Winter in Sunagakure replaces the scorching heat of Natsuhi with dry, bitter cold. The sandstorms persist, but now they carry a biting chill that feels like tiny ice blades on the face.
The training ground was frozen solid; every step you took on it provided a firm, solid feedback, and your breath was instantly torn apart by the strong wind.
The figure of Shira is an unchanging sight in this desolate landscape.
He didn't rush into frantic experiments just because he discovered his own lightning and fire attributes. He knew the principle that "haste makes waste," especially with this body that was still growing and bearing a training load beyond what ordinary people could handle.
Any rash actions could cause irreversible damage. Becoming stronger is a marathon, not a 100-meter sprint.
At dawn, as the sky was just beginning to lighten, he was already at the training ground, honing his basic physical fitness. Running around the cold training ground, his breath trailed long white streaks in the frigid air. The unique rhythm of the Seven Heavens Breathing Method helped him maintain his core body temperature and vitality.
Then came sword practice. Fingers, stiff with cold, gripped the icy hilt, repeating the movements of chopping, thrusting, parrying, and slashing over and over until the movements remained precise and fluid even in the low temperature. The wind from the sword cut through the cold air, making a soft "whooshing" sound.
Training in throwing techniques is even more arduous. The cold wind is the biggest enemy, as it affects the trajectory of Shuriken and Kunai. He needs to calculate the angle more precisely and control the force of his wrist more steadily.
He shakily pulled out his icy Shuriken, aimed at the wooden target swaying slightly in the wind in the distance, threw it again and again, and ran back to retrieve it each time. His fingers were frozen red and numb, so he would breathe warm air on them, rub them together, and continue practicing.
It's tedious, but necessary.
During training breaks, he would occasionally stop and gaze at the gray sky and the unchanging scenery of the village, and an indescribable sense of loneliness and heaviness would quietly creep into his heart.
Sadness and fear are shadows lurking in the hearts of every ninja, especially for someone like him who has no way out.
He has no Kekkei Genkai, no family secret techniques, no system to rely on, and no powerful family to back him up. All he has to rely on is this body that he has honed from scratch, and a prophetic ability from another world, one that is both fortunate and unpredictable.
Every improvement in his strength was accompanied by the accumulation of sweat and pain. The near-death experiences during missions reminded him of the fragility of life.
He sometimes felt fear—fear that even if he tried his best, he would ultimately be unable to change the inevitable tragedy, fear of dying silently in some unknown mission, and fear of being unable to protect the people he had begun to care about.
This fear, like a bone-deep infection, would quietly gnaw at his heart in the dead of night or when he was utterly exhausted.
But each time, he suppressed these emotions and transformed them into even more intense motivation for training. Because he knew better than anyone else that in this dangerous world, hard work might not guarantee a good life, but without hard work, one would most likely die young.
All he could do was seize every minute and second to become stronger and increase his chances of survival, even if it was only by one percent or one thousandth.
"Not enough, far from enough!" He often collapsed on the cold sand after extreme training, staring at the sky and silently shouting in his heart.
That day, after completing her regular morning training, Shira dragged her tired but fulfilled body toward the mission distribution area.
He needs to take on some suitable missions to hone his combat skills while earning the necessary rewards.
The mission hall was a bit more lively than usual, with ninjas talking in hushed tones in front of the bulletin board, the air thick with the smells of sweat, dust, and paper.
Shira squeezed to the front of the bulletin board, her eyes quickly scanning the task scrolls posted there. Most of them were C-level and D-level tasks such as patrolling, clearing sand dunes, and escorting short-distance caravans.
His gaze swept over the lines of text, and suddenly, a task description in a prominent position on the bulletin board caught his attention.
[ B-Rank Mission: Caravan Escort]
Content: Escort the " Ship of the Desert " caravan and its important goods to Konohagakure in the Land of Fire.
Route: Starting from Sunagakure, passing through the Land of Rivers, and finally arriving at Konoha. The journey is long and there may be threats from bandits, missing-nin, or wild beasts.
Personnel requirements: One Chunin the team, and four Genin to assist.
Compensation: Based on task completion and contribution, with generous basic compensation.
Konoha!
Upon seeing these four words, Shira's heart skipped a beat, and her breath caught in her throat for a moment!
Konoha! That vibrant, green village! The protagonist Sasuke, Naruto, Uchiha Sasuke, and...
Rock Lee!
That guy, just like him, was called a "loser who can't use Ninjutsu or Genjutsu," but through his passion and extraordinary efforts, he gradually shone with dazzling brilliance!
An overwhelming sense of surprise and excitement surged through Shira's heart. A chance to go to Konoha! A chance to see Rock Lee, the one who proved that "hard work can surpass genius"!
He could even picture Rock Lee's signature thick eyebrows, gleaming teeth, and never-say-die smile!
This was undoubtedly a huge temptation for Shira, who had been exploring the path of Taijutsu alone. He longed to communicate with Rock Lee, to witness the secrets of Konoha-Style Taijutsu, and to find resonance and inspiration from his peer who had also forged his strength through hard work!
Without the slightest hesitation, Shira took a deep breath, suppressed her surging emotions, pointed to the mission scroll, and clearly stated to the Chunin staff member in charge of registration:
"Excuse me, could you please let me Genin Shira, join this Rank B escort mission?"