Trio’s Journey: Second Chance

{Chapter Ten}

"Academy Boring Life"

"All right, Lee, that's enough. Let's take a break." Kyosuke said as he dropped onto the grass, wiping sweat from his brow. His chest heaved with exhaustion after the grueling training session

"Eh? Already? We still have burning energy because of our youth!" Lee declared, pumping his fist into the air enthusiastically

Kyosuke stared at him, slack-jawed

"Lee… we just completed 500 push-ups, 750 squats, 500 sit-ups, 500 pull-ups, 20-minute planks with 100-pound weights, and a 20-mile run—all while wearing our 60-pound seal weights amplified for our wrists and ankles. That was the entire exercise." Kyosuke said in disbelief

Shin groaned, collapsing onto the ground beside Kyosuke

"Yeah, seriously, Lee. How do you still have so much energy? I feel like I'm going to pass out." Shin asked as he laid on the ground

Naruto flopped down dramatically, arms sprawled out

"He's not human! I'm done for today!" Naruto declared out loud

Lee chuckled, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly

"Oh, come on, you guys. It's all about the power of youth! Besides, I only train twice as hard as all of you, and taijutsu is my focus. I have to keep up my strength and endurance, or how else can I compete?" Lee explained

Kenji leaned back against a tree, shaking his head with an amused grin

"Don't forget, Lee's one of the only people near our age who can actually keep up with us in training. Well… aside from Neji Hyuga." Kenji said

"Neji? What's so special about him?" Naruto sat up, his curiosity piqued

"Neji's a prodigy among the Hyuga Clan, in taijutsu alone, he's a monster. If we're talking pure hand-to-hand combat, he's probably Lee's biggest challenge in the academy. But if we factor in ninjutsu, Kenjutsu, and our seals, we'd give him a run for his money." Kenji explained, his tone both teasing and serious

Kyosuke nodded thoughtfully

"That's true. Lee, you've already given us a tough time when it's just taijutsu, but add in the rest of our skills, and it's a different story. Not as easy whenever it's just taijustu, huh." Kyosuke said with a smudge grin

Lee smiled, his cheeks slightly flushed at the compliment

"Thank you, Kyosuke. It means a lot coming from you. Even when everything's on the table, I feel like I'm always learning when I spar with you four." Lee said

Shin chuckled, pushing himself up to sit cross-legged

"You hold your ground better than Naruto, though, so it's not a total loss." Shin added

"Hey!" Naruto shouted, glaring at Shin with mock indignation

The group burst into laughter, the camaraderie between them shining through the exhaustion

"Anyway, you're going to surpass everyone in the taijutsu world one day. I can already see it. You'll be a Jonin, just like Might Guy." Kyosuke said, smiling at Lee

Lee's eyes lit up, the flames of determination burning brightly within them

"Thank you, Kyosuke! I promise, with your help and Might Guy-sensei's guidance, I won't stop until I've achieved that dream. One day, I'll stand alongside you all as a taijutsu master!" Lee shouted as his eyes filled with determination and burned with "flame of youth"

The four brothers exchanged a glance before pulling Lee into a group embrace

"Together!" They shouted in unison, their voices carrying the strength of their bond

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The next morning, the Uzumaki brothers prepared for another day at the academy

Though they often found the lessons redundant, given their advanced training and natural abilities, they attended diligently

After all, they needed to maintain appearances and keep up with their peers

Naruto, as always, was the loudest among them as they walked through the streets of Konoha

"Today's gonna be awesome! I bet Iruka-sensei's gonna give us some cool training drills!" Naruto declared, grinning ear to ear

Shin smirked, adjusting his bag over his shoulder

"Naruto, it's basic kunai throwing practice today. We've been doing that since we were six." Shin said

"Yeah, but I've been working on my technique! Just wait, I'm gonna blow everyone away!" Naruto retorted, his confidence unwavering

Kenji chuckled

"As long as you don't accidentally hit the target next to yours like last time." Kenji said

Naruto turned red

"Hey, that was one time! I wasn't paying attention!" Naruto shouted in embarrassment

Kyosuke shook his head, though a small smile played on his lips

"Focus today, Naruto. Even the basics can teach us something if we approach them seriously." Kyosuke said

The group arrived at the academy, the bustling chatter of their classmates filling the air

As they entered the classroom, their presence immediately drew attention

Though they didn't flaunt their skills, it was no secret that the Uzumaki brothers were among the top students

"Hey, Naruto!" a familiar voice called out

Naruto turned to see Kiba grinning at him, Akamaru perched on his head

"What's up, Kiba?" Naruto asked

"Think you're ready for today's training? I've been practicing with Akamaru, so don't be surprised when we beat you!" Kiba said

