"Center the breath in the lower dantian, channel inner force through the meridians and then... Little Li Flying Blade!" Nara Kazuki shouted, letting fly a barrage of shuriken that thwacked clean into a tree ahead.
"...What are you even doing now?" Kakashi stood to the side, arms folded, watching the bizarre scene unfold.
He really didn't get it. Since when did Kazuki start training with ninja tools? He was pretty sure the Nara clan weren't exactly known for shuriken techniques.
"It's for physical conditioning—and multitasking," Kazuki said, shaking out his wrist.
He had discovered it just last night. A new progress bar had appeared in his skills panel: [Ninja Tool Throwing: 12/500].
At first, Kazuki hadn't thought much of it. He barely used shuriken or kunai anyway. And it's not like he was a TenTen type who specialized in tools. Even if he maxed it out, what then—shuriken versus Susano'o? Right.
So he'd left it alone.
But later, while training his body, a thought hit him. He remembered something a gym coach once told him in his past life: some movements feel easy only because you're doing them wrong. Done right, they're brutal.
That was when he wondered—what if he trained ninja tool throwing using exaggerated, precise, heavy motion? Could it double as physical conditioning?
Each properly-executed throw activated multiple muscle groups. It raised his Body Strength progress—and also nudged up Ninja Tool Throwing.
Dual gains. He even tied iron wire to the shuriken so he could retrieve them faster.
One throw = two skill bars. Total win.
He'd rename himself: Nara "Konoha's 200x Effort King" Kazuki.
Kakashi silently facepalmed.
This guy... was definitely not normal.
Training like a man possessed every day—what for? And...
He glanced at Kazuki's shadow clones.
The clones weren't exactly normal either.
One was practicing the sword techniques Kakashi had taught him—while alternating fire-style hand seals for Great Fireball Technique. The motions were janky but surprisingly smooth.
"Phew... It works. Shadow clones can improve swordsmanship too," Kazuki muttered, wiping sweat off his forehead. He was eager to see what kind of traits would unlock at the first upgrade of Ninja Tool Throwing and Swordsmanship.
Just thinking about it made him itch.
"You finished visiting your friend?" Kazuki looked at Kakashi, who was now seated cross-legged, refining chakra.
Not that he needed to actively do it—chakra would recover on its own—but consciously refining it sped things up. Besides, sitting there all day doing nothing might look weird.
"Mm." Kakashi nodded and perched silently on a training post, chakra swirling at his palm.
Their last battle had given him new insight into combat. Maybe he could tweak some jutsu mechanics. Also—he'd started realizing his Sharingan had a hidden function...
It let him memorize the movements of others casting jutsu—and then reproduce them, effectively copying techniques.
He ran his fingers along the Sharingan.
Obito's eye... still had untapped potential.
Kazuki scratched his head.
He'd been planning to warn Kakashi—If you're gonna visit your friend's grave, fine. But don't monologue like a lunatic while you're there. That hadn't become a problem yet, but Kazuki planned to tag along next time. Just to be sure.
Maybe it would help avoid you-know-what night with the Nine-Tails.
"Yo! Kakashi! Kazuki!"
The sudden shout of Might Guy made both of them flinch.
There he stood, full thumbs-up, flashing his blinding Power of Youth smile.
Considering how Guy's brutal training actually helped with physical stats, Kazuki obediently followed him. Kakashi sighed and trailed behind.
Meanwhile, at the Namikaze household, Minato was getting ready for work. Standing in the living room, he let his wife adjust his collar. Out the window, he saw Kazuki, Guy, and Kakashi running by in a bizarre training formation.
"See? He's not bad at all. Such a hardworking little ninja," said Kushina, smiling fondly as she caught sight of Kazuki.
"Yeah... Kazuki's not bad," Minato replied—but...
He scratched his temple. How was he supposed to explain it?
That his own teacher, Jiraiya, and Kazuki, were now co-authoring a certain unique genre of book?
If he said it aloud, Kushina might literally kill someone.
And she was pregnant right now—Minato wasn't going to risk that.
"Mm... His training method is a little strange though?" Kushina giggled as she watched Kazuki frog-hop across the ground, pause, summon a shadow clone, and resume while throwing shuriken.
She'd seen all kinds of ninja.
Hardworking types were the norm—most had to grind their way toward closing the gap with geniuses.
But someone who trained ? That was a first.
"Can't argue there..." Minato frowned slightly. What was he even doing? Sure, physical conditioning was important—but throwing ninja tools while doing bodyweight drills? Having clones fire off Great Fireball and sword forms?
What was the purpose?
"I'll have to offer him some guidance," Minato decided. He couldn't stand by and watch such raw effort get wasted.
"You're the best, my dear~" Kushina beamed, handing him a boxed lunch.
As she sent Minato off, she turned her gaze back toward Kazuki.
She really did like that kid.
Such a kind boy, she thought.
Kushina rested her hand gently on her belly, a soft warmth in her chest.
"When you're born," she whispered, "you'll be just as kind and strong, I know it."