Chương 23: Ch-23 Progress in 4 years.
Inoiki had been toying with an idea lately: using his 'Shadow Clone' technique to send a copy of himself to the Ninja Academy. This way, he could free up more time to focus on his training. The thought was tempting—he could sharpen his skills even faster. But after careful consideration, he dismissed the plan. His body was already pushed to its limits with the intense physical training he did every morning, and his evenings were consumed by mental exercises to sharpen his mind. Adding more to his plate might yield short-term gains, but the long-term consequences on his health, especially as he grew older, seemed too great a risk.
In the end, Inoiki decided it was wiser to stick to his current routine, the one that had shaped him over the past two years. Each morning was dedicated to physical training, each evening to sculpting his mental strength, and during the day, he faithfully attended the Ninja Academy. His life remained a delicate balance of body and mind, just as it had been for the last two years—steady, disciplined, and unchanging.
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Four years had passed, and now 12-year-old Inoiki stood in the courtyard of his home, his upper body bare, muscles tense. He was locked in a deep horse stance, facing a massive stone that stood as tall as an adult. His entire body shimmered with a faint sky-blue aura, and his hair floated upwards as if carried by an invisible wind.
For a few moments, he remained still, gathering energy, his gaze focused intently on the stone. Then, with a sharp breath—"Hah!"—he punched forward, his palm slicing through the air with all his strength. A small gust of wind whipped through the courtyard. When the dust settled, a perfect palm mark, three inches deep, had been imprinted on the surface of the stone, matching the exact size of Inoiki's hand.
Inoiki exhaled slowly, stood upright, and began walking toward the stone. As he drew within a foot of it, he paused, focusing once more. He channeled his Psychokinesis into his muscles, feeling the energy surge through him. Without hesitation, he punched the stone again, this time with raw, unrestrained power. The sound of the impact echoed like thunder, but then all fell quiet—eerily so, as if nothing had happened at all.
He pulled his hand back, exhaling lightly, and the sky-blue glow that had surrounded him vanished. His hair, once floating, settled back to normal. Calmly, he turned and started walking toward the spot where his towel and upper clothes lay waiting.
As he moved, a cracking sound broke the silence. Behind him, the stone he had just struck began to split, cracks spiderwebbing outward from the point of impact. In seconds, the entire stone crumbled to pieces, scattered across the courtyard like a broken monument to his growing strength.
"Your strength has reached a level where you're only slightly weaker, physically, than your Uncle Choza," Inoichi said, standing at the courtyard gate, his eyes scanning the shattered pieces of stone scattered across the ground. "At this rate, I believe you'll surpass him in terms of physical power within the next two years."
Inoiki, wiping sweat from his brow with a towel, smiled humbly. "I still have a lot of work to do to catch up to all of you," he replied modestly.
But Inoichi wasn't fooled. He knew his son was simply being humble. The truth was, Inoiki had already surpassed him in terms of raw strength. There was no denying the power he had just displayed.
As Inoiki began pulling on his upper clothes, Inoichi's expression shifted, and he asked, "Today is your graduation exam, right?"
"Yes," Inoiki said, fastening his belt. "By the end of the day, I'll finally be a ninja."
Inoichi nodded but his face clouded with concern. "If our relationship with the Hokage were as it used to be, I could've recommended you to a good team. But now, with our ties strained... it's out of my hands. We'll just have to see how the Hokage handles your assignment."
Inoiki paused, looking at his father with a calm, reassuring gaze. "Dad, you worry too much. Nothing will happen. The Hokage may be a scheming man, but he won't move against me unless I pose a threat to the village or his position. And I'm doing neither." He grinned, confidence flashing in his eyes. "Besides, I'm no longer afraid of anyone below the level of a Kage. Even if I can't defeat them, I can at least escape."
Inoichi listened, his son's words easing his worries, if only slightly. He nodded in agreement. "You're right," he said, then with a smile of his own added, "Good luck with your graduation exam, though I doubt you'll need it. It'll be easy for you."
Inoiki chuckled softly and nodded, agreeing with his father's remark. The tension between them eased, the air light with shared confidence.
After their brief exchange, both Inoiki and Inoichi headed to take a bath, the steam from the hot water rising in the quiet house. Once they were refreshed, the entire family gathered for breakfast, the table filled with the warmth of home and conversation.
When the meal was finished, Inoiki stood, ready for the day ahead. He exchanged a glance with his sister, Ino, and together they left the house, making their way toward the Ninja Academy—both ready to face what the day would bring.
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