Time to Reflect and Write

After almost a month of constant training, Haruto found himself in a state of discontent. He had been expecting to take on more missions, pushing himself and his team to grow, but to his disappointment, their sensei had kept them locked in training routines. Day in and day out, it was the same—sparring, exercises, honing techniques—but no real-world challenges. He craved the rush of missions, the test of his abilities in the field.

Standing before them at the training grounds, their sensei, Sakumo Hatake, addressed the team with his usual calm authority. "I'll be leaving for a mission," he informed them. Haruto's interest piqued, but he knew better than to expect any involvement. "You all have a few days off to yourselves."

Daichi Uzumaki instantly perked up. "Can I come with you, sensei?"

Sakumo shook his head with a slight chuckle. "No, Daichi, this mission is for me alone. But I've received permission for each of you to get a C-rank jutsu from the village library on level two. Use this time to learn something new."

Haruto could feel a slight excitement building at the thought of learning a new jutsu, though his mind was already racing through the possibilities. He needed something versatile, something that would push him beyond the basics.

"And," Sakumo added, his eyes gleaming with a hint of challenge, "when I get back, we'll have a 3 vs 1 challenge. If you impress me, I'll grant each of you one request. It doesn't have to be jutsu-related, but it must be reasonable."

Haruto and the others nodded, though Haruto's mind was already thinking ahead to the fight. A 3 vs 1 challenge against Sakumo? It would be difficult, and Haruto knew he would need to rely on more than brute strength to impress their sensei. He'd have to strategize—use every advantage he could.

As the others prepared to leave, Sakumo stopped Haruto, motioning for him to stay behind. The other two teammates glanced curiously but kept walking.

"Haruto," Sakumo said, his voice taking on a more serious tone, "I want you to report to Tsunade tomorrow."

Haruto nodded, already suspecting the reason. He hadn't been to the hospital since graduation. Sakumo had kept them so busy with training that Haruto had barely had time to think about anything else. He didn't have any complaints about seeing Tsunade—she was a formidable ninja and an invaluable mentor—but a part of him couldn't help feeling slightly sour. She still hadn't taught him the Shadow Clone Jutsu despite how long he had been working with her. He imagined she was holding back because she wanted to get him to agree to spend more time working at the hospital, treating patients under her supervision.

After the brief conversation with Sakumo, Haruto left the training grounds and headed home. He showered, the hot water washing away the sweat and grime from training. His muscles ached, the result of the constant intensity, and as part of his routine, he filled a tub with cold water, adding ice for good measure. The ice baths were essential, helping him recover faster from the bruises and strain that accumulated over weeks of non-stop training.

He sank into the icy water, his breath catching from the cold shock, but soon enough, his body adapted. As the chill numbed his aches, Haruto's thoughts drifted to Tsunade. She'll probably try to push me into more hospital work. Not that he was opposed to learning from her—it was just that he wanted her mentorship on his own terms. He valued his time for research and training, and he needed a balance that wouldn't pull him too deeply into her world.

Besides, his next system reward was only a few days away, and he knew that whatever it brought, it could give him an extra edge. Timing everything would be key.

As the cold water worked its magic, Haruto began to think about how he could use the next day's meeting to his advantage. He had been planning to write his first societal paper for a while now, and this might be the perfect moment to deliver it. I've just graduated from the Academy, he mused, and I've got plenty of insight on how things could improve.

With the whole evening ahead of him and the next day free until his meeting with Tsunade, Haruto decided to use the time productively. Thanks to his Two Minds ability, he could hyper-focus on both structuring the paper and writing it in detail. And since he only needed four hours of sleep, he had plenty of time to finish before the night was over.

He got out of the ice bath, dried himself off, and sat at his desk. His mind split into two tasks simultaneously. One part of him focused on organizing the paper—ensuring it was concise and impactful—while the other part gathered and refined his insights. His hands moved swiftly as the ideas came together, each word carefully placed to craft the message he wanted to convey.

He worked steadily through the night, his thoughts sharp and his focus unwavering. By the time he finished, Haruto felt satisfied. The paper was complete—something he felt confident could catch Tsunade's attention.

As the night grew later, Haruto took a moment to reflect on his work. This paper, though still just the beginning, felt like the first step toward something larger. It would help him establish his voice, not just as a student but as someone with ideas that could influence the village.

He glanced at the clock—it was still early enough for him to rest. With a small smirk, he laid back, knowing that tomorrow could be a turning point in how Tsunade viewed him.