A full week of intense, unforgiving training swept through the village like a silent storm.
During these seven days, Tobirama Senju and Izuna Uchiha never once initiated a confrontation with Ishiki.
Instead, they adopted a much colder, calculated strategy, observed by day, trained by night.
Every morning, they appeared at the Naki River, their eyes sharp, analysing every twitch of Ishiki's movement, memorising his jutsu flow, studying the mechanics of his strange gadgets.
Every evening, they disappeared into the forests with their older brothers, undergoing brutal, secret sessions designed to push them to the brink.
By the end of the week, the fatigue was carved into their young faces.
Their steps were heavier, their eyes darker, and their cheeks slightly hollow from the relentless grind.
But in their gazes, Tobirama's icy determination and Izuna's fiery ambition, there was something new:
Resolve.
Seeing this transformation, Ishiki felt an unexpected surge of motivation himself.
If they were breaking their limits, then so would he.
After seven days of exhausting training, physical, mental, and spiritual, he pulled up his updated status.
— STATUS —
Name: Ishiki
Age: 12
Chakra: 90 / 90
Strength: 45
Elemental Affinity: None
Genjutsu: None
Jutsu Progress:
• Shadow Clone — Advanced
• Transformation — Advanced
• Body Replacement — Advanced
• Healing Release (Mystical Palm) — Entry
• Rasengan — Beginner
• Taijutsu — Advanced
< Gadgets: Reverse Cloak, Concentrated Food, Genius Helmet, Denkomaru, Doctor's Kit, Infinity Lasso, Instant Napping Pillow >
Everything had skyrocketed.
His strength—45, nearly double from before.
His chakra—90, a monstrous improvement for a boy with no bloodline.
His three Academy fundamentals were now all Advanced, just one step shy of mastery.
His Taijutsu was Advanced, his medical ninjutsu had finally taken root, and Rasengan, though clumsy and chakra-devouring, had reached Beginner level.
The secret behind his rapid improvement?A punishing upgrade to his Saitama training.
He now wears specially crafted weighted seals on his arms, legs, and torso.
Every step, every punch, every breath felt like struggling through invisible chains.Yet it was this constant pressure that carved new strength into his muscles every day.
And whenever he was on the verge of collapse, nearly fainting from mental overload,
Doctor's Kit.One scan. One pill. One wave of healing.
His chakra is restored. His mind reset. His body refreshed.
Even his sleep schedule had become radically optimised thanks to his newest gadget:
Instant Napping Pillow.
One touch and he fell asleep instantly.Just ten minutes could wipe out hours of exhaustion.
He often chuckled at the absurdity of it.A device meant for lazy naps was now a core pillar of his monstrous growth.
The result?
His strength and chakra recovery were improving faster than any natural human could ever achieve.
His ambitions for jutsu evolution became clearer now.
Shadow Clone → Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu
A technique that future Tobirama Senju himself would invent.Ishiki intended to get there first.
Body Replacement → Clone Body Replacement OR Hiraishin
The Flying Thunder God Technique… an unparalleled space-time jutsu.
But he was unsure if he had the chakra nature compatibility required.
If not, he would evolve toward the more achievable high-tier Clone Body Replacement Technique.
Transformation → Unknown
For now, he shelved it.He needed inspiration.
Healing Release was slowly becoming comfortable in his hands.
And Rasengan…Despite devouring half his chakra per attempt, he refused to give up. The technique's potential made him shiver with excitement.
This morning was different.
There would be no river practice, no jutsu refinement.
Today was the long-awaited compensation negotiation.
The Sarutobi clan, responsible for attacking the village and destroying property, was sending envoys.They would deliver an official apology and restitution.
The village chief had chosen Ishiki to attend the negotiation.
At the same time, Hashirama and Madara had commanded their younger brothers to serve as clan representatives.Tobirama and Izuna would be overseeing the proceedings to ensure fairness.
It was going to be interesting.
As Ishiki walked through the village, he was struck by the sight.
Every damaged home, every broken fence, every shattered wall, repaired.Children ran through the streets laughing.Women carried baskets of food.Elders sat in the sun, chatting peacefully.
Normalcy.
Peace.
The very thing he'd sworn to protect.
A deep sense of motivation anchored itself in his chest.He would not let this village suffer again, not from Sarutobi, not from Senju-Uchiha wars, not from anyone.
Reaching the village entrance, he paused.
Tobirama and Izuna were already there.
Their spines were straight.Their expressions were cold.Their eyes radiated mutual hatred.
For a moment, Ishiki wondered why. After all, they had been training together all week.
Then he saw them.
Standing directly behind each boy were two stern, intimidating Jōnin,One from the Senju.One from the Uchiha.
Ah.
They're acting.
Playing their roles as proud clan heirs.Pretending not to know each other well.Pretending not to train together at night.
A subtle smile curved at Ishiki's lips.
He schooled his own expression into something polite, respectful, diplomatic.
"Welcome, esteemed warriors of the Uchiha and Senju clans," Ishiki announced, voice steady, clear.
"We are honoured to have two of the strongest and most reputable clans in the land assist our humble settlement today."
Immediately, both Jōnin straightened their posture, pride swelling visibly in their chests.
Tobirama and Izuna, however,
What shameless flattery!They cursed internally, resisting the urge to roll their eyes.
Ishiki caught their expressions, and his smile deepened just a fraction, sharp and meaningful.
He turned to the two boys.
"And you two," he continued smoothly."You are the younger brothers of the great Hashirama-sama and Madara-sama. We are grateful for your presence today. Thank you for coming."
The two Jōnin nodded approvingly at Ishiki's respectful tone.
But Tobirama and Izuna stiffened.
Their eyes widened slightly.
They recognised that smile.
Ishiki was planning something.
Something that involved them.
Something they were not going to like.
They exchanged a brief, nervous glance.
He's plotting.He's definitely plotting something.