MTLNOVEL Chapter 10: Caligula
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"We need to continue our Nanto Seiken training!"
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Since we've made enough money, of course, we should spend it where we want.
For Hinata, the purpose of earning money was simple—to use it for a pay-to-win approach to gaining strength far beyond the average person. Sasuke and Naruto probably didn't know what "pay-to-win" meant, but their goal was the same.
In the end, it was just one word: strength.
By using the most brutal and painful methods, they would forcefully push their physical potential to the limit, then use rare and expensive medicine to heal and strengthen their bodies. That was Hinata's current approach. Strictly speaking, this method was extremely effective, but it had two major drawbacks: First, the pain and stress it put on the body were immense—without an iron will, no one could endure it. Second, it required a huge amount of money to buy the necessary medicine and equipment.
"We've all passed the first stage of Nanto Seiken training, but only you know how much stronger you've actually become. So, as promised, we'll begin the second stage now."
Hinata frowned slightly as she looked at the setup in front of her. It had cost about 500,000 ryo to gather these materials from the market. It was simple, really—just some basic tools.
"Pots?? And... wait, is this iron sand?"
Naruto circled the three large iron pots in confusion. These heavy-duty pots were originally meant for cooking huge quantities of food—big enough to fit Naruto inside if chopped into pieces.
But instead of food, the pots were filled with black iron sand. The fine grains of iron looked like a solid black mass, carrying the dense weight of metal.
"Nanto Seiken combines taijutsu and ninjutsu. Early training focuses on strengthening the body. These iron sands are for refining our fists."
Hinata grabbed a handful of iron sand and nodded in satisfaction. As expected, having money made things easier. The finer the sand, the better the training effect.
"But... does hitting something like this really make you stronger?"
Sasuke frowned slightly. He wasn't convinced by the setup in front of him. But after enduring the previous electric shock training, he had undeniably improved his chakra control, and his ninjutsu execution had become much smoother. So, while skeptical, he was willing to wait and see.
"Don't underestimate it. The training manual is clear—once we can punch the iron sand without getting injured, our fists will be strong enough to kill with a single strike. Besides..."
Hinata took a few steps back and pointed to the mechanisms beneath each iron pot. "This isn't just ordinary iron sand. I've customized it based on our chakra affinities."
Just as she said, each of the three iron pots had different modifications underneath. The middle one had a small fuel tank, which, when ignited, would heat the iron sand inside to scorching temperatures, enough to burn flesh and bone.
The pot on the left was connected to a simple diesel generator. Once turned on, it would channel 1,000 watts of electricity into the iron sand.
The rightmost pot was the most complicated—it was connected to a modified cement mixer. The mixer's blades were embedded at the bottom of the pot. When activated, it would churn the iron sand into a constantly flowing vortex.
"We're not just hitting ordinary iron sand. We're punching through an element infused with our chakra nature. Enshouken (Flame Execution Fist) users will strike the heated iron sand, Raisonken (Thunder Burial Fist) users will strike the electrified iron sand, and Fūshunken (Wind Tribute Fist) users will punch the rotating, flowing iron sand."
Looking at the setup, even Hinata wasn't completely sure about this.
The logic behind it was sound—it was based on real iron palm training. Practitioners toughened their hands by repeatedly striking iron sand, gradually building up the strength to break stones and bricks.
But in the world of Naruto, chakra existed. That's why Hinata added these extra elements. She had already trained herself to touch burning hot charcoal without getting burned—proof that coating her hands in chakra could provide protection.
This new method was just the next step in pushing that ability further. The same logic applied to Sasuke and Naruto.
Sasuke had survived 500-volt electric shocks because his body had already adapted to using chakra to resist external currents. Naruto had learned to leap over a 20-meter-wide waterfall because he had instinctively mastered how to distribute chakra throughout his body to control air currents.
This next stage of training was meant to teach them how to concentrate chakra into their fists, giving them devastating attack power.
The logic was solid—but that didn't mean there weren't any risks.
Iron sand may be called "sand," but it has the toughness and sharpness of metal. To punch through it requires an incredible level of explosive power and resilience.
And that's not even considering the terrifying modifications Hinata made to the three iron sand pots.
To put it simply—take a raw chicken leg, press it into the heated iron sand, and pull it out. That leg would be perfectly crispy on the outside and tender inside. The heat of the iron sand far surpasses burning coal, and it even clings to the skin, causing continuous burns. Unless one can concentrate chakra at a high density to protect the hands, simply withdrawing them wouldn't prevent further injuries.
Sasuke's high-voltage iron sand pot was just as dangerous. While this training didn't involve constant electrocution, simply touching that level of voltage would cause paralysis, making one's limbs go limp. Even if he could resist the initial shock, he'd still lack the strength to drive his fist into the solid iron sand. Only by completely negating the electricity could Sasuke ensure his hand had the power to break through.
