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Like before, Kaito focused on an area closer to his heart where chakra control felt more natural. Slowly but steadily, he was growing accustomed to the nuances of the tree-walking exercise. Each attempt required precise calculations—he had to release just enough chakra to keep his entire body supported without overloading it and causing the bark to splinter or explode, sending him flying again.
He had chosen this approach deliberately, testing the amount of chakra required by using his arms to gauge control. It was a methodical way to measure how much chakra was necessary to stick properly. However, he knew that his legs would demand even more chakra, as they had to account for his full weight and the pull of gravity.
While the tree-walking technique and leaf concentration technique operated on the same concept of 'sticking' using chakra, however there were distinct differences between the two.
The primary distinction lies in the impact of mass—or more specifically, the force caused by mass in action. The leaf exercise only required the user to focus on stabilizing a small, lightweight object. In contrast, tree-walking demanded mastery over the much larger and heavier force of one's entire body. This added complexity made tree-walking far more challenging and a critical stepping stone in Kaito's training.
Kaito's struggle was added by his physical state. Malnutrition during his growing years had left his muscles underdeveloped and his body weaker than most of his peers. This not only made chakra control harder but also meant his stamina depleted quickly, forcing him to work twice as hard to compensate.
Kaito molded his chakra into his palms once more this time with the intention of failure. He wanted to gauge just how much chakra it took to explode, the reason for this was simple. Because he wanted to know just how much chakra it took to explode the tree and push him back. Then he would pour just a little more less than before till the point it didn't explode and his palms stuck.
Yes, it would drain more chakra than he'd like, but it was necessary if he wanted to achieve the proper outcome.
He molded the chakra into his palms and attempted to connect with the tree, but the force of it flung him backward. Landing hard on the ground, Kaito groaned but quickly got back up. He repeated the process, over and over, his determination burning brighter with every failure, until finally, his palm stuck to the tree's surface.
His body trembled, his arms threatening to go numb from the strain, but he refused to stop. He shifted his focus to his left hand, holding his breath as he channeled chakra into it. To his relief, it didn't explode. Carefully, he removed his right hand and placed it higher on the tree, repeating the process. Slowly but surely, he began climbing, his movements growing more natural with each hand placement until he was scaling the tree with relative ease, almost like a spider clinging to a wall.
Kaito climbed up the tree slowly, dragging himself upward with only his hands. It was an awkward process, but determination pushed him forward with each pull.
A smile etched itself across Kaito's face as he finally mastered the tree climbing technique with his hands. Reaching a sturdy branch, he hoisted himself up and sat there, catching his breath while staring down at the ground far below. The satisfaction of progress glimmered in his eyes.
"Now the issue is trying to mold the chakra to my feet," Kaito mused, kicking his leg lazily in the air. He took a deep breath, focusing on molding chakra beneath his feet. Carefully, he pressed his foot against the bark, gauging how much chakra to pour in. It wasn't easy; controlling the flow of energy to his feet felt like trying to balance on the edge of a knife.
It was like a cracked dam with water spilling through the gaps—the water representing the chakra Kaito was trying to mold, and the leaks symbolizing the chakra that slipped out uncontrollably.
He pressed his foot against the bark, and just as he expected, his foot immediately slipped, flinging him backward. The sudden motion caused the tree to shudder, scattering a few leaves to the ground below.
Kaito groaned, struggling to regain his placement as he wobbled precariously on the branch.
Kaito dropped from the tree and landed on the ground with a frustrated sigh. Rubbing the back of his head, no matter what he tried, the root of the problem was clear—he simply lacked control. If his chakra control were better, this entire process would have gone much smoother.
But life wasn't about getting everything handed to him. He knew he'd have to earn it. His gaze shifted to the ground beneath him as he thought about the problem. Chakra control was the issue, and if he could just get used to focusing it in his feet, the tree climbing technique would eventually become second nature.
Kaito slowly molded the chakra into his feet. For a brief moment, it felt like he had it, but then the ground beneath him exploded, sending him flying backward. Frustration bubbled up as he bit his lip, forcing himself to stand again. Undeterred, he repeated the process, over and over, each attempt a step closer to his goal.
Hours passed until the first light of dawn crept over the horizon.
The training ground was littered with small craters. He laid sprawled on the ground, his breathing labored and uneven, sweat streaming down his forehead and soaking his entire body. His chest heaved as he fought to control his breathing.
He had failed.
Despite countless attempts, no matter how hard he pushed himself, he just couldn't master it. It felt like he was trapped in an endless loop, hitting the same wall over and over again. His legs were completely numb, and his body felt as heavy as a truck, refusing to move another inch.