Naruto puffed out his chest

"Ha! In your dreams! I've got this!" Naruto taunted

As Naruto and Kiba bantered, Kyosuke, Shin, and Kenji took their seats near the back of the classroom

Shino glanced over at them, his expression calm as always

"You all seem prepared. Do you find the academy's lessons beneficial?" Shin asked

Shin shrugged

"The lessons are useful for reviewing fundamentals, but we also do a lot of extra training outside of class. It's all about balance." Shin replied

Hinata, sitting a row ahead, turned slightly, her voice soft

"Th-that's very disciplined of you all. I admire your dedication." Hinata said

Kenji smiled kindly

"Thanks, Hinata. How's your training coming along?" Kenji asmed

Hinata hesitated, her fingers tapping together nervously

"I-I'm doing my best. My father expects a lot from me, so I try to improve every day." Hinata repsonded

Kyosuke gave her a reassuring nod

"Keep at it. Hard work always pays off." He said with a reassuring smile

As more students trickled into the room, Sakura and Ino entered, already bickering

"I'm telling you, Sasuke likes girls who are smart and refined, so obviously, I have the advantage!" Sakura argued

"Ha! You can have him, Forehead! I got someone else in my eyes!" Ino shot back.

Kenji leaned toward Shin, whispering

"Every single day with those two." Kenji said

Shin smirked

"At least it's entertaining." Shin said

The commotion quieted as Iruka entered the classroom, his clipboard in hand

"All right, settle down, everyone! Let's get started." Iruka announced

The students quickly found their seats, and the chatter died down

Iruka scanned the room, his gaze lingering on a few students

"Today, we'll be focusing on shuriken and kunai accuracy. This is one of the most fundamental skills for any ninja, so I expect everyone to take this seriously. No slacking, understood?" Iruka said

"Yes, Iruka-sensei!" the class replied in unison

Naruto leaned over to Kyosuke, whispering

"This is my chance to show everyone what I've got!" Naruto boasted

"Just make sure you don't get too excited and miss the target entirely." Kyosuke whispered back

Naruto pouted but didn't respond, determined to prove himself

Iruka led the students to the training field, where targets of varying sizes were set up at different distances

"Each of you will take turns throwing shuriken and kunai at these targets, accuracy and consistency are key. Let's see how you do." Iruka explained

The students lined up, each taking their turn

Sasuke, as expected, performed flawlessly, hitting the bullseye on every throw

"Show-off." Kiba muttered under his breath

When it was Naruto's turn, he stepped up with confidence

His first few throws were solid, hitting close to the center

"Not bad, Naruto!" Iruka said encouragingly.

Naruto grinned, his spirits lifted

"Told you I've been practicing!" Naruto said with confidence

However, on his final throw, his excitement got the better of him, and the kunai veered off course, hitting the outer edge of the target

"Oops…" Naruto scratched the back of his head sheepishly as his classmates chuckled

"Focus, Naruto, remember, it's not just about throwing hard — it's about precision." Iruka said with a sigh

As the other students continued, Kyosuke, Shin, and Kenji demonstrated their skills with quiet confidence

Each of their throws was calculated and precise, earning nods of approval from Iruka

When the exercise ended, the students gathered around to receive feedback

"Overall, good effort today, remember, these drills are about building muscle memory and control. Keep practicing, and you'll all improve." Iruka said

As the training session wrapped up, the Uzumaki brothers joined their classmates for lunch under the shade of a large tree in the academy yard

The warm sunlight filtered through the leaves, and the sounds of laughter and chatter filled the air as everyone relaxed from the morning's activities

Naruto plopped down dramatically onto the grass, letting out an exaggerated sigh

"Man, all that practice made me starving! What's for lunch?" Naruto asked exhausted

Kiba smirked as he unwrapped his bento

"Same thing as always, Naruto — whatever you brought." Kiba replied

Naruto opened his lunch box to reveal a simple meal of rice balls, a boiled egg, and some pickled vegetables

"Well, it's not ramen, but it'll do!" He declared, digging in with gusto

Shin, seated nearby, shook his head

"Naruto, you should probably work on expanding your diet. Ramen's great, but it's not going to help you grow strong." Shin said

"Hey! Ramen's got everything I need —carbs, flavor, and happiness!" Naruto argued, his mouth full of rice

Hinata, sitting quietly nearby, giggled softly

"Naruto-kun… maybe you could try adding some vegetables to your ramen?" She suggested softly

Naruto blinked at her, pausing mid-bit

"Huh… I guess I could try that. Thanks, Hinata!" Naruto replied with a smile

Hinata turned bright red and quickly looked down at her bento, earning knowing smiles from Kenji and Kyosuke

Kiba stretched, leaning back on his hands

"Man, I can't believe we've still got more class after lunch. Iruka-sensei's been piling on the lectures lately." Kiba said

Shino adjusted his glasses.

