Chapter 129

After finishing lunch, Haruki went out and found a blacksmith shop.

Although it wasn't the Land of Craftsmen, the abundance of samurai naturally created a demand.

After explaining his requirements to the owner, Haruki received a complete set of weighted equipment.

Returning to the inn, he called Kakashi over.

"Try it on."

Haruki pointed to the weighted equipment on the ground.

Seeing the familiar equipment, Kakashi couldn't help but think of his lifelong rival, Guy, who often used it.

After strapping it to his arms and legs, Kakashi felt like a robot, every movement stiff and mechanical.

Haruki smiled and said, "If you want to become a sword master, you can lower your chakra requirements, but not your physical condition."

"I understand."

Kakashi took a deep breath, needing to get used to the sudden additional burden.

Haruki checked the time and led him out of the inn, spreading his sensory perception.

The Land of Iron, with its many mountains and snow, had plenty of quiet spots.

His perception spread, throwing a kunai and activating the Flying Thunder God Technique, and in the blink of an eye, they were standing before a mountain peak.

"First, run ten laps around the mountain."

Haruki estimated each lap to be about five to six hundred meters.

Kakashi, just having put on the weights, couldn't push himself too hard at first to avoid injury.

Hearing these familiar words, Kakashi was reminded of Guy. Should he now shout about the passionate youth?

Kakashi shook his head, driving away the thought. No matter how embarrassing, he couldn't mimic Guy, despite how formidable a man he was.

Kakashi glanced at Haruki, didn't say a word, and started running.

Watching his back, Haruki regretted not bringing Guy along. If Guy were here, Kakashi might be more motivated.

Time passed.

Kakashi increasingly felt his limbs burdened as if carrying a heavy mountain.

The more tired a person is, the more sensitive they become.

That was his current state.

What he initially thought he could bear turned into an unbearable load.

But his nature was resilient and positive. Unlike in the original story, he hadn't lost his teammates, father, or teacher.

After ten laps, he barely stabilized himself, breathing heavily in front of Haruki like a fish out of water.

Haruki tossed him a scroll.

"It contains detailed information about Niten Ichi-ryu. For the next few days, focus on physical training first, then memorize Niten Ichi-ryu. Once your body adapts, you can start practicing."

"Got it, Sensei."

"Also, don't abandon your family's sword techniques. In the future, if you face an opponent you can't defeat, draw your second sword."

Imagining such a scenario made Haruki smile. Someone would definitely be fooled, thinking they'd faced his strongest technique, only to find out there was an even stronger one.

Kakashi felt Haruki's slyness once again. But he supported anything that benefited him with all his heart.

Just when he thought he could rest, Haruki placed a green chakra on him.

His fatigue vanished instantly.

"Keep it up, Kakashi."

"…"

Kakashi grimaced and resumed his running training.

This process repeated.

By nightfall, Kakashi was paralyzed on the ground.

Everyone has their limits.

To ensure Kakashi wouldn't be bedridden the next day, Haruki used a standard healing technique.

His eyes emitted chakra, scanning Kakashi's physical condition.

"How are you, Kakashi?"

Haruki withdrew the chakra while thinking about what herbs to buy to supplement his body.

Training a warrior or ninja consumes a lot of resources.

Even though ninjas in the Naruto world are inherently strong, they have their limits.

Endless training is impossible.

Kakashi didn't want to talk. After a moment, he weakly said, "I don't want to move a single finger."

"That means the training was effective."

Haruki waited a moment, then had him stand up.

The two didn't immediately return to the inn.

To Kakashi's shock, Haruki spent over ten million buying various rare medicinal herbs.

"All these for me?"

Kakashi looked at the array of herbs, feeling his future would surely be tough.

These didn't look appetizing at all.

"Yes. You're still young and not fully developed, so to avoid harming your body, I'll use medicinal treatments based on your condition."

Haruki explained to the innkeeper and took over the kitchen.

Though not an old traditional doctor, he was at least a medical ninja, akin to a super-powered doctor.

By midnight, a pot of pitch-black medicine was ready.

"…"

Kakashi's face was full of protest.

He knew Haruki was a great cook, but brewing medicine had nothing to do with culinary skills. It depended on the herbs themselves, and most herbs didn't taste good.

"Drink up, Kakashi."

Haruki lifted his eyelids, feeling a strange urge to laugh.

It seemed human nature was indeed inherently evil, deriving pleasure from others' suffering.

Kakashi closed his eyes and gulped it down.

Afterward, he opened his mouth, panting like a dog.

It was both hot and numbing.

Haruki patted his shoulder, laughing, "Have a good sleep."

He returned to his room.

Tsunade was already asleep.

However, when he opened the door, she woke up groggily, "You're back."

Haruki walked to the bed, knelt down, and kissed her forehead, "Go back to sleep."

He still had some things to do.

Sitting at the desk, he took out a notebook.

"A Social Study Report of the Ninja World"

Haruki wrote it as a diary, recording his observations and experiences to summarize when he returned to Konoha.

The first chapter was about abolishing gambling.

It was his feeling after visiting the casino with Tsunade.

Porn, gambling, and drugs should not be touched.

Of course, intimate relations between spouses were an exception since they were legal and proper.

Other people's wives were off-limits.

Speaking of which, the nicknames of the Three Legendary Sannin were related to porn, gambling, and drugs, clearly not adhering to the ninja code.

Haruki found many aspects of the ninja code worth learning from.

The second chapter was about Kakuzu.

Don't act rashly before understanding the situation to avoid getting into trouble.

The third chapter was about the sea.

Fish are hard to eat.

The fourth chapter was about the Land of Iron, yet to be written.

Haruki planned to train Kakashi before meeting Mifune.

He didn't intend for Kakashi to challenge Mifune, which would be pointless and a guaranteed loss.

Although Mifune wasn't as strong as he was during the Fourth Great Ninja War, he was still on par with any Jōnin.

Just then, Haruki looked up and went to the window. In the distance, a ninja was running fast across the rooftops.

A ninja? Seeing a ninja in the Land of Iron was quite rare.

Haruki pondered briefly, perhaps it was someone from the neighboring Takigakure.

Thinking of Takigakure, his first thought was the tailed beast.

It was indeed strange that such a small village had a tailed beast.