Busy Training

His physical foundation had undergone initial restoration, and his chakra reserves had stabilized at the Genin level. Shaye did not keep the joy of this rebirth-like transformation to himself. He knew well that he could not have made it through this difficult journey without the concern and help of those who had supported him, openly or otherwise.

He first paid a visit to Elder Chiyo. In Chiyo's study, steeped in the scent of medicinal herbs and scrolls, Shaye did not dwell on the hardships of the process. He merely told her calmly that his physical condition had improved and that extracting chakra was no longer a problem.

Chiyo set down her pen and carefully examined Shaye. Her eyes, which had seen the vicissitudes of life, were sharp indeed; she saw the changes in him at a glance. He was no longer pale from forcing himself onward through sheer willpower. Instead, a genuine healthy complexion shone from deep within his flesh and blood. In particular, the light in his eyes was calmer than before, yet more confident as well.

"Good, very good." A rare, genuinely gratified smile appeared on Elder Chiyo's face as she nodded gently. "It seems you have found your own path. Remember, no matter what method you use, the foundation of strength always lies within yourself. Do not slack off."

"Yes. I will remember your teachings." Shaye bowed solemnly. Chiyo's words carried deep meaning, as though she had vaguely sensed something, but she did not pry further. That respect and trust filled Shaye with gratitude.

Next, with a trace of unease, he knocked on Sasori's workshop door once more. He still did not reveal the secret of the Body Refining Furnace, merely saying, "Senior Sasori, my body is a little better than before, and I have enough chakra now."

Sasori raised his head from a pile of intricate parts. His purple eyes swept coldly over Shaye, lingering for a moment on his noticeably rosier cheeks and the faint yet steady chakra fluctuations around him.

"Hmph. At least you no longer look like you'll shatter at a touch." Sasori's tone remained cutting, but it seemed to contain a little less of his previous utter indifference. "Looks like you can waste a little more material now. If there's nothing else, leave. Don't disturb me." He waved him off as though shooing away a fly, but Shaye keenly noticed that the notes Sasori had tossed him for reference today, regarding joint load-bearing optimization, seemed slightly more advanced than the usual "trash." This was how Sasori expressed approval—awkward, but genuine.

Finally, he came to that secluded temple. Upon hearing his good news, Monk Bunpuku's face bloomed with a heartfelt smile as warm as sunlight. He repeatedly chanted, "Amitabha, how wonderful, how wonderful," as though he were happier than if he himself had regained his freedom. Even Shukaku's hoarse voice was unusually free of mockery. He merely grumbled, "At least you don't look like you're about to die at any moment anymore. Otherwise, that stinking monk would've nagged me for ages. You'll be able to take a few more of my insults from now on, right? Hmph!"

Feeling the care that came from every direction, each expressed in its own way, warmth surged through Shaye's heart. These connections were proof that he had taken root in this world.

After the joy came even busier, more fulfilling training. The improvement in his body was like the removal of his final shackle, allowing him to truly devote all his energy to becoming stronger.

Between work, during breaks, every scrap of spare time was put to use. Now that he possessed stable chakra, he could finally begin practicing the release techniques he had simulated in his mind countless times.

Earth Release: Headhunter Jutsu was naturally the one he had mastered best. Now, he could sink underground, move, and burst from the earth in one smooth motion, without the slightest hitch. He even began trying to remain underground for longer periods and practicing more precise movement directions.

But that was far from enough. He turned his attention to the Wind Release scrolls left behind by his father.

The wind nature represented sharpness, cutting, and speed. It perfectly complemented the steady defensive nature of his earth affinity. The first Wind Release technique he chose was the D-rank Wind Release: Fierce Wind Palm. This technique concentrated chakra in the palm, generating a powerful blast of air that could knock enemies back from mid-range or enhance the power of palm strikes at close range.

The training process once again displayed the advantage of his absurdly precise chakra control. For an ordinary Genin, forming hand seals and guiding chakra into the arm's meridians might require days of experimentation, but Shaye mastered it precisely in only half a day. The difficult part was compressing the chakra to a high degree in his palm and releasing it instantly to create airflow.

Ordinary Genin often failed to control either the compression strength or the timing of the release. Either the airflow was weak and powerless, or it erupted chaotically in their palms and injured them. But Shaye's microscopic level of chakra control displayed its immense value at this moment.

He extended his palm and focused his mind within it, precisely guiding that Genin-level stream of chakra through extraordinarily delicate compression and rotation in his palm, as though building a miniature eye of a storm there.

On his first attempt, the airflow was weak, only enough to stir the sand and dust on the ground.

On the second attempt, the airflow became more concentrated, producing a faint whistling sound.

On the third attempt...

Bzz!

A visible, translucent blast of air burst from his palm. Though its range was not large, it was dense and forceful, violently blowing a small stone a meter in front of him away!

He had succeeded! It had taken less than two days from the start of training to successfully releasing the technique! If news of that speed spread, it would be enough to astonish many Chunin.

Shaye looked at his palm, feeling the lingering chakra fluctuations and the sensation of the air blast. His heart brimmed with accomplishment. At last, he was no longer someone who only possessed theory but could not put it into practice—a mere armchair strategist.

During the day, he worked diligently in the Manufacturing Division. After work, he trained in release techniques. At night, without fail, he used the Body Refining Furnace to continue nourishing his foundation and accumulating chakra. Shaye's life was as busy as a rapidly spinning top, but he reveled in it. Every day, he could feel tangible progress.

His body was like land parched by a long drought, greedily absorbing every bit of nourishment and bursting forth with vitality unlike anything before. At last, the road to becoming strong clearly stretched out beneath his feet.

(End of Chapter)