Chapter 52: Training Begins
[Note: Up till the 20th it'll be 1 chap per week, I'll be busier during this time]
The Forest erupted into chaos as Team 16 faced off against the pack of monkeys. As each member of team 16 fought, holding a defensive position, the relentless battle began to take its toll, and the team felt their chakra reserves dwindling.
"Damnit! I can't even use ninjutsu because these suits," Daichi grumbled, dodging a swift attack. "I barely have enough chakra."
"Complaining won't help us now," Ryuu snapped back, his eyes locked on the approaching enemies. "We just have to push through!"
The monkeys fought with an unexpected level of coordination, they were surprisingly good at taijutsu and presented an unforeseen challenge. Hikari's Byakugan strained to keep track of the swift movements. "They're too fast... and strong!" she exclaimed, her voice tinged with desperation. The team's movements grew sluggish, and their defenses weakened under the relentless assault.
With a final coordinated strike, the monkeys overwhelmed Team 16. One by one, the team members fell unconscious, their chakra drained and bodies battered.
When they finally stirred, they found themselves in a different location, the surroundings unfamiliar. Groaning, Ryuu sat up and noticed a piece of paper pinned to a nearby tree. He plucked it off and read it aloud, his voice dripping with irritation.
"Better luck next time. - Daniel"
Ryuu crumpled the letter in his hand, frustration etched across his face. "That guy… We need to get back at him."
Hikari and Daichi exchanged weary yet determined glances. They had been caught off guard, but they weren't ready to give up just yet.
"We should rest here first," Hikari suggested, her voice soft but firm as she sank to the ground. Weariness was etched into every line of her face, a stark contrast to the unwavering resolve in her eyes.
"It's no good if we're exhausted," she continued, glancing around at her teammates. "And it's not like we're in a hurry."
Ryuu nodded, a hint of relief crossing his features. "I agree," he said simply, his voice carrying the weight of their shared fatigue. The three of them found a spot to settle for the night, the weight of the day's battles finally catching up to them. As they rested, the gentle rustle of the forest around them became a soothing lullaby, and they slowly drifted into a much-needed sleep.
Morning came gently, with the first rays of sunlight filtering through the trees. The three were roused from their slumber by an inviting scent wafting through the air. "Food!" Daichi exclaimed, eyes wide as he jolted awake, unintentionally waking the others. He wasted no time, immediately diving towards the source of the smell.
Three tables were laid out with an impressive spread of food and ninja equipment. "I guess Daniel left these for us," Ryuu remarked, his tone both grateful and wary as he took a seat. "But still, we shouldn't be reckless and just..." His words trailed off as he watched Daichi stuffing his face. Daichi handed Ryuu a small note, his mouth too full to speak.
"Here, some food and equipment -- Daniel," the letter read, easing the tension in Ryuu's shoulders as they began to eat.
"Fuwuu! I'm stuffed," Daichi sighed contentedly, patting his belly. "The guy might be crazy, but he sure knows how to cook."
"Are you done? We should get going now," Ryuu urged, eager to move forward.
"Wait!" Hikari interjected, her voice filled with a sudden excitement. "I was checking my bag and I found this." She pulled out a small book, her fingers trembling slightly.
"Huh... Wait... Mine too," Daichi said, finding a similar book rolled up neatly in his ninja bag. Ryuu checked his own bag and, sure enough, pulled out a book as well.
"Way to go, Hikari! Maybe this is a clue or something," Daichi laughed, his usual humor returning. Hikari opened her book and her eyes widened as she read the contents.
"Amazing, when did he...?" she murmured in awe.
"What? What's it say?" Daichi asked, curiosity burning in his eyes.
"Just open yours and you'll see," she replied, a smile playing on her lips. The others followed suit and opened their books.
"Instructions?" Daichi echoed, confused.
"No, you idiot. This is what we've been missing," Ryuu explained, his voice filled with realization. "But taking this into account means we'll need to start basically over from scratch. And look, it says that with every checkpoint we reach, we'll receive more instruction manuals to help us improve. It truly is amazing." His eyes shone with a renewed determination as the team processed this unexpected gift from Daniel.
"Wait! We can't leave now," Hikari exclaimed, her eyes blazing with determination. "Let's practice first. We'll leave after some time."
The others nodded, each of them grabbed their unique instruction manuals, as they flipped through the pages, they saw specific, tailored techniques meant to hone their individual skills.
Each member of the team chose a corner of the campsite and began their training. The air was filled with the sounds of their determined efforts, each one pushing their limits.
"Hmmm, this might take longer than expected... Maybe," Daniel mused as he watched over them. They were making progress, but it was slow, and he knew they needed a push.
"Monkey-san, Banna-Kage, and Fuzzy-sama! Go help out our guests," Daniel called out. Three imposing monkeys, each around six feet tall and carrying staffs, stepped forward. These were Daniel's creations, his own version of Wukong. He had ensured they were proficient in staff fighting, among other skills, making them more than capable in battle. They were some of his successful experiments, now serving as his summons.
The three monkeys approached the team, their presence commanding attention. "This should accelerate their training," Daniel thought with a smirk.
"Ahhhh! The monkeys are attacking! And they brought their bosses too," Daichi screamed, his voice trembling as the three imposing monkeys approached. Panic surged through him, but he stood his ground.
"We are not here for a fight," Fuzzy-sama declared, his tone authoritative. "Instead, we weren't pleased by your battle with the Creampuff gang the other day."
"Creampuff gang! Are you referring to those monkeys that defeated us?" Ryuu responded, confusion and frustration mingling in his voice. Meanwhile, Hikari worked to calm Daichi down in the background.
"Yes. Upon seeing your fight, we were greatly displeased," Banna-Kage continued, stepping forward. "You see, in this forest, you can't survive with your current skills. And we were already going easy on you. We'll give you the benefit of being young and humans do age slower, but there's no way you'll make it out at your current rate."
"So we, the Monkey Kings Five, will take it upon ourselves to train you," the three monkeys announced in unison, striking a dramatic pose.
"Uhh... Are these guys really here to help us?" Daichi muttered, pointing with a deadpan look, clearly unimpressed.
"I've already accepted it," Hikari replied with a resigned sigh. "There's no way this place would have normal creatures."
"But I don't wanna turn out like that," Daichi grumbled internally, his mind racing with doubt.
"There's only three of you, though," Ryuu noted, eyeing the trio with skepticism.
"Of course there is," Fuzzy-sama answered, striking another pose. "Since there are three of you, three out of us five brothers came to help."
"Right... It's not like we have a choice," Ryuu mumbled, the weight of the situation sinking in.
"Haha, of course you don't," Monkey-san laughed heartily. "Now come on, time won't wait for anyone."
With that, the three monkeys each claimed a member of Team 16. They moved swiftly, using the Shunshin technique to transport them to their base, where the intense training would commence. As they vanished into the forest, the team members felt a mixture of apprehension and anticipation, ready to face the challenges that awaited them.
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[A/N: I'll skip the training part but If y'all actually want more of this then I'll post it on my Patreon]