The second day arrives and this time the alarm clock is actually what wakes me up though I feel really groggy. I much prefer waking up naturally I decide. I get up, getting dressed in an outfit similar to the other day except I wear my green shirt. I wonder when I am expected to get a ninja style? I remember that in the anime you always wear the same thing when your a ninja, your shinobi outfit and it is distinctive to you… well at least until you get chunnin vests. When should I be thinking about that?
I cook quickly and move to do my run after eating, finishing with just enough time to sprint to the academy huffing and puffing and lacking in stamina.
Running proficiency level has risen X1
You have gained 1 AGI
You have gained 1 VIT
Totally worth it.
I move inside the crowd of parents still large but not overwhelming like the day before, but I am cutting it close and dodge into class just in time not to be late even though I am looking like a giant mess.
"You ok?" Iruka asks concerned as I all but collapse into my seat. I smile at him. He's a nice guy I can tell.
"I'm fine Iruka-sensei, I ran here as not to be late." I inform him and he nods sympathetically prabably thinking I overslept or something. Man is he in for a surprise.
"Alright students, follow me outside!" Suzume-sensei announces and I groan. I forgot physical training is in the MORNING. Hopefully training on low stamina makes it more effective or something. Pushing limits right?
She leads us outside, it's the same area that the set up stage was yesterday but now it's clear. The yard doesn't have a playground or anything like you would expect at a children's school. It is larger than any yard from the schools I remember in my other life. There's a field of grass with a dirt outline of a track, I mentally groan that the thought of running MORE but if I want to be fast the I suppose it is unavoidable. The more dirt covered area has chalk circles I know are for sparring. Will we be doing that this year? I don't know. I look further seeing what looks to be a small obstacle course complete with a rock climbing wall and everything. Then in the far end of the yard I see a large row of targets in the traditional red and white of targets. I blush a little at the memory.
"Alright class, for warm up we will start with five laps around the track." Suzume-sensei says and a chorus of groans and whines that I happily join ring through the yard. Our sensei smirks a little as we are ushered over. Please let running with low stamina lead to increasing skill faster… "Ready, set, go." She declares not sounding enthused at all as her eyes watch us like a hawk her pen moving fast on paper taking notes.
The first hour? Two hours? I'm not really sure. There isn't a clock OUTSIDE and I don't have a watch. Either way for the past unspecified amount of time we ran out laps which we found out is going to be a daily sort of thing. Then we moved onto plain old exercises. You know push-up, sit up, chin up, all the ups for hours… ya not so fun. I will definitely be feeling this tomorrow. Maybe… actually I don't know if I meditate maybe I can recover and not have my muscles as sore?
Still it was fruitful because despite the near slave driver approach to exercise in which Suzume-sensei will ensure a small pebble meet the back of your head should you stop exercising for even a moment… literally… I can already see the progress.
Body conditioning profiency level has risen X2
You have gained 1 STR
So all and all I am happy with that, and we did get small spaced out rests. During each of these rests no matter how small I tried to meditate, but as not to look too suspicious I would lie on my back my eyes closed like I was sleeping. I may have sort of actually fallen asleep once and had to have Iruka-sensei wake me, but I am MOSTLY meditating. It makes you wonder, do Naras actually sleep all the time or do they meditate? My actions aren't that suspicious as they are mirrored by quite a few civilian children and even some shinobi born, though most clan kids or shinobi born are too stubbornly prideful to do so. Some even saying they can 'keep going!' Ya… I don't believe that for a second. We're just kids and though they definitely have better stamina and conditioning already, they have to feel the burn at least a little right?
"Water break!" Iruka calls out breaking my concentration. Not that it is much help, the line for the ONE outdoor water fountain is huge and I didn't pack a bottle of water. Another thing to get in the future I guess. I mostly take our extended in between break to meditate some more being diligent not to fall asleep.
Meditation Proficiency level has risen X1
I try to keep aware of my surrounding though listening around. It's a difficult task but I just manage.
New skill!
