---
During the following time, the great demon king Natsuhiko forced everyone to do several sets of radio callisthenics, shedding tears as they went.
By the end, they were so exhausted they couldn't even muster the energy to wail. Each one drooped their head like a life-sized marionette, dancing to the beat of the music.
Thus, while cheerful music echoed on the rooftop, the scene was quite sad. Even the leader, Guy, was panting heavily, no longer looking as relaxed as before.
Just as the music stopped again and they completed another set of exercises, everyone looked blankly at Natsuhiko. They resembled emotionless exercise machines.
Natsuhiko, holding a scroll, analysed the data. After pondering for a moment, he said, "We've made significant gains today, gathering a lot of useful data."
"However, it seems everyone is at their limit and can't do another full set."
Upon hearing this, the students' ears perked up, their eyes started to shine, and they came back to life, nodding eagerly.
But then Natsuhiko added, "How about we do half a set?"
"?"
Everyone shuddered and looked at Natsuhiko with deep resentment. Natsuhiko felt like five well-built, tight-clad men were staring him down, and he felt a bit unnerved. He awkwardly said, "Alright, I was just kidding."
He snapped his fingers, and everyone collapsed to the ground like noodles. After a series of relieved sighs, they felt like their butts had taken root in the ground, never to stand up again.
Nearby, Kushina quickly handed out water and towels, offering words of comfort. Natsuhiko knew that the methods of education were either the stick or the carrot. Seeing everyone looking so bleak, he knew it was time to offer a reward.
So, he said, "I know everyone has worked hard, but this effort won't go unrewarded…"
Everyone listened to Natsuhiko's typical motivational speech but felt it did not lift their spirits. Anticipating this, Natsuhiko smiled and said, "If you don't believe me, why don't you check your meridian scrolls?"
Everyone finally showed some interest, wincing as they took out their meridian scrolls from their waist pouches and slowly injected chakra to look at them.
"Huh?"
Asuma, who opened his scroll first, was surprised. "How did my combat power increase by four points?"
"I also increased, but by five points," Ebisu said, suppressing his excitement.
Kurenai and Rin also reported increases of five points each, while Obito's increased by three points. Their hard work had not been in vain!
The immediate positive feedback made everyone smile, and the previous torture didn't seem so bad. Natsuhiko, who had looked like a terrifying demon king, now seemed like the handsome Natsuhiko-sensei again.
"Sensei, this radio callisthenics really works!" Asuma exclaimed, "If this continues, won't our combat power soon exceed a thousand?"
"Dream on, there's no such easy way," Natsuhiko laughed and shook his head. "You're seeing significant effects now because you've just started training."
"Over time, as your meridian capacity expands, the effects of this set of exercises will diminish until it becomes ineffective."
Their smiles faded a bit, but they weren't too disappointed. If anything, this made them feel more grounded.
Moreover, they quickly realised that this training system's significant advantage was being able to see their progress numerically.
Then Natsuhiko added, "Besides dynamic exercises, don't forget we also have static exercises. Once your meridians are more stable, we'll continue to expand them by actively circulating chakra within your bodies."
Knowing that Natsuhiko had everything planned out for them, they felt more grateful, and he appeared even more amiable in their eyes.
But Natsuhiko still felt he hadn't entirely motivated them yet, so he continued, "To further encourage your learning and training, I've decided to offer a reward for the best student at the end of this term."
"Hmm… for example, a special training suit like the one I'm wearing."
"Really?"
The boys' eyes lit up with excitement. Owning such a suit would make them the coolest at the Ninja Academy!
Seeing their excitement, Natsuhiko felt confident about his future apprentices. The future of the Bat-family looked promising. He just wondered who would be his second Robin.
However, the girls were less interested, but Natsuhiko had a solution for that too.
"Kurenai, Rin, don't you want to know what happens next in the story of the priestess and the dog demon?" Natsuhiko asked enticingly.
"!"
The two girls perked up immediately. Kurenai urgently asked, "Sensei, but wasn't the ending that the meteor destroyed the world?"
Natsuhiko slowly replied, "Maybe, but it could also be that it was just a prophetic dream Sadako had on her first day in the Sengoku era."
