Growth

After the Academy – 

Kazeo was about to leave for home when he was called to Okabe-sensei's cabin. His brows furrowed in mild confusion—he hadn't done anything to warrant special attention. Did Okabe notice something?

Teacher's Cabin -

Kazeo stood in front of Okabe's desk, his hands behind his back, posture relaxed but his mind alert. He wasn't sure why he had been called here.

Okabe leaned forward slightly, hands clasped together. "So, Kazeo… how is the academy going for you?"

"It's fine, sensei." Kazeo kept his tone neutral.

Okabe nodded. "And your taijutsu spars?"

Kazeo's jaw clenched slightly. "I'm shuffling between ranks 5 and 8, sir."

Okabe hummed in thought. "Not bad." He paused before continuing, his tone lighter. "So, what do you think? Are you satisfied with your current progress?"

Kazeo hesitated for a moment.'Should I ask him? I should, who knows maybe he would know a way' 

He knew lying was pointless. "No, Sensei… I am not. How can I increase my rank? Their clan techniques are superior. Is there no way around that?"

A small, knowing smile formed on Okabe's lips. "I know it seems unfair, Kazeo. Clan kids have an advantage. Their techniques are refined over generations. But don't let that discourage you. Skill, experience, and sheer effort can close the gap. Many great shinobi weren't born into clans, yet they became legends. If you keep improving, even they won't be able to match you."

Kazeo inwardly scoffed. 'Tch… Why did I even expect anything other than empty words?'

He'd heard this same speech before—generic motivation with no real guidance. 

'If hard work alone was enough, every civilian shinobi would be Hokage. Looks like I'll have to ask for something better as my reward.'

But he kept his expression respectful. "I see, sensei."

Okabe observed him carefully. He could tell that Kazeo wasn't buying it. His lips parted slightly in thought before he sighed, his demeanor shifting.

After a moment of silence, Okabe's voice became calmer, firmer. "I know it's frustrating. Watching them use techniques passed down for generations while we struggle for every ounce of power." He exhaled sharply, a bitter chuckle escaping. "But tell me, Kazeo… what can we do as civilians?"

Kazeo's fists clenched slightly. The words stung because they were true.

'This world is more cruel for civilian's due to clan system than my previous world.'

Okabe continued. "We can think. We can adapt. We can grow in ways they never have to." His eyes locked onto Kazeo's with an intensity that made the boy straighten unconsciously.

He raised a single finger, pointing at Kazeo. "From today onward, whether you win or lose, don't just walk away from the fight. Replay it. Every single move. Think—what could you have done differently? Why did your opponent attack like that? What was their opening? What mistake did you make?"

Kazeo's eyes narrowed. The words settled deep within Kazeo's mind.

Okabe smirked slightly. "This is how you surpass those born into power. Not by complaining. Not by wishing things were different. But by learning, by breaking down every battle until there is no move you don't understand." His voice lowered, filled with weight. "Even I use this method. And believe me… very few but great shinobi do."

Kazeo absorbed the words carefully. He had never truly considered analyzing every fight in such depth. 

'I always focus on training, on raw effort. But maybe… this is the piece I'm missing.'

For the first time, Kazeo didn't feel like Okabe was feeding him empty words.

His lips curled into a small, determined smirk. "Analyze every fight, huh?" He looked at Okabe, his eyes gleaming with something sharper than before. "Fine. Thank you, sensei."

Okabe watched as Kazeo left, rubbing his chin in thought.

(Okabe's POV)

I observed the kid's retreating figure. Kazeo… he's different.

He rarely talks in class, only adding a few words here and there. He sits at the last desk, minding his own business—yet, he listens to every lecture. 

If I ask him a question, he answers immediately. But even when he does, his mind seems elsewhere.

At first, I thought he was playing around in class, but I've noticed something odd. For the last few months, I've found small traces of dirt under his desk. Is he playing with it? Or something else?

Like every other civilian student, I expected him to break after seeing the gap between himself and the clan kids.

The six others I've spoken to this year? They've already despaired.

But Kazeo didn't.

Even after his defeat against Hyūga Kaito, he remained unaffected. But when Uchiha Ishikawa beat him… that was the first time I saw him shaken. That's why I decided to talk to him today. If left unchecked, self-doubt can destroy even the most talented shinobi.

