Chapter 2 - The River's Wisdom
That boy never could shut it, could he?
The morning sun filtered in through the academy windows, bathing the classroom in a warm glow. Iruka stood at the front, surveying his students as they chattered excitedly before class began. His gaze lingered on one orange-clad ball of energy in particular - Naruto Uzumaki.
The boy was practically vibrating in his seat as he regaled the unfortunate kid next to him. "And Bushy Brow-sensei said he's gonna teach me super cool taijutsu moves that'll blow everyone away! I'm gonna be unstoppable, believe it!"
Iruka smiled to himself, unable to tamp down the swell of pride and hope in his chest. After the disaster at the school fair last week, he had worried about Naruto's spirit being dashed. But it seemed meeting Might Guy had reignited the boy's fiery passion for taijutsu. According to Guy, they were set to begin training first thing tomorrow morning.
Still, unease lingered in Iruka's mind. The graduation exam was only two months away now. He knew Naruto's only real shot was to absolutely excel at the taijutsu portion, considering his ongoing difficulties with ninjutsu and genjutsu. But could he really refine his skills in time?
With a small sigh, Iruka pushed down his doubts. If anyone could pull it off with sheer determination, it was Naruto.
Iruka clapped his hands loudly. "Alright everyone, settle down! I have an important announcement."
The chatter died down as all eyes turned to him attentively - all except one blond knucklehead still prattling on.
"Naruto!" Iruka snapped, a hint of warning in his tone. That got the boy's attention. He swiveled around with a sheepish grin.
"Whoops, sorry Sensei! I was just telling Shikamaru here about my super special training!"
Beside him, Shikamaru sighed loudly. "So troublesome..." he muttered, putting his head down on the desk.
Iruka cleared his throat, regaining the class's attention. "As I was saying, this afternoon after lunch you'll all participate in a surprise taijutsu evaluation."
A ripple of nervous excitement went through the students. Naruto practically vibrated right out of his seat. "Aw yeah, it's time for me to shine, believe it!" he cheered, shooting a challenging look Sasuke's way. The Uchiha prodigy just let out a quiet "hn" without even glancing back.
"Settle down, Naruto," Iruka chided gently. "Now then, as you all know, graduation is only two months away. From here on out, our lessons will focus on the key skills you'll need to pass the exam."
Iruka cleared his throat, gaining the class's attention. "The graduation exam will cover all the core shinobi arts and skills you've learned here at the academy. Let me go over the key portions."
He began ticking them off on his fingers. "First, there will be a written test on history, village rules and codes, and other academic knowledge." At this, a chorus of groans rose up from the students. Iruka had to suppress a small smile. No matter the class, students always dreaded written exams.
"After that, you'll be evaluated on core techniques - ninjutsu, genjutsu, and of course taijutsu," Iruka continued, noting how Naruto perked up at the last one.
"There will also be assessments on strategy and use of basic ninja tools." Iruka saw Naruto's face fall slightly again at the mention of ninjutsu and genjutsu. He made a mental note to spend extra time working one-on-one with the boy to help him get those basics down.
"For tools, be sure to brush up on your use of wire strings, smoke bombs, shuriken, explosive tags..." Iruka trailed off as he noticed Naruto's cheeks flush red at the mention of explosive tags. No doubt remembering the chaos that had ensued when Naruto tried using them. Iruka had to resist the urge to sigh. The boy's antics could be exasperating, but his heart was always in the right place.
"And of course, you'll be showcasing your skills in front of multiple proctors," Iruka finished.
Murmurs rippled through the classroom as students chattered nervously or excitedly about the exam portions. Naruto was practically vibrating in his seat again, no doubt eager to show off his taijutsu. Iruka hoped the boy's passionate efforts would be enough to overcome his difficulties with ninjutsu. He hated to imagine Naruto's crestfallen face if he failed the final exam.
"Make sure you're practicing and reviewing everything," Iruka said, lifting his voice over the groans about the written test. "The exam will be here before you know it. I expect you all to take it seriously."
His gaze lingered on Naruto. The boy met his eyes and puffed out his chest confidently.
"You bet, Iruka-sensei! I'm gonna rock that exam, believe it!"
Iruka hoped his confidence wasn't misplaced. The exam would challenge all of their skills, but especially the problem areas for struggling students like Naruto. He made a mental note to check in with Guy about the boy's taijutsu progress. That could be the key to turning things around.
