Naruto :I will survive

In the end, Orochimaru never taught Kano, saying only this short phrase. How to sense chakra, how to control it - Kano did not understand the sequence of actions at all, but this did not stop him from trying.

All night long, without sleep, as if possessed, Kano tried all sorts of ways to feel the chakra inside his body. And perhaps his persistence was rewarded: at dawn, he finally felt something inside him, like a thin stream flowing from the stomach area and slowly spreading throughout his entire body.

"This is chakra…?"

The first rays of the morning sun fell on his face, quickly evaporating the thin film of moisture and driving away fatigue. He lowered his head, clenched his fists tightly, and a restrained smile appeared on his young face. The path he had taken had no end, but each new landmark gave him the strength to continue.

Kano went to the Ninja Academy in a particularly good mood. No one noticed the change that had occurred in him. However, from that day on, Kano stopped being bored in class, attentively absorbing the knowledge that Sawaki taught. After classes, he constantly trained, increasing the volume of chakra and trying to learn how to control it.

He understood the simple truth: despite the fact that training at the Academy lasts three years, he does not have to follow the general pace. Therefore, everything that was taught at the Academy, and what was not taught, he tried to learn independently, faster than others.

Spring gave way to summer, autumn to winter. New rings appeared on old trees, young grass pushed through the ground, and wilted flowers began to bloom again. Time flowed day after day, year after year.

Under the watchful eye of many, Kano had developed rapidly since he learned chakra. For nearly two years, the information on him on the Hokage's desk was constantly updated. As a result, Sarutobi was able to witness his amazing progress.

Subtle control of chakra, various ways of its application…

The first time he concentrated chakra on the surface of his body, the first time he used a small amount of chakra in his palm to strengthen a punch, the first time he concentrated chakra on his feet to stick to a surface, the first time he tried and failed to infuse chakra into a kunai, and the first time he was able to manipulate chakra outside of his body and change its shape.

If not for constant surveillance, Hiruzen might have thought that Kano was secretly training Orochimaru. But in reality, Orochimaru only gave him one piece of advice that helped Kano realize his potential.

"Orochimaru, you have brought back a truly incredible child." Every time he looked at the updated data, Sarutobi couldn't help but be amazed.

Suddenly, a figure appeared in the office, as if it had come from nowhere. But Sarutobi was not at all surprised. The newcomer was dressed in a black tight suit and a white fox mask - it was a member of the Anbu.

"Hokage-sama, Jiraiya-sama has returned." Bowing respectfully, the Anbu disappeared as quickly as he had appeared.

Hearing about Jiraiya's return, Hiruzen was slightly taken aback, then smiled softly, "Just in time."

....

Today was the graduation day for Kano and his classmates.

Sawaki, who was in the classroom, with a stony expression and his hands resting on the lectern, looked at the matured students, saying in a cold voice, "After today, you will become ninja."

Even at the last moment, this man did not smile.

"This is the team assignment list. You will be picked up soon."

Without saying a word of congratulations, without even reading the list out loud, Sawaki pinned it to the board, took one last look at the students, and without saying another word, turned abruptly and walked out of the classroom.

"Try not to die, you..." Sawaki sighed heavily as he left the classroom.

Ninjas are those who constantly walk on the edge of life and death. The stronger the ninja, the more danger he is exposed to. In these turbulent times, even genin are not guaranteed safety.

As soon as Sawaki left, most of the students rushed to the list on the board.

After graduation, genin are assigned to teams of three, led by a jonin. The list did not include the names of mentors, so no one knew who their teacher would be.

Kano didn't look at the list, continuing to gaze thoughtfully out the window at the training field. Soon the students broke into groups of three. Only Kano continued to sit, looking out the window.

Kushina raised her head and looked at the list. The name written before her eyes was a sharp one: "Kano."

Massaging her forehead, she turned and glanced at Kano, who was looking thoughtfully out the window. Her gaze expressed utter bewilderment.

Judging by the distribution, there was a certain pattern: there couldn't be two strong students on the same team. Her team was an exception. Why she ended up on the same team as Kano, she didn't understand.

"Kushina, from today on we are teammates."

Kushina, who was massaging her forehead, suddenly heard a timid voice next to her. She turned her head and saw a boy with a bowl cut and glasses. He had a few pimples on his cheeks and was half a head shorter than her.

Noticing her gaze, the boy began to dart his eyes nervously, as if he wanted to lower his head and avoid her gaze.

"Um... I'm counting on you from now on!" he said in a slightly trembling voice, struggling to overcome the urge to look away.

Kushina, looking at him intently, asked: "What is your name?"

In an instant, the boy seemed to be pierced by an arrow. He froze, and in his head echoed the question: "What is your name?"

Three years of studying together, and she doesn't even know his name!

At that moment, the boy was ready to burst into tears. Kushina, seeing the sad expression on her classmate's face, smiled awkwardly: "You yourself didn't tell me your name. It's no wonder I don't know it."

Shuh Shuh! Is that the sound of arrows piercing a body?

Covering his chest with his hand, the boy said tragically, "My name is Haru. Please remember."

Kushina nodded vigorously. She realized that her words had been too offensive. But was it her fault? Whose fault was it that this classmate was so inconspicuous?

"This guy probably doesn't know Haru's name either," she thought, looking at Kano with malicious glee.

Haru suddenly felt a chill. He also looked at Kano, his other teammate, thinking that he probably didn't remember his name either...

"Probably not..." With a tense smile, Haru turned to Kushina and timidly asked: "Kushina, maybe we should go to Kano?"

"Of course, let's go." With these words, she headed towards Kano, and Haru quickly followed her.

Poof! - Kushina slapped her palm on the table, attracting Kano's attention.

Kano looked at her, then glanced around the classroom, where the students were already gathering in groups of three, and calmly said, "Uzumaki Kushina."

Pausing, he looked at the boy with the bowl cut hair next to Kushina, "Haru. Looks like the three of us are a team."

Hearing Kano say his name, Haru's eyes filled with tears.

Kushina removed her hand from the table and said, "You're not interested in team assignments at all."

Kano calmly responded to her reproach: "In the future, please take care of me."