NOVEL NEXT Chapter 13: Awakening Strength: The Training Begins
As the sun rose over the horizon, Naruto and Hana began their morning routine. They brushed their teeth, washed their faces, and changed into training clothes. Naruto's yellow hair had started to change, a faint white circle appearing at the center, though neither he nor Hana noticed the shift.
Downstairs, the smell of breakfast greeted them. Kushina had set out pancakes, scrambled eggs, and fresh fruit, filling the room with warmth. They all sat together, complimenting Kushina on the meal before starting their day.
After breakfast, Kushina turned to Naruto and Hana, "Remember to practice everything I taught you until sunset. Tomorrow, I'll test your skills."
Eager, Naruto and Hana nodded and quickly made their way to the backyard, ready to dive into training. The atmosphere shifted, charged with focus and determination.
Training in the Backyard
The open space allowed Naruto and Hana plenty of room to practice. Today, they would focus on taijutsu, chakra chain techniques, and non-chakra ninjutsu, each with their distinct style and power.
Naruto and Hana squared off, their stances firm. They started with basic movements, gradually increasing speed and complexity. Naruto's punches were swift, each strike carrying weight, while Hana's movements were graceful, weaving through strikes with precise dodges. They mirrored each other, reading cues and responding with agility. As they moved, a fine layer of sweat began to form, their expressions tightening with focus.
Naruto's eyes narrowed as he anticipated Hana's next move, sidestepping and countering with a low sweep. Hana leaped, her face set in determination, evading his attack and landing a spinning kick aimed at his shoulder. He blocked it, their movements becoming a seamless exchange of attacks and defenses. They continued until their breathing grew heavier, and every motion became second nature.
Once they warmed up, it was time to summon their unique chakra chains.
Naruto took a deep breath, extending his arm as the Abyssal Void Chain emerged. The chain was dark and shadowed, with a faint purple glow around each link. It pulsed with a mysterious energy that seemed to absorb light, radiating an intimidating power. He swung it, testing its weight and length, feeling the resistance as if the chain itself held a dark force.
Hana closed her eyes briefly, summoning the Heavenly Storm Chain. Her chain glowed silver-blue, sparking faintly with electricity, illuminating the area around her. Each link shimmered like polished steel, alive with storm-like energy. When she lashed it forward, arcs of blue light crackled along the chain's path, tracing her movements with flickers of lightning.
They began their drills, focusing on control and accuracy. Naruto swung his chain with calculated strength, the Abyssal Void Chain extending in wide, sweeping motions. He practiced striking targets with precision, each hit creating a small distortion as the chain absorbed energy from its surroundings.
Hana's Heavenly Storm Chain was swift, snapping through the air as she practiced rapid, tight strikes. With each motion, her chain left a faint trail of electricity. The two trained side by side, adjusting the flow of their chakra to manipulate the chains' lengths, retracting and extending them with practiced ease. They exchanged glances, each one pushing the other to refine their techniques.
Next, they moved on to non-chakra ninjutsu, which required intense focus and mastery over their physical skills without relying on chakra. Kushina had emphasized the importance of mastering the basics, knowing they could be crucial in combat when chakra was low.
Naruto practiced rapid shuriken throws, focusing on hitting multiple moving targets. His hands moved quickly, eyes tracking each target as he launched shuriken with pinpoint precision. With each release, he adjusted his stance slightly, improving the balance of power and accuracy with each throw.
Hana worked on stealth-based movements, using her environment to simulate real combat scenarios. She practiced silent footwork, learning to move fluidly and evade detection, slipping behind imaginary enemies before landing silent, efficient strikes. Her expression was one of concentration, her movements barely stirring the air as she trained to become undetectable.
As the sun started to dip toward the horizon, Naruto and Hana took a short break, catching their breath. Their faces were flushed, expressions filled with a mixture of pride and exhaustion. This was just the beginning, but they felt stronger already, ready for tomorrow's test with Kushina.
---
Author's Note
Thank you for reading! If you enjoyed this chapter, please consider sending power stones and golden tickets to support my writing. Your encouragement means the world to me!