4 Solitary Student Days

Two months into the school year, and Hayashi had become a loner.

Unlike Naruto, who was shunned by the villagers but still managed to have brief moments of fun with his classmates, Hayashi was truly alone.

He didn't have anyone to share a laugh with or hang out with during lunch.

But what made his situation unique was that he stood out in a crowd. He caught the attention of the girls in his class - even more so than Sasuke, who was known for his brooding charm.

At first, a group of girls would surround him every day, making the male students jealous and resentful.

This trend continued from the start of the school year.

However, Hayashi's distant attitude and blunt rejections eventually cooled the girls' enthusiasm. His increasingly intimidating presence also kept them at bay.

Even after two months, Ino still tried to talk to him every day, mustering up the courage to approach him.

In reality, Hayashi had no interest in making friends.

With his knowledge of the story's progression, he knew the future roles of the Konoha 12.

He knew that building relationships with the future Seventh Hokage, the Uchiha clan head, and the military adviser would be beneficial.

However, he couldn't change who he was. Maybe someday, but not now.

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However, Ino's sudden approach caught Hayashi off guard.

"Hey, want to play rope-jumping with me?" Ino asked, her eyes shining with excitement.

Hayashi raised an eyebrow.

"Rope-jumping? You think I'm still a kid?"

Ino's face fell, but she quickly bounced back.

"You're my age, come on! Play with us."

Hayashi let out a dry chuckle.

"No, thanks. Have fun."

But Ino didn't give up. The next day, she approached him again.

"Hey, Hayashi, want to play with us today?"

Hayashi shook his head.

"Same answer."

The day after, Ino tried again.

"Hey, Hayashi, why not give it a shot? It's fun, I promise!"

But Hayashi's response was still: "No."

This went on for a year. Ino would ask, and Hayashi would refuse. But Ino persisted, always with a bright smile.

However, as time went by, Hayashi's responses grew shorter and shorter, until he stopped answering altogether. He ignored her, shutting her out with a wall of silence.

From that moment on, he stopped engaging with his classmates, stopped attending social events, and stopped responding to invitations.

But strangely, this decision brought him a sense of peace. Without the pressure of social interactions, he felt more at ease. Having spent over a year in solitude in his previous life, being alone had become comfortable for him.

Eventually, Ino stopped asking. The daily invitations ceased, and Hayashi was left alone, surrounded by the silence he had created.

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In just a month, Hayashi had unlocked 1.92% of Hawkeye's template. But despite this progress, his sword skills hadn't improved much. The visions in the spiritual realm showed Hawkeye practicing his swordplay and meditating, but not fighting.

Maybe Hawkeye had already become unbeatable on the island, earning the respect and fear of his peers. Or maybe he just didn't find it entertaining to bully the weaker ones.

And strangely, there was no glimpse into Hawkeye's personal life. Hayashi wondered why that was.

Anyway, Hayashi realized that his next breakthrough might not be dramatic.

Hawkeye's growth had slowed down, and it seemed like he needed a new challenge to take his skills to the next level. It was only when he went to sea that his strength would truly take off.

But Hayashi wasn't worried. He had time on his side, and with his sword foundation already solid at 1.92%, he knew that mastering it would take time and effort.

When Hayashi hit a roadblock in his swordsmanship, he didn't hesitate. He broke his practice into two parts to tackle the problem head-on. First, he focused on physical training to build his strength.

As a swordsman, he didn't need to be a giant, but he knew he needed an edge over his peers. Unlike Zoro's brute-force approach, Hayashi's style relied on a strong foundation to support his technique.

So, he worked on building his arm and leg strength, using a single sword to hone his skills. He dedicated himself to a fitness routine, which included exercises like leapfrogs, push-ups, and pull-ups.

Every day, he also made time for a two-hour run around Konoha, pushing his endurance to the limit.

The other half of his practice was dedicated to mental preparation. Hayashi delved into the art of swordplay, studying the Hawkeye and visualizing himself in intense battles.

He'd imagine facing off against formidable foes, predicting their moves, and perfecting his counterattacks. This mental discipline helped him stay focused, and sharp.

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For two weeks, Hayashi stuck to a strict daily routine. Every morning, he started with exercises, followed by ninja school where he learned new theories and trained his skills.

At lunchtime, he tackled his daily tasks and practiced sword fighting. In the evening, he went for a run, then meditated to focus his energy after a refreshing bath.

Hayashi had no doubt he could already outdo graduating seniors. His rigorous training and natural talent had given him confidence in his abilities, especially against opponents without ninjutsu skills.

However, he knew his skills were limited to basic sword fighting. To take on stronger foes, he needed to grasp the Breath of All Things and become a true swordsman.

For now, his focus was solely on swordsmanship, as he still struggled with elemental ninjutsu. Even the 'Don't-Kill Fire Style' Great Fireball Technique was a threat, given his current limitations.

Despite his progress, Hayashi remained humble, aware of the huge gap between himself and prodigies like Hatake Kakashi and Uchiha Itachi.

Still, he felt a sense of accomplishment and contentment with how far he'd come. If he could master the Breath of All Things before graduation, he believed he could close the gap with the top ninjas.

Hayashi knew that being able to perceive the Breath of All Things was a game-changer, one that separated the elite swordsmen from the rest.

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At the Ninja School, the day was split into two parts: morning theory classes and afternoon practical training.

The training covered a wide range of skills, from taijutsu and shuriken throwing to the Three Body Technique and Kunai Melee Combat.

After two months of hard work, Hayashi had finally mastered shuriken throwing, although he still couldn't match Sasuke's incredible skill.

However, Hayashi's sharp observational skills gave him an edge in Kunai Melee Combat, where he excelled.

But Hayashi's true passion wasn't kunai - it was swords. Unfortunately, in a world where the samurai era was long gone, the school didn't provide swords.

And even if they did, Iruka would never allow real swords in combat training. They were just too dangerous.

Sitting at the back of the classroom, he listened to the lesson, his hands working absentmindedly on a piece of wood with a kunai. The shavings fell silently into a plastic bag beneath his desk.

As the lesson went on, the wood began to take shape under his skilled hands. Before long, a crude wooden sword had taken form.

Hayashi had decided to craft a wooden sword as a compromise. It would allow him to hone his swordsmanship skills without the risk of real blades.