The Tale of an ordinary ninja

After a refreshing break, Akira approached Lady Mochizuki, determination burning in his eyes. "Sensei," he said firmly, "would you help me practice the D-rank ninjutsu I collected from the library? I want to strengthen my versatility as a shinobi."

Lady Mochizuki turned to him, crossing her arms with a smile. "We've been dedicating so much time to your kenjutsu lately. It's a good idea to balance it with ninjutsu. Alright, let's focus on those for the rest of the day. If you have any energy left, we'll spar with kenjutsu afterward."

Akira grinned and unfurled a scroll, showing her the techniques he'd chosen. "These are the wind jutsu I want to master:

1. Gale Palm – This technique uses wind chakra to release a strong gust of wind from the user's palm. It can be used for long-range attacks or to accelerate projectiles like shuriken. I chose this because it's versatile—it'll make my ranged attacks deadlier.

2. Whirlwind Fist – By imbuing my strikes with wind chakra, I can create a cutting force with each punch. It'll enhance my close-combat skills and make my taijutsu more formidable.

3. Spiraling Wind Ball – A focused sphere of compressed wind chakra that explodes on contact, creating a devastating shockwave. This will be my offensive trump card when I need to deal heavy damage.

4. Rotating Shuriken – By imbuing shuriken with wind chakra, I can increase their speed, accuracy, and cutting power. It's perfect for combining ninjutsu with weapon-based tactics."

Lady Mochizuki nodded approvingly. "Smart choices, Akira. Each of these techniques will complement your kenjutsu and taijutsu. Let's begin with the basics. Remember, I'll push you to your limits. No holding back."

The Wind Jutsu Training Arc

The next few months were grueling as Lady Mochizuki pushed Akira to his limits.

• Gale Palm:

Lady Mochizuki began by teaching Akira how to mold wind chakra in his hands. At first, his attempts resulted in uneven gusts, barely strong enough to rustle leaves. Under Mochizuki's guidance, Akira learned to control the flow and intensity of the wind. By the second month, he could use Gale Palm to deflect kunai and send them hurtling toward targets with lethal precision.

• Whirlwind Fist:

This technique required Akira to combine taijutsu with wind chakra. Lady Mochizuki sparred with him daily, forcing him to focus on precision and timing. His early attempts were wild, causing the chakra to disperse before impact. After countless bruises and intense training, Akira mastered the art of concentrating wind chakra into his strikes, making his punches sharp enough to slice through wooden training dummies.

• Spiraling Wind Ball:

The Spiraling Wind Ball was the most difficult of the four. Compressing and maintaining wind chakra in a sphere required intense focus. Akira spent weeks creating unstable orbs that fizzled out before impact. Mochizuki pushed him to channel his frustration into control. By the fourth month, Akira's Spiraling Wind Ball had enough power to blast apart boulders.

• Rotating Shuriken:

Imbuing wind chakra into shuriken demanded delicate chakra control. Akira began by practicing with wooden shuriken, gradually moving to metal ones as his control improved. By the end of his training, he could throw shuriken that moved with blinding speed, slicing through targets with precision.

Lady Mochizuki ended each day's session by pushing Akira to empty his chakra reserves entirely. Over time, his reserves expanded, and his recovery time shortened—a testament to his growing strength.

The Water Jutsu Training Arc

After mastering his wind jutsu, Akira moved on to water techniques. Despite not having a natural water affinity, Lady Mochizuki ensured he worked hard to refine these jutsu.

1. Aqua Blast – A powerful burst of water aimed to push back opponents or douse flames. Akira struggled with shaping water chakra, but Mochizuki's relentless drills helped him refine the technique until he could fire precise, forceful blasts.

2. Water Clone Technique – This jutsu required creating a functional water-based duplicate. Akira found it easier than wind techniques, though his clones were initially unstable. With practice, he created clones capable of launching coordinated attacks.

3. Instant Water – A practical jutsu that allowed Akira to summon water from the moisture in the air or ground. It became invaluable when training in dry environments.

4. Water Balloon Technique – This technique, akin to the Spiraling Wind Ball, compressed water chakra into a pressurized sphere. It required exceptional control, but Akira's experience with wind chakra made the process smoother.

The Final Sparring Session: Akira vs. Lady Mochizuki

After months of rigorous training, the time had come for Akira to showcase everything he had learned. Lady Mochizuki stood opposite him on the Senju training grounds, her wooden sword in hand. Though the sparring session would be primarily a test of his skills, Akira knew his sensei wouldn't hold back.

"Are you ready, Akira?" Mochizuki asked, her tone calm but serious.

Akira drew his sword, his eyes locked onto hers. "Yes, Sensei. Let's do this."

Lady Mochizuki smiled faintly, lowering into her stance. "Remember, Akira, I want to see how well you can combine ninjutsu, taijutsu, and kenjutsu. Give me everything you've got."

