Yawning, I sat on a tree at the edge of the training ground. When was he coming? I could not possibly have understood the wrong day or the time. I waited now surely already a beaten half hour. Bored, I threw my kunai in the direction of the opposite tree, which almost hit Sensei Kakashi. The tall Jonin and I both flinched away from each other. Startled, I looked at him. „Sorry. I ran into a black cat and it got stuck in the middle of the road. Since they're known to bring bad luck, I took the detour around the entire block."
I blinked at him, puzzled. He was getting weirder and weirder. „How about walking at the rooftops or just going around the cat?" Kakashi was now eyeing me in confusion as well. „Ehh ... yeah thanks for the tip, will take it to heart ... next time." I raised my eyebrow. He was really weird, but somehow, I liked him for that very reason.
„This is the place." Curious, I looked around. Kakashi had led me to a small forest lake, its crystal-clear water glistening in the sun. It was a beautiful place, but still I shivered from the coming. „So, I think you know what I'm going to teach you now." I nodded. „This task demands a great deal of your concentration. However, because of your outstanding skills in controlling your chakra so far, I firmly believe you will master it." He stepped a little closer to the lake and placed his feet on the water. My eyes almost fell out of my head as I watched my sensei stroll across the water quite comfortably. „However, it is also important that you regulate your chakra, because if you don't, you will lose your balance and sink." I gulped. This was going to be funny. But at least this was a lake and not a river.
When Kakashi left the lake, I felt like my legs were made of jelly. Water. How much I was afraid of this element. But that wouldn't do me any good now, I had to try. I took a deep breath and began to concentrate my chakra in my feet. Felt it and checked its evenness. Carefully I took a step and when nothing happened, another. I began to shake with joy and excitement. I had already managed the first step once. Bravely, I ventured a few more steps.
„Yes. Very nice. I knew you'd g-" Kakashi broke off. I felt a breeze and was surrounded by the cool wet shortly after. Terrified, I cried out as water filled my clothes and threatened to pull me down. Hectically, I began paddling my arms and legs, hoping to somehow stay on the surface. Fear drove into my heart and kept clawing at it like an icy claw. I coughed and gulped water.
A hand grabbed my arm and pulled me out of the water. Darkly, I remembered that I had been in such a situation before. I coughed and choked the slimy water out of my body. I still shook at the thought of what had just happened. Exhausted, I sat up, not even daring to look Kakashi in the eye, who stood over me with his arms folded.
„You kept it from us. Why?" The grey-haired Jonin sounded serious, but not angry. Slowly, I looked up. „I was going to tell you. Already last time." Something flashed in Kakashi's eyes. „Oh, that's why you kept quiet. That was supposed to be a no."
„In a manner of speaking," I replied softly. „Your father never taught you, so I guess we'll take it from here." „That's not necessary," I said quickly. Kakashi raised his right eyebrow. „Naruto has already said that he will teach me how to swim." „So, he has. Well, in that case."
He was silent for a moment, staring thoughtfully at the water. „Even though you don't know how to swim yet, I still think it's important to let you keep doing this exercise." Surprised, I looked up. I really hadn't expected that. Rather, I expected that he would not let me do them again until I learned how to swim.
„It may sound strange, but it could be a good exercise. Because that way you learn to control your fear and your chakra at the same time. This is very important especially in a fight. Because there you must never lose control of the chakra, despite emerging fear of your opponent or a defeat. Because that could decide the outcome."
Kakashi was right, it would actually help me. But still, the sight of the water gently bobbing up and down scared me a little. „Come on," Kakashi said. "Try it a few more times. But this time in places where you can still stand."
Tired and halfway dry, I dragged myself through the alleys of the village. By now it had become dark. For which I was also quite grateful. So I could scurry like a shadow through the village without being noticed. However, I froze miserably in the wet clothes. Although it was still summer, but today a rather cool wind brushed through Konohagakures alleys and drove away the summer feeling a little. In addition, I stank quite after duck pond and nothing I wanted at the moment more than to wash this terrible smell from my body. My stomach grumbled. I hadn't eaten anything since this morning. Another reason to go home as soon as possible. Even though I was actually used to going without food for a day or two from my time as a thief. But that was history now.
„What the hell happened to you?"
About the shadow issue. I guess that hadn't worked out so well then. I froze slightly as I recognized my counterpart. Kiba. Did I really have to run into him twice a day? Wasn't one time enough? My fate definitely hated me. „Eh...I... you know," I stammered, helplessly searching for a halfway plausible explanation. Great. Whatever I was about to tell him, he was one hundred percent not going to believe it. Well done Tora.
„I went swimming involuntarily," I finally growled. Annoyed with myself. Kiba raised his left eyebrow. „I see, and why involuntary, exactly. You smell a lot like duck pond, by the way." I nodded hastily. „That's exactly where I fell in. If you'll excuse me Kiba. I really need to get home. I'm freezing as hell. And for your nose's sake, I'd take a shower too." The brown-haired one curled his lips slightly in disgust.
„You'd want to continue sitting behind me without smelling any stern odor," I added, and the Inuzuka stepped aside without comment. He didn't seem eager for me to carry out my small, but necessary, threat. I knew about his extremely fine nose. But somehow it had surprised me that Kiba had not made any really bad comment about my condition. Maybe today's fight had actually changed something in his attitude towards me. But I would probably only find that out in the coming weeks.
Relieved and with slightly shaky fingers, I unlocked the door to my home and stepped into the poor. I couldn't even describe how much I was now looking forward to a warm shower and then bed. Tomorrow, a check-up of my back and a school test were on the schedule. The second to last one before the big final exam. Only unfortunately, Naruto and I had found almost no time to study together. I firmly hoped that Sensei Iruka would take a subject that the blond slob also mastered, because otherwise it would not look so good.