I Don't Own Naruto. I'm feeling nostalgic and so I'm adding something before the chapter starts for no reason at all, like I did for my old Naruto stories.
Life isn't fair, that was obvious. It was the reason why I was out here, in the middle of a forest, punching and kicking the tree in front of me over and over again, while dozens of other kids back in the village were getting trained by professional trainers and ninja to use techniques that I'll never be able to use no matter how much I try or practice. It was beyond unfair, being a clan-less kid training to be a ninja.
And yet here I am, still just punching away at the bark of this massive tree. Even as I did so, thoughts continued to enter my mind, not so much about how unfair it was and more of the reason as to why I still bothered with this path when they have such an advantage that I'll never be able to match on it's own. It was obvious, the reason why I continued to do this even when I would be much more suited to many other paths of life.
So I just banished those thoughts and continued to punch and kick, ignoring the pain coursing up and through my limbs. It wasn't the first nor would it be the last I've felt like this so I just pushed it to the back of my mind and just hit harder and harder. Taijutsu was what I was the best at right now, so that's what I'll capitalize on by strengthening my body as much as I can.
I would have liked to learn a few more ninjutsu but the basic three were the only ones that the academy taught all students, and while I've become decently proficient in them, my lack of big chakra reserves make it hard to train without exhausting myself out very quickly, which makes long winded training difficult. All in all, with the fact that genjutsu isn't taught at all, well they teach how to recognize one but that's about it, so fighting with my body is the only real thing I can use right now along with my weapons, which I can't use outside of class because I can't risk blunting them as I don't have a family that can just replace them as easy as they breath. Not to mention sharpening stones are expensive.
It was pretty annoying all things considered, but it was how life goes I guess. Some people just have a disadvantage, and those people just have to deal with that and do there best with what they have, in this case I'm pretty clearly referring to myself. With that I punched the tree harder than I meant to and winced as I felt the already tender skin on my knuckles split open as blood slid down my fingers to the fingertips, before dripping down onto the glass beneath me.
I just sighed as I looked down at my hand before shaking it a bit. This wasn't the first time but it did dampen on my training a bit. I could just continue to work through it but if I don't let it heal now then I'll just be adding another scar onto my hands. I didn't mind them but they had an effect on my family, making them quite annoying on trying to convince me to pick another path which slows down my training much more than just letting it heal.
So with that, I switched to kicks as I changed my stance to the Academy taught one and lashed out a spin kick and felt my shin smash into the bark, before repeating that action again and again, for a number of minutes before switching to my other leg to continue this for a while longer. I would go for this for about another hour or so, then I'll take a break. Chakra, from what I've been told by a teacher, helps a growing body so it isn't harmed by over working it, but it does have some limits like all things. My barely average reserves don't help either in that regard.
Still, it wouldn't hurt, much, if I push myself harder than most, it's the only way I can catch up to be honest. Even now, when I do this every day for hours on end, I'm still only in the middle of my class in terms of psychical prowess. It doesn't help that literally half the class is basically a clan kid. Compared to every other clan-less kid in my class, at least I'm the best in combat, and I'm pretty high up there in the test scores that are actually intelligence based. So that's something I guess.
But me being the smartest in class does nothing when every time I spar against someone from a clan I get my ass kicked, usually. It really doesn't help that I'm the best from the clan-less group so I can only spar those kids for it to be fair for everyone else. Really I'm just sick and tired of being the only one in the middle, between mediocrity and strong. Especially when the strong ones all have silver spoons.
Was it petty to hold a grudge against a group of academy kids for having a better upbringing? Hell yes, they didn't choose to be born in the position they're in, just like how I didn't chose to be in my shoes, but that doesn't change the fact that I can be resentful of it all the same. Emotions aren't just something I can say are illogical and then just not have to deal with it, that's not how being human works, even if it would make somethings a lot easier.
Like boredom, it was probably the biggest challenge of all this, the pain faded into the background after about a month, into something that was almost unnoticeable, but doing repeated, simple actions for about six hours a day, everyday, can become quite repetitive over time, like really repetitive. Which has just lead me to spending a lot of time in my own thoughts, thinking about one thing or another. And right now I happen to be thinking about how much time I spend thinking.
