It was the weekend!
For once, Naruto didn't sleep in. He was up bright and early at 5:00 AM.
"Yosh! Another day full of energy!"
Donning his workout gear, Naruto stood before the mirror, flashing a dazzlingly cheerful smile.
"To catch up to Sasuke and earn his recognition... I'll work hard, train hard, and never give up!"
Clenching his fist, Naruto cheered himself on before stepping out of his house.
The crisp autumn morning was clear and refreshing, with a cool breeze caressing his face. It felt invigorating.
Adopting a determined expression, Naruto tightened his jacket, exhaled softly, and sprinted forward with all his might.
He ran with reckless abandon, lacking any technique. It was a raw burst of speed, burning through his stamina—just running flat out!
The streets were nearly deserted at this early hour, most people still asleep. But there were exceptions.
As Naruto rounded a corner onto Konoha Avenue, Uncle Teuchi, dressed in his white chef's uniform, had just arrived at his ramen shop.
Just as Uncle Teuchi was about to open his shop, he heard hurried footsteps coming from the end of the usually silent street, drawing his attention in the quiet morning.
'Is that the village ninja training?'
Uncle Teuchi glanced casually in the direction of the sound and froze, a look of surprise spreading across his face.
"Naruto?"
"Yo! Uncle Teuchi!" Naruto greeted cheerfully, stopping but still jogging in place.
A smile played at the corners of Uncle Teuchi's lips. "Training, huh, Naruto?"
"Of course, Uncle Teuchi!" Naruto replied enthusiastically. "Starting today, I'm going to train harder than ever!"
Uncle Teuchi nodded slightly, crossing his arms and saying gravely, "Then give it your all, Naruto! Hard work never betrays you."
"Thanks for the encouragement, Uncle!" Naruto shouted.
Uncle Teuchi chuckled softly, paused, and added, "After your training, come by. I'll treat you to ramen today!"
"Huh?!"
Naruto's eyes lit up with excitement. He nodded vigorously.
"I'll do my best, Uncle Teuchi!"
"Mm, go on. I believe in you, Naruto!"
"Yosh!"
The words had barely left Naruto's lips when he dashed off at an even greater speed, vanishing from sight in moments.
"Something seems to have changed in Naruto," Uncle Teuchi murmured, retracting his gaze. He chuckled softly, shook his head, and turned to open the shop for the day's work.
'Huff! Huff! Huff!'
Naruto gasped for breath, his lungs burning, his body drenched in sweat. After running at full throttle for over an hour, even his formidable physique was beginning to falter.
'Keep going! Keep going!'
Naruto mentally urged himself onward, Sasuke's words flashing through his mind:
"Naruto, while Shadow Clones can assist with studying and training, the foundation of physical training still requires your personal effort. My personal advice? Make physical training your primary focus right now!"
"Taijutsu?" Naruto asked, his expression puzzled.
"Exactly," Sasuke replied calmly.
"Given your current condition, focusing on taijutsu training is the best approach. Your physical aptitude is exceptional, and your recovery is remarkably fast. Taijutsu training will yield double the results for half the effort. Moreover, it's often the most grueling form of training, tempering not just your body but also your will and spirit!"
"I see..." Naruto scratched his head, then suddenly remembered something and asked eagerly, "But Sasuke, how did you realize my physical aptitude was so good?"
"I beat you up so many times, I just noticed!"
"..."
Snapping out of his reverie, Naruto realized he had unconsciously run to the ninja training grounds in a secluded corner of Konoha—Training Ground Three!
He slowed his pace, sweat already soaking every inch of his skin, his steps unsteady and faltering.
Upon arriving at Training Ground Three, Naruto didn't immediately rest. Instead, he clasped his index and middle fingers together, crossed his hands in a cross-shaped seal, and chanted sharply:
"Shadow Clone Technique!"
Ten solid clones instantly materialized across the training ground.
"Everyone! Let's give it our all!" Naruto shouted, encouraging his newly created shadow clones.
"Yoshi! X10"
The Shadow Clones responded in unison, immediately launching into kunai and shuriken practice, tree climbing drills, and sparring matches.
Meanwhile, Naruto himself gazed at the circular track in the training ground.
"Five hundred inverted laps! Begin! No resting until you finish!"
Time ticked by, and the eastern sun began to rise slowly, its warm morning rays bathing Naruto's face.
