After school, at the school gates.
Standing behind Kizaru, Zen-hiko kept glancing at Namikaze Minato, who stood beside Kizaru.
Damn it! Back when I wanted to train with Big Brother, he always refused. But today, the moment Minato asked, Big Brother agreed.
What's so great about this guy that Big Brother is taking such good care of him?
"Damn it! This is so infuriating!"
While Zen-hiko muttered to himself, Yuki and Tanin, who had gotten out of class a little later, arrived at the gates.
"What are you muttering about?" Yuki had just walked up beside Zen-hiko when she heard him talking.
"Tch!" Hearing Yuki's voice, Zen-hiko turned his head away and looked up at the sky.
Seeing that Zen-hiko was acting up again, Yuki didn't bother with him. She quickened her pace and walked over to Kizaru.
"Big Brother Kizaru!" Yuki smiled happily and greeted him warmly.
"You're all here! Then let's go. I'll take you all training today." Kizaru reached out, patted Yuki on the head, and said with a smile.
Training together?
Hearing Kizaru's words, Yuki froze for a moment, then a surge of joy bubbled up inside her.
This is wonderful!
Though she was thrilled, Yuki still controlled her expression, maintaining a ladylike, gentle smile.
"This is Minato, my classmate. He'll be training with us from now on." Kizaru didn't forget about Minato beside him and introduced him.
"Hello, Minato. I'm Shimura Yuki. I hope we get along!" Yuki's smile stiffened slightly as she greeted Minato politely.
Damn it, when did this blond show up? Yuki cried out inwardly as she greeted him.
At that moment, Yuki understood why Zen-hiko had been standing alone at the back, muttering to himself.
"Hello, Yuki!" Minato replied at once, wearing a warm smile.
"It's getting late. Let's head out! Zen-hiko, Tanin, let's go!"
At Kizaru's call, the four kids, Minato included, followed at his side and left the school gates.
Since this was Minato's first time training with him and he wasn't familiar with the Shimura Clan, Kizaru didn't take them to the Training Ground at the clan compound.
He also considered that the four kids had limited stamina, so he didn't take them to the training ground in the forest on the outskirts of the village.
Kizaru chose a training ground behind Kage Rock, close to the school.
Kizaru led the way. Mild-mannered Tanin took the initiative to walk with Minato, while Zen-hiko, unusually, walked alongside Yuki.
The two little ones brought up the rear. First they stared at Minato's back, then they glanced at each other.
Neither said a word, but their eyes gave away what they were thinking.
Shimura Yuki: Where did that blond come from? Why is Big Brother Kizaru bringing him to train with us?
Shimura Zen-hiko: I don't know!
Shimura Yuki: Then what do you know?
Shimura Zen-hiko: I don't know anything!
"Idiot!" Yuki couldn't help saying under her breath.
"Damn it! You wanna fight?" Zen-hiko shot back at once.
"Hmph!"
Yuki huffed and quickened her pace, jogging over to Kizaru's side and taking his right hand.
Seeing this, Zen-hiko grew even angrier. He gritted his teeth, stamped his foot, then ran up and took Kizaru's left hand.
"Hmph!"
"Hmph!"
Seeing Zen-hiko catch up, Yuki huffed again.
Zen-hiko responded in kind, unwilling to back down.
Watching this from behind Kizaru, Minato's smiling face froze for a moment.
"They're always like that. Don't mind them," Tanin explained considerately.
"You're all so close!" Minato said with a smile, sounding a little envious.
Hearing Minato's comment, Tanin wanted to sigh, but remembering that family troubles shouldn't be aired in public, he forced himself to hold it in.
"Yeah!" Tanin replied with an awkward smile.
The little incident on the way didn't slow them down. After a journey of more than twenty minutes, they arrived at the training ground behind Kage Rock.
"Zen-hiko, get everyone warmed up first." Kizaru hadn't decided what exercises to have them do, so he could only tell them to warm up.
"Got it, Big Brother Kizaru!" Assigned a task, Zen-hiko answered loudly, chest out and head held high.
After answering, Zen-hiko gave Yuki a smug look, making the girl's expression turn even colder.
Watching the four kids begin their warm-ups, Kizaru stood still and scratched his head.
What should I have them train?
The three Shimura kids had learned to refine Chakra and received basic instruction a year before entering school. They just needed to keep learning and developing at a steady pace.
As an orphan, Minato hadn't received any preschool tutoring before enrolling. He'd only learned Chakra refinement and basic Taijutsu after starting school.
Even so, Minato had managed to stay near the top of his class, which showed just how exceptional his talent was.
After thinking it over, Kizaru came up with a plan.
Ninjutsu training was still too advanced for the four of them. Taijutsu training would be more suitable.
Once he'd settled on a plan and Zen-hiko had finished leading everyone through their warm-ups, Kizaru clapped his hands and motioned for the four of them to gather in front of him. Then he spoke.
"Since this is our first training session, let's play a little game!"
A game?
The four looked at Kizaru in confusion.
Kizaru didn't say anything. He simply raised his right index finger, which lit up with golden light, and fired a laser as thick as a chopstick.
The laser shot through the air and struck a large tree, triggering an explosion.
Their eyes followed the laser. The four kids stared, dumbfounded, as it blasted the tree down. They froze for a moment, then came to their senses and looked at Kizaru with admiration.
"Big Brother Kizaru, are you going to teach us Ninjutsu?" Straightforward as ever, Zen-hiko was the first to ask, his voice full of excitement.
Kizaru shook his head and said with a beaming smile, "No. I'm going to shoot you with lasers!"
"What?" Zen-hiko shouted, looking at Kizaru in bewilderment.
"You've all played dodgeball, right? We're playing that today. I shoot, you dodge!" Kizaru explained with a smile.
The four exchanged glances, then instinctively looked again at the tree the laser had blasted down.
Swallowing nervously, Zen-hiko said to Kizaru, "Big Brother Kizaru, isn't that a little dangerous?"
Still wearing a smile, Kizaru said, "Don't worry. I'll control the power of the technique. I won't leave you disabled."
Disabled?
The four latched onto that key word. Tanin, the most timid of them, couldn't help shuddering.
"Big Brother Kiza—"
"Then let's begin!" Kizaru cut Zen-hiko off, smiling as he aimed his index finger at him.
The hairs on Zen-hiko's body instantly stood on end. He instinctively dodged to the left, only to end up behind Yuki.
"Idiot!" Yuki snapped coldly. Facing Kizaru's index finger as it lit up with golden light, she started moving too.
Watching the four kids dart around, looking everywhere for cover, Kizaru's smile grew brighter and brighter.
"This is fun!"