*Zzzz*
The leaf on my forehead hissed faintly, a faint shimmer of blue arc across its surface before dying out again.
'I understand why affinities are important.' My thoughts drift off for a moment.
Lightning Release was nothing like Fire. Fire wanted to ignite and spread, wild and alive. Lightning, though, wanted to build up and burst in a moment.
I tried again, focusing on the flow between each breath.
For a few seconds, my chakra flowed to my forehead again. Crackling just enough for the leaf to twitch, but then it fizzled and stopped. I sighed and let it fall.
It had been nearly three weeks since I started, and I was still barely making sparks.
When I first tried Fire Release, it took maybe a week before I could burn clean through the leaf. Which sensei told me was already quite the feat for my age, as it was a similar time to Orochimaru.
Though maybe it was because my mind being older, my disappointment showed a little.
Hiruzen stood a few paces away, arms folded, watching in silence. The man did give me some advice, but it felt more difficult to apply.
"Your control's improving," he said finally, stepping forward. "You're just overthinking it. Imagine a thunderstrike."
I nodded, wiping sweat from my brow. 'Maybe imagining a [Chidori] could help.
Now crouched again, leaf stuck to forehead. I slowly imagined a mini Chidori being used. Gathering chakra to a single point before...
*zzt!*
The leaf crumpled as half of it was destroyed.
'Not bad, finally progress.' I thought, nodding to myself.
By the time the sun had begun to set, I was sitting cross-legged in the dirt, legs feeling numb. My head felt light, but this moment of rapid improvement nearly let me fully crumple a leaf.
I couldn't help but think about how easily Orochimaru would have nailed this.
Or how Hiruzen had mastered multiple natures. It made me realize how insane it was that the old man could use all five to at least a high Jounin degree, which was ridiculous.
As I stretched my fingers out, I caught movement a few meters away. Orochimaru was kneeling beside one of the training posts, carefully unsealing the log used for body replacement.
He slipped a paper tag inside before resealing it.
'Holdup, that's straight up evil.' To my horror, it was exactly what it looked like.
He was setting up a trap for anyone who got too close, as Taijutsu isn't his strong suit. So this substitution with a log that, after getting away, just explodes for the instant kill.
Smart bastard.
"Thanks for the idea," I muttered under my breath. Pulling out my notebook and pencil, I write this down for things to prepare before the exams.
---
[Jiraiya's Notebook]
Chunin Exam Prep
- Train with Gamaken
- Ration Pills
- Explosive Tags (Tied to Kunai)
- Wire (Tied to Kunai)
- Combination Techniques (Gamabunta)
- No hand seal [Body Flicker]
- Substitution Technique with explosive tag
---
By the time I was done, the training field had gone quiet. Hiruzen was still standing by the edge, watching the horizon. When I walked over, he turned slightly.
"Amazing work, Jiraiya, that's enough for today," he said, rubbing my hair. "Go home, rest, and meet me at Training Ground Seven tomorrow morning. Someone will be there waiting for you."
"Is it who I asked for?" I question. I nearly forgot that it's been a few weeks since my request to spar with someone at my level.
My progress was slow, maybe slower than I wanted, but each jolt reminded me I was getting closer....
The next day rolled around.
By the time I reached the field, the sun was still rising. The clearing was quiet except for the buzz of cicadas. Looking around for the sensei, he wasn't anywhere close, which made me confused just for a second.
Instead, I heard a calm voice drift from above.
"You're my client, right?"
I tilted my head back and spotted a white-haired figure perched on a thick branch. He looked a couple of years older than me, dressed in a dark green flak jacket.
The relaxed smile on his face was weirdly warm and genuine.
'Sakumo Hatake.'
"Yeah, that's me," I said, raising a hand. "You must be the one my sensei sent."
He nodded and dropped lightly to the ground, landing with barely a sound. "Sakumo Hatake," he said with a polite bow. "Got a D-rank mission to spar with a genin prepping for the Chunin Exams."
It clicked immediately. That makes more sense.
