Chapter Nine: Training with a Twist

Chapter Ten: Training with a Twist

The bond between them was growing stronger, and Alex felt it was time to see just how far they could go.

Alex noticed two figures already hard at work. A boy with a wild mane of brown hair and a large, white dog were moving in perfect harmony, their movements so synchronized that they seemed to flow together. The boy was darting around with impressive speed, while the dog followed with equal agility.

Curious, Alex slowed their pace. "Wow, look at them go," they muttered, watching in awe. "I wonder who they are."

The boy, who had just executed a flawless leap, caught sight of Alex and the fox. He slowed down, his eyes narrowing with interest. The dog, Akamaru, also stopped, sitting down beside him with a curious tilt of his head.

"Hey there!" the boy called out, waving.

"I don't think I've seen you around before. You new here?"

Alex approached with a friendly smile.

"Yeah, I'm Alex. I've been working on training with my fox here. It looks like you two are pretty skilled. What's your name?"

The boy grinned widely. "I'm Kiba, and this is Akamaru. We're just doing our usual training. You want to join us? We could use a bit of a break from our routine."

Alex's eyes lit up with excitement. "Sure! I'd love to. It'd be great to get some tips."

Kiba's smile widened. "Awesome! Alright, let's see what you've got. Akamaru and I will show you a few drills."

As Alex and the fox got into position, Kiba demonstrated a basic coordination drill. The exercise involved weaving through a set of cones while maintaining a steady pace. Alex watched intently as Kiba and Akamaru executed the drill with smooth precision.

"Okay, let's give this a shot," Alex said, turning to the fox. "We'll try to match their moves."

Alex started running, but instead of the smooth, coordinated movements of Kiba and Akamaru, their attempts were more of a comical flurry. The fox, while trying to keep up, ended up running into a cone and stumbling. Alex stumbled right behind, nearly tripping over their own feet.

Kiba burst out laughing. "Not bad for a first try, but you might want to work on the timing a bit."

Alex laughed, brushing off the dirt. "Yeah, we might need a bit more practice. This is harder than it looks!"

Next, Kiba showed Alex and the fox a combination move where Akamaru would leap into the air, and Kiba would catch him, spinning around before landing gracefully. Alex's eyes sparkled with determination.

"Alright, let's give that leap-and-catch thing a go," Alex said. "Fox, let's see if we can pull this off."

Alex jumped into the air, attempting to mimic Kiba's graceful leap. The fox, though eager, was not as agile as Akamaru. It leaped toward Alex but ended up colliding with them mid-air. Both of them tumbled to the ground in a heap.

Kiba's laughter rang out again, hearty and genuine. "Now that's what I call a spectacular landing!"

Alex lay on the grass, laughing alongside Kiba. "Looks like we need a bit more coordination. This is harder than it looks!"

Kiba walked over, still chuckling.

"Don't worry, it takes practice. You guys have a lot of potential, though. Just keep working at it."

Alex nodded, still grinning. "Thanks for the tips. We definitely have a lot to work on."

As the sun rose higher in the sky, Alex and the fox joined Kiba and Akamaru for a quick break. The earlier mishaps and laughter had turned the day into one of unexpected joy. Alex felt lighter, their bond with the fox strengthened by the shared experience.

"Next time, we'll try something a bit less... adventurous," Alex said, chuckling. "But today was a blast."

Kiba grinned. "Anytime! It's always good to mix things up. See you around!"

As Alex and the fox left the training grounds, they felt a renewed sense of camaraderie and enjoyment. Their attempts to imitate Kiba and Akamaru hadn't been perfect, but the laughter and fun had been exactly what they needed. The day had been a reminder that even in the midst of serious training, it was okay to enjoy the journey and have a few laughs along the way.

Alex glanced at the fox, its dark fur shimmering faintly as it padded beside him. Since forming the pact, their connection had grown stronger, almost instinctual, but it still wasn't enough. Alex knew that if they were going to make it in this world, they'd need more than brute force—they needed control, harmony with their abilities.

But part of Alex questioned that very necessity. In he's world, there were no wars, no endless cycles of violence like in Konoha.

Back home, peace was the norm, and conflict was something you read about, not lived through. Becoming a ninja had never been part of Alex's plan. This life felt alien, even after all this time.

"Why do I need to get stronger? For what?" Alex muttered to themselves, crouching down beside the fox. "I never wanted to be a ninja."

The fox tilted its head, its eyes gleaming with understanding through their bond. It didn't speak, but its presence was a constant reminder that, in this world, strength mattered.

"Let's focus," Alex said, pushing aside their doubts. "We need to work together better."

The fox nodded, responding to Alex's thoughts with a flick of its tail. The bond between them had made it so they didn't need verbal commands anymore—they simply moved in sync, like two parts of the same mind.

