Chapter 59: The First Step of a Thousand Miles

The early morning sun had barely begun to peek over the horizon when Ryu Hamura set out on his run. His new tracksuit clung to his small frame, the fabric still stiff and unyielding. The streets of Konoha were quiet, save for the occasional chirp of an early bird or the rustle of leaves in the gentle breeze.

The cool morning air felt sharp in Ryu's lungs with each breath. His legs, still unaccustomed to such exertion, protested loudly with each pounding footstep.

"This is what I get for skipping leg day... in the past life," he muttered, half-joking, half-serious. His breath came in short, sharp bursts as he pushed himself forward. His legs, unused to such strain, screamed with each step. But he pressed on, driven by a determination that seemed to burn from within.

"Come on," he gasped between breaths. "This is... nothing... compared to... what's ahead."

"Quitter," a voice in his head scolded. "Grandfather believes in you. Keep going!" With a grunt, Ryu pushed himself harder, his feet slapping against the dirt road.

As he rounded a corner, the familiar sight of his home came into view. With a final burst of energy, Ryu sprinted towards it, his lungs screaming for air. He barely made it to the front yard before his legs gave out, sending him sprawling onto the cool grass.

Lying there, his chest heaving, Ryu stared up at the sky.

"The solo levelling training regime," he panted, "looked so simple... when I read the manga when i was a kid." A wry chuckle escaped him, quickly turning into a cough. "But I'm... out of breath... with just half... of the 10-kilometer run."

As his breathing slowly steadied, Ryu opened his eyes again. Before him, an imaginary screen flickered into existence—a product of his unique abilities. He didn't call it an AI, for it wasn't truly intelligent on its own. Nor did he refer to it as a system, for it wasn't powered by higher beings or otherworldly forces.

It was, in essence, an extension of his own powerful mind, a way to present information he already knew, either consciously or subconsciously, in a clear, organised manner.

The screen displayed a friendly reminder of his specially crafted argumentative reality:

Daily Training Regime:

10-kilometer run (Progress: 5 km)

100 pull-ups (Pending)

100 push-ups (Pending)

100 sit-ups (Pending)

Ryu groaned again, this time in frustration. "How am I going to complete the full challenge when I can barely finish the run?" he muttered to himself.

With a grunt of effort, he pushed himself up into a sitting position. His muscles protested, already feeling the strain from the unfamiliar exercise. But Ryu was nothing if not determined. He had set himself this goal, and he was going to see it through.

"Alright," he said, his voice filled with resolve. "Sit-ups next."

He lay back down, bent his knees, and placed his hands behind his head. Taking a deep breath, he began. One... two... three...

By the fifteenth sit-up, Ryu's abdominal muscles were on fire. Sweat poured down his face, stinging his eyes. His breaths came in ragged gasps, but still, he pushed on.

Imaginary Display:

10-kilometer run (Progress: 10 km)

100 pull-ups (Pending)

100 push-ups (Pending)

100 sit-ups (Progress: 51)

On the hundredth sit-up, Ryu's form faltered. Instead of coming up smoothly, he overbalanced and fell backward, landing ungracefully on his rear.

A deep chuckle from nearby made him look up. His grandfather, Dan, stood on the porch, an amused smile on his weathered face.

"Well met, my boy," Dan said, eyes crinkling with concern. "Pushing hard already, eh? A fine trait, but care for your limits."

Despite his exhaustion, Ryu couldn't help but smile. "Grandfather," he panted, "I didn't... see you there."

Dan descended the steps, moving with the grace of a seasoned ninja despite his age. "I've been watching for a while now. I must say, your determination is admirable. But perhaps you're pushing yourself a bit too hard, too fast?"

Ryu shook his head, wincing as the movement sent a twinge of pain through his neck. "I have to... push myself. The academy entrance exam..."

"Is still months away," Dan finished for him. "There's no need to exhaust yourself on the first day."

But Ryu's mind was set. With trembling arms, he pushed himself back up into a sitting position. "I need to finish," he said, his voice filled with determination. "Just... push-ups left."

Dan watched with a mixture of pride and concern as his grandson got into position for push-ups. Ryu's arms shook as he lowered himself to the ground, then pushed up with all his might.

He managed one. Barely.

On the second push-up, Ryu's arms gave out entirely. He collapsed onto the grass, his breath coming in short, sharp gasps.

Dan was at his side in an instant, gently turning him over. "I think that's enough for today," he said softly. "You've pushed your body to its limit. Now it's time to rest and recover."

Ryu wanted to protest, but he didn't have the energy. His eyelids felt heavy, and the world around him seemed to be spinning. The last thing he saw before darkness claimed him was his grandfather's concerned face.

When Ryu awoke, he found himself in his bed, the familiar ceiling of his room above him. He blinked, trying to clear the fog from his mind.

"Ah, you're awake," came his grandfather's voice from nearby.

Ryu turned his head to see Dan sitting beside the bed, a steaming bowl in his hands. The scent of chicken soup filled the air, making Ryu's stomach growl.

"How long was I out?" Ryu asked, his voice hoarse.

"A few hours," Dan replied, helping Ryu sit up. "You pushed yourself too hard, my boy. Your body gave out before your spirit did."

Ryu accepted the bowl of soup gratefully, wincing as his sore muscles protested the movement. "I need to get stronger," he said between sips. "The academy entrance exam..."

"Will still be there after you've properly trained your body," Dan interrupted gently. "Training is good, Ryu, but you need to pace yourself. Start small and build up gradually. The body needs time to adapt and grow stronger."

Ryu nodded, feeling a mixture of frustration and understanding. "I just... I want to be ready."

Dan's eyes softened. "I know, and I admire your determination. But remember, the path to becoming a ninja is a marathon, not a sprint. Take it one step at a time."

As Ryu finished his soup, Dan stood up. "For now, rest. Your body needs time to recover. Tomorrow, we'll start a more balanced training regimen. One that will challenge you without breaking you."

Ryu nodded, settling back into his pillows. As his grandfather left the room, Ryu's mind wandered to his training. He had underestimated the physical toll, but his resolve remained unshaken.

A few hours later, Ryu awoke to the gentle sounds of birds chirping outside his window. His body ached, a reminder of the morning's intense training session. But as he slowly sat up, he noticed something different. The pain, while still present, wasn't as overwhelming as he had expected.

"How are you feeling, Ryu?" His grandfather's voice came from the doorway. Dan entered the room, a concerned look on his face.

Ryu stretched cautiously, testing his muscles. "Better than I thought I would, actually," he admitted.

Dan nodded, a knowing smile replacing his concern. "That's the beauty of the human body. It adapts; it grows stronger. But it needs proper care and rest to do so."

He said those words, but inside he thought, "The boy's recovery speed is impressive."

Ryu had the same thought. "Maybe it's because of my [Minor Healing] ability," he mused. "I'm recovering a bit faster thanks to it."

As Ryu got up and prepared for their afternoon session, Dan explained, "We'll start with some light stretching exercises. Then we'll work on your form for basic techniques. Remember, proper form is crucial. It's not just about how many repetitions you can do, but how well you do them."

Ryu listened intently, absorbing every word. He realised that his grandfather's approach, while less intense than what he had planned, was built on years of experience and wisdom. He followed his grandpa's training session for the rest of the day.

The afternoon sun cast a warm glow over the training grounds as grandfather and grandson began their exercises. It was a new beginning, and the first of many steps on Ryu's journey to becoming a true ninja.

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