School days were always carefree, making time slip away unnoticed. Before anyone realized it, July had arrived, bringing with it summer vacation and the distribution of final exam results.
In the class rankings, Hoshishita Shūichi placed tenth. While he aced every written exam, his scores in shurikenjutsu and combat sparring dragged down his overall standing. Those above him - Kakashi, Sarutobi Asuma, and other clan heirs - all possessed natural talent and likely received private tutoring, despite their casual attitudes during regular classes.
As for Uchiha Obito? He predictably landed at the bottom of the class. No amount of help from Nohara Rin could salvage his abysmal theory scores. The boy couldn't even cheat properly when given the opportunity.
The Summer Training Plan
After school let out, Shizune caught up with Shūichi near the academy gates.
"Shūichi," she called out softly, "do you have any plans for the summer break?"
Shūichi turned with a grin. "Actually, I've already arranged to train with Guy and Kakashi."
Beside him, Might Guy flashed his signature brilliant smile, teeth gleaming in the sunlight. "We've drafted the ultimate training regimen - Summer Combat Bootcamp! Shizune, you should definitely join us!"
Shizune's eyes flickered with hesitant hope as she glanced at Shūichi. "Would... would that really be okay? I don't want to intrude on your training..."
"Of course!" Shūichi agreed immediately. "The more the merrier. Meet us outside the school gates at 9 a.m. tomorrow. Oh, and bring lunch with you - we'll be training straight through the day."
Shizune nodded eagerly, her dark pigtails bouncing. "I'll be there! See you tomorrow then!"
As she skipped away, her cheerful demeanor leaving a light atmosphere in her wake, Shūichi found himself musing that training with a pretty girl might help alleviate the monotony of constant drills. For a brief moment, he considered inviting Yūhi Kurenai or Nohara Rin as well, but quickly dismissed the thought with an internal shake of his head. No, romantic distractions would only interfere with his training focus.
"Alright Guy," Shūichi clapped his hands together, "time for today's training session! Let's get moving!"
Guy cracked his knuckles enthusiastically. "Race you to the training grounds! Kakashi, you can be our referee!"
As if summoned by the challenge, Kakashi materialized beside them, his usual bored expression in place. Without ceremony, he raised his hand. "Ready... set... go!"
Shūichi exploded forward in a burst of speed, his feet kicking up small clouds of dust from the dirt path. Guy, though a hair slower off the mark, quickly matched pace through sheer explosive power in his legs. The two boys became blurs of motion as they wove through the village streets, then bounded across rooftops in their rush to the training grounds.
Kakashi followed at a more leisurely pace, his sharp eyes analyzing their every movement. "Shūichi's reflexes have gotten sharper than ever," he noted mentally, "but Guy's raw physical strength still dominates. Yet Shūichi's stamina... it's developing at an unnatural rate."
As they neared the finish line at the training grounds, Guy's speed began to falter - fatigue finally setting in from his all-out sprint - while Shūichi maintained his steady, measured rhythm. In the final stretch, Shūichi overtook his green-clad rival, crossing the imaginary finish line a half-step ahead.
Both boys collapsed to their knees, panting heavily. After a moment, Guy looked up and flashed his trademark grin along with a thumbs-up. "Well done, my eternal rival!"
Shūichi wiped his brow with the back of his hand, managing a tired smile. "Just better stamina management, that's all."
The unspoken truth was that his [Robust Physique] trait had carried him through. Without that advantage, Guy's relentless training regimen and natural endurance would have left him in the dust. It was a sobering reminder that talent combined with hard work created a nearly unbeatable combination... unless one happened to possess certain cheats, of course.
The Money Problem
That afternoon, after an unusually early wrap-up to their training session, Shūichi found himself wandering through Konoha's bustling marketplace. The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows between the buildings as merchants began packing up their stalls for the day.
"I need to figure out an income stream for this summer," Shūichi muttered to himself as he walked. "Not looking to make a fortune - just enough to fund my training and equipment needs."
Passing by a bookstore, an idea sparked in his mind: "Maybe I could write novels?" But he dismissed the thought almost immediately. He wasn't Jiraiya, with time to spare for such pursuits. Every moment needed to be dedicated to training and improvement.
"It has to be something shinobi-related," he decided, scanning the shops lining the street. "Something that can complement my training while bringing in some money."
His gaze landed on a modest weapons shop with various ninja tools displayed in the window. After a moment's hesitation, Shūichi pushed open the door, causing a small bell to chime above him.
Inside, the shop was dimly lit but orderly, with kunai and shuriken of various grades arranged neatly on display tables. Behind the counter stood a voluptuous young woman with striking features - full lips painted red, large doe eyes, and skin like porcelain. Her nametag read "Amauneko."
