章 17: Chapter 17

Nestled amidst a small forest, the Uchiha clan compound bordered the training grounds. A kid, akin to a cheetah navigating its territory while on hunt, swiftly darted between the trees, disappearing into the foliage.

The rapid rhythm of his heartbeat mirrored the bellows of an ancient blacksmith's forge, or perhaps the panting of a young beast in the making, embodying the spirit of a tiger.

Bounding over lush shrubbery, deftly maneuvering to avoid thorns, Toshiro's figure flickered through the landscape. His morning routine differed from the leisurely jogs of two years prior; now, he sprinted with purpose, along with additional weight strapped to his limbs and torso.

This added resistance amounted to over 50 kilograms, a considerable load for a kid barely reaching 120 centimeters and weighing a mere 28 kilograms. Yet, in the ninja world, such feats were not uncommon, thanks to the mystical power of chakra.

Unlike Rock Lee in the anime, he didn't carry these weights throughout the day, only wearing them during morning exercises to mitigate any potential adverse effects on his physical development.

His method of running and training deviated from the norm; instead of circling a flat track for endurance, he chose a more varied terrain and environment, pushing his limits in a distinctively unconventional manner. Instead, he ventured into the forest area, pushing himself to his limits without relying on chakra. As he sprinted through the terrain, he executed various evasive maneuvers, deftly dodging obstacles like branches and thorns protruding from the bushes.

In the subdued morning light, the high-speed run posed a formidable challenge to his reflexes, control, balance, and ankle stability. With the added 50 kilograms of weight, it became a rigorous test of his physical strength, endurance, and explosiveness, where even a slight misstep could result in injury or worse.

Looking at the pocket watch he carried, he noted the time: 53 minutes and 49 seconds, an improvement of two minutes from last week's average of 56 minutes and 2 seconds. This was a metric he devised for himself; whenever he maintained an average of 50 minutes per week on his designated route, he would incrementally increase the weight by five kilograms.

With a sigh of exhaustion, Toshiro finally made his way back home, his legs trembling from exertion. "I'm back!" he called out weakly, feeling a sense of relief as he shed the weight from his body.

"In the kitchen, as always," Mika Uchiha's voice echoed. "Breakfast is ready. Take a moment to rest and have a glass of water."

Five minutes later, he was already seated at the table, eagerly indulging in the meal before him. Over the past two years, his appetite has surged, now rivaling that of an adult, a testament to his growing physique.

To bolster his body's vigor, enhance his workouts, and optimize his nutritional intake, Toshiro diligently adhered to simple yet effective strategies such as consuming frequent meals. These efforts were not in vain.

Although nutrition wasn't Mei's specialty as a medical ninja, every meal she prepared, from breakfast to bento boxes and dinner, was both nutritious and delectable, laying a sturdy foundation for Toshiro's future strength.

After breakfast, the routine meditation session ensued, followed by a stroll to the entrance gate with Mei. While one headed to the academy, the other made their way to the garrison.

Meanwhile, within Toshiro's household, another version of himself diligently honed his swordsmanship in the dojo. Yes, it was his shadow clone accompanying Mei to the gate.

A year prior, having mastered tree climbing and water walking techniques, Toshiro delved into the study of ninjutsu. With a discerning eye, he selected only the four fundamental techniques from the scrolls: Fireball Jutsu, Phoenix Flower Jutsu, Shadow Clone Jutsu, and the Demonic illusion : Hell viewing jutsu.

While the mastery of Fire-style Jutsu and Genjutsu came effortlessly, perfecting these three techniques consumed a mere two weeks.

However, he encountered a setback while practicing Shadow Clone Jutsu at that time, although he could still successfully execute it. The issue arose with the clone's duration, which fell short of his standards, lasting only a brief twenty or thirty minutes.

Such a setback was understandable given the requirement for chakra quantity. Given his unique circumstances of having lived two lifetimes and his rigorous meditation practice, his mental acuity was unparalleled among his peers, enabling him to excel in various pursuits such as reading, studying, and mastering chakra manipulation and illusion techniques with remarkable efficiency.

However, at the age of six, his physique was still limited in its development, and the perennial challenge of insufficient chakra persisted.

Even now, while employing a shadow clone to attend school on his behalf was convenient, it also imposed restrictions. When immobilized during class, he had to maintain a semblance of stillness, often resorting to perusing library books to pass the time, assuming a serene demeanor.

Outdoor classes, however, required his physical exertion. Fortunately, these were typically scheduled in the afternoon at the ninja school, leaving the mornings for theoretical learning.

Consequently, he made significant adjustments to his training regimen. Rising before dawn, he engaged in weighted sprints, followed by meditation and breakfast. Then, he dispatched a shadow clone to attend school while he practiced physical exercises and swordsmanship. A midday break allowed him to replenish his energy before resuming his training regimen.

In the afternoon, he attended classes in person, engaging in outdoor activities at school, which served as a disguised form of relaxation. However, he also made sure to allocate time for a shadow clone to practice chakra nature transformation at home. Yet, this duplicate would often disperse after an hour or two, long before his return from school.

