One kilometer away from the Third Training Ground
"..."
"How did I get here?" The root ninja, looking perplexed at his situation, murmured, "I could have sworn I was observing the boy from a distance."
Examining his surroundings closely, he found himself on top of the building, far away from his original hiding place.
"Something is seriously wrong with the boy; someone is closely protecting him," the root ninja, code name Sugaru or Yōji Aburame, muttered as he suddenly realized what may really happen. "Somehow, a powerful genjutsu cast me away without my knowledge."
Checking his body and the insects he had planted for spying, Sugaru found that all of them were already back in his body.
The situation immediately made him sweat; a Genjutsu that was capable of being cast into the Aburame clan without being detected was unheard of.
Normally, the Kikaichū, like all insects, lack a complicated structure like cranial nerves in their brains, so no Genjustu would have any effect on them and give the Aburame clan the ability to detect if they were under it.
Sugaru decided to head back to report his superior; this is no longer something he could face alone.
...
After another day of completing his morning run routine, Hikaru became more cautious about his movements, fearing that someone might still be trying to track him. After thoroughly contemplating his option, he decided that he would try to avoid it for the time being.
There are many secrets that he doesn't want others to discover while training, such as his unique meditation training technique and his proficiency with the Fūinjutsu (sealing technique).
After completing the weight training seal, he would resume his normal schedule and act as he had before.
Hikaru also considers buying a new house in the future with more space for training in the backyard. He needs just enough space for his Tai Chi training. His current house, although spacious for the family of two, doesn't have enough space in the room to complete the exercise.
After washing his body completely, Hikaru follows his plan by visiting many places and transforming himself into others in an attempt to disguise his path before finally arriving at the training ground.
This time, he chose the Forty-Third Training Ground, where he had always been, instead of returning to the Third Training Ground, where he was under observation.
He then began to continue the work he had left on the current sealing technique, which is nearing the finish line.
a few days later
"I did it!" Hikaru exclaims, panting as all the work exhausts his body, looking at the sealing technique inside the scroll he had completed.
Although it wasn't as beautiful as it could have been, it effectively accomplished the task he had in mind.
Hikaru had to read numerous other books related to the subjects before completing this specific technique, which required additional training and time. He really put everything else aside and focused on completing the jutsu he wanted.
After resting for a few moments, Hikaru then took out the item he had prepared beforehand—four bracelets connected by a white bead—and laid them on top of the sealing scroll, forming a hand seal.
The ink on the sealing scroll moves mysteriously in the direction of the bracelet, as if it were being absorbed.
A few moments later, after all the ink disappeared, Hikaru said with an excited expression, "Now it's time to test."
He placed the bracelet beads on both hands and legs, stood for a few moments to focus, and formed hand seals before pressing the palm against his chest.
"Shishi Jūfūin." (Sealing Technique: Four Limbs Weighting Seal)
The beads on his bracelets all turned green, then slowly turned yellow, as the weight on his hands and legs felt much heavier than before. At this point, Hikaru decided to stop injecting chakra.
He has modified the weight training seal to be adjustable in three colors: green means he's perfectly fine with the weight; yellow means his body can still cope with no issues, but the weight is heavier.
The color red indicates that it is too heavy for his body. He can adjust the weight by putting a chakra on it; the more chakra he puts in, the heavier it feels. With his current abilities, he could only make the weight reach fifty kilograms at best.
The chakra inside the bracelets will depreciate over time and will not remain inside forever, in case he accidentally pours his chakra more than he should. Hikaru can also turn off the seal immediately if he wants to.
Hikaru smiled at the result and said, "It's a success!"
Hikaru feels as if he just completed another mission; the happiness of accomplishing something he created himself brought him a lot of joy.
"Now that I have resolved this issue, with this seal, I should be able to raise my strength and endurance faster," said Hikaru as he began to deactivate the sealing technique on the weight training seal.
Hikaru calculated the time left before reporting to his new sensei in his mind and said, "I only have less than three weeks left."
"Hopefully, it will be enough to reduce my shortcoming."
With all the equipment lying around, Hikaru felt fortunate that he didn't overuse the material he had in stock. It took him three attempts to complete the technique, and he just had enough material to do so.
The following morning, Hikaru woke up and prepared himself quickly; he was eager to test his newly created seal. Upon examining the bracelets on his hands and feet, Hikaru infused them with chakra. Once he felt that the weight was at least two kilograms, he stopped.
To gradually increase his endurance, Hikaru will first start his morning run around the village with only two kilograms of weight. He would slowly increase the amount after he felt comfortable with it.
