The Guidance Begins

In the forests of the Land of Rivers, five ninjas moved swiftly through the trees.

Uchiha Obito lagged behind, his legs feeling as if they were filled with lead, each step a desperate squeeze of his body.

"Damn guy, I knew you wouldn't be so kind, daring to target me, Obito-sama." He grumbled, his face full of indignation.

Recalling his earlier low-voiced complaints to Sen Chisato, he regretted it immensely.

At the time, Sen Chisato hadn't punished him, and he'd thought Sen Chisato hadn't heard.

But when it came to wearing weights, the guy had doubled his load!

If he'd known, he should have complained openly back then!

Yes, he hadn't considered shutting up at all.

Sweat gathered on his forehead and, as he ran, it gradually flowed into his eyes.

Blinking, Obito tried to wipe away the sweat, but as soon as he raised his hand, his arm began to tremble, a tearing ache striking with every slight movement.

His eyes closed instinctively, and Obito lowered his head towards the back of his hand. Just then, a bone-chilling coldness swept over him from behind, a terrifying killing intent engulfing him.

His foot stumbled, and Obito collapsed to the ground, face-planting into the dirt.

"Ptooey, ptooey, ptooey!"

Spitting out the mud from his mouth, Obito looked up to see Sen Chisato standing in the trees, looking down at him coldly.

"Get up, don't fall behind."

"You bastard, why'd you scare me?!" Obito snarled.

"This is to help you adapt early, so you don't freeze up like an idiot when you face an enemy."

Sen Chisato explained expressionlessly, pointing forward. "Get up quickly. Because of you, our speed has been dragged down. Do you want to keep being the dead last?"

Obito looked up; Namikaze Minato and the others were waiting for him ahead.

"It's all because you doubled my weights," Obito said, struggling to get up, still feeling indignant.

"More effort means greater progress. Do you still want to be the dead last?" Sen Chisato asked.

Obito paused, no longer complaining. Taking a few deep breaths, he braced himself on his knees and slowly straightened up, running forward without another word.

Seeing this, Sen Chisato's lips curved. With a few leaps, he reached the front, arriving beside Kakashi.

Kakashi glanced at him but paid him no mind, remaining immersed in his own world.

He was also tired, but in much better condition. It wasn't just because his weight load was half of Obito's; he was inherently stronger than Obito and his will was firmer.

Especially after his emotional issues had been addressed, he felt both physically and mentally lighter.

Therefore, he still had the energy to think about how to integrate the Hatake Sword Technique with the sword moves Sen Chisato had demonstrated.

Watching him occasionally raise his hand and twist his wrist, making motions of holding a sword and swinging, most of which were practice of the Hatake Sword Technique, interspersed with a few stiff and unfamiliar movements, Sen Chisato understood.

This kid had hit another dead end!

He said directly, "Sword techniques are an extension of taijutsu. Your sword techniques have already formed a system, and the Hatake Sword Technique is also a complete and mature system. Messing with it like this won't bring any improvement."

"Didn't you tell me to change it?" Kakashi asked, confused.

"The improvements I want you to make are not about changing the system or the moves of the sword technique, but about making subtle adjustments to make it more suitable for your own use, thereby unleashing the greater power of the sword technique," Sen Chisato explained.

Kakashi thought for a long time, then finally shook his head. "Can you explain it more clearly?"

"Yes," Sen Chisato nodded, then glanced back at Obito, whose eyes were vacant and body swaying. "Wait a moment."

This wait lasted until sunset.

A "thump" came from the back of the group. Everyone stopped and looked back, seeing Obito lying motionless on the ground.

"Obito." Nohara Rin said, her face full of worry, and she started to run back.

Sen Chisato was faster. He instantly reached Obito, flipped him over to check him, and then carried him to Nohara Rin's side.

"Don't worry, he just fainted from exhaustion."

Setting Obito down, Sen Chisato couldn't help but sigh, "I thought he wouldn't last long, that he'd cry out in pain and give up early, or pass out not long after. I didn't expect him to be able to do this. It makes me see him in a new light."

This was the highest praise Sen Chisato had ever given Uchiha Obito. Even Kakashi said, "If he heard that, he'd be incredibly smug."

"It's better not to let him hear it. Knowing him, he'll become arrogant and conceited again," Sen Chisato commented mercilessly.

Nohara Rin carefully examined Obito and finally breathed a sigh of relief. "He's fine, just completely exhausted."

Namikaze Minato observed Obito's condition and smiled. "Not only that, Obito has broken through his limits this time. When he wakes up, he'll be stronger."

"Really? If Obito knew, he'd probably jump for joy," Nohara Rin said, her eyes curving.

"So, the current weight load is a bit insufficient, is that it?" Sen Chisato mused, stroking his chin.

His focus was always so peculiar.

Namikaze Minato and the others all looked at him, their eyes filled with disbelief.

This guy, was he a devil?

Their gazes returned to Obito, and a hint of pity appeared on their faces.

Serves you right for being so big-mouthed, blurting out whatever comes to mind!

Uchiha Obito had a dream.

The dream was pitch black, and he was all alone. His teacher Minato, that damn Kakashi, Rin, and that guy even more annoying than Kakashi – they had all vanished at some point, and no matter how hard he searched, he couldn't find them.

He ran forward with all his might, not knowing his destination or the meaning of it all, only the sound of his own heavy breathing and powerful heartbeat echoing in his ears.

Suddenly, a faint sound of conversation arose. Obito immediately stopped, tilting his ear to listen intently.

Gradually, the light in his eyes grew brighter and brighter.

It was Kakashi and Sen Chisato's voices!

He immediately sprinted in the direction of the sound. A sliver of light appeared before him, and as he drew closer, the light grew brighter and brighter, piercing his eyes so much that he instinctively closed them.

When he opened his eyes again, he saw distant mountains and deep valleys. The sky was painted with a golden-orange sunset, and the sea of trees, from afar to near, rippled with waves of green under a gentle breeze.

He turned his head and saw Sen Chisato and Kakashi sitting opposite each other. Sen Chisato was speaking, occasionally gesturing with his hands, while Kakashi listened with a serious expression, nodding in agreement from time to time.

As if sensing the movement, Sen Chisato glanced at him, raising an eyebrow. "Yo, you're awake."

Obito hadn't fully come to his senses yet and instinctively nodded blankly.

But Sen Chisato didn't notice. After a brief greeting, he continued his conversation with Kakashi.

"The Hatake Sword Technique is very strong. You don't need to add anything else to it, at least not yet. However, people's bodies are different. Even for the same person, their body changes with age and physique."

"What you need to do now is adjust the Hatake Sword Technique to best suit your performance based on your own physical condition."

"When your father guided you before, he must have done so according to your physical condition at the time. But after so many years, continuing to practice in the same way is no longer suitable."

Kakashi nodded in agreement. "I've also felt that my growth rate has been slowing down these past few years. I haven't slacked off on my training, and I've been through so much real combat... I see."

"Therefore, you need to make subtle adjustments, including the speed of your swings, the range of motion in your wrists, shoulders, waist, and legs, and how you exert force with your arms, and so on."

"I understand." Kakashi noted it down carefully.

At this moment, Obito finally came back to his senses and interrupted them. "Where's Rin? And where's Minato-sensei?"

Kakashi looked annoyed. He was at a crucial point in the conversation.

Sen Chisato didn't put on a sour face. When he turned to look at Obito, he said with a smile, "She's gone to cook. Rin has prepared a special meal just for you."