Three Years

"Danzō Shimura, what are you doing?"

Renye shouted at Danzō, who was sprawled on the ground.

"Get up. Get up now."

"I can't... I can't do it anymore..."

Danzō lay on the ground, exhausted like a dead dog.

He'd lost count of how many laps this was. All he remembered was that from the start of training, his legs hadn't stopped running.

This training was several times harsher than his usual routine.

Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others weren't faring well either. Their legs felt like lead, barely able to move an inch.

They stared in shock at Renye. Though he was drenched in sweat, his voice was still full of energy—clearly, he had plenty left in the tank.

Was this Lord Tobirama's training method?

No wonder Renye was so strong...

"Useless. Get up. Everyone's waiting for you. You don't want to drag the whole team down because of yourself, do you?" Renye said coldly.

Hearing this, Danzō gritted his teeth, forced his body up, and struggled to his feet.

"I... I understand..."

"Ten more laps. Everyone, hold on," Renye encouraged.

By now, their stamina was completely drained. Only willpower could push them through the rest of the training.

This kind of physical training, pushing beyond the body's limits, often unlocked hidden potential.

Of course, there was a threshold to those limits.

If they exceeded it, instead of unlocking potential, they'd cause irreversible damage to their bodies.

Especially for these kids, still growing.

That was why Tobirama Senju watched from the side—to make sure they didn't overdo it on their own.

The run ended.

Renye sat on the ground, looking at the others lying scattered around, gasping for air. He couldn't help but remember his first training session—it had been just like this.

Back then, he was only seven, still growing. Tobirama Senju's training plan hadn't been too brutal, but it had still been a tough pill to swallow.

A year had passed, and Renye's training volume had long since doubled.

That was why Hiruzen and the others were dead on their feet...

Danzō Shimura stared at the clear blue sky, his mind blank. He was too exhausted to think.

All he could hear was the rapid pounding of his heart.

The others were the same. Among them, Hiruzen was in slightly better shape, but not by much.

He turned his head to look at Renye, who sat pale-faced on the ground, and wondered: "How did Renye, at eight years old, manage to complete the teacher's training?"

After all, he himself was two years older.

He couldn't imagine how terrifying Renye's strength would be in two more years.

By then, he probably wouldn't be a match for him.

"I have to train hard and make sure Renye doesn't surpass me!" Hiruzen clenched his fists, his eyes burning with the desire to grow stronger.

He was the genius of the Sarutobi Clan—naturally, he didn't want anyone to overtake him.

Just then, Tobirama Senju walked up to them.

Ignoring their fatigue, they scrambled to their feet and stood at attention.

Tobirama Senju nodded slightly and praised, "Good. You all made it through."

He had seen their perseverance. They were worthy of being the Disciples he had personally chosen!

With his direct guidance, they would surely become excellent shinobi who loved the village and devoted their lives to it.

Perhaps the future Hokage successor could even be chosen from among them.

"From today on, I will personally guide you to grow stronger!" Tobirama Senju declared.

Hearing his words, everyone present breathed heavily, their faces full of admiration.

"Teacher, we will train hard!"

Renye watched their expressions and twitched his lips.

Had they already forgotten the pain of training?

Just moments ago, they looked half-dead, and now they were brimming with energy.

He was looking forward to seeing their faces during the next training session.

Tobirama Senju looked at their excited faces and said slowly, "Physical fitness is the foundation of a shinobi. Next, we'll continue with Physical Training."

At these words, the expressions on several faces froze.

Not again, right?

Didn't we just finish running?

Why do we have to run again?

Renye watched their expressions, the corners of his mouth lifting. "You really think getting stronger is that easy?"

At this, Danzō said coldly, "Hmph, isn't it just running? I can stick with it!"

Renye looked at him oddly. "Who said anything about running?"

Danzō looked confused. "If it's not running, then what is it?"

Renye smiled and rattled off over a dozen training methods. "Push-ups, squats, rock climbing..."

Danzō: "..."

Morning training ended.

The few of them were already collapsed on the ground, unable to get up.

Today's training made them realize just how terrifying Lord Tobirama's training plan was—almost every single item was pushing their physical potential to the limit.

This made them start to doubt life. In the training ahead, could they really keep going?

In the end, the five of them helped each other as they left.

Tobirama Senju said, "Kid, what do you think of them?"

Renye's heart stirred. This Old Man was testing him again.

He looked in the direction the others had left. "They have perseverance and are willing to work hard. Their potential is limitless."

Tobirama Senju stared at Renye's profile and pressed on. "Do you think they love the village?"

"Of course, they definitely love the village." Renye didn't hesitate at all.

"And you?" Tobirama Senju suddenly asked.

"I love the village too, of course." Renye smiled.

"Would you be willing to give your life for the village's development?"

Renye didn't answer immediately. He thought for a long time. "Maybe..."

Loving the village and giving your life for it were two different things.

Compared to the village's safety, he still cared more about his own.

Tobirama Senju didn't ask further. He nodded thoughtfully.

He had long noticed that this kid Renye had no sense of identity or belonging toward the village.

If this happened to someone else, it might be fine. But happening to an Uchiha was a bit dangerous...

Over the years, he had done his best to instill a love for the village in Renye, but it hadn't had much effect.

Still, there was plenty of time. He believed he could slowly change Renye's mindset.

"Kid, let's go home for dinner."

"What does Uncle feel like eating today?"

Three years passed in the blink of an eye, and it came to the Ninth Year of Konoha's Founding.

This year, Renye turned ten, and his height had reached one hundred fifty centimeters.

Renye was quite satisfied with his height. He was no longer the short-legged kid he used to be.

Well, his legs still weren't that long either...

Over the three years, Renye's strength had advanced rapidly, showing signs of surpassing Hiruzen Sarutobi.

He figured it was because his body was starting to develop—his physical fitness and Chakra reserves were growing quickly.

Afraid of being overtaken by Renye, Hiruzen Sarutobi trained like crazy.

Seeing his good friend working so hard, Danzō Shimura refused to fall behind.

The others were the same, constantly caught up in this Internal Competition.

With Tobirama Senju's guidance and their own hard training, the Ninja Academy's teaching model no longer suited them.

At their request, Tobirama Senju agreed to let them graduate early.

Calling it early graduation, compared to ordinary students, it was only a year ahead.