By then, he had completed all five hundred inverted laps, but his entire body was trembling violently, his heart pounding incessantly—signs of extreme physical exhaustion.
'Rest for a while. You're exhausted.'
'You've been training all day. You deserve a break.'
'In weather like this, shouldn't you be sleeping soundly at home?'
Naruto gasped for breath, the seductive voices whispering in his ears, tempting him to give up.
'Hmph!'
'No way!'
'Future Hokage doesn't give up so easily!'
Remembering his promise to Sasuke, Naruto's eyes suddenly burned with unwavering resolve. His depleted body seemed to find reserves of strength he hadn't known he possessed.
"Alright, next up is..."
Suppressing the urge to collapse and rest, Naruto stripped off his upper body clothing and lay prone on the ground, his body as taut as a bowstring.
He planted his hands and feet firmly on the ground like the gnarled roots of an ancient tree, supporting his weight with his limbs while maintaining a straight line from head to toe.
His head remained in a natural position, and he breathed steadily.
Plank!
Static Exercise!
Fundamental physical training can be broadly divided into two categories: dynamic exercises and static exercises.
Dynamic exercises focus on developing explosive power, such as sprints, high jumps, and handstand runs. These activities effectively stimulate muscle explosiveness.
Static exercises, on the other hand, emphasize balance, stability, and flexibility. Examples include yoga, horse stance, knee raises with leg control, and planks. These exercises build muscular endurance and coordination.
Having already completed sprints and handstand runs, Naruto now focused on planks and horse stance.
With his straightforward mindset, Naruto would never have devised such scientifically structured training methods himself. This foundational physical training plan had been designed for him by Sasuke.
For Naruto, these fundamental and straightforward exercises were the ideal approach.
___
Meanwhile, in Konoha Village, at Haruno Sakura's home...
In the courtyard, Sakura tirelessly manipulated the small sphere of water in her hand.
With each adjustment, the sphere gradually transformed into a humanoid shape, its features and physique slowly becoming more distinct.
"Hahahaha! I finally did it!" Sakura exclaimed triumphantly, her face radiant with excitement.
In her palm rested a miniature, liquid creature bearing a striking resemblance to Sasuke in both appearance and build.
"Sakura, what's all the racket so early in the morning?" Haruno Mebuki, Sakura's mother, entered the courtyard wearing a qipao emblazoned with the family crest. She scolded, "How many times have I told you to maintain your ladylike composure!"
"Ah! I'm sorry, Mom," Sakura said, her cheeks flushing crimson as she hastily dispelled the liquid figure and apologized.
"Oh, right, Mom!" Sakura suddenly remembered something and rushed forward to hug Haruno Mebuki, her voice dripping with sweetness. "Mom, will you teach me Ninjutsu?"
Haruno Mebuki retorted, "You want me to teach you Ninjutsu? Have you even mastered the basics from the Ninja Academy?"
"Of course I have!" Sakura nodded vigorously, a confident smile spreading across her face.
Haruno Mebuki pondered for a moment, stroking her daughter's pink hair. "What kind of Ninjutsu do you want to learn?"
"Water Release!"
__
Meanwhile, at the Uchiha Clan Compound's training grounds...
Sasuke stood in a deep bow stance, his left hand gripping the scabbard and his right hand resting on the hilt of his Tachi.
He focused intently, holding his breath, his eyes locked on a small artificial mountain thirty meters away, motionless as a statue.
Though Sasuke appeared perfectly still, Chakra had already surged into his Tachi, causing the blade to glow an intense crimson.
Countless microscopic strands of Chakra collided and vibrated ceaselessly at a molecular level, generating extreme heat and explosive power.
Simultaneously, Sasuke continued to gather momentum, building up the sword's energy.
Finally, Sasuke moved. When he struck, the impact was astonishing.
With a lightning-fast draw, the crimson blade flashed into existence, tearing through the air like a scorching crescent moon.
The fiery edge, burning with intense heat, streaked toward the distant artificial mountain with thunderous speed. Wherever it passed, the solid ground and rocks glowed red-hot!
'BOOM!'
The five-meter-tall artificial mountain was cleaved in two.
Only after the fiery blade had vanished into the distance did the divided halves crumble under gravity's pull, collapsing with a deafening crash and sending clouds of dust billowing into the air.
Sasuke silently observed the ruins for a long moment before slowly exhaling. With a fluid flick of his wrist, he sheathed the Tachi in a slow, steady, and graceful motion.
'Sword Leap Flame!'