Clapping his hands together, Iruka raised his voice again. "Alright, let's get started reviewing some key history and concepts that will be on the written portion..."
Another collective groan rose up, but Iruka simply smiled. He was going to make sure these students were as prepared as possible, no matter how much they complained. The Will of Fire burned brightly in the next generation - he could feel it.
Some time later, the lunch bell rang, jolting Iruka from his thoughts. Around him, students leapt from their seats, chatting excitedly as they hurried to stuff textbooks into their bags. The loud screech of chairs being pushed back and shuffling bodies filled the air.
Iruka held up a hand. "Remember, we'll be outside for your taijutsu evaluations after lunch!" His reminder was met with a chorus of "Yeah, yeah" and "Got it Sensei!" as the students made a beeline for the door.
Soon the classroom was empty, save for Iruka gathering up his lesson notes at the front podium. He let out a small sigh, shoulders loosening now that the constant hum of restless energy had departed along with his students. As much as he cared for them, even Iruka needed a reprieve from time to time.
Tucking his papers under one arm, Iruka made his way outside into the bright midday sun. Students dotted the academy yard, breaking into their usual cliques as they ate and chatted. Iruka spotted Naruto's blond head right away, holding court as he loudly regaled Shikamaru, Kiba and Choji with some wild story, complete with exaggerated hand gestures.
Iruka's lips quirked in a faint smile. The boy's vibrant energy was exhausting, but also oddly endearing. Still, unease lingered beneath Iruka's amusement. He knew Naruto had his heart set on passing the upcoming graduation exam, but the requirements were really going to test the boy's weak spots.
With a shake of his head, Iruka continued observing his other students. Several girls, including Sakura and Ino, were fawning over Sasuke under the shade of a large tree. The Uchiha prodigy sat apart from them looking utterly disinterested, per usual. Iruka felt a small twinge in his chest. The boy had suffered terribly, but completely walled himself off from connecting with others.
Shino sat alone, intensely focused on a beetle crawling up his finger. Hinata shyly picked at her rice ball, sneaking glances at Naruto when she thought no one was looking. And Shikamaru had already fallen asleep sprawled on his back beside Choji, who was happily munching on a bag of chips.
As much as they rattled his nerves, Iruka was going to miss this bunch.
Iruka watched as Ino and Sakura took their starting stances across from each other in the academy training yard. Though they were best friends, the two kunoichi always got fiercely competitive when pitted against one another.
"I won't go easy on you, Billboard Brow!" Ino taunted, tossing her long ponytail.
Iruka watched as Ino and Sakura sparred half-heartedly, more focused on glancing at Sasuke than actually honing their skills. He jotted down notes about their sloppy stances and lack of power behind their strikes. When the timer rang, he called them over.
"Ino, your kicks need more drive from your hips. And Sakura, keep your guard up higher to protect your core. You both have good foundations, but need to keep practicing."
The girls nodded, though Iruka doubted his advice had really sunk in. Their attention was already drifting back to the dark-haired boy leaning against a nearby tree.
With an internal sigh, Iruka checked his list. "Next up, Naruto and Sasuke!"
At the sound of his name, Naruto let out a whoop of excitement and charged into the ring, nearly barreling into Shikamaru who was exiting after his lackluster match against Choji.
"Watch it!" Shikamaru grumbled, sidestepping the exuberant blur of orange at the last second.
"Heh, sorry 'bout that!" Naruto said with a wide grin, not looking very apologetic. He was practically vibrating with anticipation, rolling his shoulders as he waited for Sasuke to join him.
Sasuke meandered over casually, the hints of a smug smirk playing about his lips. Iruka had a feeling the Uchiha prodigy was looking forward to flaunting his superior skills against the exuberant class clown.
"Hurry it up, scaredy-cat!" Naruto taunted, though his blue eyes glinted with determination. This was his chance to finally show up his cocky rival in front of everyone.
Sasuke's smirk only widened a fraction as he took his position across from Naruto. "Hn. Let's get this over with, loser."
Iruka lowered his hand in the signal to begin. Immediately, Naruto shot forward, unleashing a barrage of punches and kicks. His form was wild and unpredictable, fueled by raw energy rather than skill. But Iruka noticed with pride that the boy's strikes were more controlled than in previous spars. His time training was already paying off.
