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Gravity Training and the Will to Grow
"0.2 times the gravity has little effect on me now. It seems even doubling the gravity won't hinder my normal walking..."
Ye Dou was satisfied with his progress after just a week of training.
However, instead of recklessly increasing the gravity to overwhelm himself, he cautiously raised it to 0.3 times. Once accustomed to the change, he began his daily training, running toward the dense forests outside Konoha.
As he passed through the village, early risers—both civilians and shinobi—cast curious glances at him. But no one approached.
Meanwhile, a certain mongoose was up to no good. The creature floated around food stalls, snatching breakfast items when vendors and passersby were distracted. Some of the stolen goods were stuffed directly into its mouth, while others found their way into its pants pockets—yes, pants pockets.
You read that right.
This mongoose was an anomaly, defying reason. Every day, it changed into different-colored trousers. Today, it wore a pure red pair, an eccentric choice that clashed with its small, furry body. It was a sight so bizarre that even Ye Dou found it difficult to look at directly.
When they reached his usual training grounds, Ye Dou stretched out his hand to the mongoose.
"You shameless little thief. You eat my food, drink my water, but whenever you have meat, you stuff me with scraps. Do you think I was always this skinny? I used to be built like an ox, strong as a tiger… I don't want offal again tonight—I want meat!"
The mongoose scoffed but didn't argue. Instead, it reached into its ridiculous pockets and began pulling out an impossible amount of food—steamed buns, soy milk, ramen… a veritable treasure trove. It was like a tiny, furry Doraemon with an inventory that defied logic.
Ye Dou ignored the theatrics. After eating his fill, he sat cross-legged and began refining his chakra. Once digestion was complete and his body was primed, he resumed training.
The mongoose, realizing another day had been wasted, huffed in frustration. Its face turned red—just like a monkey's rear—as it stomped around. Eventually, it gave up and sulked, pulling out an Animal Encyclopedia and flipping to the mongoose section. Perhaps it was searching for a mate.
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Elsewhere in Konoha…
Hyūga Hanabi was unfocused all day. During breakfast, during training—her mind kept wandering. Even in her sparring matches, she was easily defeated by her older sister, Hinata, something that never happened before.
Her father, Hyūga Hiashi, noticed her distraction. When he inquired, she merely claimed to be feeling unwell. The truth, however, was that she couldn't stop thinking about yesterday's events.
At the end of the day, she hurried to the kitchen and carefully prepared a few rice balls. They weren't perfect, but they were shaped like tiny rabbits—her favorite animal.
Carrying them with care, she slipped out of the Hyūga compound and made her way through Konoha's streets. She asked around for Ye Dou but couldn't find him.
Finally, she came across an elderly woman and politely asked for directions.
Unlike other villagers, the old woman showed clear disdain at the mention of Ye Dou's name. Her expression twisted into something almost cruel.
Hanabi was confused. She wasn't used to such reactions, but she followed the woman's pointed directions nonetheless.
As she ventured further, the hostility around her became more apparent. Whispers. Sideways glances. The people in this part of Konoha all bore the same clan emblem, and none of them seemed happy to see her.
Still, she steeled her resolve and pressed on.
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At the Training Grounds
Deep within the forests behind Konoha, Ye Dou was drenched in sweat, pushing himself beyond his limits.
"One hundred twelve… one hundred thirteen… one hundred fourteen…"
"Two hundred fifty-one… two hundred seventy-seven… two hundred ninety…"
Silently counting, he continued his brutal regimen. The ground beneath him was soaked with sweat. His arms burned, his body screamed for rest, yet he refused to stop.
His limbs had long since gone numb. The only thing keeping him moving was sheer willpower.
I don't want to die. I want to live.
That thought alone drove him to persist.
He gritted his teeth and forced himself to complete 300 push-ups. But the moment he stood up, dizziness struck. The world spun, and he collapsed onto his back, gasping for air like a drowning man.
Yet before long, he forced himself upright once more.
"The 300 push-ups are done. Next goal: 350. Now—300 squats!"
Interlocking his fingers behind his head, he began squatting, his movements weighted down by the increased gravity.
Halfway through, he realized the strain wasn't as intense as expected. Without hesitation, he funneled more chakra into his body, increasing the gravity to 0.5 times normal before continuing.
He didn't focus much on his Devil Fruit powers at the moment—his priority was training his body. However, the combination of gravity manipulation and chakra control allowed him to refine both simultaneously, making his growth even faster.
After completing his squats, he rested briefly before attacking the training post.
Boom!
A heavy thud echoed as his fist landed. The post remained intact, but a deep imprint of his knuckles was left behind.
Ye Dou pulled back his fist and turned to the mongoose.
"How much force did that punch have, measured using One Piece's power scale?"
The mongoose, now perched atop the post, flicked its tail and examined the damage.
"A total of 90 power, to be precise—90.7."
Ye Dou nodded, satisfied. While he was still far from mastering the Rokushiki (Six Powers) techniques used by elite Marine fighters, he had only had his Devil Fruit for a month.
To nearly double his strength in that short span—any warrior would envy such progress.
"If I use the Gravity Fruit's full power, my punch should reach 200 power. But I don't need that right now. What I need is a body strong enough on its own…"
With gravity control in play, his attack potential could soar to terrifying heights.
How powerful could he truly become?
The answer lay in the devastating combination once demonstrated by the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, and the Fourth Raikage, A.
One manipulated gravity.
The other wielded sheer, brute strength.
And Ye Dou?
He would surpass them both.
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