Naruto Li Ke's Training

"Yes, Second Hokage."

Following Senju Tobirama's instructions, Li Ke began training methodically.

"Hmph. Run the chakra through the nodes in your right arm a few more times. You've successfully reconnected your chakra network, but the connection is still very fragile, so you need to reinforce it with this secret technique... Come on, let go of control. I'll teach you how to heal your chakra network."

The Second Hokage snorted. To his surprise, Li Ke seemed oddly familiar with the process of circulating chakra through his body and contacting the acupuncture points. But according to his investigation, the Murata Clan had no secret training techniques like this. Which meant...

"Is it talent again?"

So he became even more demanding.

The reason Li Ke was familiar with it was actually quite simple.

The secret training technique the Second Hokage had given him really did resemble the internal cultivation technique Smiling Proud Li Ke had learned!

But after trying it out carefully, he realized that it shared some similarities with the internal arts of the martial arts world, but just like swordsmanship, the similarities were limited. There were far more differences.

The internal arts in Smiling Proud Wanderer mainly involved extracting qi from the body and storing it in the dantian. Once it was used up, as long as one's meridians weren't damaged and one had eaten enough, the qi would naturally recover. Practicing the internal cultivation method could speed up its recovery by using one's physical strength.

The qi stored in the dantian was like money in the bank or electricity in a battery.

It could be stored until needed, but there was a limit to how much could be stored.

However, when practicing, people generally didn't keep all their qi stored away. They could use it to widen their meridians, strengthen their bodies, or break through blockages and open up other meridians.

It was the same as what the Second Hokage was having him practice now: using his own energy to widen the pathways through which it flowed, then strengthening the points and channels used to extract, store, and release that energy—in other words, the acupuncture points and meridians...

The Second Hokage was currently having him strengthen the chakra network in his right arm. The principle was almost identical to using one's energy to heal internal injuries in the world of Smiling Proud Wanderer.

But in that world, martial artists with fully open meridians could circulate the qi in their dantian through their meridians without end. Other people might only be able to store a hundred units of energy, but they could store five hundred, and recover it five times as fast.

In other words, after learning internal cultivation, you could turn the strength and nutrients you gained from being healthy and eating well into energy called qi, then use it whenever you needed it.

But chakra didn't work that way. After being extracted, chakra would dissipate if it wasn't used promptly, and a considerable amount would be wasted.

That was why shinobi extracted chakra as they needed it. Shinobi with large chakra reserves were powerful because they could extract a lot of chakra into their bodies at once and use it whenever they wanted. In battle, they could cast and chain jutsu much faster than those with smaller reserves.

After all, no matter how fast a chakra extraction technique was, it still took time and concentration.

After comparing the two, Li Ke gave up on using his internal cultivation method to circulate chakra.

That wasn't to say there was nothing like the internal arts of Smiling Proud Wanderer.

Tsunade's Yin Seal was similar!

"Don't get distracted!"

The Second Hokage sharply scolded Li Ke. While Li Ke had been thinking, the chakra in some of his acupuncture points had been circulating too quickly, which could interfere with his wounds' healing.

But in truth, the Second Hokage was already quite pleased with Li Ke's progress. He had expected it to take a month to teach him this secret technique.

"This technique can greatly increase the speed at which you extract chakra, the speed at which chakra circulates, and the output of chakra through your acupuncture points.

"Each training session might not seem like much, but over time, it'll make you much faster in battle. However, someone without vitality and chakra as abundant as yours can't learn this technique. If they try to force it, their vitality will rapidly decline, and their strength will fall with it."

The Second Hokage sounded wistful as he spoke. When he was young, he had used all kinds of secret techniques and forbidden jutsu on himself. In just twenty or thirty years, his physical condition and combat strength had deteriorated severely.

Even without Kinkaku and Ginkaku's ambush, he wouldn't have lived much longer in his condition.

Still, by the standards of the Warring States period, he had lived to a ripe old age.

And in the end, he had died for a worthy cause. For a shinobi, it had been a good death.

