Chapter 9: Advanced Training Begins!
Training Ground 7 was unlike anything Kōzaru had seen at the academy. Where the school's practice areas were basic and standardized, this facility looked like it had been designed for serious combat preparation. Multiple terrain zones sprawled across several acres—dense forest sections, rocky outcroppings, water features, and even what appeared to be mock urban environments complete with building facades and rooftops.
"Welcome to your new reality," Instructor Hayashi announced as the nine Group A students formed a loose semicircle around him. His weathered face was set in serious lines, and his chakra signature felt different here—more focused, more dangerous.
"For the next several months, this will be your second home. You'll train here, sweat here, and probably bleed here. Some of you might even cry here, though I'd prefer you do that part quietly."
Yuki shifted slightly on Kōzaru's shoulder, her icy blue eyes scanning the training ground with curious interest. Through their empathic link, he could feel her excitement and nervousness—she was still very much a puppy, but one eager to learn and explore.
Riku, meanwhile, had positioned himself between Kōzaru and the instructor, his small form alert but uncertain. The black and tan puppy's dark eyes were fixed on Hayashi with the cautious attention of youth trying to understand adult dynamics.
"Before we begin," Hayashi continued, his gaze sweeping across the assembled students, "I want to make something clear. The training you're about to undergo is not academy standard. It's accelerated, intensive, and designed to prepare you for real combat situations. The village's needs have changed, and so must our approach to education."
He gestured toward a series of training stations scattered throughout the grounds. "You'll be working in teams of three, rotating through different specialization areas. Combat tactics, survival training, chakra control, weapons training, and scenario-based problem solving. Each station is designed to push you beyond your current limits."
Kōzaru felt a flutter of excitement mixed with nervousness. This was what he'd hoped for—real training that would help him develop his abilities and prepare for the challenges ahead.
Suddenly, a familiar translucent screen materialized in his vision, visible only to him and the others, seeming to appear at the same time for all of them.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]New Quest Available: First Real ChallengeObjective: Successfully complete your first advanced training scenarioReward: 100 EXP.
Kōzaru's eyes widened slightly at the quest notification. The system was becoming more active as the training intensified.
"Team assignments," Hayashi announced, pulling out a clipboard. "Team One: Asuma Sarutobi, Kurenai Yuhi, Raido Namiashi. Team Two: Might Guy, Genma Shiranui, Ebisu. Team Three: Kōzaru Inuzuka, Tatsuma Uzumaki, Aotaka Senju."
Relief flooded through Kōzaru as he realized he'd been grouped with his closest friends. Tatsuma grinned broadly while Aotaka nodded with satisfaction—they'd all been hoping to work together.
"Excellent," Tatsuma said under his breath.
"Team Three," Hayashi called, his attention focusing on them. "Your first station is Combat Scenario in the forest section. You'll be working with Instructor Koji today." He pointed toward a lean, dark-haired man in chunin gear who was waiting near the treeline. "Your objective is to locate and secure a target while dealing with hostile opposition. If you're detected and confronted, you'll need to fight your way out. This isn't tag—it's combat training. Time limit: one hour."
Kōzaru's heart rate spiked. This sounded like an actual mission scenario with real stakes, not just training exercises.
"Questions?" Hayashi asked, though his tone suggested he didn't particularly want any.
"Sir," Kōzaru raised his hand. "What about my partners? Are they included in the training?"
Several students turned to look at him, and he felt a moment of self-consciousness.
Hayashi studied the two puppies for a moment, his expression unreadable. "Ninja hounds are tools, just like kunai or shuriken. If you're going to rely on them in combat, you need to train with them. They're part of your team now."
"That's going to be interesting," Kurenai observed quietly. "I've never trained alongside ninja hounds before."
"Most of us haven't," Asuma replied, though he sounded more intrigued than concerned. "Could be educational."
"Two puppies though?" Genma called out from his team position, a senbon needle rolling between his lips as he spoke. "Seems like they'd be more distraction than help in a real fight."
"Hey!" Tatsuma bristled defensively. "Don't underestimate them just because they're small."
Might Guy stepped forward with his characteristic enthusiasm. "The power of youth extends to all creatures! I'm sure Kōzaru's youthful companions will demonstrate their burning spirit!"
"They're still babies," Ebisu observed, adjusting his sunglasses. "How much training could they possibly have?"
