The eerie calm of Mt. Myoboku surrounded Reiki and Shisui as they stared at the oversized bowl of "food" before them—a writhing collection of fat, wriggling insects. Reiki's stomach churned, and even Shisui, usually stoic, looked a little green.
"This... is lunch?" Reiki asked, the dread settling in his voice.
"That's right," Toad Fudou's voice boomed behind them, making them jump. "Tsunade-hime said you're to finish every last bite!"
Toad Fudou's unyielding expression made it clear he wasn't joking. Behind him, Gamabunta leaned against a tree, cigarette in his mouth, giving them a look of pure satisfaction.
"Go on, brats," Gamabunta taunted. "Or do I need to give you a nudge?"
Shisui was the first to attempt a brave face. "Well… I've handled worse, right?" He picked up a particularly large insect that twitched in his fingers, and after a moment's hesitation, shut his eyes and took a bite.
The crunch echoed across the forest, and Reiki grimaced.
"Not so bad… if you don't think about it too much," Shisui mumbled, though his face betrayed his struggle.
Seeing his teammate's determination, Reiki took a deep breath. *If he can do it, so can I,* he thought. He reached in, grabbed an insect, and bit down, the bitter taste making his eyes water.
After what felt like an eternity, they managed to clear half the bowl.
"Good," Fudou nodded, looking approvingly. "But this was only the beginning."
The two boys barely had time to process his words before a loud, intimidating croak echoed from behind a boulder. An enormous toad, even larger than Fudou and Gamabunta, hopped into view. Its skin was an eerie green, and its gaze was fixed on them with unsettling intensity.
"This is Toad Genbo," Fudou said, gesturing to the massive creature. "Your next task: sparring."
Shisui's eyes widened. "With... him?"
"Either spar with Genbo or finish the other half of that bowl," Gamabunta said with a smirk.
Reiki and Shisui looked at each other, then at the bowl. They'd come this far—they weren't about to turn back now.
As they took their stances, Genbo let out a mighty roar, causing the ground to shake beneath them.
"Lesson number one!" Fudou yelled as Genbo lunged forward. "Always be prepared for the unexpected!"
The next few hours became a blur of dodging and counterattacks, both boys putting all their training into practice just to survive the relentless onslaught of the mighty toad. Through grit and determination, they managed to land a few hits, though they quickly learned that *sparring* with a toad meant nothing less than survival.
When the training finally ended, both Reiki and Shisui were sprawled out on the ground, exhausted, sore, and utterly drained.
"Not bad, brats," Gamabunta admitted, a hint of respect in his voice. "You lasted longer than I thought."
"Let's see if you remember this lesson next time you're in Tsunade-hime's training grounds," Fudou said with a grin, his tone approving.
As the two toads prepared to leave, Reiki managed a weak smile. "I don't think I'll ever look at lunch the same way again."
With that, they finally passed out, dreaming of more straightforward battles—and maybe, someday, of mastering Myoboku's secrets.
>>>>>
Gimme Power stones I'm Poor