Shinshi looked out as he thought about the past. Watching the kid train, working to master his light release, he smiled, seeing the potential in the boy. This Hayate guy was pretty good for a kid too. He had helped Kaza with a few sword techniques, such as a way to use his footwork to increase the power of his strikes. Lifting the cup of warm tea, Shinshi took a graceful sip, his posture perfect as he reflected on a moment long before this one.

Shinshi had once walked along a path in a world of war. The age of conflict had gone on for so long that no one could really remember a time of peace. It was good for business, but even for him, the endless war was a bit of a downer. As he entered another small village, he heard the sound of a fight ahead.

The elegant man, wearing a fanciful black and white kimono that exuded grace, walked towards the commotion. He smiled, excited at the prospect of finding someone worthy of a fight. Suddenly, a large, bald man burst out of a nearby tavern, knocked out cold. Though the man was large and bulky, he wasn't the one who caught Shinshi's interest.

Moments later, Shinshi saw what was happening. A single man had taken down a group of four warriors—likely clan ninja—by himself in hand-to-hand combat. The man stood around five feet seven inches tall, with very short teal hair that stood out. His body was ripped to an insane degree, his sleeveless teal shirt revealing his muscular frame. He hadn't skipped leg day either, as he was built solid, wearing simple black pants and boots.

Shinshi paused, watching the way the man moved, bouncing on his feet, his sharp golden eyes scanning for foes and danger. Despite his young-looking face, perhaps around sixteen years old, he exuded confidence and skill. The color of his hair and eyes finally gave away his identity.

"Well, I didn't expect to find such a lovely fighter in the middle of nowhere," Shinshi said, approaching. "Such an impressive style of fighting you have there," he continued with a polite and respectful tone. "Mister exile, would you be up for giving me a proper sparring match?"

Sentaku, still catching his breath from the fight, turned to face Shinshi with a wide, confident grin. As he stood there looking at Shinshi, there was a confidence in his stance. His golden eyes shined with a surety, and excitement. He had a look that told Shinshi that this young man was filled with infectious energy. There was this element to his general presence that made him seem both commanding and powerful, but also approachable and kind too.

"Hah, you want a sparring match with me? Well, you're in for a treat!" Sentaku replied with a laugh, his voice warm and full of life. "I never turn down a good challenge, especially from someone who looks like they know what they're doing, and you definitely look like you know how to fight."

He cracked his knuckles and stretched his neck, clearly eager for another fight, and another challenge to face. Despite the tough fight he'd just finished, there was no sign of fatigue in his demeanor—only the thrill of the next battle.

"But fair warning," Sentaku added, his grin widening, "I don't hold back, even in a friendly spar. So, let's give it everything we've got, and may the best fighter win!" He gave a thumbs-up, his charisma shining through, making it impossible not to get caught up in his enthusiasm.

Sentaku walked out of the building and nodded as they both stood in the street. Both of them looked excited about the fight. It was obvious they were both battle freaks who loved fighting.

"Ready when you are!" Sentaku said, dropping into a loose, yet balanced fighting stance, his eyes locked on Shinshi. He was fully prepared for whatever came next. With a smirk on his lips, he motioned Shinshi forward challenging him to make the first attack of the fight.

Shinshi moved quickly, cutting the distance between them as he threw a quick combination of punches at Sentaku. Sentaku however quickly deflected with the side of his hand, and then he sidestepped with grace and skill. Sentaku grabbed hold of Shinshi's wrist on a follow up attack. He then spun and aimed a well aimed kick at the back of Shinshi's head. Shinshi carefully ducked the attack. A moment later though, Sentaku followed it up twisting his body, planting and kicking a second lower kick that hit Shinshi in the side knocking him to the right into the ground, before moving incredibly gracefully to a new fighting stance. His movements were literally flawless in his style.

Getting up, Shinshi smiled, this was what he was after, someone who was worthy of fighting, and he knew both of them were holding back an incredible amount at that moment. He could sense the insane power that was within him. "So, this is the power of Sentaku Togusa, the exiled heir of the Togusa. A fighter who loves to fight so much his pacifist clan kicked him out."

Sentaku smiled brightly, his excitement clear as he cracked his knuckles. "Heh, you got that right!" he said with a grin that reached his eyes. "Guess I just couldn't resist the call to fight, even if it meant going against the clan's ways."

He settled into his stance, his movements fluid and full of energy. "But hey, what's life without a good challenge, right? You seem like you're up for a fun one too, Shinshi," Sentaku added, his tone light-hearted but with a sharp edge of anticipation.

Shinshi set down his cup, his thoughts drifting back to the legendary Sentaku Togusa. Sentaku had been one of the few fighters Shinshi considered a true match, a warrior who could rival even the strongest Uchiha or Senju. Sentaku's fierce love for battle had made him a force to be reckoned with in his time.

As Shinshi's gaze returned to the present, he looked at Kaza, the young Togusa who trained with determination. This kid had the potential to reach heights that could rival his great-grandfather, though he lacked the same insatiable thirst for combat. That was fine, though. The times had changed, and the world needed a different kind of Togusa—one who could thrive in an era of peace rather than constant war.