Yet, he dragged himself up from the floor, gritting his teeth as his legs wobbled beneath him. Taking a deep, steadying breath, he conceded that it was too much for one day. He would've continued if he could, but his chakra felt dangerously close to depletion, and his knees throbbed with the threat of giving out completely if he pushed any further.
Reluctantly, he decided to call it a day. He headed back to his room, ate a quick meal, took a refreshing shower, and collapsed into bed, letting exhaustion take over.
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It was a brand-new day—or rather, afternoon. Kaito had slept through most of the morning, and when he finally woke up, his entire body ached down to the bone. Even after a cold shower to ease the muscle soreness, the pain lingered, stubborn and unrelenting.
He considered calling it quits on today's training. While he was eager to push himself and make progress as quickly as possible, he knew he had to be patient. Overdoing it could lead to serious injury, and without any money for a doctor, losing the use of his legs wasn't an option.
At times like these, he couldn't help but think how invaluable medical ninjutsu would be. If only he had the skill, he could heal his wounds and dive right back into training without wasting precious time. As he lay in bed, an idea sparked in his mind. What if he learned medical ninjutsu himself? Could he use it to recover faster and push his training to a new level? His grinder cells were tingling...
When you work out, like weightlifting or sprinting, your muscles experience tiny tears in their fibers due to the strain. This process, called muscle damage or microtrauma, is a normal part of building stronger muscles. After the workout, the body triggers an inflammatory response, increasing blood flow to the affected areas and delivering nutrients and immune cells to start the repair process.
Specialized satellite cells attach to the damaged fibers, fusing with them to repair the tears and strengthen the muscle. This process not only restores the muscle but also makes it larger and stronger, a phenomenon known as hypertrophy. Proper nutrition, particularly protein, provides the building blocks for repair, while rest and sleep allow the body to complete the recovery process. Over time, consistent training and recovery lead to stronger, more capable muscles.
What if he used medical ninjutsu to accelerate muscle recovery? Medical ninjutsu, which uses chakra to heal injuries and repair damaged tissues. For example, when used on someone who had been stabbed, medical ninjutsu could seal the wound by knitting the damaged tissues back together at a cellular level. The chakra promoted rapid blood clotting to stop excessive bleeding and regenerated lost or damaged cells to restore functionality. If it could do that for life-threatening injuries, why not for something as simple as muscle recovery?
By channeling it directly into his strained muscles, Kaito could mend the microscopic tears, and stimulate rapid regeneration. This wouldn't just eliminate soreness; it would make his muscles stronger almost instantaneously, allowing him to push his body harder and train again without waiting for natural recovery.
However his biggest hurdle was learning medical ninjutsu. Kaito couldn't simply walk into a hospital and ask someone to teach him—it wasn't the kind of knowledge freely shared, and finding someone willing to mentor him was next to impossible. Furthermore, medical ninjutsu demanded incredible precision and chakra control. Without mastery over those aspects, medical ninjustu was practically....impossible.
That left him back at square one. If he couldn't master the tree-climbing technique, he was stuck at the very beginning, unable to progress. With a deep sigh, he went over to the bag of leaves he had gathered earlier from the training ground.
He pulled out a single leaf and held it in front of him, studying it carefully as he raised it in the air. If the barrier stopping him from mastering tree climbing was his inability to control chakra flow to the bottom of his foot, then he had to refine that skill first.
Deciding to return to the basics, he moved over to his bed and sat on the edge. He crossed his left foot over his right leg so he could clearly see the sole of his foot. Concentrating intently, he began molding chakra through his leg, guiding it toward the bottom of his foot. Carefully, he pressed the leaf against the sole, focusing on maintaining a steady and precise flow of chakra to keep the leaf sticked to his skin.
The reason he wanted to do this was that he was training the chakra flow control in his legs to help him master the intricate balance required in his foot. By molding his chakra with this precision, he aimed to strengthen his ability to focus and manipulate it accurately.
As he pressed the leaf against the sole of his foot, it instantly burst apart, disintegrating into tiny fragments. Kaito groaned, clenching his fists in frustration. Yet, despite the sting of failure, he knew he couldn't afford to stop. Growth demanded failure, no matter how discouraging the process felt.
Without hesitation, he grabbed another leaf and pressed it against the bottom of his foot once more. Even if it took him all night, he was determined to get this right. Each attempt, no matter how small, brought him closer to control—closer to strength.
Closer to being The Ultimate Shinboi...
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