Naruto looked down from a cliff and furrowed his brows. "So...what is this supposed to train, again? Other than see one's suicidal mental state?"
"To see if you can overcome fear. The greatest fears? Height and Death."
Naruto nodded. "Uh huh...and so, you want me to say screw it all and just...jump, eh?"
"More or less." The woman with dark green hair said, picking at her nails. He could not see her face but she wore that same stuff as he'd seen a month ago on the group of women. She had a weird sword though, it seemed to be split forming a 'Y' shape but very curvy. The blades were parallel so it seemed pointless since the slice was still in a sense the same, right? They weren't at off angles or anything to where it was like being struck with two blades rather than the still same one with two blades.
"Fine, whatever." And he leapt off the cliff.
The woman's eyes widened and went forward to try to catch him but was too late. She watched him drop and gulped. "I'm so dead...I didn't think he'd actually jump!"
Naruto dropped, watching as the blue beneath was coming closer. Oddly enough, any of the apprehension he'd felt before went away. It was sort of bliss to be falling from the sky. Then with a crash and rising spout of water, he sunk in.
"Hey! Where's the BRAT!?" A said appearing in a shower of lightning and a smirk. Just waiting to see an exhausted beaten Naruto as penance for his attitude. Only, he found the watcher but no Naruto.
She cleared her throat. "He uh...he had to go pee..."
A nodded slowly. "I see. When did he leave?"
"Just before you got here." She whistled. "Yeah, so it could be a little while, he seemed shy to uh...pee nearby."
A shrugged. "Alright. I'll wait. Say, what are you having him do out here?"
"Um, building courage and confidence."
A nodded and chuckled. "Yeah! Just remember he's three so he might take you literally!"
"Yeah, for sure...for sure...."
"He's not peeing is he?" A said and the masked woman shook her head. Leaning over the cliff he saw the water resettling and sighed. "Well...on the one hand he's done what no other has!"
"Right! He's set a precedent and shall be praised of his great courage!"
He looked to the woman. "You're on supervision duty and today he's getting his ice cream."
"But but...but I. He. He could be dead!"
"You'd better hope he isn't." A said as they both looked over the cliff waiting for the blonde to resurface. But then another thought had come to mind, did Naruto know how to swim?
They saw him shoot out of the water and then a pair of large jaws of a massive shark coming up with him to swallow him whole. Something its size would allow. "What do you know, brat does!"
"Are you gonna help 'im or..."
A pushed her over the edge and she frowned while falling. Orienting her body she reached behind her grasping the sword's handle and fused her chakra. Suddenly she was able to fall faster. Seemingly becoming little more than a streak then there was a splash. The shark cut clean in two as the water slowly turned red. Before Naruto connected with the water, she'd caught him and was running up the cliff. Reaching the top before the water that came up from her entry even returned to the ocean.
A whistled. "Quarter second faster." She collapsed to her butt gasping harshly for breath. "Still work to be done I see! Boy! I've heard that you've completed the language and math work that you were set to be done with at end of year!"
"Yes." Naruto said wondering where the question lie.
"Has the Kyubi"
"Kurama says it's Lord Kyubi to you."
A decked Naruto sending him into the masked woman who'd just gotten up. Knocking her back to the ground, him on top of her, face in her tits as he danced atop the line that marked consciousness and unconsciousness.
"Ah, so. Has he done something to increase your mental awareness? While three is the normal age for growth in those areas, even among geniuses, five is where you see the most adult-like language and mathematic comprehension."
Naruto's mouth continuously opened and closed akin to a fish out of water. Still trying to figure out what side of the line he'd land on until his jaw stopped moving and his tongue fell from his mouth against the flesh of the woman.
"I think you knocked him out sir..."
"HUH? Why do you say that?"
"Because either he's knocked out, or he's getting hit in the balls because he's been nibbling and now licking my tits."
"What?"
"I guess licking isn't the right term, he's just got his tongue out against it."
"And you've let it happen?"
"Sir...I could barely breathe until seconds ago, and then he's over here bouncing between knocked out and awake. I hadn't decided how to respond until he either went limp like he did or showed awareness the whole time."
A pulled Naruto up from her and she climbed up. The boy dangling before she tapped his cheek and blinked a few times. "Ah, what happened?" He worked his jaw then started rubbing his tongue to the roof of his mouth. "And...did I eat or drink something? I'd like some more of whatever it was." Naruto said looking to A who looked to the woman despite her mask, her eyes betrayed her embarrassment and blush. He looked back to the blonde. "Did the Kyubi make it to where you're sexually aware younger too?"
Naruto cocked his head in thought over what those two words together meant for a moment before shrugging. "How would I know?"
A looked back to the woman. "What do you see when you look at her?" He said pointing.
Naruto looked at the woman and she almost fidgeted as his eyes bore into her total being. Almost as though he could see beneath her uniform. "Well, she's clearly woman."
"Ok. Elaborate."
"How so?"
"Describe what you see."
"Woman."
"Yes but more."
Naruto cocked his head. "Woman, please dumb it down for me? I understand the language, does not equate to interpretation of said language."
