My Training

Honestly, never had Hui felt so despairing about her future as she did right then. She stared at the words in front of her, rereading them over and over, but once she put them together, she couldn't understand a thing—let alone figure out how to practice any of it.

Was the Three Body Technique really that difficult? Or was she just too stupid?

"Ah!!! Life!!!"

Hui stared up at the sky, speechless. She wanted to cry out that life was hopeless, but no miracle was going to come along and save her. She drooped her head and started thinking about what to do next.

Just then, Rock Lee and a weary-looking Naruto returned.

"Hui!" Rock Lee called excitedly from a distance. Naruto looked as if he was about to collapse. Hui turned to look, wondering what had happened to him.

When the two reached her, she asked in surprise, "Lee, what were you doing?"

"Oh! We went running along the mountain trails. Naruto actually managed to keep up with me—he's incredible!" Stars seemed to sparkle in Rock Lee's eyes.

"Hui, let's go home," Naruto said weakly. Only then did Hui notice his face was covered in bruises, as if someone had sat right on it.

Hui imagined Naruto desperately trying to keep up with Rock Lee, only to get smacked in the face by some mysterious object. She couldn't help laughing. Naruto bristled beside her and made as if to hit her.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry..." Hui quickly apologized. Didn't this guy have no strength left?

Rock Lee watched them, completely out of the loop. Seeing them tussle, he started laughing too.

Their days of training were boring, but full of interruptions. The three encouraged one another and sparred every day to improve their fighting skills.

Hui kept searching for a way to gather chakra, but made no breakthrough. Naruto and Rock Lee, meanwhile, improved their stamina and Taijutsu. Watching them fight as equals left Hui feeling both pleased and dejected.

She was pleased that the two had met and started training early, but dejected that she herself hadn't changed at all. After things continued like this for a month, Hui grew more and more anxious.

After their morning run by the river, Hui stopped to watch the water glimmering in the faint light. Naruto and Rock Lee were still competing behind her, racing past. She froze for a moment, then skidded to a stop and hurried back.

"Hui?" "Hui, what's wrong?" they asked at the same time.

Hui looked at them and smiled faintly. "Hey, how about we make a promise?"

"What promise?" Naruto asked first, scratching the back of his head. Rock Lee nodded too.

"Let's train separately, then meet again in a month and see how much we've improved." Hui tilted her head, a faint, unreadable smile at the corner of her mouth.

"Why?" Naruto had only heard the words "train separately," and a trace of disappointment settled in his heart.

Hui didn't answer Naruto's question. She quietly watched Rock Lee. He lowered his head and thought for a moment, then looked up at her. "All right, I understand. Let's have another match in a month!"

Hui looked at the youthful fire in Rock Lee's eyes and smiled faintly. She just felt that youth shouldn't be wasted.

Naruto was flailing in confusion, completely unable to keep up with them. But judging by their expressions, he roughly understood that it wasn't what he'd feared.

Maybe Hui had her own plans, but he wouldn't give up either. He looked at the two of them and grinned foolishly.

Afterward, they went their separate ways. Hui headed back by another route. When she reached a small bridge, she still didn't know where to go. She stared blankly at the river and sighed silently, then finally turned and walked the other way.

Hui walked quietly along the street, relying on instinct to find the Uchiha Clan's residence.

She really didn't know if she'd run into Itachi. He was always busy, incredibly strong, and had become a Genin at a very young age. Besides, the Uchiha Clan wasn't somewhere she could just wander into.

She wanted to ask him for help with the Three Body Technique, but the real problem was that she couldn't gather chakra at all. Had Itachi already been able to use the Three Body Technique at her age?

Standing at the entrance to the Uchiha Clan's compound, Hui started spacing out again, completely unaware that she was blocking the way. As she stood there hesitating for a long time, an elderly woman at the gate chuckled softly. Hui turned toward her, and the woman's warm smile lifted her spirits.

"Sorry..." Hui scratched her head and looked at the elderly woman. "I want to see Itachi, but I'm not sure if I'd be bothering him..." She pursed her lips, looking rather helpless, like a shy little girl.

The elderly woman chuckled softly again. "That boy Itachi is very kind. Don't worry, he won't be upset with you. Though, I haven't seen him in a long time either. Why don't you try his home?"

