughtfully. "So what are we doing next, Guy-sensei? Something super hard again?"Guy shook his head, a sparkle in his eyes. "No, no! The mext training is going to be a bit different.We're going to focus on your balance, teamwork, and the strength of your spirit!"Naruko groaned slightly, but her curiosity was piqued. "Balance? Like walking on a log or something?"Guy grinned. "Something like that! But first, I want you both to take part in a very special test."
He led them along the river, where they came upon some smooth stones situated in the river. Across the river was a series of large, flat rocks, spaced just far enough apart to make crossing a bit of a challenge."Your task is simple," Guy explained. "You must cross the river using only those stones, without falling in. But there's a catch—you have to help each other! You'll be working as a team to make sure you both get across safely."
Naruko blinked. "That's it? We just have to cross the river?"Guy nodded, his grin widening. "But remember, you must work together! If either of you falls in, you have to start over. The goal isn't just to get across; it's to do it together."Yuto took a deep breath and nodded. "Okay, I think we can do that."Naruko bounced on her toes, already excited. "Easy peasy! Let's go!"
She darted ahead, leaping onto the first stone with ease. Yuto followed, more cautious but just as determined. They made it to the second rock without much trouble, but as they prepared to jump to the third, Naruko wobbled slightly, her arms flailing for balance."Whoa!" she cried, nearly toppling into the water.Yuto quickly reached out and grabbed her arm, steadying her. "Careful! You have to slow down."
Naruko grinned sheepishly. "Oops. Thanks, Yuto."They continued to make their way across the river, Yuto guiding Naruko and helping her whenever she wobbled or lost her footing,and her doing the same for him. It wasn't long before they reached the other side, both of them panting but triumphant.
"We did it!" Naruko cheered, throwing her arms in the air.Guy appeared beside them in an instant, clapping his hands. "Excellent work! You both showed great teamwork and balance. But don't celebrate too early—we're just getting started!"Yuto wiped the sweat from his brow, already wondering what the next challenge would be.
Guy led them to the next training area, which featured a long, narrow log suspended over a shallow pit filled with soft sand. "Now we'll test your balance a little more," Guy said. "You must walk across this log, but this time, you'll each carry a cup of water. The goal is to make it to the other side without spilling any water."
Naruko eyed the log skeptically. "That doesn't sound too hard…"Guy's grin widened. "Ah, but I'll be throwing soft balls at you while you cross! You'll need to maintain your focus and balance while dodging obstacles!"Naruko and Yuto exchanged a glance, both of them clearly unsure how this was going to go.
"Alright, let's do this," Yuto said, his determination growing.He will have to give his 100% at everything if he wanted to become someone who can stand against the otsusuki. Guy handed them each a small cup of water and motioned for them to step onto the log. Yuto went first, carefully placing one foot in front of the other, his eyes fixed on the other side. Naruko followed, balancing with her arms outstretched, the water in her cup sloshing slightly.
Guy, true to his word, began tossing soft, foam balls at them, forcing them to dodge and weave while keeping their cups steady. Naruko squealed as one ball whizzed past her head, nearly causing her to lose her balance.
"Stay focused!" Yuto called out, dodging another ball with surprising agility.Naruko bit her lip and steadied herself, focusing on keeping her cup upright. They moved slowly but surely, avoiding Guy's playful attacks, until they finally reached the other side."We made it!" Naruko cheered, though her cup was only half full.Same for yuto.
Guy chuckled, walking over to them. "You did well! The key to this exercise is focus. You have to maintain your balance even when distractions come your way. As shinobi, you'll face challenges from all sides, but you must always keep your mind steady and your goal in sight."Yuto nodded, looking more confident. "I think we're getting the hang of this."Naruko, despite her earlier frustrations, was smiling too. "That was actually kinda fun!"
Guy beamed at them."Today, you've shown great improvement. You've learned that patience, focus, and perseverance are just as important as physical strength. Keep this lesson close as you continue your training."
Naruko and Yuto exchanged tired but satisfied smiles. They were learning what it truly meant to be a shinobi, and with Guy's guidance, they were ready for whatever the future held.
(Pls give me some power stones!)
(Find out next time on Naruto:eye system)