Bang! Bang! Bang!!
Hatake Kaede Yoru's fists pounded relentlessly against the wooden stakes, each blow landing with a heavy thud. The reinforced training posts, crafted from special hardwood, were visibly dented from the repeated impacts.
He remained fiercely committed to his physical training.
For Kaede, his ability to accelerate time now served two primary purposes. First, it granted him a base movement speed more than double that of an average person in combat, and it could be further stacked as needed. Second, it allowed him to effectively extend his training periods. Under time acceleration, three hours of training would only consume a single hour in the outside world.
In both combat and cultivation, time acceleration not only enhanced speed but also amplified power. According to Newton's second law, force equals mass times acceleration—a rule that still applied in the Naruto world. Kaede recalled a line from another world: "Speed is power. Have you ever been kicked at the speed of light?" If his speed ever approached such a level, a single blow could potentially destroy the world.
"Shadow Clone Technique!"
After adjusting to his triple-speed state, Kaede paused, quickly formed hand seals, and activated the jutsu.
Bang! Bang!
Two identical clones appeared beside him.
The Shadow Clone Technique—one of the most powerful tools for training. Kaede had learned it from Kakashi long ago. It was leagues beyond the E-rank basic Clone Jutsu taught in the academy, ranking as a B-rank ninjutsu. Many chuunin couldn't even use it effectively. Just mastering this technique placed him far above his peers and eligible for early graduation from the Ninja Academy.
Whizzing sounds filled the air as the two clones dashed off in opposite directions.
The clone to the left retrieved a short sword lying nearby—the legendary White Fang blade, once wielded by Hatake Sakumo and now passed down to his son. Kaede had been diligently practicing the Hatake Sword Technique, renowned throughout the ninja world. As a taijutsu that integrated chakra, it perfectly complemented his time-acceleration ability.
If Kaede could master the Hatake Sword Style to the level of the famed Konoha White Fang, he could stand at the summit of the ninja world. With double speed, he might even face off against beings beyond Kage-level.
The other clone moved to a different corner of the yard, where it began gathering chakra in its palm, forming a swirling orb—the Rasengan.
The Rasengan, a close-range ninjutsu based on shape transformation, was another technique that thrived under accelerated time. More importantly, it helped refine chakra control. Kaede had long mastered tree climbing and water walking. Now, perfecting the Rasengan was the next logical step.
However, unlike Naruto, Kaede didn't possess monstrous chakra reserves. Progress had been slow; after several months of practice, he still hadn't fully completed the jutsu.
"At triple speed, I should grow to around ten years old in just one month. That should be enough to begin training in the Eight Gates technique."
Kaede trained while planning his future.
The Eight Gates technique was vital, though its side effects were harsh. Too young to safely train in it, he hadn't yet approached Might Duy to learn it secretly. But sooner or later, he needed the method. Despite its drawbacks, the strength it granted was undeniable.
Kaede's training philosophy was clear: maximize his base capabilities in every area. This way, when time acceleration was active, he could multiply that strength three- or five-fold.
His mysterious clock-like power resembled a form of "innate time control" from the Holy Grail World—but without side effects, and always usable. It was a superior evolution of that concept.
Tsk! Tsk! Tsk!!
The clone wielding the White Fang blade practiced precise sword strikes on the east side of the courtyard. Though shadow clones couldn't benefit from time acceleration, Kaede could still gain their experience and technique mastery once they dispelled.
On the other side, the second clone focused chakra into a dense, rotating orb, the Rasengan slowly forming.
Phew! Phew!
After a while, both clones ran out of chakra and burst into white smoke.
Kaede stood still, letting the memories and experience flow into him, quickly integrating the new knowledge.
He formed seals again.
Bang! Bang!
Two more clones appeared.
This time, sweat glistened on Kaede's brow. He could feel his chakra reserves waning.
"Chakra is always a bottleneck..."
He sighed internally. Naruto, who could summon dozens or even hundreds of clones for training, was a true monster. A chakra monster, to be precise. The Uzumaki clan's vitality combined with the Nine-Tails sealed within him made his chakra pool nearly limitless.
Kaede trained a bit more.
Eventually, the new clones also dissipated.
He didn't summon more. His own chakra was being drained through physical exertion, and summoning two clones at a time was his limit for now.
"One thousand three hundred and seventy-seven, one thousand three hundred and seventy-eight..."
Continuing his side-kicks against the wooden stake, Kaede counted mentally. Only when his body reached its limit did he stop.
He kept time acceleration active, walked to the edge of the courtyard, picked up a glass of water, drank, and ate two biscuits.
Accelerated time also sped up his recovery.
With triple acceleration constantly running, a single day for Kaede was like seventy-two hours. That meant nine meals and three rest periods per day.
"I don't know if you can still train with a fever of 49 degrees and a broken body... but I'm basically training over twenty-five hours a day," Kaede muttered internally, half sarcastic, half proud.