"Uh, so I'll be fine, right?"

Hearing that, Li Ke immediately stopped the technique. His cheat was far more powerful than he'd expected, so his dream of going home and becoming a boss had faded quite a bit. But this secret technique was the exact opposite of the internal arts of Smiling Proud Wanderer—it was practically a death sentence. He figured he'd better not risk it.

Senju Tobirama was speechless, but he couldn't very well tell Li Ke that he could use Wood Release, and that he planned to invest heavily in training him and see whether he was suited to become the next Hokage.

He still needed to observe Li Ke's character.

"...You'll be fine. If anything, it'll stimulate your bloodline. All right. Given your condition today, do thirty more repetitions."

Li Ke didn't say anything else. He obediently followed Senju Tobirama's instructions and began circulating chakra through his body to stimulate the chakra points.

As he practiced Senju Tobirama's secret technique, Li Ke noticed that his chakra network had indeed become a little stronger. The parts that had been reconnected in particular felt warm and comfortable.

But by the time he had finished thirty repetitions, it was completely dark outside.

After checking the time, Li Ke knew he wouldn't see Yuhi Kurenai and the others until tomorrow, so he closed his eyes.

But—

Senju Tobirama spoke again.

"Hand control of your body over to me. I'll cast a genjutsu, and we'll fight inside it."

Li Ke was stunned.

"Huh? Second Hokage, do we really have to? And do you actually have a jutsu like that?"

Senju Tobirama's voice was as cold as ever.

"I just created one. Don't worry about your mental state. I happen to have a technique that can quickly put a shinobi into a deep sleep, so there's no need to worry about your sleep or mental health."

He paused, then continued.

"Besides, there's no suitable eye to pair with yours for now. This is a good chance to practice fighting without your vision. Or are you saying you don't want to get stronger?"

Li Ke: "..."

Whatever you say...

Li Ke closed his eyes. The next moment, Senju Tobirama's will took over his body, and he swiftly formed several hand seals.

Li Ke only had time to recognize the first three seals before his vision shifted to a forest, where a silver-haired Senju Tobirama stood right in front of him.

"All right, kid. I'll suppress my strength to match yours. Once you're ready, we'll begin."

Looking at Senju Tobirama standing with his arms folded and a stern expression, Li Ke couldn't help wanting to ask: hadn't he said a few days ago that he didn't want to be a shinobi anymore? And even if he wanted to develop a Kekkei Genkai so that his marriage with Kurenai could be even happier, what did that have to do with sparring?

Still, this is a rare chance to receive personal guidance from the Second Hokage. I shouldn't overthink it.

Thinking that, Li Ke took a deep breath and smiled at Senju Tobirama.

"Of course, Second Hokage. I'm ready to dance!"

He smiled at the Second Hokage and, without thinking, blurted out his usual line.

Senju Tobirama's eyes widened. His smile disappeared.

"Ready to dance, are you?"

As soon as Li Ke said it, he realized what he'd done. Then Senju Tobirama smiled again.

"You're ready to dance, are you?"

Li Ke sensed trouble. But the next moment, several kunai shot toward him. Before he could react, Senju Tobirama appeared right in front of him and swung the gleaming Ninja Sword in his hand, cutting off his head.

As the world spun, Li Ke heard Senju Tobirama's icy voice.

"What are you spacing out for?!"

The next moment, the two of them were back where they had started. This time, Li Ke finally saw Senju Tobirama raise his hand to cast a jutsu. He hurriedly formed hand seals and dodged, evading the initial Flying Thunder God Slash.

But beside the Flying Thunder God Kunai that had landed on the ground, three Shadow Clones of Senju Tobirama suddenly appeared, and that dazzling Dance of the Crescent Moon came once more.

This time, though, he was the target.

Li Ke couldn't react in time as he dodged. Senju Tobirama's Shadow Clones hacked him to pieces!

When did he make those Shadow Clones?!

When the scene shifted again, Li Ke drew his long sword and kunai. He threw a kunai to clash with one of Senju Tobirama's Flying Thunder God Kunai, then charged at him at the same time.

