Naruto wandered through the dense forest, his eyes scanning the surroundings as he searched for Ryu's smithy. The air was filled with the sound of rustling leaves and the distant calls of birds. Naruto's frustration grew as he continued to navigate the undergrowth, unsure if he was even going in the right direction.
"Is this the place?" Naruto mumbled to himself, uncertain. He pushed his way through a thick cluster of bushes, his clothes snagging on the branches and leaves.
As he emerged from the shrubbery, Ryu called out, "Ah, you're here!" Naruto looked down at his scratched body, feeling irritated. "Ouch... You need a road! Walking here was a pain, ya know!" he complained.
Ryu chuckled lightly. "I'll make one later. For now, let's fix you up." He focused his Mangekyo abilities to examine Naruto's injuries and used the Transformation Jutsu to heal him.
Naruto's eyes sparkled with amazement. "Wow! How'd you do that?!"
Ryu smirked. "A trade secret, kid. Now then, do you want to begin training?"
"Yeah!" Naruto replied, his excitement renewed.
"Alright. Give me a hundred push-ups for starters," Ryu instructed.
"A hundred push-ups?" Naruto echoed, his brow furrowing in confusion. "Yes. What did you expect?" Ryu asked.
"I want to be a ninja, to shoot fireballs and do amazing Taijutsu. Can't you teach me that instead of push-ups?" Naruto complained.
Ryu shook his head. "The foundation of both Ninjutsu and Taijutsu is a strong body and a strong mind. If I train you in those techniques as you are now, you won't see much progress. You need to build your strength first."
Naruto frowned. "That's not what I meant... Can't we focus on Ninjutsu and I'll do push-ups in my spare time?"
Ryu crossed his arms. "We'll do that when you're physically fit enough. For now, you need to follow my guidance without arguing."
Naruto hesitated for a moment, But Ryu left him no room for arguments. With a sigh, Naruto got on the ground and began the exercise.
---
Naruto panted heavily, his face flushed from the effort as he completed his hundredth push-up. "I'm done!" he announced, eager to impress Ryu with his accomplishment.
Ryu glanced at him, unfazed. "Great, now do two hundred crunches."
Naruto's eyes widened in disbelief. "WHAT?! But I just did a hundred push-ups!"
Ryu folded his arms. "Did you think push-ups alone would be enough? After the crunches, you'll move on to squats, then a weighted run, and finish with weighted crawling. This is just the beginning of your training."
Naruto groaned. "That's torture!"
Ryu's expression turned serious. "So is being a shinobi. It's not all fun and games, Naruto. You're a child with big dreams, but you don't yet understand the sacrifices and hardships that come with being a ninja. Yes, it provides a sense of duty and purpose, but that's not all there is to it."
He fixed Naruto with a cold glare, emphasizing the gravity of his words. "The world of shinobi can be cruel and unforgiving. If you're determined to follow this path, you need to embrace the blood, sweat, and tears that come with it. Your training will save your life one day."
Naruto stared at Ryu for a moment before gritting his teeth. "Fine. But once I'm strong enough, you better teach me something worthwhile!"
Ryu smirked, satisfied with Naruto's determination. "Of course. Now get back to your training."
As the sun dipped below the horizon, the flickering light from Ryu's forge cast a warm glow over the area. Naruto continued his grueling training routine late into the night, determined to prove himself and achieve his dream of becoming a powerful shinobi.
---
The first light of dawn crept through the curtains, casting a soft glow in the room where Naruto had slept. He stirred, slowly opening his eyes, and furrowed his brow in confusion. After the intense training session the day before, he had expected to wake up sore and aching all over. Surprisingly, he felt perfectly fine.
"You're up?" Ryu's voice interrupted Naruto's thoughts as he stepped into the room. "Yup!" Naruto replied, sitting up energetically.
Ryu raised an eyebrow. "How did you feel during the workout yesterday?"
Naruto threw his hands in the air, recalling the exhausting experience. "It was brutal!"
Ryu nodded sagely. "The harsher the training, the easier the battle. So, are you ready to begin training again?"
Naruto's face fell. "I don't get a break?!"
"Why do you need one? Didn't you notice how your body has already healed?" Ryu pointed out.
Naruto pouted, feeling a mix of terror and admiration. "You're horrible!"
Ryu smirked. "Too bad for you, this horrible person is now your trainer. Now, give me a hundred and fifty push-ups for that remark!"
With a determined shout, Naruto leaped out of bed and dashed outside to begin his training. Ryu watched him go, a fond smile on his lips. "He's such a good kid. I hope he won't hate me too much. This is better for him. He'll be able to make his dreams come true, though I do hope he gives up on becoming the Hokage. This village isn't deserving of him."
As the sun continued to rise, the day unfolded with Ryu working diligently at the forge and Naruto pushing himself to the limit with the demanding training exercises Ryu had designed for him. The sounds of their hard work filled the air, emphasized by the clang of metal and Naruto's determined grunts.
---
Several days had passed since Ryu had started training Naruto, and the two had settled into a rhythm of hard work and sweat. The sun was setting one evening when Ryu suddenly groaned in annoyance, his eyes narrowing at a distant tree. "For heaven's sake, Shisui, come out! I know you're there!"
There was a moment of silence, then Shisui materialized beside Ryu. "Honestly, you've been at this for a week now. Don't you realize your spying doesn't work? Can't you just give up? It's annoying to call you out every time," Ryu complained, clearly exasperated.
"Not until I receive orders to stop," Shisui replied simply, his voice calm and measured.
Ryu sighed. "Did you tell the Hokage that your spying doesn't work?"
Shisui averted his eyes. "He hasn't requested an update as of yet."
Ryu shook his head, then summoned one of his own ninjas. A figure draped in a black cloak and wearing a white monkey mask appeared and knelt before him. Shisui's eyes widened in surprise, and he couldn't help but wonder how long this mysterious shinobi had been lurking nearby, unnoticed even by him.
"Go tell the Hokage that Shisui should stop wasting his time," Ryu ordered. With a silent nod, the masked figure vanished as quickly as he had appeared.
Shisui stared at the spot where the ninja had been standing. "Who was that? How long has he been there?"
Ryu grinned, enjoying Shisui's reaction. "Oh, that's one of my shinobi. They're scattered all over the place. You were actually quite close to a few of them during your spying sessions."
Shisui's eyes widened, and he couldn't help but feel a mixture of confusion and horror at the revelation. Ryu chuckled, relishing the moment as he read Shisui's thoughts.