First, they started with basic movements, running through the obstacle course that Alex had set up. The fox darted ahead, leaping over logs and weaving through the narrow spaces between trees. Alex followed close behind, their chakra synced with the fox's.

It wasn't just about speed; it was about trusting the fox to make decisions and adjusting their own movements in response.

But every now and then, a thought slipped into Alex's mind—What's the point of all this? Back in their world, there was no need for such training. No wars, no violence. They'd never had to think about survival like this. Here, the constant need to grow stronger felt like a burden.

"Why does it have to be this way?" Alex muttered, dodging an incoming branch.

The fox glanced back, sensing Alex's frustration. Through their bond, Alex could feel the fox's thoughts—a strange mixture of patience and determination. The fox didn't question the need for strength. It simply lived by it. Alex, on the other hand, struggled with that mindset.

After a while, they paused at the edge of the clearing, both of them breathing heavily. The fox trotted over to Alex's side, its fur ruffled but unscathed.

"Good work," Alex said, running a hand through its fur. "But... there's something else we need to work on."

Alex took a deep breath and sat down, legs crossed. They'd been hesitant to explore it, but it was time to train another aspect of their abilities—healing.

In the world Alex came from, healing was done with medicine, doctors, hospitals. But here, chakra could be used to heal wounds, to restore the body. Alex had only scratched the surface of this power, but the more he trained, the more he realized how important it could be.

"Let's try something new," Alex said, holding out their hand. "I've been working on this... I think it might help both of us."

The fox lay down beside Alex, watching curiously as Alex began to channel his chakra, focusing not on destruction or strength, but on restoration. He could feel the energy flowing from within them, warm and steady, spreading through their body and into the fox.

It wasn't the first time they'd tried this, but healing was tricky. It required focus, precision, and, most importantly, a deep connection with the one being healed.

The fox's eyes closed as it relaxed under the warm glow of Alex's chakra. Slowly, Alex directed the energy toward the fox's minor scratches and bruises, watching as the skin and fur began to mend. The process was slow but steady, and Alex could feel the toll it took on their chakra reserves. Healing wasn't just about patching up wounds—it was about restoring balance.

As the fox's injuries faded, Alex let out a long breath. He could feel the strain in his body, but there was also a sense of accomplishment. Healing was something that made sense to him. It wasn't about fighting or destruction—it was about protecting, restoring. It aligned with the world he came from, where peace and healing were valued over power.

Just as Alex was about to rest, Kakashi arrived, appearing as if from nowhere, his usual unreadable expression in place. He watched them in silence for a moment, his gaze flicking between Alex and the fox.

"You're making progress," Kakashi said, his voice calm. "But you still lack something crucial."

Alex frowned. "What do you mean? I'm getting stronger, I'm learning to heal—what else do I need?"

Kakashi's eyes narrowed slightly, and he folded his arms. "You're still naive, Alex. This isn't your world. Here, strength isn't optional. Healing alone won't keep you alive."

Alex stood up, bristling. "Maybe I don't want to live by those rules. Back home, we didn't have to constantly fight to survive. People helped each other, they solved problems without violence."

Kakashi sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "That's a nice idea. But this world isn't like that. Here, there will always be conflict. And if you're not prepared, you'll be swallowed up by it."

Alex clenched their fists. "I didn't ask for this. I didn't choose to be here."

"And yet, here you are," Kakashi said, his tone softening. "You've got potential, Alex. But if you don't face reality, you'll never survive."

Alex looked down at the fox, feeling the weight of Kakashi's words. They had always struggled with the violence of this world, the endless need for power and strength. But now, faced with the harsh reality, He felt a tug of uncertainty.

"I just... I don't want to be like that," Alex whispered. "I don't want to become someone who solves everything with violence."

Kakashi's expression softened slightly. "Strength isn't just about fighting. It's about protecting what matters. If you don't grow stronger, how will you protect those who can't?"

Alex remained silent, the words sinking in. He hadn't thought of it that way. Maybe it wasn't about power for the sake of power, but about using that strength to protect, to heal, to create peace in a world that seemed determined to tear itself apart.

"I'll keep training," Alex said finally, determination hardening their voice. "But I'm not giving up on healing. That's something this world needs more of."

Kakashi nodded approvingly. "Then keep working on it. You'll need both strength and healing to survive. And maybe... one day, you can change the world with it."

Alex looked down at the fox again, feeling the bond between them strengthen. He didn't want to be a weapon, but he could become a protector. With the fox by his side and the healing abilities he were developing, maybe they could carve out his own path in this world—one that didn't rely solely on destruction.

As he resumed training, Alex couldn't help but feel that, despite the violence around him, there was still room for something better. Maybe he couldn't change the world yet, but with the fox and their growing abilities, they could start with themselves.