Ryu continued and kept on breaking pillars using chakra impulses. However, instead of showing improvement, it seemed like he required more and more attempts to break the pillar. His body was not listening and not generating enough chakra output. To break an earth pillar, a high-level impulse was needed.
The number of tries required for breaking a pillar was increasing. Four tries, then five, then six. Ryu was having a hard time releasing the chakra impulse now. His both hands were now swollen red.
In the distance, Tsunade and Tashiro Senju were observing Ryu from a tree nearby.
Tashiro said, "It looks like he is having a hard time now, Lady Tsunade."
Tsunade replied, "Of course. If it was that easy, then everyone would be able to learn it."
Tsunade then said, "I have heard that the granduncle, the Second Hokage, tried to teach it to many people, but none succeeded. Even the Third Hokage failed to learn it."
Tashiro replied, "This taijutsu is only possible because of Senju blood."
Tsunade replied, "Maybe so. Your son makes a great team with him."
Tashiro replied, "Yes, he does."
Tsunade asked, "Uncle told me that you will be his Jonin instructor in the future."
Tashiro replied, "Yes, but that will be long in the future. Right now it would be better if he learnt by himself or others but not me. I doubt there is anything that I can teach him that he himself can not."
"That's true; he is already very good at earth release. The ANBU watching him gave a report to sensei and he told me that he will be very soon as proficient as a chunin in earth release. And I saw firsthand how good he is at lightning release. He is already at chunnin level when it comes to ninjutsu and at jonin level when it comes to jutsu application. He will be a chunnin at first attempt."
Tashiro nodded and watched Ryu struggle with the earth pillars.
Ryu was not able to break even five earth pillars, and he was already exhausted. On the other hand, Tashiro had made 50 earth pillars by now.
"Tough day, huh…?" Toshiro playfully mocked Ryu.
"You really have to rub it in my face." Ryu asked.
"Yes, I do," Toshiro replied.
Ryu said, "Okay then, I will break all the pillars you make in a week."
Toshiro replied, "Are you sure you want a commitment like that?"
He then added, "By the time you reach 50, there will be 1000 pillars in this forest."
Ryu replied, "Then I will break 1000."
Toshiro said, "Okay, the game is on then."
Ryu replied, "But first I need to catch a break."
After a breather, Ryu broke a few more pillars, and Toshiro made a few more pillars, reaching 80. Both were exhausted now.
Ryu said, "I am leaving. See you tomorrow."
Toshiro said, "What! No spar today ?"
Ryu replied, "No, not today. I have some work at home. Besides, we already sparred today."
Toshiro replied, "Okay, see you then."
Ryu reached home and went to check up on Yasashii and Jiyuu.
Both were doing the leaf-sticking exercise. Yasahii was in a sitting position with a leaf on his forehead, and Jiyuu was on his bed with a leaf on both his feet and on his forehead.
Ryu thought, "They are very disciplined. If they had a good chakra amount and proper control, I could have taught them the 1st step of Senju-style taijutsu. Enough to make their bodies strong and their chakra amount rise."
He looked at his hands and thought, "The expanded chakra veins mean more chakra flow, which means more power. I can't wait to complete this training and see the final result."
"I wonder what would happen if I added chakra nature manipulation to chakra impulse release. I think I will not be able to release the solid elements like earth and water, but non-physical elements like wind, fire and lightning will turn into a deadly jutsu if released as an impulse. But just like adding a nature element to Rasangan, it won't be easy."
Ryu said to himself, "One day I will find out."
Yasashii then broke out of the trance and noticed Ryu.
Ryu replied, "Both of you are doing great. Keep on training and also alternate between chakra affinity training and chakra control training. That way you will not be bored."
Yasashii replied, "Boring is nothing new to us. We can handle boring."
Ryu replied, "I know you can. But I am going to speed up your training after you have introduced yourself with chakra control to the basic level and level one of affinity control."
He presented them with the [R.A.T. Seal] and explained, "This seal enhances the challenge of your basic affinity training, as overcoming difficulties leads to greater strength. I will give you this seal for training after you have completed basic training."
He gave him some basic affinity training notes and said, "Start the exercise mentioned in these notes, and if you have any questions or doubts, then you can ask me or Grandpa."
After stating, "I will be working in my workshop now," Ryu left them to continue training on their own.
Ryu entered his workshop. He had it upgraded a while ago and had new equipment installed.
Ryu was working on carbon fibre and other long-chain materials made of carbon. He was testing the limits of each material. He was carefully studying one particular sheet for carbon under his own chakra.
A smile formed on his face as he discovered something. He said, "This is interesting. If I play my cards right, it is going to be legendary."
He experimented some more with his new discovery. And after some hours of experimenting, he said, " If only I could control it like I can control Earth."
"I need to speed up my earth affinity training. I have recovered enough chakra. I will start the water affinity training with Yuuki."
He went back to his backyard and started making earth pillars like Toshiro did. But unlike him, he was having difficulty in making them, as unlike him, he was being pressured by the [R.A.T. Seal].
- R.A.T. Seal active
- Resistance: 15%
Ryu looked at his hands, which were already pained by the expanding and new-forming chakra veins through the Senju-style taijutsu training. And now the stress of earth affinity training was expanding them more.
Ryu tried his fists and said, "I will train till I am out of chakra, like always."
He smiled and formed a few more earth pillars. After making tens of them, he noticed a change in him. And something also noticed a change and reacted accordingly.
- R.A.T. Seal active
- Resistance: 20%
Ryu smiled and said, "let's double it tonight."
- Chakra Level: 10%
"Before that, let's take a breather and recover some chakra."
During his breather time, he looked at the [Chakra Backup Seal] he had made but not given to anyone. It works on the same principle of [Healing Seal] but on a much simpler level, and instead of holding healing chakra, it stores and recovers normal chakra.
- [Chakra Backup Seal]: Can store the chakra of an individual in the seal for replenishing his chakra reserves later. Efficiency is dropped when chakra reserves are greater than 25 units. Efficiency is dropped when the chakra is stored and used by different persons. Has hidden safety protocols.
Ryu thought, "I crafted this seal and tested if it can store chakra. It did store and replenish chakra, but like every energy storage system, it had efficiency losses. So I did not use it and waste my chakra, as I needed it for daily training. I only have this sample seal with some of my chakra."
"But I think the chakra stored in this sample seal will be enough for tonight's training."
Ryu placed the [Chakra Backup Seal] and activated it.
- Recovery Seal active
- Chakra recovering
- Chakra Level: 70 %
A wave of a relaxing feeling rushed into him along with chakra stored in the backup seal. Ryu smiled and said, "Let's get back to training."
He keeps on making pillars of earth. He plans on using them for his training in Senju-style taijutsu later on.
He trained until his chakra was exhausted, then sighed heavily and struggled to catch his breath.
He looked at his head-up display and saw the notification indicating his progress.
- R.A.T. Seal active
- Resistance: 45%
Ryu smiled, collapsed on the ground due to exhaustion, and drifted into sleep while lying there.
Dan came in the backyard to pick him up and saw a forest of earth pillars. He smiled and said, "He is progressing too fast."
Yasashii, who also saw this, admired Ryu's dedication and vowed, "I will also train like him."
Dan smiled at his declaration and said , "Of course you will. For now let's get back and have a good night's sleep."
"Sleep is directly linked to recovery, so don't miss out on going night hours. You understand ."
Yasashii replied affirmatively, "Yes, Grandpa, I understand."
##PoWeR StOnEs##
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