Akira began the spar with a swift move forward, channeling wind chakra into his sword. He slashed downward, aiming to create a cutting shockwave, but Mochizuki sidestepped with ease. Before Akira could recover, she closed the distance, thrusting her blade toward his midsection.

Reacting instinctively, Akira used Whirlwind Fist, sending a concentrated burst of wind from his free hand to force her back. Mochizuki flipped gracefully, landing several meters away.

"Good reflexes," she said. "But don't get comfortable."

Without warning, she threw three kunai, each aimed at a vital point. Akira countered with Rotating Shuriken, imbuing wind chakra into his projectiles. The enhanced shuriken intercepted her kunai mid-air, scattering sparks as they clashed.

Using the brief pause, Akira formed a hand sign. "Gale Palm!"

A powerful gust of wind erupted from his palms, hurtling toward Mochizuki. She anchored herself, crossing her arms to shield against the blast, her feet skidding slightly across the ground.

Lady Mochizuki rushed forward at blinding speed, forcing Akira to switch to defense. Her sword came down in rapid slashes, each strike precise and powerful. Akira blocked and parried desperately, his wooden blade vibrating from the impact of her strikes.

"You're too reactive, Akira!" she called out, increasing the intensity of her attacks. "Take control of the fight!"

Gritting his teeth, Akira performed a backflip to create distance. He immediately followed up with Spiraling Wind Ball, compressing wind chakra into a tight sphere before launching it. Mochizuki dodged to the side, but the sphere detonated on impact with the ground, sending debris flying.

Using the dust as cover, Akira executed Dance of the Crescent Moon. He created two shadow clones, each mirroring his movements. The trio moved in perfect synchronization, their swords slicing toward Mochizuki from three different angles.

Mochizuki narrowed her eyes. "Clever."

She parried the first clone's strike, ducked beneath the second, and twisted her body to deflect Akira's real blade. The clones dispersed as she counterattacked, aiming for Akira's exposed side.

Akira barely managed to block, his arms trembling from the force of her strike.

Determined to change the flow of the battle, Akira formed another series of hand signs. "Aqua Blast!"

A torrent of water shot from his hands, forcing Mochizuki to leap into the air to avoid it. Akira followed up with Water Clone Technique, summoning a clone to flank her from the left. The clone attacked while Akira prepared another Spiraling Wind Ball, aiming to catch her off-guard mid-air.

Mochizuki smirked, twisting in mid-air to destroy the water clone with a single slash. As the clone burst into water, she used the momentum to flip backward, narrowly avoiding Akira's wind ball as it exploded behind her.

"You're improving," she said, landing smoothly. "But you're still predictable."

Akira didn't let her words distract him. He quickly performed Instant Water, pulling moisture from the air to create a slippery surface around Mochizuki's feet. As she adjusted her stance to maintain balance, Akira dashed forward, using the enhanced speed of Whirlwind Fist to close the distance.

Their blades clashed in a flurry of strikes, Akira attacking relentlessly while Mochizuki defended with practiced ease. Sweat dripped down Akira's brow as he pushed harder, combining taijutsu and kenjutsu in an effort to overwhelm her.

Mochizuki countered by spinning away, creating a gap before throwing another kunai. Akira deflected it with his sword, then launched into Rotating Shuriken, sending two chakra-enhanced projectiles whizzing toward her. Mochizuki dodged one and caught the other mid-air, redirecting it back toward Akira.

Startled, Akira ducked just in time, the shuriken grazing his hair.

The Climactic Exchange

Realizing he needed to take a risk, Akira activated Dance of the Crescent Moon again, this time creating three clones infused with wind chakra. The clones moved with blinding speed, attacking from all sides while Akira hid among them.

Mochizuki's eyes flicked between the clones, her movements fluid as she deflected each strike. For a moment, Akira thought he had her when one clone's sword came dangerously close to her shoulder.

But Mochizuki smirked. "Not bad, but not good enough."

In a single sweeping motion, she dispelled the clones with a burst of chakra, leaving Akira exposed. Before he could react, she closed the distance and pressed her blade against his throat.

"Match over," she declared, stepping back and lowering her sword.

Akira collapsed to his knees, panting heavily. His chakra reserves were almost completely depleted, his body aching from the intense battle.

Lady Mochizuki walked over, offering him a hand. "You've come a long way, Akira. Your control over ninjutsu, taijutsu, and kenjutsu has improved dramatically. You're still rough around the edges, but with time, you'll be unstoppable."

Akira took her hand, standing shakily but with a proud smile. "Thank you, Sensei. I'll keep working hard."

Mochizuki ruffled his hair fondly. "Good. Now, rest up. Your first-year exams are coming soon, and I expect nothing less than excellence from you."

As Akira bowed deeply, gratitude and determination filled his heart. The bond between him and Lady Mochizuki had grown strong, and he was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.