The Third Training Ground of Konoha, where Team Ebisu stood. Konohamaru stretched his arms. Sai stood beside him, while Shibi, ever composed, observed their surroundings.
Ebisu stood in front of them, arms crossed and an air of confidence about him. "Alright, Team 1. Now that we've done a lot D-rank missions, it's time for some serious training." He pushed up his glasses, smirking. "Today, I'll be teaching you a foundational skill that every shinobi must master: tree walking!"
Konohamaru raised an eyebrow, fighting back a grin. Shibi adjusted his sunglasses, the faintest flicker of amusement crossing his usually impassive face. Sai simply continued sketching, seemingly uninterested.
Ebisu continued, oblivious to their reactions. "Tree walking is an essential chakra control exercise. By focusing your chakra to the soles of your feet, you'll be able to cling to vertical surfaces and even fight on them if necessary. Watch and learn."
With a dramatic flourish, Ebisu walked over to a nearby tree. He placed a foot on the trunk, then another, casually strolling up the vertical surface as if it were solid ground. He paused mid-climb, turning to glance at his team.
"Impressive, isn't it?" Ebisu said, his tone smug. "Now, let's see how you-"
Before he could finish, Konohamaru casually walked past him on the same tree, his hands in his pockets and his tail swishing with ease. "Yeah, yeah, we know how to do this already, Sensei," he said, his voice nonchalant.
Shibi followed suit, stepping onto the tree with perfect precision, his kikaichū buzzing faintly as they adjusted to the chakra flow around him. "This technique is fundamental. We mastered it years ago," Shibi remarked, his tone matter-of-fact.
Sai was the last to join, walking up the tree with the same blank expression he always wore. "This exercise is... adequate," he said, glancing at Ebisu.
Ebisu froze, one foot still on the tree trunk. "What? You've all mastered tree walking already?!"
Konohamaru grinned. "And water walking too. Want us to demonstrate?"
Without waiting for a response, Konohamaru leapt off the tree, landing gracefully on the surface of a nearby pond. He walked across the water as if it were solid ground, spinning in a lazy circle. "See? Easy."
Ebisu's jaw dropped. "B-but... when did you learn these techniques?"
Konohamaru smirked, glancing at Shibi. "Why don't you tell him, Shibi?"
Shibi's Flashback
Shibi's mind drifted to the past, to when they were seven years old and playing in the academy playground. Konohamaru had gathered a small group of kids: Shibi himself, Udon and Moegi.
"Alright, guys," Konohamaru began. "We're gonna play a game of tag, but with a twist!"
"A twist?" Udon asked, his glasses sliding down his nose.
Moegi tilted her head, curious. "What kind of twist?"
Konohamaru's grin widened. "Simple! When someone gets tagged, they join the chaser. That way, the more people get tagged, the harder it is for anyone else to escape! Then, when the last person gets tagged, they become the chaser, and the game starts all over again"
Shibi adjusted his sunglasses. "Strategically, this creates a situation where the odds become increasingly unfavorable for the remaining players. Interesting."
Udon blinked. "Huh?"
"It means it gets harder the longer you're not tagged," Konohamaru explained, rolling his eyes.
Moegi clapped her hands together. "I like it! Let's do it!"
Shibi volunteered to be the first chaser, stepping into the middle of the makeshift playing field. The group scattered, laughing and shouting as the game began.
"
Shibi moved methodically, as he tracked the movements of the others. Udon, panicking as usual, tripped over a rock and was the first to get tagged.
"Ah! I'm it now!" Udon cried, flailing his arms as he turned to chase Moegi.
Moegi was quick on her feet, darting behind trees and dodging Udon's attempts to tag her. However, her luck ran out when Shibi cornered her near a large rock.
"Got you," Shibi said calmly, tapping her shoulder.
Now three chasers, they turned their attention to Konohamaru, who had been watching the chaos unfold from a distance with an amused smile.
"Come on, slowpokes!" Konohamaru taunted, darting away as the group charged after him. His tail flicked playfully, and his laughter echoed through the trees.
Shibi was the fastest of the chasers, closing the distance with calculated precision. Konohamaru veered toward a tree, his feet moving faster than the others could follow. With a quick leap, he placed one foot on the tree trunk, then another, and began running up it effortlessly.
The group skidded to a halt, staring in disbelief as Konohamaru perched on a high branch, grinning down at them.
"What?! How did you do that?!" Moegi shouted, her hands on her hips.
Udon adjusted his glasses, his jaw hanging open. "That's… that's impossible!"
Even Shibi, usually composed, paused for a moment.
Konohamaru shrugged nonchalantly, swinging his legs over the branch. "It's easy! You just focus your chakra into your feet and walk up. Like this!" He hopped to another tree, landing on a branch with perfect balance.
