"Run five kilometers! Four minutes per kilometer! Five hundred crunches! Three hundred push-ups! One hundred burpees! One thousand sword swings!"
They were still in the Bamboo Grove, but this time, it wasn't Naomitsu training. It was Zhenwei Zenin, and his demands on her were anything but lenient.
She was only six or seven, but the physical strength granted by her Heavenly Restriction had already put her far beyond ordinary people.
The fitness requirements Naomitsu had listed were only the beginning. Her workload would double as she progressed.
Once her strength reached a certain level, he would arrange for cursed spirits to give her actual combat practice.
"Can you keep going?"
Seeing sweat on the little girl's forehead, Naomitsu asked with concern. Training mattered, but her health mattered more.
"Naomitsu! I can still keep going!"
After Zhenwei said that, it was as though some limiter had been released. Her running speed suddenly shot up. Naomitsu estimated that she was doing a little over three minutes per kilometer.
This little girl! Is this how you bring out her body's potential?
Naomitsu considered it, then began fussing over Zhenwei to test his theory.
"Little Zhenwei! Can you still keep going?"
"Little Zhenwei! Do you need some water?"
"Little Zhenwei! Do you need a break?"
Every time Naomitsu asked, Zhenwei Zenin's cheeks flushed, and her physical capabilities shot up as though someone had flipped a switch.
Thanks to that mechanism, Zhenwei Zenin managed to finish her training routine a full four hours ahead of schedule.
"All right! That's it for today! Tomorrow, we'll double everything you did today!"
Zhenwei Zenin nodded. Despite finishing that entire string of exercises, she was neither flushed nor out of breath.
That was what made a Heavenly Tyrant so terrifying. Not only was his body powerful, but his recovery was exceptional as well.
Three days later, Naomitsu gave her a new training list.
"Fifty kilometers every day, finished within an hour. Ten thousand push-ups with a two-hundred-and-fifty-kilogram load, ten thousand burpees with a two-hundred-and-fifty-kilogram load..."
Compared with a few days earlier, the difficulty had skyrocketed. But Naomitsu had thought it through. Zhenwei's current body could handle that intensity.
Of course, his impending departure was part of the reason too. Just that day, the higher-ups of Jujutsu Society had finalized the schedule.
A chartered plane would arrive to pick them up at five the next morning.
"Old man! What did you want me for?"
"I worked hard to get permission for you to bring people along. You can take a few students from Kyoto Jujutsu High. At least you'll have some help."
Naomitsu was one of the Zenin Clan's only two users of the Ten Shadows Technique, so Naobito Zenin was fairly concerned about him. He had done everything he could to secure that permission.
"All right, old man. I know what you're getting at. Don't worry. I'll bring Naoya Zenin back alive."
Naobito Zenin smiled. That was indeed what the old man had in mind. How could he possibly have no selfish motives at all?
"Naomitsu, you're clever. Ogi Zenin raised a fine child."
Naomitsu impatiently kicked over the low stool, his expression full of irritation and scorn.
"A clan like this couldn't raise a fine child. The fact that I've made it this far has fuck all to do with that old bastard Ogi Zenin."
Iaido was the only thing Ogi Zenin had ever taught Naomitsu, and even that had gone nowhere afterward. He had taught him for a single day on a whim, then barely even shown his face over the next few years.
If that old bastard were going to Hokkaido with him, Naomitsu really could have set him up and gotten rid of him first.
"I'm leaving!"
Seeing that Naobito Zenin still wanted to ramble on, Naomitsu waved and left the courtyard. He had to say goodbye to the two sisters today, remind them to stay safe, and make sure they kept Zhenwei training.
"1,182, 1,183, 1,184..."
In the Bamboo Grove, Zhenwei Zenin carried a solid rock the size of a small water vat, counting as she kept doing squats.
"1,200, 1,201, 1,203..."
Naomitsu merely glanced at her as he passed, and Zhenwei immediately became fired up. Her normal pace doubled on the spot.
"Keep it up, Zhenwei!"
Naomitsu entered the courtyard, with the whoosh of her movements sounding behind him. The count that had originally ticked along like a second hand was now moving at triple speed.
Inside the courtyard, Naomitsu found his two older sisters. After explaining the mission while glossing over the dangerous parts, he reminded them to stay safe and instructed them to oversee Zhenwei's training.
With all the little arrangements taken care of, he could leave the next day.
A cool breeze blew the following morning.
Naomitsu rose early, but the two sisters were awake even earlier. As soon as he stepped outside, he saw them waiting at the entrance with Zhenwei.
"Kana!"
"Come back soon!"
"Have a safe trip!"
All three looked reluctant to part with him and kept reminding him to take care as he left. Anyone who didn't know better might have thought Naomitsu wasn't coming back.
"Don't worry. I'll be back soon. Keep yourselves safe."
With a wave, Naomitsu summoned Nue and flew straight up into the sky, heading for Kyoto Jujutsu High.
He had already informed the six students the day before. He intended to give them another chance at the Academic Promotion Assessment, with this Hokkaido Trip serving as their assignment.
At Kyoto Jujutsu High, Utahime Iori and the six students were already waiting by the school gate. She looked at Naomitsu as though she wanted to say something but couldn't bring herself to speak.
"If you've got something to say, say it. If you've got to fart, let it out."
That single remark made Utahime Iori snap. She grabbed Naomitsu and put him in a chokehold from behind.
"You little brat! I'm your teacher!"
After the two fooled around for a while, Naomitsu began explaining just how dangerous this mission would be to the students.
"You really could die on this mission! I'll respect your decision! If you don't want to take part, you can wait until next year! I'll arrange a different assessment for you!"
Naomitsu swept his gaze over the six of them, waiting for their answers.
"I'm not afraid to die! I'm definitely going!" Fujiwara Sora grinned and agreed without hesitation.
"Brother! Same here!" Aoi Todo bumped fists with Fujiwara Sora.
Inumaki Yaki nodded without saying anything.
"Boss! Can I sit this one out?" Naoya Zenin knew how dangerous this mission was, so he asked with hopeful anticipation.
Naomitsu grinned and patted him on the shoulder. "Oh! Sorry! You're coming whether you like it or not!"
Naomitsu turned to the remaining students.
"What about you?"
"I'm going too!" Noritoshi Kamo spoke up. He was also someone chosen by his clan.
Nobara Kugisaki was the last one left. Seeing that everyone else was going, she knew she would fall behind them all if she stayed.
"Fine! But don't expect me to be much help!"
With everyone agreeing, Naomitsu led the way to the meeting point.
A plane had been arranged specifically to transport them to Hokkaido. Close to six, it stopped at the designated location.
"Get on the plane!"
A new, unknown journey began. Some were excited, while others were worried.
Only Naomitsu wanted to get this over with as quickly as possible and hurry home. To him, steadily building his strength in peace was the truly reliable approach.
With a roar, the plane took off.
The orange-yellow morning sun rose, and the six students aboard the plane pressed close to the windows, gazing into the distance.
"This is my first time on a plane!"
"It's so beautiful!"
Before you continue