Kairen once again broke his limits, running over eighty laps. His muscles were torn from the overload, his entire body burning like fire, his head dizzy and heavy.
With a sharp "snap," Kairen collapsed to the ground, unmoving.
"Kairen, get up!"
Artoria pressed her silver boot against his face, but Kairen didn't move. His consciousness had already faded.
The Scholar nodded. "That's about enough. Executioners, step forward!"
The two Executioners approached with their axes and, with a single swing, sent Kairen on his way.
After his resurrection, Kairen stood up full of vigor, throwing his arms around three nearby female shadow clones.
"See that? That's what a real man looks like!"
Artoria kicked Kairen aside, snatched the training schedule from the Scholar, and said coldly,
"Next stage—strength training, starting now!"
Her sharp eyes swept across the group of clones watching the scene, radiating a queen's commanding dominance.
The shadow clones all shivered inwardly. What kind of clone was this? Since when did she carry such an intimidating aura?
Artoria pointed her finger at a few shadow clones.
"You, you, you—and you! Get over here and turn into barbells."
Cannon and Thief were both singled out—one the Grand Steward, the other the Chancellor.
But under that oppressive presence, both obediently dropped down and transformed into two-ton barbells.
Artoria pointed at Kairen again. "Hurry up. Don't dawdle."
Kairen sighed helplessly, taking off his shirt and revealing his solid torso. He stepped forward obediently, though inwardly he grumbled.
This wasn't about "synthesizing a little padded jacket." It was like dealing with an ancestor!
Still, somewhere deep inside, Kairen felt a strange thrill. It seemed he had awakened some kind of masochistic trait.
No—he'd probably always had it. Death and pain excited him in ways he couldn't explain.
With that thought, Kairen continued his training. This time, he didn't rely on brute force but instead used his real physical energy.
"Ha!"
Kairen took a deep breath, his muscles swelling. Both hands lifted the two-ton barbell. His body had already surpassed that of ordinary humans—he was a true powerhouse now.
The Senju Clan Sage Body had advanced to intermediate level; his cells had multiplied, and the density of his muscles and bones was beyond human comparison.
"Add more!"
Seeing this, Artoria ordered several shadow clones to merge with the barbell, steadily increasing the weight.
Three tons! Four tons! Five tons!
Weightlifting was different from weighted running—it tested not only strength but also endurance, while running tested willpower and overall physical conditioning.
Kairen began to struggle. The lactic acid built up in his arms, and he slowly lowered the barbell.
Artoria summoned a whip out of nowhere and cracked it across his back.
"Your form's wrong. Lift it again."
Kairen straightened his posture and slowly raised the barbell once more.
As seconds passed, his body stiffened, sweat beading on his forehead. He exhaled twice, his breath faltering, and the weight began to drop again.
"Crack, crack!"
Two more lashes landed on his back. Artoria's cold voice rang out.
"Faster. Don't tell me you can't lift it."
"How could I not? My Cannon has already taken down ten men. I'm no longer the self-reliant man I was in my past life!"
I, Moku Kairen, must rise again!
Drawing in a deep breath, Kairen lifted the weight once more.
Mai Sakurajima and Zero Two came up beside him, each holding one of his arms, cheering him on.
"Come on, Kairen (darling), you can do it! You're the best!"
"Crack!"
Another whip lashed across his back, followed by that stern voice again.
"Your form's off. Adjust it!"
Kairen gritted his teeth and raised the barbell once more, muttering inwardly—damn, this really was the definition of heaven and hell combined.
After ten minutes, Kairen lay shirtless on the ground, his back covered in welts.
Mai Sakurajima and Zero Two gently ran their hands over his injuries, occasionally whispering encouragement.
"Kairen (darling), you did great. The weighted training is complete."
Artoria's whip came down again, and Kairen trembled, his face filled with unrestrained excitement.
Dr. Snake rubbed his chin as he watched.
"The main body's already gone perverted. But that's to be expected—multiple personality splits, endless deaths. If he's not insane by now, he's a complete idiot."
"Get up. Next stage—flexibility training!"
Kairen waved his hand, and the two Executioners stepped forward again, chopping off his head with a swing.
After another perfect resurrection, Kairen stood with hands on his hips and looked at Artoria, smiling.
"My Queen, please discipline me even more!"
"Gladly!"
Artoria's whip lashed down repeatedly as she commanded, "Bend over. Stretch those ligaments!"
Soon, two shadow clones patrolling nearby with Byakugan activated walked over, frowning as they saw the main body being pulled by several clones—each stretching his legs hard, pulling his ligaments to the limit.
Just watching it hurt. Thankfully, the main body's pain didn't transfer to the clones.
One of the shadow clones held up a white snake.
"Boss, we found this in the corner. It's got chakra inside—must be one of Orochimaru's surveillance snakes."
Kairen's limbs were bound, being stretched painfully. He glanced at the snake in the clone's hand and snorted.
"That damn Orochimaru—he's definitely drooling over my body. Roast that snake, sprinkle some chili powder, and serve it up!"
"Got it, boss!"
The clones got busy, and within moments, the roasted snake meat was ready, dusted with chili powder.
Mai Sakurajima and Zero Two took the plate. Mai gently fed Kairen a piece, while Zero Two licked her lips and fed him another.
Another whip cracked across Kairen's back.
"Eat faster. Training continues after you finish."
"Got it!" Kairen swallowed the snake meat, reflecting on his own degeneracy.
Artoria lashed his back again, even stepping on his face with her boot, yet Kairen only felt a growing thrill.
What could possibly save me now?
Kairen looked up and suggested, "When you step on me next time, could you take off your boots and use stockings instead?"
"You disgusting hentai!"
...
Elsewhere, in Orochimaru's laboratory.
The monitoring snake placed in the Senju residence transmitted images of being roasted and dipped in chili powder. Orochimaru's furious voice echoed through the lab.
"That damn brat—I won't forgive you!"
...
The Scholar turned to see Kairen training diligently, then looked over at the idle shadow clones chatting idly in small groups.
He immediately said, "Hey, main body, you haven't finished recording all the forms of the Hundred Transformations yet, right? Send the clones out to the village to gather the rest!"
Kairen nodded. "Go ahead, but behave yourselves. Don't scare anyone."
"Yay—awesome!"
With Kairen's permission, the clones cheered like prisoners set free from a labor camp, leaping over the Senju compound wall and vanishing in an instant.