"Uh...he...he's wanting to see what you like...what you like to look at."
"But all of you is woman."
"It is, yes, but men like qualities about a woman that women uniquely have."
Naruto nodded. "Breasts, and vaginas. While males have a penis and testicles."
She nodded. "And he wants to know what excites you."
"Ice cream!"
"No, excites you sexually. What from a woman excites you."
"You."
"Huh?" A said turning Naruto to him. "What does that mean?"
"All of her. Her presence excites me."
"Sexually?"
"I don't understand. You are asking what excites of her, her presence because I get to learn. What are you asking?"
"Desire, lust, being horny!" She said outright wanting this over with because it was beyond awkward at this point.
He looked to her. "Oh should have just said that. Yeah no, nothing."
"Huh?! What's wrong with me?!" She said coming to his face.
He smiled. "I can see what makes you desirable to others. I can understand why." He touched her breasts and she did not stop him. "I can touch the why. I just cannot feel the same. It would be weird don't you think?"
"I suppose." A said.
"Yes it would." She said nodding.
"Anyways, why'd you think Kurama altered my sexual development?"
"You expressed liking the taste of her breasts." A said.
Naruto, still holding them looked to them. "I tasted these? When?"
She backed away and sighed. "Sir, I believe you were asking about his mental awareness."
A nodded. "Yes, has Kyubi"
"Don't forget the Lord."
A's eyes narrowed. "Want to be put to sleep again?" Naruto shut his mouth and he hummed. "Now, has he done something to make your mind further developed seeing as you're learning at a level that even geniuses don't operate at until five."
"Yeah, he said it was necessary back in Konoha to survive. Can't teach if it can't be received. It just help now learn faster."
"Great. What about your physical growth?"
"Kurama says he considered it back in Konoha. Now though, he said he won't alter it."
"What of your chakra?"
"He says two months."
A smiled. "Terrific! You may be small but we could make you pack a punch!"
"Can I be put down now?" Naruto said as he still hung.
A tossed him to the woman nearly knocking her over again. "Take him for his ice cream. He's earned it!"
Naruto hummed in delight as he sat atop the railing to the platform. Kicking his feet as he spooned ice cream from the tub on his lap. Rocking side to side in a bouncy rhythm. "You really like ice cream, huh?"
"Sorta. It's the first good thing I had. Usually rummaging for scraps! So this is was a bit of a step up you think?"
"More than a bit." She said shaking her head.
"So what am I supposed to call you people."
"Hm?" She then looked to him and saw him still rocking around, as if he had no fear of falling. Perhaps he didn't. "We are anbu. The major five have an organization."
"What are they?"
"Think of stealth and elite."
Naruto hummed. "So who's best?"
"Depends who you ask. Everyone claims their village's anbu are the best."
"And what do you say if you say that?"
"No bias being in play? Konoha's maybe. Their anbu have been running longer, were the first to be instilled. I think in battle though, we are superior."
"Contradictory, no?"
"No. The job they fulfill may be better overall, in head on combat we are the better."
"Ah. Why you women wear vests like that?"
"To make you look."
"Why make me look?"
"You being general. Anyone we face. Cause a distraction, no matter how minimal." She shrugged. "You'll learn all about that later, you'll begin more shinobi type studies now that your language and mathematics are at expected levels."
Naruto nodded. "So what do I call you?"
"Anbu, if there's others it wouldn't matter. Just gesture to who you're asking or all if it's a question anyone could answer."
"Boring. You lost your cool factor."
"You got to touch me up for free, I think I am plenty cool." She said shaking her head.
"You charge people to touch you?"
"In a certain way, sure."
"What's your rate? Maybe I'll consider you when I'm going through puberty."
She eyed him. "Did you just call me a hooker?"
"Not exactly."
"You're insinuating I charge for sex."
"So you have sex for free then?"
"No! I don't have sex."
"You don't, like at all?"
"I do!" She glared at him. "You're doing this on purpose aren't you?"
He just put a spoonful of ice cream into his mouth as his answer. "So, you've got a boyfriend then?"
"No. Broke up with him."
"Why?"
"He was a shit guy. Weak willed, complained a lot. Couldn't stand him."
"Why'd you get with him?"
"Thought the sex would be worth it. It wasn't."
He nodded. "Kurama says by the time I hit puberty I could work you like you've never been fucked before."
"Did he really or are you just using his name to get out of trouble?"
"Trouble? What kind of trouble can I get in for offering to satisfy you, excuse me, Kurama says satisfied is to laxed a word to describe it. Offering to fulfill? Eh he seems to find that ok. But yeah, you seemed frustrated about your ex, Kurama said I could be the best you'll ever have."
She snorted. "Yeah right kid."
"Kurama says that he's no liar and that you should not doubt his word."
She just eyed him. "Boy, go home."
"Girl. Not without you." He said smirking.
"You're stupid." She said laughing. Shaking her head, she rest her cheek against her fist. "I wonder how much you'll change as you grow."
He said nothing because she wasn't exactly talking to him. Instead just eating. The people nearby not bothering the two. Even if it was strange to see someone so young sit on the railing since no one sat on the railing or the fact that said young child was eating a tub of ice cream half his size.