Making it a mission put an incentive.
"I'm sorry if I took a while. I was off doing a mission outside the village." He says, scratching the back of his head. "I didn't expect a junior so young doing the exams! Hopefully this doesn't come off as standoffish, but if you have any questions, you can ask. I'll try my best to answer."
Hearing his sincere words, I nod. Sakumo did get promoted several months ago, so he should know a decent amount.
"Thanks," I said with a grin. "My questions can be saved for later, though. Let's get this started!"
This was the experience I needed.
'I've wanted to test out a few things for a while now.'
Sakumo chuckled at my enthusiasm. "Alright, you can start it off then." Watching him make a seal, he flickers several meters away.
We stood facing each other, and I could already sense how composed he was. Hand on the sword on his back, ready to unsheath his blade
I bit my thumb and did several hand seals before slapping my hand on the ground. Causing a burst of smoke to fill the clearing.
Boar → Dog → Bird → Monkey → Ram
[Summoning Technique]
*Poof!*
When it cleared, Gamaken's huge figure appeared with me on top of his head, shield and sasumata in hand. He was confused for a split second before getting right into a stance. Glaring daggers at Sakumo.
'All action, talk later. I like it.' I thought seeing him not question me, unlike Gamabunta.
"Gamaken, we are sparring with a friend right now. But next time it might be an enemy. Our opponents are going to be around his level, so it's good practice." I informed him, which made the toad nod.
"I'm sorry for my ungraceful entrance, Jiraiya."
Sakumo's brow rose, looking up at my summon with some sweat going down his face. "Impressive summon. No wonder lord third deemed you ready to join the Chunin exams."
He smiled faintly, eyes sharpening doing hand signs. "Then let's see what you've got."
Boar → Ram → Snake → Horse → Dragon
The next few moments crackled with tension.
A surge of chakra built around him before erupting in a wave of lightning that tore across the field. The air screamed with energy, a sharp crackling roar as it slammed into Gamaken's shield.
The toad didn't even flinch, which made me smile.
Seeing this, I started to do my own hand signs.
Snake → Dragon → Rabbit → Tiger
Gamaken's eyes narrowed, not being idle.
Without hesitation, he lunged forward, thrusting his massive Sasumata toward Sakumo. The steel prongs slammed into the ground. Sakumo had already dodged to the left, pulling out a short saber in one smooth motion.
Then the explosion hit.
*Boom!*
It wasn't massive, but the sudden burst of force from the Sasumata detonating caught Sakumo squarely in the side, sending him tumbling through the grass in a burst of dirt and smoke.
Even as the smoke cleared, my hands were already in motion.
Chakra surged in my chest.
I had no doubt in my mind that Sakumo was alright, as the sight of him already on his feet made me hurry.
[Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique]
*Roar!*
Through the shimmer of heat, I saw him weaving hand seals. Right before his figure was engulfed by the flames. Through the corner of my eye, a small zip of lightning went past to my right.
Gamaken adjusted immediately, turning to face him.
Sakumo's saber glowed a faint white as he dashed in again. The blade came down hard, but Gamaken's shield met it with a ringing.
*Clank!*
As he was smacked by the shield, Sakumo mid air recovered, safely landing.
My hand dove into my pouch, pulling out a handful of shuriken and tossed them forward, weaving the signs quickly.
Ox → Dog → Dragon → Rat → Dog → Boar → Snake → Tiger
[Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique]
In an instant, dozens of gleaming blades filled the air, spinning toward Sakumo from every direction. He didn't panic. His eyes sharpened, and he twisted his wrist, his saber flashing as he deflected each on with ease.
Gamaken soon after swung his sasumata again.
*Boom!*
Hit strike, hitting nothing but dirt.
"Be careful, I hit a clone!" Gamaken said in a hurry.
Sakumo was off to the right, moving faster than I could track. A blur of white crossed my vision as he closed the distance.
I jumped down from Gamaken's head just in time, landing lightly as Sakumo's blade sliced through where I'd been.