Kōzaru felt heat rise in his cheeks, but before he could respond, Raido spoke up thoughtfully. "Actually, ninja hounds start training almost from birth. The Inuzuka clan has some of the most effective animal partners in the village."
"That's right," Aotaka added, shooting a grateful look at Raido. "Kōzaru's been working with them constantly since he got them."
"We'll see soon enough," Asuma said diplomatically, though his eyes lingered on the puppies with curiosity. "Good luck with your scenario, Team Three."
Instructor Koji approached their group as the other teams dispersed to their assigned stations. He was younger than Hayashi, probably in his early twenties, with the lean build of someone who specialized in speed and stealth. His dark eyes immediately fixed on Kōzaru's companions.
"Two partners," he said without preamble. "That's ambitious for someone your age. Can you handle both of them in combat?"
"We're still learning," Kōzaru admitted honestly. "But we work well together."
"We'll see." Koji's expression remained neutral, but Kōzaru caught a hint of scepticism in his tone. "Your mission is straightforward. Somewhere in the forest section, there's a scroll hidden in a red container. Your job is to find it and bring it back to this position. The complication is that there are two chunin moving through the area acting as enemy forces. If they spot you, you'll have to fight them to continue the mission. Defeat means elimination from the exercise."
He handed Tatsuma a basic map of the training area. "The forest section covers about two square kilometres. Plenty of places to hide, and plenty of opportunities for combat. Remember—this is training, but treat it as real. Time starts now." He suddenly disappeared, leaving the three of them alone.
"Wait, that's it?" Tatsuma asked as he looked at the map, map reading not being one of his strong suits.
"Give it here." Aotaka said as he snatched it out of his hands to take a better look.
"Looks like we need to head in this direction. But remember what he said—if we get caught, we have to fight our way out. These are chunin, not academy students." Aotaka said with a serious tone.
As they moved toward the forest, Kōzaru felt his partners' excitement building. Yuki's grip on his shoulder tightened slightly—not from fear, but from the puppy's natural eagerness to explore. Through their empathic link, he could sense her curiosity and growing confidence. Riku's energy was more direct but still juvenile—he was ready for action but would need guidance.
As they walked toward the forest, they could hear the other teams getting their briefings. Guy's enthusiastic voice carried clearly as he shouted something about "youthful determination," while Kurenai's team seemed to be discussing stealth tactics in hushed tones.
"Sounds like everyone's getting serious scenarios," Tatsuma observed.
"Good," Aotaka replied. "I was worried they'd go easy on us because we're still academy students."
"By the way," Kōzaru said quietly as they walked, "I should mention something. I levelled up yesterday."
Both his teammates stopped and stared at him.
"Levelled up? You levelled up, how?" Tatsuma asked, confusion clear in his voice.
"I got a quest given to me after I got the both of these, once I completed it, I got more exp and levelled up." Kōzaru said in a simple fashion.
Aotaka frowned thoughtfully. "So you got an extra quest that we didn't." He said thinking about it.
"I mean I guess it makes sense since you have two ninja hounds.
"Neither had I," Tatsuma admitted, sounding slightly envious. "So you're saying you've gotten stronger?"
"Not sure about stronger, but my health and chakra increased and I got an extra skill point." Kōzaru felt the system's presence in the back of his mind, a reminder of the advantages it provided. "Speaking of, did the two of you just get that quest?" He then asked.
"Yeah, that will certainly make a difference and boost us up to the next level for sure." Aotaka said, getting excited at the thought of levelling up.
"Yeah, lets do out best and beat these guys to a pulp!" Tatsuma yelled as he punched the palm of his hand, getting excited.
"Alright, team," Aotaka said as they reached the forest edge, setting aside the discussion for later. "Let's talk strategy. We need to find this scroll while avoiding or defeating two chunin. Suggestions?"
"Split up to cover more ground?" Tatsuma suggested, then immediately shook his head. "No, that's stupid. We'd be easier to pick off individually."
"Information gathering first," Kōzaru said, his tactical training combining with his own strategic thinking. "We need to know where the opposition is before we start looking for the scroll."
Yuki made a soft whining sound from his shoulder, her body language suggesting she wanted to help but didn't know how. Kōzaru could feel her eagerness through their empathic link, along with her puppy-like uncertainty about what was expected of her.
"What is it, girl?" he asked gently, reaching up to scratch behind her ears.