Eavesdropping Proficiency Level 1
Ability to listen in on others conversations without them knowing you are listening. Range 0.1m per level, 100% accuracy. -10% accuracy per additional 0.1m. Current ability range 0.1m.
Huh… well that's a pretty useful skill. Bet I can upgrade it quickly at lunch time and stuff… we'll back to sorta spying.
"Why's… sleeping?" One voice asks I match it to a signature not far off.
"I'm going… best… class…" I match this to signature in the other direction.
I make out a heavy sigh. "What did I do to have a blond Nara in my class?" The voice of Suzume-sensei far louder then the rest ring in my ears and my lips quirk up. She is complaining LOUDLY but I take that as a compliment thank you very much. I hear Iruka chuckling weakly.
"Thank you again… opportunity… Suzume-san." Iruka replies and I begin to focus on other conversations.
Eavesdropping Proficiency level has risen X1
"Alright class, now we are going to begin to practice our Taijutsu." Suzume-sensei says and I shoot up instantly alert. "I know some of you have been practicing with your clans or families, while others have never practiced before." She continues and everyone has an eager light in there eyes, well almost everyone, a few look tired, or fearful.
"Those of you who have studied Taijutsu before raise your hand!" Iruka then announces and I see more than a few hands raise. Suzume sensei nods.
"You will be practicing your Katas with me. At the academy we practice the Standard Leaf Taijutsu, however if you show an acceptable ability in the forms, you are welcome to practice any other Taijutsu style, so long as no chakra or harmful moves are used. When it comes to sparring." She continues and I feel a slight turning in my stomach. I am much farther behind then the clan kids apparently. I'll have to work VERY hard to catch up. I don't intend to be some useless extra if I can help it. She motions for the group of kids with raised hands to follow her as she lead them to the far side of the field organizing them into rows.
"The rest of you come with me." Iruka then said and motioned for us to follow. I did so lightly brushing the dirt off my shorts as I get up. "Alright I want you all to stand in rows with a good distance between you so no one gets hurt." Iruka says and when we all stood there blinking dumbly at him he sighed, he then proceeded to physically move us apart. "Alright now that we are all a good distance from each other, I want you to copy my movements. I'll go slowly so you can get the hang of it." Iruka said and moved his feet apart and I copied. He began to slowly move through basic punches and stances. He has us continue on loop the motions and walk between us moving limbs into the correct positions. The stances felt strange, foreign and just… they didn't flow. I could tell that though this stance was a beginners stance it relied heavily on blocking which required high upper body strength, not my biggest strength.
New skill!
Taijutsu Proficiency Level 1
The ability to perform Taijutsu and physical attacks. Increases skill with all Taijutsu attacks and styles per level. Increases speed at which you master new forms by 1% per level. Increases speed, strength, and precision when performing Taijutsu by 0.2% per level. Current ability speed at which master forms 101%, increase in stats while performing Taijutsu 0.2%.
I smile at the new skill. This will definitely come in handy.
New skill!
Standard Leaf Taijutsu Proficiency Level 1
The ability to perform taijutsu using the standard leaf taijutsu form. Mastery of the form increases per level. This taijutsu style uses blocking, countering and slashing in its technique and can be performed with or without a weapon such as a short blade. It is an ideal form for beginners though can be highly predictable to high level Taijutsu users or those familiar with the style. Katas currently known 1
We go through the motions again and again and feel the awkwardness slowly decreasing but it is highly predictable, at least the one kata that we are being taught.
Standard Leaf Taijutsu Proficiency Level has risen X2
Taijutsu Proficiency level has risen X1
We go at this for about an hour at most and already my stomach is growling and it's not lunch time, my stamina points are nearly depleted, and I feel ready to collapse.
"Alright moving on, everyone you can take a short break." Iruka says clapping his hands and I feel relieved to see that with Suzume-sensei I'd group the clan kids also collapse. I quickly move to begin to meditate, never before feeling so relieved for the benefits of meditation.
Meditation Proficiency Level 18
Ability to calm mind, body, and energies to centre oneself. Increases regeneration rate by 1% per level. Increase in overall energies control 1% per level. Chakra cost reduction 0.02% per level. Current capability 118% regeneration rate, 18% overall control, -0.36% chakra cost.
