Chương 15: First Training Session (1)

Two days after their genin test, Shunsui arrived at the same training ground where they took their test early in the morning. Shunsui found a good spot to wait for the rest of his team to arrive under a large tree. He leaned back against the bark, legs stretched out in front of him, straw hat tilted low over his eyes. He looked completely relaxed, as if he had come here to nap rather than train. He was not the first one to arrive though. No that honour went to his youthful friend.

Across the field, Might Guy was already hard at work. The boy in the bright green jumpsuit was balanced perfectly on one finger. His body stayed straight as a board while he lowered and raised himself in a push-up. Sweat already glistened on his skin, but his face showed nothing but pure determination. Shunsui watched him for a moment. Guy counted out loud "Five hundred fifty! Five hundred fifty-one! Five hundred fifty-two!" Shunsui let out a small, amused breath.

He closed his eyes and enjoyed the warmth of the sun on his face. A few minutes later, footsteps approached. Genma Shiranui walked up quietly towards him. He stopped a short distance away from Shunsui.

"Genma-san," Shunsui greeted without opening his eyes.

"Shunsui-san," Genma replied in the same even tone. They stood in comfortable silence for a while. Genma shifted his weight from one foot to the other. Finally, he spoke.

"Shunsui-san, during the academy spars, you only used taijutsu. Even when weapons were allowed and we were allowed to use ninjutsu, you did not use anything beyond the academy three jutsus. Why is that? With what you showed in the genin test, you could have won every spar against anyone. You could have gotten yourself a better genin team." Shunsui opened his eyes slowly. A faint, knowing smile curved his lips. He looked at Genma with quiet amusement.

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"If I used the full extent of my abilities, it would not be much of a fight, would it, Genma-san? Yes, I would have won. Easily. But what would that prove? Victory without effort is empty. It teaches nothing. It builds nothing. I chose to only use taijutsu because it was something that I knew that I was bad at and it needed to be improved." He continued, "It also helped me improve my body. The body grows stronger only when it is pushed to its edge.

If I had revealed everything back then, I would have stayed the same lazy boy who relies on gifts he never earned. And fighting at close range with just Taijutsu help me develop better instincts and since I have learned Taijutsu, I also know how I can counter it when my enemies would be using it." Genma stared at Shunsui for a long moment. He always thought himself as the most mature of various kids in their class. But it seems that his teammate was not far behind. Genma nodded slowly.

"I see. That makes sense." Shunsui continued in the same soft tone.

"Besides, when did I ever say that I ended up in a bad team?" He tilted his head toward the field. Guy was still going strong.

"You see Guy there doing one-finger push-ups. He is on some six hundred now. I sure cannot do more than two hundred, and I have trained a lot myself, believe it or not. Genma-san, he is already a monster in taijutsu. And I am sure that he will become an even bigger monster in taijutsu in the coming years." Shunsui turned his gaze to Genma.

"And you, Genma-san. You are pretty good at throwing weapons. Both me and Guy need some ranged support. Your senbon are deadly, and so is your poison."

"I heard the sensei back in the academy say never underestimate someone who works with poison. They were right. One needle in the right spot can end a fight before it even starts. You have patience and you can wait for the perfect moment to strike. That is a strength most people overlook. We need that. Guy charges in the fight as a frontline. I do me. But you... you can exploit the weaknesses that our enemy would show or even create them."

Genma looked down at the ground for a second, a little embarassed at being praised. A small smile touched his lips.

"You make it sound like we are already a perfect team." Shunsui chuckled softly.

"We are not perfect yet. But we are balanced. And most importantly we get along well with each other. I sure can say the same is not true about the other genin teams." He then looked at Genma and said,"So do not underestimate yourselves, Genma-san."

"Well put, Shunsui." Choza's deep voice came from behind them. The large jonin had appeared without a sound, arms crossed over his chest. He had clearly heard the entire conversation.

"You all have been placed into a team for a reason," Choza continued.

"Each of you brings something the others need. That is how good teams are built. Not by having the strongest person carry everyone. By having everyone carry their own weight and lift each other higher.

"Of course, We did not know about Shunsui's abilities before we put a genin team together but I am sure that it would fit with your teamwork." At that moment, Guy came running toward them. Sweat poured down his face and soaked his green jumpsuit completely. The fabric clung to his skin, but he did not seem to notice. His eyes shone with excitement. He skidded to a stop in front of Choza and gave a sharp greeting. Shunsui looked at the drenched jumpsuit.

'Does he not feel uncomfortable wearing that with so much sweat?' he thought. Then he glanced down at his own open pink kimono and the straw hat on his head.

'Oh well. I cannot comment on other people's outfits when I am wearing a pink kimono exposing my chest and a straw hat. Fair is fair.' Guy shouted with full energy.

"Sensei! Are we going on a mission? Or are we going to train?! Yosh! Are we going to run twenty laps around the village for a warm-up?" Genma sputtered.

"Twenty laps of the village... as a warm-up? Are you serious?" Guy turned to him with complete seriousness.

"Of course I am serious, Genma-kun! The springtime of youth demands constant motion! Twenty laps will wake up every muscle in our bodies! We will feel the fire of effort burning through our veins!"