Through their bond, he received impressions rather than clear thoughts—scents on the wind, the desire to run ahead and explore, instinctive awareness of the forest around them. She was still very much a puppy, but her enhanced senses were already developing.
"I think Yuki might be able to help with scouting," Kōzaru said thoughtfully. "Her senses are much better than ours, and she's small enough to move undetected. But I'd need to guide her—she's still learning."
"Can she really do that?" Aotaka asked, studying the small puppy with interest.
"Let's find out." Kōzaru gently lifted Yuki from his shoulder, setting her on the ground. "I'll send her ahead, but keep her close. She can pick up scents and sounds we'd miss, but she'll need direction."
He knelt down next to the white and tan puppy, focusing on their connection. Through their bond, he projected simple concepts: scout ahead, find strangers, stay hidden, come back if scared.
Yuki's tail wagged slightly as she processed his mental guidance. She wasn't strategically planning like a human would, but her natural instincts combined with his direction gave her purpose. She trotted into the forest undergrowth, her natural colouring helping her blend with the dappled shadows.
"That's incredible," Tatsuma breathed. "She actually understood you."
"It's not like talking," Kōzaru explained, maintaining his connection with Yuki as she explored. "More like... sharing feelings and simple ideas. She's still a puppy, but her instincts are sharp."
Through their link, he could feel Yuki's progress through the forest. Her nose was picking up various scents, her ears catching sounds that would escape human detection. The information came to him as emotions and sensations rather than clear data, but it was useful.
"I can sense someone moving about two hundred meters northeast," he reported, his eyes closed in concentration. "Yuki's picking up a strong scent trail. There might be another person further out, but she's not sure."
"What about the third one?" Aotaka asked.
Kōzaru projected the idea of continuing the search to Yuki, encouraging her to explore more while staying safe. The puppy's excitement and nervousness flowed back through their bond as she ventured deeper into the forest.
"She's found something," he said suddenly. "Something that smells different—not human. Maybe our target?"
Riku, who had been listening to the conversation with intense attention, suddenly yipped softly and looked up at Kōzaru with eager eyes. Through their connection, Kōzaru could feel the black and tan puppy's desire to help, to prove himself useful to the team.
"What's he thinking?" Tatsuma asked.
Kōzaru knelt down, studying Riku's alert posture. The puppy was bouncing slightly on his paws, his attention focused in the direction Yuki had gone. Through their link, Kōzaru could sense Riku's eagerness to join the action, along with a simple but clever idea forming in the puppy's mind.
"He wants to help create a distraction," Kōzaru said slowly, understanding dawning. "Not a complex plan, but... he's thinking if he makes noise in one direction, it might draw attention away from where we need to go."
"That's actually not bad," Aotaka admitted. "But is it safe? He's still just a puppy."
"He's fast, and they won't expect him," Kōzaru replied, feeling Riku's confidence through their bond. "Plus, this is training. They won't seriously hurt a puppy, even if they catch him."
He looked down at Riku, who was practically vibrating with excitement. Through their connection, he projected the idea more clearly: make noise, run fast, stay safe, come back when done.
The puppy's response was immediate and enthusiastic—a sharp yip that conveyed understanding and determination. He might not be strategically planning like a human, but his natural mischievous instincts combined with Kōzaru's guidance gave him a clear purpose.
"Alright," Kōzaru said, making his decision. "Here's the plan. Riku creates a distraction to draw at least one of them away from the target area. While they're dealing with him, we move toward where Yuki found the different scent. If we're spotted, we fight—but hopefully we can avoid that."
As they prepared to put their strategy into action, they could hear faint sounds from the other training areas—the clash of weapons from Guy's team's combat drill, and what sounded like an explosion from somewhere near the rocky outcroppings where Team One was stationed.
"Everyone's really going at it," Tatsuma observed nervously.
"Makes sense," Aotaka replied, checking his gear one more time. "Hayashi wasn't kidding about this being advanced training."
Kōzaru couldn't help but feel a thrill of anticipation mixed with nervousness. This was their first real test as a team, their first chance to see how well they could work together under pressure—and test their new abilities in combat.
It was also their first chance to prove that his partnership with Yuki and Riku was more than just an interesting novelty like some of the other students seemed to think.
Whatever happened next, they would face it together—all five of them.
The forest around them seemed to hold its breath as they prepared to begin their first real mission as ninja.