Chapter 22 Training

As the moon cast a pale glow over the village, Hiro adjusted his gear, glancing at Mikoto, who nodded in silent agreement. 

they needed to improve their skills train every nigh back mountain. 

Hiro was acutely aware of his limitations. Despite possessing the Mangekyō Sharingan, his chakra reserves were meager, and the quality of his chakra was subpar. 

The only reason he managed to kill those Sand Ninjas was because they were unlucky. 

If his Mangekyō attack had failed, he would have been done for, as using the Mangekyō even once drained his chakra reserves completely. The consumption was simply too much.

As they stepped outside, Hiro's senses detected someone approaching, but everything seemed calm. The villagers were deep in sleep.

Just as they were about to leave, Hiro noticed a slight movement out of the corner of his eye. 

He turned to see Pakura standing in the shadows, her eyes wide with curiosity. She hadn't made a sound, but her presence was unmistakable. Hiro paused and exchanged a quick glance with Mikoto, who seemed equally surprised.

Pakura's gaze flickered between them, clearly torn between her curiosity and her usual reticence. 

She had never been one to ask questions, preferring to keep her thoughts and feelings to herself. But tonight, her curiosity had clearly gotten the better of her.

"Pakura," Hiro began, not wanting to startle her. "You're awake."

She nodded, her expression unreadable. "I've noticed you leaving every night," she said quietly, her voice devoid of accusation. "Where do you go?"

Hiro didn't think it was a significant secret, so he replied, "We go to the back mountain to train. It's the only time we can do it without drawing attention."

Pakura's brow furrowed slightly, as if she was processing his words. "Training… for what?"

"To get stronger," Mikoto answered, stepping forward. "We need to be ready for anything. The world isn't as peaceful as it seems, and we can't afford to let our guard down."

Pakura remained silent, her thoughts clearly churning. 

She understood the need for strength—after all, she had been a shinobi for most of her life. But there was something else, a deeper curiosity that she couldn't quite put into words.

Finally, she spoke again. "Can I come with you?"

Hiro exchanged a surprised look with Mikoto. They hadn't expected this. Pakura had been recovering from her injuries, and though she was physically capable, they hadn't wanted to push her too soon. 

"If you're sure," Hiro said slowly, giving her one last chance to back out. "It won't be easy."

"I'm sure. I need to train too. I can't just sit here and do nothing."

Mikoto smiled gently "Then let's go," she said, gesturing for Pakura to join them.

Together, the three of them moved through the shadows, leaving the sleeping village behind as they made their way to the back mountain. The night was quiet, save for the rustling of leaves and the distant call of an owl. 

As they reached the secluded training spot in the back mountain, Hiro took a deep breath, feeling the cool night air fill his lungs. The moonlight bathed the clearing in a soft, silver glow, casting long shadows that danced with the flicker of their movements. 

Hiro glanced at Pakura, who was already observing the area with a keen eye, assessing the terrain and the possibilities it offered for training.

"This is where we've been training," Hiro explained, gesturing to the clearing. "It's isolated enough that no one will hear us, and the terrain provides a good variety of challenges."

Pakura nodded, her expression thoughtful. "It's a good spot. Plenty of space and cover."

Mikoto moved to stand beside Hiro, her gaze shifting between the two. "Hiro's been working on something specific," she said, her voice carrying a note of pride. "Improving his chakra reserves and quality."

Pakura's interest piqued, her eyes narrowing slightly as she turned to Hiro. "Improving chakra reserves and quality? How?"

Hiro hesitated for a moment, gathering his thoughts. He knew that Pakura, as an experienced shinobi, would understand the importance of chakra in battle—how the right amount of it, combined with proper control, could mean the difference between victory and defeat. And yet, this was something he had struggled with, despite his possession of the Mangekyō Sharingan.

"Chakra has always been my weak point," Hiro admitted, his tone serious. 

"My reserves are lower than average, and the quality of my chakra isn't as refined as it should be. That's why I've been focusing on a method that targets both issues."

He stepped forward, moving to the center of the clearing, where the ground was smooth and flat. 

"I realized that my chakra needed to be more concentrated and controlled—more like a flowing river than a scattered stream. 

So, I've been practicing a form of chakra circulation that focuses on refining the chakra as it moves through my system."

Pakura listened intently, her curiosity evident. "Chakra circulation? Like a meditation technique?"

Hiro nodded. "Yes, but with a twist. I've been using a method that involves creating resistance within my chakra pathways. 

By deliberately slowing down the flow of chakra and forcing it through narrower passages, I'm training my body to handle a higher concentration of energy. It's like weight training for chakra."

Pakura raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "That sounds… intense."

"It is," Hiro admitted with a slight smile. "It's not easy, and it can be painful at times. 

But it's helping. I've noticed that my chakra is becoming denser, more potent. And the more I practice, the more my reserves are slowly increasing."

Mikoto stepped forward, adding to Hiro's explanation. "We've also been incorporating physical training that complements this chakra work. 

By exhausting his body physically, Hiro's forced to draw on deeper chakra reserves, pushing them to expand. It's a slow process, but it's effective."