Gacha Senju: Lucky Perks, Lucky Ladies

Chapter 5: A Shinobi's True Training Begins

Kiyoshi groaned as he rolled out of bed, every muscle in his body protesting the movement. Yesterday's survival test had pushed him to his limits, and even after resting, he still felt like he had been run over by a stampede of Akimichi clan members.

His arms ached, his legs felt like lead, and his stomach...

Growl.

"…Okay, food first."

Dragging himself to the small kitchen of his apartment, he scarfed down some rice balls and tea before getting dressed in his shinobi gear. As he adjusted his forehead protector, he paused for a moment.

Yesterday… that kunai…

He opened his inventory, hoping to see another lucky pull waiting for him.

[Daily Gacha Spin Available!]

His heart jumped. He wasted no time, mentally hitting 'Spin.'

The wheel of fate turned…

…and stopped.

[Obtained: Chakra Restoration Pill (x1)]

"…Not bad." It wasn't as flashy as a time-distorting kunai, but in a long battle, this could be a lifesaver.

Pocketing the pill, he grabbed his gear and rushed toward Training Ground Four.

By the time Kiyoshi arrived, Mikoto and Ryota were already there.

Mikoto looked fresh and focused, arms crossed as she observed their sensei. Ryota, on the other hand, was stretching stiffly, looking like he had suffered just as much as Kiyoshi.

Kenshiro stood in the center of the clearing, hands behind his back. His usual smirk was missing, replaced by a calculating expression.

"Good. You're all here," he said. "Now that you've had your fun getting beaten senseless, it's time for real training."

Ryota groaned. "I knew it was too good to be over…"

Mikoto remained quiet but alert. Kiyoshi just sighed, already mentally preparing for whatever hell Kenshiro had planned.

"Let me be clear," Kenshiro continued. "You passed the test, but that doesn't mean you're strong. It means you have potential. I'll decide if you're worth training."

That sent a chill through Kiyoshi's spine.

"First," Kenshiro raised a finger, "we're covering stamina and chakra control."

Kiyoshi blinked. "Uh, don't we already know chakra control?"

Kenshiro's smirk returned. "Oh, really? Then let's see how well you can do this."

He bent his knees slightly—then, in the blink of an eye, he vanished.

Kiyoshi's brain barely had time to process before a sharp wind pressure slammed into him from behind. He spun around—

Kenshiro was there, standing casually.

"You're too slow," Kenshiro said, flicking his forehead lightly. "For the next hour, we'll be working on increasing your speed and reaction time. If you can't keep up, you're dead."

Ryota paled. "Wait, an hour of dodging you? That's insane!"

Kenshiro's grin widened.

"Who said anything about dodging?"

A shiver ran down Kiyoshi's spine.

This… is going to hurt.

The training began.

Kenshiro moved like a phantom, attacking from every angle. He didn't use lethal force, but every strike sent them stumbling, tripping, or crashing into the ground.

Kiyoshi barely had time to react before a palm strike smashed into his stomach, knocking the air out of him. He tumbled, rolling to a stop.

Mikoto used her Sharingan to anticipate attacks, but even she struggled to keep up. Ryota, relying on his sword, was swatting at empty air, always a second too slow.

Time passed in a blur of pain, sweat, and sheer survival instinct.

By the time Kenshiro finally stopped, Kiyoshi was gasping for breath, barely standing.

"Not bad," Kenshiro said, as if they hadn't just gone through hell. "You're all still alive. That's a good start."

Kiyoshi wiped the sweat from his brow. "Still alive is a low bar."

Kenshiro grinned. "Welcome to shinobi life."

Before they could rest, a whistle cut through the air.

All four turned toward the sound.

A figure stood at the entrance to the training ground.

He wore a standard Jonin vest, but his expression was unreadable. His gaze locked onto Kenshiro with familiarity.

Kenshiro's smirk vanished.

"Kenshiro," the newcomer said. "We need to talk."

Kiyoshi felt a sudden shift in the air. Mikoto's Sharingan activated on instinct. Even Ryota stiffened, gripping his sword.

Whoever this guy was—he wasn't here for small talk.

Kenshiro sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Great," he muttered. "Just when things were getting fun."