Chapter 6

The following week, I've build a usual routine. Morning through noon, I trained my body with Gai-sensei, after a quick lunch, he helped me with any jutsus I've

been practicing with Iruka-sensei. At the Academy after school, Iruka-sensei tested me what I had studied the day before. Then after that, I went home to

Grandmother. Our home was finally furnished now, the next task was to repair and clean the cafe below us. So I would help her with that till dinner was

served; after that, I bathe, followed by more studying, then sleep.

My training with Gai-sensei was difficult, but now I pushed myself, striving to do my best. Some days after the first training, my body wasn't as stiff and sore

from the first time, I had grew accustomed to the vigorous training. But Gai would always push my body to a new level, "Kira, I'm going to introduce you to a

training technique that will give you results in strength and speed, which are both essential to taijutsu." I nodded, I was ready to try something new, anything

that will help me become more stronger. He pulled out what looked like small padded cuffs, I stared at them in question. "These are weights." he said, "We are

going to put these on your legs, and you will do your usual laps and other exercises. These each weigh ten pounds each, your body needs to get used to the

added weight as nothing is there. Then next week we will increase the weight, and will keep so the following. Understand?"

"Yes sensei." I answered. I had barely reached around to ten laps this week till my limit. With the added weights, I wonder how it will affect my performance.

He handed me the weights, which made my arms heavy. 'Oh spirits help me' I thought as I tested the weights in my hands. He told me to strap them at my

ankles. I took my sandals halfway, strap the weights on, and put my sandals back on.I lifted the left leg than the right, I felt a huge difference, these would

slow my lap performance for sure. "Start your laps Kira." said Gai

I huffed as I still jogged around the village, the weights were taking a toll on my body. I was barely on my eighth lap and it was already lunch time, I gritted my

teeth as I continued my way, 'It's okay, you can do this.' I pushed myself. 'I must finish this no matter what.'

To what I presumed to be one-thirty, I arrived back to the training grounds. Gai was busy watching over Neji and Tenten spar, so I decided to move on to the

next exercise while I wait. I felt someone placed their hand on my shoulder, I flinched and turned to see Lee next to me, "Sorry," he said as he stepped back.

"No, it's alright Lee," I said, I still felt a little awkward around other's my age, I hope it would at least get better in time. "You took longer on your laps than

usual, are you alright?" he asked, slight concern in his voice. I managed a small smile, beside Gai, Lee would always try to talk to me whenever he got the

chance, or insist on helping my training, "I'm alright Lee, it's just Gai-sensei introduced me to a new training technique, so I'm a bit more slowed down." He

looked at my feet, "Would it be weight training?" he asked. I stared at him, head tilted, "How do you know?" I asked. Lee grinned, "Gai-sensei had put me

though that as well, I had to admit, when I first started, I wanted to give up, but with hard work, I pushed on through." he said, "You remind me of myself Kira

when I first started, I thought I was so weak back then," My eyes widened in disbelief, "That can't be true Lee, I have seen you spar, you're really quite

amazing!" I said. His face had colored up, "Thanks, I'm glad you think so, but it was all the determination and hard work I put into my training to led me to

where I'm at now, and with Gai-sensei believing in me too." He looked at me, "I know you will be a genin before you know it, you've been training and

studying like crazy, you'll make it." I felt such happiness building up, I looked at Lee, "Thank you for believing in me Lee, I will do my best, and put my all in." I

smiled brighter than usual. His face flushed in color, "Y-you're welcome Kira," he then flashed a smile while striking a pose like Gai, "I know you can do it." I

then burst out laughing, he was just like a mini Gai.

I heard someone cleared their throat, and looked up, it was Gai-sensei, "I see you finished your laps?" I nodded, "Yes sensei, I finished a while ago but I didn't

want to disturb you while you watched over Tenten's and Neji's spar match" I said.

He nodded, "Okay, I want to let you know that we start a mission tomorrow. You will still train here while we will be gone for a couple days." he said. "Yes

sensei, I understand." I said. "Good, I'm releasing you early today. You missed lunch, so go eat and the Academy should be done for the day after you're

done." he said, "One more thing, you must wear the weights with you at all times."

"Yes sensei," I replied.

