Summer break arrived, and Shorai slipped into the rhythm of quiet discipline.
Each morning began with stretches, running, and exercises—building stamina without drawing attention. Then, activating the Reality Stone, he entered sensory mode, scanning for followers. More than once, he detected the faint presence of an ANBU, hidden in shadow. It surprised him, but he was glad his night training had been done under invisibility—no trace left behind.
From late morning to midday, he honed his skills: shurikenjutsu without enhancement, each throw refined through repetition. Taijutsu followed—stances, forms, striking a tree to build impact and precision. Then came meditation—sensing chakra, guiding it through his body, practicing leaf adhesion both stationary and while walking.
In the late afternoon, he slipped into the library, diving into medical texts—herbology, anatomy, chakra pathways. He reread and reinforced what he'd learned, building a foundation for future fuinjutsu.
Back in his room, he rested briefly before resuming training—wall-walking, ceiling crawls, all hidden from prying eyes. Sometimes, he altered his routine—sleeping early, then slipping out at 10 PM to train with the Stone power's private tutoring. Shuriken flew with perfect precision. Taijutsu flowed with steady confidence. He sparred against replicas of classmates, gaining combat rhythm. On rare nights free of surveillance, he practiced tenketsu targeting on a warped humanoid dummy, marking vital points, refining his aim.
Naruto spotted him once, mid-stride, vanishing into the trees. "Hey! Training again? It's break time!" But Shorai only waved and kept moving—no time to explain.
By summer's end, Shorai had solidified his core:
• Shuriken precision — consistent, controlled.
• Taijutsu form — firm, fluid.
• Sparring confidence — calm, adaptive.
• Theory & chakra control — sharp, steady.
• Tenketsu awareness — experimental, growing.
The Stone helped tremendously. He had become the storm—quiet, focused, inevitable.
—
September began with a shift in tone.
Shorai returned to the Academy, greeted by familiar faces—Naruto's loud energy, Sasuke's quiet presence, and yet something felt a bit off. Then he saw him: Itachi Uchiha, standing beside his brother. The elder brother's gaze was calm, observant. "Sasuke speaks of you," he said quietly. "Says you've pushed him." Shorai nodded, respectful. "He's strong. I'm just trying to keep up." A faint smile touched Itachi's lips before they parted ways.
In class, Iruka opened with a question:
"So, who can tell me what's needed to perform a jutsu—besides chakra?"
Hands rose. Shorai hesitated, then raised his.
"Shorai?"
"Sensei… the question feels off." Murmurs spread. Iruka stiffened. "Hand signs help—but they're not a requirement. Saying they are… could limit someone before they even begin."
Silence.
Then, slowly, Iruka smiled. "Go on."
Shorai continued: "Hand signs are like training wheels. They guide chakra, make learning safer. But some—like the Third, or the Second Hokage—could perform jutsu without them. The real foundation is chakra control and intent. Signs are a tool—not a rule."
The class absorbed his words. Sasuke watched him, eyes sharp.
Iruka nodded. "Exactly. Hand signs are an aid, not a necessity. Well said, Shorai."
He turned to the board. "Today—introduction to the 12 basic seals."
The second semester's curriculum deepened:
• Ninjutsu theory advanced—focus on explaining the Clone, Transformation, and Substitution techniques.
• Chakra control evolved—students practiced leaf-walking and chakra adhesion.
• Taijutsu sparring grew more intense—Shorai and Sasuke's matches now drew full attention.
• Genjutsu awareness lessons began—how to detect and break illusions.
• Shinobi laws, combat tactics, and Will of Fire philosophy filled theory hours.
• A brief intro to sealing—Iruka demonstrated storage scrolls and explosive tags, though no one used them.
• Calligraphy continued—Shorai still practiced, eyes on a distant goal.
Time flew. With each passing week, Shorai began to notice more and more of Sasuke's subtle emotional shift—his pride, his quiet tension. What surprised Shorai was seeing Itachi, who walked with Sasuke more often now, a silent guardian.
One day, as Academy ended, Shorai watched Sasuke leave again with his brother.
"Hm… today was stranger than usual…"
He took notice and went home.
He was lost in thought.
The increase in ANBU movements, Itachi's visits.
Back in his room, a thought kept bugging him, like something he'd eluded him. He stretched, yawning, eyes moving around the room, stopping on the calendar.
"Oh... I forgot to change it... September just ended..."
He strolled lazily and tore the page.
Thursday, October 9.
"Huh. Tomorrow's my birthday...the night is coming" he muttered, half-smiling. "Oh. Naruto's birthday too."