"Easy for you to say!" Udon called out, trying to mimic Konohamaru's explanation. He placed one foot on the tree trunk, then the other, only to slide back down and land on his rear.
Moegi tried next, making it a few steps before losing her balance and falling into Shibi, who caught her effortlessly.
"This technique requires precise chakra control," Shibi observed. "It's not something taught at the academy."
"Well, I figured it out when I saw a ninja did it," Konohamaru said, leaning back against the tree trunk. "Guess that makes me a genius, huh?"
"Or just annoying," Moegi muttered, brushing dirt off her skirt.
The sound of soft footsteps interrupted their conversation. The group turned to see a small figure approaching, flanked by a tall man with sharp eyes.
"Hanabi-sama," the bodyguard said, his tone respectful yet firm. "Are you sure you wish to join them?"
Hanabi Hyuga, barely six years old, looked up at the towering man with a determined expression. "Yes, I do."
Her pale lavender eyes turned to the group, curiosity evident on her face. "What are you playing?"
Konohamaru slid down from the tree in one smooth motion, landing lightly on his feet. "Tag. But with a twist. You wanna join?"
Hanabi hesitated, glancing at her bodyguard, who frowned but remained silent.
She then look eyes with konohamaru and nodded. "Alright. How do I play?"
Konohamaru explained the rules, and Hanabi listened intently.
"You'll start as a runner," Konohamaru finished. "And don't worry, we'll go easy on you."
Hanabi crossed her arms. "I don't need anyone to go easy on me."
Konohamaru smirked. "We'll see about that."
The game restarted with Hanabi joining the runners. Despite her age, she moved with the grace and precision of a Hyuga prodigy, dodging the chasers with ease.
Konohamaru, however, was still the most elusive, using his speed, agility, and tree-walking technique to stay ahead.
"You're not playing fair!" Moegi shouted as Konohamaru leapt to another tree.
"Fair?" Konohamaru called down. "All's fair in ninja tag!"
Hanabi, determined to catch him, attempted to channel chakra into her feet. She managed a few steps up the tree before sliding back down.
"How does he make it look so easy?" she muttered, brushing herself off.
Shibi watched her attempt with interest. "Your chakra control is impressive for someone your age," he said. "But the technique requires consistency and focus."
"Like this?" Hanabi tried again, this time making it a few feet higher before falling back.
Konohamaru jumped down, landing beside her. "You're getting there," he said, offering her a hand.
Hanabi hesitated for a moment before taking it. "Tag," she said.
Konohamaru's face fell. "Ahhh!" he groaned. "Hey, no fair!" Konohamaru yelled, taking off after them.
Moegi shouted at the distance."All's fair in ninja tag!" While laughing.
"
"
By the end of the game, the group was tired but exhilarated. Even Hanabi had a small smile on her face as she dusted off her clothes.
"That was fun," she admitted, glancing at Konohamaru. "You're… interesting."
Konohamaru grinned. "I'll take that as a compliment."
As the sun began to set, Hanabi's bodyguard stepped forward. "Hanabi-sama, it's time to return."
Hanabi nodded, giving the group one last look. "Maybe I'll join you again sometime."
"Anytime!" Konohamaru called after her as she walked away.
The group sat in a circle, catching their breath.
"Think she'll come back?" Moegi asked.
"Probably," Konohamaru said, leaning back with a satisfied smile. "No one can resist a good game of ninja tag."
Shibi adjusted his sunglasses. "Or the mystery of how you mastered tree-walking at your age."
Konohamaru shrugged. "What can I say? I'm just built different."
Back to the Present
Shibi's voice brought Ebisu out of his daze. "Konohamaru introduced us to chakra control techniques early on. We learned through games, as he did, and mastered both tree and water walking shortly thereafter."
Ebisu stared at his students, a mixture of shock and exasperation on his face. "Games?! You learned tree and water walking through games?!"
"Yup!" Konohamaru said proudly, hopping off the water and landing beside Ebisu. "Guess we're ahead of the curve, huh, Sensei?"
Ebisu sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "And what about Sai? Have you mastered these techniques as well?"
Sai, still perched on the tree trunk, looked up from his sketchbook. "I was taught these techniques during my training. They were... adequate exercises."
Ebisu threw up his hands. "Of course. Why am I even surprised anymore?"
Konohamaru clapped a hand on his sensei's shoulder. "Don't worry, Sensei. We're ready for the next big thing. Just tell us what's next, and we'll crush it!"
Ebisu shook his head, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. Despite their unconventional methods and laid-back attitudes, he couldn't deny that his team was extraordinary.
"Alright," he said, adjusting his glasses. "Since you're all so advanced, we'll move on to more complex chakra control exercises tomorrow. For now, let's focus on teamwork drills."
"Teamwork, huh?" Konohamaru said, his grin widening. "Sounds fun."