"Dog Days of Training"
Time before the academy orientation was drawing near. It wasn't too much longer before I'd finally get into the academy and start really going towards my future career of being a shinobi. All the training beforehand was the building blocks for most clan shinobi or other smaller shinobi families. The academy was where the first step on the stairway of one's shinobi career really began. Academics to sharpen the mind, physical and combat training to sharpen the body, and bonds with other young shinobi to build one's spirit, or so Mom said.
A lot of older members of the clan kinda viewed the academy as a waste for those who came from clans. They liked to stick to tradition when it came to raising the next generation, but most agreed that the academy was needed to boost one's career. To build connections with other clans and possible future shinobi of renown. Also to show off our skills to the rest of the village early on. Kazuma told me he found the academy mostly easy aside from the academics. History made him sleepy and math was torture, but he said learning the academy standard jutsu was fun. He did tell me though that even if I passed the academy proper that there was another test after that would be tough.
He didn't say what though. Only that it was different for every group. He told me he and his team had a rough time of it and almost got sent back to the academy. I tried to figure out what he meant by putting what Mom taught me to good use. To just blend into the background and just seem harmless as you eavesdrop on everyone's business to gather information. The most I learned though since most genin seemed tight lipped about it was that there was a practical exercise after graduation when you get put on your three man team. I also learned that often three man teams even if they passed the academy if they failed this test they'd go back to the academy for several more months for more training.
That wasn't the worst fate, but it still filled me with a sense of dread having to repeat something that Kazuma and other members of the clan completed on their first try. A few others in the clan had failed and they still got ribbed for it. Me being the prideful little twerp that I was thought that would be torture and was determined to not let that happen. Dad had to flick my forehead to get me to calm down at dinner cause I was so antsy about it after bombarding Kazuma with a million questions. "You're going to be just fine, young lady. You already are further than I was by a mile when I was your age. You've already pretty much mastered the clone technique. You're already learning how to use doton and you've got much more physical and chakra conditioning than the poor kids not from ninja families. Honestly you're such a little perfectionist. I don't know where you get it from." He grumbled. "This chair is uneven." He said, Mom rolled her eyes at that.
"You'll be fine sweety. You've still got time and you can keep training with everyone else to get even further ahead if you're that worried about it." Mom assured me ruffling my hair as she piled more veggies on my plate. "Okay. Kazuma, teach me more." He groaned, but couldn't keep the smirk off his face.
"I guess I can ask my sensei if you can tag along when we train. He's coming by tomorrow to drop something off." He told my parents who seemed pleased about that.
"Awfully polite of him, what is he bringing?" Mom said.
"The new training schedules." Kazuma answered, "He'll be coming around eight in the morning. He's going to each of our houses to see everyone before they go to work."
Goto Sensei was an older shinobi, older than both Mom and Dad for sure. He was in his late forties, bald as could be, but with a salt and pepper beard and mustache. He wore an eye patch over his left eye. His right was a vibrant green that was oddly startling. He was fairly broad too, almost as tall as Dad and had several scars across his face near his missing eye, across his forehead, and some on his arms. If he didn't have such a polite demeanor he'd be rather intimidating.
"Good morning. I'm Goto Abe" The older man said with a polite bow, "Here is Kazuma's new training schedule. Unfortunately, I will be busy from time to time as I have been called upon to help organize security for the upcoming Chunin exams."
"For the days or weeks I'm gone I have laid out what they should be focusing on. I hope I can leave it to you to keep young Kazuma on track." Goto said to my parents. Kazuma looked a bit down, clearly he would have preferred Goto to be more hands-on in the training.
"Don't look so down." Goto said, patting Kazuma on the shoulder. "Or else I'll have to ask your parents to triple the training I recommended." I had never seen my brother's eyes go so wide as he stood perfectly straight and looked a lot happier.
