Chapter 149 - Kazane's Training Mini-Class (2)
At that moment, Kazane narrowed his eyes slightly, the corners of his lips curled into a sly smile as he approached Itachi. Mimicking Itachi's earlier stammer, he said, "Th-the... the stone's in two pieces now! So? Wanna learn?"
Itachi snapped out of his daze and immediately grabbed Kazane's hand, exclaiming, "Kazane-senpai, please! You must teach me!"
At that instant, all thoughts of clan techniques—Fire Release, shuriken throwing arts—vanished from Itachi's mind. All that remained was the image of Jiriku smashing a boulder with his fist, and Kazane effortlessly slicing another in half with a single casual strike.
That's what a man should be!
Forget hiding behind jutsu. Forget tricks. Real power was flesh against flesh, like Kazane and Jiriku—every punch and kick wielding power to rival high-tier ninjutsu.
Kazane couldn't help but find the kid amusing. Just moments ago, Itachi was calling him "you, you, you," but now that he'd shown some true skill, suddenly it was all "Kazane-senpai" with the utmost respect.
Still, Kazane wasn't sure whether a kid from a noble clan like Itachi could endure the kind of brutal training Jiriku went through.
But if Itachi couldn't even endure this, then he was destined to go no further than an average Kage-level shinobi. No more, no less.
With that in mind, Kazane decided to stop teasing him.
"See those wooden stakes wrapped in paper?"
Itachi had noticed them from the start. Unlike normal training posts, each was wrapped tightly in thick, rough paper. At the center of each was a cross-shaped target. He'd assumed they were for practicing shuriken throws, especially given how good he was at it.
Now that Kazane mentioned them, he nodded.
"I see them, Kazane-senpai, but I don't want to practice shuriken anymore. I want to train in taijutsu like the monk-uncle!"
Uncle...?
Kazane glanced at Jiriku in confusion—then it clicked. Jiriku's rugged appearance really did make him look like a guy in his thirties.
WHAM!
An annoyed Jiriku immediately punched Itachi on the head. A pink bump rose on Itachi's forehead like a little horn.
Before Itachi could cry out, Jiriku grabbed him by the collar and hoisted him into the air, red-faced with fury.
"You're the uncle, brat! Look closely! I'm only sixteen!"
The moment Jiriku shouted that, everyone froze. Even Might Guy, who trained with him daily, stared in disbelief.
Just based on appearances, anyone would believe Jiriku was a grown man—possibly even Guy's elder brother. Sixteen? Seriously?
"All right, Monk. You and Guy wait a bit. I need to set up Itachi's training."
Kazane glanced at the sun overhead—it was already noon. Not a single punch thrown yet. He wasn't about to waste the rest of the day baking under the sun.
Jiriku gave Itachi one last glare before reluctantly letting go and walking over to stand beside Might Guy.
Kazane led Itachi to one of the wooden stakes and pointed to the center of the cross.
"See that target?"
Itachi nodded.
"Each stake is wrapped in exactly one thousand sheets of paper. Your job is to punch through all of them—one punch at a time."
"What? With my fists? How could you possibly break through that many sheets of paper with your hands?"
Itachi couldn't believe it. This had to be a prank. Sure, paper was soft, not like stone—but this was a thousand sheets! Even if he broke the wooden stake behind it, he doubted he'd pierce through all the paper.
"That's right. You're going to punch through them. Let me show you."
Kazane nodded confidently and stood in front of the target.
He took a small step back with his right foot, forming a half bow stance. Then, with a light movement, he placed his right fist gently against the paper.
With a subtle twist of his wrist, the paper tore.
One sheet down.
Kazane withdrew his fist and turned to Itachi. "Got it? Your goal today is to punch through all the paper on this post."
Though Itachi didn't fully understand the purpose, he trusted Kazane. If this was the training Kazane chose for him, it had to be for a reason.
So Itachi nodded and stepped up to the post, beginning his training with a determined punch.
Kazane watched him work with a meaningful smile.
The truth was—this kind of training was easy at first. But the deeper your punches went, the harder it got. Because the force needed to tear paper wasn't linear—the spiral pressure created by twisting punches had to expand an ever-growing hole as the layers increased.
It wasn't just about physical strength—it was a test of patience, endurance, and control.
And if Itachi couldn't even get through this... then Kazane would switch methods. First break his will, then build it back up.
---
Kazane returned to Jiriku and Guy.
"See all those rocks on the ground?"
The two looked around.
"Your mission today is to carve them—into statues of yourselves."
Before Guy could respond, Jiriku blurted, "What?! Boss, come on! I'm not a sculptor! I can't sell this stuff! What's the point?!"
WHAM! WHAM! WHAM!
Kazane responded with three "love taps" straight to Jiriku's head, all in the same spot—leaving behind a perfectly layered bun-shaped bump.
Grabbing Jiriku by the collar, Kazane scolded, "Monk, you've learned to question my orders now?"
His sharp glare then swept toward Might Guy.
Feeling the pressure, Guy immediately picked up a carving knife and began sculpting without protest.
Only then did he realize why Jiriku's earlier scolding of Itachi felt so familiar...
Because it was a perfect replay of Kazane disciplining Jiriku.