The Tale of an ordinary ninja

Akira woke up early, the dawn light barely breaking over the horizon as he prepared for another grueling day of training. With a mixture of excitement and apprehension in his stomach, he made his way to the Senju training grounds. Thoughts of his upcoming date with Tsunade swirled through his mind, causing butterflies to flutter within him. "Focus, Akira," he reminded himself firmly, shaking his head to dispel the distracting thoughts. He needed to concentrate on his training, and with that resolve, he accelerated his pace, determined to arrive before 4:30 am.

**TRAINING GROUND 2 in the Senju compound**

As Akira arrived at the training ground, he spotted Lady Mochizuki waiting for him, a stern expression on her face. "Akira, you made it just in time! Let's start with some warm-up exercises," she commanded, her voice steady and authoritative. "But don't worry; nothing too crazy. You have 30 minutes to complete 15 laps around the training ground, followed by 50 push-ups and 50 squats. Also, set your gravity belt to 8% to make it more challenging."

Without hesitation, Akira complied, adjusting his gravity belt with nimble fingers before sprinting around the perimeter of the training area. The weight bearing down on him made his legs feel heavy, each stride a test of his willpower. With sheer determination, he pushed through the initial fatigue, keeping his breathing steady as he completed the laps. After 30 minutes, he collapsed to his knees, panting heavily, sweat drenching his forehead.

Lady Mochizuki approached him, a bottle of water in hand. As Akira snatched it from her, he momentarily forgot his manners, desperately gulping down the liquid. The sight elicited a chuckle from his sensei. "Akira, drink slowly! No one is going to take that bottle away from you," she teased, and he felt a wave of embarrassment wash over him. "I'm sorry, Sensei," he stammered, his cheeks reddening as he composed himself.

After a brief rest, Lady Mochizuki called them back to order. "Now that your body is warmed up, we'll transition to basic Kenjutsu. We'll explore foundational techniques, work up to the Hidden Leaf style and my unique Kenjutsu, and finally, we'll begin to develop your own style. This roadmap will guide you through your training until you graduate from the academy and achieve the rank of Genin."

Akira nodded, ready to dive deeper into the art. "Before we start, could you tell me what Kenjutsu is?" Lady Mochizuki asked, a spark of excitement in her eyes.

"Kenjutsu is the art of swordsmanship," he replied, recalling what he had learned. "It teaches how to fight with a sword. It's not just about swinging it mindlessly."

"Well said, Akira," Lady Mochizuki praised, her demeanor affirming his response. "But Kenjutsu is more than that. It's like an extension of your body, or perhaps the very soul of your being. It intertwines with ninjutsu, genjutsu, and taijutsu—the very essence of a ninja's arsenal. Now that we grasp its importance, let's start with the basics. Go grab a wooden sword from the stand at the edge of the training ground."

Acknowledging her command, Akira hurried to retrieve a wooden sword, the smooth surface familiar under his grip.

"Now, Akira, let's focus on maintaining a proper stance," Lady Mochizuki instructed. "Hold the sword with both hands. Place your dominant hand near the blade's grip, and your other hand firmly at the bottom. There are various ways to hold a sword, but we're starting with the basics, as it's vital for you to get accustomed to it. This will lay the foundation for your growth—we'll explore different styles later."

Following her directions, Akira adjusted his stance, forming a 'V' shape with his feet. "This position reinforces your defense and minimizes openings," she explained. "Now, move your sword in four directions: up, down, left, and right. Then produce a slash. Watch me, and replicate my movements."

He observed intently as Lady Mochizuki executed the slashes with fluid grace, each motion an embodiment of power and precision.

"Now, Akira, it's your turn," she said, stepping aside. Akira took a deep breath and attempted to mimic her movements but found himself stumbling, feeling stiff and clumsy. "I can't move like you, Sensei," he admitted, frustration creeping into his voice.

"Don't get discouraged," she replied gently. "Feel the sword as an extension of your arm. Connect with it; let its weight guide you. It's about finding rhythm and flow."

Taking her advice to heart, Akira focused on the sword, channeling his energy into the movement. Slowly but surely, he felt a slight improvement as his motions became more fluid.

"Well done, Akira!" Lady Mochizuki praised, the warmth in her voice boosting his morale. "Now practice this for two hours; after that, you can head home and rest. Don't forget you still need to attend the academy later. Make haste!"

Acknowledging her directive, Akira didn't protest. He understood that mastering the basics was crucial and that this groundwork would support his future development. So, he immersed himself in practice, swinging the sword tirelessly for two hours.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity of relentless practice, Akira could barely lift his arms. His muscles protested with fatigue, each movement requiring an effort he could barely muster.

"Good job, Akira. You've earned your rest," Lady Mochizuki said with a satisfied smile. "I'll meet you again this evening at your estate training ground for your Senju Taijutsu lesson. Understand?"

Too exhausted to argue, Akira simply nodded and bowed his head respectfully to his sensei. With that, Lady Mochizuki vanished, dissolving into a swirling vortex of leaves.

Akira dragged himself home, the fatigue weighing heavily on his limbs. As soon as he entered his room, he collapsed onto his bed, utterly spent. He glanced at his mother, reminding her to wake him up at 8:00 am so he could prepare for school, trusting that a good rest would rejuvenate him for the challenges ahead.