The thought caused a small huff of laughter to escape from my lips as I, after another moment of thought, lowered my leg down, ignoring the slight aching that felt to course through my bones, up into my chest. With that I dropped down onto the ground and sighed to myself as I laid down onto my back and spread my limbs out a bit, just to have them all resting evenly as a faint yawn traveled from my form as I blinked to myself as I looked up at the dimming light of the sky.
It was getting late, give or take about another half and hour before I should head back home. I thought about that idea for a moment before frowning to myself at the idea, yeah, maybe it wouldn't be to bad if I stayed here for a little while longer. Dad will be angry but as long as dinner doesn't start early then it won't be that big of a deal and Mom will, if I'm lucky, just have me do a couple chores to make up for it.
Of course the idea of doing much more than having dinner before dropping down onto my bed to sleep in wasn't that much of an ideal one, but the sky was just a nice shade of blue which was quickly shifting to an even nicer array of many colors. It would be worth it. With that, I let a small smile spread across my face as I just lay on the ground, enjoying the brief moment of stillness.
"Boy! Where in the hell were you!" I had set my face into a blank mask as I stepped into the doorway, looking inward as I looked at Dad for a moment, just taking in his red face before moving my gaze away, not being able to meet his eyes for long. Searching on as I walked in, I noted Mom, who was in the middle of setting the table. I could feel the tension in my chest relax a small bit at the sight. It was close but I wasn't late. With that I answered.
"You already know what I was doing" I ignored his face as it went even redder as I walked up to the table, avoiding the 'righteous' and disapproving look Mom was giving me. It was his fault if he got angry at my answer, because they both knew exactly what I was doing and having to explain to them would just have Dad go onto a long winded yelling, rant about how I was wasting my life.
Still, I reached out and was handed a plate, so I set it down in front of my brothers seat, not bothering to get annoyed at the fact that neither of my parents seemed to mind his absence at the table, I was to use to it at this point, it had been like that for the last year and a half. When I had joined the Academy at age ten, two full years later than the average age of eight. It had been a hard battle to get into the Academy at all, but really at it seems to have done was give me another disadvantage to deal with.
Thankfully, through a hell ton of hard work, I've managed to catch up and move to the class that is the same age as me but even with all that hard work, still middle of the barrel. I refrained from shaking my head at those thoughts as I sat down in front of my plate and loaded the food up as the rest of the items were already placed onto the table while I had been lost in my thoughts.
It wasn't anything special, but spend hours burning off energy and you're snobbishness for certain foods disappears real quick. I learned that in the second month of my time playing catch up. So with that I dug in, while idly being forced to use my ears as I listened to Mom and Dad talk between themselves, though from the topic at hand I doubt they meant for it to be a private conversation.
"I wonder where Sogaki is, I know he's been staying out with those friends of his, of course he can since all he's doing is helping you with your work but I can't help but be curious" I rolled my eyes at those pointed remarks, all aimed at me, it wasn't the first time they've talked like this, with all their words to each other being there to try and convince me that I'm stupid for following through my goals.
Well more like I'm stupid for not following their goals for me, which happen to be the goals that are the primary focus of my younger brother, the one they're talking about. I truly didn't understand why they fight me at every turn at on this path, but it does add a lot of tension in this house, it doesn't help that there was already plenty in this house already. Though it's always been me that's the the cause of it all.
The thought was so intrusive that the fork in my hand bent almost in half by the time I got control over myself. It wasn't my fault, or at least it's never fully my fault. I can admit that I'm not an easy person to get along with naturally, but my family aren't ones that get along well with me all the same. Really the only one I don't constantly butt heads with is Sogaki, even then it's only because he's a simpler kid whose easy to get along with. Something I can only be thankful for, if his mind was like mine, I'm sure our home life would be beyond tense.
"Rudoka!" I blinked out of my thoughts at my Mother's sharply said word. It made me aware that I was still just looking down at the bent fork in my hand. I sighed to myself, lightly enough at an angle so the two wouldn't see the movement as I reached my left hand out and grabbed the fork and bent it back into shape. I didn't bother saying anything back to Mom as I went back to eating.
