Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

Day 127

It had been a month since Kaori and I started practicing together, I was now comfortably able to walk on water and nowadays I did exercises on top of water, to increase my mastery over it.

Right now I was meditating on top of water, feeling my chakra flow throughout my body and then going out through the parts that were touching water and helping me stay afloat. It was a unique experience.

I slowly opened my eyes, at distant I could see Kaori practising water walking, she had gotten through tree walking much quicker than me and by the looks of it she was halfway done with water walking too.

This arrangement of ours have already started showing results, she was able to do clone and substitution jutsu without any issue now.

My taijutsu has also improved, nothing dramatic but I was steadily climbing up in the class ranks.

"Let's stop here Kaori "I called out.

Our time spent together had led me to another new realisation, not all Nara's were lazy. In fact Shikamaru just had been an exception and to a degree his dad too.

Once I had accidentally muttered troublesome in front of Kaori, and the way she had stared at me like I was some lowlife, I could never forget, I had not dared to mutter it again, neither did I ask her anything about her hatred towards this word, I understood it as a taboo subject and simply moved past it, I was not scared of her.

"Umm. Satoru Kun can we talk for a minute "we were about to part ways when Kaori stopped me.

"Sure "

"Umm actually I told my parents about you and they are very eager to meet you, I have been delaying them for a while but they are constantly bugging me to invite you to dinner, so umm...would you like to come this weekend? "

It would be my first time in this world to meet a family in this setting, but I can understand their reason and free food was always welcome I have no reasons to reject it.

"I would be honoured "I answered

"Really, I mean thank you Satoru Kun, I will let them know "

"Umm ... do I need to wear a kimono or do I need to bring anything, I am sorry it is bit forward but it would be my first time being invited for dinner and I don't want to appear rude" I inquired , bit embarrassingly

" you don't need to do anything Satoru Kun, please wear whatever you are comfortable in "she answered with a soft voice.

Her reply eased my anxiety a bit but still I determined to think it through and dress and behave the best I can, I didn't want to embarrass my first and only friend in this world.

Wow, I was lonely, my mind supplied perhaps I should try befriending more people in my class.

Day 128

Next day we had a sudden taijutsu evaluation and I was matched with Kenji. It was bit of surprise as he was well known for his taijutsu and was among top ten in our class, I looked at Hito sensei and he just gave me an encouraging smile. I huffed and got into fighting stance, I was not sure what Hito sensei was thinking but let's do our best.

Maybe I could be friends with Kenji, I will try talking after this fight.

"Begin" Hito sensei shouted and I rushed in, opening with jab and one two combo

He simply slipped inside my guard and threw an uppercut that I barely dodged but it was followed by a front kick which I tried blocking but power behind the kick pushed me back and down on the ground, he didn't attack me but just stood still smirking at me.

I got up and tried attacking him but before I could reach him he swept my foot and I was back on ground staring at his dumb smirking face.

I was starting to hate him, all thoughts of making more friends flew out of my mind, and I just wanted to wipe the smirk of his face.

I got up and attacked him aiming to swipe his left leg, he lifted his leg to avoid it and jump kicked me with his back leg.

But I was able to catch the leg , making him loose his balance and he began to fall or I thought he did, he went down and pushed the ground with his hand and then he was in air with his one leg still held by me he side kicked me to the face and I went out.

I opened my eyes in the medical room. I saw Kaori sitting and reading a book.

"Kaori "

"Sat...Satoru Kun "she replied bit flustered. Looks like I startled her.

"What time is it "I asked getting up, my head lightly throbbing.

"Past five, classes ended, Nagumi sensei checked you and said you were fine and to just let you rest "

I nodded at that, getting up from bed

"Let's go "

On the way out, we stopped and informed both Nagumi sensei and Hito sensei that I had woken up and that I was feeling fine.

"So what did I do wrong "I asked Kaori as we were headed towards training ground.

" hmm, there were few minor things throughout but the biggest one was you held onto that leg too long, making you unable to defend from that side " she commented

"You did well Satoru Kun, Kenji is really good at taijutsu, and he is low in ranking because he is bad in theory, if not for that he would contest with top five or even top three."

I nodded at that, but somehow remembering his smirk made me irritated even now, I wanted revenge.

"So what can I do? " I asked

"To defeat him? You will need to physically level up, he was not only more experienced than you but also stronger faster and more flexible."

I thought about the fight and accepted that. I will need to do some extra training but that was of no concern I felt full of motivation.

We arrived at the training ground and reviewed my fight, Kaori showed me what I could have done better from blocking and dodging to counter attacking.

I attentively listened and practised the new pattern and moves she showed.

After four hours Kaori called a stop, teasing me for catching workaholic disease.

I arrived home, washed up, made and ate dinner and fell asleep.

But before that, I put an alarm for morning five, like Kaori said I needed to physically level up.

A/N: Please visit pat^re^on / johnblack6826 for advanced chapters