Naruto's spinning iron sand pot seemed the safest—but it was anything but. The fine iron sand, rotating at high speed, generated an extreme level of cutting force and friction. A brief touch might not be an issue, but prolonged contact would allow the flowing iron sand to burrow into the skin and muscles, gradually grinding away flesh and bone without the person even realizing it.
Burning, paralysis, slicing—these were the core characteristics of fire, lightning, and wind. Hinata understood this training was on an entirely different level compared to their earlier exercises.
"I see... No wonder this technique was sealed away. The difficulty is far beyond other ninjutsu."
A rare glint of excitement flashed in Sasuke's dark eyes. Clearly, the Uchiha heir felt no fear—or perhaps the beginner-level electrocution training had already fried his brain.
"Tch—looks easy to me. All we gotta do is punch into the iron sand, right? What's so special about that?"
Naruto scratched his whiskered cheek in frustration. From his clueless expression, it was clear he hadn't fully grasped the danger of this training.
"Heh... Think what you want. Easy or hard, it doesn't matter. The second stage of training requires us to punch deep into the iron sand. That's the goal, so good luck."
Cracking her knuckles, Hinata was the first to ignite the fuel beneath her iron sand pot. Flames burst from the nozzle, licking the bottom of the heavy iron pot. In less than ten minutes, the iron sand inside darkened ominously. As metal, it showed no outward sign of danger—but in reality, its temperature had risen to the point where it could scorch bone.
"Tch!"
Sasuke responded to Hinata's challenge with a scoff, flipping the switch to activate the electricity beneath his own iron sand pot. No matter what this training involved, he had to experience it firsthand.
Naruto, meanwhile, pouted at his spinning iron sand pot. To him, this kind of training seemed unbearably dull—but since both Hinata and Sasuke were already committed, he had no choice but to go along with them.
Besides, this boring training would be over in no time... right?
That's what Naruto optimistically thought as he turned on the mixer beneath his iron sand pot.
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As it turns out, reckless training, while it may not kill you, certainly won't leave you unscathed.
As the sun set and rose again, another morning arrived in Konoha. The streets were bustling with people going about their daily routines, and at the entrance of the Ninja Academy, students were gathering for the day's lessons. However, today was different—
Iruka stood at the classroom door, fuming, waiting to catch a group of certain troublemakers.
"Finally caught you guys! If you had skipped class again today, I was going to hunt you down one by one!"
Fuming, Iruka glared at the five students lined up before him. His nostrils flared as he shouted, "Hinata! Sasuke! Naruto! Shikamaru! Chouji! What do you have to say for yourselves?!"
"Geez, Iruka-sensei, you're so annoying~ We came to class today, didn't we?"
Naruto was the first to speak, looking completely unfazed. That, of course, only made Iruka even angrier.
"Fine! Then you're all standing in the hallway for the entire period! And after class, I'll personally make sure you catch up on everything you missed!"
With that, Iruka slammed the classroom door shut, leaving the five students standing outside, exchanging glances.
"Ugh... figured this would happen..."
Shikamaru yawned, rubbing the dark circles under his eyes. His pineapple-shaped hairdo made him look eerily similar to his future brother-in-law, Gaara—evidence that he had probably stayed up all night.
"...Grilled meat... isn't as easy to digest as I thought..."
Chouji groaned, clutching his stomach, looking pale. Shikamaru sighed and muttered, "The meat wasn't the problem... the problem was that you ate twenty kilos of it. The fact that you didn't die from indigestion proves you've got a stomach of steel."
Unsurprisingly, thanks to a recent windfall, Chouji had indulged in an all-you-can-eat feast at the yakiniku restaurant. While that wouldn't have been an issue under normal circumstances, the sheer amount of meat he consumed led to a severe case of food overload. That very night, he had to be rushed to Konoha Hospital, where he spent the entire evening hooked up to an IV before being released.
Shikamaru and Choji exchanged glances before turning their attention to the three in front of them.
"Wait a second, you three have been really quiet today."
Raising an eyebrow, Shikamaru studied Naruto. Normally, that idiot would have eagerly joined in when he was teasing Choji, but today, he was unusually silent.
Looking closer, something seemed off. Naruto's face was unnaturally pale, a strange grayish-white color. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and his breathing was a little uneven.
"Oi, Naruto, you okay?"
Now that they were paying attention, even Choji noticed that something was wrong. That expression—it wasn't just exhaustion. It was the kind of look someone had when they were in serious pain.
"I'm fine... It's just... my hands still hurt a bit..."
Forcing a shaky smile, Naruto gritted his teeth as he answered. That's when they noticed—his hands were completely wrapped in thick bandages. And beside him, Sasuke and Hinata were in the same condition.
