Chapter 4: Welcome to the Hero Boot Camp (Whether You Like It or Not)
Okay, so here's the deal: I'm walking down the school hallway, and it feels like every step is on a tightrope stretched over a pit full of angry bullies ready to drop me in. My nerves? Totally shredded. My stomach? Doing that rollercoaster thing it does when you know something bad's coming.
But then—bam!—Naruto's voice pipes up inside my head, cutting through all the panic like a ninja with a katana.
"Don't waste your time worrying about such pointless things. Your parents can't save you from this. Understand this one truth: I can end you with a single thought, and I don't even need to harm your family to do it."
Yeah. No pressure, right?
My throat clenched like I'd swallowed a stone. This dude—Naruto—isn't messing around. It's like having a walking disaster inside your brain who can crush you with just a thought. And somehow, I have to trust him?
"So… what exactly are we doing?" I asked, hoping for something less "apocalypse now" and more "normal kid stuff."
"Physical training, of course," Naruto says all casual-like. "Push-ups, sit-ups, squats, running—every single day. And after that, you'll spar with me in your mind. But don't worry, we're not ignoring academics or social life. By the time we're done, you'll be top of the class, have a body to match, and radiate confidence like I did."
Great. So, basically, my life just turned into one giant gym class with homework and bullying on the side.
I groan inside my head. "There's no way I can do all that. I'll die from sheer exhaustion!"
Naruto chuckles darkly. "You'll die some other way if you don't. Don't worry—I know your limits. You're not my first student. All of my past pupils became world leaders."
World leaders? I rolled my eyes. "Never heard of you."
He sounds smug. "Of course not. I'm from another world—where people have superpowers and legends walk among mortals. You're curious, but you're not ready to see it yet. Once you're transformed, you'll earn the right to experience it."
Yeah, that sounds about as real as a talking dog giving me life advice.
I look around the hallway—the usual chaos of chatter and lockers slamming shut—and try to breathe steady. Naruto's threats stick to my brain like gum on a shoe.
No way out.
"Heroism or death," I mutter, shoulders slumping like I'm carrying a backpack full of bricks. "No in-between."
And with that, I trudge to class, every step heavier than the last. Because apparently, this is my new normal.
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So there I was, just trying to survive another day in the minefield that is high school hallways. And wouldn't you know it? Dash — the walking nightmare with his posse of brainless cheerleaders—decided it was prime time to make my life a living hell.
He's standing there, arms crossed like he owns the place, practically daring me to freak out. And of course, he spots me. The moment our eyes lock, it's like someone lit a fuse on a firecracker.
"Hey, Fen-turd! Heard you messed with Pauline. Did you eat crap or something? Who gave you the courage to spout that nonsense, huh?"
Cue my instant internal freakout.
I froze mid-step like a deer caught in headlights. Dash was a mountain of muscle and bad attitude, with his lackeys snickering like a pack of hyenas behind him. There's no way I can outrun these guys. Nope. No way.
But then Naruto's voice—that voice—cut through my panic like a drill sergeant with a vendetta.
"Show no fear."
Easy to say when you're not the one about to get your face rearranged.
I clench my fists, try not to look like I'm about to pee my pants, and force a smile that probably looked more like a grimace.
"Hello, Dash. Surprised to see you here."
Cue the laughter. Oh, the laughter.
"Looks like he's lost it!" one sneered.
"Must've bought the bargain-bin crazy!" another chimed in.
"Yeah, Fenton can't afford anything better."
I'm dying inside, but Naruto's still there, steady as ever. Then, without warning, Dash grabs me by the collar and slams me into the lockers. Ouch.
Cold metal against my back, my spine screaming, and Dash's grip tight enough to cut off circulation.
"I expected something new from you, Fenton," Dash growls, like I'm some kind of disappointing science experiment. "But I guess you really are pathetic. Now you're gonna pay for messing with Pauline."
Then, just as his fist pulls back, ready to land a knockout punch, Naruto's voice roars inside my head.
"No fear. Fight back. He's just human, and you won't die until I allow it."
Something inside me snaps. I throw a punch.
It lands.
Not hard enough to knock Dash out, but enough to shut up his smug face—and shock everyone watching.
The crowd gasps. Whispers explode like fireworks.
"Is Fenton actually fighting back?"
"Did he lose his mind?"
"This is crazy!"
Dash's face twists into a furious scowl, and he hits back with a punch that lands square on my jaw. My head spins like a busted merry-go-round, but somehow, I stay standing.
He grunts, annoyed, and finally lets me go.
"You're not worth it, Fenton. Stay out of my way, or next time, you won't be so lucky."
Then he storms off, his goons trailing behind, their laughs now just faint echoes.
I lean against the lockers, nursing my jaw and trying to breathe without looking like I'm about to pass out.
I survived.
And, weirdly enough, I feel a tiny flicker of pride—right there underneath the pain and embarrassment.
Because maybe, just maybe, I'm starting to be the guy Naruto wants me to be.
Also… I've got a girlfriend now.
Yeah, that definitely helps make a black eye a little easier to take.
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So yeah, I'm walking down the sidewalk with Sam, feeling like I got hit by a truck—because, well, I kind of did. My left eye looks like I lost a fight with a watermelon, and my back's screaming louder than my alarm on a Monday morning.
Sam's walking beside me, all worried and stuff, arm around my shoulder like she's got me propped up or something. She asks, "Does it hurt?" like she's not staring at my face that looks like a science experiment gone wrong.
"Duh," I mutter, trying to act cool but probably sounding like a total dork. "Look at my eye."
Inside my head, Naruto's voice is already doing that annoying, "I'm way cooler than you" thing.
Why couldn't you pick someone better? Like Mike Tyson? Or my dad? They'd probably handle this stuff way better.
Naruto just says, all chill, You'll get it when the time comes.
Yeah, thanks for the pep talk, dude.
Honestly, I'm feeling about as heroic as a soggy sandwich right now. Today was a total nightmare—and not just because of Dash and his football-player goons. It's like the universe decided to remind me I'm basically the human equivalent of a speed bump.
Naruto's voice pipes up again, sharp as ever.
You made yourself an easy target for years. Learn from your sister. She doesn't do excuses.
Great. Thanks for the reminder. Jazz, my genius sister, is out there crushing it with her scholarships and brains, and here I am—family's official screw-up.
At least I'm consistent.
Sam's still there, looking at me like she wants to say something, but the silence between us feels thicker than the swamp from one of my ghost hunts. My thoughts sneak back to earlier today—up on the roof, when I saw a different side of Sam. The side that's not all tough talk and sarcasm.
She's… cute.
Yeah, I said it. Don't judge me. I'm just figuring this out.
Suddenly, Sam stops and grabs my arm, like she's got a plan.
"Hold still," she says, all serious.
Before I can even protest, she cups my face and blows gently on my swollen eye. The smell of her shampoo and that minty breath thing hits me like a surprise attack—my heart's doing flips, and my brain just goes error error error.
She pulls back, smiling like she just solved world peace.
"There," she says. "That should help."
I clear my throat, trying not to die of embarrassment. "Thanks. Let's get home."
I start walking faster, wanting to put some serious miles between us and whatever weird feelings just showed up.
Naruto's voice chuckles.
Smart move. Not every fight's worth it. Timing's everything.
Sam's behind me, her face all worried and stuff. She's thinking it's just the fight with Pauline that's got me off, but I don't think she knows the whole story.
Maybe I don't even know it yet.