Training - The Great Way of the Buddha

Rai arrived the next morning at the same training fields five minutes before 6 AM. Right on the dot at 6 his grandpa also came over.

"Good. You're on time. Let's begin." – Grandpa

"I am going to first make sure that your body is conditioned to the appropriate level before real combat training. First, begin with a 100 rounds around the training field. Then we'll move onto pushups, sit-ups, squats, front kicks, back kicks and punches. Do 200 of these and we'll see from there."

Rai was flabbergasted. He wanted to start training. But this is something like a workout from hell. And he said that after all this we'll see from there. Is this supposed to be warm up? Am I going to become something like Might Guy? Hmm. The Blonde Beast of Kumo. Noooo. Let's not think of this ever again.

Rai quickly began with his workout regimen. It took close to 4 hours before he was able to finish up all the exercises that his grandpa had instructed him to do. Rai was reasonably worn down after this work out. He was out of breath and panting a little. He went over to his grandpa.

"Not bad. I expected you to take longer. Seems like your body condition is better than I imagined." – Grandpa

'Uh oh. I don't like the sound of that. That's a fucking flag.' Rai groans inwardly

"Lift your legs up." – Grandpa

Rai does as instructed. His grandpa quickly places 2 seals on both his feet. He activates it and Rai instantly felt heavier. It was like walking through a swamp. All of his body control seems to have gone haywire. Looking at the result his grandpa says.

"Good. It works as intended. From now on you'll have this on at all times. Not at any time are you allowed to take them off. The workout from the morning didn't seem to be challenging enough. So, in the afternoon you'll do the same thing again with the gravity seals on you." – Grandpa

"Gravity Seals? Is that why I feel so much heavier?" – Rai

"Yup. This is something that we were able to get from Uzushiogakure before the start of the 2nd war. I never thought I'd have to use this before. Normally we just carry heavy weights in the form of gauntlets and leg braces. But, seeing that your still too young to actually carry heavy weights. I had to get a little creative."

'Creative my ass. This is hell for me. I just had to go and set unrealistic expectations by showing myself off as a freaking genius. Should have just waited until he was ready to train me. Fuck my life.'

[You reap what you sow. Hehehe]

Rai continued the same training regime in the evening but this time it was so much harder. His body was screaming in pain. His muscles were strained and tearing. He fell over a few times too. But he had to grit his teeth and soldier on. As much as he regrets this kind of thing. He hates giving up and losing a lot more. Since he's begun to do something he sure as hell will see it through to the end. This has always been how Rai is, 'if you're going to do something then do it right or don't even bother trying.'

'I wonder if this can be considered my nindo, ninja way.'

[Don't even think about it. If you dare to start screaming it and saying that this is your way and all that like Naruto. I'll seriously ignore you.]

'Relax would you? I was just thinking if it's the same. I wouldn't even be caught dead saying something like that. That's so cringe.'

Rai finally finished the workout after 7 hours. He looked like if someone blew at him, he'll roll over and die. Every fiber of his body is screaming at him in pain. Rai was seriously considering taking out a senzu bean to get some relief. But, he only has limited number of these. God knows, if he'll ever get the chance buy some more again. And these things are best suited to save for battle, what's a little pain that he has to endure if it can quite possibly save his life in the future.

As he returned home after the grueling session, his grandpa tells him that he has prepared an ice bath for him. He would have preferred something like a medicinal bath from wuxia novels but hey beggars can't be choosers. And frankly, anything that will help with his sore body right now is welcome.

He jumped into the ice bath immediately. This is was just plain torture to be honest until his body adapts to the cold and starts healing his body.

He quickly had some food and hit the bed. The next morning he was back to training again. This continued for more than a week until his body slowly started acclimatizing to the work out. But his grandpa easily saw through this and with an evil smile on his face, made some alterations to the gravity seal and it was back to the familiar feeling of walking through a swamp.

Rai really wanted to curse at his grandfather right now. Is it too much to ask for a few days where he could take it easy?

Seemingly understanding the meaning behind his glare. His grandfather challenges back saying, "If it was easy, then it wouldn't be training now."

And so, started another round of his brutal training. This continued on far a month with his grandpa increasing the gravity on his seals the moment his body starts to adapt.

Until one day when Rai came back after another session. This time his body felt a little different. He sat down to meditate and after a few minutes a silver glow was on his body. The silver light coating expanded across his entire body until a small silver pagoda appeared above his head. It rotated a few times and sunk into his body. In an instant, he received an explosion of new information from his senses. Everything was the same but he was now able to see everything differently. Everything from his sight, smell, hearing and touch had been enhanced to an unimaginable level. It was like he was exposed to a whole other world.

His eyes became a deeper shade of rich purple. He could discern every speck of dust on the ground, his skin had become more soft and tender and he could feel unlimited raw power coursing through his muscles. Giving him the feeling of invincibility. His appearance became more delicate and refined, it gave him the appearance of a prince who cannot be touched and surely as he grows older his looks would make even a woman green with envy.

He had finally achieved a breakthrough in the Great Way of the Buddha. After years of continuous cultivation it finally happened. Rai was under no illusion thinking he could achieve the same results as Yun Che who broke through after a couple of months. But honestly, it isn't too bad either. This is a technique which requires a true god inheritance as the bare minimum to have the qualifications to practice. And with his nerfed version of the Tyrant veins he barely makes the cut. It makes sense that it takes time. And it looks like the time spent with accelerated muscle tearing and healing during his workouts were what spurred the breakthrough.

Now he can already feel his muscles healing and the soreness in his body is vanishing at an astonishing pace.

'This really is a dream technique for Masochists and training maniacs.' Rai sighed.

'Now I have to push my body even harder. Grandpa will surely be able to tell if I'm not giving it my all. Uhh. Tomorrow is going to be a pain.'