"Guess there's no escaping training after all, huh?"
Shikamaru sighed as he walked down the street.
It was Monday — the start of a new training cycle — and he had no clue what the new lessons would be.
The unknown was always the scariest part. After that nightmare of water-walking drills, he already had a bad feeling about what was coming.
"I think Kitazawa-sensei's training is pretty fun, actually,"
Ino said, tilting her head.
"Did Kitazawa-sensei use any jutsu during your water-walking lesson?"
Shikamaru asked, glancing at her.
"Nope," Ino shook her head. "Sakura and I just threw kunai at each other."
"My pain is greater than yours!"
Shikamaru wailed dramatically. "You have no idea what I went through!"
"Wait — why do both of you even have special training sessions?"
Choji Akimichi asked curiously.
"Hey!"
Shikamaru blurted out. "That's hell you're walking into!"
"That bad?"
Choji instantly gave up the idea. "Forget I asked."
"Ino!"
Sakura Haruno came running up from a distance. "What are you guys talking about?"
"Kitazawa-sensei's training," Ino answered, then blinked. "You're starting medical ninjutsu today, right?"
"Yup!"
Sakura nodded eagerly. "I've been waiting for this for so long!"
"You're really lucky, you know that?"
Ino and Shikamaru exchanged looks.
Sakura, a ninja from a civilian family, had somehow been chosen to learn medical ninjutsu in her first year. That kind of opportunity was unheard of.
"Why are you calling me lucky?"
Sakura glared. "If you're jealous, you could ask Kitazawa-sensei to teach you too!"
"Medical ninjutsu isn't something you just pick up, Sakura,"
Ino said earnestly. "You just happened to meet the right teacher. Without him, you'd never have had this chance."
"Is that… really true?"
Sakura blinked — it was rare to see Ino look that serious.
She thought for a moment, then nodded. "You're right. I'll have to thank Kitazawa-sensei properly."
"When I master the Mind Transfer Jutsu, I'll have to thank him too," Ino sighed. The only problem was — she didn't know how.
"Kitazawa-sensei told us to meet him directly at the training field today," Ino said as they reached the Academy gates.
"Do your best," Choji said, waving one hand — the other still holding a bag of chips.
For the Akimichi Clan, even eating was training — they converted calories into chakra for combat.
"What's coming will come," Shikamaru muttered grimly.
"You're overreacting," Ino said, trying not to laugh at his miserable expression.
"Hey, Sasuke-kun!"
Sakura spotted Sasuke Uchiha in the distance and ran toward him, excited.
"Don't come closer," Sasuke warned, turning his head — and spat out three small fire dragons.
The air shimmered with heat; Sakura froze mid-step.
Kitazawa raised an eyebrow.
So he trained at home?
He can already produce three fire dragons?
The image of Itachi Uchiha flashed through his mind.
With such a prodigy as his brother, it wasn't surprising Sasuke's progress had accelerated — but he still had a long way to go.
Even for Sasuke, mastering a B-rank Fire Style jutsu was already impressive.
Unlike Naruto, he didn't have an enormous chakra pool — not because the Uchiha lacked chakra, but because Sasuke was still young.
A ninja's physical growth and chakra limits weren't fully developed until around age twenty.
"Alright, Sakura," Kitazawa said, "Go to the school's lake and catch a fish."
That morning, he'd just finished learning the Healing Hands Technique: Minor himself.
Having the lesson here made Sakura's training look perfectly natural — no one would question why a first-year was learning advanced medical arts.
"Eh?"
Sakura blinked. "Catch a fish?"
"That's right," Kitazawa nodded. "Stun it — don't kill it."
"Got it!"
Still puzzled, Sakura jogged off toward the lake.
"Ino, Shikamaru — over here," Kitazawa beckoned.
Ino froze slightly.
Wait… my training changed too?
Shikamaru, meanwhile, looked relieved.
If Ino was included, then maybe his new training wouldn't be as terrifying.
Kitazawa had recently acquired the Shadow Possession Jutsu.
That gave him an idea — training their Yin Release chakra control.
Yin Release was the art of giving form to imagination — creating substance from will and spiritual energy.
