Naruto: Power in Play

[Chakra manipulation has leveled up!]

[Chakra manipulation: [Novice] LVL 5/25 (2%)]

The way that the System quantified his skill progress has always intrigued Ando. Especially how it put a level cap on certain skills. How could it know how far the skill could be pushed? And what did it mean to reach mastery?

Alas, as always, Ando had too little information to keep on going. Simply forcing things would just leave him confused, and drawing inaccurate conclusions. It was a waste of time. Unlike his chakra training.

A leaf gently fell down from Ando's forehead. Twisting in the air until it landed on his lap. The leaf appeared wrinkled, and soft to the touch. No longer as fresh as it used to be. A testament to how long Ando has been using it for his training. And also proof that chakra, when used without any destructive intent, was completely harmless. At least, Ando's chakra was.

He expected to see a hint of his chakra nature by observing the reaction of the leaf to prolonged exposure to his chakra, but alas, things were not so simple.

Shaking himself free of those distracting thoughts, Ando picked the leaf one more time and placed it on his forehead. His hands automatically assumed the ram handsign, which enhanced mental focus and the ability to control chakra with the mind.

With his eyes closed, Ando completely focused on the task at hand. The natural flow of his chakra was disrupted, a small portion of it was removed from the cycle and followed the natural pathways to his forehead, sipping through the pores of his skin, and finally making contact with the leaf, where it met a small, almost inexistant resistance, and flooded the leaf.

If one were to look at Ando at this moment, in the dim lighting of the early morning, they would notice that his forehead was glowing a light shade of blue. It was a sign that he was employing too much chakra to hold the leaf. Which would have normally blown the leaf away. That is, if it had not penetrated through the leaf.

But it did, and by extending his control over that chakra—an action that required far more focus than just controlling the chakra inside of him, Ando willed the leaf to stick to his skin.

And just like that, Ando completed the Leaf Sticking Jutsu.

Now, the next issue to tackle was to reduce the chakra he was using to hold the leaf in place. Slowly, he dispersed the chakra, which was surprisingly easy to do. The world seemed like it was starving for it. If he just lacked a little bit of focus, or control, then his chakra would dissipate in the atmosphere, just like salt in the water.

And if too much was dispersed, then, the leaf would fall off.

Ando opened his eyes as he gazed at the leaf that fell down into his lap one more time.

The orphan shook his head and looked around. The room was dim, lit only by the faint glow of the early morning, and the air was heavy with the remnants of his focused exertion. His body ached from the overnight practice, but the progress he had made in his chakra control filled him with a quiet sense of accomplishment.

He glanced at the clock, noticing that he still has some time before he had to go and meet up with Chika at their usual training ground. Ando thought about it for a while and decided to head towards the refectory to have some tasty treats. He deserved it after all the training he forced himself to go through.

He gathered his things and stepped outside, suppressing a shiver as the cool morning air brushed against his tired skin. The academy grounds were quiet at this hour, with only a few early risers moving about.

Ando's thoughts wandered as he made his way to the refectory, where he treated himself with something a little extra to start the day with, which only cost him 2 Academy Points.

Once satisfied, he left for the training ground. The area was empty when he arrived there. Which wasn't much of a surprise—he had left a little earlier than usual. Deciding to wait, he settled into his usual spot and began some light stretches, working out the stiffness in his muscles from the long night.

As the minutes passed, Ando kept an eye on the path, expecting to see Chika's familiar figure appear any moment. But as the sun continued to rise and the shadows grew shorter, there was still no sign of her. His face grew taut, a shadow of concern crossing his features.

Still, he decided to give it some time and started working on the stances that Chika has taught him.

Another half hour passed, and Ando's concern began to mount. Chika was never this late. He stopped exercising and started pacing a little as he scanned the surrounding area. The early morning stillness, which had been calming earlier, now felt unsettling.

Deciding he couldn't wait any longer, Ando set off to search for her. But as he walked, it dawned on him that he didn't know exactly where to look. He had always met Chika there or at his dorm. Sometimes, she would just spawn out of nowhere and catch him off guard. But he realized he had no idea where she stayed or where she spent her time when they weren't together.

With few options, he began asking around. He started with the younger orphans he encountered along the way, but they either avoided him or shrugged off his questions. Frustration gnawed at him, but he pressed on, moving on to the older students.

Finally, Ando got tired of it and decided to check the third year's dorm. He did not know her room number so he just started knocking around randomly. If people answered, he would ask them I they knew Chika, if not, he would move on.

After knocking on the door for a long time, Ando was met with the tired eyes of his trainer. His brows immediately furrowed, forming deep lines on his forehead. The expression almost looked comical on his young face.

"Oh, hey Ando."

"What the hell happened to you?"

"Got a little carried away with my training yesterday." Chika casually replied. Stepping aside and inviting him inside. "Sorry for leaving you hanging this morning. But as you can see, I'm not really in the optimal shape for training."

Ando walked inside and started looking around. And something immediately caught his attention.

Chika was living alone.

Beside the study desk, a chair, and a clothes drawer, the only furniture in the room was a single-person bed. Ando looked at her with a suspicious look. He recalled a detail from the academy rulebook: third years students were supposed to live in pair.

Still, upon seeing the tired look on her, he decided to drop the issue. Ando moved to place the only chair in the room beside her bed.

"Are you sick? Want me to make a trip to the infirmary to fetch you some medicine?" He proposed as he sat down.

Chika glanced at him; a glint of amusement briefly flashed in her tired eyes. "I'm fine. This is just due to some exhaustion. I promise I'll be fine by tomorrow."

"If you say so." Ando sighed. "So, wanna tell me what that training was about?"

"Well, if you're willing to tell me more about your kekkei genkai, then maybe I would." Chika retorted with a smirk. Which turned into a laugh once she saw the uncomfortable look on her friend's face.

This was their usual dynamic. Whenever Ando caught her in something suspicious, she'd steer the conversation back to his most glaring vulnerability—his feigned ignorance about his bloodline limit.

Initially, Chika was cautious about the subject, careful to steer clear of anything Ando seemed intent on hiding. But as Ando's curiosity about her origins grew, she resorted to a rather childish defense mechanism.

Ando leaned back in his chair, studying Chika. "At least you've still got enough energy to banter," he muttered. "One of these days, I'll figure you out," he added with a teasing grin.

Chika's lips curved into a faint smile, though a trace of weariness lingered in her expression. "Good luck with that," she murmured, pulling the blanket tighter around her shoulders. "We all have our secrets, don't we?"

Her words lingered in the air, sending a brief chill through Ando. It was the first time she'd acknowledged the unspoken tension between them. His eyes drifted around the sparse, almost empty room, a sense of loneliness creeping over him.

"You should get more furniture," he said, deliberately shifting the topic. "This place feels like a storage closet."

Chika laughed.

"Maybe I will—eventually. I heard a rumor that fourth-year students get to go on D-rank missions. Just a rumor, but it's worth checking out. If it's not true, I'll wait until I'm an official genin."

"You're planning to stick around here even after graduation?" Ando asked, raising an eyebrow.

She shrugged, her gaze drifting toward the window. "For a little while," she admitted. "The academy isn't so bad."

Ando could tell she was deflecting again, but he let it slide. Instead, he leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.

"Maybe I'll stick around too," he said quietly. "Keep you company."

Chika rolled her eyes. "As if you have a choice. You're still a first year, you fool."

They shared a laugh, the sound settling into a comfortable silence between them.

"You should go train," she said finally. "I don't want you slacking off because of me."

Ando smirked. "Right, I'll need every advantage I can get if I want to catch up to you."

She smiled again, a glint of competitiveness sparking in her eyes. "We'll see about that. Now go—I still need my rest."

As Ando stood up, he paused for a moment, looking at her one last time. "Don't push yourself too hard, okay? If you're still feeling off tomorrow, then don't force yourself. I'll bring you something from the infirmary."

"I'll be fine, I promise. Go."

With one last glance at the sparse room and his friend lying in the bed, Ando left, the door clicking shut behind him.

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Monday eventually came. And just like she promised, Chika showed up for their daily training routine.

"Missed me?" She asked with a smirk.

Sitting on the ground, Ando opened his eyes, letting the leaf that was hanging on his forehead fall down. "I literally saw you just yesterday."

"So… is that's a no?"

Ando chuckled, standing up and stretching his stiff limbs. "I'm glad to see you're feeling well enough to train. But are you sure you're fully recovered?"

"I'm gonna let you be the judge of that." Chika retorted, assuming a fighting stance—one Ando has grown accustomed to by now. Without the need for an invitation, he flexed his left leg, and stomped hard on the ground, borrowing the rebound force to propel himself towards his opponent.

He surged forward, closing the gap between them in a heartbeat. His fist shot out, aiming for Chika's midsection, but she was already a step ahead. She sidestepped with effortless grace, her footwork fluid and precise.

"Too slow," she teased.

Ando gritted his teeth, adjusting his stance. He swung around with a low kick, trying to sweep her legs from under her, but Chika leapt, her movements as smooth as ever. She spun in midair, delivering a sharp kick aimed at Ando's shoulder. He barely managed to block it, but the force of the impact still sent him stumbling back a few steps.

Chika didn't waste a second. The moment her feet touched the ground, she pressed the attack, launching a flurry of quick jabs and kicks. Ando struggled to deflect most of them, his arms raised defensively, but he could feel the sting from the few strikes that slipped through his guard. She was relentless, and he was on the back foot now, struggling to keep up with her pace.

"Come on, Ando! Is that all you've got?" Chika grinned, clearly enjoying herself.

Ando growled in frustration. He pivoted on his heel, ducking low to dodge her next strike, and in a burst of speed, he closed the distance between them again. This time, he aimed for her blind spot, launching a quick jab toward her side.

For a moment, he thought he had her—but then, in a flash, Chika twisted her body, catching his wrist with one hand. She pulled him forward, using his own momentum against him, and in the blink of an eye, he found himself flat on his back, the wind knocked out of him.

"Still not enough," she said, looking down at him with a playful smirk.

Ando winced, struggling to catch his breath. He had been training harder, improving bit by bit, but Chika was still on another level. She offered him a hand, and he reluctantly took it, pulling himself back to his feet.

"You've gotten better," Chika admitted, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "But you're still too predictable."

Ando wiped the sweat from his brow, his chest rising and falling as he caught his breath. "You do realize that… ever since we started training, I have never landed a clean hit on you, right?"

"That's just because I am a 3rd year. But believe me when I say that you're getting better." She dropped back into her fighting stance, light on her feet. "But you still rely too much on power and not enough on reading your opponent. Here's a tip, you gotta adapt your strategy to the type of opponent you're facing. Things like that may work on those little 1st years, but not on me. If you keep throwing everything into brute force, I'll keep outmaneuvering you."

Ando groaned. Chika always stressed the important of strategizing when fighting against someone. It was not that he did not see the importance of having tactics, but everything he used just did not work on her.

Ando took a deep breath to calm himself.

Small steps.

If his movements were still too obvious—too easy to read, then he would then shift his focus on that, for now. Despite being a gamer, he was not delusional enough to think that just one month of training would be enough to allow him to beat her, a third year. That's why he had to focus on the little aspects he could improve upon.

"Again?" he asked, a fire of determination in his eyes.

Chika smiled, shifting her stance slightly. "Bring it on."

And so, they resumed, Ando pushing himself to close the gap between them, but each time, Chika danced just out of reach. Her strikes came faster than he could react, her movements a blur. By the end, Ando was left panting on the ground, while Chika was barely winded.

"You'll get there, Ando," she said encouragingly.

Ando stared up at the sky, his body aching, but despite the pain, a small smile tugged at his lips. "That day will come sooner than you think."

"Good, you're still the same arrogant prick."

They took a short break, Ando catching his breath as Chika enjoyed the fresh morning air. The sun had risen higher, casting a warm glow over the training grounds. A soft breeze carried the scent of dewy grass and distant birdsong.

"We should get moving," she said, glancing at him as he lay on the ground, his breathing steadying. "The academy won't wait for us."

Ando groaned but pushed himself into a sitting position. "I'm starting to think you enjoy beating me up before class."

Chika grinned, grabbing her towel and slinging it over her shoulder. "I just like keeping you humble. It's for your own good."

He rolled his eyes, chuckling as he got to his feet and shook off the last bit of stiffness. "Yeah, yeah, keep telling yourself that."

"You sure you're ready for another day of classes after all that?" he asked, watching her carefully.

She waved a dismissive hand. "I'm fine. I told you, I just needed rest. Besides, I'm not the one who'll be limping to class after getting tossed around."

Ando shot her a look. "I wasn't limping."

"Not yet, but give it a few minutes." She gave him a playful nudge, and he couldn't help but laugh.

As they approached the school building, students were already bustling around, filling the air with lively chatter. Inside the hall, Ando and Chika shared a quick farewell before he braced himself for another day of cold stares from his classmates. But now, with a dark smile tugging at his lips, he knew he could handle a few of them if it came to that. His confidence grew as he swaggered toward his classroom.

But he stopped short at a surprise waiting by the door.

Dark hair, onyx eyes, a pale complexion, and an unmistakable air of arrogance—an Uchiha clan kid stood there, waiting for him.

AN: Hello everyone! Thank you all for the reviews!

And to some of you who may wonder about the story, this is technically set in an alternate universe. With all the changes I've made and the additional setups introduced, it's more fitting to call it an expanded universe. But don't worry, the main Naruto cast will still get to be part of the story. It's just that we have not gotten into that part yet ;)

Anyway, check out "patreon . com / RP741" for more chapters!