Finding Friends

Three days had passed since Hikaru got the Academy jutsu scrolls from the library. Every evening after dinner, he spread the practice scroll on his bedroom floor for training.

His progress with the three basic jutsu was getting better, but some were easier than others. The Clone Technique worked pretty well now—he could make clones that stayed around for several minutes without too much trouble. It didn't use much chakra either, so he had even started trying to make two clones at once, though that was more for fun than anything serious.

The Transformation Technique was improving too. Tonight he practiced copying Koji-sensei's appearance. The result wasn't perfect, but it looked good enough that it might fool someone if they weren't paying close attention. The hardest part was keeping the mental picture clear while controlling his chakra at the same time.

But the Body Replacement Technique still gave him problems.

He stared at the hand seal sequence written on the scroll: Tiger, Boar, Ox, Dog, Snake. It looked simple enough—just switch places with a nearby object. But actually doing it required perfect timing and knowing exactly where everything was around him.

Yesterday he managed three successful replacements out of eight tries. Tonight, he wanted to do better.

The training dummy sat in the corner of his room, positioned exactly where he had figured it needed to be. He had been reading his father's notes for help, but they assumed he already knew a lot more than he actually did.

Hikaru took a deep breath and formed the first seal. Tiger—his fingers moved through the pattern more naturally now, chakra starting to flow. The feeling was getting more familiar with each try, though the Body Replacement Technique still used way more energy than the other two jutsu.

Boar, Ox, Dog—the sequence flowed smoother now. His hands were starting to remember the right movements. He could feel the chakra gathering and shaping itself, though keeping track of his surroundings while doing the hand seals was still tricky.

Snake—the final seal, done as carefully as he could. "Kawarimi no Jutsu," he whispered, releasing the technique while focusing on the exact position of the training dummy.

The world blurred for a moment. When his vision cleared, he was standing in the corner where the dummy had been, while the training dummy now sat in the center of the room where he had been standing.

"Yes!" he whispered excitedly, though the technique left him feeling slightly dizzy. The chakra cost was still higher than he wanted, but the execution had been clean.

Getting it right on the first try tonight was much better than his earlier struggles. The key seemed to be staying aware of everything around him while doing the hand seals. The moment his concentration slipped, the technique would fail.

He set the dummy back in position and tried again, this time attempting to use less chakra while keeping the same precision. The result was another successful replacement, though he could tell the energy efficiency still needed work.

Getting better, he thought, flexing his fingers to work out the stiffness from repeated hand seals. But still not ready for actual combat.

A soft knock on his door interrupted his thoughts. "Hikaru-kun," Ayako's voice called quietly. "Are you still studying?"

"Just finishing up," he replied, quickly rolling up the scroll and tucking it away in his desk.

"Don't stay up too late," she said. "You've been pushing yourself pretty hard lately."

"I won't, Onee-chan. Just want to review a few more things."

After her footsteps faded down the hallway, Hikaru let himself think about his progress. The jutsu were coming along well, but he was also aware that his improvement might be faster than what was normal for a first-year student. He needed to be careful about how he showed these skills when the time came.

The next morning brought Academy classes and a chance to see how his classmates were doing with the regular lessons. Without access to advanced jutsu, they were still working on basic chakra control exercises and physical training—the same foundation work that was helping him master the techniques he practiced in private.

During lunch break, Hikaru found himself sitting with Taketa Kenta and Asano Yuki, two of the quieter students in his class. They had started talking about their struggles with the leaf concentration exercise, which seemed to be a major topic of conversation among most of the civilian-born students.

"I can barely keep it attached for a minute," Kenta complained, rubbing his forehead where the leaf had been falling off all morning. "How are we supposed to get better at this when we don't even understand what we're doing wrong?"

"It's about steady flow, not power," Hikaru offered. "Think of it like... like watering a plant. You want a gentle, consistent stream, not a sudden flood."

"That's actually helpful," Yuki said quietly. "Where did you learn that?"

"Just something I read," Hikaru replied vaguely. "The principle works for most chakra exercises, I think."

"Most chakra exercises?" Kenta asked, raising his eyebrow. "You make it sound like you've tried other techniques."

Hikaru looked down at the floor. His fingers found a loose thread on his sleeve. "I meant theoretically. From reading about it in books."

"Still good advice," Yuki said, though her thoughtful look suggested she was remembering what he had said. "I'll try thinking about it that way."