"I think we can manage." Dad replied after giving the folder a quick look over. "All of the clans have some level of training facilities. I'm sure they can trade off where they're training." He then glanced down at me, "Mind if this brat tags along to watch them train on those days?" He said, pushing me forward to meet Goto. I felt kinda intimidated stepping forward giving Dad an "Ow" look for his roughness.
"Uh, hi Goto sensei. I'm Kiyomi Yamanaka, Kazuma's sister. Uhm. Is it alright to come along? I wanna learn more before the academy." I said in a quick rush with a bow.
Goto was quiet for a moment before smiling. "I love the spirit. I encourage all the youngsters of the families to get extra tutoring from their elders." He said cheerfully before turning back to my parents. "It's fine with me, although only for the days they're doing conditioning. My training of the genin will be…dangerous for those who haven't even started their first year of the academy. Especially if they've not fully mastered chakra enhancement." He said, then gave me a thumbs up. I remember getting all embarrassed because I had gotten a lot better at chakra reinforcement, but if I wasn't as good at something as Kazuma, I didn't think it was mastered.
The meeting had a few more pleasantries exchanged along with some more information about future training regimes and planned absences Goto sensei knew he'd be gone. After that I got to see Kazuma's teammates, Dakun Sarutobi and Hana Inuzuka fairly often. Either coming over to use our gym and training grounds or tagging along with Kazuma with Ino being allowed to come too. Inoshi was wanting Ino to get a bit of a jump start too. The Sarutobi training ground was…a hazard. Fire release being what they were most known for made ash and soot a common hazard floating through the air. It was cool seeing Dakun demonstrate his prowess. He was also trying to teach Hana and Kazuma how to use Katon release. There was a match lighting jutsu they were learning. Poor Hana had trouble with it, but Kazuma of course was pretty good at it. We weren't allowed back there after the first trip due to a fireball sailing past us due to other youngsters training.
When they came to our compound it was mostly just basic exercise and conditioning. So Ino and I would mainly do workout routines in the weight and cardio room while they were in there. We did some shuriken practice too, but it was pretty standard for us. Typically the adjustment made though to make it tougher was we'd have to do the leaf training method while working out on the weight machines. If we lost focus they'd all get to pelt us with chakra enhanced tennis balls as punishment. It honestly reminded me of Misaki's training, but less painful and kinda more fun. Even if a trio of teens were just itching for the chance to pelt us. They would wait for us to put the weights down though for safety reasons.
The real fun though was when we went to the Inuzuka compound. Hana was great. The big sister I always wanted. Patient, enjoyed all the more girly things Kazuma hated to do, and, most importantly, had a love for dogs. Being the clan for ninja hounds everytime we went over there were new dogs there for training. Ino and I would train by helping the pups. Essentially we'd have to try to outrun the pups. Which if they were normal dogs would have been challenging enough. Ninja hounds, even young, were still very fast. Without chakra enhancement we'd typically get caught by the most uncoordinated of pups. I won't lie, sometimes I let myself be caught because if they did, they got a treat and I felt guilty if some went without getting a biscuit. I'm sure Ino did too, especially with our favorites.
I loved the big floofy dogs that I could often ride on. They were so large even as puppies. Ino liked the smaller ones that she could let ride on her head. Here we kept doing the leaf training method, but full on sprinting, diving, rolling, and climbing around trying to avoid getting caught. We'd be using chakra enhancement to boost our speed through it all. This method was great since it taught us great chakra control and we had a blast while doing it. We were having so much fun that we just eventually were able to constantly output chakra without thinking about it.
It was during one of these training sessions Ino and I first met Kiba. "Uhh, Kiyomi? Is that dog sick with Hana?" Ino asked as we were waiting for Hana to bring our training dogs for the day. Looking up I saw why Ino was concerned. There was some oddly colored gangly dog beside Hana. It had brown hair around its head, but a gray goat and was walking more like a spindly crab than a dog."It looks like that ghost from the movie we watched last night." Ino said looking creeped out.
