"Your stance is getting much better," I told Kenji as we walked toward the Academy's afternoon practice areas. "How long can you hold the horse stance now?"
"Almost two minutes," he said proudly, then grinned. "Thanks to all that help you gave me with the breathing exercises. My parents were amazed when I showed them yesterday."
The Academy's free practice period had become one of my favorite parts of the day. Unlike the structured Advanced Foundations classes, this time allowed students from different tracks to train together casually. I'd been using it to maintain my friendships with Kenji, Yuki, and Masa while they worked on standard track assignments.
"Tetsuya!" Yuki called from across the courtyard, waving us over to where she stood with several other students. "Can you settle an argument for us?"
I approached the group, recognizing most of them as first and second-year students from various tracks. A few looked frustrated, others confused.
"What's the problem?" I asked.
"Hana here says there's only one correct way to perform basic taijutsu forms," Yuki explained, gesturing to a first-year girl with short black hair. "But Taro learned a different approach that works better for him."
The boy in question, also a first-year, looked defensive. "My form isn't wrong just because it's different. I can execute the combination properly!"
"But the instructors teach the standard method for a reason," Hana insisted. "If everyone does forms differently, how can we measure progress properly?"
I glanced around the group, noticing the mix of frustrated expressions. This wasn't really about technique variation, it was about feeling excluded or judged.
"Mind if I try both approaches?" I asked. "Maybe we can figure out why they work differently."
Hana demonstrated first, using the precise taijutsu form taught in standard classes. Her technique was textbook perfect, steady and consistent. Taro's method involved more fluid transitions, less rigid but equally effective for his fighting style.
"Both approaches work," I said after trying each method. "They're just optimized for different body types. Hana's method works better for people with naturally steady balance. Taro's approach suits people whose strength comes from fluid movement."
"Really?" Taro asked hopefully.
"Really. In Advanced Foundations, we've learned that technique variation often reflects different learning styles, not right or wrong methods."
Mei appeared beside our group, having finished her own practice session. "What's everyone discussing?"
"Taijutsu form variation," Yuki explained. "Tetsuya was explaining how different methods can work for different people."
"That's actually something we covered in our advanced theory lessons," Mei said thoughtfully. "Want to see something interesting?"
She demonstrated the same taijutsu combination using three different approaches, each one producing effective results through different movement patterns.
"How did you learn so many variations?" Hana asked, looking impressed despite herself.
"Our instructor teaches us to understand principles rather than just memorize steps," Mei explained. "Once you understand why a technique works, you can adapt it to your strengths."
"That sounds really useful," said a quiet voice. I turned to see a first-year boy I didn't recognize, wearing clothes that suggested a civilian family background.
"I'm Tetsuya," I said, extending my hand. "What's your name?"
"Jiro," he replied shyly. "I'm still getting used to Academy training. Everyone else seems so much better than me already."
"Trust me, we all felt that way at first," Kenji said with a laugh. "I could barely hold a basic stance for twenty seconds when I started."
"And now you're almost at three minutes," Yuki added encouragingly. "Practice really does help."
"Want to work on it together?" Taro offered. "I could show you the approach that worked for me."
What followed was an hour of collaborative practice that felt completely natural. Students shared techniques that had helped them, offered encouragement when someone struggled, and celebrated small victories together. Hana ended up learning Taro's fluid approach, while Taro picked up tips for improving his precision from her structured method.
"This is way more fun than practicing alone," Jiro said as he managed to hold a proper defensive stance for nearly thirty seconds. "Everyone's so helpful."
"That's the best part about Academy," Masa said, appearing with a group of second-year students. "Different people know different things. My brother always says the smartest students are the ones who learn from everyone."
"Speaking of learning from everyone," Daisuke said, joining our expanding group with Takeshi and Rina, "we just finished working on defensive coordination. Anyone interested in seeing how group formations work?"
The demonstration that followed was impressive. My Advanced Foundations teammates showed how coordinated defensive techniques could protect larger groups, while the standard track students contributed practical knowledge about positioning and communication.
"You know," Rina observed as we practiced a modified version of the formation that included students with different skill levels, "this actually works better with more people. The standard track students fill gaps we didn't know existed."