"Tell me about the anbu."
"You would be the worst type for it."
He cocked his head. "I will grow."
She shook her head. "I do not mean that. With the chakra you will have, you will feel exhausted trying to hide its presence for longer than an hour. You have too much power for the delicacy of anbu operations. You'd be perfect for one of our quick response teams, when a mission goes south and we need rescue or aid in retreat, a team is dispatched to break through anything necessary to bring our guys back. Or at the worst case scenario, destroy our bodies if escape is unlikely."
"What else of that team?"
"They respond to border transgressions, lead our first assaults if invading then the rest of us sneak through the noise you make and set up covert bases behind enemy lines for us to gain intel and start espionage tactics."
"Espionage." He tested the word then recalled its definition. "So what do you employ?"
"Depends on the mission." She said shrugging. "I once snuck into an enemy base as some common civilian dancer, got close to the base commander, started a relationship and screwed him for months. Each time he'd let slip his plans, his movements, so excited to brag about everything to the woman beneath him getting him off. At first we did not act on the intel, watching, seeing if it was actionable intel or just nonsensical rambling to boast. If he were competent he would not have spilled his guts to me just because I made him cum."
"He good at least?"
"Meh. You don't focus on that during the mission. Just the objective, making sure you don't give away your intentions. It wasn't bad I suppose, it was so satisfying killing him though. He thought he was such a big man, so tough and powerful. He was shivering, groaning in ecstasy as he was so close to blowing his load. When right at the moment of release, right as he was at the brink, I drove a kunai up his jaw and through his brain, never getting that final burst out. Never realizing he'd been played all along and cost the lives of so many of his men."
"There's something wrong with you, you know that? You sound a little too thrilled when telling that story for my liking."
"Don't want to rock my world anymore?" She said mock pouting.
"I never said it. Kurama said it. You can't hear him so I act as his voice. As I said to big guy, I can't feel what they feel yet so I have no answer nor interest for you."
"I'm good at what I do, and I love my job. No matter the mission, it's always exciting in its own way. There's no other rush than to be anbu."
Naruto hummed, tossing the tub out into the distance. "I wonder sometimes, all this studying, I know meanings to what I say, what I hear, what I read. And yet, I've come to conclude that knowing is not the same as understanding. Despite near similar definitions, they refer to vastly different considerations of context. And so, another conclusion came to mind that if language be this...conflicting? Perplexing." He'd amended. "Then I wonder about the shinobi studies. The world."
"You're curious of what's out there?"
"I am curious of knowing vs understanding. How much is truly understood compared to what is known?"
She shook her head at Naruto. "You're a fascinating kid, Naruto. Never in my life have I met someone as...strange as you are and yet, it doesn't feel strange at all because it is you."
"Kurama has taught me that if you have become accustomed to one thing, and that is all you've known it as, that becomes your reality. However it is when something contradicts that which you thought you knew that drives one to madness. You think me normal because this is all you've ever known of me but you find it strange at the same time because you've always known that only at five are when people can act like me."
"I have not gone mad though."
"True, but I also am not bringing up a proper comparison, more so, I have come to conclude that in Kurama's word there is a bit of a cynicism to his truth. He expects the worst of people, and is never surprised by what they could be capable of. Even the kindest and seemingly purest of souls, he's seen have never been far from being able to slip. One thing to shatter their reality and they are just as monstrous as they call the demons or biju."
She stared at him and sighed. "Man, maybe the sealing arts would be great for you."
"Why?"
"I don't know much, and honestly, I don't think the village knows all that much either considering our methods for dealing with rampaging Jinchuriki...however every single person I've seen that studies the art seems to be philosophical in some respect. The seals usually being a phrase or poem of some kind, a piece of art that details that person's inner most self. It's the soul brought out to the physical."
He cocked his head. "Sealing...sounds boring."
She giggled. "Despite its name, I have experienced and witnessed some truly bizarre things that it could do. Your father, he was feared because of that prowess and rivaled our Raikage in speed because of that prowess. You'll learn more as you start your shinobi studies but I wouldn't knock it right away. Perhaps, you could be more adept than any we've had here given your Uzumaki blood."
"Kurama says that that is not how genetics work. That it is more of accessibility to works and or instruction that gets one down that road."
She shrugged. "Perhaps, regardless of what it is or isn't, it was what your clan was known for. Even if you never get as far as they had because we don't have those resources, maybe it would at least let you feel a sort of kinship to them."
"Hm, maybe. Though it's not much of an incentive, if it interests me when they teach me the arts, I may consider."
Shrugging, she gestured he follow. "If I'm going to be responsible for watching you, then I'm going to make it enjoyable."
"How so?"
"You're joining something. A sport or something."
He cocked his head. "I can?"
Shrugging she turned to him. "Probably not normally but you've got many endorsements to be in the academy. Even if your studies have been at home right now. So surely, someone would sponsor you to be with them."