As his classmates returned to their lunch, Hikaru made a mental note to be more careful about his comments. His knowledge of chakra theory was more advanced than a typical first-year student should have, and he needed to watch how he shared that information.

The afternoon brought an unexpected challenge when Seiji decided to step up his ongoing campaign of intimidation. The Inuzuka boy had been relatively quiet since the first day back, but apparently he had grown tired of subtle shows of dominance.

"Hey, Hikaru," Seiji called out as students were gathering their things after the day's final lesson. "I heard everyone saying you're pretty smart."

Hikaru looked up from his bag, noting the attention their conversation was drawing from other students. "I don't think I'm anything special," he replied carefully.

"Really? Because you seem to have a lot of advice for people. Maybe you think you're better than the rest of us?"

"I don't think that at all," Hikaru said, recognizing the trap being set. Whatever he said would probably be twisted to justify whatever Seiji had planned.

"Prove it," Seiji said, stepping closer. "How about a little sparring match? Just to see how much you actually know."

Hikaru's hands tightened around his bag straps, but he forced himself to relax them. The challenge was clearly meant to embarrass him in front of their classmates. Seiji had clan training, natural aggression, and advantages in size and reach. In a straight taijutsu match, Hikaru would be at a serious disadvantage.

Hikaru was about to respond when he noticed Koji-sensei approaching from the direction of the teacher's room. The timing was perfect—close enough to step in if necessary, but not so close that it was obvious he was listening.

"Maybe we should ask Koji-sensei what he thinks about students sparring without supervision," Hikaru said, nodding toward the approaching instructor.

Seiji's expression changed immediately, his aggressive posture deflating slightly as he saw the teacher's presence. "Another time, then," he said, trying to make it sound like a casual postponement rather than backing down.

"Of course," Hikaru replied calmly. "I'm sure sensei would be happy to supervise if you're really interested in testing our skills."

The suggestion effectively ended the confrontation. Seiji couldn't back down further without losing face, but he also couldn't push for an immediate fight with a teacher watching. The standoff dissolved into muttered promises of "later" and "we'll see."

As the other students dispersed, Hikaru caught Koji-sensei's approving nod. The instructor had clearly witnessed the exchange and seemed satisfied with how it had been handled.

"Quick thinking, Hikaru-kun," Koji-sensei said quietly as he passed. "A good shinobi knows when to fight and when to find a better solution."

The praise made Hikaru straighten his shoulders slightly, but he knew this was only a temporary fix. Seiji's hostility wasn't going to disappear just because one confrontation had been avoided. If anything, being outmaneuvered in front of their classmates would probably make him more determined to prove his superiority.

That evening, Hikaru threw himself into his jutsu practice with renewed focus. The encounter with Seiji had reminded him that his theoretical knowledge and private training would eventually be tested in real situations. When that happened, he needed to be ready.

The Body Replacement Technique showed steady improvement throughout the evening. He managed four successful attempts out of five, with the failure being a timing issue rather than a fundamental problem. The chakra efficiency was also getting better, though it remained the most expensive of the three jutsu.

More importantly, he was starting to understand how the three techniques could work together. A clone could distract an opponent while he prepared for a replacement. A transformation could provide camouflage for positioning. The combination possibilities were interesting, though he was still far from being able to execute such complex strategies.

Progress, he reminded himself as he got ready for bed. Steady, consistent progress.

The confrontation with Seiji had been unsettling, but it had also been a valuable lesson. Intelligence and quick thinking could sometimes accomplish what raw strength couldn't. It was a principle that would serve him well in the challenges ahead.

As he settled into bed, Hikaru thought about Kenta and Yuki. Maybe it was time to stop being so isolated from his classmates. Having friends could be useful, and it might help him blend in better if he wasn't always sitting alone.

Tomorrow I'll try sitting with them again, he decided. Maybe I can help them with their training without being too obvious about it.

The day had brought both progress and challenges. His jutsu skills were improving steadily, but the social dynamics of Academy life were proving just as complex as the techniques he was learning. Finding the right balance between helping his classmates and avoiding unwanted attention would require careful thought.

Tomorrow would bring new lessons, both in the classroom and in his private training. But tonight, he could rest knowing that he was building the skills and knowledge he would need to protect himself and those he cared about.

Progress, he reminded himself as he closed his eyes. Steady, consistent progress.