Chapter 148 - Kazane's Training Mini-Class
From behind, Uchiha Fugaku quietly observed Jiriku's physique—muscles carved like forged steel—and couldn't help but marvel at Kazane's training methods.
The last time he saw Jiriku, the boy had been a scrawny monk. In just a single year, such a dramatic transformation… The sheer intensity of training that must've occurred was unimaginable.
Maybe entrusting Itachi to Kazane really would bring a surprise.
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Konohagakure – Forest behind the mountain
Kazane led Jiriku, Might Guy, and the still-slightly-shaking Uchiha Itachi to an open training area in the forest.
The clearing was already set up with massive boulders and wooden stakes wrapped in layers of paper.
Kazane had instructed ANBU to prepare the area in advance before he visited the Uchiha clan.
Standing next to a boulder over three meters tall, Kazane waved Jiriku over and pointed at the giant rock.
"Monk, break it."
Jiriku, already used to following orders, stepped forward without hesitation. He dropped into a horse stance, raised his massive, boulder-sized fist, and aimed it at the rock.
Itachi, watching from the side, couldn't help but chuckle inwardly. It looked like Jiriku was trying to break a stone with bare fists—completely unassisted by chakra or ninjutsu.
Is he seriously going to try that? Even Orochimaru-sensei wouldn't be able to smash that boulder barehanded. Does this monk think his fists are harder than stone?
But just as he was mentally mocking the attempt—
BOOM!
Shards of rock flew past Itachi's face, one sharp fragment even slicing his cheek. That sharp sting, combined with the thunderous sound, instantly shattered everything Itachi thought he knew about the human body.
Jiriku's massive fist had collided with the rock, and instead of his hand shattering, the boulder was the one that exploded into rubble—split into jagged chunks in a single blow.
At that moment, Itachi realized that he had been the frog in the well.
But then Kazane suddenly turned to Jiriku and taunted, "That's it? That's all your strength?"
Itachi, already stunned by Jiriku's display, found the insult excessive.
The Uchiha clan honored strength above all else. No matter what someone looked like—if they were strong, they deserved respect.
Just as he was about to speak up in Jiriku's defense, Kazane pointed to his own chest and said, "Monk, hit me here. Use all your strength."
Jiriku didn't hesitate. Trusting in Kazane's strength, he planted his feet firmly and launched a full-powered punch at Kazane's chest.
Might Guy remained calm, observing from the side. He had seen Kazane pull off countless miracles—this was nothing new.
But Itachi, still unfamiliar with Kazane's true strength, looked on nervously. He was still shaken from Jiriku's previous punch and worried Kazane was underestimating the monk.
Itachi opened his mouth to shout, "St—"
But it was too late.
Jiriku's punch had already connected—with Kazane's hand.
That's right—at the last moment, Kazane raised his hand and caught the punch with an open palm.
He'd remembered the limited-edition kimono he was wearing and didn't want it ruined.
Jiriku's full-force punch, backed by his powerful, muscular frame, struck Kazane's hand squarely.
And yet… Kazane didn't flinch. Not a step back. Not a single finger curled from the force.
It was as if nothing had happened—like Jiriku's punch had landed on a wall of air.
Itachi's mind froze. What… are these monsters?
Kazane frowned slightly and looked at Jiriku with mild disappointment. "That's your full power? Even my grandma hits harder."
Though Kazane was genuinely impressed by how far Jiriku had come in a year, he also noted a critical flaw—the force of the punch was too dispersed.
In theory, Jiriku's body should allow him to punch with 100 pounds of force.
But what Kazane felt in his palm? Maybe 15 to 20 pounds at most.
The issue wasn't strength—it was control. Jiriku lacked the ability to properly channel his power. All that hard-earned muscle was going to waste.
Kazane lowered his hand and turned to address Itachi and Guy.
"Watch closely. That's not how you use power. This… is how you use power."
He raised his hand vertically, forming a hand-chop shape, and casually struck a nearby boulder about five or six meters tall.
Then, lifting his hand again, he began to explain:
"Don't just look like you're using strength. The horse stance isn't for show—it helps channel your core."
"Before you strike, focus your power. Concentrate it all into a single point."
"For the next month, your goal is to learn how to strike with focused force."
"Take Jiriku's punch just now. It looked scary, sure, but by the time it hit me, not even a third of his power was there."
Whhhhhh—
As Kazane continued lecturing, the boulder behind him split cleanly in two—right from where he'd casually chopped it.
CRASH!
The upper half of the stone crumbled and fell to the ground with a thunderous crash.
What shocked Itachi the most was that, through his Sharingan, he could see the cut surface of the rock—it was mirror-smooth, as if carved by a precision blade.
"Th-th-that rock…!"
Itachi stammered, still pointing at the stone, too stunned to form a full sentence.