Relentless Progress

After the grueling training session, White Fang gave the boys a two-hour break, telling them to return afterward for more. Haruto, of course, went straight home. The moment he crossed the threshold of his apartment, he reactivated his weighted seal. It had become second nature to him by now, pushing his body even when most people would be resting.

As he started preparing dinner, Daichi wandered in, yawning, rubbing his eyes from a quick nap. Haruto glanced at him, smiling.

"You know you're a freak, right?" Daichi joked, still groggy but with a grin on his face.

Haruto shrugged it off, used to the comments by now. Even Shuisi had given him some curious looks during training. Not that Haruto could blame him—between his Tier 2 stamina and his obsessive drive to push his limits, Haruto knew he stood out. His resilience wasn't just from the system—it was part of who he was, something he had cultivated since his past life as an MMA fighter.

While Daichi drifted off to nap again, Haruto focused on making a super-sized portion of dinner. Duck meat, some greens, and enough carbs to balance out the meal. He was starving—his body sore from the intense morning session—but it was the kind of soreness he thrived on. This was his routine now, living for the feeling of exhaustion and the satisfaction of pushing past it.

After eating, both he and Daichi headed back to the training grounds. Haruto felt renewed, ready for whatever Sakumo had planned next. He could already feel his muscles responding to the rest and nutrition, preparing to handle more.

Once they arrived, White Fang led them into a series of ninjutsu drills. Haruto watched as Shuisi performed with his typical precision, his fire techniques sharp and controlled. Haruto's own ninjutsu was good—years of grinding had paid off, and his lightning techniques were steadily improving.

Daichi, on the other hand, struggled with consistency. He had immense chakra reserves, but his reliance on spamming jutsu without much control meant that his energy was often wasted. Sakumo noticed this and offered advice, but it was clear Daichi had the most to work on.

Still, Sakumo took the time to give each of them feedback, tailoring his advice to their individual styles. Afterward, Sakumo told them to sit down and talk amongst themselves for half an hour. They needed to figure out what they thought the team setup should look like.

The discussion was practical and straightforward. All three of them knew that each would take the lead at some point, but when it came to the hardest missions, the team agreed that Shuisi, with his ANBU experience, should take charge. Haruto would focus on being the team's medical nin, using his skillset to heal and assist in complex situations.

When they brought their thoughts to Sakumo, he nodded thoughtfully. "You're a sharp group," he said. "You'll all lead at some point, but I agree—Shuisi has the most experience, and Haruto will be a key asset with his medical skills." His eyes lingered on each of them, his approval clear. "You're a very skilled team of Genin. You've already shown more than most."

There was a brief moment of satisfaction before Sakumo delivered the next blow. "Now, let's see how far you can go."

The moment those words left his mouth, they knew what was coming. Sakumo led them into another hellish workout, pushing their bodies harder than before. Daichi groaned inwardly, and even Shuisi, with his normally calm demeanor, gave a slight grimace.

But Haruto?

He thrived in it. He lived for this—the intensity, the pain, the push to his absolute limit. As his muscles burned and his breath came hard and fast, Haruto felt that familiar thrill. Every step, every push, every agonizing moment reminded him of why he was here. It wasn't just to survive. It was to transcend.

And today, he did just that.