To enhance his strength, Hikaru has planned his training method similar to how Jiraiya trained in his earlier years. Jiraiya trained himself by carrying a large rock while walking straight up the mountain, and Hikaru would replicate this training by placing both hands in the center of his chest and activating the weight training seal.
He would add more chakras and raise the training seal's weight to a minimum of five kilograms. This would increase the pressure on his body as he attempted to climb up the tree with his feet in a short distance.
In this manner, he could simultaneously develop strength and master chakra control.
Hikaru also has an idea to combine both weight training and his meditation exercise; since it is a slow movement, it should be able to handle a lot of pressure from its heaviness. He could gain strength and focus simultaneously.
Hikaru has an even crazier plan to combine weight training, meditation training, and water surface walking together.
The exercise is a three-in-one combination that aims to improve all three aspects.
This was the method Hikaru came up with for his training plan in the note with a big question mark on it.
He doesn't know if it is possible or not.
There are many other novel ideas Hikaru could think of, but he will stick with the normal ones right now that look feasible to him.
After running the same distance in the morning, Hikaru felt extremely sore due to the pressure of the increasing weight. He rested on the nearby road for almost half an hour before slowly walking along the market.
It was still early in the morning, so his sister hasn't arrived yet.
As Hikaru looked around, he noticed one of the shops open early in the morning selling balloons, and he immediately bought some of them to prepare for the new exercises he has to do.
A Shape Transformation Exercise
Hikaru planned to find time to begin his shape transformation training once he has a spare chakra and time at home. His room should have enough space for him to practice the first two steps of the Rasengan technique.
Hopefully, no one would spy on him while he was learning a new technique at home.
Hikaru still had a guilty conscience for breaking in and helping to rescue the golden eagle. He was concerned that some Anbu might be tracking him, searching for any signs of suspicious activity.
Though a bit paranoid, he hoped that anyone trailing him would give up after weeks of finding nothing.
After buying some balloons and leaving them at home, Hikaru was told by Ayako to wait and help her buy the necessary goods at the market for this month. After completing the task, he then headed to the training ground to finish his advanced chakra control training.
As usual, Hikaru returned to the Third Training Ground to resume his normal training. He no longer needs to keep anything secret, as he has already completed the seal he wanted.
Hikaru, walking towards the river, removed his clothes and put them aside before starting his training, thinking, 'Hopefully no one is watching me naked right now.'
Seeing his reflection in the river, Hikaru smiled and said, "I actually look pretty good." He then laughed at his childish expression.
After calming himself from the embarrassing moment, Hikaru started channeling chakra to his feet with determination in his eyes.
"Let's do this!"
The training took the entire morning. By lunchtime, Hikaru had made significant progress, managing to stand on the river for a long time, although not as long as he wanted. Nonetheless, it was an improvement he was pleased with.
Hikaru then tried to catch some fish and grill them nearby. He had already prepared the utensil, seasoning, and ingredients to cook the fish, following methods he had watched on SNS in his previous life.
After half an hour of trying to cook the food this way the first time,
'It's edible,' Hikaru thought as he took a bite of his effort.
A mix of sour and spicy flavors seasoned the fish, but the ratio wasn't quite right, creating an odd taste. It felt like something was missing to enhance the flavor. Hikaru briefly thought about the solution before finally adding some salt to the dish and roasting it further.
"Okay, this tastes so much better," Hikaru said, savoring the improved flavor.
He ate three to four fish until he was full, cleaned up everything afterwards, then searched for a nearby tree before taking a break and napping under it.
In the meantime, three feet underground, at Root's secret hideout
Kanou, one of the Root members wearing his mask with a beak shape and purple markings, dressed in Anbu attire, is looking at the new scroll mission he's just received from his superior.
He was ordered to monitor Muranaka Hikaru instead of Sugaru, who was unknowingly claiming that he was under Genjutsu and being cast away while observing the boy.
Danzō-sama was initially furious at his claim, but after finding out the information from Sugaru's mind turned out to be true, he was then curious.
With the unique technique of the Yamanaka clan from one of the Root organization members known as Yamanaka Fū, reading the memories of the desire person and extracting them isn't difficult at all.
The information shouldn't be fake.
Which makes Shimura Danzō suspicious toward the peculiar situation, as only those from a curse clan, such as the Uchiha, would have strong enough Genjutsu technique to perform this feat.
As a result, Kanou has received the mission because of his superior ability and potential to handle the unusual circumstances.
Looking inside the intelligence, Kanou committed the information to his mind and immediately flickered toward the last location the boy had been seen.
The Third Training Ground.