It had been a tough day for all of us, but after we finally finished, Sensei casually said, "Let's meet tomorrow at the mission center in the Hokage building," before disappearing in a blink using the Body Flicker Jutsu. He didn't give us a chance to catch our breath or react.
I stood there for a moment, still processing everything. My body was aching all over, and I was more than ready to drag myself home and collapse into bed. That's when Nora and Baskin approached me, both looking unusually serious.
"Hey, Satoshi," Nora said, his voice strained with frustration. "We're planning to complain to the Hokage about Hatoshi-sensei."
I blinked, taken aback. "Complain to the Hokage? About Sensei?"
My mind scrambled to catch up. Sure, Sensei was strict, and I had noticed the slight price hike in the weights and energy bars he sold us. But come on, it wasn't like he was forcing us to buy his stuff. He even let us pay it off with our mission earnings if we didn't have the money. Why were they so mad about this?
"Wait," I said, trying to grasp their reasoning, "you don't have to listen to him if you don't want to. I mean, is it really worth getting the Hokage involved?"
Nora and Baskin exchanged glances, then Nora let out a heavy sigh. "Do you think we have a choice, Satoshi?"
Confused by their response, I tried to clarify. "What are you talking about?"
Baskin folded his arms, a look of exasperation crossing his face. "It's the training, man! This inhuman torture he calls 'training'!"
Now I understood. "Ahh, you mean this regular training?"
Nora groaned in frustration. "Yes, Satoshi! The regular training! It's insane! We tried talking to him about how harsh it is, but Sensei just ignores us and pushes us harder!"
It all started to make sense now. I had been so focused on getting stronger, on pushing my limits, that I hadn't stopped to think about how it might feel for them. But still, I wasn't sure if going to the Hokage was the right move.
"Look," I said, trying to keep my tone calm, "I know it's hard, but this training is for our benefit. Sensei is just trying to make us stronger. Complaining about it isn't going to help."
Nora stared at me like I'd grown a second head. "Are you serious right now? You're actually defending this training?"
"Yeah, I am." I stood firm.
Nora's mouth fell open in disbelief, while Baskin just shook his head. "You're crazy," Baskin muttered.
"I don't know what's going on in your head, Satoshi," Nora added, still stunned. "But if you think this torture is going to make us stronger, you're out of your mind."
I shrugged, feeling oddly calm despite their reactions. "Maybe. But I'm willing to stick it out."
Their jaws practically hit the floor. Nora's wide eyes locked on me, while Baskin gave me a look like I'd completely lost my sanity.
"Wow," Nora whispered, his voice filled with disbelief. "You've actually lost it."
"This training's frying your brain," Baskin added, shaking his head in amazement.
They couldn't believe it. I could see the shock in their eyes, how far removed my thinking was from theirs. To them, the training was unbearable, an obstacle they couldn't overcome. But for me, it was a challenge—one I was willing to face head-on.
"I just don't get it," Nora muttered. "Why would anyone willingly go through this kind of training?"
"It's because I want to get stronger," I said, my tone more serious. "This is how we grow. If we don't push ourselves, we'll never improve. And trust me, I'm not going to be the weak link in this team."
They fell silent, stunned into speechlessness. They didn't understand my mindset, and to be fair, I couldn't entirely blame them. This training was brutal, even for me. But I had no choice—getting stronger wasn't just a goal for me; it was a necessity.
Nora and Baskin didn't say another word. They just exchanged one last, bewildered glance before turning and walking away, their steps heavy with exhaustion. I watched them go, shaking my head slightly.
With my body aching and my mind heavy with thoughts of tomorrow's mission, I began the slow walk home.
Tomorrow would be another hard day.