The Next Day
Mizuki woke early, the soft light of morning filtering through the window. He sat up with a yawn and chuckled quietly, realizing he had passed out from sheer exhaustion. The intense focus on studying and practicing hand seals the day before had completely drained him.
"Guess I overdid it," he muttered, shaking his head.
He changed quickly into his academy uniform, wolfed down a quick cup of noodles, and dashed out the door.
At the Academy Training Grounds, Mizuki arrived ahead of most students. Though the Academy hadn't formally begun jutsu instruction, he remembered the textbook covered the basics of E-rank jutsu.
Mizuki (thinking): The Clone Jutsu, Transformation Jutsu, and Substitution Jutsu... Hmm, which one should I focus on first?
After a moment's thought, Mizuki chose the Substitution Jutsu—a technique that could be a literal lifesaver.
Mizuki (reciting): Tiger → Boar → Ox → Dog → Snake.
He began weaving the hand seals at a respectable speed, but nothing happened. He tried again. And again.
An hour passed.
Then finally—puff! A cloud of smoke exploded, and in his place appeared a worn-out log.
Mizuki grinned.
Mizuki (thinking): Maybe it's like a video game. The more I practice, the more my proficiency increases.
He sat under a tree, breathing heavily. He took out a bottle of water and a biscuit from his bag, munching quietly. He realized that his chakra levels had dropped dangerously low just from those attempts. If he pushed harder, he might pass out.
Once recovered, Mizuki set up targets on the training logs. From ten meters away, he practiced throwing kunai and shuriken.
His accuracy? Dismal—less than ten percent.
But Mizuki wasn't one to back down. He repeated the throw-collect-repeat cycle over and over. After forty minutes, he began collecting his weapons again, just as students began arriving for class.
Suddenly, a voice called from behind him.
Might Guy: "Why do you work so hard?"
Mizuki turned, startled. It was Might Guy, the enthusiastic boy from the advanced class.
Mizuki: "To survive... and become the strongest."
Might Guy: "What if everyone else has the same goal?"
Mizuki: smirking "Then I'll crush them. The last one standing is the strongest."
Might Guy: "And how do you plan to do that?"
Mizuki: "By training. By working harder—and smarter."
Guy beamed.
Might Guy: "I'm Might Guy, and I'll become the strongest Taijutsu user!"
Mizuki: "So you're the one who keeps challenging Kakashi..."
Might Guy: "That's right, Mizuki!"
The academy bell rang.
Mizuki: "Let's talk later—I've got class."
Might Guy: "See you later! LET THE YOUTH BLOOM!!"
Mizuki chuckled and hurried into class, finding a seat just as the instructor arrived. As lessons dragged on, he quietly focused on his taijutsu training plan to build up his physical strength.
Mizuki (thinking): If I can train with Guy and his father, I'll gain a serious edge. But I also need techniques this world doesn't know…
His eyes lit up.
Mizuki (thinking): Of course! Total Concentration Breathing from Demon Slayer!
{Total Concentration Breathing}
A breathing method that enhances strength, speed, stamina, and mental clarity by expanding lung capacity and speeding up blood flow. It even boosts recovery and resistance to injury.
Mizuki (thinking): Tanjiro trained with breath-holding and running... I can do that too. If I master this, it'll help me push beyond the limits of a five-year-old's body.
He grinned, but another thought crossed his mind.
Mizuki (thinking): And if a Third Ninja War breaks out... what about poison? A Sunagakure ninja could kill me before I blink.
He made a bold decision—to slowly build poison resistance by mixing tiny amounts of mild toxins into his meals. Painful, but necessary.
Class ended, and Mizuki headed to the taijutsu period. Despite his small frame, he trained with relentless focus—running, striking, breathing, repeating. His lungs burned, his muscles ached, but he welcomed the strain.
After two grueling hours, the bell rang for lunch.
Mizuki sprinted to the cafeteria and was the first in line. But just as he grabbed his tray—
<<
Someone collided with him, sending him sprawling to the floor.
Obito: "Ah! I'm so sorry! Are you okay?"
Mizuki blinked, then nodded, brushing himself off.
Mizuki: "Yeah, I'm good."
He picked up his tray, but noticed the other boy fidgeting awkwardly. Mizuki smiled.
Mizuki: "Hey, Obito—wanna eat lunch together?"
Obito stared in shock. No one but Rin had ever invited him before.
Obito: "Sure... I'd like that."
They found a quiet spot and began eating the plain but filling food. Mizuki learned that Obito was an orphan too, and today was particularly lonely since Rin was out sick.
Mizuki (thinking): Did I just become a babysitter or something...?
The lunch bell rang again.
Mizuki: "Catch you later, Obito."
He headed back to class but had no plans to listen. Instead, he took a single leaf and began practicing Leaf Concentration—balancing the leaf on the back of his hand with his palm up.
It looked easy. It wasn't.
He failed repeatedly but kept going. By the end of the period, he managed to hold it steady for ten seconds.
Small progress—but it was still progress.
Mizuki (thinking): Little by little, I'll get there.