Individual Cultivation

Weekend!

Today, Naruto was uncharacteristically not sleeping in, having woken up early at 5:00 AM.

"Alright! Today is going to be another high-energy day!"

Naruto put on his athletic gear, stood in front of the mirror, and flashed a brilliantly sunny smile!

"To catch up to Sasuke soon and earn his recognition, keep going, work hard, and strive!"

Naruto clenched his fists, cheered himself on, and then stepped out of his home.

The autumn morning was crisp and refreshing; a cool breeze brushed against Naruto's face, feeling very comfortable.

Naruto wore a determined expression, tightened his clothes, exhaled softly, and then kicked off, running forward with all his might.

Naruto ran fast and urgently, without any technique at all—it was just the kind of running that burns energy as quickly as possible, or as the saying goes, just letting loose and sprinting for all he was worth!

The time was still very early, and most people were still in their dreams; there was almost no one on the streets, but there were exceptions.

As Naruto ran past a street and turned onto Konoha Avenue, Teuchi, dressed in his white chef's uniform, had just arrived at the entrance of his shop.

Just as he was about to unlock his shop door, he heard the sound of rapid footsteps coming from the end of the street, which seemed particularly noticeable in the silent street at this hour.

Is a village ninja out for training?

Teuchi glanced casually toward the sound and was immediately stunned, a look of surprise appearing on his face.

"Naruto?"

"Yo! Uncle Teuchi!" Seeing Teuchi, Naruto looked very happy and greeted him. Although he stopped his body, he kept jogging in place.

Teuchi smiled at the corners of his mouth and asked, "Naruto, are you out for training?"

"Of course, Uncle Teuchi!" Naruto responded excitedly, "From today on, I'm going to work hard at my training!"

Teuchi nodded slightly, crossed his arms, and said in a deep voice, "Then keep at it. Hard work never betrays anyone, Naruto!"

"Thanks for the support, Uncle!"

Naruto said loudly.

Teuchi smiled slightly, paused, and continued, "After you finish your training, you can come by. Uncle will treat you to ramen today!"

"Eh!?"

Naruto's eyes lit up, a look of pleasant surprise appearing on his face as he nodded repeatedly.

"I'll do my best, Uncle Teuchi!"

"Mm, go on. I believe in you, Naruto!"

"Alright!"

As soon as the words fell, Naruto ran off at an even faster speed, disappearing into the distance in no time.

"Naruto seems to have changed a bit." Withdrawing his gaze, Teuchi gave a light smile, shook his head, and turned to open the shop door to prepare for the day's work.

Hah! Hah! Hah!

Naruto was panting heavily, his lungs burning with pain, and his entire body was drenched in sweat; his clothes and pants were soaked through. He had been running for over an hour, and he had been doing it at a full-out sprint, so even with his constitution, he felt incredibly exhausted now.

Persist! Persist!

Naruto secretly cheered himself on in his heart, while Sasuke's words kept flashing through his mind.

"Naruto, although the Shadow Clone Technique can assist you in learning and cultivation, the most basic taijutsu training must be done by you personally. Also, my personal advice is that your current goal should be focused on taijutsu!"

"Taijutsu?"

Naruto wore a confused expression.

"Yes!"

Sasuke responded calmly.

"Given your current conditions, it is best to train in taijutsu. Your physical talent is excellent, and your recovery is strong. Taijutsu training can achieve twice the result with half the effort. Besides, taijutsu training is often the most grueling; it tempers not just the body, but also the will and the spirit!"

"I see." Naruto scratched his head, then as if remembering something, he quickly asked, "But, Sasuke, how did you discover that my physical talent is so good?"

"I found out after beating you up enough times!"

"..."

Pulling his thoughts back from the memory, Naruto had unknowingly run to the ninja training ground in the corner of Konoha: Training Ground 3!

Naruto slowed his pace. By now, sweat had soaked every inch of his skin, and he was walking unsteadily, stumbling.

Upon arriving at Training Ground 3, Naruto didn't rest immediately. Instead, he pressed his index and middle fingers together, crossed his hands in a cross sign, and shouted softly:

"Shadow Clone Technique!"

Ten physical clones instantly appeared within the training ground.

"Everyone! Let's do our best!"

Naruto shouted, encouraging the newly created shadow clones.

"Alright! X10"

The Shadow Clones responded in unison, immediately proceeding with shurikenjutsu practice, tree-climbing exercises, and live-combat sparring!

