The first rays of dawn were just beginning to paint the sky when Ishiki, fueled by an unwavering determination, dragged himself out of bed.
His body still protested from yesterday's gruelling physical training, a relentless imitation of Saitama's notorious regimen: 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats, and a 10 km run.
He knew this level of exertion was vital to forge a truly resilient body, one that could eventually rival the mythical power of the legendary Sannin and beyond.
Exhaustion was a heavy cloak, but he immediately reached for his indispensable Doctor's Kit.
It scanned his body in a flash of soft green light, delivering its no-nonsense diagnosis: "Subject's musculature shows extreme fatigue and minor micro-tears.
Body condition is currently Weak." With a quick whir, the kit dispensed two crucial items: a small, smooth, Red Pill, a potent body medicine, and a blue Chakra Recovery Pill.
He swallowed the red pill first. Instantly, a warm, surging energy spread through his limbs.
The ache in his muscles began to subside, replaced by a tingling sensation of rapid recovery and profound strengthening.
He could feel his very sinews knitting tighter, denser, preparing for the next assault on his limits. Next, the chakra pill dissolved on his tongue and quickly refilled him with a vibrant, flowing energy.
A confident, satisfied smile touched Ishiki's lips. With the aid of these advanced tools, his journey to supreme strength and increased chakra reserves would be exponentially faster than any conventional ninja training.
He sat down, his mind already racing, plotting his future ascent.
The Saitama training was non-negotiable, but to maximize its effect, he decided on a crucial augmentation: once his body fully adapted to the current intensity, he would introduce weighted training.
Custom-made seals or weighted clothing would provide constant resistance, ensuring his physical growth never stagnated.
For his ninjutsu, lacking a specific elemental nature presented a unique challenge, but one he was prepared to meet with technological assistance.
He committed to mastering and advancing the three fundamental Academy techniques: the Transformation Jutsu, the Clone Jutsu, and the Substitution Jutsu.
But these wouldn't be mere basics; using the analysis and computational power of his Genius Helmet, he would perfect the Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu for massive-scale training and elevate the Body Flicker Technique (Shunshin) into a near-instantaneous movement art, far surpassing the common usage.
He also targeted two specialised, high-level jutsus: the Mystical Palm Technique (Healing Jutsu), essential for combat recovery and self-sufficiency, and the destructive, chakra-intensive Rasengan. These would form the core of his non-physical combat abilities.
"By mastering these arts and achieving physical supremacy," he muttered, clenching his fist, "I will stand not just beside, but arguably above Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha."
But physical training and jutsu were only two prongs of his strategy.
He had his gadgets. Today, he focused his mental training on the use of his signature weapon: Mugen (Infinite Lasso + Denkomaru). Its potential was truly infinite.
He had already established the physical connection: one end of the incredibly durable, chakra-absorbing lasso was securely tied to the hilt of his sword, while the other was fastened around his left wrist, ensuring an immediate, instinctive connection.
With his training regimen decided, Ishiki felt a renewed vigor.
He bathed quickly and headed to the Village Chief's residence for a well-deserved breakfast. After a brief but hearty meal, he set off on his planned route towards the Naki River, his secluded, usual training spot.
-----As soon as he stepped into the familiar clearing by the riverbank, a flash of metallic glint warned him. A barrage of sharp shurikens sliced through the air, aimed directly at his head and chest.
Instinctively, the mechanism tied to his wrist sprang to life. Mugen reacted with preternatural speed, the lasso unwinding in a crimson blur, intercepting the deadly projectiles with pinpoint accuracy and deflecting them harmlessly into the trees.
Yet, one of the deflected weapons dissolved the Transformation Jutsu. In mid-air, the figure reformed, revealing the distinct form of Izuna Uchiha. Before Ishiki could fully register the surprise, Izuna had already woven a rapid sequence of hand signs.
"Katon: Ryūka no Jutsu!" (Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique!)
A massive plume of scorching fire erupted from Izuna's mouth, a dragon-shaped torrent of flame barreling down on Ishiki.
There was no time for traditional defence. The lasso immediately drew a surge of chakra from Ishiki's wrist. The crimson rope rapidly expanded in size and density, enveloping him completely from head to toe in a thick, protective, chakra-infused cocoon.
