The days blended into a relentless cycle, a self-imposed hell Ishiki embraced with unwavering determination.
Morning after morning, before the sun even crept over the horizon, Ishiki rose from bed, muscles aching, bones humming with fatigue, but resolve burning bright in his chest.
He would stumble his way to the Naka River, where the quiet morning mist wrapped around him like a cold blanket. There, he drank a dose of Concentrated Food, its bitter taste offset by the instant, electrifying surge of vitality flooding his veins.
Then came the pain.
The Saitama Training,100 push-ups100 sit-ups100 squats10-kilometer run
Every single day.
Over and over.
The first few days had nearly broken him. His vision blurred, his limbs shook, and more than once he collapsed face-first into the dirt. But little by little, what once felt like torture transformed into rhythm.
After finishing the morning hell, he drank the Concentrated Food again, its effects mending torn muscles and restoring stamina just enough to keep him standing.
By late morning, the legendary duo would arrive at the riverbank:Hashirama Senju, all warmth, heart, and boundless encouragement.Madara Uchiha, sharp, intense, brutally honest, and equally relentless.
They shared food, usually fish Hashirama or Madara had caught, before beginning the second phase of training.
Hashirama's sessions focused on chakra refinement, learning how to mould, guide, and stabilise chakra flow. His teaching was patient, steady, and filled with gentle corrections.
Madara's training was the opposite,A storm of fists, kicks, speed, and precision.His sparring pushed Ishiki's instincts, reaction speed, and combat awareness to their absolute limits.
Each day, Ishiki left training bruised, battered, gasping for breath… and smiling.
Because every night, before collapsing into bed, he would open his STATUS screen.
And tonight, after weeks of unimaginable effort, he finally saw what he had been waiting for.
STATUS
Name: Ishiki
Age: 12
Chakra: 44 / 44
Strength: 22
Ishiki stared at the numbers, eyes shining.
His chakra reserves had nearly doubled.His physical strength had surged.
He clenched his fists, a proud smile tugging at his lips.
I'm really getting stronger.
The "Gadgets" panel remained unchanged, no new unlocks, but not even that bothered him anymore.
Because today wasn't about gadgets.
Today was about something much bigger.
Today, he would finally discover his chakra nature affinity.
Today, he would officially begin the path of ninjutsu.
Excitement became rocket fuel.
Ishiki practically sprinted to the training grounds, skidding into the clearing with a childish burst of energy.
"I'm ready!" he shouted breathlessly.
Hashirama chuckled. Madara arched a brow.
Madara reached into his sleeve, pulling out a small white slip of paper.
"Chakra nature paper," he said. "Pour your chakra into it. It'll show your element."
Ishiki took the paper with trembling fingers.
His heart hammered.
Wind?Fire?Water?Earth?Lightning?
Anything would be fine, anything.
He pushed his chakra into the paper…
…
…
Nothing happened.
The paper remained flat. Unchanged. Blank.
His breath hitched.
He stared, unable to make sense of the still, lifeless slip in his hand.
Hashirama's warm expression collapsed into sympathetic shock.Madara hardened into something like disappointment.
Madara plucked the paper from Ishiki's fingers and poured his own chakra into it.
The reaction was instant, violent.
CRUMPLE. SOAK. SPLIT. BURN. TURN TO DIRT.
Every elemental transformation happened at once, the slip disintegrating into dust.
He exhaled sharply and looked at Ishiki.
"You have… no elemental affinity."
The words pierced Ishiki like a kunai.
No chakra nature.No elemental ninjutsu.No fireballs.No water dragons.No lightning strikes.No grand jutsu of legend.
A door in the ninja world had just slammed shut in his face.
His throat tightened.His vision blurred for a moment.
So all my effort… and I still can't become like them?
He stood frozen, small and lost, feeling the weight of inadequacy crash over him like a suffocating wave.
Hashirama, seeing the despair in his eyes, stepped forward and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder.
"Ishiki… listen."His voice was soft but steady."There are many ways to become strong without elemental jutsu. This isn't the end."
Madara nodded, serious for once.
"Hashirama is right. Elemental affinity is just one path. Taijutsu is another. Your physical strength is already excellent. Focus on what you do have."
Ishiki lifted his head.
Their expressions weren't mocking.They weren't pitying.They were genuine.
Hope flickered back to life.
Slowly, he nodded, resolve returning to his eyes.
"So I can't use elemental jutsu?" he asked quietly.
Madara shrugged. "Not naturally. But ninjas are more than their elements."
Hashirama smiled brightly. "And I will teach you everything else!"
Ishiki's heart steadied.
If one door is closed… I'll break open another.
He straightened, shoulders firm.
He wasn't done.He wasn't broken.He wasn't giving up.
Not now.Not ever.