Chapter 53 – Class Reunion
Konoha's Small Forest.
This was once the after-school training ground where Taichi and his friends practiced every evening before graduation.
When he arrived there again, Taichi was surprised to find Might Guy in the middle of training.
Guy's fists were pounding against the thick trunk of a massive tree—each strike making it shudder violently, leaves raining down with every blow.
"Guy! If you keep that up, that tree's gonna snap in half—you'll need to find a bigger one soon!"
Taichi called out from afar, a smile tugging at his lips. It had only been a few months, but seeing Guy again filled him with genuine warmth.
Guy froze mid-punch, then whipped around. When he saw who it was, his eyes went wide, and he rubbed them hard as though afraid he was hallucinating.
"Taichi! It's really you!"
In the next instant, Guy dashed toward him, stopping only when they were face to face.
"Aha! Youth never fails me! Seeing you again sets my blood ablaze!"
Taichi sweatdropped, though he couldn't help smiling. Even after all this time, Guy's intensity was something else.
"Alright, alright," Taichi said quickly, trying to steer the conversation before Guy could issue a "challenge of youth." "How have things been? How's everyone in the class?"
He wasn't about to let Guy talk himself into another sparring match—not when Taichi's chakra reserves were still low from healing Shinkawa and rushing back to Konoha.
Guy grinned, beaming with his usual enthusiasm.
"Everyone's great! Oh, right—there's going to be a class gathering tomorrow! Kakashi's coming too! We were worried you'd miss it—but you're back just in time!"
"A gathering?" Taichi blinked. "Wait—don't you have class tomorrow?"
Guy looked genuinely shocked.
"Tomorrow's the weekend, Taichi!"
"Oh…"
Taichi slapped a hand to his forehead. "Right. I've been gone for so long, I actually forgot what a day off feels like."
"No problem! Tomorrow, then?"
"Of course. I'll be there," Taichi said with a firm nod. "Where are we meeting?"
"At the Forest of Death entrance, nine in the morning!"
Guy said it, then sprinted off before Taichi could even reply.
"I've got to tell everyone the good news!" his voice echoed as he vanished.
Taichi stared after him, exasperated.
"Seriously… who holds a reunion near the Forest of Death? Guess everyone's a lot braver these days."
Still, since Kakashi was going, there shouldn't be any real danger—and besides, he'd be there too.
Satisfied, Taichi shook off the thought and began his own training. The blade flashed as he practiced his sword techniques, hoping to push his Advanced Kenjutsu to Level 1—jōnin grade.
---
[You practice Advanced Kenjutsu. Insight increased!]
[Advanced Kenjutsu EXP +1]
[Focused training: Genin EXP +1]
Taichi sighed.
Even now, progress through sheer practice was painstakingly slow. Just one point after half an hour.
Yeah, he thought. What really boosts growth… are battles and moments of revelation.
---
The Next Morning
The morning mist still clung to the trees when laughter and chatter echoed near the edge of the Forest of Death.
At the front, Might Guy marched proudly with a giant picnic bundle slung across his back. Behind him, Obito and Rin staggered under a bamboo basket filled with rice balls. Shizune carried a box of handmade desserts, while even the ever-lazy Shikaji had a pile of groceries shoved into his arms by Asuma.
Meanwhile, Akimichi Tangdō, covered in food bags, was still stuffing potato chips into his mouth as he walked.
"Look—it's Taichi and Kakashi!"
Guy's booming voice reached them before the group did.
Taichi and Kakashi, who had been chatting under a large tree, both looked up.
Taichi had arrived early, worried the others might wander too close to the forest's danger zone.
To his surprise, Kakashi had already been there, leaning casually against a tree trunk when he showed up.
The two exchanged a knowing smile. No words were needed.
Following Guy's shout, the group spotted them and broke into bright grins, rushing forward with cheerful cries.
It had been months since most of them last met—and in Kakashi's case, nearly a full year.
Though shinobi partings were a fact of life, they were still kids at heart. Seeing each other again filled them with joy.
After a round of greetings and laughter, everyone began setting up under Taichi and Kakashi's coordination.
