Chapter: Demon Drills and the No-Fun Workout
Okay, so here's the deal. The three of us—me, Sam, and Tucker—were hanging out, just chilling and snacking like normal teenagers who somehow ended up in the middle of a serious supernatural training montage. We laughed, joked, and tried to forget for a while that Naruto (yeah, that Naruto) had just handed us a "simple" workout for tomorrow morning. Simple, he said. Just a kilometer run and some basic exercises. Sounds easy, right? Wrong.
Our bodies, totally unused to actual exercise, were already screaming in protest just thinking about it.
Sam and Tucker didn't complain, though. They knew this wasn't just some random boot camp—we were stepping into something way bigger than all of us. And honestly? That made me want to punch a wall and maybe cry a little at the same time.
Sam gave me a quick goodbye kiss—yeah, that happened—and then Naruto disappeared back to his room. Left me alone with my brain doing that annoying thing where it won't stop spinning in circles.
I sat down, trying to ignore the dull ache creeping through my muscles. This demon—Naruto—had basically taken over my life. And now, Sam and Tucker were on the same ridiculous path. I felt like we were all doomed, and not in a cool, "we're gonna save the world" way. More like a "we're all going to suffer horribly" way.
It's like when your friend gets a bad grade—you don't feel so bad about yours. But when they succeed and you fail? The world just feels a little darker, like someone dimmed the lights and left you stuck in the shadows. That's how it was with me and this training. My pain felt deeper, my struggle heavier because this demon was in my head, twisting every move.
Why me? I wondered. Why do I have to be the one getting the worst of it?
Then Naruto's voice cut through the mental storm. "You've rested enough. Stretch like this." Suddenly, images flashed in my mind showing exactly what to do. No choice but to follow along, even as my body begged me to stop.
The next hour was brutal. Push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups, planks—none of it fun. Every movement felt like punishment. By the end, I collapsed on the floor, gasping for air, my muscles screaming in rebellion.
I've never been this tired. My body hates me.
Naruto's voice was there again, all calm and kinda mocking. "Well done. Rest now. I'll call you again in a few hours."
I lay there, staring at the ceiling, too exhausted to care about anything except how much it hurt to breathe. Two hours later, the demon's summons came again, this time with a history book. And yeah, it was exactly as exciting as it sounds. Dry, boring, full of notes in Naruto's neat handwriting.
My mind wandered more times than I could count, and twice I caught myself dozing off. Curse you, demon, for making me study when my body was screaming for a break.
After the torture of reading, Naruto dragged me to the next round: fighting.
Or more like: getting beaten up for an hour to "learn skills." Whatever.
My heart sank. I was barely holding it together after the workout, and now this? Naruto's strikes were calculated and relentless, pushing me to the edge but not quite breaking me. It was like being hit with a lesson in pain.
I couldn't keep up, couldn't counter, just absorbed the blows and tried to figure out what the heck I was supposed to do next.
An hour later, I was back in the library, barely able to stand. Naruto's voice was sharp. "Now live through today again. Two parts: Pauline and Sam. Do your best, or you'll get an extra tasty shock."
I groaned. Wanted to scream. Wanted to cry. But no tears came. Because crying meant more pain. So instead, I braced myself.
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If you ever think your life is repetitive, just imagine living the same day over and over again—except instead of boredom, it's pure, soul-crushing pain with a side of humiliation. Yeah, that's my life now.
Naruto's training wasn't just hard; it was like being stuck in a nightmare where every second was a reminder that I wasn't good enough. Even watching Naruto do his thing, looking like some kind of supernatural ninja immortal, I couldn't help but flail around like a total dork trying to copy him. Confidence? Strength? Forget it. They were miles away from where I was.
The first part of the day was with Pauline. Sounds simple enough, right? Nope. Between her stunning looks, the crowd watching, and my own brain betraying me, I froze. Big time. My words came out like a scrambled mess, and every move felt like wading through quicksand. The worst part? I was terrified of making her angry. Turns out, I didn't just fail—I bombed spectacularly.
And then Naruto's punishment hit like a freight train. Every shock from that demon was a lightning bolt straight through my muscles, and I swear, I screamed loud enough for the whole neighborhood to hear. Pain wasn't new to me by this point, but this was a whole other level of "You totally suck, try harder."
