Ryota stood, observing his son diligently cleaning the statues. "Now move quickly; each statue has its own importance, and doing the work perfectly is key," Ryota said firmly. He watched Kaza with pride as he worked on cleaning the many statues around the inside of the shrine. Starting each day with hard work was Ryota's way of building Kaza's discipline and focus. Kaza was growing into a young man who was very much his own person, and Ryota had an idea for pushing his son both mentally and physically.

As Kaza's hands moved quickly over the statues, Ryota would ask him questions about various combat scenarios. Kaza had to answer while continuing to clean, working both his body and mind simultaneously. He was corrected or asked to explain his reasoning, sharpening his analytical skills. By the time Kaza finished cleaning, he was allowed to head to the house for a meal from Tia before returning outside for more training.

This routine was more than just physical labor; it was a comprehensive exercise in mental acuity and discipline, designed to prepare Kaza for the challenges ahead.

As Kaza stepped outside, he found Ryota waiting for him. Ryota smiled and beckoned him forward. "Come, my son, let's work on your form, your Light Release, and your chakra control. This is going to be very hard on you each day, but I believe you can do this. I know you have the ability to do everything I ask. If you want to win and become a chunin, you'll need to master all of this without any challenges or issues."

"Of course, I understand," Kaza nodded, feeling the weight of his father's expectations but also the deep belief Ryota had in him. He wanted to honor his father, he wanted to be the best person he could be. He wanted to become a chunin as well. He was sure he could do it if he worked hard. He wanted to be the best version of himself that he could be.

Kaza moved quickly, exchanging blows with Ryota, who adapted his power, speed, and abilities to match Kaza's without overwhelming him. The purpose was to push Kaza as far and as hard as possible. "Now move quicker. Stop wasting so much movement. You are spending far too much energy on each of your attacks. You need to use everything to its max. Every bit of wasted energy will cost you dearly in a long-running battle, Kaza."

Kaza nodded, absorbing the feedback as he blocked attacks, mentally adjusting to avoid getting hit and knocked to the ground. Despite his efforts, his wasted movements gave his father an edge. He was slammed into the ground repeatedly, but his determination and desire to improve kept him coming back. Each fall was a lesson, and he knew that if this were a real enemy, he wouldn't just be knocked down; he'd be dead. This realization fueled his drive to refine his technique, use his energy efficiently, and grow stronger under his father's rigorous training.

Ace looked at Aoba, barely dodging another attack, forced to engage in a running fight. He struggled to break through Aoba's defenses and land a blow, finding it challenging to keep up with his sensei's speed. The training focused on ranged fighting, genjutsu, and leveraging his own strength. Aoba emphasized the importance of using Blaze Release for distance attacks, not just close combat.

"You missed again. You need to focus and think about where I will end up, not where I am. Feel the movement; don't just focus on the moment, but also anticipate what will happen as the battle progresses," Aoba explained, moving farther away before firing a fireball that Ace dodged again. The two continued their running battle across the field, with Aoba pushing Ace to enhance his chakra and physical stamina.

Ace tried to internalize Aoba's advice, aiming to predict his movements and adapt his attacks accordingly. The constant motion, combined with the need to anticipate Aoba's next move, was grueling, but Ace was determined to improve. He knew this training was crucial for his upcoming matches and for his growth as a ninja. With each dodge and counterattack, Ace felt himself getting better, slowly but surely.

Ace pulled out his blazing chakra and called out, "Blazing Shot," firing a hot, fire-like shot that flew at Aoba. Aoba dodged with ease, reading Ace's hand movements and predicting where the attacks would land. Ace tried several more times before stopping, realizing he wasn't getting much closer. He reflected on Aoba's advice and decided to try a different approach.

"Blaze Shotgun Shot," Ace called out, firing a spread of fire pellet-like attacks. Aoba countered quickly with his own fireball, deflecting most of the pellets, but this attack was much closer than any of Ace's previous attempts.

Ace paused to gather himself, recognizing the need to improve his stamina. Keeping up with the running battles was challenging, and he needed to build his endurance to match Sakura and Kaza. His determination to win and become a chunin was fueled by his desire to protect his friends and family. His new home in Konoha meant everything to him, and he wanted to ensure no one would ever threaten it.

Taking a deep breath, Ace resolved to push himself even harder. He visualized the upcoming finals and the challenges he would face. He knew that with Aoba's guidance and his own relentless effort, he could achieve the strength and skill needed to succeed. The path to becoming a chunin was demanding, but Ace was ready to face it head-on, driven by his love for his friends and his new home.

Sakura took a deep breath as she focused on her training with Kurenai, the esteemed teacher of Team 8. This month was dedicated to honing her genjutsu skills, a crucial element she wanted to master. Sakura worked tirelessly on the nuances of subtlety and power, attempting to make small, unnoticed improvements in her genjutsu techniques.

Kurenai pushed Sakura to break powerful genjutsu placed on her each morning, a challenging task that sharpened her mental resilience. Beyond genjutsu, Kurenai also emphasized hand-to-hand combat, ensuring Sakura became a more well-rounded ninja.

