Chapter 5: The First Step Towards Strength

Iruka led Naruto through the bustling streets of Konoha, the morning sun casting a golden glow over the village. Their destination? A humble yet well-regarded weapon shop tucked between larger businesses. The scent of polished steel and oiled wood greeted them as they stepped inside.

Naruto's eyes gleamed with excitement as he darted toward the flashiest weapons on display. "Whoa! Look at this one! And this one! Iruka-sensei, what about that giant sword? I bet I could—"

Iruka flicked Naruto's forehead. "You'd fall over before you could even lift it. We're here to get something practical."

The shopkeeper, an older man with a thick beard and a knowing gaze, chuckled. "Looking for your first real blade, eh?" His eyes swept over Iruka, lingering just a moment longer than expected. "Something tells me you're taking a new path."

Iruka nodded. "A sturdy katana, well-balanced, nothing too fancy. And two wooden swords for training."

The old man stroked his beard. "Got just the thing." He disappeared into the back and returned with a sleek yet simple katana, its craftsmanship evident despite the lack of ornamentation. The wooden training swords were equally well-made.

Iruka tested the weight of the blade, nodding in approval. "This will do."

Naruto pouted. "Aw, c'mon, Sensei. We should get something cooler!"

Iruka smirked. "You want to get stronger, right? Then stop looking at appearances and focus on the basics. Let's go."

Naruto groaned but followed as they left the shop.

Arriving at a quiet training ground, Iruka turned to Naruto. "Before we start, I need to see where you're at. Show me what you can do."

Naruto grinned, cracked his knuckles, and charged. His attacks were wild but full of energy. Iruka dodged effortlessly, deflecting strikes with ease. "Your stance is sloppy. You leave yourself open too much."

Naruto huffed, but then, with a sly grin, he made a cross-hand seal. "Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

In an instant, two identical Narutos appeared. They attacked in sync, forcing Iruka to take them seriously. With quick movements, he parried and countered, knocking them back.

"You learned this from the scroll, didn't you?" Iruka asked as the clones poofed away.

Naruto grinned sheepishly. "Yeah… but I didn't get a chance to show it off before. Pretty cool, huh?"

Iruka chuckled. "Not bad. But you've got a long way to go. Real training starts tomorrow."

Iruka picked up his wooden sword and took a deep breath. Then, with a fluid motion, he began swinging it, counting silently in his head. Naruto watched for a moment before asking, "Iruka-sensei, why are you doing this?"

Iruka didn't pause. "Because teaching isn't enough anymore. I need to grow stronger, not just for myself, but for the people I want to protect."

Naruto hesitated, then clenched his fists. "Can I join?"

Iruka smiled. "If you think you can keep up."

Naruto grabbed his wooden sword and started swinging. His malnourished body quickly betrayed him, his arms burning after only a few dozen swings. But he grit his teeth and pushed through, sweat dripping down his face.

After a while, he collapsed onto the ground, panting. "Gah! How are you still going?!"

Iruka kept swinging. "One step at a time, Naruto. Strength isn't built in a day."

From behind a tree, a pair of pale eyes peeked out. Hinata Hyuga had been watching, her fingers pressed together nervously.

"I-I was just—"

"Spying on Naruto?" Kurenai Yuhi asked, appearing beside her student.

Hinata yelped, turning red. "N-No! I mean… maybe."

Kurenai sighed, but then her gaze shifted toward Iruka. He was still training, sweat glistening on his skin, his expression unwavering as he continued swinging his sword.

She'd never seen him like this before. The Iruka she knew had always been the dependable teacher, the calm presence in the Academy. But this? This was someone who refused to stay where he was, someone determined to change himself.

Her curiosity was piqued.

As the sun dipped toward the horizon, Iruka finally lowered his sword, muscles screaming in protest. He glanced at Naruto, who was sprawled out on the ground, exhausted but grinning. "I'll do better tomorrow, just you watch!"

Iruka chuckled. "Looking forward to it."

Then, he turned to Naruto. "Come on, I'll treat you to every meal from now on."

Naruto's eyes widened in shock, his throat tightening. "Wait… you mean… every day?"

Iruka ruffled his hair. "Yeah. You're my student now. Can't have you collapsing from hunger in the middle of training."

[System Alert!]

[Daily Task Completed: 1000 Sword Swings Reward: +10 Points]

[First Task Completed: Cooking Mastery (Sōma Yukihira's Skills)]

A rush of knowledge flooded Iruka's mind—recipes, techniques, the precise way to handle ingredients for maximum flavor, even instinctual knowledge of food presentation. His hands twitched as if they already knew how to move on their own.

'What the—?' Iruka blinked, his mind reeling. He suddenly knew exactly how to bring out the umami in a dish, how to make a perfect broth, how to turn the simplest ingredients into something unforgettable.

Then, a thought struck him like a thrown kunai.

'Wait… can I make people foodgasm now?'

A cold sweat ran down his back. Was this a dangerous skill? Would he accidentally send Naruto into a bliss-induced coma with a single bowl of ramen?!

He glanced at Naruto, who was rubbing his growling stomach.

Iruka swallowed. '...I need to test this carefully.'

Naruto sniffled, quickly rubbing his eyes. "Damn it, Sensei… now I really gotta do better tomorrow."

Nearby, Kurenai watched them leave, her expression unreadable. Then, she noticed Iruka glance in her direction.

Iruka smirked. "You two can join us if you want. No reason to spy on us with an empty stomach, right?"

Kurenai stiffened slightly, quickly regaining her composure. "I was just here by chance," she said, arms crossed. "I only came to collect Hinata."

Hinata turned to her with a betrayed expression. "Sensei…"

Kurenai's face warmed slightly, and she huffed. "I wasn't spying!"

Naruto gave her a cheeky grin. "That's what a spy would say."

Kurenai sighed, rubbing her forehead. "Fine, whatever. Let's just go."

As they started to walk toward his home, Iruka's mind wandered. Cooking had always been second nature to him—a skill he'd carried from his past life. Maybe it was time to put it to good use.

End of Chapter 5