"If you keep doing that the metal will become to fragile, it's snap from one of us normal people use it" And that was dear old Dad, at least he wasn't yelling. Still he wasn't fully wrong, this wasn't the first time I've broken a utensil, though it has been a while, but I like to just see it that I'm strong, even if by comparison to one group I'm nothing special, when compared to another I'm four times as strong. It was strange I guess, but it was how I chose to see it.
"Haven't you started putting the dented ones in one place for me to only use, so I doubt you need to worry about a normal person using it" It was more reflect than anything but I was right, Mom had started to do that a while ago. It was pretty easy to notice since I keep getting the same few knives, forks, or spoons every time we eat together, all with noticeable blemishes. And yet Dad still growled a bit at that, probably because of how I said the word 'normal', like they were the ones that were weird.
Before he could say anything to that however, I dropped my fork back onto my plate and stood up. I was finished eating after all. So with that I walked out of the room to my shared bedroom, ignoring the slight twitch of Dad's eyebrow. I'm sure tomorrow morning he'll have a list of things that he'll have me do with the threat of being thrown out on the street being the incentive. Okay maybe it wouldn't be that harsh, but he isn't above withholding meals, something I need for my body to withstand all the training and fights I put it through. So I usually cave, no matter how much I find it distasteful.
Putting those thoughts out of my mind, knowing it would just rile me up a bit as I dropped down onto my bed. I sighed to myself as I knew I would have to get up in a bit to take a shower. I have to take them at night or else all the sweat on my body will just bug me all night. I've gotten use to it with how often I'm sweating but if given the opportunity then I'm going to take being clean and not sticky.
But for right now I just looked up aimlessly up at the ceiling before pulling out a kunai, not doing another with it really, just holding it above my head for a moment before dropping it to my side, making sure to not stab into the mattress. After a moment I pushed myself up before moving over to the desk that me and my bother share but only I really use, then flipped open a book on there, and started to read while laying the kunai on the desk. I have an hour before night fall, might as well use it for something.
I gasped as I was quite roughly kicked out of the ring, smashing onto my back hard. I coughed hard as my lungs tried to refill itself with the oxygen that had been roughly kicked out of me. Rolling onto all fours, I just sighed as I slowly got onto my feet, the mass amount of bruising on my chest, stomach, and probably even my ribs, burned into me in a haze of pain. But I just pushed past it and just stood up, and brushed myself off as I looked over at the mocking smile of the kid in the ring.
Kiba Inuzuka, he was the arrogant sort, didn't change the fact that he was the second strongest in class right behind Sasuke Uchiha, the only kid here that was better than me that I didn't hold much of a grudge against. I didn't like the clan kids because they have all the opportunities that I would kill for and still everyday all I see them do is goof off in class and still I'm weaker than them all, but Sasuke? He was a different matter.
His entire family was killed a few years back and since then he's been all alone in the world, from what I can see at least. Meaning he's had no help for about five years now and he still is the strongest, just on his own merit. Of course he probably had a strong foundation from when his family was still alive, not to mention all the information his clan had in scrolls, but that wasn't why I was impressed with him. It was his motivation, it was clear that he trained day in and day out, just like me, and unlike basically everyone else.
Of course I doubt he even knew my name, muchless had any form of respect for me, but I also understood that, though I will admit it did annoy me, but a lot of things annoy me so whatever. With that I walked my way back up the rest, ignoring the pleased look all the normal kids where giving me. None of them liked me, that was clear, I feel like has something to do with the fact that I had to beat all of them on multiple occasions to get to the lukewarm position I'm in now.
"Alright then, another win for Kiba, now then, next match. Naruto Uzumaki and Masho Itako" I just sat down on the ground, giving my lungs a bit of a rest from the fight I just had, getting the air knocked out of me wasn't exactly comfortable. Still, all the same I watched as the two students that were called walked up to the ring. I had made a bit of a game over the year and a half of predicting these results. I've even gotten pretty use to it as well.