Yeah no, joining some organization wasn't happening. A three year old could not compete against the range that went from fourteen on up to those that were eighty. There was only one guy that was eighty and that in itself had been a rather insane outlier when it came to the average age of those that competed. The guy somehow defied Father Time. They all felt Naruto was too small, too weak to be able to compete in anything. Not even the golf leagues would pick him up. While being surprised at all that the village had, Naruto was becoming bored. Following along as his escort dragged him around and tried to market him to some organization.
He mused that if her life would depend on her sales rep skills, then she'd not make it. It was really cool seeing some of these facilities that they would practice at. So organized and there was always an intense focus. He stopped following and wandered off on his own after giving her the slip. She was frustrated at not getting anywhere and so escaping her hip was quite easy. He came into a large stadium and saw the place packed, there was loud music playing as someone walked down an aisle towards an octagon shaped ring. There was loud cheering and shouting then there was another that had different music playing and equally loud chanting. From where he stood high up from the stage the two were on, he smiled at the atmosphere. It had felt unlike the other places he'd been taken to. Granted there was no active event that he'd gone to. More like he was taken to their individual practice places.
Perhaps that wouldn't be a fair comparison but it didn't matter. The atmosphere, the shouting and cheering, it hooked him. He watched a rather violent fight go down after something had been placed on them. He got told by Kurama that apparently their chakra was being blocked off so this was taijutsu alone. He turned and saw his escort looking at him then watched what he was fixated on.
She brought him out and he still looked to the stadium. "So, interested in fighting then?"
"What was that. It seemed like it would be amazing to feel what it's like to be the one coming out."
"It would be dangerous, if you even get to find a gym to take you."
He shrugged. "It would help me with my studies, no?"
Sighing she nodded. "Yeah. It would. While we have events that involve one fighting style or another, that one incorporates all. There's little rules and it's the highest level of single combat we've got that doesn't involve the use of chakra."
"I'm in."
"Kid, no gym will take you."
"I'll talk to them." Humming he rubbed his chin, "What gym is lowest ranked?"
A twenty three year old man with black hair that had a green shine to it scratched the back of his head. "Well, I can't say I've ever had a three year old walk up to me and try joining my gym..."
Naruto shrugged. "Something new doesn't mean something bad."
The man chuckled. "And why me?"
"She said your gym is lowest ranked and hasn't had a champion since you've opened up. I want an opportunity to just learn and even compete if you deem me capable. Though I'm intending to at least just learn."
The man stroked his chin. "Say, are you this new Jinchuriki I've been hearing rumblings about?"
"Yup!"
"Uh huh. Well I'm Mick, I'll train you but you won't be competing any time soon. You'd have to learn a lot and gain some weight. The lightest class is featherweight and you've gotta be one hundred and forty five pounds."
Naruto extended his hand. "Naruto Uzumaki."
"Oh and, I can't exactly pay you right now. You only get paid when you fight and win really, since losing generally only covers the training cost. Since you won't be competing, you'll train free but"
Naruto cocked his head. "I am not rich or anything but I've got free money from those that have endorsed me for the academy. I don't buy much and already have all my material, so I can pay the membership cost. I don't want to have to work some weird backend deal."
Mick laughed and nodded. "Very well. Are you sure this is what you want to do? You're three, and everyone is fifteen at the youngest."
"It will help me be shinobi."
Mick nodded. "I see. Well, come by tomorrow at eight. We're a twenty four hour gym but I won't be able to work with you until tomorrow night. Until you learn a bit, you won't gain much by coming in without a trainer."
"Well, we've got you a thing to work on for yourself and will certainly help build your taijutsu skills."
Naruto nodded slowly. Looking around the small gym that was mostly a floor of mats it seemed. Taped where there would be seams from the segments that were rolled out. He'd been told since he was looking at it that it was the same flooring type used in the octagon. Lightly cushioning the fall from knockouts or takedowns. He could see people working on grappling as well as ground type work. Others on different kicks, punches, or working on takedowns. There was a small locker room, only a few were reserved, those had belonged to the professional fighters of the gym. The rest were only used during your session and you took your stuff out when you left. The air was thick and hot, the room being ninety degrees. Certainly would work up quite a sweat during a training session.
Naruto was going to be given an hour only each day. Three hundred bucks per hour. If he didn't come daily, that was his discretion but it was an option. Figuring that he'd might as well since there was nothing else he'd be doing, he decided to come everyday for the hour that Mick would train him. Though he wouldn't necessarily be working exclusively with the young man. It was subject to change day to day.
Heading home, there was reason to be excited for once. He'd be studying actual shinobi stuff, then end the day with training at Mick's. While it wasn't bad here, honestly he'd enjoyed his accommodations greatly and always marveled at the environment here, it was boring to study language and math so much.
"Not everyone is cut out for the job. So they serve to boost our economy by using their athleticism. During war it's all hands on deck, in a time like this, we don't need every shinobi to run missions. They keep in shape for declaration of war and get money moving by putting on a show. The nation loves to come for our sporting events."
Naruto nodded slowly. "So these extracurriculars, mma, boxing, wrestling, football and everything, that's to bring in revenue?"