I had hardly slept last night because we had stolen a scary movie out of one of our older cousins' rooms to watch for our movie night. In it some creepy kid came crawling out of a well and moving just like that. Even from far away we could hear the thing wheezing and coughing. "Did Hana bring us a sick dog to play with Ino?" I asked, unsure how to feel about that. Hana just waved cheerfully as she ran up to us, outpacing the weird dog.
"Hey girls. Sorry for the delay. We had to go a bit slow getting here so he'd have some energy left to train with y'all. Ino, Kiyomi, this is my brother Kiba." She said pointing to the dog.
Ino and I both shrieked as the dog looked up revealing a red blotchy face of a boy who looked like he was on death's door. "What's wrong with him, is he sick?" I asked, worried.
"I'm not sick! I'm training!" Kiba growled back.
Hana laughed. "He's practicing our all fours technique. He's been trotting like this since five this morning. If you're not used to it, it's kinda hard to breathe." Hana said, patting Kiba's head as he took a break. "He's pretty quick at a full sprint, so don't go easy on him.
Ino and I looked at each other, a bit creeped out. Playing with dogs was one thing. Playing with this boy who looked angry and kinda creepy on all fours was another. We both had added a water vest for some extra weight while training. I also had some weights on my wrists and ankles after that run in with Meiko so I was at a disadvantage there too. "Well uhm it's nice to meet you Kiba." I said as I looked back to Kiba who was practically vibrating with energy to get started.
"I just bite and slash like mom said right?" He asked Hana which made Ino and I go start.
"Wait what?" Ino said as Kiba was getting on all fours again.
"You two should run. He's pretty rowdy and doesn't really listen to what I say when he gets like this." Hana said sweetly. Ino bolted a moment before me and I went scrambling after her. Kazuma and Dakun laughed as we ran screaming as Kiba came charging after us howling.
"He's just like that ghos!t Waaaaaah!" Ino said charging ahead of me, jumping over various logs and other obstacles with relative ease compared to me who had like thirty more kilos than her. Wheezing and coughing I could hear him right behind me despite how much trouble he was having. I could hear the uneven patter and scraps of his feet and claws in the dirt.
"Hana why didn't you give us a head start!? He's weeeiird!" I cried.
"I'm not weird! I'm going to bite you for that!" Kiba said, chomping at my ankle as I barely managed to get over a log to avoid him.
"Ino get back here and help me!" I said, shaking my fist at her.
"Survival rule number twenty three. You don't have to be faster than the bear, just faster than the next person. I'll take care of all your stuffed animals!" She said still gaining distance between all of us.
"What kinda heir abandons her cousin!" I cried, still waving my fist.
"The one who doesn't wanna get bitten by some weirdo dog boy!" She called back with a little wave of her own.
In response to this betrayal I snatched up a training rope the dogs used to tug on that was on a table I was passing then tossed it at her legs, tripping her. "Kiyomi you jerk!" Ino said as she got out of her tumble and Kiba was charging at her. "Ewww gross!" She shrieked, rolling back and kicking out sending Kiba flailing through the air, just barely missing getting a hold of her.
"Owww, you dumb blonde!" He said crashing down into a pond with a splash. Ino scrambled to her feet running after me with vengeance clearly on her mind. At least until Kiba came out of the water, muddy looking even more feral coming after us once more.
"Now he's a muddy, dog boy ghost! You made it worse Ino!" I called to her looking back over my shoulder. Kiba seemed faster now that he had been cooled off as well as angered.
"I wouldn't have thrown him if you hadn't tripped me!" She shot back, catching up as we ran around the dog park with Kiba gaining on us. "Hana, how long do we have to keep this up!" I called as the genin were doing their own training.
Hana looked up, a finger on her chin as she was thinking. "He typically doesn't stop till he drops or Mom drops him." She said with an apologetic tone.
"You dumped him off on us!" Ino accused her, Hana waving her hand as if to say 'sorry'.
"W-whatever! We gotta figure out how to wear him out!" Ino said, trying to take the lead.