Here? It was a gamble more or less, Naruto Uzumaki was kind of shit at being a ninja to be honest, which really annoyed me with how much he talks about how he's going to become the Hokage, especially since he's not here in class half the time. That lack of drive for one's goal pisses me off, even more so when he still seems to manage about the middle of the class in these spars. I probably would have been more pissed if he wasn't completely terrible at the Academy three ninjutsus
While Masho Itako on the other hand, he isn't really great at anything particular but he can hold his own well enough, against me at least, so with that in mind, those two are about even in terms of Taijutsu, which is what these spars are only made for. So I guess it comes down to styles, Masho uses more traditional forms that the Academy has taught everyone while Naruto seems to just do whatever comes to mind half way through the fight, like he's forgotten about muscle memory. It made it easier to fight him and harder at the same time as it adds an unpredictable element to it.
So, I'd say, fifty-fifty at best but I feel like Naruto has a better chance of winning this, the kid never seems to really get tired so in a draw out battle, then Masho doesn't have as much of a chance. Genetics, it also had a pivotal part in what us students can accomplish right now, and another thing clans have a massive advantage in since they are all quite literally bred to make the most optimal ninja possible. I'm just glad I had a decent pull myself in that regard or I would never be able to catch up.
Thinking of which, I absently looked down at my chest, I was pretty average looking in all honestly, right on the average height for this class, so I didn't have the best reach but the main thing was how I packed muscle, like most of the clan kids, mine didn't bulk out and make it harder to be flexible, which was a problem for some of the other students, instead it was compact and made me more lean than anything.
Besides that nothing really was all that more suited, perhaps I gained quicker results from hardcore training than others, it would make sense with both how hard I worked to catch up and the fact that I was able to catch up at all with this class having two years on me. From there, there wasn't anything special about me, my skin was an average medium color, my eyes while a, personally nice, shade of dark green didn't have some magical property to them, the same with my light brown hair.
"Now then, for our last spar of the day. Shino Aburame and Choji Akimichi" I blinked to myself as I looked up and noted that the near unconscious form of Masho was slowly getting onto his feet with another teacher helping him up. Naruto had a few bruises on him but they were light at best so it wasn't anything to really make note of. Still, with that out of the way, I decided to make note on the fight happening in front of me now.
Choji had this, Shino was a clear range fighter, from my research his clan uses bugs to fight, I didn't really understand as to how, but since he couldn't use them here, he was at a clear disadvantage while Choji's main way of attack is with his body. It was a clear cut fight unless Shino suddenly doesn't something completely new and unexpected, and since he's quite predictable in my opinion, I doubt it's going to happen.
So with that I didn't bother to watch, I've watched everyone in this class, and the last two that I skipped past, as much as I've needed to to learn about how they fight. I've even done my best to mimic the ones that had taijutsu styles that wasn't the Academy style. It was hard and while I've certainly been able to add a thing or two to my style, it was hardly anything special enough to call unique and I'm still not even sure if what I've done has improved my style at all.
It helped against the normal students here, who all learned the basic Academy style and expected it to be used against them, but since I don't really fight against them much anymore it doesn't really help as much as I would like it to. No point in complaining about it however, I mean it's better to get in the habit of upgrading my style. Self improvement is the best way to improve after all, well, it's kind of the only way but the initiative of it helps in that regard.
So with that I waited for the sign that it was over before getting up and heading back into the classroom. We had a test today, mostly over some easy subjects, history, math, and the like. Nothing hard to know, though from the way everyone was dragging their feet, you'd think they were walking to their deaths, it was annoying. Especially when my entire body is aching and I'm still pretty sure I'm about to ace these tests. It wasn't hard, just none of these kids seem to have any damn drive to learn or do shit outside of the Academy.
End chapter one, isn't that neat. Rudoka is an interesting character, he's pretty spiteful and very clearly has a hell of a drive. The most recent new story I've made also had a character that was pretty different than myself as a person, but this one also is like that but in a different way. I'll admit I'm plenty spiteful and petty but I'm not super motivated just normally to be honest. I have ADHD, in the way that I often get hyper focus on subjects but my interest usually drains after a month at best if I unless have a reason to continue, while Rudoka is just a guy that is always just a very driven guy, putting his everything in all he does. Besides that this chapter is here to set up the basics of Rudoka's personality, his home life, some of his past, and his current rank in the Academy. Anyway, See ya.