[Chapter Size: 1400 Words.]
Third Person POV
Konoha, Year 32.
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...
Minato's routine had become a series of rituals and strict disciplines, each day starting with the journey to school in the early hours of the morning and ending with intense training sessions in his usual field after classes on history, math, and other subjects. The academy was a mix of theoretical and practical learning, where he spent most of his day, always attentive and seeking to improve. In class, Minato was an exemplary student, but it was in the training field that he truly felt at home.
His relationship with Tsuna Senju and Mikoto Uchiha continued the same. The two girls, continuing their own disputes from their renowned clans, still sat by his side and accompanied him during lunch. Despite the clan differences, the three formed a peculiar trio. Minato fought a few times against them in combats during practical classes, and despite always having lost in technique and skill in his fights against the girls, he always stood out in physical conditions, being among the first in terms of strength and endurance in the circuits that the teacher put the class through.
In the kunai throwing classes, Minato observed a slow but steady improvement. His accuracy had increased by about 10%, a modest progress, but encouraging for his condition. Still, it was far from the level he aimed for. He spent extra hours practicing, each throw an attempt to refine his aim and control every day.
Outside the academy, Minato dedicated himself to developing chakra control and improving Observation Haki. Slowly, he began to notice more moments when the ability manifested, allowing him to anticipate and dodge obstacles more effectively.
However, the manifestation of his body of light, an ability he eagerly awaited, still proved elusive. Despite his incessant efforts, he couldn't trigger this elemental transformation, which left him frustrated and often injured after more intense training sessions with him hitting the trees in his way. Each night, he returned to the orphanage with new scratches and bruises, a testament to his dedication and determination.
Days turned into weeks, and weeks into a whole month since his entry into this world of ninjas. Minato had made remarkable progress, but he knew he still had a long way to go. He felt himself getting stronger, closer to what he aspired to, as his path was just beginning and he had many challenges that his future held.
As the sun gave way to the shadows of dusk, Minato was intensely focused on his training. With his eyes blindfolded, he ran among the trees, trying to refine his perception and reaction through Observation Haki. He was about to dodge another tree when an unexpected voice cut through the forest's silence.
"So this is where you train?" The childlike, curious, and somewhat amused voice made Minato lose concentration at a crucial moment. *Pow!* Minato's forehead collided with the tree he was about to dodge. The sharp pain made him crouch down and hold his head.
"Ow, ow, ow!" Minato murmured, a mix of pain and frustration in his voice as he rubbed the spot where he had hurt himself.
"HAhahahahahahaha!" The clear and unmistakable laughter of Tsuna Senju echoed through the forest. She found the scene hilarious, seeing Minato with his eyes blindfolded colliding with the tree.
"Don't laugh, what are you doing here?" Minato demanded, a little irritated but more embarrassed than anything. He quickly removed the blindfold from his eyes to face his friend, who was still having fun with the situation.
"I wanted to see how you create all those wounds, but what kind of training is this? It's kind of sadistic!" Tsuna said, still laughing, but also with a touch of genuine curiosity in her voice.
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Minato sighed, the initial embarrassment giving way to a slight resignation. "It's a type of training to increase my perception and reflexes," he explained, trying to regain some dignity. "It's not sadistic, it's... a challenge."
Tsuna, still smiling, approached and examined Minato's forehead. "You always try so hard. But be careful not to hurt yourself too much, okay? I don't know how this training is supposed to help you..." she said, her voice now softer and more concerned.
Minato nodded, silently thanking her for her concern, but still spoke with a bit of frustration.
"Tsk. This is my training; it improves the senses, it's very effective for the future," Minato argued, trying to explain the importance of his method to Tsuna, who still seemed to find the situation more comical than serious.
"I've never heard of anything so self-harming, you had to see the booth you shocked with that tree, I still don't understand... Hahahahahahaha!" She laughed again, genuinely finding the situation amusing, her hand pressed against her belly in an attempt to contain the laughter.
"If you're here to laugh at me, I'll continue my training," Minato murmured with a frown. He began to ignore Tsuna, preparing to put the blindfold back on.
"Hey, don't ignore me, wait!" Tsuna stopped laughing when she saw Minato adjust the blindfold and start running through the forest again, clearly willing to continue despite the collisions and ignoring the little girl's presence.
Minato ignored her and continued his run, focused on honing his perception beyond sight. *Pow!* With another dull thud, he fell to the ground after colliding with another tree.
"Bfffffur! HahahahahaHahaha!" Tsuna began to laugh again, unable to contain her amusement at seeing her friend trying so hard but continuing to crash into trees one after another.
Despite the pain and embarrassment, Minato did not give up. He got up and continued his run through the forest, each collision, each bruise, bringing him closer to his goal.
"HEY, why do you keep doing this? It seems to be quite painful..." Tsuna was no longer laughing. The initial fun had given way to genuine curiosity and a hint of concern. Why would Minato persist in something so clearly painful?
"I need to become stronger," he said as he started running again, his voice mixed with determination and a hint of frustration before colliding with another tree. *Pow!*
Tsuna watched him silently for a moment, her expression now serious and thoughtful. She realized there was more to that determination than she initially thought. She saw, perhaps for the first time, the depth of Minato's resolve and began to respect him even more for it. Even as he continued to collide with trees, Tsuna knew that somehow, each collision was forging Minato into something stronger, something greater.
*Pow!*
Another collision, followed by a brief sigh of pain and determination. Minato didn't stop, his determined figure advancing and falling, but always getting up to continue.
*Pow!*
Tsuna furrowed her brow with each sound, each thud a reminder of the brutality of the training Minato chose for himself.
*Pow!*
And then, amid the cycle of collisions and determination, Tsuna finally broke the silence. "Why do you want to become stronger and why do you strive so much?" she asked softly, her voice carrying a mix of genuine curiosity and concern.
Minato stopped for a moment, panting. He turned to Tsuna, removing the blindfold from his eyes to face her directly. "Because the path of a ninja isn't easy, and this is my path," he began, his voice full of a conviction that went beyond his age. "I intend to live my life without regrets in this world!" he continued, firmly. Minato was aware of the challenges and dangers the future might bring, and he intended to overcome all of them.
"A life without regrets..." Tsuna murmured, echoing Minato's words. She looked at him with a unique expression.
Minato finally paused his training and turned to Tsuna.
"I'm done for today, I'll wash off a bit of my dirt in the river and head back to the orphanage, you should go back to your house, your parents must be worried." Minato reminded her, making Tsuna snap out of her thoughts as he walked away.
As Minato washed his face in the river and bid Tsuna goodbye to head home, the girl walked back to the village in a different direction from Minato towards the Senju clan headquarters with many thoughts on her mind, as Minato's words had touched her in some way.
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