Master and Disciple

The marked improvements in Shaye's body and chakra were like a stone cast into a lake, sending ripples through the hearts of those who cared about him. Of them all, Elder Chiyo was the most deeply affected—and the quickest to act.

She had witnessed firsthand this child's journey from frailty to renewed vitality. She had also seen his perseverance, wisdom, and near-greedy thirst for knowledge, all far beyond ordinary. Sunagakure had endured a great war, and its talented people were dwindling. At a time when capable hands were desperately needed, such an uncut jade could not be allowed to remain buried or left to find his own way.

One day, Chiyo summoned Shaye to the study in her home, her expression more solemn than usual. She did not mention investigating the cause of the changes in Shaye's body. Instead, she directly spread out several entirely different scrolls.

"Shaye," Chiyo said evenly, her voice carrying unquestionable weight, "now that you have crossed the most difficult threshold, you can no longer be satisfied with piecemeal learning. True strength comes from systematic understanding and solid foundations. From today onward, aside from your work in the Manufacturing Division, you will spend the rest of your time training according to my arrangements."

She did not say the words "accepting a disciple," but the meaning in her words made it clear that she already regarded Shaye as one of her successors. Shaye's heart trembled. He immediately composed himself and lowered his head respectfully. "Yes, Granny Chiyo. I will give it my all."

Thus began an all-encompassing training regimen far more intense than before. The path Chiyo planned for Shaye precisely targeted his strengths and needs.

Wind and earth nature and shape transformations: these were the core of ninjutsu training. Chiyo no longer confined him to any fixed technique, instead beginning with the most fundamental principles.

Earth nature transformation: she guided Shaye in sensing the "weight," "solidity," and "bearing" within chakra. Rather than simply creating clumps of earth, he practiced giving his chakra the "density" of earth, attempting to alter the hardness and plasticity of small patches of ground. Shaye would often sit before a stretch of earth for half a day, sensing the subtle changes as minute chakra adjustments turned soil from loose to hard, then from hard to quicksand.

Wind nature transformation: this involved sensing "sharpness," "flow," and "tearing." Chiyo had him use chakra to slice leaves, create ripples across water, and control air currents to blow grains of sand along specific paths. This demanded extremely precise chakra control, but it perfectly suited Shaye's strengths. He could make a current of air as sharp as a blade, or as gentle and unending as a breeze.

Advanced Medical Ninjutsu and anatomical materials: this portion of his studies was directly related to his ultimate goal of repairing himself. Chiyo granted him access to more precious internal materials, including some of her personal research notes.

His studies progressed from the basic Healing Technique and Hemostasis Technique toward the principles of the Chakra Scalpel for precise cutting and the Delicate Illness Extraction Technique for removing toxins and foreign objects. Though his chakra reserves still prevented him from practicing Advanced Medical Ninjutsu, his theoretical knowledge was already accumulating.

More importantly, he delved deeply into the body's meridian system, the functions of acupuncture points, cellular vitality, and chakra reactions. This provided crucial theoretical support for further improving the Body Refining Furnace in the future. He no longer viewed the human body merely as a black box, but was beginning to understand the precise mechanisms of energy circulation within it.

Advanced Sealing Formulae: the amount of material in this area was immense. After Monk Bunpuku learned that Shaye was receiving systematic training from Chiyo, he also increased both the depth and breadth of his instruction.

The curriculum expanded from basic forms such as the Evil Sealing Method and Four Symbols Seal into complex Composite Barrier Techniques, Energy Binding Techniques, and even ancient runes involving concepts of spatial confinement.

Bunpuku's teaching was clear and easy to understand, while Shukaku's "live commentary" provided plenty of negative examples and practical perspectives. Shaye had to spend vast amounts of time memorizing, deducing, and comprehending these incomparably complex formula structures. The strain on his mental energy was immense, but it also deepened his understanding of the "rules" of energy. This knowledge would all become vital to upgrading the Puppet Core and the Body Refining Furnace in the future.

Advanced Puppet Technique and puppet-making technology: this was the foundation of his livelihood, and Chiyo's standards were even stricter.

She began teaching him exquisite control techniques beyond the basic scrolls, such as training in multitasking—controlling multiple Chakra Threads to perform different actions at once—and how to attach nature chakra to puppets to strengthen their attacks.

As for construction, he began working with more complicated transmission structures, energy circuit optimization, and methods of applying Sealing Formulae to puppet cores to enhance their performance or grant them special abilities. She even allowed Shaye to observe her repairing and crafting advanced puppets, and the techniques contained within benefited him immensely.

Such an enormous workload nearly squeezed dry all of Shaye's time and energy. Like a sponge thrown into an ocean of knowledge, he absorbed everything madly. During the day, after completing his work in the Manufacturing Division, he used every spare moment to deduce nature transformations or memorize Sealing Formulae. At night, after tending to the Body Refining Furnace, he would study by lamplight, researching medical notes or puppet blueprints.

Was he tired? Of course he was. But Shaye welcomed it willingly. He could feel himself growing stronger at a terrifying pace—not merely in raw power, but in a comprehensive strengthening built upon deep foundations.

As Chiyo watched Shaye absorb the knowledge she gave him at an astonishing speed, she was both amazed and even more dedicated to nurturing him. Though they lacked the title of master and disciple, they had already fulfilled the roles. Sunagakure's future needed such new blood, possessing wisdom, perseverance, and creativity.

Shaye also understood that he had to walk the path to strength personally laid before him by Elder Chiyo—and he had to walk it well. For himself, and so as not to disappoint these expectations.

(End of Chapter)