Kurenai observed Sakura's natural talent and didn't take it easy on her. "Sakura, keep pushing yourself. You have potential, and you are improving. We have time, and I want to make every moment count so you can win and show everyone your capabilities," Kurenai encouraged, her voice firm but supportive.

Sakura nodded her head, she knew that her fight against Ino was going to be hard. Sakura knew that Ino was going to be working just as hard with her father Inoichi as she was working with Kurenai. She wanted to make sure she could keep up and match Ino and show her just how much she had grown during the month. She also wanted to show her teammates her growth as a kunoichi. She was very excited to learn just how much they had grown themselves.

"Thank you for helping me, Kurenai. I won't let you down. I will make the most of all this stuff you are teaching me," Sakura informed Kurenai, her voice filled with gratitude and determination. She appreciated the extra effort from a jounin of another team, which was helping her become a more complete genjutsu specialist and ninja overall.

Kurenai smiled warmly, placing a reassuring hand on Sakura's shoulder. "I believe in you, Sakura. Keep up the hard work, and you will achieve great things."

Across the village, many of the young ninja were diligently training, pushing their limits in preparation for the upcoming finals. Sasuke Uchiha trained intensively with Kakashi, honing his skills with precision and determination. Naruto trained with Jiraiya, tapping into new reserves of strength and techniques. Similarly, the future heads of their respective clans, like Ino, Shikamaru, Choji, and Shino, trained under the guidance of their fathers, much like how Kaza was training with his father, Ryota.

Every day, these young teens isolated themselves to focus on their training. Ace even stayed with Aoba, dedicating more time to his training and leaving Kaza at home to work closely with his father. The rigorous daily training sessions saw each of them making significant progress, learning new moves and refining their existing techniques. The anticipation for the finals was palpable throughout the village, with everyone sensing the heightened energy and determination.

Tickets for the Final Tournament sold out within seconds. The chance to see the children of the Kazekage, the mysterious Uchiha, and the future heads of many key clans was an irresistible draw. The excitement was further fueled by the betting pools on who would win the tournament, with odds favoring Sasuke and Gaara, while Dosu, being relatively unknown, had the lowest odds. The entire village buzzed with anticipation, eager to witness the culmination of these young ninja's hard work and growth.

The day before the finals, Team Aoba gathered at Kaza's home for a meal. Tia had prepared a delicious curry, filling the room with its comforting aroma. The three genin—Kaza, Ace, and Sakura—sat around the table with their sensei, Aoba, savoring the meal and enjoying the brief respite from their intense training.

"Tomorrow is the big day, the big tournament," Tia commented, her tone polite and excited. She was looking forward to seeing how her boys did and couldn't wait to root for them. She also wanted to very much support Sakura as she knew how important she was to her boys. "I can't wait to see how each of you end up doing. I hope you all are able to stay safe and have fun. I want you to do your best. I don't know much about this ninja stuff, but I believe in you."

Ace, always brimming with confidence, grinned at his adopted mother. Having her home cooked curry was something that made him always happy. "Thanks, Mom! We've worked really hard this past month. I can't wait to show everyone what we've got." He glanced at his brother and Sakura, his eyes full of excitement. "It's gonna be awesome, right, guys?"

Sakura nodded, a determined look on her face. "Absolutely. I've been training so hard, and I feel ready. I just want to make you all proud." She looked at Aoba, her determination shining through. "Thank you, Sensei, for believing in us."

Aoba, usually laid-back, gave them a rare, serious nod. "You've all come a long way. Remember, it's not just about winning. It's about showing how much you've grown. Trust in your training and in each other."

Kaza, who had been relatively quiet, finally spoke up. "We may not have seen each other for a month, but I know we've all been giving it our all. Tomorrow, we'll prove that we're a team, even if we're fighting individually." He looked at his teammates and then at his mother. "Thanks for the meal, Mom. It's exactly what we needed."

Tia beamed, clearly pleased. "I'm so proud of you, Kaza, and all of you. You've become such amazing young people."

The atmosphere was one of excitement and a bit of nervousness with anticipation for the tournament that was going to be coming the following day. The group was close as Ace and Kaza were happy to have this great meal made for them by their mother, and they were also glad to share this moment with their teammate Sakura and teacher Aoba.

After dinner, Ace stood up, stretching his arms. "Alright, guys, let's get a good night's rest. We're gonna need all our energy for tomorrow."

Sakura smiled, feeling a mix of nerves and excitement. "Yeah, let's give it our all."

Aoba nodded, standing as well. "Rest well, everyone. Tomorrow, we will show the world what Team Aoba is made of."

Ace smiled warmly as he held Sakura's hand, his gaze filled with confidence and pride. "Now, when this is all done and once, we can relax, how about you and I go on a date, just the two of us?" he asked, his voice earnest.

Sakura looked at him as she stood at the door. She nodded her head, a bit of blush on her cheeks. He was asking her on a date just for them, not a double date like before. She liked the idea; she found his confidence and charisma were so appealing. She knew him so well and she liked him a lot. "Okay, I look forward to it, but first let's show them what we got tomorrow."

She started to walk out, "Tell your brother I understand if he doesn't cheer for me, I know how close he and Ino are, and I won't take it personal, but you better, got it," she said as she turned, giving him a grin.