In contrast, Sasuke remained cool and calculating, conserving his energy as he efficiently blocked or redirected each of Naruto's enthusiastic blows. His posture was perfectly balanced, movements smooth and practiced.
Back and forth they went, a study in opposites - Naruto's passionate yet unpredictable strikes against Sasuke's clinical precision. For a moment, it seemed they were evenly matched.
Then suddenly, Sasuke struck like a viper. He dodged a wide hook from Naruto and aimed a sweeping kick at the back of the boy's knees. Naruto let out a yelp as his legs buckled, sending him sprawling on his back in a puff of dust. Before he could react, Sasuke pinned him in place with a knee to the chest, peering down at him impassively.
"I win, loser," he intoned in his infuriatingly bored monotone.
Iruka called the match, noting on his clipboard how easily Sasuke had taken advantage of Naruto's sloppy footing. The Uchiha prodigy withdrew with one last smirk at his sputtering rival.
Naruto bounded back to his feet, face scrunched in indignation. "Hey, no fair! I want a rematch, believe it!"
Iruka placed a hand on the fuming boy's shoulder. "That's enough, Naruto. I know you don't like losing, but use it as motivation to keep honing your skills."
At his words, some of the fire faded from Naruto's eyes. His shoulders slumped dejectedly. "But I've been training super hard," he mumbled, disappointment creeping into his tone.
Iruka knelt down to meet Naruto's downturned gaze. The boy was trying to mask his disappointment behind a show of bravado, but Iruka could see the frustration simmering beneath the surface.
"Naruto, I know you've been working hard on your taijutsu. But even the greatest skills have weaknesses," Iruka said gently. "You're very strong and your offense is great—but your attacks always leave yourself vulnerable."
Naruto scuffed at the ground with his toe, still avoiding Iruka's eyes. "Yeah, I guess so," he mumbled half-heartedly.
Iruka suppressed a sigh. He could tell his advice wasn't really sinking in. Naruto was too focused on always charging forward at full throttle. Subtleties like defensive strategy rarely crossed the boy's mind.
"Come on, let's go observe some of the other matches," Iruka said, steering Naruto over to the sidelines. "Pay attention to how they guard their weak spots. See if you can pick up any useful tactics."
As they watched the remaining spars, Iruka continued pointing out examples of strong defenses, like Hinata Hyuga and how she always protected her blind spots while attacking. But Naruto grew restless, squirming and fidgeting beside him.
"Uh huh, got it Sensei," the boy interrupted with obviously feigned interest. "I'm gonna grab a snack!" And before Iruka could stop him, Naruto scampered off towards his locker.
Iruka sighed and ran a hand down his face. Getting through to Naruto could be an exercise in frustration. The boy's attention span was limited at best when he wasn't interested in the subject matter. Not that Iruka could really blame him - lengthy lectures on defensive strategy probably weren't very engaging.
He would have to find another way to make these lessons stick. Maybe a hands-on demonstration...
Iruka's thoughts were interrupted by the approach of his fellow instructor, Mizuki. "So, how are the taijutsu evaluations going?" the silver-haired chunin asked.
"Oh, well enough," Iruka replied. "Though some still have a long way to go." His eyes involuntarily drifted to where Naruto was now loudly slurping down a cup of ramen, chatting happily with Kiba and Choji.
Mizuki followed his gaze, scowling slightly as it landed on Naruto. "Let me guess, that kid is as hopeless as ever?"
Iruka stiffened, instantly on the defensive. "His name is Naruto. And he's not hopeless, just...a work in progress." Even to his own ears, the excuse sounded flimsy.
"The exam is right around the corner," Mizuki said bluntly. "You know as well as I do he'll never pass with just taijutsu. The boy is dead last for a reason."
Iruka frowned. Mizuki had never made an effort to hide his dislike of Naruto. Even now, there was an unsettling gleam in the man's pale eyes as he watched the boy laughing across the yard, unaware of the contempt aimed his way.
"He finds a way when it matters most," Iruka countered, an edge creeping into his tone. "I have faith Naruto will pull through, especially once his special training begins."
Mizuki raised an eyebrow. "Special training?"
"With Might Guy," Iruka explained. "He's taken a personal interest in developing Naruto's taijutsu skills. I'm sure you've heard of his...unusual yet effective training methods."
