The Tale Of Naruto Uzumaki

Chapter 5: The First Day Of Training

The first rays of sunlight pierced through the dense canopy above Training Ground 3, casting jagged, long shadows on the ground beneath. The chirping of birds in the distance and the rustle of leaves were the only sounds breaking the early morning silence. At this early hour, most villagers were still fast asleep, but not Naruto Uzumaki. No, Naruto was wide awake, sitting cross-legged on the soft grass, his expression twisted into a frown of impatience.
"Where the heck is Kakashi-sensei?!" he grumbled loudly, crossing his arms over his chest. His leg was tapping rapidly against the ground, his gaze flicking nervously toward the entrance of the training ground. "He told us to be here at dawn, and now he's late! What's he doing? I swear, I'm gonna explode if I don't start training soon!"
Beside him, Sakura Haruno sat in a more composed manner, her legs folded neatly beneath her. However, unlike Naruto, her mind wasn't filled with irritation. Instead, she was quietly lost in thought, her gaze constantly shifting to the figure standing across from her. Sasuke Uchiha leaned lazily against a tree, his arms folded across his chest and his eyes closed as if he were already in deep concentration, even though he wasn't moving at all.
Sakura couldn't help but admire him. His stoic demeanor and quiet intensity were a source of constant fascination for her. "He's just so cool..." she thought, feeling her chest tighten slightly. "He makes everything look so effortless, so calm... I have to keep up with him. I will keep up with him. I have to."
Her hand nervously adjusted her headband, as though she were trying to distract herself from the fluttering in her stomach. She'd been working hard for this moment, pushing herself during every training session, and yet she knew deep down that today's trial would be the real test. Could she match Sasuke's skill and surpass her own limitations?
Naruto, oblivious to Sakura's thoughts, let out an exaggerated groan. "Why does it always have to be like this with Kakashi-sensei? He's always late, and we're always waiting around for him. What is his deal?"
Sakura rolled her eyes, but couldn't help a soft smile from tugging at the corners of her mouth. "You always complain, Naruto. Can't you just relax for once?"
"Relax?!" Naruto shot back, turning to her with an incredulous expression. "We're supposed to be training to become ninjas, and he's making us wait? I'll never get stronger if I keep waiting for him to show up!"
Before she could respond, a sudden puff of smoke filled the air, and a familiar figure materialized in the center of the clearing.
"Good morning," Kakashi Hatake greeted casually, as though nothing was unusual about his late arrival. His usual nonchalant posture, with his hands tucked behind his head and his ever-present book in his hand, made it seem as if he had all the time in the world.
Naruto jumped to his feet, his face turning red with frustration. "KAKASHI-SENSEI! You're LATE!" He shook his fist at his teacher. "This is SO not fair! You said we were starting at dawn, and now you show up like nothing's wrong?"
Kakashi didn't flinch at the outburst. Instead, he simply raised an eyebrow, peeking over the top of his book. "Well, Naruto, you're right. I was late. But there was a very compelling new release in my favorite book series. Couldn't resist. Anyway, we'll get started now. I'll let the lateness slide today." His tone was far too calm to match the irritation in Naruto's voice.
"Liar!" Naruto shouted, glaring at Kakashi's mask. "You were probably sleeping in!"
Kakashi, ignoring the accusation entirely, handed each of them a single sheet of paper. "Enough about me. Here is your training plan for the day." He smiled behind his mask. "There will be no missions for the next two months. It's all about training. Everything you do today will be the foundation for your growth."
Sakura's eyes scanned the sheet quickly, her stomach sinking as she took in the list of activities. "Five laps around the village? Chakra control exercises? Stamina training? And... sparring?" She blinked in disbelief. "This... this looks impossible."
"I'll die before I finish all this!" Naruto exclaimed, staring at the paper upside down in utter disbelief. "There's no way I can do this! This is insane!"
