Periphery of Konoha
The dense forest right outside the village was the perfect place to train without any disturbances. That's exactly why Ryuku came here instead of using one of those designated training grounds near Hokage Mountain.
But he didn't just stop at the edge—he went deeper into the woods. After a short walk, he arrived at an ideal spot for chakra control training—a shallow stream surrounded by lush greenery.
Taking a deep breath of the fresh air, he felt more alive than ever.
After taking a moment to enjoy the scenery, he decided to start with the Tree Walking Exercise.
Moving toward a large, sturdy tree, he channeled chakra into his feet and placed his right foot on the trunk.
The moment he did, he felt a slight pull, almost like his foot was sticking to the surface. A smirk crossed his face.
"This is easier than I thought."
Without hesitation, he placed his left foot on the bark as well, and just like that—he was hanging from the tree at a perfect right angle.
Now for the real test…
Ryuku knew that maintaining a steady chakra flow was the key. If he lost focus for even a second, he'd crash to the ground, and that was not something he wanted to experience.
Keeping his chakra steady, he climbed higher, his control smooth and precise. Before he knew it, he was already near a thick branch a few meters off the ground.
He didn't stop to admire the view and immediately started descending the same way.
After that first try, his control improved noticeably. His second attempt took half the time, and soon, he was jumping between trees, running up trunks, and even flipping off branches like a seasoned acrobat.
Standing at the top of a massive tree, he gazed over the vast village of Konoha. The view was breathtaking, but instead of feeling awe, he felt… unease.
In just a few years, this entire place would be reduced to a massive crater. All of it… gone… in an instant.
The thought sent a chill down his spine.
He clenched his fists. Those powerful bloodline holders… they have everything handed to them. Meanwhile, he was stuck with chakra levels so pathetic that even this light training had drained forty percent of his reserves.
And this was just chakra control practice.
"What kind of tragic plotline is this? I can't even defend myself against a Genin at this rate…"
Sighing, he suddenly leaped from the tree, chakra flowing smoothly to his arms. As he passed a branch, he grabbed it mid-air, twisted his body, and landed effortlessly on the ground.
At least his control was improving. But if he wanted to survive in this world, this wasn't nearly enough.
Ryuku sat down against a tree and pulled out the Chakra & the Human Body scroll from his ninja pouch. With nearly forty percent of his chakra gone, he needed to rest for at least half an hour.
As he relaxed, he recalled what he had figured out yesterday. His chakra regeneration had increased—by three times.
A week ago, it took his predecessor six hours to fully recover his reserves, but now it only took around an hour. After thinking it through, he had come to a single conclusion—his transmigration was the cause.
Since chakra was formed by the fusion of Spiritual and Physical Energy, his sudden increase in the former must have sped up his recovery.
Too bad it didn't make a real difference. With his chakra pool still being so low, faster regeneration wasn't going to help him much in a fight.
As he leaned back against the tree, he began absorbing the contents of the scroll, focusing especially on the section about Tenketsu (chakra points) in the human body—something he had been eager to understand.
Back on Earth, he had always been a pretty sharp student, especially in Science, where he had worked hard to maintain top grades. So, diving into human anatomy wasn't too difficult. Memorizing every single chakra point, though? That was going to be a challenge. But not an impossible one.
With his pitiful chakra reserves, he couldn't afford to be reckless in battle. He had to be precise. That's why he wanted to study Tenketsu and human anatomy as soon as possible. It was also the reason he signed up for the medical campaign without hesitation. Understanding chakra pathways and human biology in this world might just help him figure out a way to strengthen himself. And Fūinjutsu? That would be a game-changer in all of this.
Before he knew it, half an hour had already passed.
Putting down the scroll on the ground, Ryuku made his way toward the shallow stream. The water was so clear that he could see the riverbed, with dozens of fish swimming around.
Not delaying any further, he undressed, tossing his shirt and pants near the scroll. He had no intention of getting himself wet and wasting precious time.
Carefully stepping forward, he channeled chakra into his right foot and placed it on the water's surface, keeping his other foot firmly on the ground.
However, despite maintaining a steady chakra flow, his foot still dipped into the water.
Noticing this, he adjusted his chakra output slightly, feeling less resistance this time.
So that's how it is...
He made another adjustment, and this time, his foot balanced perfectly on the water. The constant movement of the stream meant his chakra flow had to continuously adapt. Before he knew it, both of his feet were on the water, and he was already walking without any issues.
"What a nice feeling this is..." he whispered, increasing his pace. From walking, he moved to running and then to jumping between the water and the ground.
But walking on water wasn't the end goal. His real purpose was to sharpen his chakra control. That was why he didn't stop, continuously refining his technique.
The more he practiced, the better his control became, and his confidence soared.
Only after his chakra reserves had dropped to thirty percent did he finally stop, deciding to head back for Fūinjutsu practice.
His body was still sore from yesterday's excessive exercise, so he avoided any intense physical training for today.
After a few moments of rest, he packed his things and left, deciding to return here every day for the next few weeks.
Shortly after...
Two figures emerged from the other side of the stream—a powerful-looking man and a little girl.
"That kid has some talent," the man said, observing the area where Ryuku had been training. "But his chakra levels are the worst I've ever seen for someone his age..."
The little girl remained silent, her expression bored and indifferent.
"...His future seems limited. At best, he might reach Chūnin rank in his lifetime." The man turned toward the girl and added in a serious tone, "Do you see this, Hanabi? You are far better than these children. Even within the family, your pure Hyūga bloodline grants you the potential to surpass the Kage. That's why you cannot afford to slack in your training. Understood?"
The little girl nodded, answering in a determined tone, "Yes, Father."
"Hmm." The man hummed in approval before beginning to teach her the Hyūga-style Taijutsu.
It seemed Ryuku had unknowingly wandered into the Hyūga Clan's private grounds.