"Yea, no kidding, but how?" It was easier said than done. Especially if Kiba had been doing endurance training already. I had overheard Hana talking about how she had been doing marathon training for years even before she got into the academy. Taking after the hounds or wolves they partnered with Inuzuka often trained to have lots of stamina to track down prey and forgive the pun, hound them for hours. They also worked well as sentries because they had such great endurance and could go a long time without sleep. This could be a losing battle, but both of us were stubborn and didn't want to get mauled by this feral wild child.
"Gosh he stinks." Ino panted, holding her nose. It was true, he had been training since early that morning that hoody stank to high heaven. Especially with pond mud and water on it.
"I don't stink! Mom says if you don't sweat for victory then it's not really a victory!" He shouted. It was only because he kept tripping up every few seconds that he hadn't caught back up yet. Ino and I looked at each other again and had the same idea. We passed another dog rope on the ground and Ino grabbed it this time. She made to swing it as if she was going to trip me. I then caught it and we both skidded to a halt faster than Kiba could stop. Drawing the rope taut between us so he ran into it, tumbling ass over tea kettle.
He was going so fast he went like twenty meters before sliding into a sandpit used to train the dogs on basic finding commands. As he was cursing and sputtering after his tumble, Ino and I were already running the opposite direction to gain as much distance as possible. We high-fived as we got back to Kazuma's squad, still in the middle of their training. "I think we got him. Hana he's so fast already." I wheezed as she paused to give us a grin.
"Yeah, he is. He's also determined and stubborn. He gets it from mom." Pointing behind us and to our horror we could see he was already up and chasing after us again.
"I thought training was supposed to be incremental!" Ino whined taking off in front of me again as I gave chase still weighed down by my training gear.
"How long will he be able to keep this up Hanaaaaa." I whined as I chased after Ino.
"A while yet, good luck!" She replied, "I think you two are great playmates for him!" Hana laughed, looking a bit relieved if I'm being honest. If this kid could keep going long enough to make Hana want to pawn him off on us then we likely didn't stand a chance. So we'd have to do something to get away from him. The two of us were having trouble thinking clearly because of the deranged kid on all fours chasing us.
"Give up and let me maul you!" Kiba snarled behind us. Ino and I were starting to slow down, feeling the exhaustion building up. It wasn't until the fourth lap around the compound that Ino and I both spotted the kennels. The Inuzuka used them to keep the more aggressive dogs separated while training the others.
The kennels were held in a small building, the construction similar to a barn. Inside individual cages lined the walls, thankfully one at the end was wide open and unoccupied. "That way!" Ino instructed. Running inside, we got in front of the empty one and turned to face Kiba who was sprinting toward us. Having run inside the building, there was little room to maneuver and thus, it appeared we were trapped. Turning, we raised our fists looking like we were ready to fight.
"It's over!" He said leaping at us like a hoodie covered bullet. We then both side-stepped, allowing him to jump into the empty kennel before Ino closed the door and I latched it shut.
"Hey!" Ino shouted while she held it shut. I placed a broom handle through the latch locking the dog boy terror in the kennel.
"Hey let me out you dumb girls! You can't do this to me!" He said smacking against the kennel door. The two of us sighing in relief it was finally over.
"Water break?" Ino asked panting and I nodded. We both ignored him as we walked out of the barn-like kennel, closing the door behind us to muffle the noise of him screaming at us.
Once we got back to the picnic table where everyone was keeping their water, we got some drinks and sagged into the seats at the table. We sat there for ten minutes before, not seeing Kiba, Hana got concerned and came over. "Did he run off?" She asked, looking around.
"No. We locked him in the dog kennel to get a break." I muttered, I was so tired at this point I was practically just laying on the table. Hana stared for a moment, then burst out laughing.
"That's what I do when I can't handle him anymore." She said between giggles.
"I don't think I can run anymore." Ino complained.
"Me neither. He can't get out can he?" I asked, putting on my best pouting look.