"Yes. Shinobi serve the people, we serve the nation. Even if there's a lull in mission requests, or lack of a need for military, our village won't suffer like other nations since we put up a show that entertains everyone. Our combat sports garner the highest revenue. Who doesn't like to watch two people caged in trying to destroy their opposition?"
Naruto hummed. "The fame, lack of true shinobi duty, that doesn't worry anyone?"
The woman laughed. "Athletic they may be, they are nothing compared to us on active duty. We boast the highest number of shinobi to non-shinobi occupants but not everyone is actually battle ready. Most are ranked Genin maybe Chunin, and while good in a cage, with rules and a referee, they'd lose in the real world."
Drumming his desk with his pen, Naruto pursed his lips. "Then why don't those on active participate? They could roll in more money and fame."
"Perhaps you speak true. Though, each thing takes a commitment of time. You'd be insane to try to juggle your shinobi career, your extra curricular career, and a personal life all at once. There just isn't the time in a work day to attempt to do so."
Pressing the pen to his head a few times he did the math. Ultimately, it would work. There were twenty four hours in any given day. Most work eight hour days, and so that would only be sixteen hours and that was if the entirety of each was truly necessary. Three or four hours remaining for whatever personal life existed. Meaning you'd only use nineteen to twenty of those twenty four. The math was there so just, why not do it? Shaking his head at the thought, he'd keep it to himself. The math was simple and if they hadn't realized it or thought of it, then that was on them. Ultimately, it wouldn't stop him and he'd had a plan.
"Outside of the tangent I got us on, what are we working on today?"
Nodding to him, the woman cleared her throat. "Introduction to chakra theory." Opening up a large book she skimmed through before moving to the board. "What is chakra?"
When her lesson ended at the end of the day, he'd kept the book to continue on himself. There was six hours before needing to go to Mick's so might as well occupy the time with further study. It annoyed his watcher but at the same time she should be grateful. It would be so much harder to do her job if he ran amuck in Kumo. Going into densely populated areas meant being unseen and still maintaining contact would be difficult.
So far from his experience, it sure felt like there were more women than men. Perhaps it was just what he was being exposed to for teachers, but he wondered if there'd been a reason to such. Maybe the men served more outside and less inside and women the vice versa. Biologically speaking and going off of the books, men's physiology was better served for combat and more physically demanding things. Women tended to mature faster emotionally and mentally overall so these younger women serving as teachers to him made sense. Were there outliers to the typical norm? Of course. There always would be. That wasn't always common though and something being a norm wasn't a bad thing. Everyone had a role to fill. Even a weak man physically could still be of use elsewhere. Perhaps that was the mentality here. No one just sat around doing nothing, you worked. If it wasn't as a shinobi, you did something that aided in shinobi work or in the events that shinobi participated in. No free handouts.
While he was handed the funds to pay his way through his studies and training, housing and food, it came with the expectation that he'd return their investment with results. He could always lose donors if he showed lack of development. His benefactors had all been pleased to learn that it only took a month to get his language and math skills at a level of what's to be expected for the typical academy student. His language going beyond into more overall understanding than just the bare minimum thanks to conversing with a being over thousands of years old.
Those of lesser families and clans often needed a benefactor or endorser to get them their training. Money made the world go round and usually you'd return their investment by serving under their banner so to speak. Use their gear if they manufactured any. Become a sort of marketer to their products. That or you buy yourself out by paying back what was given and being free of all responsibilities or debts. Though if you managed to get a big name then a manufacturer of weapons and or tools that you enjoyed to use, you'd maintain the relationship in hopes of eventually making a sponsorship deal where you could either be paid to use their stuff or get items free.
While you could make a decent salary with enough skills and certifications, endorsements by manufacturers and other businesses was where the real money came. Sponsorships from major corporations were certainly highly sought after ventures that were chased by many and only attained by a few. These things helped keep money moving, and if money kept moving then the economy was healthy. When money stagnates, that's when the economic health takes a dip. You wanted to have it so people earned money, but you also needed them spending it. Hence the many different avenues for ninja to get exposure and work.
"Where's everyone else?" Naruto said setting a duffel bag down onto a folding chair. He opened it up to reveal a sleeveless gray hoodie that he put on over his long sleeved black shirt, black shorts that he put on to replace the pants he wore. Blue compression pants beneath the shorts. His water bottle was metal and blue, having a white and black logo of a storming sky.
"Geez...you've got more sponsored gear than my pros."
Naruto shrugged. "My watcher told my benefactors of my joining your gym. Given my progress the last month, they seem to be how would you put it? Bidding for my attention to garner a true sponsorship."
"You're only barely starting academy curriculum and even then graduation wouldn't be until you're twelve. You're not even an amateur fighter yet either. That's all still bizarre."
"With the amount of money they're trying to throw at me, and products, I wouldn't doubt if I could coerce the big guy into allowing early graduation. Of course I'd need to be up to par which is where you come in."
Mick slowly nodded. "Right...well fighting in the cage is very different from fighting out there."
"Perhaps, but I'm sure it still helps. If you're fighting without chakra then when it's involved, it would only be even faster and stronger. The stronger the body, the even more powerful when enhanced."
