Chapter 108: The Morning Routine
Haruto woke to the early light filtering through his window, the morning still quiet and calm. He stretched, feeling the familiar ache in his muscles from the day before, but it was a satisfying kind of soreness, the kind that came from pushing himself to his limits. His eyes drifted to the neatly stacked paper on his desk, the one he'd written for Tsunade about the ninja academy. It was ready, and he was eager to see what she thought of his insights.
But that could wait until later. For now, it was back to his routine.
With his sensei away on a mission, Haruto felt the need to keep pushing himself even harder. He rolled out of bed and slipped into his training clothes, his mind already focused on the early morning conditioning he had planned. As always, it was before the sun was up—his preferred time to train. It gave him a sense of peace, a moment to sharpen his skills in solitude before the day began.
When Haruto arrived at the training grounds, Shisui Uchiha and Daichi Uzumaki were already there. Over the past weeks, the three had grown accustomed to each other's company, their camaraderie building naturally through the shared struggles of training. Despite their different personalities, they meshed well together, and it was clear that Shuisi and Daichi respected Haruto's abilities just as he respected theirs.
"Early as usual," Shisui remarked with a grin, stretching his arms as the morning air chilled their skin.
"Wouldn't miss it," Haruto replied, his tone light but focused.
Daichi, ever the enthusiastic one, cracked his knuckles. "Let's get started. No sensei, no problem."
They fell into their individual routines—each bringing their own flavor to their conditioning exercises. Daichi, with his Uzumaki resilience, pushed his body to the edge of exhaustion, while Shuisi's sharp Uchiha reflexes made his movements quick and deliberate. Haruto, for his part, moved with fluid precision, his Taijutsu a mix of influences from his past life as a martial artist, the basic styles he had learned at the academy, and the techniques he had picked up by observing others.
His Two Minds and photographic memory gave him an unparalleled advantage during training. Every time he sparred, Haruto wasn't just watching his opponents—he was memorizing their moves, dissecting their fighting styles, and adding what worked to his own growing repertoire. His Taijutsu was becoming something unique, a fusion of various styles that allowed him to adapt on the fly, constantly evolving. It wasn't about mastering one set style—it was about mastering all the styles.
They transitioned into sparring, the intensity picking up as each of them pushed their limits. Haruto analyzed every punch, every kick, and how Shisui and Daichi executed their moves. Shisui, with his Sharingan, was quick to read movements, and Daichi had a natural knack for raw power. But Haruto was watching more than just what they did—he was studying how they did it.
As the sparring session ended, sweat dripping down their faces, the three of them sat together, catching their breath and discussing how to fight more effectively as a team. The upcoming 3 vs 1 challenge against Sakumo loomed in their minds, and they needed to plan how to work in perfect synergy. Their conversation wasn't overly detailed—just general ideas about how to combine their strengths and make up for any weaknesses. They knew that communication and teamwork would be the key to impressing their sensei when he returned.
After their discussion, Haruto parted ways with his teammates for the day. But his morning wasn't over yet.
He made a quick trip to the Forest of Death, a place he had become quite familiar with over the past months. It was dangerous, of course, but Haruto had become an efficient hunter, using the forest to replenish his protein stores. With his physical training as intense as it was, his diet had to keep up, and hunting in the forest gave him the additional fuel he needed. His ability to track and take down prey had become second nature, allowing him to quickly secure the protein he would need for the coming days.
With his hunt complete, he returned home and, as usual, sank into an ice bath. The cold water worked its way through his muscles, reducing the inflammation from the morning's rigorous training. It was a routine that had kept him going, allowing him to recover faster and hit his peak performance day after day.
Once the ice bath was done, he consumed an extremely large meal to fuel his body for the rest of the day. Protein, fats, carbs—everything his body needed to repair and grow stronger. His discipline extended not just to his training but to how he took care of himself afterward. The attention to detail in his recovery was one of the reasons he felt stronger every day, despite the intensity of his routine.
By late morning, Haruto was ready to head to the hospital. His paper for Tsunade tucked under his arm, he set off, knowing that whatever came next, he was prepared.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone