Naruto: Snow Cold

Long story short, we got an introduction to this year's content, and a new instructor who will guide us for this year and the next, apparently.

Surprisingly enough, Kenjiro-sensei is a Sarutobi. It didn't take much to figure that out after the Sarutobi kid called him 'big bro,' and he got told off, saying that he should call him 'sensei' while at the academy. Kinda cute, to be frank.

He seemed like the kind of teacher who could easily switch between being a mentor and a big ol' softie with his students. From what I gathered, we'd be learning to further our chakra control, delve deeper into chakra theory, start learning Genjutsu theory, advance previous subjects such as Maths, Geography, and History.

Although it seemed like we'd do much more practical things this time. Drills, sparring, training in various techniques, Taijutsu... Taijutsu would certainly be more intense. It wouldn't just be about knocking your opponent out of the ring, you'd have to knock them onto the ground and get them on a lock or pin them down in a way that would leave them no room to escape.

I haven't forgotten about Suzume, not in a thousand years. I'll get my revenge once I get to spar against her again.

We have the optional choice to also start practicing Kenjutsu, which I liked. The idea of holding swords and swinging them at my enemies like some kind of anime samurai just sounded really appealing to me. I could probably pull off these flying slash attack things from One Piece if I really tried, honestly. I'm just not proficient enough in Wind Release... yet.

He asked us to introduce ourselves, and so, we did.

One by one, my classmates stood up, sharing their names, clans, and aspirations. Stuff I already knew. Some of them went on a bit too long, clearly enjoying the chance to talk about themselves. Others kept it brief.

Mine? I kept it short and simple, like last year—except I didn't stutter like an idiot this time.

Once that was over with, Kenjiro-sensei clapped his hands to draw our attention

"Alright, now that we're all reacquainted, I'd like to see where everyone stands after the break. For this reason, I will evaluate everyone on five of the ninja arts throughout the week. Today, it's Shurikenjutsu."

My eyes lit up at that. Shurikenjutsu, huh? One of the few things I'm good at. It wasn't just me; the Uchiha trio sitting a few seats away exchanged subtle glances, their typical cool exteriors betraying just a hint of competitive excitement. Some others, like the Hatake, the Sarutobi and the Senju, also seemed eager to show off their skills, their eyes already narrowing in concentration, while some groaned in frustration at the thought of having to do something. I'm looking at you, Nara Chihiro.

So, we got into formation and were dragged outside, the cold air hitting us as we made our way to the open field. The targets were already set up, lined neatly in rows at various distances. Kenjiro-sensei stood at the front, looking over us with that confident yet approachable expression of his.

"Okay, listen up," he called out, his voice cutting through the noise of the students chatting among themselves, "My goal is to gauge your basic shuriken skills. Simple targets, no tricks, and no gimmicks, except for one. They'll be moving targets. Your enemies aren't just gonna stand there and wait for you to aim and throw. You'll need to account for their movement, their unpredictability and various other factors."

A few students exchanged surprised glances, clearly not expecting this added layer of complexity. I, on the other hand, was rather thrilled at the challenge. Still targets was one thing, but targets with actual movement? That just gets my heart pumping and racing.

"You'll get five throws each," Kenjiro-sensei continued, his voice firm yet calm, "and I want you to aim for the center of the target. I won't tolerate any lack of effort, got it?"

Kenjiro-sensei raised his hand, signaling us to get into position. One by one, we lined up in front of the targets, and I watched as the first student, Senju Kiyoka, threw her shuriken one by one. Every single shuriken landed, but none on the center. Makes sense, Senjus aren't exactly known for their prowess in this area.

Her throws were steady, but her technique wasn't quite sharp enough for precision. The shuriken struck the outer rings of the target, each landing in a slightly different spot, but none came close to the bullseye. Kenjiro-sensei nodded approvingly, though, recognizing her focus and effort.

"Solid attempts, Kiyoka. Keep working on your aim," he said as she stepped back, making room for the next person.

This kept going on and on, each student stepping up, throwing their shuriken, and getting feedback from Kenjiro-sensei. Almost everyone landed at least three shots out of five.

The Uchiha trio went up next, and as expected, they each took their turns with calm precision and their signature smirk. Their throws were effortless, and almost every single one of them landed dead-center. Of course, this was no surprise. This kind of talent literally runs in their blood.