For example: the Shadow Possession Jutsu turned a simple shadow — an optical illusion — into a physical force.
Similarly, the Yamanaka Clan's Mind Transfer Jutsu turned thoughts into tangible energy that could control another body.
"Your new training," Kitazawa said, "is to develop your Yin Release chakra nature."
Shikamaru and Ino exchanged surprised glances.
Even as clan heirs, they knew how difficult Yin and Yang Release were to refine.
And here was an Academy teacher, offering to train them in exactly that.
"Your first exercise is simple."
Kitazawa placed a small wooden puppet on the ground. "Shikamaru — control its shadow."
Shikamaru formed the seals.
His shadow extended and connected with the puppet's.
"Now," Kitazawa continued, "reshape its shadow into a desk."
Shikamaru frowned, concentrating hard.
This was nothing like normal Shadow Possession — it wasn't about controlling movement, but shaping the shadow itself.
Sweat dripped down his forehead.
After a long struggle, he managed to twist the shadow into a rough desk shape.
"Not bad," Kitazawa said approvingly — then dumped a pile of wooden puppets beside him. "They're all yours."
"...Huh?"
Shikamaru's face went blank.
If the water-walking drills had been physical torture, this was pure mental agony.
He honestly couldn't tell which was worse.
"What about me?"
Ino asked eagerly.
"Wait until Sakura returns," Kitazawa said.
Ino frowned slightly.
What does her training have to do with mine?
Moments later, Sakura returned, holding a flopping carp.
"Kitazawa-sensei, I got one!"
"Good."
Kitazawa nodded, setting a table in front of her. "I'll teach you the Healing Hands Technique: Minor."
He placed the fish on the table and made a small incision with a kunai.
Then, forming hand seals, he pressed his palms over the wound.
"Medical Ninjutsu: Healing Hands Technique: Minor!"
A soft green light appeared, covering the fish — the wound vanished in seconds.
"Wow, Kitazawa-sensei really knows medical ninjutsu!"
Ino was genuinely impressed.
"Your turn," Kitazawa said, making another shallow cut.
Sakura took a deep breath and focused.
A faint green glow flickered around her hands — but faded within seconds.
"It's normal to fail at first," Kitazawa said kindly. "Try again."
After half an hour of effort, the carp's wound finally closed.
"Excellent," Kitazawa nodded. "Keep practicing until you can heal instantly."
"Yes, Kitazawa-sensei!"
Sakura said proudly.
"What about me, sensei?"
Ino asked again.
"This carp is still alive — it has consciousness," Kitazawa said. "Your task is to seize its mind."
Ino's eyes widened slightly.
So she'd be practicing the Mind Transfer Jutsu on the fish.
"But be warned," Kitazawa said seriously. "Sakura will keep cutting the fish while you're inside it. If you don't want to get hurt, you'll have to leave the host body before the wound is made."
Ino's face stiffened.
The biggest weakness of her clan's jutsu — injuries suffered by the target were reflected on the user.
And since Sakura's healing time would only get faster, she'd have to be quick.
In other words, the two girls were about to start another round of rivalry — just like the water-walking drills.
"To keep things interesting," Kitazawa added with a sly smile, "whoever loses will have double homework tonight."
Instantly, Sakura and Ino locked eyes — both brimming with determination.
"One last thing," Kitazawa said loudly. "This afternoon's sparring class will be held jointly with Year 2, Class A."
Shikamaru, Sakura, and Ino didn't react much.
But Hinata Hyuga and Sasuke Uchiha froze.
For Hinata, it meant seeing Neji again.
For Sasuke, it meant a chance — finally — to challenge him.
During the last joint exercise, Yakumo had stolen the spotlight before Sasuke could even enter the arena.
Now that he was stronger, Sasuke couldn't wait.
Afternoon — Academy Training Field
The two classes gathered together for their first combined combat session.
Some students looked nervous; others were already chatting excitedly.
After the friendship match last time, most of them knew each other.
"Naruto!"
Rock Lee shouted across the field.
"Lee!"
Naruto Uzumaki yelled back.
