After A Week of Training

POV Haruto (MC)

It had been a relentless week of training. Sakumo-sensei's surprise attacks were brutal, precise, and always came when least expected. It wasn't the kind of training Haruto had ever experienced—there were no warnings, no indications of when the next blow would come. Even with Haruto's ability to split his focus between analyzing the battlefield and reacting to his sensei's movements, it was a challenge to keep up. Sakumo's White Fang Swift Fang Step technique was simply too fast. When he struck, it felt like being hit by a boulder. Bruises littered Haruto's body, the dull ache becoming a constant companion despite his Tier 2 stamina. Each strike made his muscles throb, even with his advanced recovery abilities.

Haruto had quickly resorted to ice baths after each session. The seal he created was simple, negating heat in a box to rapidly cool the water. The freezing temperatures helped reduce inflammation and numbed the pain, allowing him to recover faster. Despite the relief, Haruto couldn't help but wonder how his teammates were holding up. His body was already conditioned to endure brutal training, but Shisui and Daichi… they must have been feeling every hit.

POV Sakumo Hatake (White Fang)

Training had been productive, as it should be. Sakumo was impressed with each of them in their own way. These were the kind of genin who would mold the future of Konoha—talented, determined, and tough.

Haruto intrigued him the most. There was something about the boy's awareness that seemed almost supernatural, but Sakumo didn't care about figuring it out. He had no need to pry into Haruto's secrets. What mattered to him was that Haruto was talented, and that talent was being molded through training. Sakumo noticed how quickly the boy recovered—faster than most—but if anything, it only motivated Sakumo to push him harder, hitting with greater force to ensure the training took effect. Despite this, Haruto never complained, and the bruises that covered his body didn't seem to slow him down. He was tough, resilient, and sharp.

Shisui was equally impressive. Even without his Sharingan, he could read subtle cues in the battlefield. His instincts were exceptional, allowing him to dodge or block many of Sakumo's attacks. Still, no one was perfect, and Sakumo had managed to land some hard blows on the young Uchiha, particularly to his ribs and back. The bruises were evidence of his growth—each hit taught him a lesson, and Sakumo could tell that Shisui was learning fast. Keeping up with Sakumo without relying on the Sharingan took significant skill, and Shuisi had proven to be more than capable.

Daichi, on the other hand, was a powerhouse. His Uzumaki endurance was remarkable. He could take more punishment than either of his teammates and still keep going. Sakumo made sure to land hits that would test Daichi's durability, targeting his shoulders and legs to push him past his limits. Despite the visible bruises forming on his body, Daichi never faltered. His chakra reserves were immense, but it was his unshakable will that stood out the most. He embodied the spirit of his clan.

But out of the three, Haruto remained a mystery. His awareness on the battlefield was beyond what most genin could achieve. It wasn't just skill—there was something else at play, but Sakumo wasn't interested in unraveling it. Haruto was the kind of shinobi who would rise through the ranks, regardless of his secrets. Sakumo had trained enough shinobi to know talent when he saw it, and Haruto had it in spades.

Still, Sakumo saw great potential in all of them. They were young, but they had the makings of future pillars of Konoha. Each strike he landed, each bruise they took, was shaping them into the warriors they needed to be. One day, they would carry the village forward, and Sakumo would be proud to have played a part in their growth. For now, though, he would continue to push them, knowing that these three genin had the potential to mold Konoha's future.