"You may leave then." he said turning back to his team

I walked in the village, more sluggish than usual, got my usual lunch (riceballs), and wandered a bit before the Academy was release for the day. I still had my

cup of water that was half-filled, I thought for a moment when an idea popped up, 'I should practice my kekkei genkai'. I sat by a tree close by the Academy. A

couple times while I was soaking in the tub back at home, I've been practicing. Since now I knew I had forced chakra into the water and moved it and shaped

it to what I wanted, the drawback was, I couldn't control it long enough before it turned to a puddle. I slowly exhaled as I closed eyes,

'Concentrate, build up your chakra' I told myself mentally.

I formed a hand seal and released my chakra, I raised the water from the cup and formed a sphere in my hand. I stretched it out and had it wrapped my arm. I

did that a few more times with the other arm till I felt the water quiver. 'Oh no,' I thought, I tried to concentrate more harder, 'just a little longer..' I pushed.

Few seconds later, the water fell to dirt. I sighed, more practice I guess. Then that reminded me, I know that there were jutsus to use elements, there had to

be one to summon the element, right? I can't just hope there's some sort of body of water near. I got up and dusted myself, 'Maybe Iruka-sensei could help

me with that' . I started to hear some kids getting out, 'Hmm, guess it's time' I thought as I made my way to the Academy.

The following day, Gai and the rest of the team left for their mission. Two days passed as I still trained alone on the grounds, I kept pushing myself even

though they weren't here. I wanted to be visibly stronger, I didn't care if it was by a tiny bit, just that they noticed it. As I ran my laps, the weights didn't

bother me as much, but I was still slow. After finishing that, I decided to practice some justus. I had recently gotten the hang of a substitution jutsu and a

clone jutsu. Once I had my chakra figured out, it seemed like no problem, but just need to fixed a few mistakes to make it perfect.

One straight hour later, I sat down on the grass, catching my breath. I felt drained, but I was finally satisfied with my work. I decided to take a short break,

and leaned back on the grass. Staring at the sky, my mind began to drift, I thought of my clan, my mother and father, and Ayumi. I missed them terribly, I

wanted to help them, but I couldn't, it was impossible. I wasn't strong enough and I was clearly outnumbered. Grandmother told me that the Hokage was

keeping track of my clan just enough without raising any suspicion. As grateful as I was to know my clan was safe for the time being, what about my family and

Ayumi that were held hostage? Who was the true leader of this overtake of my people? I sighed, I couldn't solve anything right now in the state I'm in. All I can

do is get stronger, wait, and pray to the spirits and She will watch over my clan. I sat up, the Academy was about to be let out soon, I had to make my way or

I would be late. Hopefully Iruka-sensei brought what I had asked for.

Another two days has passed, I sat in the training grounds reading a scroll. Iruka had given this to me from the Hokage, it was the list of water jutsus I had

asked for. My kekkei genkai is to have free control over water's three forms, but I had barely tapped into that when I was at the clan, plus those secrets and

techniques were still there out of my reach. So these were to make do. Reading through the scroll, there were many techniques that I found useful, such as

water clones and hiding in water, no matter how small. But one that I wanted to learn first was a C-ranked ninjutsu, it was called Storm Upheaval. This jutsu

was pretty strong in offense if I fully mastered it, but what it did was what I needed, summoning a massive amount of water from the sky. From what Iruka

told me, he knew it was a powerful downpour of water, and depending on how much chakra I put into this jutsu, affected how much water came. So massive

amounts would result to a flood, while alittle was a light rain. I just needed enough to cover the field I was in to produce clones or to hide away in the water. I

continued reading, another technique came up, Raging Waves, it was a common water jutsu that shot water from the mouth. Again depending how much

chakra I put resulted it's power, it gave my need to use the water and it was a C-ranked as well. I looked at both jutsus, it seemed ideal to learn Raging

Waves first since it isn't as extensive as Storm Upheaval, so as much as I was against it, I had to learn Raging Waves first. I rolled up the scroll, so after I

finish my usual training exercises, I can start practicing the water jutsu.

'I will master these and get stronger' I promised myself as I warmed up.

Hoped you enjoyed! I'll keep on posting.

~KiraSan