Chapter Six: Training and Messing Around with Alex's Powers

Welcome to the exciting journey of my debut novel! As English is not my first language, writing this novel has been a thrilling adventure filled with discovery and creativity. Each page represents not just a story, but a personal voyage through the world of words, as I explore the art of storytelling.

Your feedback and suggestions are invaluable to me. Feel free to comment and share your thoughts—I'm excited to see what resonates with you and how we can grow together in this creative process.

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Chapter Six: Training and Messing Around with Alex's Powers

The sun was barely peeking over the horizon when Alex arrived at the training grounds, the early morning fog still clinging to the air.

Today was a significant day—after weeks of honing his basic skills, it was finally time to explore his abilities more deeply. For a while now, Alex had sensed a connection to nature, particularly with plants, but it had been frustratingly difficult to harness. They hoped today would reveal more about their mysterious powers and how they could grow stronger.

Naruto, of course, was already there, bouncing with energy despite the early hour. He grinned widely when he saw Alex approach. "Morning! Ready to figure out what you can really do?"

Alex gave a half-hearted smile, feeling more nervous than excited.

"I hope so. Controlling plants hasn't exactly been... smooth."

Naruto laughed, undeterred.

"Don't sweat it! Besides, messing up is just part of the fun, right? Believe me, I've done plenty of that!"

He scratched the back of his head, grinning wide. "You'll get it eventually! Maybe!"

Sakura rolled her eyes as she arrived with Sasuke, who trailed behind, his expression as cold and distant as ever. Kakashi followed at his usual leisurely pace, his face half-buried in a book.

"Today, we'll push your limits, Alex," Kakashi said, briefly glancing up from his reading. "Let's see if we can unlock more of your potential."

Alex nodded, but the weight of Kakashi's words pressed heavily on him. He had struggled so much with his ability to control plants. Sometimes, a simple flower would bloom in his hands, but other times, they couldn't even coax a blade of grass to grow. And the energy it took to summon even the smallest result was exhausting.

Naruto leaned in with his usual enthusiasm. "Hey, at least you're not shooting explosions from your hands like me in the old days! That got messy fast!" He laughed, completely oblivious to how nervous Alex felt.

Sasuke, standing a few feet away, didn't even bother to acknowledge the conversation. His gaze was sharp, like ice, watching everything but showing no interest in joining in.

After a quick warm-up, Kakashi gave a nod toward the training field. "Yamato will be joining us today. His abilities might help you understand your power better."

Yamato appeared, almost silently, stepping out from the tree line with a calm, composed air. "I'll be assisting with your training today," he said, his voice soft but authoritative. "I specialize in Wood Release—similar to what you're trying to tap into. Let's start by seeing where your control stands."

Alex gulped, feeling even more pressure now that a true master of Wood Release was involved. Naruto, however, seemed completely unfazed.

"Yamato's cool," Naruto said with a grin. "Just don't tick him off. He can make trees do some pretty weird stuff."

Yamato gave Naruto a sidelong glance, which silenced him—for a moment.

"We'll focus on your connection with nature," Yamato said, ignoring Naruto's antics.

"Try to summon your power, but don't force it. Let it flow naturally, as if you're becoming one with the trees and plants around you."

Alex closed their eyes, trying to center themselves. They felt the energy in the ground, like a faint hum beneath their feet. They tried to pull that energy out, but the more they focused, the more it slipped away. A few blades of grass trembled, but nothing more.

Naruto watched with a wide-eyed expression of exaggerated encouragement.

"C'mon, Alex! You got this! Think like a tree! Be the tree! Grow, grow, grow!" He flailed his arms dramatically, as if trying to coax the plants into moving himself.

Alex couldn't help but snicker despite the pressure, but their attempts remained fruitless. The frustration was building, but Yamato stepped forward, calm and measured.

"Controlling plants isn't just about commanding them," Yamato said.

"It's about understanding the natural flow. You're trying to force it, but nature doesn't work like that."

