9 Chapter 9: Noticeable Improvement

During this extended period of relentless study and rigorous training, the routine became both monotonous and solitary. Tatsuma's days were filled with school attendance, mornings dedicated to exercises, and evenings immersed in additional training sessions where he consistently challenged Minato to push the boundaries of his exceptional talents.

For Tatsuma, whose initial talent limits barely reached 120, hovering just above the threshold of Genin cannon fodder, the emphasis on expanding these limits was paramount.

After all, there are only a few years left before the Second Ninja War in Tatsuma's memory and he does not want to participate in the war, but he must be prepared to be involved in the war.

If a conflict were to emerge, the likelihood of Tatsuma being assigned to a Ninja team was high. Instead of relying on fortuitous breakthroughs in the midst of a crisis, Tatsuma preferred meticulous, gradual preparations beforehand to avert any potential harm.

Consequently, Tatsuma's focus on challenging himself intensified. The individual most impacted by this newfound dedication was Minato Namikaze, his friend driven by an unwavering desire for victory. Practically every day, Tatsuma presented Minato with a series of demanding challenges.

However, as Minato's own latent talent began to surface, Tatsuma found it increasingly challenging to easily suppress Minato. The once lopsided win-loss ratio of ten to zero evolved into a more evenly matched eight to two.

This heightened Tatsuma's sense of crisis, prompting him to elevate the intensity of his training. He not only increased the frequency of matches but also broadened the pool of of challenges, expanding the competition from training and battles to every mundane aspect of life, including something as routine as eating and drinking.

After an unwavering four-month commitment, Tatsuma witnessed substantial growth. His personal panel now reflects:

"Host: Sakamoto Tatsuma

Talents:

Strength: 118/456

Speed: 165/996

Stamina: 159/930

Wisdom: 205/320

Ninjutsu: 61/249

Illusions: 27/194

Spirit: 98/362

Seals: 171/373

Special Talents:

Space-Time: 25%

Ninjutsu Development: 15%"

"Ninja Tool Throwing (Minato Namikaze Limited Edition): 30%"

In terms of physical prowess, Tatsuma has already attained the level of a Genin, a notable achievement for a first-year student. Though influenced by Minato, any potential variance in performance between them is negligible.

However, the progress in Chakra, Ninjutsu, and Genjutsu is comparatively sluggish. Chakra development may be hindered by issues related to physical growth. The body's natural maturation absorbs a substantial amount of bodily energy, leaving limited resources for synthesizing Chakra.

As for Ninjutsu and Genjutsu, Tatsuma, in his initial year, has yet to formally embark on the practice of these arts. Even the fundamental Three Basic Jutsu were only recently introduced, not through formal instruction but rather via a demonstration and a quick explanation from the sensei.

The most consistently advancing aspect is Wisdom. Through diligent listening and thoughtful consideration in daily classes, Tatsuma consistently gains talent points. Engaging in shogi matches with Nara Shikaku in recent days has also contributed to a modest increase in his talent limit.

However, Tatsuma's primary concern lies with his speed. As the limit approaches 1000, marking the threshold for Chunin, he is eager to observe if the rate of improvement will escalate when his talent aligns with Chunin requirements. Otherwise, considering a daily gain of only one or at most two points in speed from training, and without factoring in the talent limit, mastering a talent to the level of Jonin would demand nearly thirty years. Tatsuma cannot afford to wait that long.

Tatsuma remained skeptical about the notion that any Ninja possessing Jonin-level talent would require a staggering 27 years or more to attain Jonin status. In his perspective, the fastest route to achieving Jonin would then necessitate being at least 33 years old or even older.

This assumption operates under the premise of an ideal scenario where an individual wholeheartedly dedicates themselves to training. However, the reality of a Ninja's life involves various tasks, missions, and assignments that consume a substantial portion of time which could otherwise be devoted to training.

Given the modest pace of one talent realization point per day, Tatsuma speculated that it might take until the age of forty or fifty to meet the minimum Jonin qualification. Consequently, in his view, the talent limits for each level and the daily attainable talent realization differ significantly.

Contemplating this, Tatsuma located Minato Namikaze just after completing his dinner and called out to him from the entrance of Minato's house, "Minato! Minato! Haven't you taken a break yet?"

