Time ticked away, second by second. Before long, an entire day had passed.
On the surface, Qingyu and Yamanaka Yuta spent the day together probing the memories of the deceased. In reality, Qingyu had been "fishing"—spending most of his time slacking off while pretending to work.
"Find anything?"
Yamanaka Yuta finally pulled his hands away from the head of the last corpse. He let out a heavy sigh, his gaunt, skull-like face etched with deep fatigue.
"No," Qingyu shook his head. He wasn't even trying to be modest; he truly hadn't found any high-level intel in those memories. They were just common criminals; they didn't hold the keys to any kingdom.
"You did well today. Go back and rest. Don't be late tomorrow," Yuta said, dismissing him for the day without further ceremony.
"Yes, sir."
Qingyu didn't linger. He turned and left immediately. The moment the door closed behind him, Yamanaka Yuta moved to the table Qingyu had occupied and began to re-examine the corpses the boy had supposedly finished...
Qingyu didn't return to his dorm. Instead, he emerged from the underground facility and headed toward the small woods near the prison.
This time, the feeling of being watched was gone. After witnessing Qingyu's "pitiful" physical performance the other day, Morino Eaton had lost interest. Coupled with how busy the department was lately, Eaton couldn't be bothered to babysit a "salted fish." As for Yuta, he was currently occupied double-checking those corpses to make sure no clues were missed.
Qingyu was finally free.
Dressed in his dark grey ninja gear and wearing his white cat-face mask, he slipped into the shadows of the woods as night fell. In this attire, unless it was Eaton or Yuta themselves, no one in the Anbu could easily identify him.
"Finally, I can train for real!"
Once deep in the forest, Qingyu began to run. From his knowledge of the Naruto world, he had reached one crucial conclusion: Taijutsu is vital.
Since he already possessed the Sage Body, physical training offered him the highest return on investment. As for methods, he looked to the "tried and true" routines of Might Guy and Rock Lee. Running, push-ups, squats—primitive, but effective.
He became a blur in the night, weaving through the trees.
"So this is the Sage Body?!"
Even while maintaining a high-speed sprint and steady breathing, the sweat poured off him, yet he felt no significant fatigue. It was as if he had an inexhaustible well of energy. He finally understood why Naruto was such a powerhouse of stamina.
Of course, while Naruto was strong, he didn't have a pure Sage Body. In terms of raw physical talent, perhaps only the Sage of Six Paths himself could compare to Qingyu now.
As he ran, he felt a strange connection to his surroundings. It was as if every pore on his body was breathing. Usually, people don't "feel" the air they live in, but Qingyu could feel the natural energy around him. It seeped into his skin, constantly replenishing the stamina he expended.
Two hours passed.
He didn't stop until he was literally drenched in sweat, a waterfall of it pouring down his face. The sense of accomplishment was intoxicating.
Then came the push-ups. He did three thousand in one go, stopping only when his arm muscles screamed in agony. But he didn't quit there; he immediately transitioned into squat jumps, pushing his leg muscles to the absolute limit.
By the time he finished, it was very late.
"Phew~"
He took a deep breath of the crisp night air. It was the most satisfying workout since he had arrived in this world.
"That's enough for today. Tomorrow we go again. Life is long!"
He knew better than to rush. Physical strength is built over years, not days. His "low-key" act had successfully diverted the attention of his superiors, but he had to remain cautious.
On his way back to the Anbu entrance, his ninja suit was plastered to his body with sweat. A cool breeze sent a slight chill through him. He realized that without the Sage Body, his original weak constitution would have definitely caught a cold from this.
Just as he reached the entrance, he bumped into someone coming out: Morino Eaton.
Eaton was still in his black trench coat, but his face was worn with exhaustion—the look of a man who had finally finished a grueling shift.
"Qingyu?"
Eaton looked him up and down, noting the soaked clothes. Confusion flashed in his eyes. "Did you fall into a river?"
"I was just training!" Qingyu answered honestly.
"Training?!"
Eaton's mouth twitched. He looked at the boy with skepticism. Training? More like another half-hour warm-up followed by three minutes of 'passion,' right?
"That's right! I did a very thorough warm-up, and I feel great now!" Qingyu took off his mask and smiled. He wanted Eaton to keep underestimating him.
"Uh... well... just watch your health," Eaton said, biting back his true thoughts. He couldn't exactly admit he had spied on the boy's pathetic workout before.
"Yes!" Qingyu nodded, striking a pose of high-spirited determination. "I will definitely work hard to stay healthy and struggle for the cause of the Torture Force for the next eighty years!"
[End of Chapter 21]