I decide that I like summer vacation more than the academy. It isn't really surprising, I can do the workout on my own time, and the classes were almost entirely on things I already know, at least so far. The only thing the Academy can really offer is a teacher to help with my forms in Taijutsu practice, that was always helpful, having the flaws or little bad habits you didn't even know you had being pointed out. However, with so many students and the academy instructors expecting you to be terrible expected to be terrible, there wasn't much of that.

Now the academy's use has become completely obsolete since today, Izumi fulfills her part of the deal and will help me with my shurikenjutsu.

I had met up with her earlier today NEAR the Uchiha compound. She had been a mess coming over in a shambled walk, her hair all over her face, clearly not a morning person in the least. In my last life, I hadn't been one either, much more of a night owl, but now? Now sleeping in was a novel, slightly uncomfortable concept, if I was being honest. It just didn't work, maybe because of the system, but I always woke up early.

"We're almost there," Izumi says. We went past all the Uchiha compound to the clan's private training ground. Honestly, I would be tempted to use it by myself in the future if it wasn't for how far away it is, and the fact that I could very easily get arrested, given they were almost all police officers once they became adults.

Come to think of it. I am yet to hear about any jonin Uchiha's taking missions. Missions aren't overly discussed, but there are rumours about the excellent jonin. Never really about the Uchiha, only ever about them transferring to the police force. Because of that, they probably don't become join sensei very often, (and teams are like a second family in the ninja world) which probably minimizes their connection to the other clans. It is both brilliant and terrifying on the part of the village just how isolated they have managed to get the proud clan.

Eventually, she stops walking though she seems a little nervous now that she no longer seems exhausted. Not sure why SHE would be nervous. Maybe because she's never taught, anyone? That seems probable.

"So what are you going to teach me first, Senpai?" I ask playfully, and Izumi freezes as though the name terrifies her. Ok, so maybe she is TERRIFIED of teaching. I sigh. "Izumi-san, I won't judge you. Whatever it is, you CAN teach me. I readily welcome. You're a genin, I don't expect you to be a jonin, but you have much more skill and experience than I do." I say, getting serious, and she turns at me, blinking, probably surprised by the momentary show of my maturity.

"Man… your just like them, aren't you?" Izumi mumbles, and I quirk an eyebrow, but before I have a chance to question her further on who this 'them' is or how I am like them, she continues. "Alright, show me what you've got so far! Hit all the trees dead centre." She says, handing me some shuriken and kunai. There are too many to balance them all on my own in my little hands, so I put the kunai down temporarily. I also realize something else. I'm glad I wore my nearly too-tight fingerless cloves because these weapons aren't blunted… like at all.

I get into my ready stance, taking precise aim at the trees. I can feel the now oh-so-familiar weight of a shurkin in each hand. (I realized my aim works with both hands equally a bit ago.) taking a steady breath in, I blink slowly before moving to throw them in various directions. Each hits the tree in different areas, marginally further from my intended mark.

Shrunken proficiency level has risen X 1

Shuriken Proficiency Level 61

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 61%.

I don't pause to admire or awe at my work so much better than I could have ever hoped for months ago. I grab the Kunai and repeat the process careful with every motion. As I glance to the side, seeing red eyes with three tomoe in them looking at me intently. (It really is impressive that she has three tomoe, from what I understand, there are adults with fewer tomoe)

There is no alert this time that my skill has improved, but I mentally call up the skill anyway.

Kunai Proficiency Level 50

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 50%.

I turn expectantly and perhaps a little nervously to Izumi, who is nodding to herself, her eyes still spinning as she seems lost in her own thoughts. She stays this way until the bright glowing red fades from her eyes.

"Your too tense." Izumi informs me moving over with a shuriken in her hand. "You are doing everything right… well, technically, but it is so rigid that it would be useless in a fight." She says as she is walking, throwing shuriken all that hit the trunks dead centre, and she barely even looks at them! Clearly, I picked the right thing for her to teach me about.

"So… what do I do about that?" I ask, tilting my head. I've spent a long time practicing the repetitive stance they teach in the academy, just like the katas. To be honest, I hadn't really thought about how I would throw if my stand for movements were different. Would the system work no matter how I stood? Or would it be negatively impacted? Maybe it wasn't increasing as quickly because it was taking this into account? There are a lot of questions and variables to consider.

Izumi seems to think as she grabs her chin. If she sat bent over, she would look like the famous 'thinker' statue of my old world. Then a smile spreads across her face, a smile I've seen before. It reminds me of Naruto when he talked about his distraction that day we went to free Yota. It seems kind of unnatural that a 'stoic' Uchiha would have THAT look on their face.

"We use an old Uchiha training tool passed down before the time of my great-great grandfather." She declares, holding one hand up and schooling her features, yet the smile never fades, only growing more foreboding.

"And that would be…?" I ask warily though slightly intrigued, I have to admit.

"Tell me, Sayori-chan… can you dance?" She asks, and then as her eyes open, I can't help but have a flashback to a Madara saying something similar. The realization left many strange thoughts swirling in my head, but most of all, confusion.

"Huh?" I say, surprised, and Izumi pats my head in a condescending fashion.

"Let's get started!" Izumi declares happily, spinning around, a kunai in hand, in a beautiful hip-hop yet somehow traditional fashion throwing it at the tree. "Now you try!" Izumi declares, and I can feel my face blushing red… I certainly didn't expect this. Izumi grabs my hand, leading me to move while I have a shuriken in one hand. She is lighthearted but is REALLY good at dancing. I try not to fall over as her feet seem to move in an unfamiliar step, and I forget completely what I am doing. "Throw!" Izumi declares, and I blink back to reality, throwing at one of the trees missing it entirely. "It's alright. We have all day." Izumi tells me, and I shiver even as a new skill pops up.

New Skill!

Dancing Proficiency Level 1

The ability to dance in elegant and controlled motions. Improves general agility, balance and flow per level, helping to improve your general dance ability and familiarity with dancing movements. Increases all physical stats while dancing by 0.4% per level. Current ability increases stats by 0.4%.

WHOLLY... this gives a bigger stats increase than taijutsu does! How is that even a thing? I turn towards Izumi, still feeling unsure but now more willing to engage in this... teaching method.