4 Solitary Student Days
A month had swiftly passed, and nearly two months had elapsed since the commencement of the school year.
During this time, Hayashi appeared to be the most solitary figure in the class. He seemed even more isolated than Uzumaki Naruto.
Though the latter faced the disdain of the villagers, he still managed to partake in games with his peers. Yet, these moments of camaraderie were fleeting, offering only temporary relief from the harsh realities of his existence.
His presence was striking among his peers. He garnered attention from the opposite sex, surpassing even that of Uchiha Sasuke.
Initially, a group of girls surrounded him daily. Ino led them enthusiastically, leaving the male students envious and resentful.
This trend persisted from the outset of the school year.
However, his aloof demeanor and outright rejection gradually dampened the girls' fervor. Simultaneously, his increasingly imposing aura deterred them from approaching him.
Even after two months, Ino remained determined to engage him in conversation. She mustered the courage each day to approach him.
In truth, Hayashi had no desire to expand his circle of friends.
With his foresight into the plot's progression, he understood the future statuses of the Konoha Twelve.
The future Seventh Hokage, the upcoming Uchiha clan head, the prospective military adviser... Establishing rapport with them would undoubtedly be advantageous. However, he could not change his own nature. Perhaps someday, but not now.
However, Ino's initial overture shattered Hayashi's inclination.
"What a joke! How old am I, and you want me to play rope with you?" his retort marked the turning point. From then on, he steadfastly wore a cold facade. He rebuffed all attempts at social interaction, regardless of gender.
This decision brought a newfound tranquility to his life. Despite the lack of communication, he didn't feel uneasy. Having spent over a year as a recluse in his previous life, solitude had become second nature to him.
In the span of a month, the progress of unlocking Hawkeye's template had reached 1.92%. However, this incremental growth didn't significantly enhance Hayashi's swordsmanship. The scenes within the spiritual realm depicted Hawkeye's sword practice and contemplation rather than battles. The template provided no insight into Hawkeye's personal life. This left him pondering the reasons behind this omission.
Perhaps Hawkeye had already achieved invincibility on the island. He instilled fear in his peers, or simply found no amusement in tormenting the weaker.
Regardless, Hayashi realized that his next advancement might not be substantial. Hawkeye had reached a bottleneck period, a phase of maturation. Only upon venturing to the sea would his strength soar.
He remained unperturbed; he had time on his side. With the foundation of his swordsmanship already solidified at 1.92%, he understood that true mastery required patience and perseverance.
Encountering a bottleneck in fencing, he refused to waste time. Instead, he divided his sword practice time into two halves. He allocated one for physical conditioning.
While a swordsman pursuing mastery didn't require a monstrous physique, they still needed to be physically stronger than their peers.
His style of swordsmanship differed greatly from Zoro's beastly approach. He relied on a robust body to support his sword style.
With only one sword, he focused on exercising his arms and legs. He dedicated the other half to activities like leapfrogs, push-ups, and pull-ups. Additionally, he embarked on a two-hour run around Konoha every day.
For over two weeks, Hayashi adhered to a meticulously planned daily routine. He began with morning exercises and attended ninja school for theoretical knowledge and training. At noon, he completed daily tasks and practiced with his sword. Finally, in the evening, he went for a run. Afterward, he meditated and refined his chakra, all following a refreshing bath.
After two months of its activation, the system had provided him with Hawkeye's combat experience. This granted him insight into his adversaries' weaknesses, enhancing his strategic prowess on the battlefield.
Without boasting, Hayashi believed he could already outperform graduating seniors. He was confident in his abilities, particularly against those who lacked ninjutsu skills. His confidence stemmed from rigorous training and natural talent.
However, his proficiency was limited to basic swordsmanship. He couldn't fight stronger foes unless he attained an understanding of the Breath of All Things and crossed into the realm of a swordsman. His focus solely remained on swordsmanship, as he was still incapable of elemental ninjutsu. Even the 'Don't-Kill Fire Style' Great Fireball Technique could pose a grave threat with his current abilities.
Despite his accomplishments, Hayashi remained aware of the gulf between himself and prodigies like Hatake Kakashi and Uchiha Itachi.
Nonetheless, with his significant progress, he felt content. If he successfully grasped the Breath of All Things before graduation, he believed his achievements would rival theirs.
Because he understood the vast chasm between a swordsman who could perceive the Breath of All Things and one who could not, he recognized it as an unparalleled distinction.
In his own world, he found solace in the tranquility of his life undisturbed.
Seated at the rear of the classroom, he listened to the lesson. Absentmindedly, he peeled bark from a piece of wood with a kunai, collecting the shavings in a plastic bag beneath his desk.
Gradually, the large piece of wood transformed. It took on the shape of a crude wooden sword, its form emerging from the raw material.
Hayashi had decided to fashion himself a wooden sword.
The Ninja School curriculum encompassed theoretical studies in the morning and practical ninja training in the afternoon.
The training modules included taijutsu, shuriken throwing, Three Body Technique, Kunai Melee Combat, and more.
After two months of study, Hayashi had mastered the technique of shuriken throwing. He attained an upper-middle level of proficiency in the class, albeit falling short of Uchiha Sasuke's skill.
Thanks to his keen observational skills, his performance in Kunai Melee Combat was also commendable.
However, he harbored a preference for swords over kunai.
Yet, in a world where the era of the samurai had long passed, swords were not provided by the school. Moreover, real swords posed a danger, and Iruka would never condone their use in combat.
To mitigate the risk of harm, Hayashi opted to craft a wooden sword.
