Revised Training Plan

The morning sun streamed through the hospital windows as Hikaru completed his final medical evaluation. Three days of rest had worked wonders for his recovery, though he still pressed his palm against his chest occasionally, testing for the lingering hollow sensation where his chakra should be.

"You're cleared for discharge," the medical-nin announced, making notes on his clipboard with practiced efficiency. "But take it easy for the next few days. Complete chakra depletion at your age can have lasting effects if you're not careful."

"Thank you for everything," Hikaru replied, bowing respectfully as he gathered his belongings. The hospital staff had been thorough and kind throughout his recovery.

Ayako was waiting in the hallway, smoothing down her dress with nervous movements. Her shoulders straightened when she saw him, but her hands continued fidgeting with her sleeves. "Before we go home, there's somewhere I'd like us to visit together."

"Where, Onee-chan?" Hikaru asked, tilting his head at the weight in her voice.

"The memorial stone." She clasped her hands together, knuckles white. "I think we should tell Otou-san (Dad) and Okaa-san (Mom) about your graduation. They should know how far you've come."

Hikaru's breath caught in his throat. His hand moved unconsciously to his heart, where something tight and familiar uncurled. He found himself nodding before the words fully registered.

"I'd like that," Hikaru agreed, following his sister through the hospital corridors toward the exit.

The walk to the memorial took them through peaceful residential streets where families were beginning their daily routines. Children played in small gardens while their parents tended to household tasks. Hikaru walked closer to his sister than usual, their shoulders occasionally bumping as they navigated the familiar paths.

When they reached the memorial stone, the area was empty except for the gentle rustling of leaves in the morning breeze. The polished surface reflected their faces as they approached. Hikaru's steps slowed, then stopped entirely about three feet from the stone.

Ayako knelt first, placing her hands together in prayer. Her lips moved silently, and Hikaru watched a tear slide down her cheek before she quickly wiped it away. He joined her on the ground, running his thumb along his hospital bracelet in nervous circles.

"Otou-san, Okaa-san," he said quietly, his voice cracking slightly on their names. "I graduated from the Academy early. The Hokage himself offered to teach me advanced techniques." He paused, swallowing hard enough that his throat bobbed visibly. "I know you wanted me to be strong enough to protect the people I care about. I promise I'll keep learning and growing to honor your memory."

The silence stretched between them. A gentle breeze stirred the cherry blossoms nearby, sending a few pink petals drifting down to land on their shoulders. They remained kneeling for nearly half an hour, Ayako occasionally sniffling quietly while Hikaru stared at the carved names with unblinking intensity.

"They would be so proud," Ayako said finally, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. Her voice was thick, but her smile was genuine. "Your father always said you had exceptional potential. Now the whole village can see it too."

Hikaru nodded, not trusting his voice just yet. He reached over and squeezed his sister's hand.

As they prepared to leave, Hikaru adjusted his collar and cleared his throat. "How about we celebrate properly?" he suggested, his voice steadier now. "There's a place I've been wanting to take you."

"What kind of place?" Ayako asked, tilting her head with curiosity, her earlier tears already forgotten.

"Ramen Ichiraku," Hikaru said, pointing in the direction of the famous stall. His voice gained enthusiasm as he spoke. "I tried it once during training, and the ramen was incredible. I think you'd enjoy meeting Teuchi-san."

Ayako's eyebrows rose in surprise. "The legendary ramen stand? I've heard other vendors talking about how popular it is with shinobi."

"Trust me, Onee-chan," Hikaru said, already leading her toward the market district. "After everything that's happened this week, I think we deserve really good ramen."

The small restaurant was exactly as welcoming as Hikaru remembered, with its cheerful red and white curtains and the tantalizing smell of rich broth filling the air. Teuchi's face lit up with recognition when he saw Hikaru enter.

"Welcome back!" the chef called out warmly, wiping his hands on his apron. "And you must be the famous sister I've heard about. Your brother speaks of you with great pride."

"Thank you for your kindness," Ayako replied with a respectful bow, settling onto one of the wooden stools. "I've heard wonderful things about your ramen from other vendors."

As they enjoyed their meal together, Hikaru watched his sister's face transform with each spoonful. Her eyes widened at the first taste, and she made small sounds of appreciation throughout the meal.

"This is really exceptional," Ayako said, slurping her noodles with enthusiasm. "The depth of flavor is remarkable. How do you achieve such complexity?"

"Family recipes and decades of practice," Teuchi replied, his chest puffing out with pride at her professional assessment. "Good ramen requires patience and attention to detail."