With soapy hands, Minato, who was in the midst of washing dishes, caught wind of his friend's voice and discerned the purpose of his visit. He replied, "The door isn't locked, come on in."

Creak~

Upon learning that Minato was still awake, Tatsuma entered and observed Minato washing dishes, stating, "Tomorrow marks the end-of-term test, and I'm feeling a bit jittery. Would you be up for a run with me?"

Upon hearing this, Minato sported an expression that hinted at his understanding of Tatsuma's true motives. He wasn't convinced that Tatsuma was genuinely nervous; it seemed more like an excuse for a friendly competition. Minato nodded and replied, "Sure, not a problem. I'll join you once I'm done with these chores."

"You're quite the character, Minato! Given your dedication to cleanliness every day, let me lend a hand with the stove. We'll see if you can wash dishes faster or I can clean the stove more swiftly!"

With sleeves rolled up, Tatsuma strolled over to Minato, grabbed another cloth, and promptly delved into the cleaning task. Minato, realizing that attempting to dissuade Tatsuma was futile, didn't offer any resistance.

"Haha, looks like I still have a bit of an edge!"

Ding~ [Spirit +1]

Once Tatsuma completed the stove cleaning, Minato concluded the dishwashing task. After rinsing his hands, Minato hung the two cloths on the faucet and inquired, "A sprint, right? How should we gauge this?"

During this period, as the dynamics of their matches achieved greater equilibrium, Minato occasionally clinched victories. This experience introduced him to the joy of shared competition in these challenges, rendering him more open to Tatsuma's propositions than before.

"Sounds good. Let's make it 400 meters each time, run straight to the third training ground, then circle around it. How does that sound?"

"Okay," Minato agreed.

Tatsuma swiftly washed his hands and meticulously checked his footwear. Satisfied that everything was in order, he turned to Minato. Minato, equally prepared, stated, "Let's kick things off downstairs."

"Yeah!"

The two descended the stairs, stretched their limbs, and Minato retrieved a rusty Shuriken from his ninja tool pouch. Although Minato no longer utilized these rusty Shuriken, they served admirably as a signal.

With a flick of Minato's fingertip, the Shuriken was tossed lightly into the air. Both assumed their starting positions – Minato crouched down, hands positioned behind him, while Tatsuma squatted, hands on the ground, forming a bow-like shape with his body.

Ding~

As the Shuriken made contact with the solid ground, both of them shot forward like arrows released from a bow. Minato gained an initial lead, but this advantage was swiftly surpassed by Tatsuma, who adopted a more scientifically sound starting posture.

Tatsuma had previously suggested to Minato the benefits of mastering this running posture. However, Minato, in his view, found it unnecessary since the "Ninja run" wasn't without reason.

Ninja running is crafted for swift travel, creating distance, or closing in on enemies, not solely for racing. The hands-behind-the-back posture proves advantageous for accessing ninja tools in the tool pouch, a practical technique passed down through generations.

Tatsuma's running style, on the other hand, was designed for sheer speed. His body exhibited a more balanced structure, better equipped for reaching its maximum velocity, though it might lack the adaptability needed for sudden combat situations.

Minato, harboring ambitions of becoming a Ninja, had no intention of casually altering his running style merely to outpace Tatsuma in a race. He recognized the limited potential for improvement in this running style, considering it, at best, an embellishment.

However, Minato envisioned a future where the mastery of the Body Flicker Jutsu would render both running styles secondary choices, carrying limited significance in terms of learning and practical application.

For now, in their ongoing matchup, Tatsuma effortlessly clinched the first victory in the 400 meters.

Ding~ [Speed+1]

The path from Minato's house to the third training ground was so ingrained in both of them that even with closed eyes, navigation was second nature. Hence, with a mere exchange of glances, they initiated the second 400 meters race.

"Wow! I didn't expect to find someone embracing their youth so late at night! Mind if I join your youthful competition too?"

Amidst their run, a sudden voice chimed in. Tatsuma, focused on maintaining his breathing rhythm, cast a glance at the young ninja in a green-colored tight suit with thick eyebrows and a bowl-like haircut. He simply nodded and continued running, undistracted.

Ding~

Ding~

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