The Resilient Maiden

The next day, everyone got up bright and early again, but this time when they reached the training grounds, they found Zephyr already waiting for them.

"Not bad, didn't make me wait too long." Zephyr crossed his arms, looking at the trainees below like a flock of docile lambs.

"Won't waste words today either, straight into training. Line up and start with fifty laps around the field—men and women alike!"

Everyone clicked their tongues. The training camp's field was basically a massive plaza, each lap well over a kilometer, but since Zephyr gave the order, no one dared complain. They just lowered their heads and started running.

Senga was the first to take off. He knew the importance of physical stamina—in the ninja world, most fights boiled down to Taijutsu anyway. Even when everyone later pulled out giant mechs, it always ended in close-quarters brawling.

One lap... ten laps... twenty laps... Though humans in the Pirate World had exceptional physiques, they were still human. Gradually, some began to fall behind, the gap in the formation widening.

By thirty laps, a few had collapsed from exhaustion mid-run. Medics rushed over from the sidelines, lifting the unconscious trainees onto stretchers and carrying them away.

"Pant... pant..."

Ain gritted her teeth and pushed on. As the only female trainee still on the field, she was already at a physical disadvantage compared to most of the others. Making it to thirty laps was impressive—even Zephyr took notice of her relentless spirit.

"That girl's name is Ain, right? Setting everything else aside, with that willpower alone, she'll make a fine Marine one day."

Zephyr praised her in his thoughts and signaled the medics nearby to keep an eye on her, ready to step in when she couldn't hold on.

"No, less than halfway to go—I have to keep going!" Ain was a fiercely determined girl. She refused to use being a woman as an excuse to run fewer laps than the others.

Finally, her stamina hit its limit. She stumbled, and just as she was about to fall, a hand caught her. She turned her head with difficulty to thank them, and saw that the person who caught her was someone she recognized—though he probably didn't know her.

It was Uchiha Senga. He still had two laps left to finish his fifty. Seeing a girl barely able to walk still pushing herself, he couldn't help but feel respect.

No one could disrespect someone who worked so hard. When he saw she was about to give out, he hurried over to steady her.

"You okay? Don't force it. Everyone's seen your effort. If you've hit your limit, rest for now—wearing yourself out would be a loss."

Senga's concerned words sent a warm current through Ain's heart.

"Thanks, I understand. You're Uchiha Senga, right? Amazing—you've run this long and don't even look tired."

"Haha, not at all. I'm dying too, but with that top spot in the entrance exam, I can't afford to slack off. I've been wanting to pass out and go see the pretty nurses in the infirmary."

Senga deliberately covered his mouth like a mischievous little thief.

Ain let out a light laugh, the fatigue easing a bit. She knew Senga was joking around to comfort her, but she didn't mind—in fact, she liked it.

"Thank you, Senga." Ain thanked him sincerely, then stopped pushing herself and went to rest.

Senga waved and went back to finish his last two laps.

On the sidelines, Ain sat on the ground, staring blankly at Senga running across the field. Suddenly, someone tapped her shoulder—it was her roommate.

"Stop staring, Ain. He's a hot commodity—you can't handle him." Her roommate teased with a grin.

Ain blushed, slapped her roommate's arm, and stood up to leave with her. Just before she went, she glanced back at Senga on the track. He noticed and waved as he ran. She quickly turned her head and followed her roommate away.

On the way back, thinking about everything that happened, Ain's lips curled up unconsciously. She murmured, "Uchiha Senga, huh..."

"He's really a good person..."

Her roommate saw her muttering to herself but couldn't make out the words. She asked, "Ain, you feeling okay? Overdid it in training?"

Ain waved her hand to say she was fine, flashed a playful smile, grabbed her roommate's hand, and sped up.

Her roommate looked confused as she was dragged along, saying, "Hey hey, what's gotten into you, girl? You really ran yourself silly!"