Kakashi, still calmly flipping through his book, raised his voice slightly. "It's not a suggestion, Naruto. This is the only way you'll grow. If you can't keep up, then you'll have to reconsider whether you can be a ninja." His voice carried weight, and for the first time, Naruto felt a shiver of doubt creep up his spine. He had never been one to back down from a challenge, but the reality of the situation was setting in.
Sasuke remained silent, his dark eyes scanning his own training plan. He was already thinking ahead, calculating the most efficient way to tackle each task. To him, this was nothing but another step toward perfection. His jaw clenched, and the faintest flicker of determination passed through his usually stoic expression.
Sakura watched Sasuke for a moment, her heart fluttering. She knew that he was going to take this seriously. He always did. But now, she had to prove to herself-prove to him-that she could keep up.
"Two months..." she whispered under her breath, trying to steady herself. "Two months of this... I can do it. I'll show him. I'll show everyone."
Kakashi, finally lowering his book, clapped his hands together to signal the start of the training. "Let's begin then. First exercise: five laps around Konoha."
"Five laps?!" Naruto cried, his face turning pale. "You've gotta be kidding me!"
Sasuke was already sprinting, his long legs carrying him effortlessly across the ground. Sakura hesitated for only a moment before following, while Naruto, despite his protest, pushed himself into a slow jog behind them.
The first lap passed quickly, but by the second, Naruto was already panting heavily, sweat dripping from his forehead. His legs felt like lead, and his breath came in desperate gasps. "This is awful... This is like torture..." he muttered under his breath. His limbs burned, and every step felt like he was dragging weights behind him.
Sasuke, meanwhile, showed no sign of slowing down. He moved with the precision of a trained athlete, each stride fluid and effortless. It almost seemed as if he were gliding over the ground, his focus unbroken as he sped ahead, leaving both Naruto and Sakura behind.
"Dammit, Sasuke! I'm not gonna let you beat me!" Naruto gritted his teeth, pushing himself harder, his lungs protesting as he fought to catch up.
Sakura's breath was steady, but she couldn't ignore the pounding of her heart. Every muscle in her legs screamed for relief, but she kept pushing. She could see Sasuke in front of her, his form flawless as he continued to pull ahead. "If Sasuke can do it, then I can too. I won't let myself fall behind."
The third lap was the worst for Naruto. His legs wobbled with exhaustion, his face flushed bright red from the effort. He glanced back over his shoulder, hoping to see Sakura struggling as much as he was, but she was pushing ahead, her pace still steady.
"I can't... I can't..." he muttered to himself, stumbling as he tried to keep running. His vision blurred, and he almost tripped several times, but still, he didn't stop.
Sasuke was already at the finish line of his fifth lap when Naruto finally crossed the finish line, breathing heavily and falling to his knees. His body shook with the effort, and he lay down on the ground, too exhausted to move.
"I... can't... feel... my legs..." he gasped, rolling onto his back and staring up at the sky in pure exhaustion.
Sakura wasn't far behind. She had managed to finish her fifth lap in a respectable time, but she too was struggling to stay upright. Her legs felt like they were made of lead, and her lungs burned with every breath. "I... I can do this..." she panted, trying to keep her composure. "I won't stop..."
Sasuke, of course, showed no signs of fatigue. His arms were crossed as he stood near the finish line, his gaze impassive. He watched the others with an almost dismissive air, but inside, there was a flicker of something else-a silent acknowledgment of their determination.
Kakashi appeared beside them, his expression as casual as ever. "That was just the warm-up. The real training starts now."
The words hit Naruto like a ton of bricks. "What? What do you mean, 'warm-up'? I just ran five laps around the village!"
Kakashi ignored him. "Next: chakra control exercises." He motioned for them to follow him to the next station, the trees of Training Ground 3 awaiting them.
