Experiment
After devouring three large meat buns, Bai Ye finally felt alive again.
"What are you mumbling about? Forget it—have you seen my weights? I couldn't find them nearby when I woke up."
Compared to other trivial matters, Bai Ye was more concerned about his training gear. His family wasn't wealthy, and anything considered unused for too long could easily end up sold off. That included his specially-made weights.
"Oh, those? They're in the downstairs storage room," Zhiyi replied. "My uncle said they were too heavy to keep around. I tried lifting them earlier, and they drained me in seconds. Seriously, Bai Ye, you're insanely strong to wear those all the time."
His eyes flickered with a strange gleam.
"I'd really like to train with you sometime. I doubt I could beat you, but it'd be awesome if we got placed on the same team after graduation."
"Don't think too highly of me," Bai Ye replied with a faint, helpless smile. "Right now, I'm only good at taijutsu. I've got a lot of limitations when it comes to actual missions."
Despite Zhiyi's admiration, Bai Ye remained grounded. Over the past few years, his physical abilities hadn't declined—on the contrary, they'd improved thanks to his Zanpakutō—but his chakra control remained underwhelming. He still couldn't perform standard ninjutsu.
The three Kidō techniques he had recently unlocked—two Hadō and one Bakudō—felt weak and rudimentary. His attacks lacked versatility, and he knew that facing a genjutsu-type opponent would result in an instant defeat.
"Still," Zhiyi said, "most people don't have the grit to master even one discipline to your level. And to be honest, you're the only one in our class I really respect—well, besides the top five. I'd rather go solo than team up with the rest."
Bai Ye was caught off guard by Zhiyi's unusual enthusiasm, especially since they'd barely gotten along in the past. It was clear that Zhiyi had lingered longer than necessary—he didn't leave until the academy bell was about to ring.
Finally alone, Bai Ye exhaled in relief.
"He's more intense than Kai," he muttered. "And here I thought he was just some brooding loner in class…"
Still, the interaction had given him time to recover. After nearly half an hour, his condition had improved noticeably. He figured he'd be up and training again within the hour.
This recent Zanpakutō evolution must have brought some hidden benefits. His body was recovering faster than usual—his regeneration speed had noticeably improved. That meant he could push his physical limits even harder.
He rested a little longer before sneaking out the window, taking care to check if Might Guy was nearby.
Now free of his weights, Bai Ye dashed across the rooftops. His body felt featherlight. He even performed a few somersaults mid-run, exhilarated by the newfound speed and freedom. For the first time since joining the Academy, he'd removed every self-imposed limit.
"Took less than two minutes to get here... I wonder if I've caught up to Lee's speed when he first showed up?"
Arriving at his usual training spot, Bai Ye crouched under a tree, mentally calculating his current capabilities.
"At this pace, I can probably max out my Zanpakutō's current experience within three months. By then, I should be stronger than Lee was back then… maybe even without weights."
A rare smile lit his face. Ever since maxing out his experience points the first time, he'd lived in constant anxiety, fearing stagnation. But if he could keep progressing like this, five years would be more than enough to alter the future.
This world won't follow its original path. I'll change the outcome of the Three Great Ninja Wars.
After finalizing his calculations, he stood and took a few steps back. Pressing his index and middle fingers together, he pointed at a nearby tree and whispered:
"Hadō #4: Byakurai!"
A flash of lightning erupted from his fingertip, striking the tree with a sharp crack. The bark was scorched at the impact point.
Bai Ye approached for inspection. Only the outer layer of the trunk had been charred—the damage was superficial.
"The power's still underwhelming, but the chakra cost is low. Better than Hadō #1: Shō, though still not great in a real fight."
Next, he prepared to test his newly acquired binding technique.
"Bakudō #4: Hainawa."
A glowing rope of energy appeared from his left hand, snaking around his torso like a whip. He allowed it to bind him, then gently flexed his arms outward. The rope snapped without resistance and dissolved into the air.
"The restraining force is too weak. Probably only useful for capturing targets already incapacitated. Still, better than having to tie someone up manually."
He sighed in disappointment. "Bakudō #1: Sai at least surprised enemies who weren't expecting it. This one's way too flashy—like waving around a Chidori."
"None of these feel practical. Against someone weaker, I could just cut them down with my Zanpakutō. Against someone stronger, these won't make a difference."
He paused, then turned to a nearby boulder, about head-height. A solid target.
"Let's try the 'magic gun' again…"
He steadied his breath.
"Hadō #31: Shakkahō."
A white-hot orb of energy shot from his palm and pierced the boulder in an instant. The rock didn't shatter—it was sliced clean through. As Bai Ye walked over, he traced the cut with his hand. The surface was still smooth—polished, even.
"Damn… Clean as tofu. The penetration is insane. But it burned through almost all my chakra."
He wiped the sweat from his brow, breath ragged.
"If my Zanpakutō hadn't evolved and boosted my chakra pool, I'd be out cold by now—just like when Kakashi uses Kamui."
Clearly, this technique wasn't viable in drawn-out battles. "I'll have to keep it as a trump card. Use it for surprise attacks, or not at all."
Fatigued, Bai Ye dropped to the grass, arms and legs spread wide like a starfish. He stared up at the sky, letting the wind tousle his hair.
"Since arriving in this world, I haven't really rested... With the weights gone, maybe I can allow myself a break."
The gentle breeze lulled him. His eyelids drifted closed. In that quiet, forgotten part of the suburbs, Bai Ye fell asleep under the sun, and for the first time in what felt like ages, he dreamed a peaceful dream.