"This is where you will train from now on."
Shinazugawa Sanemi stood at the edge of a wind-swept valley and spoke to Naruto beside him. "This valley is called Wind Valley. Because of its unique terrain, it is constantly battered by fierce winds, making it the perfect place to train Wind Breathing.
"This valley is one hundred and fifty meters deep, and the wind force inside is divided into three stages.
"The first fifty meters have wind strength between levels five and seven. The middle fifty meters reach levels eight to nine .And the final fifty meters exceed level ten."
As he spoke, he turned his gaze to Naruto and said in a deep voice, "I only requested a one-month leave from Master Ubuyashiki Kagaya. My requirement for you is simple: within one month, you must reach the deepest part of this valley, and you must train there for at least one hour every day. Do you have any objections?"
At yesterday's Pillar Meeting, Shinazugawa Sanemi had formally requested permission from Master Ubuyashiki Kagaya to take Naruto as his Son.
Although Master Ubuyashiki Kagaya had never met Naruto, he readily agreed and granted Shinazugawa Sanemi one month of leave to personally teach him Wind Breathing.
Originally, Master Ubuyashiki Kagaya wanted to grant three months, but Shinazugawa Sanemi refused outright. He stated that if Naruto could not master Wind Breathing within one month, then there was no need for him to continue being his Son.
Master Ubuyashiki Kagaya felt the standard was excessively harsh and asked for Naruto's opinion.
Naruto replied, "One month won't even be necessary!"
Hearing this, Master Ubuyashiki Kagaya could only smile helplessly and agree, stating that he would watch the results with interest.
"No problem!"
Naruto stared at the howling valley before him, excitement flashing in his eyes.
At last, the training he had been waiting for had begun.
"Good. Then we start now."
Shinazugawa Sanemi removed his Nichirin blade from his waist, fixed Naruto with a malicious gaze, and said, "First, I'll teach you how to circulate your breathing for Wind Breathing."
"Bring it on—uh, wait. What are you doing?"
Naruto watched as Shinazugawa Sanemi cracked his knuckles while walking toward him, an ominous premonition rising in his chest.
"Heh heh. The core of Wind Breathing lies in breathing rhythm. And the fastest way to engrave that rhythm into your body is simple."
Shinazugawa Sanemi stopped in front of Naruto, placed one hand on his shoulder, clenched the other into a fist, and grinned viciously.
"I'll pound it straight into your lungs."
"Brat, prepare yourself. I'll make sure you never forget the breathing rhythm of Wind Breathing."
Bang! Bang! Bang!!!
Before Naruto could react, Shinazugawa Sanemi's fist slammed into his chest. The terrifying force passed through his ribs and struck directly at his lungs.
"Ah—!"
Naruto screamed as if his lungs had been smashed by a massive hammer, his breath completely knocked away.
Just as suffocation set in, another punch landed, forcing his lungs to resume function. Naruto gasped desperately for air—only for another strike to halt his breathing once more.
Again and again.
Over and over.
After an unknown number of repetitions, Naruto's breathing—under Shinazugawa Sanemi's inhuman training—gradually fell into a steady rhythm.
"Remember this sensation."
Once Naruto adapted, Shinazugawa Sanemi finally stopped and spoke solemnly. "The breathing frequency you just experienced is the rhythm of Wind Breathing. Etch it into your body."
"How could I ever forget…"
Naruto rubbed his aching chest, his face twisted in bitterness. "Mr. Shinazugawa, your teaching method is way too violent."
"This is the fastest way."
Shinazugawa Sanemi grinned. "The force I used won't damage your lungs. On the contrary, it will strengthen them in a short time. Right now is the best moment for you to enter Wind Valley."
His strikes were, in essence, a brutal form of forced conditioning. While imprinting the breathing rhythm, they also rapidly enhanced Naruto's lung capacity.
Of course, the experience itself was… unpleasant.
"I'll give you ten minutes to adjust," Shinazugawa Sanemi said seriously. "Then you enter the valley. Once inside, you must breathe against the wind using that rhythm.
"When you can maintain it for one full hour in the first stage of wind force, I'll begin teaching you Wind Breathing sword techniques."
"Understood!"
The bitterness vanished from Naruto's face instantly. He closed his eyes and began adjusting his breathing.
Ten minutes later, Naruto opened his eyes and stepped into the roaring valley without hesitation.
"Hoo! Hoo!—"
Facing the oncoming gale, Naruto advanced forward as instructed. Each breath dragged violent wind straight into his lungs.
This was no longer simple suffocation.
It felt as though his lungs were on the verge of exploding.
Less than a minute later, Naruto instinctively turned his back to the wind, gasping heavily.
"How am I supposed to last an entire hour like this?!"
Even so, his complaint was only verbal.
After stabilizing his breathing, Naruto turned back around and once again faced the storm, forcing his lungs to endure the relentless baptism of wind.
Again.
And again.
About an hour later, Naruto was able to maintain the breathing rhythm against the wind for over a full minute.
"This kid…"
From a high vantage point outside the valley, Shinazugawa Sanemi sat cross-legged, watching Naruto's progress with a faint smile.
To achieve one full minute of stable breathing after only an hour inside Wind Valley far exceeded his expectations.
Originally, Shinazugawa Sanemi believed it would take Naruto an entire day just to reach that level in the first stage.
He hadn't expected it to happen in a single hour.
"At this rate…"
Shinazugawa Sanemi muttered softly, watching Naruto struggle onward within the valley.
"He might actually reach the goal I set."
The goal—to reach the deepest part of Wind Valley within a month and train there for an hour every day—had been spoken casually.
Even Shinazugawa Sanemi himself believed it was impossible.
After all, even he could barely manage that level.
His true expectation had been far more modest: for Naruto to endure one hour in the first stage within a month.
But now—
Perhaps even the impossible might be within reach.