18% increase in regeneration is not much but I can sure feel the difference.
We get about a five minute break, it's not really much at all but it is something.
"Next on the agenda is target practice. Please make your way to Iruka-sensei and pick up a set of five shuriken and five kunai, be careful and find a target to practice on behind the first line." Suzume-sensei instructs and we follow her instructions. The shuriken are larger than I pictured and the kunai are heavier in my small hands. The edges are dulled down slightly but these could still do serious damage. We wait behind the chalk line. There are many on the ground actually, I'm guessing you move back as you get better but for now I stand right at the edge of the line placing the sharp dangerous items down next to me with a clang.
"Alright, look closely." Iruka says in a friendly way as he shows us the best way to hold each of the weapons and throws them at the target hitting a bullseye. We are then instructed to do the same.
I take a shuriken first palming it and try to replay the motions which Iruka demonstrated. I throw it at the target and it falls short and off to the side. I click my tongue in annoyance. Ninja really make it look easier than it actually is. I continue for the next hour or so to throw the items at the target waiting for the interval every five minute or so to retrieve them and start again until lunch is announced and I give them back. Though I have earned three new skills. I think today is a record for me when it comes to how many skills I have gained.
Shurikenjutsu Proficiency Level 2
Ability to use throwing weapons effectively. Speed in which you can throw weapons and the strength behind the throw increases per level by 0.2%. Increase in speed to level up shurikenjutsu related skills increases 1% per level. Current ability level up speed 102%, weapons speed and strength increase 0.4%.
This skill is definitely useful. Especially considering the disappointment that I had to learn each type of throwing weapons individually.
Shuriken Proficiency Level 1
Ability to throw and use shuriken. Shuriken range approximately 15 m. Speed and strength behind throw increases per level. Accuracy on stationary targets 1% per level. Current ability, throwing accuracy 1%.
1% accuracy? As in I hit where I want to 1% of the time or is it more like accuracy as in how close to where I want to? I'm not quite sure but I know I currently suck…
Kunai Proficiency Level 3
Ability to throw and use kunai. Kunai range approximately 40m. Speed and strength behind throw increases per level. Accuracy on stationary targets 1% per level. Current ability, throwing accuracy 3%.
Kunai I feel a little more comfortable with, mostly because I know where to hold, I've already scratched my fingers holding the shuriken because they are all blade… besides kunai seem to have a larger range which is good.
When it's all said and done we are dismissed for lunch and I once again collapse this time in the shade of a tree going between devouring my lunch, meditating, and eavesdropping. All the classes seem to have lunch at the same time so I spy Ami with her friend but am too tired to socialize. A few kids leave the schoolyard to get lunch but most stay. This is going to be much harder than I thought it would. At least by the time lunch is over I feel a little bit better stamina wise but not much.
The afternoon I meditate mostly as we start our academic classes. The classes are pretty straight forward so far. We are little kids so it's nothing too complicated. Suzume-sensei talks about what our time in the academy will look like. Apparently we will be forcusing mostly on physical conditioning and taijutus this year but in the second term we will begin chakra theory. Second year we will work to activate our chakra and add control exercises to the list of things to do as well as practice hand signs, oh and begin sparring. Third year we do our first jutsu and start looking more into other aspects of shinobi life. Fourth year we start diversifying learning about the smaller less known types of ninja techniques and that continues on through fifth year. Fifth year we will do the obstacle courses as well as learn all the techniques we need to for graduation. Then the final year is spent perfecting our fighting styles and jutsu before graduating. The whole thing is already giving me a headache. I am so tempted to pull a Shikamaru and just do enough to pass instead of doing well. Problem is I don't have a fancy clan to support me so that can't happen. I sigh one more time as I take some lazy notes about the few things I don't already know.
Painting Proficiency level has risen X1
You have gained 1 DEX
I smile a lot to do, not a lot of time to do it. Am I forgetting something? Oh right Kunoichi classes… shoot.