In Sakura's mind, Naruto didn't have many friends.
That's why seeing someone like Arata greet him so naturally felt… strange.
Meanwhile, Kimoto Tōichi simply exchanged a polite nod with Kakashi and turned to leave with his students.
Kakashi's lingering gaze made Tōichi sigh inwardly.
What's with that look?
Don't tell me he's already got his eye on Arata?
He assumed Kakashi had noticed Arata's hidden strength — and was becoming suspicious.
If Tōichi had known Kakashi's real emotion was envy for his luck in finding such a prodigy, he might have been more defensive.
After all, good students were rare — and everyone wanted one.
As Team 11 disappeared down the path, Sakura tilted her head curiously.
"Kakashi-sensei, who was that guy? You kept staring at him."
Kakashi glanced at her, expression unreadable.
"Just… someone interesting," he said lightly. "Anyway, let's get going."
He didn't elaborate.
Sasuke, however, hadn't said a word since the encounter.
Something about Arata's presence had unsettled him — a faint pressure he couldn't quite explain.
He'd always been the top of his class. No one had ever made him feel second-best.
Yet, for the first time, just standing near that calm, quiet boy, he'd sensed something different.
Could he… become my rival?
Meanwhile, Naruto grinned proudly, oblivious to the tension.
"That was Team Eleven! The guy who almost looks as good as me — that's Arata, my friend!"
Sakura rolled her eyes. "Idiot Naruto, don't flatter yourself."
Still, she couldn't deny it.
Arata's looks were almost on par with Sasuke's — maybe even more refined.
If not for Sasuke's place in her heart, she might have admitted that Arata's quiet demeanor made him even more charming.
Konoha's Rear Mountains
Team 11 arrived at a wide, misty lake at the base of a massive waterfall. The roaring cascade thundered down from fifty meters above, scattering light into a faint rainbow.
Itsuki and Tanako stared, horrified.
"Sensei," Itsuki groaned, "why did we have to pick this mission? All that trash is stuck under the waterfall! How are we supposed to clean that?!"
Their mission: clear debris from the lake beneath the falls.
A simple D-rank — in theory.
But facing the raging current, it looked more like punishment.
Tōichi crossed his arms.
"Today," he said, "I'll teach you how to walk on water."
Both Itsuki and Tanako froze.
"Really?! You're gonna teach us a jutsu?" Itsuki shouted, eyes lighting up.
Even Arata's calm expression flickered with interest.
"Water-walking, huh? It's basic… but useful," he said softly.
He'd never practiced it before — his previous chakra control hadn't been sharp enough.
Now, though, he was eager.
Seeing Arata's attention, Tōichi smiled faintly.
"Come to the shore. Watch carefully."
The team followed him to the stillest part of the lake, far from the waterfall's crushing current.
Tōichi stepped forward, his sandal brushing the surface — and stopped.
The water rippled beneath his foot but didn't swallow him.
He began to walk slowly across, each step steady and smooth, like walking on stone.
"Watch closely," he instructed. "Focus chakra into your soles. The goal is balance — enough to push against the water's surface tension, but not so much that you break it."
"Too little, and you'll sink. Too much, and you'll repel the surface and lose stability. It's all about control. That's something no one else can teach you — only practice will."
The trio watched, awestruck, as he stood perfectly still on the shimmering surface.
Itsuki gasped. "Whoa! You're just standing there — not even sinking! That's insane!"
Tanako's eyes sparkled. "He makes it look so easy…"
Even Arata was quietly impressed. Seeing it in person was different than reading about it.
Itsuki, of course, was the first to try.
He walked to the edge, took a deep breath, and focused his chakra.
"Okay… focus at the soles… just like Sensei said…"
He lowered one foot onto the water — and immediately fell in with a splash.
"Pfft!" Arata barely suppressed a laugh.
Sputtering, Itsuki stood, hair dripping.
"Man, how do you make it look so easy, Sensei?! I barely lasted half a second!"
Tōichi nodded calmly. "It's difficult at first. The key isn't brute force — it's precise control. That's what separates beginners from shinobi."
Tanako frowned thoughtfully. "It didn't look that hard…"
Itsuki groaned. "Try it, then!"
Tanako took one look at the cold water — and took a step back. "...Maybe later."
Arata smiled faintly.
He could already tell that this exercise wasn't about strength, but chakra sensitivity — something he'd improved dramatically since obtaining the AFK System.
Itsuki shook his head, muttering, "Sensei, how long did it take you to learn this?"
Tōichi considered for a moment. "Two days."
"Two days?! Even you needed that long?!"
Itsuki slumped. "Then I'm doomed… I'll need two weeks at least."
Tanako sighed. "And I'll probably need three."
Tōichi simply crossed his arms. "You'll figure it out. The purpose of this mission isn't just cleaning the lake — it's learning how to adapt. If you can't handle something this simple…"
His tone darkened slightly.
"…then against a real enemy, you won't survive long."
The words carried weight — and all three of them fell silent.
Arata looked at the waterfall, the spray catching the light.
Somewhere deep inside, he felt the faint pulse of the natural energy around him — and smiled.
Control, huh?
Let's see just how far I can push mine.
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