Two weeks later, the special class began, and Kashin informed Menma and the other students about it. He also asked the other students about their interest in taking the class, but most of them decided to join later on in high school. Only the homeroom teacher could inform them about the special classes, and most of them were not interested or found it difficult to handle the additional workload. A few students still chose to join after hearing about it again.
Menma has already decided to put in more effort than before. In running and exercising, he works harder than before. He also goes to the library every day to download books. His new upgraded mind computer allows him to wirelessly copy the books nearby. He takes three uncopied books each day to study and read them. He reads all the books even though they are available to be read at any time in a virtual screen. However, he wants his knowledge base to be deeper than the ocean's depths.
-Special classes-
This was Menma's first Special Class as a Taijutsu Specialist. Mr. Chen had come this time to teach him. Many students from the upper classes also joined in. Guy was also there to take his class. Chen looked at Guy seriously for some time.
"You also came here to take this special class. How did you find out about it?" Chen asked Guy. Recently, he had come back to teach taijutsu classes at the academy. He took a break for a few years before teaching it to students. As he didn't have many students before, and then he got busy teaching his apprentice who recently became a chunin and went to the battlefield. So, in his free time, he came back with more confidence to teach the children.
"Heard that legendary Chen, the Taijutsu specialist, came back to teach at the academy for a special class. So I asked my teacher about your class." Guy said with an enthusiastic tone. Chen nodded at his words.
"I will check your level; if you are qualified, you would be my second student in the Advanced Taijutsu course, besides my last apprentice." Chen said to Guy. He had heard about Guy and Duy, exercising daily to hone their taijutsu. He was also the reason for his return.
"Teacher, if I qualify, may I take both courses? I will learn more under your guidance," Guy said politely. Chen looked pleased to hear it.
"Okay, I agree with you on that point," Chen said at that time. He looked happy to hear it.
Chen looked at the other students; some had weak physiques, while others were strong with more muscle mass. A four-year-old kid caught his attention; he seemed bored for some reason.
Chen said at that time, "Let's introduce ourselves."
Guy said at that time,"I am Mait Guy, one day I will become a taijutsu specialist and an elite jonin."
Others also began to introduce themselves. Menma didn't interrupt anyone, but listened attentively to their words. Then, Chen coughed and reminded him of his turn.
Menma introduced himself, saying, "My name is Menma Satoshi." He then remained silent. Everyone looked at him expectantly, but soon became embarrassed as Menma looked back at them.
"Don't you have any dreams?" one boy couldn't help but ask him.
"A lot of people have dreams," he said. "I met thirty people in my class who want to become Hokage. Every class has more than half of the people who want to become Hokage. They just tell what they want to become, not what they dream. If you look at it like that, then more than half of the village of Konoha wants to become Hokage. But only one can succeed. Dreams come true through destiny and hard work. It is not something you want; it is earned through dedication and perseverance. I am a four-year-old boy; when I had a dream, I would say it. Now I don't have any dreams. A four-year-old boy carrying heavy dreams is too much. I will think about it when I graduate. I don't want to have a fantasy dream, but a real one. Because dreams come true when you believe in them, not because you say empty words, but through hard work every day. That's what my grandmother says." Menma said to them. All of them were shocked by his answer. Chen looked happy to hear it.
"Let's start our session by performing Academy Kata as a beginning ritual. Then we will go for a run around the field at least thirty rounds, followed by some warm-ups. After that, you will be matched up against one another in Taijutsu only. Once I see enough flaws from all of you, I will provide pointers," Chen said to them. He has many ideas after teaching his apprentice for few years.
They all went through the Academy Taijutsu style for fifteen minutes. Chen started correcting everyone. He even corrected Menma on some of his habits during his performance. His mind computer corrected the Academy Taijutsu data immediately and made a copy of it for his daily practice.
They immediately went on a run; Menma started by going at a moderate pace, but Chen urged everyone to pick up speed. So Menma picked up his pace and caught up to the person who was leading the race. For the next thirty rounds, this person kept the lead and maintained a safe distance from Menma. The others were all behind Menma by the same margin.
Guy was in the lead throughout the entire time. When he saw Menma just behind him, he sped up even more.
Menma performed quite well but lost in the first round as he was knocked out by his opponent outside of the circle. He didn't have much experience. However, due to their small numbers, they matched up against everyone. In his second match, he performed the same and got knocked out. In his third match, he went up against Guy, who knocked him with one kick, just like he did to the other students previously. Menma felt his heavy kick for the first time. In his fourth match, Menma fought more than before but still got knocked out. In his fifth match, he got knocked out again, but at least he put up some fight. There were 12 students in this class. He fought all the 11 of them and gained some fighting instinct. His mind-computer noted every fight for data and future reference.
