Chapter 6: Physical Skills Level 2
"Not a demon fox, but bearing the demon fox's infamy?"
Iruka fell into deep thought.
At seventeen, he wasn't yet the Iruka of six years later—the one who would come to see Naruto as his best student and understand his loneliness. Right now, he was still young, and while he wasn't outright cruel, he couldn't deny that he felt uncomfortable around Naruto.
It wasn't just the rumors labeling Naruto as the 'demon fox' that unsettled him. It was also Naruto's constant pranks, his loud and chaotic energy, and his desperate need for attention that made him a difficult student to manage.
Yet, after hearing Tsuruma Nobuyuki's words, something shifted in Iruka's mind.
If Naruto truly wasn't the demon fox, then his behavior—his dismissiveness, his subconscious avoidance—wasn't just an unspoken bias. It was a failure in his duty as a teacher.
Iruka's mood became complicated.
After a long pause, he took a deep breath and looked at Nobuyuki seriously.
"Thank you, Nobuyuki," he said solemnly. "I think I understand now."
Nobuyuki smiled, a feeling of satisfaction washing over him.
He understood that, on his own, he couldn't erase the deep-seated prejudice of the entire Hidden Leaf Village. He couldn't make the adults suddenly treat Naruto with kindness, nor could he change how people whispered behind his back.
But he could make a difference, even if it was small.
He could influence Iruka.
And perhaps, by doing that, he could ensure Naruto had at least one teacher who wasn't indifferent or dismissive toward him.
Even if this only changed things a few days, or even just a few hours earlier than they originally had, it was still something.
That realization filled him with a sense of purpose.
Iruka, meanwhile, was also experiencing a subtle but profound shift in perspective. He had always considered himself a fair teacher, but Nobuyuki's words had forced him to confront an uncomfortable truth.
And just like that, some of the tension in his heart eased.
He smiled back at Nobuyuki, genuinely this time.
"Alright," Iruka said, his usual warmth returning to his tone. "Let's not dwell on this for too long. We have training to do."
With that, the two continued their journey to the training ground.
Arrival at the Training Grounds
The Hidden Leaf Village's ninja school training grounds were expansive. There were several designated areas, some for sparring, others for target practice, and a few specially designed for endurance training.
Iruka and Nobuyuki arrived at one of the open sparring fields, where the morning sun cast long shadows over the ground.
Iruka turned to face his student, his expression becoming serious.
"Nobuyuki, taijutsu is the art of turning the body into a weapon through rigorous training," he explained. "There are no shortcuts in taijutsu. No special techniques that will let you bypass the hard work. The only way to improve is through experience and discipline."
He paused, letting the words sink in before continuing.
"What I can offer you isn't some secret trick or hidden technique. Instead, I will help you refine your basics, teach you small but effective methods to make your movements more efficient, and most importantly—help you understand your weaknesses through combat."
Nobuyuki nodded without hesitation.
"That's enough, Iruka-sensei."
He knew perfectly well that Iruka wasn't someone who could teach him advanced techniques like the Eight Gates, Chidori, or Rasengan. Those were skills that only high-ranking jonin or legendary shinobi possessed.
But that wasn't why he had asked Iruka to train him.
What he needed right now was a strong foundation, an understanding of the basics that would allow him to progress faster later on.
Besides, the fact that Iruka was personally going to spar with him was already an unexpected bonus.
Iruka, seeing Nobuyuki's unwavering determination, smiled slightly.
Without wasting any more time, he formed the Seal of Confrontation, signaling the start of their match.
Nobuyuki took his stance, bracing himself.
Then Iruka moved.
The First Exchange
Bang! Bang! Bang!
A flurry of attacks came at Nobuyuki almost immediately.
Iruka wasn't going all out, but he wasn't holding back too much either. His movements were sharp, deliberate, and controlled. He used a speed that was slightly beyond Nobuyuki's current abilities, making it clear that he was going to keep him on the defensive.
Nobuyuki wasn't surprised.
After all, while he had managed to defeat Sasuke during yesterday's sparring session, that was more due to Sasuke's arrogance and lack of adaptability rather than his own superior skill.
In terms of raw combat ability, he estimated that Sasuke's performance had been at taijutsu level 2 at best.
Meanwhile, Nobuyuki himself had barely reached level 1 taijutsu, even after all the experience he gained in class.
And Iruka?
He was a full-fledged chunin. Even if he wasn't the strongest, his taijutsu was leagues above what Nobuyuki had faced before.
But—
That was exactly why this was perfect.
Even as Iruka's attacks landed, causing mild but noticeable bruises, Nobuyuki felt something exhilarating—his experience points were skyrocketing.
+10
+8
+9
With every exchange, every impact, his progress bar filled rapidly.
Of course, this wasn't a one-sided beating.
Nobuyuki wasn't just standing still and taking hits. He was dodging, countering, and pushing himself to match Iruka's rhythm. But for every step he took forward, Iruka was already two steps ahead.
Still, that didn't discourage him.
If anything, it excited him.
"Again!" he shouted, lunging forward despite his exhaustion.
Iruka hesitated for a brief second.
Originally, he had planned to call for a break, worried that Nobuyuki was taking too much damage too quickly. But something in the boy's expression made him pause.
He wasn't fighting recklessly.
He wasn't being stubborn.
He was learning.
And not only that—his movements were actually improving at an alarming rate.
Iruka narrowed his eyes.
Had he underestimated Nobuyuki?
A Sudden Turn of Events
The next exchange happened in a flash.
Iruka launched another combination attack, but this time—Nobuyuki's movements changed.
They became smoother, more refined.
Instead of reacting too slowly or overcommitting to dodges, he started weaving through Iruka's strikes with a level of fluidity that wasn't there moments ago.
Then, before Iruka could fully process what was happening—
A fist slipped through his guard and stopped right in front of his nose.
A perfect counterattack.
Iruka blinked.
"I… almost got hit?"
Then, Nobuyuki grinned.
"Sensei, getting distracted during a fight is a bad habit," he teased.
Iruka sighed, shaking his head in amusement.
He had been underestimating him.
But more importantly, he could see it now—Nobuyuki had leveled up.
His taijutsu had reached level 2.
Even though it was only the beginning of that level, the difference was already noticeable.
However, Nobuyuki also felt something else.
His legs were sore. His muscles weren't fully adapted to his new movements yet.
"This system of mine really doesn't compensate for my physical limitations," he thought, stretching slightly.
Still, despite the exhaustion, he was feeling incredible.
Aftermath and Reflection
Iruka studied Nobuyuki for a moment before smiling.
"You really are full of surprises, Nobuyuki."
Then, after a pause, he added, "If you keep improving like this, you might really become an incredible ninja one day."
Nobuyuki's eyes lit up with amusement.
"Oh? Not an incredible Hokage?"
Iruka chuckled.
"Becoming Hokage isn't just about strength. It requires wisdom, leadership, and the recognition of the entire village."
Nobuyuki smirked.
"Well, let's not rule anything out just yet."
Iruka laughed.
And just like that, the lesson continued.