But—

"Water Release: Water Formation Wall."

Senju Tobirama merely brought his hands together. The next moment, a vortex of water appeared out of nowhere and slammed into Li Ke, sweeping him into its current.

Senju Tobirama even had time to smirk at him before throwing a shuriken at Li Ke, who was unable to move after being struck by the "defensive jutsu." It hit him squarely in the forehead!

Back at the starting point again, Li Ke hurriedly raised his hands.

"Second Hokage! This is just a one-sided beating!"

Their speed at forming hand seals, their mastery of jutsu, and their reaction times were worlds apart. This sparring session was just him getting bullied!

Senju Tobirama's expression immediately darkened, and an oppressive aura filled the air.

"That's because your shinobi training isn't good enough! You have too many openings! Do you think your enemies will only be elite shinobi?! Besides—"

Senju Tobirama formed a one-handed sword seal again, and a vast darkness instantly engulfed Li Ke.

"—didn't you want to dance?!"

So you really went all out because of that line!

Li Ke hurriedly tried to sense the footsteps around him, but it still didn't help. A slicing sound cut through the darkness, and his head was severed.

Only after his head hit the ground did Senju Tobirama's voice drift lazily over.

"You forgot about my Flying Thunder God Slash. If you want to dance, kid, this isn't good enough."

Li Ke: "..."

I know! But do I have any way to defend against it?!

Still, Li Ke gritted his teeth and began another round of combat.

And so, after dying again and again, Li Ke's consciousness gradually reached its limit. The moment he noticed, Senju Tobirama ended the genjutsu and cast the technique that would put Li Ke into a deep sleep.

After all, they were in Konoha. There was no need to worry about an attack. Even if one came, he was there.

Although Li Ke's chakra was pitifully low, it was still enough for him to use thirty percent of his combat strength.

But—

When sunlight streamed into the hospital room again, Li Ke groggily opened his eyes. The first thing he did was touch his head and chest.

"Is my head still there?!"

After blurting the question out in alarm, Li Ke felt his intact neck and heard his healthy heart beating.

He knew it wasn't his fault for reacting so strongly. If anyone had their head chopped off over and over for three hours, had a blade driven into their eyes, or had their legs broken before their head was cut off—and then fainted the last time they were stabbed through the eye and beheaded—anyone would wonder whether their head was still there.

He hadn't felt any pain, but it was terrifying!

His sudden movement also woke the girl who had been dozing beside his bed.

Yuhi Kurenai, with her smooth black hair, lifted her head from Li Ke's legs. Seeing how panicked he looked, she quickly took his hand and comforted him.

"It's all right, Qingtan. It's all right... You're not on the battlefield anymore."

Li Ke was still groggy from waking up, but the girl thought he was still caught in pain and nightmares, so she chose the most effective way to comfort him.

A hug.

"There, there. Don't be afraid. I'm here."

Her fragrant breath brushed Li Ke's cheek. With Yuhi Kurenai's forehead pressed against his, he could clearly smell her hair, see her trembling lips and beautiful face. It all stirred a strange feeling in him.

But they were only twelve.

Even so, that warm presence and reassuring air still made Li Ke unable to help—

"So you're going to call her 'Mom' instead of 'Wife'?"

Senju Tobirama's voice interrupted Li Ke's rare moment of warmth.

"Second Hokage, could you please not speak right now? Also, next time Kurenai and I are together, I'm going to shut off your five senses..."

Li Ke quietly stated his intentions, and he was quite serious.

But the cold-blooded Senju Tobirama was dismissive.

"I'm just stating a fact. A man should bear the burden of supporting his family. You should show your strong side at a time like this. If a woman sees you acting weak, are you even a man? You should have pushed her away and told her you were fine!"

Li Ke: "..."

"Second Hokage."

"What?"

"May I ask—do you have a girlfriend?"

"No. I don't have time to get entangled with women. I'd rather use that time to develop a few more jutsu and analyze more intelligence... Why?"

"Nothing. Just curious."