At this, Mizuki let out a derisive snort. "You're really counting on that weirdo to get the Nine-Tails ready for graduation? Now I've heard it all." He shook his head in disbelief.
Iruka ground his teeth in an effort to rein in his rising temper. As much as Mizuki's attitude bothered him, losing his cool now wouldn't help matters.
"Yes, I have full confidence in both Naruto and Guy's abilities," he replied evenly. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have more evaluations to oversee."
Yet, despite his words to Mizuki, as Iruka walked away, his gaze drifted over to Naruto, who was animatedly recounting his own match to Shikamaru despite losing badly. Iruka suppressed a weary sigh. The boy's confidence seemed limitless, even in the face of poor results. It was an admirable trait in some ways, but also concerning.
Overconfidence without self-awareness would only hinder Naruto's growth. The graduation exam was fast approaching, yet he still struggled with foundational skills. And now, he seemed convinced that this mysterious training with Guy would be some miraculous solution.
Iruka wished he could share Naruto's blind optimism. But privately, he harbored doubts. Guy's training may help strengthen the boy's taijutsu, but it wouldn't address the bigger issues holding him back.
Like his nonexistent chakra control that barred him from ninjutsu. Or his lack of focus and forethought that led to sloppy mistakes. Or his defensive weaknesses that left fatal openings.
Perhaps, taijutsu alone wouldn't be enough. Not when Naruto seemed oblivious to his own shortcomings.
Iruka blinked as he realized Naruto was bounding over to him, grinning brightly. "So, did ya see how awesome I did, Sensei? I totally had Sasuke on the ropes!"
Well, it seemed the ramen helped him clear that slump rather quickly.
Iruka smiled weakly. "Again, you showed some good offense, Naruto. But you left yourself open several times. We really need to work on defensive strategies."
Naruto waved a hand dismissively. "Ah don't worry, once Bushy Brow-sensei teaches me his super cool taijutsu moves, I'll be able to wipe the floor with Sasuke, no problem. Believe it!"
Before Iruka could respond, Naruto scampered off again, brimming with self-assurance. Iruka watched him go, shoulders slumping under the invisible weight pressing down on him.
He wanted so badly to believe in Naruto, to see him succeed. But blind confidence without growth wouldn't get him far. And Iruka wasn't sure he could sit by and watch the boy fail, not when it mattered most.
Sure, while he trusted Might Guy to whip the boy into shape, that would be awfully irresponsible of him. Naruto was Iruka's student, after all.
No, there had to be a way to get through to him, to help Naruto develop the skills essential for any ninja. He just hoped they could find it in time for the graduation exam.
With a deep breath, Iruka gathered his notes and headed back inside as the final bell rang for the day. The coming weeks would push them all to their limits. But Iruka knew one thing for certain—he would do whatever it took to prepare Naruto, even if it meant shattering that overabundance of confidence. After all, what mattered most was the boy's future.
The morning air was damp and chilly as Naruto trudged into the Sixteenth Training Ground, exhaustion weighing down his limbs. Even the morning sun had yet to peek above the horizon, the forest bathed in predawn grey. Despite his drooping eyes, excitement churned in Naruto's stomach. Today was the start of his special taijutsu training with Might Guy.
Naruto shivered, cursing himself for not bringing a jacket. The grass was slick with dew, soaking into his sandals and making his toes numb. But none of that could diminish his excitement. Not today!
As he shuffled into the wide clearing, the sound of rushing water reached his ears. A wide river cut through the trees, its surface shimmering silver in the low light. Near its banks stood two figures, one tall with a shiny bowl cut, the other slight with a matching hairdo. Naruto squinted, trying to make out their faces through his bleary vision.
"Hey, Bushy Brow-sensei!" he called out with a wave, stifling a yawn.
Guy whirled around, his face splitting into a blinding grin. "Naruto! Your youthful enthusiasm on this brisk morning fans my flames!" He struck his classic thumbs-up pose. "Allow me to introduce my beloved protégé and student - Rock Lee!"
The smaller figure stepped forward, and Naruto had to stop himself from recoiling in shock. The kid looked like a mini Guy clone! Same terrible bowl cut, fuzzy eyebrows, and disturbingly tight green jumpsuit. Even the kid's wide, earnest eyes and Ping! of his smile mimicked his sensei to a tee.
