Chapter 36: Three Years

"Zhi Cun Tuan Zang, what are you doing?"

Lian Ye shouted at Tuan Cang, who was lying on the ground:

"Stand up, get up right now!"

"I can't... I can't any more..."

Tuan Cang lay on the ground, exhausted like a dead dog.

He could no longer tell which round it was, only remembering that since the training began, his legs had never stopped running.

This training was several times stricter than what he was used to.

Yuanfei Rizhan and the others also felt terrible, their legs as if filled with lead, barely able to move.

They looked at Lian Ye in shock; although he was drenched in sweat, his voice was full of vigor, clearly still having reserves.

Is this Lord Feijian's training method?

No wonder Lian Ye's strength is so great...

"You useless one, get up, everyone is waiting for you. You don't want to hold back the whole team because of you alone, do you?" Lian Ye said coldly.

Tuan Cang, hearing that, clenched his teeth, forced his body, and struggled to pull himself up from the ground.

"I... I understand..."

"Just ten more rounds, everyone hold on," Lian Ye encouraged.

By now, the others' stamina had long been exhausted; they could only rely on willpower to push through the training.

Such Physical Training that pushes beyond bodily limits often better awakens the body's potential.

Of course, this limit must have a threshold.

If that threshold is exceeded, it not only fails to stimulate potential but also causes irreversible damage to the body.

Especially for these children whose bodies are still growing.

Qianshou Feijian watched from the side because he was worried they might overtrain on their own.

The running ended.

Lian Ye sat on the ground, watching the several people sprawled and panting, and couldn't help recalling that his first training had been the same.

At that time he was only seven, his body still developing; the training plan set by Qianshou Feijian wasn't overly harsh, but it was enough to make him drink a pot.

A year later, Lian Ye's training volume had already doubled.

That is also why Yuanfei Rizhan and the others were exhausted like dogs...

Zhi Cun Tuan Zang stared at the deep blue sky, his mind a blank; he was so exhausted he could no longer think.

All he could hear was the rapid thumping of his heart.

The others were the same; among them, Yuanfei Rizhan was slightly better off, but not by much.

He turned his head toward Lian Ye, sitting on the ground with a pale face, and wondered, "How did an eight-year-old Lian Ye manage to complete the teacher's training?"

He knew he was two years older than him.

He couldn't imagine how terrifying Lian Ye's strength would become in another two years.

He feared that by then, he wouldn't be his opponent.

"We must train hard and strive not to be surpassed by Lian Ye!" Yuanfei Rizhan clenched his fists, his eyes full of the desire to become stronger.

He was a prodigy of the Sarutobi Clan, so naturally he didn't want others to surpass him.

At that moment, Qianshou Feijian came before the group.

Ignoring their fatigue, the several of them hurriedly got up from the ground and stood properly.

Qianshou Feijian gave a slight nod and praised, "Not bad, you all persisted."

He saw the perseverance of these children; no wonder they were the disciples he personally selected!

He believed that with his personal guidance, they would become excellent ninja who love the Village and devote their lives to it.

Perhaps the future Hokage Successor could be chosen from among them.

"From today onward, I will personally guide you to become stronger!" Qianshou Feijian said.

Hearing Qianshou Feijian's words, the several present breathed rapidly, their faces full of reverence.

"Teacher, we will train hard!"

Lian Ye looked at the expressions on their faces, his mouth twitching.

Did they forget the suffering from the training so quickly?

They had just moments ago looked on the brink of death, and now they were full of vigor.

He was somewhat looking forward to the expressions on their faces during the upcoming training.

Qianshou Feijian, watching their excited looks, said slowly, "Physical Training is the foundation of a ninja; we will continue Physical Training from now on."

At his words, the expressions on their faces froze.

What? More?

Didn't we just finish running?

Why do we have to run again!

Lian Ye looked at their expressions, a smile curling his mouth, "You really think getting stronger is that easy?"

Tuan Cang, hearing that, said coldly, "Hmph, it's just running. I can endure it!"

Lian Ye, with a strange look, asked, "Who said it was running?"

Tuan Cang, looking bewildered, asked, "If it's not running, then what is it?"

Lian Ye smiled and, in one breath, listed more than ten training methods: "Of course it's push‑ups, squats, rock climbing..."

Tuan Cang: "..."

The morning training session ended.

Several of them were already collapsed on the ground, unable to get up even if they tried to crawl.

Today's training made them realize just how terrifying Lord Feijian's training plan was—almost every single item was squeezing the potential out of their bodies.

This made them begin to doubt life itself: could they really persevere through the training from now on?

In the end, the five of them helped each other up and left.

Qianshou Feijian said, "Kid, what do you think of them?"

Lian Ye's heart stirred—this old fox was starting to probe him again.

He looked in the direction the others had left and said, "They have perseverance and are willing to work hard. Their future is limitless."

Qianshou Feijian stared at Lian Ye's profile and then asked, "Do you think they love the Village?"

"Of course, they definitely love the Village." Lian Ye didn't hesitate at all.

"And what about you?" Qianshou Feijian suddenly asked.

"I love the Village too, of course." Lian Ye smiled.

"Would you be willing to give your life for the Village's development?"

Lian Ye didn't answer immediately. He thought for a long time: "Maybe..."

Loving the Village and giving your life for it were two different things.

Compared to the Village's safety, he still cared more about his own safety.

Qianshou Feijian didn't ask further. He nodded thoughtfully.

He had long noticed that this kid Lian Ye had no sense of identity or belonging toward the Village.

If this happened to someone else, it might be fine—but happening to an Uchiha was somewhat dangerous...

Over the years, he had done his best to instill in Lian Ye the concept of loving the Village, but it hadn't had much effect.

Still, there was plenty of time ahead, and he believed he could slowly change Lian Ye's mindset.

"Kid, go home and eat."

"What does Uncle feel like eating today?"

————————

Three years passed in the blink of an eye, and it came to the ninth year since Konoha's founding.

That year, Lian Ye turned ten, and his height had also reached one meter fifty.

Lian Ye was very satisfied with his height—he was no longer the little short-legs he used to be.

Well, his legs weren't that long now either...

Over three years, Lian Ye's strength had advanced rapidly, subtly showing a trend of surpassing Yuanfei Rizhan.

He felt it might be because his body was starting to develop—his physical fitness and chakra volume were both growing quickly.

Yuanfei Rizhan, afraid of being surpassed by Lian Ye, trained like crazy.

Zhi Cun Tuan Zang, seeing his good buddy working so hard, refused to fall behind.

The others were the same, constantly caught up in this cycle of internal competition.

With Qianshou Feijian's guidance and their own hard training, the teaching model of the Ninja School was no longer suitable for them.

At their request, Qianshou Feijian agreed to let them graduate early.

Though it was called early graduation, compared to ordinary students, it was only one year ahead.