"Don't you want to know if Sadako, knowing everything, can change the fate of the world's destruction?"
Kurenai and Rin gaped, not expecting such a twist.
Natsuhiko smiled, "Whether 'Priestess and Dog Demon 2: Another World Journey from Zero' will come to depend on your efforts."
"Wow!"
The two girls held hands, determined to see the story through.
Kushina, on the side, also clenched her fists to encourage them.
Seeing everyone full of energy, Natsuhiko nodded in satisfaction. Then he added, "I wanted to use the remaining time to teach you some sealing techniques, but looking at you, I doubt you have the energy left for that."
"So, today's sealing technique study group is dismissed."
"But before we end, I have something for you and some advice."
Natsuhiko conjured a large bottle of mysterious green liquid, about three to four litres in volume.
"This is Mr. Duy's secret recipe juice, made from seventy-two ingredients like young barley leaves, sweet potato leaves, and kale leaves. It helps repair the body, restore energy, and replenish nutrients."
"So each of you take a bottle and remember to drink it at home."
The students were grateful and surprised by Natsuhiko's thoughtfulness.
Asuma, who had tasted this concoction before while using transformation jutsu to sneak into bars, grimaced and asked, "Teacher, how many days should we drink this big bottle?"
Natsuhiko replied with a straight face, "This is today's portion. Be sure to finish it."
"Yes—"
Though it seemed like a lot, they obediently agreed. Only Asuma felt dismayed, feeling that Natsuhiko's demonic side was showing again.
Finally, Natsuhiko reminded them, "Since our foundation-building plan is confidential, you must not disclose it to others."
He gave Obito a pointed look. Obito stuck out his tongue and smiled sheepishly.
After distributing the bottles, Natsuhiko declared the study group officially over.
---
In the evening, at the Uchiha clan grounds.
Obito, exhausted and carrying a large bottle of juice, was walking home unsteadily. He overheard a group of clan members talking in the distance and seemed to hear Natsuhiko's name mentioned, so he curiously moved closer to listen.
"…No way, how could Sho lose to a ninja younger than him?"
"It's true. Someone asked him directly. Though he didn't admit it, his face turned as black as ink."
"Is that Amou Natsuhiko really that strong? Why haven't we heard of him before?"
"Apparently, he's a ninja who was on long-term missions outside and recently returned to teach at the Ninja Academy."
"Humph, how strong could someone who chooses to teach at the Academy be?"
"True, Sho must be weaker than we thought."
"By the way, it seems there are children in our clan who are close to Amou Natsuhiko and are training under him."
"What? Who is qualified to teach our Uchiha children?"
"It seems to be Obito."
"Oh, then never mind…"
Hearing this, Obito's face darkened, and he turned to leave, only to bump into a tall figure falling on his butt. The large bottle of juice rolled to the person's feet.
The sound attracted the attention of the group, who looked over and exclaimed, "Captain Fugaku!"
Recognising the young but influential three-tomoe Sharingan user, they respectfully called out.
"Hmm."
Fugaku, looking as stern as ever, had an incredibly dark expression today. He picked up the bottle, seemingly reminded of an unpleasant memory, and his body shuddered slightly.
After dusting off the bottle, he handed it to the standing Obito.
"Th-thank you," Obito stammered, clutching the bottle.
Fugaku nodded at him, then turned to the group, saying sternly, "You have time to gossip about others instead of training?"
"Yes, we'll go train immediately," they replied and quickly dispersed.
Watching them leave, Fugaku shook his head slightly and addressed Obito: "I heard you're close to AmouNatsuhiko."
Obito, trying to sneak away, froze. He turned to face Fugaku, feeling conflicted. He considered lying but remembered his vow and courageously said, "Yes, although the sensei hasn't admitted it, I already see him as my master!"
He then saw Fugaku's large hand reaching towards him. Obito instinctively closed his eyes but soon felt a comforting pat on his head.
"?"
Opening his eyes, Obito saw Fugaku's expression soften, though still stern. Fugaku said, "If that's the case, then follow Natsuhiko-Sensei diligently."
"I'm curious to see how someone considered the least like a Uchiha by the clan will change our family under his guidance."
Obito was stunned.
(End of Chapter)
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