On the wooden stakes at the edge of the Konoha training ground, a new "Youth Pact" was carved in crooked but powerful characters—signed by four green names.
This means that Shira, Rock Lee, and Naruto have been officially included in Might Guy's "Special Youth Burning Project," and their training intensity and time have begun to race towards inhuman levels.
In the early morning, before dawn, the stars were sparse. The outline of the mountains behind Konoha resembled a crouching beast against the deep blue sky.
Listen up! The meaning of youthful mountain climbing lies in overcoming gravity, challenging your own limits, and letting your heartbeat rise with the morning sun!
Kai's voice boomed in the crisp air. He was carrying a huge, bulging backpack that was almost half his height, stuffed with countless weights, the straps digging deep into his green bodysuit.
Looking down, you could see that he had sandbags weighing at least 20 kilograms strapped to his feet.
The three of Shira weren't much better off. Kai's "friendly donation" backpack, though a size smaller, was definitely heavy.
Shira adjusted her breathing, the Seven Heavens Breathing Method quietly circulating in her chest to counteract the heavy pressure coming from her shoulders.
Rock Lee's face turned bright red, but his eyes were excited, and he silently muttered something about "youth, youth" as he followed.
Naruto, carrying his smallest bag, already felt like he was carrying a mountain. His little face scrunched up, but looking at the three green figures in front of him, he gritted his teeth and persevered.
"Target: the mountaintop! Go go go!"
At Kai's command, he took the lead!
No! It's not walking, it's running! Running uphill with a heavy load!
Footsteps pounded on the mountain path covered with fallen leaves and pebbles, making dull thuds.
The slope became increasingly steep, and my breathing became rapid, like that of a bellows.
Kai ran in the lead, his steps frighteningly steady, as if the weight on his body didn't exist.
Shira followed closely behind, controlling his pace and breathing, making sure each step was firm, and using his hips and legs to push upwards, minimizing upper body sway to conserve energy.
That's right, this is a mountaineering technique he recently developed by combining the Seven Heavens Breathing Method with his own experience.
Rock Lee, on the other hand, had a completely different style. He imitated Kai, charging forward headlong with loud noises, but he was quickly taught a lesson by the steep slope and the weight, his breathing became chaotic, and he had to slow down.
"Li! Watch your breathing rhythm! Use your thighs to push! Don't just use your calves!" Shira turned around and shouted in a low voice.
Upon hearing this, Rock Lee made a slight adjustment and indeed felt a little more relaxed.
Naruto was lagging behind, no longer running, but crawling on all fours, his face covered in sweat, strands of his golden hair sticking to his forehead.
"I can't take it anymore... I'm going to die, ouch..."
" Naruto! Look up! The summit is right there!" Kai's booming voice came from above. "Imagine standing on the summit, overlooking the entire Konoha ablaze with the rising sun! That's the badge of honor for your youth! Charge!"
Whether it was Kai's words that had an effect, or simply because he didn't want to be left too far behind, Naruto let out a low growl and used all four limbs to increase his speed a little more.
As the first rays of sunlight pierced through the clouds, the four of them finally reached the summit one after another. Shira and Li collapsed to the ground almost simultaneously, their chests heaving violently, their lungs feeling as if they were about to burst.
Naruto was dragged up the last few meters by Rock Lee, and he collapsed in a starfish position, only exhaling and not inhaling.
It's over! The Child of Prophecy, the birdman Gara! Shira can take over!
Kai put down his backpack, faced the rising sun, and struck a classic stretching pose. His green bodysuit, soaked with sweat, shimmered in the morning light. He took a deep breath and let out a satisfied sigh.
"Look! This is the result of burning youth! Konoha is shining for us!"
The training ground was as hot as a sauna in the morning. Kai took the three of them directly to the riverbank with its fast-flowing current.
Water is the best partner for honing physical coordination and endurance! Swim against the current and feel the water washing over every muscle!
Kai pointed to the churning river water, his smile radiant.
Shira stared at the foamy water, her lips twitching almost imperceptibly. This training was pretty hardcore.
Rock Lee was already eager to try. Naruto, on the other hand, was a little afraid of water and shrank back.
"Don't be afraid! Remember the streamlined shape of your body! Reduce drag! Coordinate your arm strokes with your leg kicks! Like this!"
Kai took off his shirt, revealing his strong, rock-like muscles. He plunged into the river with a standard entry motion, and against the current, he broke through the waves at an astonishing speed. His movements were smooth and powerful, like a green sailfish.
"Your turn! Target: the red marker 300 meters upstream! Come on, boys! Hahaha!" Kai's voice came from the river.
Shira took a deep breath, stretched his shoulders, and jumped in. The icy, rushing water instantly enveloped his entire body, causing him to stagger.
He immediately steadied himself, recalling Kai's movements, and vigorously paddled with his arms while coordinating his leg kicks. The resistance was immense, and every meter forward required a great deal of energy.
However, he discovered that if he could cleverly combine the breathing rhythm of the Seven Heavens Breathing Method with the paddling motion, the efficiency could be improved significantly. He calmed down and began to consciously adjust it.
Rock Lee swam with the typical "all-out effort" style, splashing water high into the air. He put in a lot of energy, but his speed couldn't keep up with Shira's, and he even choked on several mouthfuls of water.
Naruto fared the worst, practically flopping forward with a chaotic posture. He was quickly swept a short distance downstream by the current, yelling in frustration. But seeing Shira and Rock Lee ahead, he mustered his strength and dog-paddled forward again.
Kai swam to the marked point, then immediately turned back, weaving past the three and loudly instructing them. " Shira, good rhythm, but your arm could go a little deeper into the water! Rock Lee, your body is too stiff! Relax, feel the current! Naruto! Don't just splash around! Use your legs! Imagine you're a propeller!"
After swimming upstream for 300 meters, the three of them collapsed like dead dogs when they climbed onto the riverbank. Their fingers were white from being soaked in the water, and their skin was red from being washed by the current.
Naruto spat out several mouthfuls of water, but there was a strange light in his eyes—he didn't seem so afraid of water anymore? And he swam so far!