Weights

As the morning sun illuminated the training ground, Riku, the embodiment of intensity, unleashed his training regimen upon Renjiro, Aiko, and Hiro with a zeal that could only be described as demonic. 

His approach to physical conditioning was as relentless as a demon's pursuit, pushing the boundaries of their endurance with a merciless fervour.

The workout was a symphony of sweat and strained muscles, orchestrated by Riku's seemingly boundless energy. Renjiro, accustomed to challenges, found himself in uncharted territory, realizing that Riku's definition of intensity surpassed anything he had ever encountered. 

It was as if Riku had made a pact with the training demons themselves, channelling their relentless spirit into every exercise. It made the team miss the good times when Riku was late for their early morning meetup. Just like most good times, which was only one instance in this case, it was short-lived.

In the midst of the gruelling routine, Riku's laughter echoed like a mischievous imp revelling in the chaos it had unleashed. Each drop of sweat seemed to be a tribute to the training demon, and the genins couldn't help but exchange incredulous glances as they navigated through a sea of physical demands.

Despite the pain, there was an absurd humour in the way Riku pushed them to new levels of discomfort. It was as if he had crafted a unique brand of torture that only a demon could conceive. The training ground became a playground of agony, and Riku, with a devilish twinkle in his eye, revelled in the absurdity of it all.

'I want to die!'

That was Renjiro's last thought as he collapsed in training ground 51. Right beside him were Hiro and Aiko, both in similar states. He supposedly lasted longer than the two in the first segment of their training but that was nothing to brag about, as lasting longer only meant more pain.

"That's for today's workout. Take an hour's break then we'll move to the next segment." Riku declared seemingly ignoring the fact that none of his students were in a state to listen to him.

The usual day began with a brutal awakening as Riku expected them to rise at the crack of dawn, commencing an intense body workout that spanned from 5 am to 8 am. 

Following this early aforementioned morning crucible, a brief respite arrived as Riku allowed them to take a break until 9 am. 

However, as the clock struck 10 am, the next phase commenced. From 10 am to 2 pm, they found themselves entangled in taijutsu battles against the seasoned master himself—Riku. 

Despite their concerted efforts, the matches unfolded with a predictable rhythm as Riku, an expert taijutsu specialist, dominated every encounter. The score stood at an overwhelming 18-0, all victories leaning in Riku's favour. Undeterred by the defeats, Riku, forced them to engage in at least three battles every day. 

Today the trio, fueled by the determination to break the 17-0 streak, moved with a newfound intensity. It was weird that the hour-long break Riku gave them did wonders and they actually recovered most of their strength.

'Must be chakra.' Renjiro noted. 

Despite being in this world for close to three years, the capabilities of Chakra never seemed to amaze him. But that was for later now, he needed to focus on their spar with Riku.

Renjiro darted with speed, launching calculated strikes. Aiko also launched her own kicks and punches. Hiro, the agile force, aimed to disrupt with unpredictable manoeuvres.

Yet, Riku moved like a blur, effortlessly countering every strike. His movements were fluid and precise, a testament to years of experience. The battle unfolded in a mesmerizing dance, each clash resonating with the clash of steel on steel.

Despite their concerted efforts, the genin found themselves constantly outmanoeuvred.

"Haha Faster!" Riku's laughter echoed through the training ground, a mix of amusement and encouragement.

As the battle reached its conclusion, Riku, with a satisfied nod, acknowledged the progress they had made. The 17-0 streak had changed it was now 18-0.

"Good job guys," Riku said with a mocking smile on his face. He was clearly not withholding his perverted tendencies.

Although Riku continued to accumulate the wins, it was not as easy as before for him to win. The team was clearly making visible progress when it came to taijutsu.

'A win is a win.' Renjiro surmised. 

It was impossible to better a jounin with their current strength. Lasting longer than before was more than enough to depict their progress.

"I think it is time to include ninjutsu in your training," Riku said with a thoughtful look on his face before he continued, "Since it would actively reduce the time we spend on the current segments I guess I will have to just increase the intensity of all the segments."

His last statement killed the all signs of life that were coming back to his students' eyes as they thought they were getting some sort of relief. Depleting chakra reserves was worth it to them if they could be able to avoid any physical contact with Riku

'Increase the Intensity? There's even more to this? I might have actually chosen the wrong career here.'

Renjiro, having endured the gruelling training regimen under Riku's relentless guidance, returned home with a body that bore the echoes of exertion.

Aware that meditation was not only a personal practice but a vital means of restoring his depleted chakra reserves, Renjiro sought solace in the quiet of his room. With closed eyes, he assumed a meditative posture.

Drawing upon the wellspring of chakra within, Renjiro entered a meditative trance. The energy flow, disrupted and intensified during the day's training, now found equilibrium. Each breath became a rhythmic dance, harmonizing with the pulse of his chakra network.

'I need to buy weights, even with Riku's demanding training, my body has only seen minuscule stat improvements. I should have enough money to get them, so I do not need to disturb Miwa with this.'

Renjiro emerged from his meditation with a new sense of refreshment. He prepared to the town in search of training weights. These specialized weights, intricately inscribed with Fuinjutsu, were used by shinobi seeking to enhance their physical strength and speed through intensive training.

Renjiro made his way through the familiar streets of the village. The ambient sounds of the bustling town served as a backdrop to his purposeful strides. 

In the town's market area, with its array of shops and vendors, Renjiro sought out merchants known for dealing in unique shinobi equipment who might offer such specialized tools. 

Entering a shop adorned with various ninja tools, Renjiro engaged in conversations with knowledgeable merchants, inquiring about the availability of training weights. 

There were mainly three types of training weights. The first two of this trio were of the chainmail variant. The first type, designed explicitly for the limbs, was an embodiment of sleek efficiency in craftsmanship. 

Delicate and precise, these weights resembled intricate chainmail, strategically worn on specific limbs with the singular purpose of accelerating and refining the ninja's movements. 

The second type of weights, still of the chainmail variant, was akin to a full-body armour. It covered the whole body paying special attention to the torso and legs. This weight allowed the user to exert control over the additional burden. 

It not only intensified the resistance during training but also empowered the wearer to manipulate the weight distribution through infusing Chakra. 

The final weight took a unique form—a seal matrix inscribed on chakra-infused paper. This compact yet formidable weight adhered directly to the user's skin. 

'It is the most effective of the three but I am not allowed to use it. Even if I was allowed to, I would only resort to it after I hit puberty.' Renjiro remarked as he got more information about the weight.

It had a huge drawback which was stunting one's body growth. Since it was to be placed on one's skin, it had to be done so when one was no longer growing. 

'That leaves only the first and second types. Since I am hoping for a balanced increase in stats, the isn't a debate on which one I am going to pick.'

With a nod of satisfaction, Renjiro acquired the second type of weights, a tangible investment in his journey toward mastery. 

[Let's hit our weekly target of 500 Powerstones and I will upload a bonus Chapter on Sunday]

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