"Different perspectives," Takeshi agreed. "We focused on technique precision, but they understand practical application better because they've had to work harder for their results."
During a break, the conversation shifted to weapons training when Kenji mentioned having trouble with kunai throwing accuracy.
"The key is understanding tool balance," I explained, taking a practice kunai from the equipment rack. "Mom taught me about this at her forge. Every tool has a center of gravity that affects how it moves."
I demonstrated the proper grip and throwing motion, showing how the kunai's weight distribution influenced its flight path. "See how holding it here changes the rotation? You want the tool to work with you, not against you."
"That makes so much sense," a girl named Aki said, trying the adjusted grip. "I was fighting the kunai instead of working with it."
"Tools want to be used properly," I said, remembering Mom's lessons. "When you understand what they're designed for, they become much easier to control."
Kenji tried several throws with the corrected technique, his accuracy improving dramatically. "This is amazing! Where did you learn so much about weapons?"
"My mom's a blacksmith," I explained. "She makes weapons for ninjas throughout the village, so I've learned about how different tools work."
"Lucky," Yuki said enviously. "Could you show us how different weapons are supposed to be held?"
What followed was an impromptu lesson on weapon basics, with me demonstrating proper grips for kunai, shuriken, and practice swords while the others took turns trying each technique. Even some Advanced Foundations students gathered to watch, curious about the practical knowledge I was sharing.
"This is incredibly useful," Hana admitted, successfully hitting a target with her first properly thrown kunai. "Why don't the regular classes cover tool mechanics this thoroughly?"
"Probably because most instructors assume you'll figure it out through practice," Masa suggested. "But understanding the theory makes learning much faster."
The session continued until various families began arriving to collect younger students. As people gathered their equipment and said goodbye, the atmosphere felt warm and positive.
"Same time tomorrow?" Hana asked hopefully, and several voices immediately agreed.
Walking home with my Advanced Foundations teammates, I found myself thinking about how natural the mixed training had felt.
"That was interesting," Mei said, breaking the comfortable silence. "I learned more about practical technique application today than in some of our formal classes."
"The standard track students have good instincts," Daisuke observed. "They've developed problem-solving skills we haven't needed because our instruction is more direct."
"Different challenges create different strengths," Takeshi noted. "Probably valuable for all of us to understand."
At home that evening, I described the mixed practice session to my family during dinner.
"Cross-track cooperation sounds valuable," Father said. "The Academy is supposed to prepare students for working with all kinds of people. Early experience with different backgrounds and approaches serves everyone well."
"It also builds the kind of village unity we need," Elder Genzou added. "Students who train together as children become teammates who trust each other as adults."
"Did you enjoy helping others with their training?" Mom asked with interest.
"I did," I said honestly. "Helping Jiro understand defensive stances made me think about balance differently. And learning Taro's fluid approach gave me another option when my usual techniques aren't working."
"Teaching is an important skill for any leader," Father noted approvingly. "The ability to help others improve benefits everyone involved."
After dinner, it was time for our regular evening clan training. The familiar routine felt especially grounding after the day's mixed Academy practice session.
"Gravity-enhanced sparring tonight," Elder Genzou announced as we gathered in the main training area. The words held no surprise, we'd been following this schedule for months now, ever since I'd attended the academy.
Akira, Emi, Kaito, Yuna, and I formed our usual training circle while Elder Genzou activated his gravity technique. The familiar increase in weight settled over us like a heavy blanket, making every movement require extra effort. My body had adapted to this routine over the months, muscles conditioned to function under the enhanced resistance.
"Tonight we'll focus on integration drills," Father instructed, joining us in the circle. "Academy taijutsu forms adapted to Kasō-ryū principles, just like we've been practicing."
The sparring rotation had become second nature. Each of us paired with different partners throughout the session, testing our techniques against various fighting styles under the enhanced gravity conditions. Tonight, I started against Yuna, whose natural athleticism had grown even more impressive under months of weighted training.
"Ready?" she asked, settling into the balanced defensive stance that began all Kasō-ryū exercises.
I nodded, assuming my own starting position. Under enhanced gravity, every Kasō-ryū movement required more precision and control, but months of daily practice had made the resistance feel natural rather than hindering.
