Chapter 45 – Not Done Yet

Raijin stood at the center of his home training yard, rolling his shoulders as the heavy weighted bands around his ankles, wrists, and waist pressed into his body. Each band weighed five kilograms, bringing the total to 25 kilograms—enough to create a constant strain, but still just manageable.

To make it truly challenging, additional weights could be added into the slots. As expected, Haruko had placed three 20-kilogram plates into the slots of the waist band, intensifying the pressure with every movement.

Haruko, who stood a few feet away with her arms crossed, her sharp eyes scanning both his body and the weight bands, asked, “How’s the weight?” Her tone was neutral but expectant.

Raijin shifted slightly, adjusting to the added pressure. “Heavy,” he admitted, stretching his legs before settling into a stance. “But I can handle it.”

Haruko raised an eyebrow. “Oh? You’re still adjusting to the 20-kilogram plates, and now you want me to believe you’ve got this under control?”

Raijin straightened up, meeting her gaze. “Clan Elder, you wouldn’t have given them to me if I couldn’t handle them.”

Haruko exhaled sharply, shaking her head. “That’s not the point. I gave you those weights because you need to learn the difference between perseverance and recklessness.” She paused, her eyes locking onto his. “Push too fast, and you’ll break something—probably yourself. Your body needs time to adjust. Training isn’t just about getting stronger—it’s about making sure you don’t collapse before you reach your goal.”

Raijin exhaled through his nose, forcing himself to remain still. This was exactly what he had asked for. No, demanded. He wanted his training to be more intense, to push beyond his limits. He had insisted on adding weights.

This is going to hurt, he thought, glancing down at the metal plates strapped to his body. Each movement felt sluggish, like wading through deep water. But that was the point. At just nine years old, he had somehow already handled 95 kilograms. If he were on Earth, that would be considered inhuman, worthy of being worshipped as a god.

“I know what I signed up for,” he muttered, taking a few steps forward.

“Remember, no weights during missions,” Haruko said firmly. “Your speed, agility, and chakra control depend on your body being at its peak. The last thing I need is you tripping over your own feet because you overtrained.”

Raijin shot her a look that was equal parts worry and amusement, a small smile tugging at his lips.

She stepped forward and tightened the weight band around Raijin’s waist, making him wince. With a practiced hand, she removed the three 20-kilogram plates from the waist band’s slot, replacing them with a single 20-kilogram plate. “Don’t over-exert the body. Now get moving—I want twenty laps.”

Raijin took off running, but his steps were slightly heavier than usual. Realizing he couldn’t maintain a full sprint, he opted for walking instead.

…

Haruko watched Raijin as he moved, assessing every shift and strain in his body. This training was about to evolve into a whole new level of intensity. She had carefully adjusted his regimen, pushing him right to the edge—but not past it. Raijin was talented, no doubt, but his stubbornness could be both an asset and a liability.

That drive to push through, to never stop, may cloud his judgment, and it was her job to guide him, to make sure he didn’t break before reaching his full potential.

At nine years old, his body was still developing. She had to balance his fierce determination with proper conditioning. If he went too far too fast, he could cripple himself, and all that potential would go to waste. That was something she couldn’t let happen.

To achieve this, she’d devised a system of weighted slots for his limbs and waist, each capable of holding different loads: 20, 50, 80, and even 150-kilogram plates. Altogether, there were 40 plates in total—ten 20-kilogram plates, ten 50-kilogram plates, ten 80-kilogram plates, and five each of the 100 and 150-kilogram weights.

The weighted bands themselves had 25 slots in total—five for each of the four limbs and five for the waist. Each slot was carefully designed to hold the weights for a gradual increase in resistance, ensuring his muscles grew alongside his physical limits. This system allowed Haruko to fine-tune Raijin’s training, steadily building strength while minimizing the risk of overtraining. Every adjustment was made with precision, giving him the right balance of challenge and recovery.

This weight load was meant to sustain his training progression all the way to the Chūnin level and beyond. The goal was simple: build his strength, endurance, and resilience gradually, not recklessly. She needed to keep him on the right path, challenging him without pushing him over the edge.

