Naruto stood in a clearing in the middle of the forest, accompanied by the singing of birds and the murmur of a nearby stream. He liked training in secluded places, far from the public eye. He wasn't the only one; many who couldn't afford to rent a training ground used different corners of the woods.
He observed the cut marks and splinters on the trees. Some even had hearts carved into them. These sites were known as "unofficial training grounds."
He left his backpack on the grass, keeping it within his field of vision. He didn't want anyone trying to rob him while he trained. As in previous days, he began practicing his kata. He had advanced quite a bit in theoretical subjects and was confident he could cover all the content before his first exam attempt.
But being a bookworm wouldn't save him. Half of the grade depended on practical skills: Taijutsu, Ninjutsu, and Weapons Handling.
He threw a punch at the tree while reviewing his mental calculations.
He needed at least eighty points to pass. At first, he had wondered how people like Rock Lee managed to pass the exam if Ninjutsu was worth twenty points. The answer lay in "merit points." If a student exceeded the standard genin level in a specific area, they could break the scoring cap and reach up to one hundred and fifty points... or even more.
He attempted a kick, imitating the stance indicated in the scroll.
The rest of the grade was divided into Shinobi Theory and General Education: thirty points for Politics, History, and Combat Tactics; twenty for Biology, Physics, and Economics. Even if he got a perfect score on the theory, he doubted he could reach eighty. His sparring streak remained intact: zero wins.
He knew it would take time to close the physical gap with his classmates. He was the shortest in the class and barely had any muscle. The former gave him less reach; the latter, less strength. He tried to chain several strikes, but his movements were clumsy. The worst part was his technique: the difference between him and the others was abysmal.
He truly doubted he could make it.
"You won't get better like that, kid," a voice rang out from the clearing.
Naruto flinched and spun around looking for the source, but saw no one. Did I imagine it?
"Up here."
Looking up, he saw an old man sitting on a branch. He had sun-weathered skin and gray hair tied back in a ponytail. He wore a mesh shirt under a sleeveless brown kimono, accompanied by gray pants.
"Who are you?" Naruto asked suspiciously.
"It's rude to ask someone's name without introducing yourself first."
"Naruto Hakaze, ten years old. Student of the Shinobi Academy," he replied, slipping into his social mode.
"Kosuke Maruboshi. Sixty-two years old. Konoha Genin."
It was rare to see a shinobi reach that age. Naruto only knew two from the anime. Even if he was "only" a genin, the average life expectancy of a ninja hovered around thirty years.
His thoughts were interrupted by Maruboshi:
"If you want to improve, you shouldn't strike just for the sake of striking."
Seeing Naruto's confusion, the old man jumped down from the tree and positioned himself in front of a trunk.
"Every movement matters. Every hit matters. You have to ensure that every attack you make is with the best possible technique. That is how good habits are created."
Then, the old man executed the Leaf Kata with perfect fluidity. Naruto had watched his classmates train, but what this man was doing was on another level.
"C-Can you repeat that?" he asked, his mouth slightly open.
Maruboshi repeated it without hesitation. Then he looked at him, clearly waiting for Naruto to try it. The boy adopted the stance, but before he began, the old man corrected him:
"Widen your stance and bend your knees. It will give you stability... and speed."
Naruto followed the instructions and tried the first movement. The change was impressive: the strike flowed naturally, almost easily.
"Good job," Maruboshi congratulated him.
They continued like that for another hour. The old man corrected angles, adjusted Naruto's breathing, and taught him to use his body weight to his advantage.
That wasn't an isolated encounter. On Monday they met, and he told him stories of the previous Hokages. On Wednesday they did Taijutsu practice, on Thursday they reviewed his weapons handling, and on Friday something changed when Maruboshi asked:
"You said you're ten years old, right?"
Naruto nodded, wiping sweat from his forehead.
"Then you are in your final year of the Academy. Based on your skill and height, I thought you were a second or third-year student," Maruboshi said. His tone wasn't mocking, but precise and clinical.
Naruto didn't get offended; the truth was the truth, no matter who said it. But that didn't mean it didn't hurt to hear it out loud.
"Is Taijutsu your worst subject?" Maruboshi inquired.
"I'm bad at everything!" Naruto stated, looking directly into the old man's eyes without flinching.
The mockery didn't matter to him anymore; it had become part of his background noise. Although admitting it to the only human being who had selflessly helped him left a bitter taste.
"I see... How long until your graduation?"
"Ten months. Though the first attempt is in eight."
"Eight months... is not enough time," Maruboshi murmured, looking at the scars on the trees, those marks of solitary and desperate effort.
Naruto knew it. He knew the math wasn't in his favor. But he had no other choice; he had no clan, he had no inheritance, and he certainly didn't have the Kyūbi.
"How about I train you?" the old man proposed.
The first thing Naruto felt was suspicion. In his previous life, he lived in the information age, where everything "free" had a hidden cost, a subscription, or a data trap. He narrowed his eyes.
"What do you want in return? I don't have money, if that's what you're after."
While he was distrustful, logic screamed at him to accept. In one week, this old man had taught him more than he had learned on his own in years. Besides, Naruto had a soft spot for old people... except for a certain one-eyed mummy.
Kosuke let out a soft laugh, jumping down from the branch to stand at his level.
"Haha, how about this? I will train you on one condition: that you hold nothing back. If I see you hesitate or waver, the deal is off. Does that seem fair?" Maruboshi asked, extending his weathered hand toward Naruto.
Does he really not want anything material? Naruto thought. People aren't usually this kind. Maybe I remind him of a grandson. Or maybe I'm so pathetic I inspire pity.
With some hesitation, Naruto extended his own hand and shook Maruboshi's. The old man's grip wasn't weak or trembling; it was firm and steady.
"Excellent, Naruto. I'll expect you tomorrow at five in the morning in this same clearing. We have much to cover, and I assure you one thing: I won't go easy on you."
After saying that, the old man walked away with a cheerful step, humming an old tune as he disappeared among the trees.
Naruto stood there looking at his hand. He had the strange sensation that he had just made a deal, if not with the devil, then with someone just as cunning.