In the end Menma had 11 losses in his first Taijutsu matches. What do you expect when putting a four-year-old kid with experienced academy students who are two grades above him?
Instructor Chen began giving advice to everyone on how to improve their Taijutsu and where they needed to work harder. He also pointed out their weaknesses and how to address each of them individually. Guy received the most praise and was told to attend the Advanced Taijutsu class once he had spoken with his homeroom teacher. Lastly, it was Menma's turn and he was the final student to receive the advice.
Chen started to say to him, "Don't get discouraged, as it is your first time exchanging fighting experiences with others. Most of them are three or four years older than you. You did quite well for a first-timer. You need more experience in fighting, and you need to move your body along with your fists and legs. Try to move your body faster; your body is too stiff like a plant. Your body has a slow reaction, which is because of a lack of your fighting experience. Your body isn't fully free while fighting. After you gain more experience, I can give you more pointers, as you clearly lack body experience to give you more pointers."
Chen also suggested some exercises to everyone for more free movements and muscle strengthening afterwards. Menma was happy to hear that. But Chen reminded them that today was just a small episode; they had to practice well until their next class in this week. He also reminded them to practice every day to form a muscle memory.
After the special class, Menma went home with his grandmother who was waiting for him outside. She was chatting with some other ladies and an elderly woman. He did tell her about the special classes because otherwise she would have searched for him using her Byakugan. Menma had already gone to the library right after regular class ended.
-Next day-
Apart from his regular classes and library studies, he attended a Human Autonomy class and its Weaknesses Special Course. He had to take a lot of notes on the subject and refer to several books for home study. In the Human Autonomy class, students learned how to throw senbon needles at vital points. They also practiced hitting targets by throwing senbon needles or using weapons like, tanto, suriken or kunai. Anko and Genma were in this class. He also noticed many masked figures sitting in the class who were younger Genin from the Dark Department like Anbu or Root. Very few Academy students were in this class.
Anko and Genma saw him and gave a surprised look. As a young kid like Menma doesn't go for classes like this. Even they skipped it in their lower classes.
Menma was surprised to find that even his eyesight was great. He could hit shurikens, kunais, and senbons with a 50% success rate. The tanto missed because he didn't have a habit of swinging it properly, but he still managed to hit some of them in slow motion. The instructor was satisfied with Menma's precise strikes in taijutsu. There were two assistants with the instructor to help carry out more precise work during lessons.
This lesson was going great for him. The instructor also told them about many important details of the human body. And Menma took down all the information in his notebook and his mental computer. They also showed him how to strike with various weapons and from which angles. For the first time, Menma felt like he was finally going to become an assassin.
Anko stopped him after the class with Genma and questioned how he got into the special class. Menma told them then that he wanted to take the special class, so he came to take it.
Anko wanted to ask more and wanted to assault his cheeks. The sudden appearance of Menma's grandma saved him from the future snake mistress. And Menma left soon afterwards, showing his tongue at Anko. Grandma didn't even ask why he did it. Anko and Genma were surprised to see that Menma's grandmother was a Hyuga. Even Mr. Chen and Maite Guy saw her yesterday from a distance with Menma, but they didn't have such a huge reaction as these two. Because Chen is aware of the situation of Menma, and Guy also guessed it somewhere.
-Another day-
After regular classes and exercises, Menma was ready for another new special class. Today, he would learn basic sword techniques. The instructor was also a retired Sword Master, according to the words of the instructor. However, Menma could feel that this old man was more than just a sword master. An ANBU was surely in his body language and cold demeanor.
In this class, he will teach them basic sword swinging and fighting techniques. Geko Hayate is also in the class. He no longer has a coughing problem for now.
"Aren't you a little young for this class?" one masked genin asked Menma. But Menma only smiled at him.
This class has the same number of students as the previous one. There are many trainees and rookie Anbu present. They haven't joined the department permanently; they are here temporarily. This time, there aren't any regular students around, making it easier for them to train the newcomers. Some Academy students are from higher grades and wish to learn swordsmanship.
The instructor soon began giving them a theory lesson using words. For an hour, he had them swing wooden swords in various striking techniques. Everyone's hands were quite sweaty. They fought each other in pairs with wooden swords afterwards.
The matches are very boring as it is without sword techniques in some places. Five pair are fighting in distance. And instructor is watching them with assistant instructors.
Mensha fought with more than 40 people one after another. He lost all of the 40 matches, but he had a smile on his face.
