Busy Training

With his physical foundation initially repaired and his chakra reserves 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 this far without those who had cared for and helped him, openly or quietly.

He first went to visit Elder Chiyo. In Chiyo's study, filled with the scent of medicinal herbs and scrolls, Shaye did not embellish the hardships of the process. He simply told her calmly that his physical condition had improved and that chakra extraction was no longer a problem.

Chiyo put down her pen and carefully examined Shaye. Her eyes, which had seen through the trials of countless years, were keen enough to spot the changes in him at a glance. He was no longer pale from merely forcing himself onward with willpower; instead, a genuine healthy glow radiated from deep within his flesh and blood. Especially his eyes—they were calmer than before, but also more confident.

"Good. Very good." A rare, sincere smile of relief 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. Never grow lax."

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

Next, with a trace of unease, he once again knocked on the door to Sasori's workshop. He still did not reveal the secret of the Body Refining Furnace. He merely said, "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 components. His violet eyes swept coldly over Shaye, lingering for a moment on his noticeably rosier cheeks and the faint yet steady chakra fluctuations surrounding him.

"Hmph. At least you no longer look like you'll shatter at the slightest touch." Sasori's tone remained sharp, but it seemed to hold a little less of its former total indifference. "Looks like you can waste a bit more material now. If there's nothing else, leave. Don't disturb me." He waved a hand as if shooing away a fly, but Shaye keenly noticed that the notes Sasori had tossed him for reference today, concerning joint load-bearing optimization, seemed slightly more advanced than the usual "trash." This was Sasori's way of showing approval—awkward, but genuine.

Finally, he arrived at the secluded temple. When Monk Bunpuku heard his good news, a heartfelt smile as warm as sunlight blossomed across his face. 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, unusually, carried no mockery. He merely grumbled, "At least you don't look like you're about to die at any moment now. Otherwise, that stinking monk would nag me forever. You'll be able to take a few more of my insults from now on, right? Hmph!"

Feeling the different forms of care coming from every side, 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 unlocking the last set of shackles, allowing him to truly devote all his energy to increasing his strength.

Outside of work, during breaks—every fragment of spare time was put to use. With stable chakra at last, he could finally begin practicing the release techniques he had simulated countless times in his mind.

Earth Release: Double Suicide Decapitation Technique was naturally the one he had mastered best. Now, sinking underground, moving, and bursting from the earth all flowed in one smooth motion, without the slightest hesitation. He even began trying to remain underground longer and practiced moving with greater precision.

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

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

The training process once again displayed the advantage of his monstrous chakra control. Guiding chakra through hand seals and into the meridians of the arm might take an ordinary Genin several days of experimentation, yet Shaye mastered it precisely in only half a day. The real difficulty was compressing chakra to an extreme degree in his palm and releasing it in an instant to create airflow.

Ordinary Genin often failed to control the compression force and timing of the burst. Either the airflow was feeble and powerless, or it erupted chaotically in their palms and injured them. But Shaye's microscopic level of chakra control proved immensely useful at this moment.

He extended his palm and focused his mind within it, carefully guiding his Genin-level chakra flow as he compressed and spun it with extreme precision in the center of his palm, as though constructing the eye of a miniature storm there.

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

On the second attempt, the airflow became more concentrated and produced a faint howl.

On the third attempt...

Buzz!

A clearly visible, translucent blast of air surged from his palm. Though its range was not large, it was dense and powerful, 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 impact of the airflow. His heart brimmed with accomplishment. He was finally no longer someone who possessed only 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 enjoyed every moment of it. Each day, he could feel his tangible progress.

Like land parched by drought receiving sweet rain, his body greedily absorbed every bit of nourishment and burst forth with unprecedented vitality. The road to becoming strong had finally spread clearly beneath his feet.

(End of Chapter)