Winter in Sunagakure sheds the scorching outer layer of Natsuhi, revealing another harsh side of the village.
The period before dawn is the hardest to endure; the biting cold wind is like an invisible icicle, easily penetrating the thick training clothes and piercing straight to the bone.
The air was filled with the dry, cold smell of sand and dust, and the white breath exhaled was instantly blown away by the wind.
Shira's figure moved forward at a steady pace in the dim morning light, her feet on the frozen, hard gravel.
After finishing the 10-kilometer weighted run, the fine beads of sweat on his forehead quickly turned cold in the low temperature, but the heat emanating from his body formed a faint white mist, proof that the Seven Heavens Breathing Method had maintained his body temperature.
He stopped, took a deep breath, and then turned his gaze to the distinctive group of buildings in the village—the territory of the Sakugutsu Clan. The towering walls and the tightly closed gates engraved with complex runes all spoke of the clan's uniqueness and seclusion.
Today, he will avenge his previous humiliation.
The feeling of powerlessness and humiliation he experienced during that training session, when his consciousness was stripped away and his body was reduced to a puppet, remained like a poisonous thorn buried deep in his heart.
Shira knew very well that for ninjas who pursued the perfect unity of will and body, especially Taijutsu ninjas, this mental weakness, if not actively eliminated, would sooner or later develop into a mental demon that hindered their training, and might even lead to fatal mistakes at crucial moments. He had to defeat it head-on!
The improvement of strength needs to be tested, and Saya and her strange Curse Puppet, who once gave him a hard time, are undoubtedly the best touchstone.
Through I Fūgetsu's rigorous training and his own arduous self-cultivation, he was confident that he could resist mind control.
When they arrived at the imposing gate of the Sakugutsu Clan, it was still early, and the gate was tightly closed. Only two gatekeepers wearing cotton-padded jackets with the Sakai Family's emblem were huddled under the porch, rubbing their hands to keep warm.
Shira didn't knock or call out. He walked straight to the cleared ground in front of the gate, put down the weights, and started doing push-ups as if no one else was around.
The movements were precise and the rhythm was steady, with a powerful control evident in every rise and fall, creating a stark contrast to the cold weather.
This move left the two goalkeepers completely dumbfounded.
The younger guard nudged his partner's arm and whispered, "Hey, what's that kid doing? Practicing right here at our gate?"
The older guard squinted at Shira, especially noticing the Sunagakure Forehead Protector on his waist and his solid movements. He frowned. "Is that Shira from the village who's been making waves lately? I heard he's really good at Taijutsu. Is he here to cause trouble?"
"Does someone who's looking for trouble do push-ups in front of someone's doorstep?" The young guard found it a bit amusing. "Has your brain been frozen?"
"Don't be careless." The older guard was more cautious. "This kid seems to have some kind of grudge against Miss Saya. She seems to have used him to 'play' with her last time. He's probably here to get revenge."
"Should we go and inform them?" the young guard asked tentatively. Miss Saya's morning grumpiness was notorious.
The older guard shook his head decisively. "You dare go? If the young lady isn't fully awake and gets disturbed, we'll be the ones who suffer. Just pretend we didn't see anything. As long as he doesn't bang on the door or barge in, let him do whatever he wants. Just be vigilant."
And so, the two gatekeepers stood guard with strange expressions, a mixture of wariness and amusement, watching Shira do push-ups right under their noses in the cold morning, as if she were making some kind of silent protest.
Time passed slowly, and the eastern sky began to lighten with the first hint of dawn. Finally, the sun lazily peeked out, casting its golden rays upon the earth and bringing a faint warmth.
Just then, the heavy gate of the clan's territory creaked open from the inside, leaving a crack.
A figure yawned widely, rubbing sleepy eyes, and slowly strolled out. It was Saya.
She was wearing a warm, fluffy nightgown with a coat casually draped over her shoulders, still clutching the black Curse Puppet she never parted with; she was clearly not fully awake yet.
She spotted the figure doing push-ups in the open space in front of the gate at a glance. Her movements stopped, her sleepiness vanished instantly, and her delicate eyebrows rose.
"Hey!" Saya's voice was hoarse and annoyed, as if she had just woken up. "What are you doing, sneaking around my door?"
Upon hearing the sound, Shira finished her last push-up, deftly rolled over to her feet, and dusted off her hands.
He turned around and looked calmly at Saya, his breathing quickly becoming steady after the strenuous exercise.
"Miss Saya," Shira's voice was clear and firm, ringing out particularly loudly in the cold air, "I'm not here to sneak around."
He took a deep breath and said loudly:
"I'm here to challenge you and avenge my defeat!"