Kakashi nodded in agreement, his voice calm but authoritative. "

Sometimes, it's not about forcing one power to work. You may have other abilities you haven't tapped into yet."

Alex frowned.

"Other abilities? Like what?"

Kakashi paused, considering.

"You've mentioned feeling connected to nature. That doesn't have to mean just plants. Have you ever felt a connection to animals?"

Alex blinked, surprised. They hadn't thought about it before, but now that Kakashi mentioned it, there had been times when animals seemed drawn to them. Stray dogs or birds had sometimes followed them during their early days in Konoha.

"Maybe," Alex said slowly.

"I've noticed animals acting weird around me. Like they understand me."

Naruto perked up immediately.

"Oh! You're gonna be like Kiba with his dog? This could be awesome! You could have an army of squirrels or something!"

Alex laughed nervously, but Sasuke's cold voice cut through.

"An army of animals won't be enough." His tone was flat, almost dismissive, as he stood at a distance, arms crossed.

"If that's all you can manage, it's weak."

The words stung, the air growing colder as Sasuke's dispassionate gaze lingered on Alex. His indifference was as sharp as a blade, making it clear he wasn't impressed.

Yamato ignored Sasuke's harshness and gestured toward the forest.

"Let's see if you can reach out to the animals. Try to connect with their natural instincts."

Alex closed their eyes again, pushing aside the weight of Sasuke's words. This time, instead of focusing on the plants, they turned their attention to the sounds of the forest—the chirping of birds, the rustling of leaves. Slowly, they felt something stir, a faint presence responding to their call.

When they opened their eyes, a few birds had fluttered down from the trees, watching them curiously. A squirrel approached cautiously, drawn by something Alex couldn't fully explain.

Naruto jumped up in excitement.

"See! You're doing it! Animal friends! Maybe you'll get a bear next!"

Alex smiled despite themselves.

"I think it worked."

Sakura smiled softly, her voice gentle.

"You're getting there, Alex. Just keep practicing."

Sasuke, on the other hand, remained aloof, his gaze still cold.

"Hmph. So you can summon animals. That won't be enough to protect yourself. You'll need more than that if you want to survive."

His words landed hard, a reminder of the brutal reality that Sasuke always seemed to carry with him. There was no encouragement, no warmth. Only the harsh truth of his world, a world where power meant everything, and weakness was unforgivable.

Yamato, undeterred by Sasuke's icy attitude, nodded toward Alex.

"You're making progress. But you'll need to master both aspects of your power—plants and animals. Each one can serve a different purpose. Don't abandon one for the other."

"Yeah!" Naruto chimed in,

"And if all else fails, you can always talk to your new animal buddies! Maybe get them to steal Sasuke's lunch or something."

Kakashi smiled under his mask, but Sasuke's expression darkened further. He turned away, his back now to the group, as if the entire situation bored him.

As the day wore on, Alex continued practicing, strengthening their connection to the animals. They could sense their emotions—their fear, curiosity, and even excitement. With time, Alex found he could influence these emotions, calming a nervous bird or energizing a hesitant squirrel.

By the afternoon, a small group of animals had gathered around Alex, following simple commands. It wasn't perfect—sometimes the animals acted unpredictably—but it felt far more natural than struggling with plant control. This new ability was something Alex could work with, something they could grow.

As the sun began to set, Naruto threw an arm around Alex's shoulders, grinning.

"See? You're gonna be the coolest ninja with animal friends! Maybe we can start a zoo!"

Alex laughed, but the coldness of Sasuke's earlier words still lingered in their mind. Sasuke stood on the edge of the group, arms crossed, his gaze distant and unapproving.

"Maybe," Alex muttered quietly, their smile fading.

Naruto's lightheartedness was a comfort, but Sasuke's icy indifference was a reminder that in this world, power wasn't just a tool—it was survival. And Alex wasn't sure how much time they had to figure it all out before things got dangerous.