On the weekend, Tōma finished his preparations and headed straight for the training grounds.
For once, he didn't leave a Shadow Clone behind to study. There was a reason for that.
Two days ago, his body had finally recovered completely. It had taken more than a month. Pushing his limits at this age was clearly still risky. Even knowing that, Tōma had no intention of stopping. His plan demanded breakthroughs, not comfort. But this time, he needed everything aligned. No wasted chakra. No distractions.
As expected, Rock Lee was already there.
Any day off, Lee's presence at the training fields was almost guaranteed. But today, something felt off. Lee merely greeted him and didn't suggest sparring.
That was strange.
Usually, once Lee tasted fighting Tōma, he became obsessed. As long as Tōma showed up, Lee would challenge him without fail. Their matches were fairly even. When Tōma still had chakra and could use the basic replacement techniques, he held the advantage. Once his chakra ran dry, Lee's win rate skyrocketed.
Tōma glanced at Lee's subdued expression and noted it quietly. Something had clearly happened. Still, without knowing the reason, he didn't push. Right now, his own training came first.
Today's routine was brutal.
The volume and intensity far exceeded his usual regimen. Sweat poured down his body, salt stinging his skin as his muscles screamed in protest. Step by step, he drove himself forward.
Then it happened.
That familiar invisible barrier loosened.
Tōma ground his teeth and pushed again, breaking through the limit once more.
Even then, he didn't stop immediately. He completed his cooldown stretches through sheer will before staggering to his usual resting spot. Sitting cross-legged, he let his body slump.
This breakthrough had been harder than the last. Why, he didn't know. He didn't have the clarity to think about it either. His mind was exhausted, pushed to its edge.
Tōma took a deep breath and closed his eyes, resisting the urge to fall asleep.
Regular training wasn't enough to reach stillness. That was clear now. So he broke through his limits first, then tried again. If this failed, he'd have to wait another month.
He kept his mindset steady.
Even if it didn't work, that was fine. Sage Mode wasn't something you stumbled into. He believed he would succeed. This time, or the next. Or the one after that.
One way or another, he was learning Sage Mode.
With that resolve, his body slowly settled. The crushing fatigue drowned out the crawling sensation under his skin. Then even the fatigue faded.
For the first time, his body became completely still.
And then, something rarer happened.
That restless consciousness of his, active since birth, finally quieted. Mind and body aligned, if only for a moment.
In that fleeting instant, it felt like he glimpsed the scenery from a mountain peak.
Then it was gone.
Tōma opened his eyes slowly, surprise flashing through them.
He'd done it.
It was brief. Incomplete. But undeniable.
Once was enough. If he could enter that state once, there would be a second time. And eventually, the conditions would loosen. He wouldn't need to shatter his limits every time just to reach it.
Small goal, he thought. Before I ever get a contract scroll from one of the Three Great Sage Lands, I'll enter that state without special preparation.
Still, he frowned slightly.
He hadn't sensed anything unusual. No external energy. No natural power. Just emptiness. His perception, however, had skyrocketed to a frightening degree.
Sage Mode techniques definitely wouldn't be recorded in the general library. That was expected. The next step likely required special catalysts, like toad oil or something similar.
At the very least, he could try sensing natural energy next. Absorption was out of the question, but perception alone would already be major progress.
One step at a time.
Tōma exhaled sharply, then smiled despite himself. Today's gains were far beyond expectations.
He stood up slowly and scanned the area.
Lee was gone.
Not just gone from sparring. He had left entirely. For someone like Lee, skipping training was serious.
Tōma's brows knitted together. He felt genuine concern. After training together for so long, he'd grown fond of the endlessly hardworking kid.
But before dealing with that, there was something else.
Tōma turned toward a large tree.
"…Are you planning to keep hiding?"
"Hahaha! To notice me that quickly," a man's voice laughed, "you really are impressive, kid!"
A man in a green flak jacket stepped out from behind the tree.
Tōma relaxed instantly.
He'd suspected, but seeing him confirmed it.
Might Guy.
"Hello," Tōma said politely. "May I ask why you were watching?"
Guy studied him with open admiration. He'd been observing the training ground for days now, mostly because of Lee. But Tōma hadn't escaped his notice either. Normally, Tōma trained with control and restraint.
Today, though, he'd crossed a line.
That was dangerous.
"Training must be done in moderation," Guy said seriously, despite the fiery smile. "Youth has no limits, yes, but you're still growing. That level of strain can permanently damage your body."
Tōma understood immediately.
So that was it.
"I'm aware," he replied calmly. "You've likely been observing for a while. Normally, my training stays within safe limits. Today was a special case. Tomorrow, I'll return to my usual schedule."
"I see," Guy nodded, relieved. "As long as it's not constant."
He clapped Tōma on the shoulder enthusiastically.
"Keep burning your youth! I've got high hopes for you!"
Tōma's smile twitched.
Those two pats nearly sent him to his knees. Exhausted or not, Guy's strength was no joke. Tōma simply nodded.
"I will."
Guy flashed a thumbs-up, teeth gleaming, and dashed off.
Tōma watched his back disappear and smiled faintly.
Getting noticed by Might Guy wasn't a bad thing. Guy was the greatest taijutsu specialist in the village. When it came to physical training, his judgment was unmatched.
As Tōma's body continued to grow, adjusting training load safely would only get harder. Having Guy's guidance in the future could prevent some very costly mistakes.
Now, though…
What exactly had happened to Rock Lee?