From the next day, Santoryu's training routine underwent a shift.
Until now—ever since he received the system nearly a year ago—he had kept his workouts close to home, running laps just outside his house each morning. But starting today, that changed.
Instead of staying nearby, he began running to a training ground located four kilometers away. The added distance increased both the challenge and his endurance. By the time he reached the grounds, he was winded, his muscles aching from the effort. He paused for a few minutes to catch his breath before moving on to the next phase of his regimen.
There, in a quiet corner of the training field, sat a small pond—clear, still, and deceptively peaceful. Santoryu stepped up to the edge and began practicing a new skill: chakra control. Specifically, the Water Treading Exercise.
It was his first time attempting any form of chakra control, and the results showed.
He failed.
Again and again, he plunged into the water. Ten times in a row, he tried to channel his chakra evenly through the soles of his feet—and ten times, he sank like a stone. Frustration mounted, but he didn't quit.
On the eleventh attempt, something changed.
He felt a flicker of balance—his chakra stabilizing just enough—and for a brief, exhilarating moment, he stood on the water's surface. His eyes widened. He had done it.
Then, just as quickly, he lost focus—and dropped straight back into the pond with a splash.
But it was progress.
The foundation had been laid. And Santoryu knew, from experience, that the first breakthrough—no matter how short-lived—was the hardest part.
Santoryu continued the chakra control exercise for another 30 minutes, repeating the process over and over—falling, adjusting, and trying again. It was slow progress, but he knew mastery wouldn't come overnight.
Eventually, he stepped out of the pond, water dripping from his clothes, and began the long run back home—same as he'd come.
He couldn't afford to spend more time on chakra training today. As important as it was, his schedule was packed with other drills. Devoting too much time to just one area would throw off his entire regimen. Besides, the training ground wasn't going anywhere. He could return every day, sharpen his control gradually, and eventually master it. It was only a matter of consistency.
Once he returned to the courtyard of his home, he wasted no time. He drew his sword and shifted into a ready stance, beginning the next part of his training: One-Sword Style – 36 Pound Phoenix.
The system assisted by projecting an illusory image of Zoro in front of him, executing the technique in perfect form. Santoryu studied the movements closely—posture, grip, footwork, timing—and began mimicking them with precision.
Strike after strike, he followed Zoro's flow, letting the rhythm guide him. Surprisingly, he picked it up quickly. His foundation in swordsmanship paid off here, allowing him to adapt the new technique faster than expected.
The real challenge wasn't learning the move—it was perfecting it.
And Santoryu was ready to grind until every slash felt like second nature.
Later that day, Santoryu began his first battle with Zoro.
And just like his first match against Kuina a year ago, he lost. Badly. Zoro cut through his defense with overwhelming speed and precision, making Santoryu look like an amateur.
But he wasn't discouraged.
In fact, he expected it.
Zoro's strength, experience, and sword mastery were on a different level. That was the whole point—facing stronger opponents was how he would grow. Losing wasn't failure. It was part of the path.
After completing his sword training, Santoryu shifted his focus again. He wanted to work on chakra control—this time, a new exercise: Tree Treading. He knows from experience that attempting chakra control after physical training would be counterproductive. His body would be too exhausted to concentrate properly. So he scheduled it beforehand.
He stood at the base of a large tree at the edge of his courtyard, took a breath, and began channeling chakra to the soles of his feet.
Focus. Control the flow. Steady.
With care, he placed one foot on the tree trunk and then the other, beginning to walk vertically. For a moment, it worked—two careful steps upward.
Then he lost balance.
He fell hard to the ground with a thud.
Luckily, no one was around to see it. If there had been other kids nearby, they probably would've burst out laughing. But Santoryu just got back up, brushed himself off, and reset his stance.
One step closer. That's all that mattered.
But Santoryu didn't give up. He continued practicing the tree-treading chakra control exercise, and surprisingly, he performed better at it than he had with water treading. Though he still fell most of the time, he could feel the improvement with each attempt. His control was stabilizing, little by little.
After the chakra training, he moved on to his physical exercises—push-ups, squats, and core work—pushing his body to its limits. Once finished, he soaked in a herbal bath to soothe his muscles, ate a simple meal, and finally went to sleep.
He woke later in the afternoon, just as the sky began to shift into the early hues of evening. Without wasting time, he resumed his training. First came sword work, running through drills and refining techniques like 36 Pound Phoenix. Afterward, he once again turned to the tree-treading chakra exercise.
He deliberately avoided the water-treading practice this time. As an introvert, he preferred solitude while training, and during the evening hours, the streets would be busier. More people meant more distractions. On top of that, the training grounds were likely to be filled with other ninjas going through their own routines. He didn't want an audience.
And so, this became his new normal: morning runs to the training ground for water training, afternoon swordsmanship drills, chakra control through tree climbing, followed by physical conditioning, rest, and repeat.
Each day followed this rhythm. Quiet. Focused. Relentless.
And Santoryu wouldn't have it any other way.
…
Time passed steadily, day after day, and before long, a full year had gone by.
Santoryu was now ten years old.
It had also been over two years since he transmigrated into the world of Naruto, reborn as Santoryu Hatake. And now, the moment he had been working toward all this time was finally approaching—his promised battle with Kakashi.
It was a vow he had made to his father shortly after arriving in this world: that in two years' time, he would challenge Kakashi and do everything in his power to defeat him. And if he couldn't win, then at the very least, he would prove himself—that the countless hours of training, the sacrifices, the pain—all of it had meant something.
Technically, he was already a few months late on that promise.
But the delay wasn't his fault.
Kakashi had been away from the village on an extended mission. Just a few months ago, he had been promoted to the rank of Chunin—an impressive feat, but one that came with more responsibilities and frequent deployments. Given the rising tensions outside the village and the ongoing war, it was no surprise he had been called into action.
Now, however, Kakashi was back.
And Santoryu knew—his time had come.
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