Next up was Sam. This part confused me the most. I don't know what it is about pain, but after hours of nonstop punishment, it almost started feeling… weirdly comforting? Like some messed-up version of control. Maybe it was just exhaustion messing with my brain, but when the shocks came, part of me almost wanted it. It was like, if I'm going to suffer anyway, might as well get something out of it.
Then there was Dash. The bully. The nightmare in human form. The beatings and insults were relentless. This time, I didn't even try to fight back. Why bother? It was easier to just take it, let every hit sink in. My body was turning into a punching bag, sure, but maybe that was my weird way of coping—letting all the frustration and anger explode without trying to hold it together.
Each part lasted like forever—ten to twenty minutes that felt like an eternity—and then repeat. Over and over. This merciless cycle of failing, hurting, and failing some more stretched on for hours until finally, when the last session ended, I was allowed to rest.
Well, "rest" is generous. My whole body ached, every muscle bruised, my skin sore from too many shocks and punches. But it was better than the constant grind.
Lying in bed, too exhausted to even think straight, I couldn't help but wonder: I'm definitely gonna become some kind of weird, broken version of myself by the end of this month.
This demon—I still can't believe I have to call it that—what does it think I am? A punching bag? A robot to be programmed? Because if that's the case, there's no way I can keep this up.
The weight of it all crushed me. No control, no say, just trapped in this endless storm with no shelter in sight. And then the nightmares started.
Sleep wasn't a break—it was just more torture. Dreams of failing, getting beaten, stuck in a loop I couldn't escape. Waking up only to know the next day would be worse. The dread sat heavy on my chest like a lead weight.
My body shook with anxiety before I even opened my eyes. Another grueling day awaited. This demon had me in its grasp, and honestly? I had no clue how I was supposed to break free.
But somehow—I had to. Because if I didn't, I might not survive this… at least, not the way I was now.
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Naruto:
You ever have one of those moments where you're just going through the motions—doing the boring stuff around the house—but your brain's doing backflips, spinning a million miles an hour? Yeah, that was me. Naruto Uzumaki, world-class ninja, hero of the Hidden Leaf, and right now, full-time babysitter slash drill sergeant for this kid, Danny.
I was pacing through the house, trying to focus on the small stuff, but all I could think about was Danny. That kid's training wasn't just some push-up contest. I'd shoved him to his limits—and then some—to try and turn him into something he wasn't yet. A warrior, a survivor, maybe even a hero someday. But damn, was I starting to wonder if I was doing it right.
Fear and punishment? Those are great for breaking someone down, but they don't build loyalty. I've seen it before—the cracks start to show, and pretty soon, the kid's not just angry; he's ready to turn on you. That was the last thing I needed. Danny was barely out of his teens, and I'm not here forever. So what happens when I'm gone, and all he's got left is resentment?
"You can't just break someone down and expect them to be loyal forever," I muttered, stopping mid-step like I'd just stepped on a landmine of my own thoughts.
He's obedient now—yeah, barely—but I can see it: the walls going up, the frustration simmering beneath. I needed to soften things up. Give him a win. Something to look forward to, something that made all this pain feel like it wasn't for nothing.
And that's when Pauline popped into my head. The girl's like a trophy—pretty, flashy, a social magnet. Danny's got a crush on her, and honestly? If I could just give him that little piece of light, maybe he wouldn't feel so crushed all the time.
I smirked, picturing Danny's face if I handed him Pauline like some prize. She's not my type—too shallow, all flash and no substance. But to Danny? She's a symbol of something bigger, something he's never had. Maybe she could buy me a little peace.
But still… was that really the right move?
The truth is, Danny's not dumb. Eventually, he'd see past the glitter and realize Pauline's not all that. But maybe that didn't matter right now. He needed a break from the weight I was throwing on him, both the physical beatings and the emotional grind.
I've got a reputation for caring, even if I'm tough as nails. I know pushing him without giving something back is just setting us both up for disaster. He's just a kid.
I shook my head and moved on. Bigger problems were waiting. Resources. Money. Gear. Connections. Danny wasn't ready to handle that stuff. Sam and Tucker? Not yet either. It was on me.
So I slipped on a hoodie, masked up, and vanished into the night. My powers might not be at full strength, but I could still sniff out trouble—and opportunity.
The city at night was a playground of shadows, and somewhere in those shadows was what I needed. Money. Information. Whatever it took to make sure Danny's future didn't crumble the second I turned my back.
My mind spun with what-ifs and how-to's, but for now? One step at a time.