Izuna landed lightly and stood rigid, peering through the smoke cloud created by the intense heat, his eyes searching for the gruesome result of his powerful technique.
As the smoke began to dissipate, Izuna gasped. The figure standing there was completely covered in a shimmering red, braided rope.
Slowly, the rope began to contract, shrinking back to its normal, compact size, coiling back onto Ishiki's wrist.
When the last strand disappeared, Ishiki stood unscathed, not a single strand of hair out of place, the fire having been completely absorbed and dispersed by Mugen's defenses.
Shock briefly flashed across Izuna's face, but the young Uchiha was a formidable warrior. He recovered his composure instantly and began sprinting towards Ishiki, preparing for a close-quarters engagement.
But the danger wasn't singular. From the shadows beside Ishiki, Tobirama Senju, the other attacker, burst forth, his kunai glinting, aiming for a silent strike from the rear.
Tobirama was almost upon him, but Mugen was already ahead. Before the Senju could land his blow, the lasso shot out like a striking viper.
It encircled Tobirama's legs, cinching tight, and with a powerful, hydraulic-like pull, it lifted the Second Hokage's brother high into the air, leaving him dangling upside down.
With another forceful motion, Mugen hurled the inverted Tobirama directly at the charging Izuna.
The collision was sharp and decisive. Izuna and Tobirama both crumpled to the ground, knocked completely unconscious.
Ishiki calmly walked over to the two powerful but now defeated shinobi. He retrieved his Doctor's Kit once more.
It performed an immediate diagnostic scan on the unconscious pair: "Subjects are safe, suffering only mild concussion and transient unconsciousness. No life-threatening injuries."
The kit then dispensed a clear, restorative liquid medicine. Ishiki administered the fluid to both of them, one sip each. He sighed in relief; the last thing he wanted was to cause serious harm to his future allies.
Seeing them sleeping soundly, Ishiki decided to proceed with his planned training. He walked to the river, cast his line, and quickly caught a small, vibrant fish, his first patient.
The task was to begin mastering the Mystical Palm Technique. He recalled the theory Jiraiya and Tsunade had once discussed regarding Sakura's training: the foundational step was absolute Chakra Control.
Specifically, he needed to maintain the fish's vital functions while using an infinitesimal amount of chakra, channelling it with surgical precision.
He donned his Genius Helmet. The visor shimmered to life, projecting complex anatomical diagrams of the fish overlaid with real-time feedback on his chakra output and flow.
He began the grueling process, painstakingly controlling the flow of green chakra from his fingertips, focusing on maintaining the delicate life within his hands.
Time stretched on. Minutes bled into hours. The Genius Helmet, with its accelerated learning protocols, was intensely straining his mind, but the progress was undeniable.
He gained crucial insights into chakra manipulation, feeling the subtle changes in the fish's tiny, struggling heart.
Finally, a dull ache started to throb behind his eyes. He recognised the mental fatigue caused by prolonged use of the helmet. "That's enough for today," he decided, pulling the helmet off.
He immediately turned to his Doctor's Kit again. It diagnosed his mental strain, recommending a brief period of rest and chakra recovery.
He took a few minutes to meditate and replenish his reserves. He glanced at Izuna and Tobirama, who remained fast asleep, their chests rising and falling steadily.
Recharged, Ishiki moved on to the second major jutsu of the day: the Rasengan.
He retrieved the Genius Helmet again. He mentally reviewed Jiraiya's teaching method for Naruto, breaking the monumental technique down into three manageable steps:
Rotation: Mastering chakra rotation by bursting a water balloon.Power: Developing the required force by bursting a rubber ball.Stability: Combining the two elements to form a stable, rotating sphere of chakra within a regular, unpopped balloon.
Before leaving the village, he had ensured the items were available, balloons and rubber balls still existed in the current era, thankfully. He retrieved a water balloon and activated the Genius Helmet.
He focused his chakra into his palm, attempting to create the necessary chaotic, rotational force. The helmet displayed the ideal rotational velocity and pressure differential. He pushed his chakra. He rotated it faster.
POP!
Suddenly, the water balloon exploded in a violently loud burst, spraying water everywhere and shattering the peaceful silence of the riverbank.