Mick nodded slowly once more. "Ok, kid. Well, I'll leave conditioning to you, when we're in here we're working. You should be working on your body yourself while here you mold your technique."
"Ok. So where's everyone else?"
"We have a scheduled session. Most don't stick around after five and won't show up until nine tomorrow."
"Your gym operates twenty four seven though doesn't it?"
"It does. It's a selling point but doesn't mean people will use it nor that it garners much when you only have a couple pros out of the place and said pros not being anywhere near contenders."
Naruto furrowed his brows but kept his thoughts to himself. Mick wasn't much of the long winded explanation. He was a man of doing, and so rather than detailed overview, he did a slow walkthrough with Naruto, talking him through the steps as they came up. The first thing he'd had the blonde doing was take downs. More specifically practicing the double leg which would become a regularly used shot throughout his career if he pursued fighting. The plan was to work on grappling and wrestling techniques first since with proper form it wouldn't matter the size difference. Striking and other stuff like kicks or submissions would be later when his wrestling was at a decent level where there'd be little need for explanation. The plan was to be able to get Naruto to be capable of rolling around for two minutes without the need of coaching to better his position.
Before they'd known it, they'd rolled around for five hours. Mick was truly surprised with how long the young blonde went at it and was being able to perform the double leg near flawless at this point. All they'd have to do is get him faster and more efficient. Then capable of doing it from various angles or situations since the opponent wouldn't always be in the same standing position. They'd even dabbled a bit with some single legs just for fun. Naruto was just a bundle of energy that seemed endless and it got him fired up. Making him feel younger than he was and hyped up to take on the world or something.
He was willing to only charge for the hour but Naruto had insisted that he'd pay him the whole five since they'd actually been training. Had it been a delay for other reasons that would have pushed the time then it was a different matter. Seeing as that wasn't the case, paying what the man deserved was no issue at all. So at one in the morning, Naruto covered in sweat walked the streets. His breathing had relaxed and he was sipping on some concoction that Mick made. Supposedly it would help in recovery but it tasted good so he didn't exactly care about what it was for.
The village still had people out and about, mostly those that seemed to be working the night shift patrols or just for restaurants/businesses that ran twenty four seven. Tonight had been a success in his mind and if things kept going as he'd hoped, then perhaps it would come to fruition.
-5 Years Later-
"C'mon big guy! I've passed all your tests. Why not just let me through?"
"You've gotta be at the actual academy!"
Naruto sighed crossing his arms. "No point. I've passed all the tests they'd give. You'd just waste the time of your weapon. Where I could be developing my skills and get field experience, you'd have me recycle the same stuff I've learned with the tutors you gave me."
A shook his head. Kid was being stubborn and he was not used to this at all. Usually his people just obeyed. He wondered if he should be concerned at all about the not obeying but shrugged that thought off for now. It wasn't a primary concern.
"I want you in the academy. For the year at a minimum and if you pass the tests they give, I will allow you to graduate." A said with a tone of finality. He saw that same lightning still charging in the blondes eyes. It made him smirk. The kid had a strong will. A strong will was what they valued most. A powerful will made one indomitable and got them far.
"Then sign off on my waiver to have me go pro."
"Pro?"
"I am not able to be a shinobi for the year, then I want to skip the amateur leagues in fighting and go pro."
"You're eight. Not even eight just yet seeing as your birthday is in two months."
Naruto shrugged. "Then I'll be the youngest to be pro, I have ten companies trying to get me as an exclusive sponsor. Fifteen sponsors already as it is. They back my wishes and you'll earn their ire for impeding my ability to become one of their endorsees."
A's brow threatened to twitch. The kid was bold that was for sure. "You're talking about cage fighting?" Though it was more of a statement than a question.
"Yes. I am still underweight for the featherweight but there isn't a rule against being below weight. Only that you can't be twenty under. The hard rule is that you not be above by even an ounce. Mick says I'm ready to fight, and he's trained me over these five years personally."
"Mick is of the lowest gym. No champions."
"I'll be the first then." Naruto said and A could only smirk at the declaration.
"Very well! We shall see then if you reach such! Keep in mind that I have plans for you!"
Naruto nodded. "No problem. It'd be easier if I wasn't wasting time in the academy but so be it."
Signing the endorsement for Naruto's contract he handed it to the blonde. "Don't disappoint boy."
"Have I yet?" He said and walked out without being dismissed.
Mick whistled as Naruto handed him his contract. "Really got him to give you the endorsement."
"And ensure I graduate this year." Naruto said chuckling. "Over bite on what you truly want and you're guaranteed to get what you want, sometimes even better."
"I was going to say." Mick said shaking his head. "Thought the plan was to graduate only a year before the rest."
"Hey, as I said, overbite and you're never dissatisfied." He said and looked to the locker room. "So, which one's mine?"
"Your pick. You're a pro now." Mick said waving the contract. Promising fifteen years with his gym. Something unlike any other contract as at most only five years were promised. Naruto though would basically be up for renegotiation three years before his prime. Meaning he could then leave for an extremely lucrative contract depending on his career, or remain with the gym and have all the power in negotiations depending on how his career had been panning out. Since if it was extremely good, became a champion like he said he wanted, then it would bring in more fighters, maybe even a sponsor to the gym. Otherwise if not, or if it was an average career, there was the loyalty aspect that could garner him a subsequent contract if no other offered.