Yuna moved first, launching a series of strikes that incorporated the Academy forms we'd both learned with the deliberate power of clan training. Each movement carried the devastating force that came from muscles conditioned under enhanced weight, but her technique remained controlled and precise.
I responded with defensive movements we'd drilled countless times, deflecting her strikes while using the gravity's resistance to add force to my counters. The months of routine practice showed in how smoothly we moved together, each anticipating the other's techniques through repetition and familiarity.
"Good flow," Father observed as we exchanged positions between attacker and defender. "Your Academy training is refining your form precision."
After several minutes, Elder Genzou called for rotation. "Tetsuya and Kaito, you're up next."
Kaito's aggressive style had evolved significantly over our months of training together. His tendency toward fast, powerful attacks had been refined by the gravity training into something more controlled but equally devastating.
We continued through the familiar rotation, each pairing testing different combinations of speed, power, and technique under the enhanced conditions. Akira's advanced Academy techniques, Emi's precise control, everyone's individual strengths enhanced by the routine conditioning.
"Excellent adaptation across the group," Elder Genzou noted as we completed the session. "Consistent gravity training are showing clear results."
After the group session ended, Father kept me for our regular individual training, focusing on the dual-element work that had become part of my daily routine.
"Lightning nature exercises first," he said, leading me to the specialized training area we'd set up for elemental practice. "Show me your current sensitivity level."
I placed my palms on a practice metal rod, focusing on the chakra nature exercises Father had been teaching me. Instead of generating actual lightning, I was learning to sense the "sharpness" that lightning chakra wanted to have, the quick, cutting quality that made it different from earth's steady weight.
"Better," Father observed as I successfully identified which of several metal rods had been touched by lightning chakra recently. "Your sensitivity to electrical properties is improving. Now try sensing the chakra flow patterns."
The exercises focused on understanding rather than manifestation. I practiced feeling how lightning chakra wanted to move quickly and strike precisely, compared to earth chakra's preference for slow, building pressure. No actual electrical energy was involved, just learning to recognize the fundamental nature differences.
"Remember, you're not ready to generate lightning techniques yet," Father coached as I worked on distinguishing between different chakra signatures. "Right now, we're building your understanding of how the elements want to behave. This foundation will make actual technique learning much safer when you're older."
We practiced sensing conductivity in different materials, understanding which substances worked well with lightning nature and which resisted it. The training was theoretical and sensory rather than practical application.
Elder Genzou joined us for the final portion of training, bringing his decades of gravity manipulation experience to guide my development.
"Earth affinity work now," he instructed, watching as I channeled earth chakra through practice stones. "Show me how Academy environmental training has affected your material sensitivity."
The months of Academy material interaction exercises had definitely enhanced my clan abilities. I could now sense not just the emotional imprints in stone, but also structural integrity, mineral composition, and stress patterns that indicated potential break points.
"Remarkable development," Genzou-jii noted as I successfully identified which practice stones had been artificially weakened. "Your material empathy is advancing faster than expected."
"The combination of Academy systematic training and clan sensitivity work is accelerating your overall development," Father observed. "You're understanding elemental principles from multiple angles."
"Are you ready to begin gravity manipulation theory?" Elder Genzou asked, his voice carrying the significance of the question.
I looked between him and Father, understanding this represented another major step in my training progression. "What would that involve?"
"Basic theory first," Genzou-jii explained. "Understanding how earth and lightning chakra natures can resonate together to create gravitational effects instead of explosions. Then simple meditation exercises to sense gravitational fields around you. Eventually, you'll learn to generate minor gravity alterations yourself."
"The foundation is definitely there," Father agreed. "Your dual-element sensitivity has reached the point where theoretical instruction becomes valuable."
We spent the remaining training time on theoretical instruction about gravity manipulation, how the clan's unique bloodline caused earth and lightning chakra to resonate at frequencies that affected local gravitational fields instead of creating the explosive combinations that other dual-affinity users could achieve.
"Next week, we'll begin practical gravity sensing exercises," Genzou-jii promised as we concluded the session. "For now, continue developing your individual element understanding through these safer foundation exercises."
Later that night, I practiced the Academy techniques in my room, The clone technique's chakra division principles connected to gravity manipulation theory. Transformation techniques shared principles with the material empathy that enhanced my earth affinity.