After finishing their meal and exchanging pleasantries with Teuchi, the siblings made their way home. Ayako swung their joined hands gently as they walked.

"Thank you for suggesting that," Ayako said as they approached their house. "It was exactly what we needed after such an intense week."

"I'm glad you enjoyed it, Onee-chan," Hikaru replied, fishing for his keys. "I wanted to share something special with you before everything changes."

Once they reached home, Ayako continued to her afternoon business preparations while Hikaru headed to his room. He paused in the doorway, staring at his desk where his carefully planned training schedule lay spread across the surface.

"This won't work anymore," Hikaru muttered, approaching the papers with heavy steps. His fingers drummed against the desk as he stared at the neat handwriting that had once seemed so organized and logical.

The original plan had been based on steady, sustainable progress over five to six years. Now those timelines were meaningless. He picked up his pencil and began crossing out sections with deliberate strokes, pressing his lips together in concentration. Each deleted line made his jaw clench tighter.

"I have to train five times faster just to catch up," he said quietly, rolling his pencil between his palms so hard it left red marks on his skin. "And that's assuming my instructor gives me adequate preparation time."

His shoulders tensed as he considered the possibilities. If he got assigned to someone like Might Guy, who believed in thorough preparation, he might have months to develop properly. But if he got someone like Hatake Kakashi, who threw students into challenging situations immediately...

Hikaru rubbed his forehead, applying pressure with the heel of his palm as tension built behind his eyes. Kakashi's teaching methods were notoriously sink-or-swim.

"At least I have one option," Hikaru said to himself, though his voice lacked conviction. "If the team evaluation goes badly, I could potentially return to the Academy. If that's still a thing."

The words tasted bitter in his mouth, but he forced himself to acknowledge the possibility. Better to swallow his pride than get his teammates killed.

Pulling out a fresh sheet of paper, Hikaru began drafting a revised training plan. His grip on the pencil was tight enough to leave indentations in the paper. His chakra control was solid, and his taijutsu showed promise, but his physical conditioning lagged behind academy graduates who had completed the full six-year program.

"Physical strength, endurance, and chakra reserves," he muttered, writing the words with firm, deliberate strokes. "Those are what will keep me alive on real missions."

Some techniques could be deferred. The sensing exercises and wind transformation practice—cutting through a waterfall—were valuable but not immediately essential. He had already mastered cutting a leaf with wind chakra, but advancing to waterfall cutting could wait.

His eyes scanned the growing list of skills and techniques that needed attention. His breathing became shorter and more rapid as he read through each item. His hands gradually curled into fists as the scope of work mounted with each line.

"Weight training," he said finally, his voice flat with exhaustion. "That's been part of the plan all along."

During his walk home from Ichiraku, he had noticed a shop selling training weights near the Academy district. A basic set cost about eight thousand ryo—manageable for one purchase, but the constant upgrades would add up quickly.

Hikaru bit his pencil thoughtfully, leaving small tooth marks in the wood. Progressive weight training would require constantly purchasing heavier equipment. Even with Ayako's successful business, he didn't want to strain their budget.

"I could wait until I start earning mission payments," he mused, tapping his pencil against the desk in an irregular rhythm. "D-rank missions pay enough to cover equipment costs eventually."

But that approach would leave his physical conditioning vulnerable for weeks or months. If his team was assigned challenging missions quickly...

His pencil snapped between his fingers.

Hikaru stared at the broken pieces for a moment, then set them aside and reached for another. There was another option—creating a weight training seal using Fūinjutsu. He had sketched designs for adjustable resistance seals that could replace expensive equipment.

"The difficulty jump is enormous though," he said, grimacing as he pulled out his sealing practice materials. "It's like going from high school math to university calculus."

Basic storage seals required careful chakra control and precise brushwork, but weight training seals demanded complex theoretical understanding and sustained concentration over hours. His previous attempts at advanced sealing work lay scattered around his desk, covered in frustrated scribbles and crossed-out sections.

"If only I could maintain focus for longer periods," he muttered, running his fingers through his hair until it stuck up at odd angles. "The theory is solid, but the execution demands more precision than I can sustain."

The afternoon slipped away as Hikaru contemplated various solutions. His stomach began growling loudly enough that he had to pause his planning to listen to it rumble.

"I need a break," he said finally, setting down his pencil and stretching his cramped shoulders with audible pops. "Maybe some inspiration will come if I'm not trying so hard."

After having some snacks and drinking a cup of tea, Hikaru returned to his desk. His shoulders had dropped from where they'd been hunched around his ears, and his grip on the pencil was looser now. Sometimes the best solutions came when you stopped forcing them