While he trained, Might Guy and the three Genin were engaged in a combat drill.
The sounds of fists, feet, and weapons clashing constantly echoed across the training ground.
After listening to Musashi's advice, Tenten no longer pursued learning every type of weapon. Instead, she focused her efforts on specialization.
Judging from her practice with Might Guy, her progress was quite steady.
Going from the dazzling array of eighteen different weapons to steadily improving with just a few commonly used ones might not show obvious results in a day or two. But over time, the difference would be clearly felt.
When the sparring ended and Musashi was resting, Tenten would run over to ask him about Rasengan training.
"Teacher, look at my training. It still feels a bit off," Tenten said, extending a hand and slowly gathering chakra.
For her, chakra control at this stage was still very difficult.
Slowly, chakra gathered in her palm and then began to move.
It wasn't visible to the naked eye, but one could sense that it was roughly spherical.
"Teacher, I've been practicing for a long time, but I still can't burst the balloon," Tenten said with a frustrated look.
Musashi sensed her chakra and said:
"Tenten, don't be discouraged."
"Chakra control is a long process of mastering basics. It can't be rushed."
"Looking at your practice, at least the direction is correct."
"However, what you need to note is not to overly pursue the shape."
"Sense it slowly, figure it out slowly. The Rasengan ultimately forms a sphere, but in the earliest stages of practice, don't rush to pursue the shape."
"The Rasengan is a ninjutsu of shape transformation, where disorder and order intertwine."
"It's disordered because the internal chakra trajectory is changeable, the lines are dense, and it's hard to see through."
"It's ordered because, from a macro perspective, the chakra still follows certain laws. Whether it's the containment and compression of chakra or the overall maintenance and release."
"There is a balance between disorder and order. Find the basic direction of effort, and you can slowly sense this balance. It's like muscle memory."
"I'll weaken the power a bit so you can sense the pattern," Musashi said. Chakra gathered in his hand, slowing down the speed and condensing into a small chakra ball.
Tenten carefully approached, observing and feeling the chakra flow pattern at close range.
Having a Jonin maintain an A-rank ninjutsu and letting someone feel it up close was an opportunity ordinary ninjas couldn't beg for. She naturally knew to cherish it and dared not miss a single second.
Not far away, Rock Lee curiously wanted to lean in too, but was pulled back by Neji Hyuga.
"What's wrong, Neji?" Lee asked, puzzled.
"Don't go over there," Neji said with a serious look.
"Why?"
"Don't you know?"
Neji said, "Senior Musashi is Tenten's teacher."
"When a ninja teaches ninjutsu, stealing techniques is a big taboo. Even if you don't have that intention, you should pay attention."
"Oh," Lee responded with hindsight.
He was a civilian ninja and didn't know much about these things.
Looking at Tenten not far away, a trace of envy flashed in his eyes.
Being able to practice ninjutsu and receive dedicated guidance from a Jonin was a very lucky thing for a civilian ninja.
But this kind of luck wasn't something everyone possessed. Just like him—he couldn't even use chakra to perform ninjutsu.
Neji is the genius I'm striving to catch up to. Now Tenten also has Senior Musashi's guidance.
I can't be left behind by the two of them!
Feeling a faint urgency in his heart, Lee clenched his fists.
He had to work harder, harder!
To vindicate his Ninja Way!
To make the name Rock Lee resound throughout Konoha!
Forget about challenging himself!
He wanted to challenge not only himself but also his enemies!
Neji, the Hyuga, the Uchiha...
He wanted the geniuses to see that even without a Kekkei Genkai, even without talent for ninjutsu, Rock Lee could still prove himself!
Prove himself...
"One thousand heavy punches to break the wooden stake in front of me! If I can't do it, I'll do a handstand and run a lap around Konoha!"
Neji looked at Lee strangely. "What are these messy rules?"
Lee punched while saying, "This is the training that Guy Sensei taught me to call for victory!"
"By defining rules for oneself, pushing oneself to the limit, creating artificial shackles."
"With goals like 'if I break the wooden stake in front of me, I can surpass Neji,' I force myself to the limit and go all out in training."
"Even if I fail, I get exercise. This is the training rule Guy Sensei taught me."
Neji had a weird expression.
There's no such ghostly rule.
But Lee was his teammate after all. Over this period, he had gotten used to Lee's silly way of thinking and was too lazy to refute and provoke him.
After all, the gap between the other party and himself was too big. He had no interest in finding a sense of existence from the weak.
Rather than pointing out the facts and arguing, it was better to use time and energy for cultivation.
Lee had his goal, and Tenten wanted to become a great kunoichi.
Of course, he had his own goal too.
To question the shackles of fate, to explore the boundaries of the Gentle Fist.
Even if he couldn't break free from fate and could only be a bird in a cage for a lifetime.
He would be the one with the loudest cry.
Days passed one by one.
Neji focused on Gentle Fist training, Tenten studied the laws of the Rasengan while improving her chakra, and Lee strove every day to catch up to Neji's footsteps.
But plans couldn't keep up with changes.
Some time later, still on the training ground.
"Chunin Exams?" Lee and the others asked in surprise.
Might Guy smiled and nodded.
"That's right, the Chunin Exams."
"Are we qualified to participate?" Tenten asked.
"Of course," Guy said. "Theoretically, after becoming a Genin, as long as you have completed more than eight missions, you are qualified to participate in the Chunin Exams. How about it, do you guys want to try?"
Lee looked yearning.
But then, he shook his head.
"I won't participate."
"Although I really want to test my strength and fight stronger people. But I know clearly that right now, I don't even have the strength to try."
As a ninja who could only practice Taijutsu, he hadn't mastered the Front Lotus and other powerful techniques yet.
Against other ninjas with numerous methods, it would be too difficult to stand out.
"OK, Lee gives up. Neji, what about you?" Guy turned to ask Neji.
"I'll pass too," Neji shook his head.
"Huh? Neji, with your strength, it shouldn't be a problem, right?" Tenten said from the side.
Neji smiled lightly and said, "A ninja's strength lies in themselves. Whether taking the Chunin Exam sooner or later makes little difference, there's no need to rush. Since Lee is waiting for the next one, I'll wait for the next one too."
Not far away, Musashi, who was still training, secretly roasted in his heart.
These Konoha people, old and young, are all good at pretending to be cool.
Guy: "Souka. Tenten, what about you?"
Tenten smiled. "Since everyone isn't participating, I'll give up too."
"I haven't mastered the ninjutsu teacher taught me yet. I'll wait for our team to participate together next time."
Might Guy's lips trembled, and in the next second, tears gushed out.
"Wuwuwu... You guys are... so full of camaraderie! I'm so moved to have students like you!"
The next moment, Neji and Tenten, having anticipated this, took a step back in unison.
Then, Guy, with open arms, hugged Lee, who remained in place.
The familiar sound of ocean waves rang in their ears.
"This, is the moving springtime of youth!"