Chapter 042: The Special Training Begins, and the Encounter with the Two Watermelon Sisters

Naruto had no idea why that old man entrusted him with the legacy of the Uzumaki clan, especially when so many members of the clan were already gathered under the Ryuzo Association. It brought to mind the clichéd urban legends he’d heard from comrades in his previous life—those stories where protagonists always stumbled into peculiar fortunes, inexplicably gaining the trust of important figures and being handed the keys to another’s fate. The thought sent a chill creeping through Naruto’s heart.

Could it be? Am I really the protagonist of one of those corny novels?

Pushing away the unsettling thought, Naruto penned another letter, entrusting it to the Ryuzo Association’s spy for delivery to Fugaku and Orochimaru.

“Yamato-senpai, I’ll leave this in your hands.”

He handed over the letter with great solemnity to the man before him.

Kabuto Yakushi—a peculiar name.

Naruto could sense that this man’s strength was at least on par with Kakashi’s, yet he remained absurdly discreet. In Naruto’s experience, geniuses were often arrogant and proud—perhaps not always flamboyant, but rarely willing to risk their lives in the high-pressure, perilous work of espionage. Yet Kabuto seemed to relish his role as a spy, enduring its hardships with relish, his motives a mystery.

He didn't keep the two Uchiha waiting long. The first phase of Naruto’s training plan began: the foundational strengthening stage.

“Sasuke, Aki, starting today, you’ll undergo training unlike anything you’ve ever known.”

Naruto’s voice rang through the crisp morning air.

“Because you’ve chosen this path, chosen to learn from me how to master power, there’s something you must understand.”

“My expectations for you go far beyond becoming mere competent shinobi.”

“To fight by my side as comrades, you’ll need more than strength—you’ll need a spirit utterly different from that of a traditional ninja.”

Sasuke and Aki swallowed, nodding in unison. They had no idea what sort of training awaited them, only that Naruto would never submit them to anything as mundane as a regular shinobi regimen.

“First, physical conditioning,” Naruto directed, gesturing to the exoskeleton equipment beside him. “This isn’t the standard exercise you know from school. You’ll be wearing these.”

“These are specialized exoskeletons. Their function is not merely to provide extra weight.”

“Today is just the beginning. For now, you’ll wear them for a five-kilometer cross-country run.”

“In the days to come, I expect you to eat, sleep, and move about while wearing them—twenty-four hours a day.”

The exoskeletons looked nothing short of intimidating: thick, heavy, bristling with gears and pulleys.

Sasuke swallowed hard. Just looking at the contraption, he had a sinking feeling—something told him that training in this thing might just kill him.

But Aki didn’t hesitate for even a moment. She donned the exoskeleton in silence, her movements swift and resolute.

Seeing her determination, Sasuke gritted his teeth and forced himself to put on the equipment as well.

The moment the exoskeleton was strapped on, Sasuke felt its synchronization with his body. It not only greatly restricted his range of motion, but added a punishing burden to every action he took. Even breathing, or focusing his chakra through his meridians, became several times more difficult.

It was no exaggeration to say that even thinking, or trying to use his spiritual energy, became sluggish and taxing.

This was the first step of Naruto’s special training—not just a test of physical endurance, but of mental fortitude.

In his previous life, Naruto had seen many fall at this very hurdle, ultimately becoming ordinary, never strong. If Sasuke and Aki failed to pass, Naruto would not be disappointed or frustrated. He would simply, quietly, adjust his plans. After all, it was not he who was desperate for power, but these two Uchiha.

At Naruto’s signal, the two set off for their run. The heavy exoskeletons pressed down on them mercilessly, making it hard even to catch their breath.

Running was out of the question—they could hardly stand still and breathe.

Yet this only awakened a deeper persistence and willpower within each of them.

Especially Sasuke.

Whenever he felt himself about to give in, images of his parents and brother would rise before his eyes, and strength would be drawn from the marrow of his bones.

“Pay attention to your breathing! Focus!”

Naruto noticed their gasping, the way their rhythm had collapsed, and clapped his hands to guide them back to the proper pace.

“Especially you, Sasuke! Follow the exoskeleton’s cues and circulate your chakra! This is chakra control training, too!”

Under Naruto’s guidance, Sasuke began to learn how to use the exoskeleton’s resistance to modulate his chakra flow.

It was not just a matter of technique, but an exercise in inner calm and focus.

He had to be like a seasoned warrior—no matter how the world changed around him, his heart had to remain steady, unshaken.

Sasuke finally found a rhythm that worked for him—but in the next instant, chaos erupted.

“Youth!”

“Hard work!”

“Hot-blooded spirit!”

“Passion!”

“Burn bright!”

“Our willpower!”

“What’s our goal today, Lee?”

“To run two hundred laps around the village!”

“And if we can’t do it?!”

“One thousand five hundred push-ups!”

“Excellent! Let’s keep going! Youth!”

“Hard work!”

...

A tall man and a boy, both with bowl-cuts and massive eyebrows, jogged past the trio’s training ground, calling and responding with loud, enthusiastic shouts.

Their boisterous chants distracted Sasuke, throwing off his rhythm at once.

Naruto quickly stepped in, helping Sasuke regain his breathing pattern.

The little bowl-cut boy spotted the group and called out loudly, “Guy-sensei! That’s Sasuke and Naruto from the lower grades! They’re first and second in their class! And there’s a girl I don’t recognize!”

The older bowl-cut man’s gaze shifted over, taking in the two boys.

He noticed the heavy exoskeletons, the difficulty with which they breathed, and the sweat pouring down their faces. Instantly, he understood the purpose of the equipment.

His eyes sparkled with excitement.

He also noticed Naruto jogging alongside them, clapping to keep time, and immediately realized Naruto must be their coach.

“Young man!” he called out, stopping Naruto. “Are those weighted suits yours? Where did you have them made? Would you tell me? I’d like to order two sets!”

Naruto was so absorbed in watching their unconventional exercise that he forgot to answer at first.

He noticed that, even as they shouted, the two bowl-cut runners never stopped their high-knee strides, pushing themselves to the limit in a way that bordered on self-punishment. For most people, that kind of movement would have led to total muscular collapse after only a handful of reps.

Seeing Naruto’s hesitation, the older man raised a thumb, his teeth flashing like a flare.

“If it’s a question of money, don’t worry! I’m not a wealthy man, but I can certainly afford training equipment like this!”