Naruto blinked rapidly, wondering if he was hallucinating from lack of sleep. But nope, Mini-Guy stayed put, gazing at Naruto with a spark of challenge in his round eyes.
"Yosh! Guy-sensei has told me much about you, Naruto!" the boy - Lee - declared. "I look forward to training together and stoking our fires of youth!"
Naruto rubbed the back of his neck, letting out an awkward chuckle. "Uh, yeah same to you, bushy brows!" Was this for real? He shot Guy a "help me" look, but the jounin seemed oblivious.
Naruto squinted at the mini-Guy, his foggy brain trying to place why the name 'Rock Lee' sounded so familiar. Had they met before? No, he was sure he would remember that bowl cut and those eyebrows. Maybe they had class together? But the kid looked older.
Naruto stepped closer, peering intently into Lee's round eyes. The boy blinked back at him, nonplussed. Naruto leaned in further until they were nearly nose-to-nose, studying Lee's features under the soft dawn light.
"Hmm, now I know I've heard your name somewhere before," Naruto mused, tapping his chin. Suddenly he snapped his fingers. "I got it! You're that kid who stole the chocolate pudding from Iruka-sensei's lunch!"
Lee reared back, looking affronted. "What? I would never!"
Naruto laughed, waving his hand dismissively. "Nah, I'm just messing with ya! But seriously, your name is super familiar." He resumed his intense staring, oblivious to Lee's discomfort.
After a long moment, realization finally struck him like a bolt of lightning. Naruto leaped back, pointing at Lee dramatically. "I know who you are! Iruka-sensei told me about you - you're the guy who passed the academy graduation exam without using any ninjutsu, just taijutsu!"
Lee blinked in surprise before a brilliant grin lit up his face. "Yes, that is me! Iruka-sensei speaks of me?" Pride shone in his round eyes.
"He sure does!" Naruto nodded enthusiastically. "He said you're like mega talented at taijutsu. That's so cool, ya know, because that's kinda my thing too!"
He punched the air, envisioning all the incredible techniques Bushy Brow-Sensei would teach them. This was gonna be epic!
Guy cleared his throat loudly. "Now that you two have been acquainted, let us begin fanning your flames with the fiery power of youth!"
Naruto and Lee immediately snapped to attention, quivering with anticipation. "We are ready, Guy-sensei!" they declared in unison.
Guy's teeth pinged as he gave them a dazzling thumbs up. "Excellent! We'll start by stoking your inner fires with the Rapid River Taijutsu Drill!"
He pointed dramatically at the rushing water behind them. Naruto and Lee turned to look, eyes widening as they took in the strong current churning through the wide river. Foamy white waves crashed against jagged boulders emerging sporadically from the depths.
It looked less like a tranquil river and more like churning deathtrap. Naruto gulped audibly. Surely Guy-sensei didn't expect them to actually go in that, right?
"Yosh!" Lee cheered, already bouncing on the balls of his feet. "What vigorous training this will be!"
Naruto shot him an incredulous look. Was this kid serious? But Lee seemed utterly unbothered, eyes shining with enthusiasm as he gazed at the treacherous waters.
Naruto leaned in to whisper loudly, "Hey, uh, you sure this is safe, Bushy Brow-Sensei?"
But Guy either didn't hear him or ignored the question completely. "Ready yourselves, my students! With the power of our youth, we shall swim upstream!" the jounin bellowed. "It is time to embrace the river's wisdom!"
Naruto eyed the swirling river dubiously. Sure, he was always up for a challenge, but this seemed like a quick way to get swept away and drowned. And he still had dreams of becoming Hokage to fulfill!
"Uh, Bushy Brow-sensei, are you sure this is the best place to train?" Naruto asked, laughing nervously as he rubbed the back of his neck. "I mean, I'm still just an academy student, ya know! Maybe we should start with something safer like running laps or climbing trees. That'd still be super tough and build my strength, right?"
He flashed Guy his most convincing grin, hoping the jounin would see reason. This river looked straight up dangerous, with its churning rapids crashing over huge boulders. One wrong move and you'd get tossed around like clothes in a washing machine!
But Guy just laughed heartily, the sound booming across the training grounds. "Nonsense! This river flows with the wisdom of youth! Its rushing waters will forge you into shinobi of the highest caliber!"
