The physical training was even more exhausting than Shisui had expected.
Before this, he usually relied on running to keep fit, and he rarely pushed himself to the point of complete exhaustion.
But today was different. Shisui worked through exercises for every part of his body.
After completing eight hundred push-ups, Shisui felt like his arms no longer belonged to him. After eight hundred squats, his legs felt as though they were weighed down with lead, and after eight hundred sit-ups, his abdomen was in pain.
Once all these basic exercises were done, Shisui collapsed, leaning against a tree, feeling like he had lost control of his body.
He had often watched Guy push himself through intense training, but now that he was doing it himself, he understood just how painful it was.
As he continued, Shisui almost resorted to using chakra to assist him. It was simply too exhausting.
Imagine: the sweat dripping down your face blurs your vision, the salt irritating your eyes, and every movement you make feels like a test of your will and strength, yet you can't stop because you haven't reached your training goal.
"Four hundred twelve, four hundred thirteen..."
Seeing Guy, who was still doing frog jumps not far away, Shisui couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration.
He and Guy had started training around the same time, but Guy's training movements were even more challenging. While Shisui did push-ups, Guy added extra weight by placing a stone on his back.
Even so, Guy did more repetitions in the same amount of time, and after Shisui was completely exhausted, Guy still had energy left and continued training.
Even though Shisui would never lose to Guy in pure taijutsu combat—and might even be stronger—when it came to raw physical strength, he was far behind Guy.
During Guy's rest period, Shisui couldn't help but ask, "Guy, you must have been training like this for a long time. How can you handle such an intense workload?"
Guy nodded and replied, "I started long before I entered the Ninja Academy. My father used to train with me."
Hearing this, Shisui felt a pang of sadness and envy. He had lost his parents at that age, and he couldn't help but imagine that, if they had still been alive, they would have taught him about ninjutsu as well.
"Shisui, if you think it's too tough to complete, I have a training secret to share with you," Guy decided to pass on his father's training method to Shisui.
Without the same clan bond as Shisui, Guy didn't have much direct contact with him, but having trained and shared meals together, Guy had come to see Shisui as a trustworthy companion.
"What secret?" Shisui asked with interest.
"Self-discipline," Guy said. "Treat the training as a challenge, and if you don't complete it on time, you punish yourself. For example, if you don't finish three thousand push-ups, you make yourself do five hundred more as punishment."
Shisui thought for a moment and then responded, "That's an interesting way to motivate yourself. It's very similar to how Sensei uses challenges in battle exercises."
He hadn't expected Guy, who seemed so carefree, to come up with such a method to push himself.
"It works, right? My father taught me this. Whenever I face a tough challenge, I use self-discipline to get through it," Guy said with a grin, scratching his head.
"Your father must be an amazing jonin," Shisui complimented.
Guy laughed heartily, "Ha ha, he's just a low-ranked jonin, but I think he's amazing."
"Low-ranked jonin..." Shisui was surprised. He was now even more curious about Guy's father.
For Guy's age, his father should have been at least in his late twenties or even early thirties, but to still be a low-ranked jonin at that age was quite unusual.
"I have a chakra technique related to taijutsu. Let's discuss it," Shisui offered in return.
...
At the Ninja Academy, in the classroom of Class One, Year One.
"The lesson on ninjutsu theory is over for today. The final exam is in two weeks, so it's time to start preparing for it," Sensei Muyue said.
Originally, the class was meant to finish a week ago, but Sensei Muyue had covered the material faster than expected, so there were two weeks left for revision.
"Sensei Muyue, don't forget my rice dumplings!" Akado said eagerly.
"As long as you do well on the exam, the rice dumplings will be yours," Muyue replied with a smile.
"Sensei Muyue, I want snacks," Steel Iron raised his hand.
"Prepare well for the exam, and there will definitely be rewards after," Muyue said as he organized his teaching materials.
Just then, the bell rang, signaling the end of class. Along with the bell came a notification from the system.
[Class completed] [Evaluation: A] [Reward: Fire Style - Phoenix Fire Technique]
Muyue nodded to himself as he picked up his teaching materials. This was a practical fire jutsu.
"Two weeks of revision sounds exhausting," Steel Iron grumbled.
"Then don't revise. After all, you've been paying attention in class," Shinmizu Umi suggested.
Because Steel Iron was so unreliable, Shinmizu Umi felt that when it came to getting a girlfriend, he would have to do it himself. He had already learned that the girl living next door was in Class Six of Year One at the academy.
He was planning to take the top spot in the theoretical exam and approach her as the number one student.
Although Steel Iron had scored a few points lower than him last time, in the most recent mock exams, they were almost neck and neck. Shinmizu Umi saw Steel Iron as his rival for first place, so he wanted him to give up on revision.
"Don't revise? That sounds good. My older cousin in a higher grade told me that sometimes not revising and going into the exam relaxed can actually help you do better," Steel Iron nodded, making his point.
Steel Iron's first comment had really been a prelude to this one—he wanted Shinmizu Umi to drop his revision plans so he could grab first place.
After boasting to Meihui that he would take first in theory, Steel Iron now saw Shinmizu Umi as a major competitor for that spot.
"Really?" Akado asked, feeling a little tempted. Two weeks of revision seemed like a lot of work.
Steel Iron and Shinmizu Umi both nodded in agreement.
"Shisui, do you normally revise before exams?" Akado asked, turning to Shisui, who was sitting at the back.
Shisui shook his head. He remembered everything from class.
Seeing that Shisui, the top scorer in the last theoretical exam, didn't revise, Akado's eyes lit up. Maybe it was okay not to revise after all.
"Then let's hang out this weekend," Akado invited his two friends.
"No, I have family matters this weekend," Steel Iron declined. He was more focused on studying and aiming for first place.
"How about you, Umi?" Akado asked Shinmizu Umi.
Shinmizu Umi also shook his head. "There are a lot of things happening at home, I can't go."
He had finally convinced them not to revise, so of course, he had to study hard at home to ensure he would claim first place.
"I see. Then I'll find someone else to hang out with," Akado said, not suspecting anything.
The real exam had already begun, even before the students entered the exam hall, and Akado had already been eliminated.
(End of chapter)
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