Training

After teaching Sasuke the Shadow Clone Jutsu, Masayo used Wind Body Flicker to leave Sasuke's house.

Less than a few seconds later, after arriving in an open grove, Masayo smiled and said, "Lord Hokage, come out. You've been following me for so long—aren't you tired?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi emerged wearing his Hokage hat, puffing on his pipe. "The Wind Body Flicker Technique really is fast. No wonder you wouldn't choose the Flying Thunder God. Among all the ninja I know, your mastery of the Body Flicker Technique is the greatest, especially combined with the Wind Sense Technique you created yourself."

"You flatter me, Lord Hokage. As far as I know, there was once a Uchiha prodigy called Body Flicker Shisui. I only met him once while he was running a stall at the night market, but I could still sense his power. As a ninja, I'm far inferior to him."

Masayo's words reminded Hiruzen Sarutobi that Masayo was also a sculptor. The Nineteen-Layer Puzzle Ball he had carved by hand had even made the master sculptors responsible for the statues on Hokage Rock willingly admit defeat. Back then, he had wanted to buy the Puzzle Ball, but Masayo had refused. Still, judging by Masayo's expression, he had probably forgotten all about it.

"Shisui was indeed an outstanding ninja. But you are no worse than him. Your Wind Body Flicker is about speed, while his Body Flicker Technique was something entirely different. They can't really be compared."

Masayo nodded. His Wind Body Flicker was indeed similar to the Flying Thunder God. The difference was that the Flying Thunder God required coordinates and allowed Spatial Transfer, while his Wind Body Flicker relied on speed and let him land wherever he wished within a certain range.

"Lord Hokage, since you heard everything, why not show your face in front of Sasuke too? Build up some familiarity and earn a little goodwill."

Masayo said this to Hiruzen Sarutobi with a smile.

"Not tomorrow. There'll be time later. By the way, Masayo, well done. Those two have been giving me a terrible headache. They used to be manageable, but now they're getting more and more irritating. Maybe it's because of time, or maybe I'm just old and tired."

"Lord Hokage, you're still in your prime. You're full of vigor. Goodbye, Lord Hokage!"

"Bye-bye!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi gave him a thumbs-up, and the two went their separate ways.

The next day arrived quickly. Masayo carried the Light-Concealing Sword on his back and created a Shadow Clone to head to the Ninja Academy. After preparing a few things, his main body went to Training Ground Forty-Four.

Sasuke had arrived early. In the misty morning air, Masayo noticed that Sasuke's clothes were soaked through. Clearly, Sasuke had been waiting here for him all along.

"You're here early, Sasuke."

"Yes, Teacher Masayo. Good morning!"

Hearing Sasuke address him that way, Masayo rolled his eyes. "I'm only two years older than you. Just call me by my name. This isn't the Ninja Academy, so I can't be your teacher."

Sasuke hurriedly nodded to show that he understood. Still, he had always felt doubtful about the higher-ups. Something had never seemed right. Was Masayo deliberately hinting at something, or had the higher-ups really forbidden Masayo from teaching him?

Masayo took out a summoning scroll. Four heavy iron training rings slammed onto the ground, gouging out a deep pit.

"Put these on your wrists. For this month until the graduation exam, you'll train while wearing them."

Sasuke obediently nodded. Once the four training rings were fastened around his wrists, he instinctively raised his arms and found them incredibly heavy. He could barely walk steadily, and every step left a deep footprint in the ground.

"Now, training begins. Sasuke, do you know how to climb trees and walk on water?"

Masayo created three more Shadow Clones. One of them taught Sasuke the tree-climbing exercise directly, while Masayo carefully placed a thick cushion beneath the tree.

"Sasuke, within half a month, you must learn both tree climbing and water walking while wearing those weights!"

Masayo explained the trick to him. Moving was already difficult with the weights on, let alone climbing a tree. Yet Sasuke showed no fear. Again and again, he fell from the tree and landed on the cushion.

From a distance, Masayo shook his head helplessly. Training had to be tailored to the individual. He himself had never used weighted training; only after six years of honing his foundation had he been able to soar.

But Sasuke was different. He was already twelve, and with all the training he had done on his own before, it would not be an exaggeration to say he had wasted his time. All Masayo could do was help him build a solid foundation. After graduation, Kakashi could handle the rest.

After all, Sasuke's grudges had nothing to do with him. His role right now was merely that of a kind senior. Building a good relationship with Sasuke brought him no harm at all.

By noon, Masayo dispelled the Shadow Clones around them, and exhaustion swept over him. Watching Sasuke fall from the tree yet again, Masayo set up two hammocks.

"Pause. Did you bring lunch?"

"I did."

Sasuke nodded. A wave of weakness had hit him too, and he was hungry. Looking at the kunai scratches one after another on the tree trunk, he saw how little progress he had made. It was far too poor. Unwillingly, he clenched his fists.

Masayo saw through Sasuke's thoughts and said, "Too much is as bad as too little. Rest lets your body recover. Don't eat too much—we still need to take a nap later."

"What? A nap? Masayo, I haven't done enough. I'm still far too far behind that man. I can't stop."

Hearing Masayo's words, Sasuke nearly choked on his rice ball as he hurriedly replied.

Masayo answered calmly, "Like I said, too much is as bad as too little. Rest lets your mind and body relax. Rest when it's time to rest, play when it's time to play, and study when it's time to study. But if you want to be like Rock Lee, I won't object."

"I..."

Sasuke thought for a moment. He remembered how muddleheaded he had been these past years, how he had come to Masayo and begged him to guide his training, and the overwhelming power Masayo had displayed in that movie.

"I'm sorry! I was wrong, Masayo. I'll listen to you."

Sasuke was so obedient before Masayo not only because of Masayo's own strength, but also because he had been the one to ask for help. Whoever made the request was naturally in the weaker position. And after learning from Masayo that Konoha's higher-ups had not wanted Masayo to teach him, he became even more grateful.

Masayo merely smiled without saying anything. After they finished eating, they lay in the hammocks. Masayo closed his eyes to rest and said to Sasuke in the other hammock, "Make your heart as calm as water. Don't think about anything right now. Relax."

"Don't think about anything... like water..."

Sasuke raised his head and looked at the white clouds in the sky. His eyes slowly closed against his will. By the time Masayo called him up, it was already one o'clock. Yet he felt more relaxed than ever before. It seemed he had not rested so quietly in a very long time.

Masayo pointed at the tree and smiled. "Go try again. Remember the trick I told you!"

"Yes!"

Sasuke gathered chakra beneath his feet, gripped a kunai in his hand, and charged up the tree trunk.

Just as he felt himself losing control of his body, he carved a mark with the kunai before falling onto the cushion.

"This..."

Sasuke's eyes widened. The distance between the marks had increased by more than half a meter.

"Continue training!"

Masayo nodded with a smile, created a Shadow Clone, and began his own training as well.