He struck his classic nice guy pose, teeth pinging brightly. "Fear not! I will be right by your side to guide you through the currents of adversity!"
Naruto gritted his teeth. Great, there was no talking Bushy Brow out of this crazy training. Beside him, Lee was practically vibrating with excitement, babbling about "fan the flames of youth!"
With a defeated sigh, Naruto began shrugging off his jacket when a thought struck him. A sly grin crossed his face. If they wanted him to swim this monster river, then they'd have to catch him first!
"First one in's a rotten egg!" Naruto shouted suddenly. Before Guy or Lee could react, he took off sprinting along the river's rocky bank, orange jacket flapping behind him.
"Naruto! Get back here, we must embrace the river's wisdom!" Guy yelled after him.
But Naruto just cackled, picking up speed. No way was he diving headfirst into those gnarly rapids! He'd make them chase him all over the training grounds first!
"Can't catch me, Bushy Brow-sensei!" Naruto taunted over his shoulder. He was totally gonna win this game of ninja tag. Maybe then they'd give up on this crazy river training!
So focused on escape, Naruto didn't notice the tree root snaking across his path until it was too late. "Whoaaa!" he yelped, arms windmilling as his foot caught on the root. The ground rushed up to meet him and - THWACK!
Naruto's face smashed into dirt, feet flying over his head as he flipped and tumbled down the craggy embankment. He landed with a splash right in the freezing river, flailing desperately as the angry currents latched onto him.
"Waaaah, help!" Naruto spluttered, swallowing a mouthful of water as he was swept away. So much for escaping river training! Now he really was at the mercy of the raging rapids.
Naruto thrashed in panic, but the currents just toyed with him ruthlessly. They crashed him against rocks, dunked him under churning foam, and spat him back up just to repeat it all again. He was trapped in a never-ending washing machine of pain!
Through blurry vision, Naruto saw Guy and Lee dashing after him, yelling encouragement he couldn't make out over the roaring water. But they were stuck helplessly on the banks as he was swept further downstream.
Naruto's lungs burned for air between dunks. His frantic kicks were no match for the river's immense strength. As his head plunged below the surface again, his vision dimming, a single desperate thought flashed through his mind:
"This is crazy!"
Mustering every ounce of strength, Naruto clawed his way back up, gasped a breath, then angled towards the bank. He paddled fiercely, fighting the grasping currents. His sodden clothes dragged him down, but he refused to quit. With one final burst of effort, his fingers scraped mud—he was close!
Naruto sank his hands desperately into the mushy bank. His nails broke and bled, but somehow he held on. The river wrenched at his legs, trying to reclaim its prey. Still, he refused to let go even as pain seared up his shoulders. This was one battle he would not lose!
With a mighty heave, Naruto wrested himself from the water's clutches. He collapsed face-first onto solid ground, chest heaving. Every inch of his body shrieked in pain, but he didn't care. He had stared death in the face and won! Believe it!
Naruto's stomach lurched as he retched up another mouthful of river water onto the muddy bank. His arms shook, barely holding up his exhausted body. Every inch of him screamed in pain and protested even the smallest movement.
He had never been so completely drained. It was a miracle he managed to drag himself from the ruthless rapids at all. As he coughed up more water, Naruto had just one bleary thought - thank goodness the worst was over. Never again would he go near that monster river!
"Yosh, Naruto! Such incredible youthful spirit, being the first to brave the treacherous currents!"
Guy's booming voice rang out right next to Naruto's ear, making him wince. He blearily lifted his head to see Guy and Lee standing over him, both flashing their signature pinging grins despite Naruto's half-drowned state.
"Truly inspiring! Your courage will motivate us as we follow your lead into the river's wisdom!" Lee declared enthusiastically.
Naruto's eyes widened in dismay. Follow his lead? Did Bushy Brow-sensei really expect him to dive back into that deadly river after nearly drowning the first time?
Naruto opened his mouth to protest, but only managed a weak cough. Guy seemed to interpret this as agreement, however.
"Excellent! Your youthful energy knows no bounds!" Guy cheered. Before Naruto could croak out a refusal, Guy had seized him under the arms and practically flung him back into the raging river.
Naruto barely had time to suck in a breath before the angry currents snatched him up again. Cruelly, they plunged him deep into the frigid depths before tossing him back up to the surface.