At first, I planned to give him the same motivational speech we always give students—the same one we received as kids. But his eyes… he mocked that advice. I saw it in the way he remained silent, the way his expression barely changed.

So, I gave him the real answer.

Civilians have only one advantage—we can learn differently. We're not bound by clan traditions. The method I gave him… I doubt he realizes how difficult it is to maintain.

Thinking about every fight. Dissecting every move. Correcting every mistake.

Most shinobi don't do it, even those who know how. It's exhausting. Even I only use it on fights where my life was on the line.

Most shinobi abandon it after a few attempts—it's easier to just keep training and hope for improvement.

I tell this to my students every year. They try it for a week, then they give up.

I wonder… will this kid be different?

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One Week Later – Training Grounds

Kazeo was practicing shuriken throwing in training grounds when the instructor suddenly approached him.

"Kazeo, you're hitting the center or near-center every time, "But your posture is flawed. It won't work in fast-paced battles. Adjust it like this."

For the next ten minutes, the instructor carefully corrected Kazeo's form, ensuring his movements were more fluid and adaptable.

"I know it'll be hard to change your muscle memory, but keep practicing. Give it a week or two, and you'll adjust."

Kazeo bowed slightly. "Thank you, sensei."

As he resumed practice, his mind was already applying Okabe's advice. He wasn't just throwing shuriken anymore—he was analyzing. What if an enemy dodged left? What if they rushed at me? How could I make my next throw harder to evade?

His training had changed.

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One Month Later – 

Kazeo sat cross-legged, panting slightly.

For the past month, he had been trying to reduce hand signs for the Transformation Jutsu—and so far, he had made zero progress.

Kazeo took a deep breath, forming the hand signs for the Transformation Jutsu. In a puff of smoke, his figure shifted—only to reveal a grotesque, misshapen form. His arms were slightly elongated, his face uneven, and his height off by a few inches. Letting out a frustrated sigh, he dropped the transformation.

"Again."

He repeated the process, but this time, his legs were too short, making him stumble forward. Another attempt left his hair a different color. No matter how many times he tried, the transformation always had some flaw—small, but noticeable.

"Why is this so damn hard?" He gritted his teeth, rubbing his temple. He had already perfected the full transformation weeks ago, but reducing the hand signs? That was proving impossible. He knew the theory—but knowing and doing were two different things.

Taking a deep breath, he tried once more. Ram → Dog → Boar → Transformation!

The smoke cleared.

Kazeo looked down.

His arms were normal. His legs were normal. But his face—

"Oh, come on!" He groaned as he caught his reflection in the window—his nose was comically large, almost twice its usual size.

Some weeks ago , After spending hours in the library, he found two main requirements for reducing hand signs:

1. Better chakra control.

2. Performing a jutsu thousands of times until the process becomes instinctive.

But with only two hours per day, he simply couldn't reach the required repetitions.

Still, his transformation jutsu got a lot better in previous month...

Initially when he started learning it after academy started three months ago. It took him two weeks to make a transformation which can be barely said normal human but it took him another two weeks to make a perfect transformation. Obviously, no one knows about it according to Kazeo.

Transformation Jutsu: Creates a chakra film over the user's body, altering perception.

Clone Jutsu: Creates illusionary copies of user. A weaker version of Shadow Clones but useful for deception.

'Maybe this isn't the right jutsu to start with... Maybe something else would be easier to modify? Like Clone jutsu.'

 'If I masters it, it would help when I eventually learns Shadow Clones.'

For wind jutsus , he had only learned a single jutsu which he learned after practising it for two weeks. Right now, he could only lift small pieces of paper with Wind Levitation Jutsu.

But it will improve with time.

Wind levitation jutsu allows the user to lift small objects like paper, leaves, or pebbles using gentle air currents.

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Three Months Later – The Night Before the First-Year Final Exams

Kazeo sat on the roof of his house, staring at the night sky.

'Tomorrow will be the final exam of first year.'

His fingers drummed against his knee as he recalled his spars and training session.

'I've come far… but is it enough?'

The thought lingered for only a second before he smirked. There's only one way to find out.

'Tomorrow… I'll get the reward for coming first.'

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