"When's the first fight?"
"Made some calls to get you on a card. You'll have one in two and a half months for November fourteenth; giving you time to have a true fight camp of two months and two weeks to just remain in fight shape, and ensure you don't become injured prior."
Naruto nodded. "Sounds good. I've got number seven."
"That's a cursed number."
"For them." He said simply.
"You realize that you'll have to do interviews now, right?"
Naruto sighed. "I know it's expected but I'm not a fan."
"It helps bring in revenue for your fights, bets made you get a portion. For ticket sales you'll get a portion if you win. As a pro, you get ten thousand just for showing up, victory is thirty. If you're a champion then it's different but we can go over that should you become a contender since even they get a different pay scale."
Naruto scratched the back of his head. "Getting complicated..."
Mick chuckled. "Yeah, it's a lot to consider and since you skipped amateur, you're having to learn it all at once rather than gradually."
"You brought up the interviewing stuff for a reason didn't you..."
Mick winced. "Yeah...since you've just become pro, there will be a press release since you're only my fourth pro fighter that I've signed. That's a big deal for my gym."
"Then you do it." Naruto said unpacking his bag to hang up his gear in his locker. "It's your moment."
"They'll want to meet you too, it's your moment as well." Mick said making the blonde groan. "It won't be so bad, you can just give basic answers to their questions."
Naruto cocked his head. "Very well. At least I don't start the academy until Monday so it won't conflict with anything."
"I'll ensure nothing interferes. The academy takes precedence as well as village orders once you become a graduate."
A masked nin dropped down before A who began curling his massive dumbbells. "My Lord, why have you let him get away with thinking he's pulled one over on you?"
A grunted as he looked up from his curling. "Let the brat think he's superior. I want to see where this ends up."
"It could spell trouble."
"And if he be disloyal, then he'll be dealt with!" A said tossing the dumbbell aside. Standing up he released a heavy breath. "I'LL DO WHAT I MUST FOR THIS VILLAGE AND ALWAYS HAVE! No matter the opposition!"
So many flickering lights. That's all Naruto thought of as he stepped out to the stage. Taking a seat beside Mick where mics sat in front of them. The gym's banner hung behind them and over the tablecloth. Fifty people were in the room they were in and he noticed that members of the gym were also in attendance sitting in the back row together wearing jackets, hoodies or shirts with the gym logo. The people he assumed to be members of the press were dressed up in fine clothes. Suits, dresses, kimono styled clothing. Their clothes seemed to tell a story of their upbringing. The civilians and true civilians wore suits and dresses. The retired shinobi in kimono styled clothing. Yukatas being a favorite for the women that were retired. The flickering lights coming from many many cameras flashing as they took pictures. Surely they'd taken enough by now right? In the couple minutes that he'd been out here, they took maybe hundreds.
Mick cleared his throat and smiled. "Well, as you can see he isn't as short as the rumors said. Standing at four four and still growing."
Many people began to speak up and all over each other so Mick pointed to one of the women. "Considering that he is four four and four inches taller than the average, he is still facing a foot height's difference at a minimum in every fight. How will that translate to garnering results?"
Mick chuckled again and just looked to Naruto. "Well, in my experience the shorter guy has the leverage when wrestling."
"Does that mean he is more of a wrestler when it comes to fighting and can that be what we should expect to see most of him?" A voice called out louder than the rest that began.
Mick once more smiled and shrugged. "Could be. I'm just saying that wrestlers that have a height difference tend to lean in favor of the shorter."
Naruto looked to Mick in a newfound awe and respect. He knew that Mick was once a pro fighter though didn't know much about his history. Here he was showing that confidence and grace that a professional would carry. Here he was just trying to not look like a deer that had the lights flash on and yet Mick didn't seem at all lost or flustered by this many people, cameras and lights.
"I'm sorry, what was the question again?" Naruto said as Mick had nudged his knee beneath the table.
"You're the youngest ever professional fighter without a fight to your credit. Is this a bit too ambitious of a leap for you to be taking?"
"No. I've trained every day for five years in preparation for this moment."
"So you're saying that your training is superior to all others eight years your senior and more?"
"That's not what I"
"Then do you claim that Mick has secret knowledge about fighting that other gyms don't have and if so why hasn't he gotten much of any pros?"
"I don't know why you think I'm insinuating"
"Are you expecting to be handed favor for this bold move and sit in the background until you're older just to use this as a ploy for marketing?"
"I didn't even say anything about trying to be a ploy."
Mick saw Naruto quickly lose the handle on the press and so cleared his throat. "Naruto is in for the rush he felt as a three year old watching his first event. I met him after he saw his first fight and the awe he had at the spectacle and the excitement at the battle he watched inspired him to try to inspire others as he'd been." Mick smiled towards Naruto. "He's worked diligently everyday as he said for the last five years since to be able to inspire others with the same rush he felt."