I barely had time to bring my arm up before he was already in front of me again.
This guy was relentless and fast.
Our clash began in a flurry of movement. I went for a low kick, aiming to sweep his legs, but he jumped lightly over it and countered with a downward strike. I blocked with my forearm guard.
*Thwack*
'He's stronger than me.'
Now awkwardly on the ground, barely fending off his hit, I shove my hand sideways to deflect the blade and gather myself.
I then countered with an elbow to his ribs. He slid back just enough to avoid it.
Gamaken, seeing the opening, swung his sasumata toward Sakumo's blind spot, but the white-haired Chunin, aware of the extra friend, dodged on time and didn't stay for the explosion.
I rushed in again, throwing a quick jab followed by a spinning kick. He blocked both easily, his movements fluid. Before my mind could react, he broke through my guard and had his sabre up to my neck.
I froze, panting, sweat running down my cheek.
"Should I ask lord third for a higher payout?" he said softly, joking a bit. "That was tougher than expected. Not to offend, after all, seeing your age."
I exhaled, falling to the ground. "None taken. While I'm not sure about the payment, I'll cover the medical bills at least."
My joke caused him to chuckle. "Haha! Don't worry about that."
As his sentence finished, Gamaken disappeared in a poof. Sakumo, also panting a bit tired, takes a seat on the grass next to me.
Thinking back to the fight on what my mistake could of been, the glaring highlight was me leaving Gamaken. Reacting to his hit or dodging and staying with my summon would of been safer...
"He packs quite the punch, thank god I didn't have to fight a summon like that in the exams." His words reminded me to ask him a few things.
"Oh yeah, about those tips, can you give me some now if it's not too much to ask?"
He sat up, resting his arms on his knees. "Sure! In the Chunin Exams in the combat sections, watch out for poison users. It's the reason my two other squad members weren't able to rank up."
That caught my attention. "Poison, huh?"
He nodded. "A lot of shinobi rely on toxins. Especially Kunoichi, for some reason, something about not getting their hands dirty, my old Kurama teammate said." Sakumo shakes his head with a reminiscent smile.
"Thanks for the heads up, I'll keep that in mind. On the topic of your team, what do you mean by old teammate? Shouldn't you guys still be together?"
He shook his head
"My team split up, and each of them went to train with their clans. The Aburame and Kurama clan. So they'll probably train up and then get a fill teammate the next exams roll by."
"Are you planning on joining any teams?" I ask.
"Hmm, not yet. But got an invite from a three man squad, they seem quite good. They have a Shimura, Sarutobi, and Yamanka, which isn't a bad lineup. I might accept their invite, but I'm just doing any mission possible right now to improve my mission rating." He answers.
He started to ramble a bit on how his fighting style of close combat would suit that squad.
"If you're hung up about it, how about joining me?" My invitation caused him to pause for a moment.
He blinked, turning to me. "Join your team?"
"Yeah." I sat up, wiping sweat from my forehead. "When I become a Chunin, I'm forming my own squad. I'll need someone reliable, and you fit that bill. The Chunin exams are in a month, so if you can wait a bit, I'll be with you."
"That's some confidence, but you do deserve it," Sakumo says, patting my shoulders. "Well, I'll gladly join you after seeing what you can do in that spar. But if you don't rank up, I might have to join another group for now."
Sakumo answered a bit timidly scratching his cheek. Looking at him with stars in my eyes, this was an opportunity.
'I need to pull out the I refuse your refusal.'
"Okay! So if I rank up, you join my team, and if I fail, you join my team later on. Deal?" I insist, hands held out. Sakumo, hearing my words, chuckles at my brimming energy.
"Haha! Of course I'll accept." He answers accepting my handshake.
With this, a future member was secured.
Remembering his fate, which was to commit seppuku due to some rumors, I vow to change his fate. This legend will be under my banner, and let it be damned if anything happens to him.
Especially considering he's actually a nice guy.
Sakumo Hatake, I will make you my sharpest blade.