The sun had barely crept over the horizon when Tomaru Minakura left his small apartment, the cool morning air filling his lungs as he set off on his usual routine. The streets of Konoha were quiet, the faint rustle of leaves and the occasional chirp of birds the only sounds accompanying his light jogging steps.
This was his time—an hour of solitude before the village awoke, where he could focus on refining his body and clearing his mind. After a warm-up jog, he moved to an open training ground, his hands wrapping instinctively into fists. His strikes came fast and precise, each punch and kick cutting through the stillness like a blade.
Tomaru paused mid-strike, sweat trickling down his brow as he exhaled slowly. The bell test yesterday… we passed, but it wasn't perfect. There's still so much to improve.
As Tomaru jogged along the dirt path back toward the village, he caught sight of a figure up ahead, unmistakable even from a distance. Bright blonde hair bobbed with every enthusiastic step, and the energy emanating from the figure was almost enough to make Tomaru feel tired by association.
"Naruto," Tomaru called out, slowing his pace as he approached. "Up this early? That's a rare sight. What's going on?"
Naruto turned to him, his face lighting up with a grin so big it practically stretched from ear to ear. "Tomaru! Hey! Kakashi-sensei said we've got survival training today. He told us to meet at five sharp! Can you believe that?"
Tomaru raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Five sharp, huh? Did he say anything about actually showing up on time?"
Naruto tilted his head, clearly puzzled. "What do you mean? He's the sensei—of course he'll be there!"
Tomaru chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Oh, you sweet summer child. You haven't figured it out yet, have you?"
Naruto squinted at him, suspicious. "Figured out what?"
Tomaru leaned in slightly, lowering his voice as if he were sharing a well-guarded secret. "Kakashi-sensei is infamous for being late. It's practically his trademark. If he told you five, don't be surprised if he shows up closer to… oh, I don't know… noon."
Naruto's jaw dropped. "No way! Why would a sensei do that?"
Tomaru shrugged, his smirk widening. "Some say he gets lost on the road of life. Others think he's just testing your patience. Either way, don't hold your breath waiting for him."
Naruto crossed his arms, his face scrunching up in frustration. "That's so unfair! What are we supposed to do until then?"
Tomaru's eyes gleamed with amusement. "I don't know. Maybe bond with your teammates? Sasuke seems like a real chatterbox, and I'm sure Sakura would love to have a deep conversation with you about... oh, I don't know, Sasuke."
Naruto groaned, throwing his hands in the air. "Why does everyone think all Sakura-chan cares about is Sasuke? I mean, okay, she talks about him a lot, but still!"
Tomaru raised an eyebrow, his tone dry. "Naruto, the girl tried to fist-bump Sasuke and called it romantic."
Naruto blinked, then burst out laughing. "Okay, yeah, that sounds like something she'd do. But still, she's not just about Sasuke. She's smart too! She'll figure out this teamwork thing!"
Tomaru nodded, his expression turning a touch more serious. "That's the right attitude. You'll need to rely on each other if you want to pass the bell test. It's not about showing off or taking down the sensei—it's about working together."
Naruto rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Hmm... so we have to team up, huh? Even with Sasuke? That's gonna be tough."
Tomaru smirked again. "You might want to start by not calling him names every five minutes. Just a thought."
Naruto waved a hand dismissively. "Eh, he'll be fine. He's the 'cool genius' type, right? I bet he's already figured out a hundred ways to steal those bells!"
"Maybe," Tomaru replied, his tone casual. "But if he tries to go it alone, you'll all fail. The test is designed to make sure you work as a team."
Naruto's grin returned, a glimmer of determination in his eyes. "Then I'll make it happen! We're Team 7, and we're gonna pass this test no matter what!"
Tomaru chuckled softly, stepping back as Naruto's confidence bubbled over. "Well, good luck with that. Just don't be too surprised when Kakashi shows up with some lame excuse about helping an old lady cross the street."
Naruto frowned. "An old lady? You're kidding, right?"
Tomaru held up a hand. "Oh no. It's always something ridiculous. Last time I heard, he blamed being late on rescuing a cat stuck in a tree."
Naruto's jaw dropped again. "A cat? That's his excuse?"
Tomaru smirked. "And he'll say it with a straight face too. You'll see."
Naruto huffed, crossing his arms. "If he's late, I'm gonna prank him so bad he'll think twice next time!"
Tomaru raised an eyebrow, genuinely curious. "And what exactly do you have in mind?"
Naruto's grin turned mischievous. "Oh, I've got plans. Maybe a tripwire. Or a paint bucket on the door. Or—"
Tomaru held up a hand to stop him, his expression amused but warning. "Careful, Naruto. Pranking your sensei might just earn you an extra hour of running laps."
Naruto paused, his grin faltering for a moment before returning even wider. "Worth it!"
Tomaru shook his head, turning to continue his jog. "Well, I'll leave you to it. Good luck with the bell test—and remember, teamwork is the key. Even if your sensei takes his sweet time showing up."