Haruko had mapped out a gradual plan, ensuring that he would only advance when his body had fully adapted to the current load.

And there was one rule she had made crystal clear—no wearing weights during rest or missions. His body needed to be in peak condition when facing real threats. Overexertion could dull his reactions, slow his movements—and in a battle, that could mean death.

Raijin might have been young, but if he wanted to train properly and achieve results, he had to do it right. And right now, Haruko was the one who would ensure he didn’t stray from that path.

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Raijin took a deep breath as he approached Training Ground 21, feeling the weight of the band and the 20-kilogram plate strapped into the waist slot. It dug into his body, making each step slightly more difficult.

Izumi Uchiha and Sora Yamada stood beside their stoic Jōnin supervisor, Ryouka Naito. Today’s assessment would decide whether they were ready to operate as an official Genin team or be sent back to the Academy for further study.

While the possibility of returning to the Academy was a reality for many new graduates, Raijin felt confident that his group wouldn’t face that fate. After all, they were early graduates, personally handpicked with the Hokage’s approval. Izumi and Sora had graduated a year early, while Raijin himself had graduated three years ahead of schedule. Still, Ryouka’s strict nature meant that today’s evaluation would likely be thorough.

Ryouka’s piercing gaze met Raijin’s as he stepped forward. “You’re exactly on time,” she remarked, her voice as calm and controlled as always. “Your teammates have been waiting for fifteen minutes.”

Raijin glanced at Izumi and Sora, both muttering under their breath. Their faces betrayed a mix of impatience and suppressed excitement.

Without further delay, Ryouka began. “You may have graduated, but your names are not yet etched in the village logs as official Genin. That decision rests solely with me.”

The trio remained unfazed, their expressions steady—a response that Ryouka found satisfying. It meant they weren’t easily rattled, a trait she valued in a team.

“Gather around,” she commanded, gesturing toward the center of the training ground. “We’ll begin with light sparring. One-on-one, with me.”

One by one, Izumi, Sora, and Raijin faced their Jōnin instructor. Ryouka moved with a fluid, effortless grace, her every action precise, honed through years of discipline. She observed them closely, keenly aware of their strengths and weaknesses.

Izumi Uchiha stepped forward first, and her Sharingan was already active. Despite her youth, her eyes burned with intensity, analyzing every movement with surgical precision.

She favored effectiveness, and her strikes were sharp and precise. However, Ryouka also noticed that maintaining the Sharingan drained Izumi’s chakra quickly, forcing her to pace herself.

Next came Sora, adopting a defensive yet grounded stance. His Earth Release techniques were solid, capable of creating sturdy barriers and clever traps. While his strength was commendable, his speed lagged. It was clear that he relied heavily on both full-on combat and his traps. He was a thinker and a planner, and Ryouka respected that.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Finally, Raijin stepped forward. Ryouka’s eyes narrowed slightly as she observed him. His speed was remarkable, outpacing both Izumi and Sora with ease. He seamlessly transitioned between offense and defense, reading the flow of battle with ease.

What intrigued Ryouka the most, however, was his restraint. His attacks felt half-hearted as if he was deliberately holding back. And she noticed the subtle weight bands around his arms. Despite this added burden, Raijin moved with astonishing agility, his strikes both precise and powerful. A Taijutsu enthusiast, no doubt. Ryouka mused that he’d fit right in with one of the green-clad, bushy-browed enthusiasts of the village.

When the sparring concluded, Ryouka gathered them once more.

“You are a balanced team,” she stated, her gaze sweeping over them.

A visible sign of relief crossed the Genins’ faces.

Ryouka’s tone shifted as she addressed each of them individually. “Izumi, your offensive capabilities are sharp, but you need to manage your chakra more wisely. Sora, your defenses are strong, but you must work on your speed. Raijin...” She paused for a moment, her eyes narrowing as she considered him. “Your patience and cool-headedness are your greatest assets. But your secrets can be dangerous. In battle, your teammates must trust not just your actions but also your intentions.”