To him, the Shadow Clone Technique was truly remarkable, unlike ordinary ninjutsu that manipulated elemental properties like fire, wind, earth, thunder, or water.

Being able to create an identical replica to perform tasks, scout, or fight in one's place and subsequently transmit acquired experiences and memories back to the original body was extraordinary. He suspected that this ninjutsu might have roots in Yin-Yang manipulation.

Simultaneously, it served as a method for honing one's spiritual energy. Through the use of shadow clones, he continuously exposed himself to new knowledge, experiences, and exhaustion. This perpetual cycle of energy expenditure and recovery facilitated personal growth.

He recalled from the original series how Naruto's progress gained momentum after mastering this technique.

Toshiro vigorously wielded a sword at a training dummy. As time passed, the rhythmic clang of metal against wood echoed like a tempest.

While he lacked formal training in swordsmanship techniques like drawing, slashing, or parrying, he focused on mastering the basics taught by the clan: speed, precision, and decisiveness.

Suddenly, a wooden ball the size of an egg whizzed through the air towards his back as he slashed downward. Without missing a beat, he smoothly adjusted his stance, deflecting the ball with the hilt of his sword.

Unfazed by the attack, he continued his relentless assault on the dummy. Moments later, another projectile shot towards him from the side. Anticipating the trajectory, he swiftly pivoted his body, narrowly evading the projectile while maintaining his attack.

This unconventional training regimen was his own creation, inspired by anime from his past life. He recalled reading about how a world champion swimmer's coach would deliberately cause various disruptions during training to simulate unexpected challenges during competitions.

Motivated by this approach, he incorporated innovative techniques into his physical and swordsmanship training. Utilizing shadow clones armed with bows and crossbows from Uncle Tetsu, he simulated surprise attacks by firing wooden balls at himself. These exercises often involved intricate maneuvers, including deftly evading projectiles while maintaining his offensive stance.

Even his morning jogs and workouts were meticulously planned to navigate through the woods from different angles, ensuring he adapted to varying terrains and achieved optimal fitness levels.

Toshiro believed such training was imperative, given the unpredictable nature of ninja battles characterized by suddenness and high offense, and also that, with war in the near future, he might face multiple enemies at the same time. He recognized the importance of honing his ability to anticipate and counter surprise attacks, crucial for achieving victory with a single decisive blow.

His dedication to rigorous training also extended to his daily meditation sessions, enhancing his connection with nature and unlocking hidden strengths within his body. Initially, he experienced a lot of setbacks, often being struck by projectiles despite careful preparation.

Over time, he began to develop a heightened perception, allowing him to anticipate incoming threats with uncanny accuracy. This newfound ability enabled him to sense anomalies during his morning runs, albeit within a limited range of three to five meters ahead of him.

As for why he opted for a wooden ball instead of a sharp object like a kunai, he simply didn't have the required masochistic tendency to experiment with that. Even if the kunai were wooden and fired from a bow, it could still inflict wounds and bleeding.

After nearly an hour of practicing swordsmanship, Toshiro took a generous gulp of salt water to replenish his body's electrolytes.

Thinking of unlocking the Sharingan, I couldn't help but lament once more. Why did others immediately awaken their ocular abilities upon crossing over? Some opened their eyes at age two or three, while others did so at age four or five. Yet, there seemed to be no progress for him. Was he perhaps having implanted eyes?

Strolling through the living room, Toshiro settled into his custom rocking chair, letting it lull him into a state of mental emptiness.

"It's time!"

His mind suddenly became overrun with information, and he also felt a faint sense of fatigue. Glancing at the living room clock, it read precisely 11:50.

Just ten minutes earlier, the morning lessons at the ninja school had concluded, and his shadow clone had found a secluded spot to disperse.

The influx of information he now experienced mirrored what his shadow clone had absorbed during the morning classes. However, instead of classroom knowledge, it was the detailed teachings of medical ninjutsu and training methods from a book he had brought along.

After several trials following his mastery of the shadow clone technique, he had developed a solid understanding of the jutsu and his body. Gifted with exceptional spiritual energy, surpassing both his peers and many in the Uchiha clan, his reserves were nearly two to three times theirs.

Despite his robust physical energy, it had its limits, different from the boundless stamina of Senju and Uzumaki. Overuse of the shadow clone, with its heightened activity levels, could lead to unbearable exhaustion. In contrast, the mental strain was more manageable. While the influx of morning knowledge induced a degree of fatigue, it was something he could alleviate with a short rest.

With this understanding, he refined his use of the shadow clone. Tasks like acquiring new knowledge, honing chakra control, attending cultural classes at the ninja school, and aiding in his practice were delegated to the clone. Meanwhile, he focused on intensifying his physical training.

Not everyone possessed the innate resilience of Naruto Uzumaki, who, fueled by the Yang attribute chakra from the Nine-Tails, could effortlessly summon thousands of shadow clones by his early teens—a fact that still struck Toshiro as monstrous.

AN : You can read chapters published ahead on my p@treon account - p@treon.com/noviceauthor777