Shira whispered to herself in the mirror, her voice hoarse from a dry throat, "You don't have the luxury of being in a rush right now."
Rock Lee can risk his life because he has Guy as a backup, Konoha's medical system, and a clear career path.
If you work yourself to the bone, but then go in the wrong direction and ruin your foundation, you might end up with nothing.
This path of Taijutsu, which I chose myself, is a lonely one, with a very low margin for error.
The Third Activation? The bodily feedback after activating the Second Activation last night had already sounded an alarm for him. It wasn't just a burden, but a warning—this body's ability to withstand and control the current level of "activity" was far from being at a level of ease.
Forcing your way to the next level is not brave; it's foolish.
It's quite possible that before even opening a new door, the current house will collapse first.
"The current goal isn't to activate the Third Activation," he said, slowly moving his still sore shoulder joints, feeling the slight stinging sensation as the muscle fibers stretched, "But to solidify the Second Activation, tapping into its full potential under current physical conditions, and tempering the body to a level where it can easily bear that potential."
Specifically, the first step is to improve basic physical qualities, including strength, speed, endurance, flexibility, bone density, and internal organ strength.
This cannot be solved by using breathing techniques as a shortcut; we must return to the most basic and practical method—consistent high-intensity basic training, coupled with proper nutrition and recovery.
Konoha's "Green Training" gave him a lot of inspiration. Those seemingly crazy basic programs were actually training all aspects of the body.
He needs to design a more systematic basic training plan for himself that is more suitable for the Sunagakure environment and his own characteristics.
Second, deepen your mastery of the " Seven Heavens Breathing Method " itself, especially the Second Activation. Don't just be satisfied with "being able to activate it," but strive for "stable activation," "precise control," "continuously extending the duration," and "reducing unnecessary physical strain."
The rhythm and depth of breathing, the path of energy flow, and the coordination with different movements—there are so many details involved.
Shira still needs a lot of time to feel and fine-tune.
Last night's " Wild Fist " test was just the beginning, but that kind of all-out attack style is too exhausting.
How can we deliver the fastest punch with minimal energy expenditure? How can we increase the duration of our Second Activation while moving, defending, or in complex environments? These are all questions that need to be addressed.
Third, explore the optimization and variations of " Wild Fist ". Last night proved that the "high-speed, high-frequency" approach is feasible. However, a burst of power in thirty-three seconds may only offer one chance in actual combat.
How can we shorten startup time? How can we improve the effectiveness of a single attack?
Is it possible to deliver a threatening high-speed combo using only the First Activation Second Activation? Also, besides straight punches, can this principle of "high-speed friction" be applied to other body parts such as legs, elbows, and knees?
This requires countless hours of tedious repetition and subtle adjustments!
Fourth, find the key to "qualitative change". Friction generating heat is the first step. But how to make this "heat" accumulate, concentrate, and even release?
Aside from his pure physical speed, could Chakra serve as a "fuel" or "catalyst"? Although his control over Chakra was poor, it wasn't entirely impossible for him to mobilize it.
Could we try concentrating a small amount of Chakra at the tip of our fist at the moment of a powerful punch to enhance friction or energy release?
This is a dangerous idea, requiring extremely precise control over Chakra; otherwise, it will harm oneself first. For now, it can only be kept as a theoretical reserve, to be observed from afar.
My thoughts gradually became clearer. My anxious heart slowly calmed down.
Shira knew very well what she should and shouldn't do.
Over the next few days, Shira's life became unusually regular, even somewhat monotonous.
I get up before dawn and resume my solo morning exercise. No green bodysuit, no companions calling out to me.
Alone, on the desolate Gobi Desert outside Sunagakure, facing the biting morning wind, he was undergoing basic physical training that combined Konoha's training programs with the characteristics of Sunagakure's environment.
Sweat soaked through the coarse training clothes, which were quickly dried by the wind, leaving a layer of white salt stains.
In the morning, he went to the village's training ground for regular Taijutsu sparring and Shuriken throwing. He began to consciously invite some strong Chunin seniors to spar, no longer satisfied with just defeating those of the same level, but to learn different styles of combat techniques and hone his combat reflexes and tactical thinking.
Occasionally, Ameno would come over with a blush, hand him water, or use the pink Kunai he had given her to practice simple coordination with him.
Shira could sense the concern and hesitation in her gaze, but he had no time to think about those things.
The afternoon is the exclusive practice time for the " Seven Heavens Breathing Method ".
Shira usually seeks out more secluded places to focus on adjusting her breathing, trying to find the optimal breathing pattern to maintain Second Activation in different states such as stillness, slow movement, and simulating punching.
He no longer easily unleashes Wild Fist at the limit, but instead tries to control the frequency and force of his punches, pursuing an endurance goal of "continuously launching high-intensity attacks for ten minutes in the Second Activation state".
The process was equally painful, and the physical strain was comprehensive, but I could feel my control gradually increasing.
In the evening, he would drag his exhausted but energetic body home. After dinner, he would take out his hardcover notebook and, by the dim light of the oil lamp, record his training feelings, physical data, and those fragmented thoughts about optimizing and transforming his " Wild Fist ".
The handwriting is neat and well-organized.
My body still aches, but it's no longer the exhaustion pain of overexertion. Instead, it's a slightly warm, aching soreness from muscle tearing and repair during growth.
The burning sensation in his fist would occasionally reappear during subsequent practice, but he learned to control it better, avoiding actual skin abrasions.
Days Tenten by, uneventful, fulfilling, and even a little lonely.
There were no passionate shouts on the Konoha training ground, no dazzling smile from Guy-senpai and deafening "youth" chants, and no Rock Lee and Naruto for attention or causing trouble on the sidelines.
Only the eternal wind of Sunagakure, the scorching sun, the cold moonlight, his own heavy breathing, the soft sound of sweat dripping onto the sand, and the solitary, ever-calming flame burning within his heart.
He knew that Rock Lee must be at the training grounds in Konoha right now, undergoing even more intense training with Guy.
That Naruto kid, he's probably wearing green too, complaining as he chases after them, right? Hahaha!
And he, Shira, in the desert of the Land of Wind, was also fighting desperately in his own way!
Different paths, unknown destinations.
But at least, every step was taken firmly and realistically...
Occasionally, during breaks in training, gazing at the boundless sea of Sunagakure under the dusky sky of Sunagakure, he would recall the awe-inspiring aura that Gai exuded when he opened the " Gate of View " in the original work, and the dazzling, peacock-like flames of " Morning Peacock."
Then, he would look down at his hands, roughened by long periods of clenching and striking, covered with new and old calluses, and feel the warm energy within his body, which was the Second Activation form of the " Seven Heavens Breathing Method," flowing steadily with his breath.
What will my 'peacock' look like?
Such thoughts would occasionally cross his mind.
But there's no answer yet; only the wind whistling in my ears.
But at least, he is silently and alone accumulating every bit of strength and polishing every possible foundation stone for that moment of "unfurling" that may or may not even come.
No rush, there's still a long way to go...