Raijin remained silent, his expression unchanged, while both Izumi and Sora glanced at him, their curiosity piqued.

Ryouka continued, her voice steady. “Teamwork isn’t just about complementing each other’s strengths. It’s about covering each other’s weaknesses.” She let the words linger in the air, giving them time to sink in before breaking the silence. “Now, all three of you at once.”

Without a word exchanged, Raijin, Izumi, and Sora shared a brief look, then swiftly dropped into their fighting stances. Ryouka mirrored their movements, shifting into a ready position, her eyes sharp and calculating.

The air in Training Ground 21 grew dense with tension, charged with anticipating the upcoming battle. Raijin’s expression remained focused, his brown eyes unwavering as he lowered into a precise, low stance.

Beside him, Izumi activated her Sharingan, the crimson light flickering briefly as the tomoe spun and locked onto Ryouka. Her gaze burned with focus, every movement measured.

Sora shifted his weight with a quiet intensity. His hands flew through the seals of his Earth Release techniques, his brow furrowed in concentration as he prepared to create his defenses.

Ryouka stood unmoving, arms loosely crossed over her chest, giving them the first move. The quiet before the storm hung heavy, but then—without warning—the silence was broken.

Raijin darted forward like a blur, closing the distance with explosive speed, faster than either Izumi or Sora could react. The weight bands strapped to his arms didn’t seem to slow him. His right fist shot out, aiming straight for Ryouka’s solar plexus. But Ryouka anticipated the strike. In a fluid motion, she sidestepped, catching Raijin’s wrist effortlessly and twisting sharply to unbalance him.

Izumi was also already on the move. Her kunai gleamed as she launched herself from Raijin’s left, aiming for Ryouka’s exposed side. But Ryouka, in one seamless motion, released Raijin mid-throw, using his momentum to propel him toward Izumi as a living shield. Izumi’s Sharingan flared, her gaze sharp as she tracked every movement. She shifted mid-air, flipping over Raijin and landing lightly, adjusting her trajectory to continue her assault.

Sora, meanwhile, completed his hand signs with swift precision.

“Earth Style: Stone Pillar Launch!”

The ground beneath Ryouka erupted with jagged stone columns, forcing her to leap into the air. It was a coordinated effort, and for the first time, a small smile quirked at the corner of Ryouka’s lips in approval. While airborne, however, she remained unshaken. Her hands flashed through her own set of seals with breathtaking speed.

“Wind Style: Gale Palm!”A powerful blast of wind exploded from her palm, disrupting Izumi’s mid-air trajectory and forcing Raijin to dig his heels into the ground to resist the pushback. Sora threw up an earth wall just in time to shield himself from the brunt of the attack.

Secrets, huh? Raijin thought. Without warning, he darted toward Izumi, grabbing her wrist mid-fall and spinning her like a whip before launching her directly at Ryouka. Izumi didn’t miss a beat, using the momentum to hurl her kunai with deadly accuracy while simultaneously preparing her own counterattack.

Ryouka deflected the kunai effortlessly, but it was the perfect distraction for Raijin. In a heartbeat, he was behind her, his hands crackling with arcs of Lightning Release. His chakra control was flawless, the surge of chakra, boosting his speed even further.

Ryouka spun on her heel, parrying Raijin’s lightning-infused strike with her forearm. The attack dispersed harmlessly against her chakra-reinforced block. With a swift motion, she grabbed his collar and hurled him to the ground with practiced ease—but Raijin vanished in a puff of smoke.

Substitution Jutsu.

A log splintered where his body had been.

Sora seized the opening. Emerging from behind the earthen wall, he launched a barrage of shuriken. At the same moment, Raijin reappeared from the treeline, charging in sync with the shuriken’s arc. Ryouka deflected the projectiles with effortless grace, her attention momentarily split, just enough for Raijin to close the distance once more.

This time, however, he didn’t come at her head-on.

Instead, he feinted left, then right, forcing Ryouka to adjust her stance repeatedly. Izumi, recovered from her earlier fall, appeared from Ryouka’s blind spot, her Sharingan locking onto Ryouka’s minimal shifts in weight. With precise timing, she launched a kick aimed at Ryouka’s knee joint, just as Raijin swept low for her other leg.