The air was thick with the quiet sounds of nature as Team 7 stood beneath the towering trees. Kakashi had explained the tree-climbing technique in simple terms: use chakra to stick to the tree and climb. It sounded easy enough, but the reality was much more challenging than any of them had anticipated.
Sasuke was the first to attempt the climb. With his usual precision, he stepped up to the tree, applying chakra to his feet. His brow furrowed in concentration, and he pushed harder, expecting to feel the tree's surface grip his feet. But instead, there was a loud cracking sound as the bark beneath him splintered. Sasuke immediately pulled back, his feet slipping away as the tree's surface broke under the force of his chakra.
"Damn it..." Sasuke muttered, his expression darkening as he stood at the base of the tree. His fists clenched at his sides, and his sharp gaze flicked to Kakashi, irritated by his failure.
"You're applying too much chakra," Kakashi said casually, his single visible eye narrowing as he observed Sasuke's form. "You're overwhelming the tree. You need to use just enough chakra to adhere to the surface. Not more."
Sasuke said nothing in response. He merely nodded and stepped up again, this time trying to apply less chakra. He took another stab at it, but the bark cracked again. His jaw tightened, frustration simmering beneath his usually calm demeanor. He had mastered every jutsu he'd tried up until now, but this... this was different. The control he needed here was elusive.
Meanwhile, Naruto was struggling just as much, though for a very different reason. He was standing at the base of a separate tree, eyes narrowed in concentration as he tried to stick his feet to the trunk. But each time he attempted, his feet slid off the surface as though the bark were coated in oil. His chakra wasn't strong enough to latch onto the tree, and after the third failed attempt, he let out an exasperated groan.
"Why won't this work?!" Naruto grunted, his arms flailing as he tried to regain his balance. "I've got plenty of chakra, I know I do!"
Kakashi looked over at him, his tone calm yet firm. "You're not applying enough chakra, Naruto. It's not about how much you have; it's about how well you use it. You need to focus and control the flow, not just dump everything you have at once."
Naruto's face scrunched up in confusion, but he didn't argue. Instead, he took a deep breath and tried again, focusing on the feel of his chakra as it moved from his core and into his feet. This time, he managed to get a small foothold, but as soon as he shifted his weight, he slid back down. He let out a frustrated growl, but Kakashi's words stuck in his mind.
"Just a little more," Naruto muttered to himself. "Just a little more chakra..."
Sakura, who had been watching both of her teammates struggle, took a moment to observe the technique from a distance. She noticed the differences in how they were applying their chakra-Sasuke, forcing too much, and Naruto, barely enough. She didn't have time to waste; she needed to focus and prove she could do this.
With a determined look in her eyes, Sakura stepped forward, positioning herself in front of the tree. She took a deep breath, quieting the noise in her head and centering herself. She had been in this situation before-struggling to keep up, struggling to match others. But not today. She was going to prove she could do this, and she would do it her way.
Sakura closed her eyes for a moment, feeling her chakra pulse through her body. She could sense it, that steady flow of energy within her. Rather than pushing it all into her feet like Sasuke had done, or barely letting any out like Naruto, Sakura focused on channeling just enough chakra to hold her firmly against the tree.
She opened her eyes, planting her first foot on the bark. Her foot stayed solidly in place. She raised her other foot, placing it gently against the tree, and she felt a gentle pull as the chakra adhered to the surface. She could feel the tree's roughness beneath her, but the chakra was flowing just right. It wasn't too much or too little.
And then, to her own surprise, she was climbing-slowly, but surely. With each step, she moved higher, her balance perfect as she ascended with a calm focus. Her chakra was subtle, just enough to keep her attached to the tree without overwhelming it. She made it look effortless, each movement fluid and controlled.
Kakashi, watching from the side, raised an eyebrow in surprise but didn't comment. It was clear from the way Sakura moved that she had found the right balance. She was calm, precise-her chakra was flowing smoothly, and she had mastered the technique on her first try.