They sprinted toward each other — and embraced dramatically.
"This is the epitome of youth!"
Lee cried.
"I can't watch this," Tenten sighed, facepalming.
Neji Hyuga's lips twitched.
Dealing with Lee was bad enough — now there were two of them.
"Double the chaos," Kiba muttered. "I'm not sure the world's ready for that."
"I'm starting to think combining classes was a mistake," Sakura said dryly, glancing at Sasuke. "At least you're normal."
Sasuke shivered slightly at the thought.
Even if it killed him, he'd never act like those two.
Hinata, meanwhile, was lost in thought — until a warm hand gently patted her head.
"Time to start class," Kitazawa said with a kind smile before stepping forward.
"Year 1, Class A — to the left.
Year 2, Class A — to the right."
Both groups quickly lined up.
"Though it's a joint session, just follow the usual drills,"
Kitazawa said evenly. "We'll rotate sparring groups as normal."
"Kitazawa-sensei!"
Sasuke raised his hand.
"Yes, Sasuke?"
"I want to challenge Neji Hyuga."
A murmur spread instantly through both classes.
Everyone had wondered what would happen if these two geniuses fought — they'd almost faced each other in the last event, but Yakumo had intervened.
Kitazawa looked up at the cloudless sky.
A perfect sunny day.
Fitting, he thought. Sasuke's confidence always blooms under clear skies.
"I accept," Neji said calmly.
"Alright," Kitazawa nodded. "Keep it clean — no killing blows."
If Sasuke wanted a beating, Kitazawa wasn't about to stop him.
Sasuke and Neji faced each other in the open field.
"Begin!"
Kitazawa called.
Sasuke leapt back, drawing six shuriken — three in each hand.
Neji charged forward.
Sasuke's eyes narrowed, and he threw all six.
"Byakugan — Open!"
Neji's pupils widened, veins bulging around his eyes as his vision expanded.
He read every trajectory — and slipped between the shuriken with effortless grace.
"They all missed!"
Hinata clenched her fists.
Just because you could see an attack didn't mean you could dodge it — but Neji made it look easy.
"Using ninja tools against Neji? That's a mistake,"
Tenten smirked. "Even I throw better than Sasuke."
"Can Sasuke-kun win?"
Sakura asked worriedly.
"He'll win," Naruto said confidently.
"Don't forget what kind of training he's been through," Ino added. "He's not even using his full strength yet."
But before Sakura could reply, gasps rippled through the crowd.
Sasuke raised both hands, fingers twitching rapidly like a pianist.
The six shuriken embedded in the ground suddenly rose back into the air — circling around Neji.
"You've fallen for it, Neji!"
Sasuke said triumphantly. "My Manipulated Shuriken Technique!"
For a moment, it looked like victory.
Then Neji blurred forward, dodging every spinning blade.
"What—?!"
Sasuke's eyes widened.
"Your wires are invisible to most," Neji said calmly, "but not to the Byakugan. I can see every strand."
"Tch!"
Sasuke grit his teeth.
He used my own comeback line on me!
Neji didn't give him time to recover.
In an instant, he was in front of Sasuke — his palms glowing with chakra.
"Gentle Fist!"
Neji struck in rapid succession.
Sasuke barely managed to flip backward, bracing himself with one hand — but Neji's kick sent him flying several meters.
Sasuke hit the ground hard, skidding to a stop.
Still, he forced himself up, forming hand seals.
"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"
The massive fireball roared forward, lighting up the field.
Neji dodged aside — and Sasuke struck again.
"Fire Style: Dragon Flame Jutsu!"
Three smaller dragons burst out — unsteady, but blazing.
The students gasped. Even imperfect, it was a powerful move.
Neji frowned slightly.
Impressive, but misguided. The fire dragons were too small and too slow.
He stepped forward through the flames, striking four times in a blur.
Sasuke dropped instantly, his chakra flow completely disrupted.
"You've lost, Sasuke," Neji said evenly.
"I… I haven't—"
Sasuke tried to rise, but his chakra was too scrambled to move.
Kitazawa exhaled quietly.
Sunny day or not… Sasuke's still got a lot to learn.