Shinshi mused over the possibilities. Kaza had the potential to be something extraordinary, someone who could stand among legends in his own right.

Across the way, Naruto was breathing hard as he trained with Anko. He dodged another strike, constantly kept on his toes. He had to focus on his chakra control while under pressure, standing on a pond while snakes attacked him randomly from all sides. These snakes, though harmless, were Anko's small summons meant to keep him alert and under stress. The goal was simple: to improve his chakra control and reflexes in a chaotic situation where he was under constant pressure. It's easy to handle these tasks in a calm training environment but doing so while being attacked is far more difficult, often leading to mistakes if one hasn't practiced under such conditions.

Naruto started this training focusing solely on chakra control, but now he was working on something more—both chakra control and self-control. He moved quickly, reacting to the attacks as he began to sense their speed and direction. He knew, however, that the attacks would change unpredictably, and he had to be ready to adapt. His shirt, pants, and hair were soaked from the many times he had fallen into the water after losing concentration and slipping into the pond. Each time, he had to swim to the shore and climb back out to continue.

As Naruto pushed himself further, the speed of the attacks increased, making it harder and harder for him to keep up until he finally fell forward into the water again. After swimming to the shore and pulling himself out, he looked up at his adopted mother, Anko. "Was that better, Mom?" Naruto asked.

"Of course, kiddo," Anko replied. "You're getting really good. That power of yours is impressive, and your focus, control, and reflexes are improving every day. Now, Naruto, I want you to do me a favor. Hold this paper and test what chakra nature you have," Anko said, knowing that Naruto needed to figure out his chakra nature to start developing his own ninjutsu.

Naruto looked at the paper, he kind of remembered this form the academy, but he had messed up then, as his chakra control was not good. He looked at it, curious what it would tell him, and how it would affect his future as a ninja. He looked up at Anko with a nod of his head, "Alright, I will give it a shot, I am sure whatever chakra it is, I will make the most of it. Believe it!"

Naruto held the paper in his hands and closed his eyes. He thought about the lesson from Iruka back in the academy. He then thought about his mom, his teacher Anko. He wanted to make her proud of him, both of them. Taking a deep breath he focused his chakra into the paper for a moment as he then opened his eyes and looked at Anko instead of the paper that was in both of his hands at that moment.

Anko smiled as she watched the paper split cleanly in half. "Cut—looks like you're a natural wind-type chakra user, Naruto," she said, her voice carrying a hint of pride. "That's a pretty rare affinity, you know. I think it's time we get you some proper training in wind-style jutsu."

She paused for a moment, thinking. "We could go see Lord Third; he knows a thing or two about wind release. But if he's busy, we can always track down Asuma. He's a master of wind-type chakra, and I'm sure he'd be willing to teach you a few moves."

Naruto's eyes lit up with excitement. "Wind-type, huh? That's awesome!" He grinned, his usual enthusiasm bubbling over. "I'd love to learn from Lord Third, but if we get to train with Asuma-sensei, that'd be really cool too! I'm ready to get started right away, Mom!" He clenched his fists, determination clear in his voice. "I'm gonna master this wind stuff and get stronger—strong enough to protect everyone!"

Finding their way to where Hiruzen wasn't very hard at all. He was in his office in the Hokage Tower. Lord Third was busy as ever working on paperwork and keeping an eye on the village. "Old man," Anko declared, "I came with my kiddo to ask you for a big favor. I know that you are the professor and that you're really good at ninjutsu. I want to ask if you can spend just a day or two helping out Naruto, helping him to master a ninjutsu of some kind. I figure we have a couple of weeks left before the exam. Getting your help could make a big difference."

"Anko, it's good to see you," he said with a warm smile. "And Naruto, you've grown quite a bit. What brings you here today?"

Anko explained their request with a sense of urgency and hope. "Yes, he has, he had grown into a talented young man," Anko said with pride in her tone. "Naruto here has been working really hard on his chakra control. And even doing so under pressure and stress of being forced tod defend and dodge attacks from me. He is getting pretty good at it. He had a ways to go, but I believe he is ready to start to learn some ninjutsu."

Anko paused for a moment before she continued. "It is about two weeks before the final part of the exams. I was hoping you might have some time to help him master a wind-style jutsu. I know it's short notice, but any guidance you could offer would be invaluable."

Hiruzen considered the request for a moment, nodding thoughtfully. "I'd be happy to help. I have a few days free and can certainly spare some time to train Naruto. Mastering wind-style techniques will be a significant asset to him."

Hiruzen paused, thinking for a moment. "However, wouldn't it be more helpful for him to learn that jutsu?" he suggested, glancing at Anko. "You know the one I'm referring to. It's something he should learn at some point, and it wasn't that hard for me to figure out."

Anko's eyes widened slightly, realizing Hiruzen was referring to the Rasengan. She nodded thoughtfully. "That's a good point, Lord Third. The Rasengan would be a powerful technique for Naruto to master. If you think it's the right time for him to start learning it, I'm on board."

Hiruzen smiled, his eyes reflecting his confidence in Naruto's potential. "Very well. We'll work on both wind-style techniques and the Rasengan. It will be a challenge, but I believe Naruto has the determination and ability to master them."