"Thanks, Tomaru!" Naruto called after him, his voice brimming with energy. "You're not so bad for a know-it-all!"
Tomaru smirked over his shoulder, his voice carrying a hint of humor. "And you're not so bad for an early riser. Don't let Kakashi break you."
Naruto laughed, pumping his fist in the air as he darted off toward the training ground, already planning his next move. Tomaru resumed his jog, a faint smile playing on his lips. Dealing with Naruto was always entertaining, and he couldn't help but feel a small sense of pride in offering the blonde a bit of guidance.
"Poor Kakashi," Tomaru muttered to himself, chuckling softly. "He has no idea what's coming."
—
The team had agreed to meet early, eager to prepare for whatever Sayuri-sensei had in store for them today.
Tomaru took a moment to take in the scene as he approached the others.
The previous day's bell test had been a grueling experience. It had forced them to push beyond their limits, to think on their feet. But Tomaru knew they couldn't afford to rest on their laurels. Today, they needed to build on that.
Mai was already there, as expected. Her athletic frame was in a deep stretch, her arms reaching for the sky and her legs extended out in front of her with exaggerated flair. Her movements were full of energy, and even in a simple warm-up, she had a way of drawing attention. When she saw him, she gave a dramatic gasp and waved her arms high. "Tomaru! You're late!" she called, her voice teasing but playful.
Tomaru couldn't help but smirk as he closed the distance between them. "I'm exactly on time, Mai. You're just early."
"Don't try to deny it!" she shot back, grinning widely as she reached down to touch her toes in a mock display of frustration. "I've been here for ages, waiting for you slackers."
Mina, the quieter one of the group, appeared from behind a tree, her movements deliberate and calm. She was clutching a notebook, as always. Her sharp eyes met Tomaru's, and she nodded in acknowledgment. "Morning," she said, her tone soft but purposeful. "I've been thinking about the bell test."
Mai let out a loud groan and collapsed dramatically onto the grass, spreading her arms out. "Oh no, more thinking. I was hoping today would just be taijutsu drills, not more lectures."
Ignoring Mai's theatrical antics, Mina gave Tomaru her full attention. "The way we handled Sayuri-sensei yesterday—it worked, but it wasn't flawless. We need to focus on our communication."
Tomaru gave a thoughtful nod, his expression serious as he crouched down beside Mina. "Agreed. We can't afford to rely on luck again. Every move we make needs to be calculated."
Mai, however, was already bored, tossing a blade of grass into the air as she lay back on the ground. "You guys are so serious. We passed, didn't we? That's what matters. We survived. Mission accomplished."
Mina's sharp gaze cut through Mai's laid-back demeanor. "We passed because we worked together. But next time, we might not have the luxury of time to plan a trap. If the situation changes, we need to be ready to adapt, to make split-second decisions."
Tomaru could see Mina's point. She always had this ability to analyze things down to the smallest detail, to pick apart their weaknesses with precision. It wasn't always easy to accept, but it was always necessary.
He placed a hand on Mai's shoulder, his tone firm but not harsh. "Mina's right. This is just the beginning. If we want to survive as shinobi, we can't settle for 'good enough.' We need to keep pushing ourselves. Every failure, every success—it's all part of learning."
Mai let out a loud sigh, but her grin was already back, her earlier reluctance fading as the playful energy returned. "Fine, fine. I'll stop complaining," she muttered, propping herself up on her elbows and giving them both a sideways glance. "But if you two start lecturing me again, I'm out. Deal?"
Tomaru chuckled. "Deal. But only if you promise to take this seriously."
"Hey, I always take things seriously," Mai protested, though her wide grin betrayed the sarcasm. She stood up quickly and brushed the grass from her clothes, clearly ready to move on to the next part of their training.
Mina, as always, was the most composed, flipping open her notebook with a deliberate, quiet grace. "We need a plan, and we need to be clear on our roles," she said, her voice almost businesslike. "We've got to build better synergy. We can't be a collection of individuals. We're a team."
Tomaru glanced at Mai, who was bouncing on her heels, her energy palpable, and then back at Mina, whose focus was unwavering. The two of them were as different as night and day, but together, they made a formidable trio. If they could learn to play to each other's strengths, they'd be unstoppable.
"I think we should focus on working in sync today," Tomaru said thoughtfully. "Mina, you've got the strategy and the brainpower. Mai, you're the muscle and the speed. And I'll handle the tactics in the field. If we keep communicating—no more guesses, no more assumptions—we can build something that works."
Mina nodded, and Mai flashed a quick thumbs-up. "Alright, let's do this, then. But don't expect me to go easy on you two."
They began to move into their positions on the training ground, the air now charged with a sense of purpose. The morning's playful banter had faded into the background, replaced by a quieter, more intense focus. They all knew that today's training would push them harder than ever before. But that was exactly what they needed—an edge that could give them an advantage when the real challenges came.
As Sayuri-sensei's footsteps echoed through the forest, the three of them squared their shoulders, ready for whatever the day would bring.