"Boom!"
Choji Akimichi leapt down from the tree, creating a small crater on the training ground.
Shikamaru Nara glanced at the dent and slapped his forehead. "Chakra, Choji. Next time, remember to use chakra!"
Choji chuckled sheepishly, scratching the back of his head. "Heh heh... I forgot."
"Hurry up, let's go back. After eating, I want to catch some sleep," said Seiji, grabbing his bag and heading to the classroom.
"So troublesome," Shikamaru mumbled, though he started jogging too. While he disliked running, he wasn't about to give up the chance to nap.
As the others left, Choji looked back at the crater before finally deciding to turn and run.
"Wait up!" Kiba, who had just taken two steps, noticed Naruto lagging. "Hey, Naruto! What are you spacing out for?"
"Oh, coming!" Naruto snapped back to reality and, before entering the school building, glanced at the Hokage Rock.
The Fourth Hokage… What was his name again?
I'll ask the old man Hokage next time, Naruto thought.
Since it was still lunch break, the kids, full of energy, preferred playing outside to staying in the classroom and napping.
Hinata and Ino came back in with their clean lunch boxes. Just as Hinata sat down, Seiji took a bag out of his desk and placed it in front of her.
"What's this?" she asked.
"Sushi and milk."
Hinata froze for a second, her cheeks turning pink. She quickly pushed the bag back toward him, saying, "Seiji, I'm already full."
"No, you're not," he replied matter-of-factly.
Hinata blushed more deeply, her toes curling unconsciously in her shoes.
Did he… figure it out?
Lying across his desk, Seiji explained, "We're both from the Hyuga clan. I can guess how much training you go through daily. Hiashi-sama wouldn't reduce your regimen just because of the academy's classes. That little bento lunch can't sustain you."
"I ate a big bowl of ramen outside. Go ahead, don't be shy," Seiji added, adjusting his arm under his head to find a comfortable sleeping position.
With his head resting on a book under his arm, Seiji quickly drifted into a peaceful sleep, his breaths steady.
Watching Seiji sleep, Hinata blushed and gently took the bag, cautiously unwrapping it.
After a quick glance to ensure that both Seiji and Ino were fast asleep, and that Shikamaru and Choji were also out of it, Hinata lowered her head beneath the desk and started eating a piece of sushi.
The sushi was large enough that even Seiji needed two bites to finish one. But for Hinata, it felt like she was snacking, easily eating it in one bite.
Hinata had a slightly embarrassing secret: she could eat a lot.
For a moment, she worried that Seiji had discovered this about her and brought the large sushi and milk because of it.
Pushing down her thoughts, she popped another piece into her mouth. After a couple of bites, she noticed something off.
Hmm… This sushi tastes a little too sweet, almost like it's been made with honey.
Rice with honey—sugar on top of sugar. To a modern person, this would be a calorie bomb.
[Hinata Hyuga's affection level toward you has changed. Current level: Understanding Friends.]
A while later, Hinata gently nudged Seiji awake.
"Seiji, wake up. It's time for class."
"Huh?" Seiji stretched, rubbing his eyes. "How long was I out?"
"Almost forty minutes."
"I'd better go to the restroom first; I'll meet you on the training ground."
He got up and, shaking his head to wake up, walked outside. On the way, he roughly woke up the four napping in the back of the classroom.
Unlike Hinata's gentle approach, Seiji's methods were far less delicate.
Out on the training ground—
Under Iruka-sensei's instruction, the students jogged two laps around the grounds before officially beginning class.
For kids their age, learning ninjutsu wasn't as efficient as training in taijutsu, so the academy's primary focus was on the Leaf-style taijutsu.
"Leaf-style taijutsu was created by the Second Hokage as a universal martial art. It was later improved by the Third Hokage and is known for being easy to learn and highly effective," Iruka explained.
As he talked about the taijutsu's basics, Seiji noticed that Leaf-style taijutsu could be summed up in one word: kick!
There's a saying that goes, "Punches open the gates; it's the kicks that hit."
For most people, kids and adults alike, kicks pack more power than punches, making them deadlier.
"First up in Leaf-style taijutsu: the Spinning Back Kick!"
Iruka lowered his stance in front of a dummy. Then, with his left leg as a pivot, his body rotated swiftly, right leg whipping around in a powerful kick.
"Bang!"
The dummy was sent flying, cleaved in half by the force.
"Wow!" The kids gasped, Naruto even jumping up in excitement. "So cool!"
Amidst the awestruck looks, Iruka remained professional and explained the technique's details: how to lower one's stance to maintain balance during the turn, how to rotate the waist to drive the body, and the finer points of the kick.
One could see the origins of the Leaf Hurricane, frequently used by Might Guy, in this technique.
Remembering Guy's famous kick to Jiraiya's face, Seiji realized that the Third Hokage's claims about Leaf-style taijutsu's versatility weren't exaggerated.
After a thorough explanation, Iruka asked loudly, "Does everyone understand?"
"Yes!" the kids shouted in unison.
Iruka clapped his hands. "Good! Now, pair up and start practicing!"
Pairs… Naruto hesitated, glancing at Shikamaru behind him.
Noticing Naruto's gaze, Shikamaru pointed toward a corner of the training ground. "Choji and I have to fill that crater, so we can't practice with you."
"Oh…" Naruto looked around.
Just then, Kiba, carrying a training dummy, walked over and clapped Naruto on the shoulder. "Why are you daydreaming? Find a good spot before they're all taken!"
"Right!" Naruto eagerly ran to a corner of the training ground, setting up the dummy.
He stood in front of it, lowering his stance like Iruka had shown. Locking his eyes on the "opponent's" lower body, he twisted his waist, and spun—
"Thud!"
Naruto managed to spin himself into dizziness, toppling over onto the ground.
Seeing Naruto face-planted in the dirt, Choji finally understood why the training ground seemed to get so many craters.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Read upto 30 Chapters ahead: patreon.com/_Sakra_