"Sit quietly. Focus your eyes on your nose, and your nose on your heart. Eliminate all distracting thoughts. Do not think about youth or training. First, adjust your mental state properly. After that, we will discuss other training aspects."
Inside the training room, Ryun sat behind Guy, holding a ruler.
"Uncle, is it just about sitting still. Are there any other requirements." Faced with new training and challenges, Guy was visibly excited.
"Let's see you manage this first."
"From now on, you are not allowed to speak about topics unrelated to training. You are not allowed to make any unnecessary movements unrelated to training. Start by listening to your own breathing. Then, listen to the sound of your heartbeat. After that, listen to the sound of your blood flowing."
As soon as Ryun finished speaking, Guy immediately stuck out his thumb. But before his dazzling white teeth could be fully revealed, the ruler in Ryun's hand struck Guy's arm hard.
"Hisss. It hurts, it hurts, it hurts."
Slap.
The old pain had not yet subsided when Ryun struck his back hard with the ruler again.
"Did you forget what I just said. If you dare shout about pain or move recklessly again, I will beat you to death."
The cold voice from behind made Guy shudder involuntarily. The next moment, he gritted his teeth against the burning pain, and his breathing soon slowed down.
Three minutes passed. Guy remained completely motionless, seeming relatively quiet.
But when six minutes had passed, Guy began to feel itchy all over. His original concentration started to waver. He subconsciously turned his head to glance behind him.
Slap.
The ruler mercilessly struck his cheek. Guy's head was instantly snapped back into position, and the mark of the ruler immediately appeared on his face. This strike almost made him cry out.
"Hisss. Huh."
Guy knew he was losing focus again. So, he could only take several deep breaths and begin readjusting.
"Focus on feeling the process of the wound's pain from its onset until it disappears. This also counts as training for mental concentration," Ryun's voice sounded again.
"Mmm."
Ten minutes later, Guy felt the pain in his back had mostly faded. However, the original injured spots felt itchy and prickly. So, he subconsciously reached to scratch one.
Ryun ignored the first scratch. But after scratching the first spot, Guy started scratching another place. Seeing this, Ryun decisively swung the ruler.
Slap.
"Ah."
This time, the ruler struck his fingers directly. The immediate pain made him cry out.
But as his cry sounded, his back was struck hard again, making him gasp sharply from the pain.
Fortunately, Guy reacted quickly. Just as Ryun's third strike was about to land, he managed to react, hurriedly adjusted his sitting posture, and soon regained control of his breathing rhythm.
"Poor Guy brother."
Outside the training room door, Nanaise, using her Sage perception, knew what was happening inside. She couldn't help but feel sympathy for Guy's situation.
A few years ago, she had also been beaten quite often. That very ruler was originally used on her.
Ryun called this training 'Restraining the Heart and Binding Thoughts'.
It sounded like a very simple exercise. Just sit in place without moving recklessly. Ordinary people could do it easily. Yet, Guy couldn't even maintain it for fifteen minutes.
Ryun wasn't actually concerned about his sitting posture. Even if Guy's legs got sore and he lay on the ground, he wouldn't get beaten. What Ryun was hitting were his continuous small movements.
The entire morning, Guy spent it being beaten. It wasn't until Kushina came to call them for lunch that this difficult training session was forced to end.
"Why is it like this. Uncle's task sounds very simple. Why can't I ever do it correctly. The whole morning passed, and I still couldn't clearly hear the sound of my blood flowing."
At the dining table, Guy looked utterly dejected.
"Haven't you noticed the time between beatings is gradually increasing. Also, hasn't your urge to train your body diminished a bit." Ryun asked with a smile.
"Eh, now that you mention it, it seems so. It looks like I am making progress."
Before, when Guy tried to sit quietly alone, he could never calm his heart. He felt it was a waste of youth. So, he couldn't help but want to move.
Now, after a severe beating, he realized his situation was indeed somewhat problematic. 'Quiet' was truly a very difficult practice for him.
"Take it slowly. We'll continue this afternoon," Ryun said casually while eating.
"Ah. Again. Uncle, this training is really painful." Guy made a bitter face.
He could accept the beating. After all, Ryun showed restraint, and coupled with Guy's own strong physique as a physical training expert, his body had high resistance to blows.
What he truly resisted was the mental anguish. He was never the type to be quiet. Sage Art training was simply too difficult for him.
Some people are naturally unsuited for Sage training. Either their physique isn't suitable, or their temperament is too restless, or they cannot calm their minds. Guy undoubtedly belonged to the latter category. Even with his indomitable will, it was useless.
"Then let's do something else this afternoon. Try to persist with that training again tomorrow morning. If you really can't bear it. Then forget it."
Ryun sighed inwardly. He had always wanted to teach Sage Arts to this nephew. It was a pity Guy couldn't even pass the most basic first hurdle of Sage training.
"Uncle Ryun, what should I do this afternoon." Obito asked quietly at this point.
"This afternoon, let Aunt Kushina teach you how to climb trees. I need to go out with your teacher, Guy."
"Climb trees." Obito's eyes were full of confusion.
"Chakra control method. When Auntie teaches you this afternoon, you'll understand how to climb trees," Kushina explained proactively.
"Oh, oh."
Although Obito still didn't understand what the chakra control method was, he didn't dare ask more. He would find out when Aunt Kushina taught him this afternoon.
2 PM.
Using the Flying Thunder God Technique, Ryun took Guy to a certain town outside Otogakure.
This place looked like a red light district.
"Uncle, where is this. Why did you bring me to a place like this." Guy was shocked. He felt this wasn't a good place. The scent of women's perfume permeating the air made him very uncomfortable.
"Don't think nonsense. This place is not some filthy location." Ryun rolled his eyes at him.
"Didn't you say sitting all morning made your whole body uncomfortable. Uncle brought you here to loosen up your bones. This shop is run by a medical practitioner. Their techniques are very professional."
Ryun led Guy straight into a shop.
"Loosen bones. Uncle, what kind of place is this really." Guy couldn't help but ask again.
"Wasn't it written on the sign outside just now."
Guy's eyes widened, and he blurted out, "Massage."
Shortly after, clear, pleasant cracking sounds of bones, along with Guy's strange screams, came from inside the massage parlor.
"Your body's flexibility is somewhat poor. With your condition, of course you can't teach that Hyuga disciple properly. The human body cannot remain in a state of high tension for long periods. Occasionally getting a massage to relax the bones and muscles is very beneficial."
"Madam, please feel free to use all your skills. My nephew here can take it. Don't let his lean build fool you, he is a ninja. He has chakra protecting his body, he won't have any problems." Ryun earnestly instructed the robust female technician in the shop.
"Okay, sir."
The next moment, the dull sounds of bones and Guy's strange screams rang out again. Seeing this, Ryun nodded with satisfaction.
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