Since Sakumo's suggestion to switch to solo missions during the Black Course, injuries beca far more frequent. To protect their energy for the next day's White Course, the team shifted their schedule: they would search for scrolls from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., then rest near the Central Tower after 11:30.
Every night at 11:30, Tsunade was swamped—by then, everyone but Hoshiyomi usually returned wounded. She tirelessly treated each injury and, through the intensity, even advanced to master the Sannin-level dical ninjutsu Shōsen Jutsu earlier than expected.
Even though the challenge of finding scrolls had skyrocketed, no one suggested returning to group missions. In nightly solo confrontations, they could feel their progress firsthand. Days were spent training and learning new techniques; nights were combat-testing grounds. Combined with custom endurance drills and diverse jutsu, all six grew remarkably within the year.
Many who had barely reached the Chūnin threshold now stood at Special Jōnin caliber. Each focused on different strengths: Shinku and Hoshiyomi balanced taijutsu and ninjutsu, developing complentary skillsets. Shinku also refined several powerful genjutsu using scrolls from the Central Tower—not yet battle-tested, but ready for the exam.
Hoshiyomi's swordcraft advanced slowly but steadily. After a year, he reached Interdiate Swordsmanship: 30/500. With most forest beasts too weak to yield much EXP, leveling beca painfully slow—only 30 points gained over a full year.
Tsunade's progress was primarily in dical ninjutsu. Furthermore, in their daily conversations, Hoshiyomi vaguely understood that Tsunade was trying to combine Chakra compression control with Taijutsu to create a completely new form of Ninja Art: Taijutsu. Hoshiyomi caught a whiff of the Strength of a Hundred Seal (or rather, the Strength of a Hundred Technique) from this, speculating that Cherry Blossom Impact would likely erge in a few years.
Orochimaru and Jiraiya also improved: Jiraiya mastered Needle Jizo, while Orochimaru beca a walking ninjutsu library, mastering eighty percent of the scrolls and known as "Little Sarutobi" for his genius-level proficiency.
Of course, the one who made the most progress was undoubtedly Sakumo.
Ever since that night, Sakumo had been like a changed man. Already a training fanatic, he now carried the added trait of a berserker. The word "reckless" could sum up his entire special training period. After that night, no matter what kind of opponent he faced, Sakumo would charge in head-on without hesitation. He was always the one to return with the worst injuries—but also the one whose strength advanced the fastest.
In the second half of the year, he all but abandoned ninjutsu practice entirely. All his ti was devoted to developing a technique he called the Body Activation Secret Technique—the very sa concept Kakashi would later explain to Sasuke when teaching him the Chidori: using Lightning Release chakra to stimulate cellular activity.
Within six months, Sakumo successfully mastered the thod of stimulating cellular activity using Lightning Release chakra. With this technique as a foundation, his Void Severance fully took shape.
The current version of Void Severance was no longer just a pure burst-type move—it had evolved into a state-based technique, sowhat akin to the Lightning Release Chakra Mode used in the Hidden Cloud Village. When activating this state, Sakumo could temporarily boost his speed and strength to extraordinary levels.
Its effect was sowhat reminiscent of the Eight Gates, but without the extre physical toll those gates inflict on the body.
With the boost from this jutsu, Sakumo could even hold his own against Gekkō Hoshiyomi's current strength for a full three minutes without falling behind. However, once his chakra ran dry, he'd be completely outmatched—Hoshiyomi would make short work of him.
Both senseis—Torifu and Homura—watched in awe. Even under the Second Hokage, they hadn't progressed this fast. These six rising shinobi were truly the next generation pushing forward.
The Final Day of Training
That morning, after breakfast, they expected new orders—but instead each found a form inside the tower: their Chūnin Exam Application.
Torifu laughed, and Homura smiled:
"Congratulations—your year's training is complete. You won't have to see my face here every day anymore."
Surprised, they looked at each other blankly. Ti in the Forest of Death had blurred for them, days filled with exhaustion and discipline until even falling asleep took only seconds. They only realized ti had passed when Torifu and Homura told them, "Today's your holiday—you can leave the forest." Two months, gone.
Now told the year was over, their minds struggled to process. They felt relief, pride—and unexpected sadness at leaving what had beco their forge.
Hoshiyomi rembered his past life's military training—despising it, dreaming of escape, but at its end, even the cruel drill sergeants earned respect.
Torifu clapped everyone on the shoulder:
"What's there to cry about? You'll see each other plenty. Now get cleaned up—your bodies are a ss. Let's go soak in a hot spring, then I'll treat you to a grilled at feast to celebrate."
PS: Read Advance Chapters at spatreon/c/ReadJin
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