Naruto fought with all his remaining strength, but his fatigued limbs were no match for the relentless rapids. As he was plunged below again, he heard Guy's muffled voice through the churning water.
"Marvelous! Keep fighting, Naruto! Only 99 more upstream swims to go on this first day!"
Naruto wanted to scream in disbelief, but only ended up inhaling more water as the river gripped him tightly. 99 more?! Was Bushy Brow-sensei serious?!
There was no way Naruto would survive that insane training. But the river didn't seem to care either way, content to fling his limp body around like a ragdoll.
Darkness crept into the edges of Naruto's vision, his oxygen-starved lungs screaming. As he sank beneath the foam, a single desperate thought flashed through his mind:
"I don't wanna die before becoming Hokage!"
Naruto stood waist-deep in the shallow part of the river, shivering as the cold mountain water rushed past. His teeth chattered and his soaked clothes clung uncomfortably to his skin. But he barely registered the chill anymore, numb to everything but the burning in his exhausted limbs.
Upstream, he could hear Guy's booming encouragements drifting over the roar of the rapids where he and Lee still battled the currents. "Excellent, Lee! Keep pushing forward with the power of youth!"
Naruto grit his teeth. It wasn't fair. He wanted to be out there too, proving his skills against the river's test. But his body had reached its limit after just two swims. Now he was relegated to this, slogging back and forth across the shallows like a little kid while Lee impressively conquered ten laps and counting of the main rapids.
Jaw clenched, Naruto surged forward into the racing waist-high water. His legs screamed in protest, but he powered through another lap across the river. Again and again, until he lost count. He focused everything on putting one foot in front of the other, pushing back the numbness threatening to overtake his mind and body.
"Naruto, that's thirty laps! Excellent perseverance!" Guy called out as Naruto stumbled to the end of another lap. "Take a short rest, then we'll build your arm strength next with some one-armed push ups in the river!"
Naruto didn't even have the energy to groan. He collapsed onto the rocky shore, chest heaving with ragged breaths. His waterlogged clothes felt like lead weights, the sopping fabric chafing his skin. Fresh scrapes and bruises from being tossed about by the rapids throbbed in protest, but Naruto forced himself to ignore the pain.
Gritting his teeth, he pushed himself upright and stumbled deeper into the river for the pushups. He had to keep going, had to push past this exhaustion. The graduation exam was coming up fast, this was his only shot. If a little pain was the price to pay for strength, so be it. He had to prove he could handle anything, even crazy training like this!
Naruto dropped into a shaky pushup position in the rushing water, bracing his hand against the slippery rocks. Icy water lapped at his shoulders with each dip, sending shivers down his spine. His arms quivered, barely supporting his weight after endless laps.
"One!" Naruto grunted out through clenched teeth as he lowered himself into the frigid water. He breathed through the flare of pain in his overworked muscles. Lee was still battling the main rapids after countless laps. Naruto had to keep up!
"Two!" He pushed back up, gasping as the rocky riverbed scraped his palm. Again and again, he repeated the count, blocking out everything but those numbers and his own labored breaths. Thirty felt impossible, fifty was surely insane, but still Naruto gritted his teeth and persevered. He refused to show weakness in front of Bushy Brow-Sensei and Lee.
Naruto's arms finally gave out on the seventy-third pushup, no matter how hard he strained. With a splash, he face-planted into the rocky shallows. The cold mountain water rushed over him, sharp stones digging into his skin. For a moment, he could only lay there, hovering at the edge of consciousness from sheer exhaustion.
Through the roaring in his ears, he heard Guy's muffled voice. "Excellent effort, Naruto! That is enough for today."
Rough hands grasped Naruto under the arms, lifting his limp body from the water's grasp. He tried to stand, but his legs were numb jelly. Lee appeared on his other side, pulling Naruto's arm over his slim shoulders to support him. Together, they half-dragged, half-carried Naruto from the river's edge.
By now, the slivers of the orange sun were peeking through the forest canopy, casting long shadows across the training grounds. Naruto shivered, his drenched clothes chilling him to the bone in the cool morning air. Despite nearly drowning, his limbs still burned with exhaustion from battling the raging river.
Lee and Guy supported Naruto as they made their way back to the wide clearing where they had started at dawn. When they finally reached the open space, Lee gently lowered Naruto to sit with his back against one of the towering oak trees.
