7 Keeping Up with the Inuzuka 2 (2/2)
Even though her actual techniques had been erased by first cup of Five-Fragrance Tea, the knowledge on how to train them still remained. She'd rather followed the tried-and-true methods from her previous life than starting from zero.
Anyway, anything that she had to know regarding this new world, she could just ask Kokuo for answer.
Tsume seemed satisfied with her response. She didn't pursue the topic any further.
Anyway, now that she was freed from the stalking job, she could begin the next step in her training.
”Since I've finished building the foundation for my lower body, it's time to extend training to the upper body as well.”
”Why not train both from the start?” Kokuo inquired.
”I'm just copying my master's words, but I also believe that a strong lower body is the basis of all martial arts.”
Without proper stances, there would be no martial arts to speak of. In a sense, strengthening lower body was tremendously more important than upper body! Before wanting to make your punches stronger, work on your kicks first!
”Thus, we'll borrow these tools for our next training: water jugs!”
She made a ta-da pose toward the two water jugs in front of her. They were as tall as herself.
Seeing Kokuo's confused face, she quickly explained.
”It seems that the house usually draws water from a well, but it'll also be a big help if I can get some down the river. Tsume already agreed to it.”
”Isn't that just another chore then...”
”Don't underestimate water carrying!”
By adjusting the amount of water inside the jug, the amount of training could be customized at will. It was definitely more versatile than standard weights!
”Master taught us not to rely on overly-complicated tools! I also trained by carrying water jugs up and down the mountain back in the day!”
”...Could it be that your master was just poor?”
”...”
She cut the conversation right then and there.
The creek was a bit too shallow to draw water from, so she decided to go to a wider river at the other end of the village.
The jugs themselves were light. She thought that with this young body, she could only fill them around eighth part before they would be too heavy. To her surprise, she was able to lift half-filled jugs.
”Is... is the people's body in this era blessed by Heaven?”
”Since you have chakra coursing through your body, is it not normal?”
Chakra... that mysterious energy also strengthen physique? That's really similar to qi. Perhaps she should research about it later...
Anyway, for now, the goal was to keep training until she could lift completely-filled jugs!
”So you lift it... now what?”
”We run like usual.”
”...”
Just lifting them while standing in one place wouldn't be efficient enough. If she was to run while having these weights on, however, she would be able to train her legs as well. Two birds with one stone!
”Well, let's go-”
She was about to run toward the village when they heard a small yelp coming from one of the jug.
”...Venerable One... did you hear...”
”...Aah...”
The girl and Kokuo turned their gaze up toward the source of the noise. A small white blot jutted out of the opening of the jug. Its mouth parted, and then it panted delightfully. Although not visible from below, the thing was wagging its tail, expressing its excitement.
”...Ah, damn, isn't that Akamaru...?”
”...This One believes so...”
”...Then, that means...”
Kokuo quickly hid back inside her soul, right on time when a wild-haired boy in hooded jacket came into the picture with a sliding dash. He was covered in sweat, perhaps because he'd run all the way from the academy to the edge of the village.
”Hikari, you bastard! Give back Akamaru!”
”Hwaaah?!”
Seeing that face distorted like an Asura, the girl panicked and threw a jug to the kid.
”@#$ Agh! Heavy!”
Before he could react properly, she'd already fled the scene.
”Why are you running?” Kokuo asked in confusion.
”I don't know!”
It was just reflex, alright? Besides, that face was too scary...
Woof.
””Eh?””
Both human and Tailed Beast looked up. Ah crap, why was Akamaru in this jug? She had thrown the wrong one!
”RAAAAAAH!”
Hearing that roar from hell, she sneaked a glance behind her. Something scary was approaching, still carrying the half-filled jug she'd thrown earlier.
Crap crap crap. Gotta run!
Meanwhile, up ahead in the streets,
”Ah, The Inuzuka kids are coming again...”
The stall owners sighed before pulling their wares away from the middle of the street. As expected, two kids quickly passed through, leaving dust storm on their wake. The villagers just waved their hand to clear up their breath.
It had already became such a common occurrence that the villagers regarded it as a natural phenomenon. But...
”...Why are they carrying water jugs?”
”...No idea...”
Ah, yes, they also wanted to know, but not sure whether it would be worth their time to ask...
Anyway,
The chase this time ended at dusk. As the two kids were left sprawled on the backyard, their legs and arms twitching, Akamaru jumped off the jug, feeling really satisfied.
---
The same thing happened for the next three months.
Somehow, Akamaru kept on popping up in her training. Even when she'd changed where to draw water from, the little pup always managed to sneak in and hitched a ride. It would be too late when she'd found out.
Wherever Akamaru ran off to, Kiba would naturally follow.
She'd tried throwing the correct jugs multiple time, but it seemed like Akamaru kept on switching to her side of the jug, not Kiba's. She had no idea how or why, but that just happened.
At the very least, it wasn't all for naught. She'd managed to carry completely-filled jugs with ease now, even exchanging the jugs she was using with bigger ones.
Ah, no, it was more like the jugs she and Kiba were using... since that kid got involved against his wishes, he ended up carrying weights all over the village too.
As a result, Choji would grumble that Kiba had gotten buff all of the sudden, even though he kept on skipping classes...
But she couldn't know about that.
At the moment, she was just happy that the physical conditioning part was done!
”Right now I should be around the peak of elementary stage. Once I breakthrough, I will become a Qi Condensation stage practitioner... or that's supposed to be the plan.”
”But?” Kokuo inquired. The beast was rather intrigued with her strange way of training, which was a bit different from those shinobis. It produced result, though, so the beast wouldn't complain just yet.
”I can't feel qi in this world... or maybe I'm searching for the wrong thing.”
Everyone in her old world could sense qi if they hone their instinct, but it was an acquired process, and they had to know what was 'qi' in the first place, hence the need of masters to show them the right direction.
What she was searching was based on the 'qi' that she previously knew. If she couldn't sense them, then it was either that there was no qi in the first place, or the qi in this world was different from what she was trying to sense.
”That's why... Venerable One, can you teach me about 'chakra'?”
Kokuo snorted.
”Hmph, so in the end you have to rely on This One... fine. This One shall tell you about it.”
”Thank you!”
It was already nighttime though, so they agreed to postpone the topic and rest for the time being.
The next morning, she rose up lazily from the mattress, feeling the usual sensation of something silky pressed beneath her. The tails. Even though the frequency was greatly reduced now that she was at peak elementary stage, they still showed up from time to time whenever she wasn't conscious.
Not a big deal. They were usually hidden under the blanket while sleeping, so nobody would've noticed.
Just as she was about to retract them back, she suddenly noticed a presence in the room.
”Not good!”
Kokuo yelled in her mind.
Sprawled at the corner of the room was Kiba, with Akamaru clutched on his chest. The boy's gaze was focused on the white tails jutting out of her back, the finger he was pointing with trembled uncontrollably.
”...That... what is that?!”
”...”
Welp.
Godamnit.