"Nah, those are made to hold adult ninja hounds. He's not at that level yet. I'll leave him in there for an hour to teach him a lesson about looking before you leap. You should just do stretches and cool down." Hana suggested, going back to her training. Kazuma was putting up some mud walls for Hana to practice plowing through. So far she could get through two with her hounds before getting knocked off course. Dakun was doing the same, but he was trying to get through the walls with his fireball. He was having less success since, while strong, his fireballs weren't really at the level of punching through stone.
"Uggh I don't wanna mooooove." Ino whined.
"Me neither, but if we don't it will hurt more tomorrow." I said with a groan. The weight on my limbs feeling even heavier now. I refused to take them off though, I was determined to catch up with Meiko in this. Although I didn't know at the time that Meiko constantly wore her weights. I only wore weights when working out or perhaps going for an errand. So catching up wasn't exactly going to happen. We did several stretches, some basic push ups and situps, then finished with a few cool down laps around the track. We could hear Kiba howling in the kennels, but we ignored him.
Once the others had finished up Hana went to let him out and we hid behind Kazuma as he came bolting out of the kennels clearly not happy with being locked up. "Ahhh Kazuma keep him away!" I said hiding behind him as he laughed.
"You stupid girls Raaaaawr!" Kiba roared, leaping up to get at us, but Kazuma merely caught him and held him there flailing.
"Training's over buddy. You'll get them next time." He said holding the mass of snarling limbs by the hoodie.
"N-next time?" I asked, looking startled.
"Oh yeah, we'll be doing this often to get you all faster." Kazuma said, giving me the shit eating older brother grin as he saw our terrified faces.
Kiba calmed down and smiled too, still hanging in the air. "I'll get you back ten fold for what you did, blondies!"
With that running for our lives from Kiba was added to the routine. Sometimes though, it was just me since Ino either didn't want to come along or was dragged off to do stuff with her Dad. Those days, Kiba caught me easily, especially with my weights on. The first time he caught me he sent me tumbling across the ground anime style to land face down in the dirt and just lay there gasping since he knocked the air out of me. The spaz actually felt bad about it till I decked him in the nose for being so rough. This devolved into flailing limbs and fisticuffs until Kazuma separated us.
Dropping the weights while running helped a bit, but only for a little while so I decided to keep them on. I'd get more running for my life weighed down in this instance than getting caught anyways without them on. It was still fun though. When not trying to rip our achilles tendons out, Kiba was just as dog crazy as Hana. We'd walk and train some of the Ninken with him and Hana on calmer days.
"This is Choto and he's a Mountain hound." Kiba said, holding the leash of a dog the size of a horse. Literally. "They use them up in the mountains to dig people out of avalanches and mudslides. Sometimes since they don't have horses they'll hook a plow up to them." He said, patting the massive dog's floofy leg. "This one is learning to be more relaxed. So let's walk him and try to get him to calm down a bit." He said tossing some of the leash to both Ino and I.
Three six year olds holding the leash of a horse sized dog went about as well as could be expected. One moment everything was fine and we were talking about being in the academy, the next a duck flew overhead and we were holding onto the leash for dear life. Screaming as Chozo took off with us being unable to stop him. Kazuma had to pin him in with a mud wall combo to stop him from running and we just laid there, sick from being dragged around for twenty minutes. "Well. At least your arm strength has improved." Kazuma joked laughing at us all just laying there looking green.
These meetings would continue mostly before the academy and carried on for the first year or so into it. As our siblings got older the meetings to train got less frequent since they weresent on more missions. Despite being somewhat rabid, Kiba I do count as one of my childhood friends. We weren't as close as I was with my other friends, but we'd wave to each other in passing, chat, and talk about how well our siblings were doing on a team together. Kiba gets a lot of shit later, but that's because he's taking longer to mature than the others. It also pains me to admit that after our first meeting he won those chases eight out of ten times thanks to how quick he was. He was going to make a pretty strong ninja later on if he managed to get his hot head under control.