Caught between their synchronized attacks, Ryouka leaped backward—right into Sora’s trap. The ground beneath her collapsed as he completed a silent Earth Release technique, creating a pit that forced her to land awkwardly. She adjusted mid-fall, landing on the pit’s edge, but Raijin and Izumi were already there.

Raijin’s fist, coated lightly in chakra, connected with Ryouka’s forearm as she raised it to block. At the same time, Izumi drove a sharp kick into Ryouka’s torso. The lightning impact sent a jolt through her arm, and for the first time, she skidded back slightly, her expression unreadable but her narrowed eyes betraying acknowledgment of their effort.

Izumi landed beside Raijin, breathing heavily. Her chest rose and fell with exertion as her Sharingan slowly faded. Sora joined them, his hands trembling slightly from chakra exhaustion.

Ryouka dusted off her uniform, her gaze as steady and unshaken as ever.

“Not bad,” she said finally, a note of approval in her voice. “You adapted. You covered each other’s weaknesses. And most importantly, you trusted each other’s moves without hesitation.”

“We’re not done yet,” Izumi muttered.

Ryouka raised an eyebrow. “No, you’re not. But you passed.”

The words sank in slowly. Izumi blinked, her usual demeanor cracking into a small, satisfied grin. Sora exhaled a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding, and Raijin let out a quiet sigh of relief.

Ryouka stepped forward, her gaze softening just a fraction.

“Remember this feeling. In battle, no one will be there to declare your victories. There will be no pauses and no second chances. You’ll only have each other. And that has to be enough.”

With that, she dismissed them, her steps quiet as she left the training ground. The rustle of leaves in the breeze filled the silence she left behind.

The three Genin remained where they stood, each lost in thought, reflecting on the battle and the weight of Ryouka’s words.

Izumi broke the silence first, nudging Raijin lightly with her elbow.

“She’s not wrong, you know,” she said quietly, her Sharingan now deactivated, her dark eyes searching his face.

Raijin glanced at her mole, then at Sora, who gave a small nod in agreement, his arms crossed over his chest.

“Hmm?” Raijin responded, feigning indifference, though a slight quirk of his brow betrayed his curiosity.

Sora spoke bluntly, his gaze steady. “I agree you’re the strongest among us, but I don’t know your full capabilities. That’s a gap in our teamwork.” He caught Izumi’s nod as well.

Raijin met Izumi’s expectant gaze, his expression unreadable for a moment. Then, with a shrug, as if it was the most casual thing in the world, he said, “I’m a sensor-type ninja as well.”

Izumi’s eyes narrowed slightly, processing the revelation, while Sora tilted his head, considering the implications.

“A sensor?” Izumi echoed, her mind racing through what that meant for their team dynamics. “That explains a lot—your awareness in battle, how you react before things even happen.”

Sora nodded thoughtfully. “It makes sense. You always seem to be in the right place, even without looking.”

Raijin didn’t elaborate. He let the information sit, allowing his teammates to interpret it as they would.

Izumi crossed her arms, her smile returning. “Well, that settles it. We’re going to figure out our teamwork. And we passed Ryouka-sensei’s test.”

Sora gave a lazy look. “Yes, the dread is finally over.”

Raijin chuckled, shaking his head. “Sounds like a celebration is in order.”

“Sure, we can celebrate. But we’ve also got bigger things coming. We’ve passed this test, but we’re just getting started.” Izumi said.

Sora nodded the weight of her words settling in. He understood their journey was only going to get tougher from here. “You’re right. We’ve got missions ahead—ones that’ll push us even further.”

They packed up their gear, the tension from Ryouka’s assessment gradually fading into something lighter—something more natural. They weren’t perfect, not yet seamless, but they were a team. And for now, that was enough.

At Raijin’s suggestion, they made their way to Ichiraku Ramen. The warm glow of the shop greeted them, and Teuchi, ever perceptive, seemed to recognize Raijin immediately.

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