So training was this exhausting.
After finishing his run, Naruto lay beneath a tree like a drowned rat, gasping for breath.
His once-refined appearance had vanished completely. He looked utterly disheveled now.
He had not fallen into a river. It was all sweat.
Naruto had originally thought that training meant learning all sorts of combat techniques, and that with enough talent, he could learn them twice as efficiently with half the effort.
He had never expected that the solid foundation required for training could only be built through time and physical exertion.
Do I regret it? he asked himself.
"No. I am prepared to become stronger." He shook his head and cast those chaotic thoughts to the back of his mind.
"Human bodies are frail, but they are also malleable. Through training, humans can possess limitless possibilities." Aizen quietly watched Naruto train, his eyes flickering.
There were also powerful humans capable of rivaling Bleach, known as Quincy.
The fundamental difference between them and Bleach was that Bleach continually enhanced their Reiatsu through training, while Quincy could directly draw Reiryoku from the outside world.
As a result, aside from the rare Bleach with extraordinary talent, most Bleach improved their strength far more slowly than Quincy.
This stirred jealousy among the Bleach, but it was not the primary cause of the conflict.
The most important issue was their differing attitudes toward Hollows.
When Bleach killed Hollows, they merely purified their souls and allowed them to enter the cycle of reincarnation, while Bleach themselves were transformed from human souls.
In contrast, Quincy completely killed Hollows and destroyed their souls. Thus, Quincy actions disrupted the balance between the Soul Society and the living world, eventually leading to the extinction of the Bleach.
And so, war broke out between the two sides.
Over a thousand years of bloody warfare, the Quincy suffered defeat after defeat and were nearly subjected to Clan Annihilation by the Bleach.
In the present-day living world, it was nearly impossible to find even a single Quincy.
Unlike those Bleach who hated Quincy, Aizen was filled with curiosity about them.
If humans and Bleach both had limits to their potential, then what about the union of humans and Bleach?
It was precisely because of this that Aizen had recently facilitated the birth of Ichigo Kurosaki, a boy with both Bleach and Quincy bloodlines.
At the thought, Aizen was filled with anticipation. One was the descendant of a Bleach and a Quincy, while the other was a human with the powers of a Bleach and a ninja.
He wondered how great a surprise they would bring him.
"The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki has begun training." An Anbu ninja reported Naruto's information to the Third Hokage in real time.
"Training? Why would Naruto suddenly want to train?" The Third Hokage frowned deeply and took a hard drag from his pipe.
He took out a crystal ball and began monitoring Naruto's every move in real time.
Within the crystal ball, Naruto was carrying a fairly large tree.
Its roots were still covered in dirt, clearly having been pulled out not long ago. It was about as tall as Naruto and weighed at least fifty pounds.
Watching Naruto struggle with all his might yet continue forward, the Third Hokage's brow twitched wildly.
"It seems I need to do something."
Naruto had originally thought that this self-harming form of training would damage his body, but strangely, after one night, his aching body had recovered completely. He remained as lively as ever.
My recovery ability is beyond that of ordinary people, Naruto thought.
With that assurance, Naruto continued maintaining his high-intensity training.
At first, he had been somewhat resistant, but training was like lifting weights. The more he ached, the more he hurt, the more he came to enjoy that feeling of pushing his body to its limit.
Then, one night, the Third arrived without warning.
"Naruto, how have you been? I forgot to give you your living expenses last time I came." The Third placed a stack of money on Naruto's table.
"Grandpa Third, this is way too much." Naruto counted it roughly, his face lighting up with delight.
This time, he had received at least fifty percent more living expenses than usual. He could buy slightly better ingredients this month.
"Consider the extra amount spending money from your grandpa." The Third winked at Naruto. Each harbored his own ulterior motives as they smiled at one another.
Third: Easy to control.
Naruto: Heh heh.
At that moment, the Third pretended to notice Naruto's fatigue and asked with concern, "Naruto, why do you look so tired?"
"I've been training these past few days, so I've been using up a lot of energy," Naruto answered smoothly.
The two of them continued along that topic.
"Why did you start training?"
"Because only by becoming stronger can I become Hokage. I want the power to protect everyone."
Hearing Naruto's textbook-perfect answer, the Third was deeply moved. He took several hard drags from his pipe, but quickly realized Naruto was still a child, so he set it down and said with emotion, "Naruto, you really have grown up."
"Maybe it is because of my environment. Since I long to be acknowledged, I think about many things." Naruto instantly became somewhat downcast, but soon lifted his head and revealed a bright, warm smile. "I believe I can become Hokage."
"If you need anything, just ask." The Third made his promise.
Naruto took the opportunity to raise his request to learn swordsmanship and Chakra.
"You are already four years old. It is time for you to begin refining Chakra. I will have the Anbu bring you some basic books, but why do you want to learn swordsmanship?"
Ninjas excelled at using Kunai and ninjutsu.
There were very few ninjas who used swords.
"A few days ago, I read about the White Fang in Chronicles of Konoha Heroes. I think that as long as one's swordsmanship reaches an extraordinary level, it can also play a crucial role in battle." Naruto, who had prepared for this, immediately answered.
"Why does it have to be swordsmanship? As long as ninjutsu is used properly, it can be just as lethal. Besides, practicing swordsmanship requires a great deal of time."
"I just think swordsmanship looks cool, so I want to give it a try." Naruto scratched his head sheepishly.
Children his age truly did want to be both cool and strong.
The Third remembered having similar thoughts when he was young.
Whenever he saw a particularly flashy attack style, he wanted to learn it, but after trying them, he always chose to give up.
He believed Naruto would give up soon as well.
So, the Third readily agreed to Naruto's request.
After the Third left, Naruto closed the door and took out the Asauchi from beneath his bed.
The pitch-black, unremarkable Asauchi gleamed with a cold light, like a sword eagerly awaiting blood.
"The Asauchi is the form of a Zanpakuto before its awakening. Only after a Bleach communicates and bonds with its Zanpakuto Spirit can it awaken," Aizen said at that moment.
"Zanpakuto Spirit? What is that?" Naruto looked utterly confused.
"Awaken a Zanpakuto?"
Naruto stroked the Asauchi, and another faint connection formed between his heart and the blade.
This feeling was...
Naruto's eyes widened. That heart-pounding sensation of being connected to something was so familiar.
Suddenly, a powerful wave of exhaustion washed over him. Naruto felt his eyelids grow heavy, and still gripping the Asauchi, he leaned against the bed and fell into a deep sleep.
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