"There's still the concerns that with his age, and lack of size, he wouldn't be long for the sport. What do you have to say for that?"
Mick nodded slowly. "I say that Naruto is the new breed of mixed martial arts fighters. He's a raw talent that I've never seen before. No one in this sport has worked as hard as him nor so astute to what it means to be a mixed martial artist. It's truly a blessing that he start so young as many have lost years on their careers due to long stints in the amateurs. Come November, you'll all see just what the future of the sport may come to be!"
"A league of children among men?"
"No, a true warrior of mixed martial arts. Our sport is the pinnacle of combat sports, and Naruto through his career will show what it is to be such."
"Naruto, you're set to fight Nahmed Subek. He was champion ten years ago. They say he has the strongest heel kick still in the division. Any idea on how you'll take him on?"
Naruto cleared his throat and took a breath. "Subek's one of the best in the nation right now. He's a six time conference champion and two time national champion for a reason and it will not be an easy contest in the least. I look forward to the opportunity of stepping in the ring with him and showcasing what professional mma is all about."
"Are you worried at all that this fight could be your first and last if he lands that heel kick? He doesn't have to live his leg as high which means it could be quicker than we've ever seen. Does that concern you at all?"
Naruto shook his head. "I am not afraid of getting hurt. This is a combat sport and injury is a risk you sign up for. His heel kick is devastating but he's trained for people of his height or taller. Having to restructure muscle memory to accommodate my being shorter is something I think he may struggle with when the adrenaline's running and he relies on instinct."
"You think you're going to be a challenge then for Nahmed?"
"Yes. I do." Naruto said nodding and the entire room seemed to look at each other. For a moment there'd seemed to be true silence for the first time since he stepped out. "I'm different from what he is used to and I believe that that can give me enough of an opening to get in and secure a win."
"A win?"
"Yes. If I get in close, I will either knock him out or take him to the ground where he isn't so comfortable. Although I'm shorter, I'm only fifteen pounds underweight and he will not find throwing me off to be so easy."
Mick smirked as Naruto took control and began running the interview himself. It had taken a while but it seemed he'd finally found a way to get in. They all had their own ways of speaking to the media, Naruto just had to find his and now that he seemed to find his niche, perhaps these little predictions and humble demeanor could be his avenue. Although he knew Naruto to be humble, for a while many may think it's a show. That wasn't so bad though. If it got people talking, then his name would be brought up meaning it would spread and his stature would grow in the sport. You could only become a contender if you had notoriety, not just skill. The sport had to be able to market you after all and if you were unknown, you weren't going to be given a title shot. That's just how the politics of the sport worked. If it made money, then it would be done.
The league gambled on letting a near eight year old, will be eight at the time of the fight to sign on as a pro. With how this interview was turning out, there'd be a lot of interested eyes on the kid.
Mick became worried at that thought. If his name grew as fast as it might, they just might throw him into a title fight just to make the money off the bout. That could be disastrous to the blonde's health and career in the NFC. He could only hope that the commissioner wouldn't do such a thing.
"Thank you for the opportunity to come out here and meet you all. Mick and his fighters at his gym for welcoming me in and teaching me all that I know. Those guys back there, Jrod, JJ, Seymo, Kwan, thank you all. I look forward to showcasing what Mick's Gym is all about come November and showing you all that I belong here in this league. Thank you!" Naruto said and stood up to bow before walking off. Once backstage he began to hyperventilate and stumbled into a bathroom trying to catch his breath. Coughing he looked into the mirror and turned as the door opened. Still not able to catch his breath he was eased against a wall and coaxed to sit as the woman shushed him and guided his breathing with hand motion.
"There there, just breathe." She said.
Once his breathing was normal he looked to the girl. "Y-you're."
Here dark brown hair that shone orange under light nodded. "You may call me Shura. I came by to see you introduced as a pro." She said smiling.
"Not as my anbu?"
Shura shook her head. "Now that you'll be in the academy, you won't have any watchers. We were mostly around to make sure nothing happened while you transitioned. You never went out all that much except to train and work out so there was never a problem."
Nodding slowly he took a deep breath and closed his eyes. "What just happened?"
"Panic attack?"
"What? Why would I have one?"
"You were just in a very unfamiliar situation. Possibly it overwhelmed you and you lost composure in privacy." Shura said smiling. "You definitely started out rough out there, but brought it back in the end."
"I just didn't know what to say, then I couldn't ever finish what I wanted to say."
She giggled. "Yeah well you've gotta be fast or have conviction in your tone. If you give even the slightest opening, they'll jump in to get a chance at a quote. Even if it's an unfinished thought, the quote could become very twisted into whatever narrative will get them the most attention. At the end, your slower speech cadence was uninterrupted because it was interesting to them and because your tone had not wavered. You were confident."
Naruto shrugged. "I dunno. I didn't want to do this, Mick said I should though."
"You've gotta sell yourself Naruto. No one will do it for you."
"Now come on, let's get out of here! I know a good sushi bar nearby and they have a great selection of booze!"
"I don't think I can"
"You'll buy for me, and who knows, be a good boy and you just might get lucky tonight!" She said with a wink and stuck out her tongue at him.