"Excellent work today, Naruto!" Guy declared, flashing his signature grin and thumbs up. "Now, we will begin honing your taijutsu form!"
At this, Naruto perked up a bit, some energy returning to his weary blue eyes. Taijutsu was his specialty! Finally, a training he could get excited about after nearly dying in that insane river.
"Alright, time to spar!" Naruto exclaimed, attempting to push himself to his feet despite his rubbery legs. "I'll take you both on, believe it!"
But Guy held up a hand, stopping him. "Not so fast! We must start from the basics."
Naruto's face fell. Basics? Lame. He wanted to show off his skills against Bushy Brow and Lee!
To his dismay, Guy gestured to the weathered wooden training post in the middle of the field. "First, stand before this post and show me your fighting stance!"
Suppressing a sigh, Naruto trudged over to the post and sank into what he thought was a decent ready stance - legs braced apart, fists raised.
Guy circled him with a critical eye, then shook his head. "No, no, your posture is all wrong! You are stiff and flat-footed. Here..."
He came up behind Naruto, gently maneuvering his body into a lower, more balanced stance. Naruto had to resist the urge to squirm away as Guy adjusted his limbs.
"Keep your weight centered and grounded, but also stay light on your feet, ready to move in an instant," Guy instructed, satisfaction creeping into his tone as Naruto's stance improved. "Excellent! Now you are steady as the mountains, yet flowing as water!"
Naruto wasn't totally sure what that meant, but he nodded along agreeably. At least they had moved on from river swimming.
"So, now that I've got the stance down, who am I gonna spar first?" Naruto asked eagerly, rolling his shoulders. "You or Bushy Brows Jr. here?"
But Guy shook his head, ignoring the question. "Patience, my student! We must start at the beginning by having you face this post."
Naruto deflated instantly. "Huh? But I wanna do some real training against a person! How's fighting a wooden dummy gonna help me?"
"You must learn to walk before you can run, Naruto!" Guy declared passionately. "Observe the post. Notice where your shadows fall across it."
Brow furrowed in confusion, Naruto glanced at the post. The morning sun cast his shadow sharply across the weathered wood.
"This shadow is the window to understanding your own movements!" Guy explained. "You will spar against it to develop an awareness of your own tendencies and habits. Master your shadow, and you master yourself!"
Naruto frowned slightly. Shadow sparring sounded less like super cool ninja training and more like a boring exercise for little kids. But Guy and Lee were watching him expectantly, so with a resigned huff, he began to mirror his shadow's movements.
Settling back into his stance, Naruto tentatively tried mirroring his shadow's movements as he shifted his limbs. He threw a few gentle punches, then mimicked a kick. The shadow echoed him exactly, its motions smooth and controlled.
Naruto quickly grew bored with the tedious exercise. "Is this really necessary, Sensei? I wanna practice my killer moves, like my Super Mega Naruto Barrage!"
He mimicked a feeble punch from his shadow. "Can't we do some real sparring now? This is baby stuff!"
He launched into a series of wild spinning kicks, grinning as he imagined how powerful they would be in battle. But his enthusiasm faded as Guy shook his head in disapproval.
"You must have patience and discipline, Naruto. Master the basics before rushing ahead." Guy placed a hand on his shoulder. "I know your fiery spirit yearns to run free. But trust in this training, and your skills will grow beyond what you can imagine!"
Naruto sighed, shoulders slumping. Maybe Bushy Brow was right. If this boring shadow stuff could somehow make him a better fighter, he could endure it.
"Fine, I'll keep practicing," Naruto conceded. He turned back to the post, falling into his stance. The shadow mimicked him perfectly once more. Naruto took a breath, keeping his gaze fixed on its silent, steady movements.
Then, slowly, he began again.
Author's Note:
We all love Might Guy and his crazy training, can we agree?
Thank you to everyone who followed, favorited, and reviewed! It means a lot to me that you guys would take your time to read my story. I also really love hearing from you guys what you think about it so far, and what you think might happen! It's a shame I can't reply to you guys, but do know I'm reading them!
Just to clarify one more time for those that missed it, Naruto can exert chakra (think tree walking). It's the amount of chakra he can use at one time, and his chakra control that's been messed with.
I hope you all laughed as hard reading this chapter as I did writing it! I'll see you guys in the next!
Make sure you follow, favorite, and leave a review! I would appreciate it! ;)
