Chapter 16: The Surface of the Water
"Uchiha Takumi actually won?"
"He's... surprisingly strong."
"No way, the bet's off! That was a fluke!"
After a moment of stunned silence, the training ground erupted into a cacophony of whispers and exclamations. A few students who had placed wagers on the match's outcome were now in heated debate.
"Hey, you can't just welch on a bet!"
"Fine, fine! You can have my... my magazines..."
Defeating the class's perennial last-place student shouldn't have been shocking. But the context was everything. This was a boy who, by all accounts, had only learned the crudest chakra refinement weeks ago, defeating a ninja-in-training who had years of formal education. The implications were unsettling. It suggested that years of diligent practice could be rendered meaningless by a few days of raw, innate talent.
A new label was silently affixed to Takumi by his peers: Physical Prodigy. The most frightening part was the rumor that he had already awakened the Sharingan at such a young age. Combined with the Uchiha clan's famed affinity for Fire Release, it was anyone's guess what other talents lay dormant within him.
"I'll admit, that guy's not half bad," Asuma Sarutobi commented, chewing on a piece of grass.
"Yes," Kurenai Yuhi agreed softly, her crimson eyes fixed on Takumi. Her long, dark curls swayed in the gentle breeze, framing her face. "I wonder... what his prowess with genjutsu is like?" she murmured, almost to herself.
"Huh? What was that?" Asuma asked, not quite catching her words.
"Nothing," Kurenai replied, shaking her head.
On the field, Instructor Mizuki checked on Obito. "Don't be too discouraged, Obito. There's always next time. Just some minor bruises," he said, offering a few words of hollow comfort.
"Hmph! I was just off my game today!" Obito grumbled, his face burning with humiliation at having lost so decisively in front of Rin.
"It's alright, Obito. You tried your best," Nohara Rin offered, her voice gentle.
Hearing her consolation, some of the sting left Obito's defeat, replaced by a familiar, dopey grin.
"What a shame Takumi won't join me for special youth training!" Might Guy lamented, striking a dramatic pose of despair. "If he immersed himself in the flames of passion, his gains would be immense!"
"No," Kakashi interjected flatly, a shudder running down his spine at the mental image of an Uchiha in green spandex and a bowl-cut. "You'd be doing him a disservice."
His visible eye narrowed thoughtfully as he watched Takumi rejoin the crowd. Uchiha Takumi... he bears further observation. Kakashi's patience for the Academy's slow pace was wearing thin. The idea of applying for early graduation was becoming more appealing by the day. His father, the legendary White Fang, had been a name that shook the ninja world. He was wasting his time here. By age four, before even enrolling, he had mastered Earth Release: Earth-Style Wave. He had won first place in a ninjutsu competition, earning a silver kunai as a prize. If Uchiha Takumi could also graduate early... he might not be a terrible candidate for a teammate.
Back amidst the students, Takumi politely navigated the surprised comments and questions. Internally, however, his focus was elsewhere. The 'Lightning Release: Iron Fortress' technique was proving incredibly useful. He could feel his body's development accelerating. During the fight with Obito, his movements had felt noticeably more fluid and responsive than the day before.
The jutsu worked by concentrating lightning chakra into specific subcutaneous muscle fibers. Through a precise chakra frequency, it drove an electric current deep into the muscle tissue. This current stimulated fast-twitch fibers, triggering their protein synthesis and causing rapid, focused muscle expansion. It was far more efficient than traditional exercise. The drawback was its inability to strengthen internal organs or bones, only granting superficial toughness and minor defensive benefits. But for Takumi's current needs, it was more than sufficient.
He hadn't even mastered it fully yet, only applying the principle to isolated muscle groups. Once he achieved complete proficiency, his physical growth would skyrocket.
As Instructor Mizuki called the next pair for sparring, Takumi continued his subtle practice, silently guiding threads of lightning chakra through his pathways. To a Hyuga's Byakugan, his chakra network would have appeared as a shimmering web of faint, pulsating electricity.
He was growing stronger, bit by bit. The Takumi of today could easily defeat the frail boy who had arrived in Konoha over a month ago.
Dusk - Training Ground 3
The training ground was still bustling with activity as the sun began to set. At its edge, near a gently flowing stream, a small group had gathered.
"Today, we're moving on to water-walking," Nohara Rin announced, her tone instructive.
Kakashi and Obito were present as well. Obito had his arms crossed, deliberately putting distance between himself and Takumi while edging closer to Rin. Kakashi stood silently, his expression unreadable behind his mask as he listened. He knew all this already. The reason he had stayed after school for several days in a row was his observation of Takumi's daily progress. The ability to improve so consistently was a talent in itself. Many trained hard but remained stagnant.
This is significantly harder than tree-climbing. How will he handle it? Kakashi's gaze settled on Takumi.
Tree-climbing required gathering chakra to a specific point and maintaining a static amount. The tree didn't move; you just had to stick to it. It was the most fundamental lesson in chakra control.
Water-walking, however, was different. To stay atop the water's surface without sinking, you had to continuously release a precise and consistent amount of chakra. This amount had to be perfectly calibrated to support your body's weight. It tested a ninja's ability to sustain a specific chakra output over a prolonged period.
"When a ninja is refining chakra, they are, in essence, always in motion," Rin explained earnestly, clearly reciting well-learned lessons. "This makes controlling and maintaining a steady flow incredibly difficult. That's why a solid foundation is so crucial."
"Oh, I see," Obito said, a little too loudly, realizing that much of Rin's theoretical explanation had gone over his head. He glanced at Kakashi, whose posture hadn't changed—he obviously knew all this. He then looked at Takumi, who seemed deep in thought. A panic rose in Obito's chest. Don't tell me I'm the only one who didn't get it! He resolved to hit the books as soon as he got home.
"Let me demonstrate," Rin said. She slipped off her shoes and, with practiced ease, stepped onto the surface of the slowly moving stream. Her feet barely made a impression, creating only tiny, concentric ripples. She took a few steady steps, her balance perfect. "It's easier without shoes. You can focus the chakra directly on the soles of your feet. With shoes, you have to account for their thickness and how well they conduct chakra."
"Understood," Takumi said. He stepped forward, removing his Uchiha-style outer tunic, leaving only a long-sleeved undershirt. He formed a simple hand seal to focus his mind, gathered a measure of chakra, and carefully placed his bare foot onto the water's surface.
(End of Chapter)