232-Biggest Hater

With a powerful beat of his wings, Tenjin launched into the sky, the force of the takeoff causing a gust of wind to whip around Renjiro. Clinging to the eagle's back, Renjiro felt his stomach lurch as the ground below quickly shrank, and they ascended higher and higher.

The air was crisp, and cooler as they gained altitude, and the vast expanse of the Floating Mountain loomed ahead. The distant peaks, wrapped in swirling clouds, appeared surreal, almost otherworldly.

The mountain's sheer cliffs jutted out at odd angles, sharp and treacherous, while thin wisps of fog clung to its surface. Renjiro held on tight as Tenjin's massive wings cut through the air with ease, the rhythmic flapping creating a steady hum.

Yet, the sensation of being airborne—normally thrilling—was weighed down by a growing discomfort that gnawed at him.

He could already feel the Natural Energy creeping in, latching onto his body like an unwelcome presence. The familiar prickling sensation started on his skin, subtle at first but gradually growing more intense. It wasn't the same as when he drew on chakra; this was raw and foreign, as though the energy itself was hostile, rejecting his very existence.

'Natural Energy sure does hate me,' Renjiro thought grimly, gritting his teeth as the discomfort shifted to pain.

'It's like my biggest hater!'

The higher they climbed, the more the Natural Energy density increased, pressing against his body like an invisible weight. His muscles tensed involuntarily, a dull ache spreading through his limbs.

It wasn't unbearable—at least, not yet—but Renjiro could feel the intensity rising with each beat of Tenjin's wings. His chakra flared instinctively, trying to shield him from the relentless pressure, but it was a losing battle.

The energy wasn't something he could easily fend off or control. It seeped into him, and there was nothing he could do to stop it.

Tenjin remained silent, his eyes fixed on the peaks ahead. Yes, he could shield Renjiro from the pain like last time, but he chose not to. Renjiro was going to experience more pain, so why would he not prepare him?

As they neared one of the peaks with a flatter plateau, Renjiro could feel his body protesting more and more. The pain was sharper now as if thousands of tiny needles were pricking his skin with every movement. His mind raced with doubt.

'How am I supposed to concentrate enough to meditate if the pain is this bad?'

Finally, with a smooth descent, Tenjin landed on the plateau, his talons scraping against the rocky surface. Renjiro exhaled a shaky breath as they touched down, relief flooding his body at the temporary stillness.

The plateau was wide and relatively flat, with jagged rocks forming natural barriers around its edges. Mist curled lazily around them, thick and ethereal, and the air was saturated with a potent mix of chakra and Natural Energy.

Tenjin shifted, allowing Renjiro to slide off his back. His legs wobbled slightly as he touched the ground, the energy's constant assault making his body feel heavier than usual.

"Where we are now is one of eight places where you'll be meditating,"

 Tenjin said, his voice steady. His golden eyes flicked over Renjiro, gauging his reaction to the environment. "The Natural Energy here is potent but manageable for someone like you—at least for now."

Renjiro's brow furrowed as he looked around. "So, am I supposed to do anything specific while I meditate?" he asked, still wincing from the prickling sensation that seemed to worsen the longer they stood there.

"Normal meditation will suffice," Tenjin replied. "Clear your mind, and let your chakra flow naturally. You also need to try and differentiate which energy to take in. If anything goes wrong, I'll step in and correct it."

Renjiro nodded, though he felt far from reassured. This wasn't just any meditation. The very air around them was thick with energy, alive in a way that made him uneasy.

'This is not going to be easy,' he thought with a sigh. He had meditated countless times before, but never under these conditions. The sheer intensity of the energy here made it feel as though even breathing was a challenge.

With a deep breath, Renjiro sat down on the cold, hard stone, folding his legs into the lotus position. He closed his eyes, focusing inward as he began to regulate his breathing.

But almost immediately, the prickling sensation intensified, stabbing at his concentration. The Natural Energy seemed to crawl over his skin, sinking into his muscles and bones, making it difficult to sit still or even take in any chakra.

Every tiny movement sent another wave of pain through him like his entire body was being pierced by invisible needles. It was hard to focus on his breathing, hard to block out the sensation as it threatened to overtake him.

But Renjiro wasn't one to back down, especially when faced with adversity. He gritted his teeth and forced himself to concentrate, slowly revolving his chakra through his network while absorbing bits here and there. The pain remained, but he did his best to tune it out, letting his chakra act as a buffer between him and the outside energy.

Minutes ticked by, each one feeling like an eternity as the pain ebbed and flowed. But slowly—painfully—he began to get into the zone. His breathing steadied, the rhythm of chakra being absorbed and flowing more smoothly in his chakra network despite the constant pressure. His mind, though still aware of the discomfort, began to distance itself from the sensation, allowing him to slip deeper into meditation.

Unbeknownst to Renjiro, the strain on his body had already taken a toll despite his body countering the effect through his regeneration. Thin trails of blood began to seep from his nose and ears, dripping down in stark contrast to his now-pale skin.

His regeneration, usually swift and effective, worked overtime to heal the micro-tears and internal injuries caused by the exposure to Natural Energy. But even his improved healing was struggling to keep up. The small wounds were healing just as quickly as they appeared, but new ones formed just as fast.

Tenjin, standing a short distance away, watched with calm detachment. His sharp eyes noticed the blood, but he wasn't alarmed. For someone like Renjiro, this was normal—a consequence of pushing his limits. The eagle's feathers ruffled slightly in the breeze as he observed Renjiro's progress.

"Amazing," Tenjin muttered to himself, his voice barely audible over the wind. "He quickly adapted to the meditation."

Tenjin had prepared himself to offer guidance if Renjiro struggled—perhaps teaching him the methods his own kind used to meditate under the influence of Natural Energy. But it seemed unnecessary now. Despite the pain, despite the intense energy pressing down on him, Renjiro had managed to find his focus on his own.

Still, Tenjin remained vigilant. Renjiro's injuries were growing worse, though the eagle himself seemed oblivious to the extent of the damage.

'While not much can be seen outside, it appears that most damage is on the inside.' Tenjin noted.

Blood trickled down from the corners of his eyes now, and his lips were cracked and dry. His body was breaking down at a rate his regeneration couldn't fully keep up with. It was like watching a dam struggle to hold back an unstoppable flood—each crack sealed just in time for another to form.

As the hours wore on, the pain in Renjiro's body increased exponentially. His muscles ached, his bones throbbed, and his head felt like it was being squeezed in a vice. Every breath was laborious, and his chakra, though still flowing, was strained to its limits.

Yet, despite all this, he didn't falter. His willpower was the only thing holding him together now. His chakra control was impressive, but his determination was even more so.

Tenjin's respect for the young shinobi grew as he watched Renjiro push through the agony, his body clearly nearing its breaking point. The eagle could see the toll this was taking—the subtle tremors in Renjiro's hands, the shallow rise and fall of his chest as he struggled to maintain his breathing.

But there was no sign of quitting. Renjiro was a warrior to his core, and this was just another battle, albeit one fought within himself.

After what felt like an eternity, the early morning sun that Renjiro found when he arrived had shifted in the sky, casting long shadows across the plateau. The twelve hours of meditation finally came to an end. Renjiro's eyelids fluttered open slowly, revealing bloodshot eyes that still held the sharpness of his resolve.

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