She continued, "Alright, everyone, from now on, we will be training and taking missions on alternate days. Tomorrow, we will do the first mission of the new Team Akari, so be here at 8 AM sharp. I have some matters to attend to, so you are dismissed for today."
Akari flickered away without waiting for any reply.
Kazuki lay down on the ground.
Yuki and Ryuma came to him.
Yuki said, "That was a great match, Kazuki."
Ryuma said, "Yeah, I didn't know your chakra reserves were this massive."
Kazuki said, "Thanks, guys, but I still have a long way to go."
Ryuma said, "So what now? Wanna train more?"
Kazuki said, "Well, my chakra reserves are depleted, but I could go for a kenjutsu spar after a few minutes."
Yuki said, "No fair, last time I couldn't spar with you either."
Kazuki said, "Don't worry, I'll spar with you too once my chakra is regenerated."
For the next few moments, Kazuki sparred with Ryuma, and then both decided to take a short break.
Ryuma and Yuki took out their lunch.
Yuki said, "Kazuki, you must be hungry, my mom packed a lunch for you as well."
Kazuki took the lunchboxand said, "Thanks, Yuki, your mom's cooking is the best."
After eating lunch, Kazuki and Yuki sparred for quite a while.
The sun was about to go down, so they decided to end today's training and head home.
Ryuma said, "Alright, guys, my home is that way, so see you tomorrow for the mission."
Kazuki and Yuki said their goodbyes to him and started heading home together.
While they were walking, Kazuki said, "Hey, Yuki, wanna go to Ichiraku before heading home? Ramen there is very delicious, you should try it."
Yuki said, "Ichiraku? Yeah, I've heard about it from many people but never actually tried it. It's a great idea, we can also celebrate your graduation there."
Kazuki replied, "Let's go then."
Both of them reached Ichiraku and noticed that there were no customers other than them.
Teuchi saw them entering and said, "Hey, it's Kazuki, and you've brought a friend. Who might this young lady be?"
Kazuki replied, "She is Yuki Senju, one of my classmates, and now we are in the same genin team as well."
Teuchi said, "I didn't know you graduated; congratulations, boy. Today's ramen is on the house, so enjoy yourself."
Kazuki replied, "Thank you, old man. Bring two usuals, but make one of them spicier."
Yuki said, "Wow, Kazuki, you remembered that I like more spice in my food."
Kazuki chuckled and replied, "How could I ever forget that when there's always a bottle of red chili powder next to your food?"
Yuki said, "You are quite observant, aren't you?"
Kazuki replied, "Well, I'm a ninja, so I have to be observant."
Teuchi brings the ramen and says, "Here's your order; I hope you like it."
Both of them started eating.
Kazuki asked Yuki, "So, how is it?"
Yuki replied with sparkling eyes, "It's beyond delicious; it has the perfect amount of spice I like. How did you know this, old man?"
Teuchi rubbed the back of his head and replied, "Well, I've been making ramen for a long time, and there have been some spice enthusiasts like you."
Teuchi was thinking of the image of Kushina in his mind while saying that.
Both of them chatted for a few minutes while eating.
As they finished their meals, Kazuki said, "We should get going now; it's getting late."
Yuki looked at Kazuki's face confusingly for a few seconds before saying, "Oh, I forgot to tell you that you were invited to dinner today. Mom made your favorite food to celebrate your graduation."
Kazuki's face went pale, he said, "Why didn't you tell me that sooner? How can I possibly have dinner after eating two bowls of ramen?"
Yuki chuckled and said, "But Mom will be mad if you don't eat."
Kazuki said, "I'm dead today."
After that, they both headed towards the Senju compound happily.
An adult kunoichi knocked at the door of the Hokage's office.
"Enter." An old man's voice came from inside.
The kunoichi entered the office and said, "Lord Hokage, I brought the reports on Kazuki Uchiha as you ordered."
Hiruzen replied, "Speak."
Akari reported, "I tested his skills in both kenjutsu and ninjutsu. In kenjutsu, he was almost as good as Ryuma, but I believe his growth was only stopped because he was practicing the academy-style kenjutsu, so I have decided to teach him the Sarutobi style. Will that be okay with you, Clan Head?"
Hiruzen replied, "Yes, it is our clan's duty to produce new and powerful ninjas to support the village."
Akari continued, "As for ninjutsu, I must say he's a prodigy. I don't know why the academy failed to notice his prodigious nature from the beginning; you might have to change the instructors."
She continued, "He knows three nature transformations at such a young age; he is most proficient at Fire Style. He knows the Shadow Clone Jutsu; he's a good sensor. He even managed to reduce the hand signs of a few jutsu by one or two, and he did all that without any kind of guidance. He only knows D-rank ninjutsu, but he has both the intelligence and chakra reserves to make them stronger. All in all, I think his strength is already on the level of a high genin, if not a low chunin, but I believe that after a few months of training with me, he can reach the level of high chunin easily."
Hiruzen replied, "Very well, I entrust him to you, Akari. His lineage is special, there has been no one in the history of Konoha who possesses both Uchiha and Uzumaki blood."
"You're dismissed." Hiruzen said, picking up his smoking pipe.
The next day, Kazuki arrived at the training ground ten minutes before the given time, he saw that Ryuma and Yuki were already there.
As Kazuki walked towards them, Yuki pouted and said, "You are late! I told you to come thirty minutes early. What were you doing?"
Kazuki rubbed the back of his head and said, "I was sleeping, and arriving early is a waste of time anyway. Better use it to do something 'productive'."
"Are you nervous for your first mission, Kazuki?" Ryuma said, leaning against a tree.
"A little bit," Kazuki replied.
Yuki said in a depressing voice, "I hope it doesn't go like our last mission."
Kazuki walked closer and said, "It won't, you were just really unlucky that time. There aren't many ninjas stronger than Akari-Sensei, so don't worry."
"Ara ara, did I hear a compliment?" A feminine voice called out.
"Akari-Sensei?" Yuki said as she looked in the direction of the voice.
Akari walked towards them and said, "He's right, Yuki. We were just really unlucky that time, so don't worry."
Kazuki asked, "What's our mission, by the way?"
Akari replied, "We have to deliver a scroll to a noble in the Village Hidden in the Hot Springs."
'Boring,' Kazuki thought in his mind.
"Shall we go now? Follow me." Akari said before using body flicker.
All of them followed her using body flicker.
After a few minutes, they arrived at the village gate.
Akari said, "Alright, now here's the formation: Ryuma will be at the front, followed by Yuki and then Kazuki. I'll watch from the rear. Yuki, tell me immediately if you sense anyone. Is that clear, everyone?"
"Yes, Sensei!" They all replied in unison.
They made the formation and started running.
Ryuma asked, "Sensei, how much time would it take to get there?"
"It would take around seven to eight hours. We'll take a break in between and spend the night there since it's Kazuki's first mission."
Kazuki's soul nearly left his body. 'Eight hours? How the fuck can I run that much?'
Team Akari reached the village in around eight hours without any interruptions.
Kazuki, who was a little tired, thought, "I thought I would be in a much worse condition than this; guess I underestimated my stamina."
They arrived in front of a large mansion, which belonged to the noble they had to deliver the scroll to.
It turned out that the noble was a very nice person, as he invited them to stay in the mansion for the night, and they were given their separate rooms.
It was still evening. Akari said, "You three can explore the town a bit if you want; just don't get lost and make sure to come back before it gets dark."
[A/N- I promise that I will upload 3-4 chapters/week from now on T-T ]