Hui could see the pride in the elderly woman's eyes. The great hopes she had for the boy were clear in her gaze and voice. Thinking of what lay ahead, Hui's smile turned bitter. What kind of burden would Itachi have to bear?

The elderly woman kindly gave Hui directions. Hui followed them and found the place she remembered, but the gate was shut tight.

Hui was at a loss. She could only peer in from outside, looking rather ridiculous. Just then, the gate suddenly opened, and Hui felt an urge to run away. She didn't know why she was so nervous.

"Hm? A child?" Kotomi crouched down curiously and spoke to Hui at eye level, gentle and kind. "Who are you looking for?"

Hui smiled shyly. "Pretty lady, I'm here to see big brother Itachi."

"Hm? Why do you want to see him? He's not home right now." Kotomi laughed at her answer, though she looked a little puzzled. Looking more closely, she suddenly thought the girl seemed familiar.

"My name is Hui Youling. I want to ask big brother Itachi something. Could you tell me when he might be free?" Hui answered Kotomi sincerely, a smile still on her face.

"Hm?" Kotomi thought for a moment. "He just left, and he won't be back at noon either. How about I ask him to come find you tomorrow morning?" she said gently. She finally remembered who the girl was. Itachi had mentioned her before.

The girl who'd treated him to dango, and who was the same age as Sasuke.

"Okay, thank you, pretty lady. I'll be at the Three-Color Dango Shop around this time tomorrow. If he's free, he can come find me. I'm in no hurry." Hui felt bad about making Itachi put aside his own business.

"Of course, I'll let him know. So, Hui, would you like to come in and have something to eat? I'm making breakfast." Kotomi thought of her own son, who was still asleep despite being the same age as Hui, and decided she ought to get Hui to change Sasuke's ways.

"N-no, thank you! I'm going for my morning run. I've already eaten!" Hui quickly waved her hands and took a step back. She was still a little intimidated. It wouldn't be good to run into Uchiha Fugaku.

Kotomi was a little disappointed, but didn't press her. "All right, see you next time!" Hearing that, she felt even more strongly that Sasuke needed to get up early and train.

"Goodbye, pretty lady!" Hui waved too, then quickly disappeared from sight.

Mikoto watched the adorable girl run off and covered her mouth, laughing warmly. What a lively child. Maybe she could become friends with Sasuke.

Mikoto remembered what had happened a few days ago.

That day, when Itachi came home holding a box of three-color dango, Mikoto was a little surprised. Itachi hadn't acted so much like a child in a long time. He was always training.

"You haven't visited your favorite dango shop in ages," Mikoto remarked.

Itachi glanced at the dango in his hand. His eyes were so calm they seemed unfathomable. He looked up at Mikoto. "These are for Sasuke."

Sasuke had heard his big brother come home and was about to ask him to train together. He hurried to the entrance and, afraid his brother might leave, shouted, "Big brother!"

Itachi heard his little brother calling before he saw him and smiled helplessly.

Mikoto looked down the hall and saw little Sasuke grinning foolishly with delight. She covered her mouth and giggled. That boy loved his big brother most of all.

Itachi took off his shoes and stepped inside. Sasuke ran right up to him, then paused when he saw the dango in his hand.

He asked hesitantly, "Big brother, why did you buy these?"

Itachi smiled gently and handed the dango to Sasuke. "Someone asked me to bring them to you."

Sasuke furrowed his brows and looked at Itachi, growing even more puzzled. "Why would someone buy me dango?"

When Mikoto saw that Sasuke wasn't taking them, she smiled helplessly, took the dango from Itachi, and placed them in Sasuke's hands. Her eyes curved as she smiled. "Maybe they want to be friends with you, Sasuke."

Sasuke held the box and pouted. He didn't know who the person was, but the dango looked pretty tasty. He took a bite and chewed happily.

With his mouth full, he mumbled, "Since they gave me something, I guess I can be friends with them."

Mikoto laughed, and Itachi's lips lifted slightly. His little brother shouldn't be confined to the Uchiha Clan, forever just following in his footsteps.

"Then Sasuke should go train with his friends from now on," Mikoto said with a gentle smile.

Sasuke never knew how he lost the privilege of sleeping in. Hui never found out either. It was all part of the adults' plans.