Sakura reached the top of the tree, a smile spreading across her face as she looked down at her teammates. "I did it," she whispered to herself. There was no loud celebration, no boastful shouts. She had done it quietly, confidently, and most importantly-on her first try.
Meanwhile, Naruto was still struggling below, his chakra fluctuating wildly beneath him. His feet kept sliding down the tree, and every time he tried to apply more chakra, he only found himself slipping faster.
"No way..." Naruto groaned. "How did she...?!" He couldn't believe it. Sakura, of all people, had done it on the first try? He wasn't about to let her show him up-not today. With renewed determination, he planted his foot on the tree once more.
"I'll do it too," he grumbled. "I just need more chakra..."
Sasuke, still on his own tree, barely noticed Sakura's success as he focused on his own struggle. He had to get this right. His pride, always so intact, wouldn't allow him to leave this task unfinished. But every time he tried, the tree's bark cracked and splintered beneath him, his chakra flaring too much. His frustration was mounting, but he refused to give up. He was a Uchiha. He would master this.
Sakura, standing at the top of her tree, took a deep breath, feeling the rush of accomplishment flood through her. But as she looked down at her teammates, she realized that this was just the beginning. The real challenge hadn't even started yet. This wasn't the time to get complacent. She had to push herself further-if she was going to catch up with Sasuke and Naruto, she would need to keep getting stronger.
Naruto, determined not to be outdone, planted his feet again, taking another step up the tree. This time, his chakra was more controlled, more measured. With each step, his balance improved. He wasn't going to stop until he got it.
Sasuke, with his usual stoic determination, adjusted his chakra once again, focusing on the control Kakashi had mentioned. The tree was still cracking under the pressure of his power, but this time, he held back just enough, his feet staying in place for longer than before.
Kakashi watched them all silently, noting the effort in each of their attempts. Today was just the first day. There was still so much more to learn. But one thing was clear: they were all pushing themselves. And as brutal as the training was, it would make them stronger.
"Good progress," Kakashi finally said, breaking the silence. "But there's still a lot of work to do. Let's call it a day. Tomorrow will be even harder."
Naruto groaned, slumping to the ground in frustration. "I can't believe this..." he muttered.
Sakura smiled to herself, feeling a sense of quiet satisfaction. But she knew there was no time for complacency. Tomorrow, they will push harder. She would push harder.
And Sasuke? His eyes narrowed, his thoughts hidden beneath his calm exterior. He hadn't given up. Not yet.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm orange glow over Konoha, Kakashi called Team 7 together in the training field. His tone was uncharacteristically serious as he spoke, commanding their full attention.
"You've all made great strides," he began, his single visible eye scanning over each of them. "But we're far from done. Starting tomorrow, we'll be dedicating the next two months entirely to training. Missions will take a backseat."
Naruto blinked, confused. "Wait, no missions? Then what are we gonna do?"
Kakashi - "but this is just the start. Becoming a true ninja isn't about who gets it right the fastest or who's the strongest right now. It's about resilience-how you overcome challenges and keep improving. The battles ahead won't wait for you to catch up. So, be ready for tomorrow."
Naruto's frustration melted into determination. "I'll show you, Kakashi-sensei! Tomorrow, I'll be climbing that tree like it's nothing!" His fists clenched with renewed vigor.
Sakura nodded, her resolve evident. "I'll keep improving. I won't let myself fall behind."
Sasuke remained silent, but his smoldering gaze betrayed his inner resolve. He wouldn't allow anyone to surpass him-not Naruto, not Sakura, not anyone.
Kakashi gave a small nod, the corner of his masked face curling into what might've been a smile. "Good. Rest up. Tomorrow starts early."
As Team 7 dispersed, walking back toward the village under the fading light, the day's challenges lingered in their minds. Naruto's complaints softened as his exhaustion took over, Sakura replayed her success in her head while plotting her next steps, and Sasuke's quiet determination burned brighter.