"Well hello there, little one," the clerk greeted with a melodic voice, leaning forward on the counter. "Looking to buy some kunai?"
Shūichi put on his most innocent expression, blinking up at her with wide eyes. "Do you sell anything besides kunai and shuriken, miss?"
Amauneko leaned down further, her considerable cleavage threatening to smother the young boy as she gestured toward a rack of short swords. "Looking for a wakizashi perhaps? Or..." Her eyes twinkled with amusement as she studied his eager face. "Could it be Explosive Tags you're after? But those are much too dangerous for academy students~"
Seeing his opportunity, Shūichi quickly seized one of Amauneko's hands in both of his, turning on the charm full force. "Please, pretty lady? I don't want to buy them - I want to learn how to make them!"
The clerk threw back her head and laughed, the sound like tinkling bells. "Oh, you're absolutely adorable! But even if you're the cutest little thing to walk into my shop all week, rules are rules. No selling explosive materials to children."
Undeterred, Shūichi deployed his trump card: he let his eyes grow watery and adopted the most tragic expression he could muster. "I... I'm an orphan, you see. I need to earn my own way through the academy. I thought if I could learn to make Explosive Tags, I could sell them to help pay for my equipment and..."
Amauneko's expression softened immediately. With a sympathetic "aww," she reached across the counter and pulled Shūichi into a bone-crushing hug, his face disappearing momentarily into her ample bosom. When she finally released him (after he'd begun making faint choking sounds), she patted his head.
"How about this," she offered, "you can work here over the summer as my shop assistant. I'll pay you fair wages, and you can learn about all the tools of the trade - safely!"
Shūichi's mind reeled. This wasn't the script he'd envisioned at all! He needed access to explosive materials, not a retail job. Time to switch tactics.
Drawing himself up to his full (though still quite short) height, Shūichi adopted an expression of proud confidence. "Actually, I topped my class in all theory exams! And I've inherited both Fire and Wind nature transformations from my parents. If you supplied the materials, I could craft Explosive Tags for your shop - you'd just pay me per completed piece!"
Amauneko's perfectly shaped eyebrows shot up toward her hairline. She studied Shūichi's determined face for a long moment, then seemed to come to a decision. Reaching under the counter, she retrieved a standard Explosive Tag and dangled it before him.
"These sell for 1,000 ryō each," she explained. "Materials cost about 300 ryō per tag. Tell you what - if you can identify and explain the sealing formulae used on this one, I'll teach you how to make them properly. For every tag you produce that meets quality standards, I'll pay you 200 ryō."
Shūichi's mind raced as he examined the offered tag. This could actually work - a way to earn money while developing a useful skill. He reached for the tag carefully, already analyzing the intricate patterns inked on its surface.
The first step was understanding the basic structure: the containment matrix to stabilize the explosive chakra, the ignition trigger, and the timing components. His fingers traced the patterns lightly as he began deciphering the complex interplay of symbols.
"This central spiral acts as the primary chakra containment," he murmured, more to himself than to Amauneko. "The branching lines here create a fail-safe to prevent accidental detonation, while these intersecting marks..." His voice trailed off as he noticed something unusual in the design.
Amauneko leaned forward, her previous amusement replaced by genuine interest. "Well? What do you make of the intersecting marks?"
Shūichi's brow furrowed in concentration. "They're... not standard. Most commercial tags use a simple cross-hatch pattern here, but this one has a modified version of the Uzumaki clan's stabilization seals. It's more efficient but requires precise chakra control during production."
A stunned silence followed his analysis. Amauneko's red lips parted slightly as she stared at the boy before her. After a long pause, she exhaled sharply through her nose.
"Well, color me impressed," she admitted, shaking her head. "I've had chūnin come through here who couldn't identify those modifications. Alright, kid - you've got yourself a deal."
She extended her hand, which Shūichi shook eagerly. "Starting tomorrow, you'll come by after your morning training. We'll begin with basic tag construction and work up from there. But!" She held up a warning finger. "One mistake, one safety violation, and the deal's off. Understood?"
Shūichi nodded vigorously. "Understood! Thank you, Amauneko-san!"
As he left the shop, the beginnings of a plan forming in his mind, Shūichi couldn't help but feel that this summer might prove more productive than he'd originally imagined. Between his training with Kakashi and Guy, Shizune's unexpected participation, and now this opportunity to learn explosive tag production, he was setting himself up for significant growth.
The only question was - would it be enough to close the gap between himself and the true geniuses of his generation? As he walked home through the darkening streets, the image of Kakashi effortlessly performing advanced techniques flashed through his mind. The road ahead would be long, but Shūichi was nothing if not determined.
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