Substitution Jutsu...

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A/N: Hi everyone, hope you don't mind me doing the note before the chapter starts.

2 more chapters of training as a 3yo kid. (I'm also getting a bit impatient.)

Somethings to clarify:

1: Aki isn't white like Otsutsuki right now as he is a Hyuga kid right now,

2: but he will transform into a PURE-BLOOD OTSUTSUKI once he unlocks his stuff.

3: I had some misconceptions about Kumogakure that cleared with watching a killer bee video last night. (I watched Naruto too long ago. So, I forgot a lot of stuff.)

Question for ya'all: should I make Aki a swordsman or like 4th Raikage a fist-based pugilist?

That's all for today… enjoy the chapter.

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"AAAHHHHH," Aki screamed at the top of his lungs, desperately wishing for the fall to end. The thought of asking Haruka to stop this chakra control training crossed his mind more than once, especially because of these terrifying jumps.

But he held back, knowing that giving up would mean never unlocking the Rinne-Sharingan.

As Haruka placed Aki gently on her water platform, the other two, Haibara and Kaela, landed beside them.

"At least warn him before you jump!" Haibara exclaimed with concern, rushing over to Aki. "He looks terrified."

Without hesitation, Haibara scooped Aki up from the ground, holding him tightly as he trembled with fear. "Don't worry, big sis is here. You don't have to be scared," she cooed, hugging him a little too enthusiastically.

Aki struggled to breathe, his face turning red as he tried to speak. "P-Put me down!" he gasped, barely able to squeeze the words out.

Haibara blinked, realizing her mistake, and immediately set him down, pouting playfully. "You're just too cute!" she said, ruffling his hair.

Meanwhile, Kaela landed gracefully, her eyes scanning the surroundings with a cold, calculating gaze. She remained fully alert.

Haruka chuckled at Haibara's antics, then turned to Aki, her tone teasing. "Backing away already? I thought you wanted to master chakra control. Or is it that you're scared of climbing a little mountain?"

Aki shot her a determined look, his pride kicking in. "I'm not backing away!" he retorted, quickly forming hand signs. "Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

Four identical clones appeared beside him, leaving all three women momentarily stunned.

"Let's climb up," Aki said, his confidence renewed as the five of them began scaling the mountain.

Haruka's eyes widened in surprise, her astonishment clear as she watched Aki and his clones split the work. "Well, look at you, pulling out the big guns already," she muttered to herself, impressed by his quick progress.

Three of the clones activated their Byakugan, allowing them to climb with precision, while the other two ascended without the enhancement. The difference in speed was noticeable, with the Byakugan-activated clones climbing much faster.

Despite their efforts, all five eventually lost their footing and began to fall.

The first Aki fell towards Haruka, but she reached out only to see him puff into smoke. Kaela went for the second, only for it to disappear as well. Haibara grabbed the third, but it too turned into smoke. The last one bounced off the water platform before dispersing, leaving the real Aki still clinging to the mountain.

As Aki lost focus and began to fall, all three women sprinted towards him at full speed, unintentionally colliding with each other in a comical tangle of limbs.

They missed Aki completely, who ended up landing on the water platform with a splash.

Aki stared at the three kunoichi, dumbfounded as they rubbed their heads and untangled themselves. 'Are you sure you're trained ninjas?' he thought, wisely keeping the comment to himself.

Instead, he did the next best thing. "Shadow Clone Jutsu!" he shouted, creating more clones and resuming his climb up the mountain.

This time, all three clones and Aki activated their Byakugan, and for some reason, his focus never wavered. They ascended smoothly, reaching the peak without further incident.

Just as Aki was about to go over the railings and into the arena, he felt a gust of wind pass by him. Grabbing the railings, he climbed over and dismissed his clones, which turned into smoke.

Haruka, Kaela, and Haibara were all standing there, smiling at something he couldn't quite figure out.

"It's my turn!" Haibara exclaimed, suddenly grabbing Aki and spinning him around in a full 360-degree spin before setting him down, leaving him dizzy.

"I'll be teaching you Taijutsu," she announced, attempting to adopt a serious tone, but her wide smile betrayed her excitement.

