Chapter 38: The Weight of Strength

Chapter 38: The Weight of Strength

Almost a month later, Kiyoshi stood atop a pond, his stance steady despite the rippling water beneath him. His focus remained sharp as Tsunade launched a barrage of shuriken in his direction. With swift movements, he dodged each one, his reflexes honed through weeks of intense training.

Observing his performance, Tsunade finally gave a nod of approval. "Alright, let's stop here."

Kiyoshi exhaled, easing out of his battle-ready stance.

"You've reached the level where you can stand on water without actively focusing on it," Tsunade remarked, arms crossed. "That's good. It means we can now move on to Step Two of your Chakra-Enhanced Strength training."

She met his gaze seriously before continuing,

"Strengthening your physical conditioning."

Kiyoshi nodded, determination burning in his eyes. The next stage of his training was about to begin.

"From now on, we'll focus on rigorous physical training—building muscle strength and endurance. A strong body complements chakra enhancement and reduces the risk of injury when using powerful techniques."

Kiyoshi straightened, rolling his shoulders. "You mean more push-ups and running?"

Tsunade smirked. "If it were that simple, everyone would be like me."

She unrolled a scroll and pressed a finger against the inked formula, causing it to glow faintly. "This is a Fūinjutsu: Four Limbs Weighting Seal. It's different from strapping on regular weights—this seal uses chakra to increase resistance, forcing your body to adapt and grow stronger over time."

Kiyoshi eyed the markings curiously. "So how does it work?"

Tsunade tossed him a set of sturdy black wristbands. "You'll wear weighted gear—wristbands, ankle weights, maybe even a belt later. Once activated, the seal will make your limbs heavier. At first, it'll feel unnatural, but your muscles will get used to it. And just when you think you've adapted—" she cracked her knuckles "—we'll increase the weight again."

Kiyoshi fastened the bands around his wrists and ankles, testing their feel. They weren't too heavy—yet. He flexed his fingers and adjusted his stance. "And I can take them off?"

"During missions or sleep, sure. But otherwise, you'll keep them on." She stepped forward, pressing two fingers against his chest.

A surge of chakra coursed through him as the seals activated. The effect was instantaneous. A crushing force weighed down on his limbs like iron shackles. His arms felt as if they had been submerged in deep water, his legs sinking into the ground. His body instinctively tensed as he struggled to maintain balance.

Tsunade watched him with an amused expression. "Not so cocky now, are you?"

Kiyoshi exhaled sharply. "Just getting used to it." He lifted an arm experimentally, feeling the strain immediately. His fingers twitched, and his muscles burned at the unexpected resistance.

"Good, because we're not stopping here. Training with weighted seals means your normal workouts won't cut it anymore. We're pushing you beyond that."

She strode forward and began listing his new regimen.

"First, you'll do dynamic movement drills—sprints, agility exercises, reaction speed training. You need to move like a shinobi even under pressure."

Kiyoshi gritted his teeth. "Running with these on? Sounds fun."

"You'll thank me once they come off."

"Then comes bodyweight and resistance training—push-ups, squats, lunges, and weighted jumps. No shortcuts."

"Your core strength needs work too—planks, hanging leg raises, twisting crunches. If your core is weak, your power is weak."

She crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow. "And trust me, if I see you slacking, you're holding a plank for an extra hour."

Kiyoshi gave her a flat look. "You enjoy this way too much."

Tsunade grinned. "And of course, striking practice. You'll train your punches, kicks, and open-palm strikes until you can throw them as easily as breathing."

She suddenly lunged at him. Even with the weight holding him down, Kiyoshi instinctively ducked. But even as he moved, he could feel how much slower he had become. His reaction time had taken a hit.

Tsunade's fist stopped just inches from his face.

"See?" she said. "This is what I mean. Your strength is useless if you can't react fast enough."

Kiyoshi clenched his fists. The resistance was crushing now, but he could already imagine himself overcoming it. He had grown stronger before, and he would do it again.

"Alright," he said, determination settling in his voice. "Let's get started."

Training under the new conditions was brutal. The added weight made even the most basic movements feel sluggish. Kiyoshi struggled through his first set of push-ups, sweat forming on his brow after just ten reps. His muscles screamed in protest as he pushed against the invisible force holding him down.

"Stop thinking about the weight," Tsunade said, sitting on a nearby rock. "Your body will adjust. Just keep moving."

Easier said than done.

By the time he moved on to sprints, his legs felt like lead. Every step took effort, and his normal speed had been reduced to what felt like a crawl. Tsunade had him run across the training field, then back—again and again.

Each time, his lungs burned a little more. His vision blurred at the edges. But he refused to stop.

And that was when Tsunade attacked.

A kunai whizzed past his face, barely missing his cheek. Kiyoshi snapped his head up, eyes wide. "What the hell—?!"

"Shinobi don't train in comfort," Tsunade said. "If you can't dodge while tired, what's the point?"

She didn't give him a chance to argue. More kunai followed. He had to move.

Kiyoshi forced his body into action. He ducked, twisted, barely managing to dodge the barrage while his weighted limbs dragged him down. His instincts screamed at him—move faster, react quicker!

By the time she stopped, Kiyoshi was on one knee, panting heavily. His arms trembled, his legs burned, and sweat dripped from his chin.

Tsunade smirked. "Good. You're learning."

Kiyoshi let out a breath, his chest rising and falling. "You're... insane."

"And you're improving."

He was exhausted. But beneath the exhaustion, a fire burned inside him.

This training was brutal. But when he finally overcame it—when he could move freely again—his speed would increase, his reactions would sharpen, and his strength would take a leap.

And he would surpass his limits.