Kenjiro-sensei nodded, clearly impressed. "Impressive, as always," he commented, his voice laced with a mix of admiration and challenge. "Four out of five center shots each. You three truly are going to become a fearsome force if you keep this up. Next," he said, motioning for the next student to step forward.

The Uchiha trio stepped back, their faces stoic, but their eyes glinting with a quiet sense of superiority. So cocky, just because they have special eyes.

Sora gave me a thumbs-up before stepping forward himself.

He stepped up confidently, his expression sharpening as he picked up his own shuriken. I could see him positioning himself carefully, already assessing the targets and how he would shoot.

"Sora Shiraishi, was it? Show us what you've got," Kenjiro-sensei said, his tone both inviting and challenging.

Sora nodded, his hand steady as he raised the first shuriken. The shuriken left his hand with a quick flick of his wrist, slicing through the air with precision before striking the target—dead center. He barely paused between each throw... He's improved so much.

His second, fourth and third throws followed in quick succession, the three of them embedding themselves in the center of their respective targets.

With his fifth and final throw, he adjusted his stance slightly, loading up his arm one more time. His wrist flicked sharply as the shuriken shot through the air, curving slightly before landing in the outer ring of the target. I hardly saw it, but his eyes narrowed in frustration.

What caused you to be this driven, Sora...? Just what is motivating you to improve this much? Do I... do I really have to keep up with these prodigies?

This display earned him a few impressed murmurs from the class, and perhaps it even sparked competition within the Uchiha kids. Their stoic expressions momentarily faltered, their eyes narrowing slightly as though silently vowing to outperform him next time.

Even Kenjiro-sensei seemed to pause, his mouth agape at what he just did, as if he was thinking of... Oh, fuck. Hiruzen definitely knows about us, doesn't he?

Ah, it's okay. It's not like they know we're literal otherworlders, and Danzo wouldn't dare try anything on us, considering that I've got a Kekkei Genkai and, thus, the Hokage's protection. He wouldn't dare waste such a precious future weapon. Besides, he'd only try going for those without ties.

Kenjiro-sensei finally snapped out of his thoughts and gave Sora an approving nod, though I could tell he was holding back more praise than he let on. "Very impressive, Sora. Keep it up. Next," he announced, his sharp gaze sweeping over the lineup. "Amai Hashimoto."

Damn it.

I gulped, stepping up to the front and steeling myself. My palms felt the cold steel as soon as I picked up the first shuriken. I could feel the weight of every pair of eyes on me—my classmates, Kenjiro-sensei, and, of course, Sora. No pressure, right, guys? Pffft.

Follow your instincts. Feel it with your back. Use every single muscle you have.

Taking a deep breath, I let my senses settle, focusing solely on the shifting targets ahead. It didn't seem that hard to hit these things… almost predictable. My grip tightened as confidence flickered within me. I raised my shuriken, my eyes tracing the movement of the first target, and prepared to throw.

One single shot. That's all I need to get into the zone.

I pulled my arm back, feeling the slight tension in my muscles, and let the shuriken fly. It cut through the air with a sharp whistle before striking the target dead center. A rush of satisfaction surged through me, but I quickly pushed it aside, refocusing on the task at hand.

I picked up two more and threw them one by one without pause. The first sliced through the air, landing just shy of the center—a near miss. The second followed immediately, embedding itself squarely in the bullseye with a satisfying thunk.

Okay, two out of three. You've still got this.

I focused on the weight of the shuriken in my hand, letting its cool metal steadiness ground me. My breathing slowed as I locked onto the next moving target. No time to wait.

There!

I launched the two remaining shuriken in quick succession, each one leaving my hand with a sharp flick of my wrist. They spun through the air, the first shot curving slightly before embedding itself just outside the center. My pulse quickened as I watched it land, but there was no time to dwell on it.

The second shuriken followed immediately, its path straighter and more controlled. It struck dead center with a sharp, satisfying thunk.

Three... Three out of five. I'm not that bad, huh?

A small sense of pride swelled within me as I stepped back, but I quickly reminded myself that this was only the beginning. I'm just a fish in a large ocean.

Kenjiro-sensei gave me a brief nod of approval. "Very good consistency and impressive aim and precision. Next," he announced, moving his gaze to the next student in line.

I moved back to the crowd, but not without my gaze landing shortly on Sora, and I couldn't help but feel a mix of nervousness and curiosity because of his earlier display.

What are you hiding from me?

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(A/N: Hello, I just wanted to let you guys know... I'm not dropping this. No way. I will complete this fic and I don't care if it takes me a year. I will do it.)