"Taijutsu is one of the core ninja skills," Haibara began, her expression softening as she explained.

"You might win some battles with ninjutsu alone, but those will be against weak enemies. This is the only jutsu that doesn't require chakra,

though some of our Cloud Village's high-level taijutsu may use lightning chakra."

She continued, "Like the Lightning Lariat of the Raikage and Bee. Our taijutsu is called Shurrai Tekken Do…" Haibara went on, explaining the basics before guiding Aki through the exercises.

Aki was instructed to perform slow, fluid motions while flexing and releasing different muscle groups. The training was surprisingly gentle compared to what he expected from the Cloud Village, which was known for its speed and power.

'Thank goodness there are no weights like Rock Lee,' Aki thought with relief, imagining the grueling training that would involve.

Taking a deep breath, Aki imitated Haibara's movements, albeit clumsily at first. The exercises felt similar to the tai chi videos he used to watch, with their slow, graceful motions.

However, there was something distinctly different about Shurrai Tekken Do, a deliberate power in every movement that couldn't be compared to anything he'd seen before.

The three-hour taijutsu training session left Aki exhausted. He collapsed as soon as it was over, his small body trembling with fatigue. 'Dammit,' he thought, 'being a genius is so hard.'

As if on cue, Kaela and Haruka returned with food, the aroma of barbecue wafting through the air. Aki's exhaustion vanished as if by magic, and he bolted towards the table.

"See, the smell of food, and our little Aki is back to full stamina," Haruka teased, setting the table with a playful grin.

Aki's energy returned as he ate, his spirits lifting with every bite. 'Kids are weird,' he thought, still not quite understanding where all his energy came from.

"My turn," Kaela stated flatly, "Ninjutsu," at first Kaela came in with the job of a cook for the group, but Aki's genius forced her to take care of one of the training sessions.

"I'll teach you 2nd jutsu that defines a ninja," Kaela said, "Here, take this" as she handed over the scroll of substitution jutsu.

Aki took the scroll but before he could open it, he heard Kaela again, "Here take this kunai and attack me."

He immediately took kunai and threw it at her but as he has yet to learn kunai throwing or other ninja tools.

Kunai flew across the arena and eventually fell over the railing. 'this is embarrassing'

"Hahahahaha," Haruka's immediate laughter echoed, "How can you miss from so up close," after teasing Aki with an amused smile she decided to add Kunai in training very soon.

Aki avoided eye contact with her, feeling a sting of embarrassment.

"Here, try again" Kaela handed him over another.

This time, he put one foot backward, bending his knees slightly, and aiming with his eyes while praying in his mind.

'Please don't fail like Anya'

He put his hand over the shoulder where his thumb almost touched the back of his ear, he threw the kunai with all of his strength.

The kunai embedded itself in Kaela's stomach… Poof!

A wooden log appeared in place of Kaela and before he could react, Aki felt the cold steel of a kunai against his neck.

"Your turn" Kaela's voice whispered in his ear, as she swiftly removed the kunai and stepped back, her expression still calm and composed.

'Are you flexing on a toddler?' Aki screamed in his mind, impressed.

Aki read the scroll and memorized the instructions they were really simple, but executing the jutsu would be really hard as ninjas usually only use it when hit.

Pressure is insane after all if you can't perform the Jutsu you risk a serious injury. Ninjas mostly perform this jutsu to save their life.

After reviewing the scroll a few more times, just to make sure he didn't miss anything. Aki performed the hand signs.

"Okay, I'm ready," he said after a while and a kunai hit his shoulder immediately, "Ouch," Substitution had failed.

"You need to focus" Kaela advised with her voice as cold as ice. "if you hesitate, you will never succeed."

With a painful expression, Aki looked like he didn't want to do it again, but he steeled himself.

"Again!" he shouted weaving the signs and another kunai was in his other shoulder. But, Aki was not about to give up.

He had already faced death and got over his fear of heights (actually not) … he had to become a ninja. He firmed his resolve.

This training felt like the longest, most grueling, and most painful torture of his life in both worlds. And it continued for hours before the three Jonin left him at the ninja hospital.