Uya's physical age was gradually approaching eight, and he was just about ready for this kind of hellish training.
Over the past month, Uya's strength had improved some more, but his endurance and stamina had improved even more.
Back home, Uya reckoned that at this rate, it would not be long before these simple, basic exercises stopped doing anything for him.
At that point, he would need to start training with weights.
Weighted ninja tools were highly developed in this world. The unassuming metal plates strapped to Rock Lee's legs in the original story had weighed a terrifying amount.
Still, when he thought of how Sasuke Uchiha had caught up to Rock Lee's speed in just one month by stimulating his cells with electricity, Uya felt a little envious.
If only he could find a training method that suited him.
Phew!
Pushing those stray thoughts out of his head, Uya rested briefly before starting his training again.
At home, Uya could push himself to his limits without worry.
Training to the limit meant squeezing every last ounce of strength out of his body, forcing out his limits and surpassing them-a hellish regimen!
As he continued training over time, Uya's muscles gradually became quite pronounced.
However, this was only the first stage.
In the world of shinobi, muscles were commonplace and did not signify any great strength.
If he kept training, those muscles would gradually disappear, then emerge once more, their contours becoming completely smooth.
That would also be about when his body finished developing. Given how early bodies matured in this world, Uya estimated he could reach that point between fourteen and sixteen.
The problem was that he had to survive until then.
Uya remembered very clearly that the Second Shinobi World War would break out in less than two years.
Through this past month of training, Uya's quake power had also grown somewhat stronger. He might already be able to shatter weaker C-rank Ninjutsu outright.
Of course, even the same C-rank Ninjutsu would differ in power depending on whether a Chunin, a Jonin, or even someone like Madara Uchiha used it.
The art of Ninjutsu was vast and profound, but was that not also true of Taijutsu, or even Uya's Quake Release Kekkei Genkai?!
Developed to its utmost, it might truly be able to shatter space!
Sweat kept dripping onto the floor.
His arms were almost completely rigid, and sheer willpower alone kept him going.
He had more or less surpassed his previous limit.
Yet a trace of resolve remained on Uya's face. Gritting his teeth, he kept forcing himself to exercise until he had exceeded his previous count by several dozen, then suddenly collapsed, unable to push himself up again.
Uya took an utterly ruthless, relentless approach to his own training.
He had no choice. If he did not push himself with everything he had, how could he fight for a chance to survive the Second Shinobi World War?
With no backing and coming from another village, a child like Uya would certainly be sent on the most dangerous frontline missions once war broke out in the Shinobi World.
Kushina was different.
She was Konoha's chosen successor as the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. Never mind going to the battlefield-once war truly broke out, she probably would not even be allowed to leave the village and would be placed under extremely tight protection.
So Uya was not worried about Kushina's safety once the war began.
The only person he needed to worry about was himself.
Suddenly, he heard a key turning in the door.
Uya looked toward the doorway in mild surprise and tried to push himself up, but having just reached his limit, he could not recover so quickly.
The only person Uya trusted who had a key to his home was Kushina.
"You've gone and done this to yourself again."
Carrying dinner, Kushina sighed helplessly at the sight of Uya. Ignoring the sweat on his body, she helped him up.
"I really don't know why you push yourself so hard... Haven't you already awakened that Quake Release Kekkei Genkai and gotten really strong?"
Kushina puffed out her cheeks, looking at Uya in puzzlement.
Uya thought for a moment. Rather than tell Kushina about war and darkness, he smiled and said, "There are still people stronger than me, aren't there?"
"Minato Namikaze?" Kushina pouted. "But surpassing him won't be easy."
"It's precisely because it isn't easy that I can give it everything I've got."
Uya smiled.
Kushina pursed her lips, but in the end, she broke into a smile.
"I believe you'll surpass him sooner or later."
"Yeah."
Uya nodded, then scratched his head and looked at Kushina with a hint of embarrassment. "By the way, could you lend me some money?"
"Huh?"
Kushina looked at Uya in some surprise and answered instinctively, "Of course... What do you need it for?"
"Oh, nothing much. Just buying some ninja tools for training... Haha, most of my money gets withheld."
As an orphan, he was naturally entitled to relief payments in Konoha.
But because Uya was a child from another village, most of his money was withheld, leaving him barely enough to eat.
There was little Uya could do about this situation. He could only work hard to grow stronger and gradually free himself from these awkward circumstances and hardships.
"Those rotten people really are..."
Hearing Uya's words, Kushina flared up again, but in the end, she could only sigh helplessly and pat his shoulder. "All right, I'll lend it to you."
"Yeah. I probably won't be able to pay you back right away, but I'll become a Genin soon. Then a few missions should be enough to pay you back."
Uya smiled at Kushina.
Kushina pouted. "If you're planning to pay me back, then I won't lend it to you!"
"..."
Having known all along that she would react this way, Uya said helplessly, "All right, all right... I'll make it up to you some other way later."
"Hmph."
Kushina gave a slightly tsundere little huff, then left Uya's home after lending him the money he needed.
Looking at the dinner Kushina had left behind, Uya's gaze softened a little.
"Heh... Why do I keep feeling like I'm going to change the original story completely at this rate? But I can't just ignore Kushina's feelings, either."
Walking along Konoha's streets, Uya looked around before finally revealing a faint smile.
It always felt a little unreal to him.
Yet he really was here, in the world of Naruto, in Konoha.
Although he had been in Konoha for a long time, Uya had always been absorbed in training and growing stronger, never paying attention to its bustling streets.
After wandering around for a while, Uya arrived at a ninja tool shop.
He was just about to walk inside when he suddenly let out a surprised sound.
He had spotted a very familiar figure.
A green bodysuit, thick eyebrows... But Rock Lee should not have been born yet, and even if Might Guy had been born, he would only be a child, right?
Then there was no question about it.
Uya instantly identified the shinobi before him, who was also buying weighted ninja tools.
Konoha's eternal Genin... Might Duy!
And he was none other than Might Guy's father!