Uzumaki Naruto himself, however, looked toward the circular track of the training ground.

"Five hundred laps of handstand running, start! No resting until it's finished!"

Time ticked by second by second, and the morning sun in the east began to slowly rise. The warm dawn light shone on Naruto's face. By now, he had completed the five hundred laps of handstand running, but his entire body was trembling violently, and his heart was pounding incessantly—a sign that his body was pushed to the absolute limit of exhaustion.

Rest for a while, you're so tired...

You've been training for so long today, you should take a break...

In this weather, shouldn't you be sleeping soundly at home right now?...

Naruto panted heavily, as if voices were constantly whispering in his ears, tempting him to give up.

Hmph!

No way!

The great Uzumaki Naruto doesn't give up that easily!

Recalling the promise he made with Sasuke, Naruto's eyes were instantly filled with determination. His body, which had been on the verge of collapse, seemed to find a new reserve of strength.

"Then, next is..."

Resisting the urge to collapse and rest, Naruto took off his shirt. He pressed himself against the ground like a taut string, his hands and feet anchored firmly like the roots of an ancient tree. Supporting his weight with his hands and toes, he kept his body in a perfectly straight line, maintained a natural posture for his head, and breathed evenly!

Plank!

Static training!

Basic physical training can be roughly divided into two categories: dynamic exercise and static exercise!

Dynamic exercise trains the body's explosive power; sprinting, high jumping, and handstand running are all dynamic exercises that better stimulate muscle explosiveness.

Static exercise trains balance, stability, and flexibility, such as Yoga, Horse Stance, Knee Raise Hold, and Plank. These train muscle endurance and coordination!

Naruto had already completed the sprinting and handstand running; what he needed to do now were the Plank and the Horse Stance.

With Naruto's thick-headed nature, he naturally wouldn't have thought of these scientific training methods; these were part of a basic physical training plan designed for him by Sasuke!

These basic, simple methods were the best way for Naruto to train!

Konohagakure, Haruno Sakura's home.

In the courtyard, Sakura was continuously manipulating a small water ball in her hands. Under her constant control, the water ball gradually took on a human shape, and its facial features and physique slowly began to clarify...

"Hahahaha, I finally did it!"

Sakura wore an excited expression and shouted happily. In her palm appeared a small liquid creature whose body and appearance closely resembled Sasuke.

"Sakura, why are you so noisy early in the morning?" Her mother, Haruno Mebuki, wearing a qipao with the family crest, walked in and scolded, "I've told you so many times, pay attention to your image as a lady!"

"Ah! I'm sorry, Mom." Sakura blushed, hurriedly dispelled the liquid figure, and apologized.

"Oh, right, Mom!" Sakura seemed to remember something. She walked up and hugged Haruno Mebuki, acting spoiled, "Mom, will you teach me ninjutsu?"

Haruno Mebuki asked crossly, "You want me to teach you ninjutsu? Have you even mastered your studies at the Ninja Academy?"

"Of course I have." Sakura nodded quickly, showing a confident smile.

Haruno Mebuki pondered for a moment, stroked her daughter's pink hair, and asked, "What kind of ninjutsu do you want to learn?"

"Water Release!"

Meanwhile, at the Uchiha Clan Compound, in the training ground.

Sasuke stood in a lunge, his left hand holding the scabbard and his right hand resting on the hilt. He focused his mind and held his breath, his eyes like lightning as he stared unblinkingly at a small rockery thirty meters away.

Although Sasuke appeared motionless on the surface, his Chakra had long since been poured into the katana in his hand, turning it glowing red.

Threads of imperceptible, tiny Chakra were constantly colliding and moving in a molecular state, increasing the temperature and explosive power!

At the same time, Sasuke was continuously building up momentum—the momentum of the blade!

Finally, Sasuke moved. He was still as a statue, but once he moved, it was startling!

Sasuke drew his blade in an instant. A crimson light flashed and flared up suddenly. A brilliant blade of fire, like a red moon, tore through the air. Carrying intense heat, it slashed toward the distant rockery with thunderous speed. Wherever it passed, the solid earth and rocks on the ground were scorched red!

Boom!

The five-meter-tall rockery was sliced directly in two. Only after the fiery blade light had traveled far away did the rockery split apart and, guided by gravity, collapse heavily, kicking up a sky full of dust!

Sasuke watched the rockery silently for a good while before slowly exhaling. With a flick of his flexible wrist, he sheathed the katana in a steady, slow, and graceful motion.

Sword Leap Flame complete!