"The lectures are necessary. A ninja who doesn't understand the theory behind their actions is doomed to fail." Shino said

Kenji grinned, nudging Kiba

"Shino's got a point. But I get it — sometimes you just want to be out in the field instead of stuck in a classroom."Kenji said

Across the circle, Ino rolled her eyes as she poked at her lunch with her chopsticks

"I don't mind the lectures, but I wish we could spend more time on practical stuff. Like chakra control exercises or strategy drills." Ino said

Kyosuke, sitting beside her, nodded thoughtfully

"Strategy's important. In a fight, it's not always about who's stronger — it's about who can think on their feet and adapt." Kyosuke said

Ino looked at him, intrigued

"That's true. So, do you have any strategies you'd recommend? Like, say, for dealing with someone faster or stronger than you?" Ino asked

Kyosuke smiled slightly, sensing her genuine interest

"Well, if someone's faster, you'd want to control the space around you. Use traps, obstacles, or terrain to slow them down and force them to fight on your terms. If they're stronger, keep your distance and rely on ranged attacks or outlast them until they tire out." Kyosuke explained

Ino tilted her head, considering his words

"Hmm, that makes sense. But what if they're both faster and stronger?" Ino asked

Kyosuke chuckled.

"Then you'd better have backup — or a really good escape plan." Kyosuke answered honestly

Ino laughed, her bright smile lighting up her face

"Fair point. I'll keep that in mind if I ever spar with you." Ino said

"You're always welcome to join our training sessions, the more we learn from each other, the better we all get." Kyosuke offered

Ino's cheeks flushed slightly, but she quickly masked it with a confident smirk

"Don't think I'll go easy on you just because you're offering, Kyosuke." Ino said

"I wouldn't expect anything less." He replied, his tone warm

Nearby, Naruto was watching the exchange with a raised eyebrow

"Hey, Kyosuke, you're not getting all buddy-buddy with Ino, are you?" Naruto asked with a mischievous grin

Ino whipped her head around, glaring at Naruto

"What's that supposed to mean, Naruto? Don't tell me you're jealous!" Ino asked in disbelief

Naruto held up his hands defensively

"What? No way! I just think it's weird, that's all." Naruto answered quickly

Choji, seated next to Kiba, spoke up between bites of his chips

"Hey, as long as there's food involved, I'm happy to hang out with anyone. Speaking of which, does anyone want to trade lunches? I've got extra chips." Chōji said

Kenji raised an eyebrow

"You're actually willing to part with your chips, Chōji? That's a first." Kenji said slightly surprised

Chōji grinned

"Only because I brought extra today. Gotta keep my strength up for training later." Chōji said

Kiba laughed

"You mean for napping later, right?" Kiba said

"Hey, naps are important too!" Choji defended, making everyone laugh

As the group continued eating and chatting, the atmosphere was light and carefree

Despite their different personalities and backgrounds, they all enjoyed each other's company, the bonds between them growing stronger with each passing day

Ino turned her attention back to Kyosuke, curiosity evident in her eyes

"So, Kyosuke, what do you think about the academy? Do you find it boring, or are you actually learning something?" Ino aske

Kyosuke considered her question for a moment

"The academy's not exactly challenging for us, but it's still important. It gives us a chance to understand how our classmates think and fight. That kind of insight could be useful later on." Kyosuke replied

Ino nodded, impressed by his perspective

"You're really serious about all this, aren't you?" Ino asked

"Being a ninja is a serious responsibility, but that doesn't mean we can't enjoy the journey." Kyosuke said

Naruto, having finished his lunch, jumped to his feet

"All right, enough talking! Let's do something fun before class starts again!" Naruto said

"What do you have in mind, Naruto?" Kiba asked, a mischievous grin forming

Naruto thought for a moment, then pointed to the nearby training field.

"How about a quick race? First one to the far tree and back wins!" Naruto said

"You're on!" Kiba said, leaping to his feet

Akamaru barked in agreement

"Count me in!" Kenji said, stretching his legs

Shin sighed but stood up as well

"Fine, but don't cry when I win." Shin said

The rest of the group joined in, laughing and teasing each other as they lined up for the impromptu race

Even Hinata, shy as she was, couldn't resist being part of the fun

As they all took their marks, Kyosuke stood back, watching the lively scene unfold

Ino glanced at him, raising an eyebrow

"Not joining in?" She asked

"I think I'll sit this one out. Besides, someone has to keep an eye on Naruto to make sure he doesn't cheat." Kyosuke said with a small smile

Ino laughed

"Fair enough. But you'd better join in next time." Ino said

"Deal." Kyosuke said, crossing his arms as he watched his brothers and friends take off in a blur of movement and laughter, the warmth of camaraderie filling the air