Taichi and Guy quickly built a barbecue stand; Kakashi and Obito, eternal rivals, begrudgingly worked together to pitch the tent, trading barbs as they went.
Down by the river, Asuma, Kurenai, Shizune, and Rin washed vegetables and fruit, Rin's light laughter carrying through the morning air.
Near the forest edge, Shikaji, Tangdō, and Shinya gathered dry branches for the fire.
Within minutes, everything was ready.
"I'll handle the grilling!" Obito declared confidently.
Everyone smiled knowingly and let him try.
The results were… predictable.
He fumbled with the skewers, knocked over the oil bottle, spilled the seasoning, and finally produced a thick black cloud of smoke that nearly choked everyone.
Not only did no one get food in the end, but half their ingredients were ruined.
"Hahaha! Obito, you look like a giant soot-covered cat!"
The clearing erupted in laughter. Even Kakashi—trying and failing to hide a grin—looked mildly amused behind his book.
Blushing furiously from all the laughter, Obito finally stepped aside, handing over the grilling duties to Taichi.
After all, Taichi's cooking was famous among their classmates—those who'd tasted it before knew exactly what kind of treat they were in for.
With practiced ease, Taichi flipped the skewers over the fire, brushing on a layer of oil, then dusting the meat with a mix of herbs and spices. Within minutes, the air was filled with the irresistible aroma of sizzling barbecue, making everyone's mouths water.
He glanced at the pile of ingredients beside him. Thanks to Obito's earlier "culinary disaster," they were running a bit short.
"Obito, head to the river and catch some fish, will you? We're low on food."
Covered head to toe in soot, Obito scratched his head with a sheepish grin. He knew full well this shortage was his fault, so without a word, he ran off toward the river.
"Let's go too—more hands, more fish!"
Kakashi, Guy, and Asuma exchanged nods and followed him.
Meanwhile, Rin and Shizune came to help Taichi, handing him uncooked skewers and setting aside the grilled ones into a warming box.
Nearby, Akimichi Tangdō stood rooted to the spot beside the grill, his stomach growling audibly as he drooled over the food.
If Shikaji and Shinya hadn't been holding him back, he would've stolen a skewer long ago.
Taichi worked swiftly, flipping the skewers with skillful precision while chatting casually with Rin and Shizune about recent funny stories.
Every few seconds, a loud gulp would sound from Tangdō's direction, making Shikaji and Shinya exchange helpless looks—they were this close to pretending they didn't know him.
Then—
"SPLASH!"
The sudden sound of someone falling into water made everyone look up.
Sure enough, there was Obito, flailing wildly in the river.
"What happened over there?" Taichi called out, laughing. "Is Obito taking a bath?"
"No worries!" Asuma shouted back with a grin. "He's just… practicing the Water-Walking Technique! Still needs a bit more work, though!"
That sent everyone into another round of laughter.
Apparently, Obito had seen Kakashi and Asuma calmly standing on the river's surface, spearing fish with ease—and, not to be outdone, decided to try it himself.
The result was obvious.
But true to form, Obito refused to give up.
Even drenched from head to toe, he climbed back up and kept trying again and again, splashing noisily but determined.
Before long, Kakashi, Asuma, and Guy returned, proudly carrying their catch—while Obito was still stubbornly practicing his water-walking.
"You guys could at least help him," Rin said, frowning slightly as she saw them approach.
"Hahaha! Youth isn't about giving up so easily!" Guy declared, flashing his trademark smile of blinding white teeth. "Besides…"
He reached behind his back and pulled out a few extra fish.
"We already caught Obito's share too!"
The group burst out laughing.
For a brief, shining moment, everything felt simple and warm—the laughter of friends echoing under the sunlight, free from missions, wars, or fear.
Together, they cleaned the fish, chatting and joking all the while as they passed the fresh catch to Taichi, who began grilling them expertly.
The smoky scent of cooking fish soon mingled with the sound of laughter and the crackling of the fire.
"Obito! Stop fishing already and come eat!" Rin called out, cupping her hands around her mouth. "If you don't hurry, Taichi's barbecue will be gone!"
The laughter that followed carried far across the river, mingling with the chirping of birds and the rustling of leaves—
a fleeting, peaceful memory of youth in the shadow of coming storms.