"...Don't worry, it's just temporary pain... But if I'd known we'd have to stand in the hallway as punishment, I wouldn't have bothered coming to school today."
Hinata murmured weakly, her face just as pale. It was obvious—their condition was a result of yesterday's brutal training.
She had mentally prepared herself, but in the end, she still underestimated how painful and difficult this training would be. Even though she had poured all her chakra into protecting her hands, her fingers had suffered severe burns. The medicine helped heal the wounds, but the lingering burns still throbbed intensely.
Sasuke and Naruto were in the same boat. The medicinal treatment had sped up their healing process, but it also meant that the pain of new flesh regenerating over their wounds was agonizing.
"I... I'm... fine..."
Sasuke barely got the words out before his vision swam, and darkness clouded his eyes. The black-haired boy swayed for a moment before his legs gave out, and he collapsed onto the ground, unconscious.
"Oi! Sasuke?! You okay?!"
Choji's eyes widened in shock. Meanwhile, Naruto wobbled slightly before giving a weak chuckle. "...Hah... That arrogant bastard... Guess he couldn't hold out..."
As soon as he said that, Naruto's vision blurred, and with a dull thud, he also fell backward, hitting the ground hard.
"Wait, Naruto?!"
Shikamaru shouted, all traces of laziness gone as he quickly grabbed onto Naruto. He turned to Choji and yelled, "Choji! Grab Sasuke! We need to get them to the hospital!"
Meanwhile, Hinata, who had been watching, let out a soft chuckle. She tried her best to stay conscious, leaning against the wall for support. But her exhausted body couldn't hold out any longer, and she slowly slid down to the ground.
Just before losing consciousness, she murmured to herself, a mix of pride and stubbornness in her voice.
"...So? You two... There's no way..."
"You could beat me..."
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Well... How do I put this? The situation was... pretty bad.
"Ahhh—ow ow ow ow!"
Naruto's face was scrunched up in pain like a squeezed dumpling. The nurse treating him looked at him sympathetically. "Just hang in there. The iron sand in your hands still isn't completely removed."
His hands were an alarming shade of red, like they had been skinned raw. Buried within the exposed muscle, countless tiny black specks could be seen. Without a doubt, those were the remnants of the iron sand that had pierced into his flesh.
This was the result of yesterday's training.
That boiling pot of iron sand didn't just peel off the skin from Naruto's hands—it even drove tiny iron particles deep into his muscles. The pain was like having countless needles stuck under his skin.
To remove those iron particles, the nurse had to carefully pick them out one by one with a fine needle. But every single touch sent another sharp sting through his body, like being pricked all over again.
"AHH—!!"
Before Naruto could scream again, another voice cried out from the bed next to him—it was Sasuke. Unlike Naruto, his pain wasn't from torn skin but from the burns inside his body caused by electric shocks.
After all, that iron sand pot had been charged with a thousand volts of electricity. Even though each shock was brief, the accumulated damage was serious. And honestly, if Sasuke hadn't already trained his body to withstand electricity through that electric chair training, he might not even be alive right now.
The nurse treating Sasuke placed one hand on his chest, continuously using healing jutsu to repair his damaged organs.
"Oi! Sasuke, screaming like that is pretty embarrassing, huh?"
Hearing Sasuke's cry of pain, Naruto suddenly felt a little better about his own suffering. Sasuke, on the other hand, gritted his teeth and glared at him.
"Shut up... you damn dropout...! You were the first one to scream!"
"Ohh~ hahaha! But I didn't scream as loud as you, did I? I'm just saying, if you can't handle it, maybe you should give up already~."
"Same... goes... for you!"
The pain stripped away their usual pride, and they started throwing insults at each other like usual. Meanwhile, their nurses took advantage of their bickering to speed up their treatment.
As for Hinata, she was much quieter than the two of them. After all, she had already experienced broken fingers over ten times during training. Compared to that, this pain wasn't enough to make her scream.
Even so, her hands were in a terrible state. The skin was swollen and red with pus—clear signs that the muscle tissue had been completely burned. The severity of the burns was close to cooking her hands. Thankfully, the medical jutsu in this world was far more effective than normal medicine. As long as they used healing jutsu to remove the dead flesh and regenerate new tissue, her hands would recover quickly.
However, that process also meant rapidly shedding old skin and growing new flesh at an unnatural speed—making the pain even worse.
"Um... Hinata-sama, are you okay?"
The young female medic treating her spoke with a voice full of respect. As a medical professional, she could tell just how serious Hinata's injuries were. Even most adults would be writhing in pain from wounds like these, yet the Hyuga heiress sat there as still as ice. She didn't scream, not even once.
But it wasn't because she didn't feel pain. The sweat dripping from her forehead and falling from her chin to the floor made it clear—she was just enduring it with sheer willpower.
"This... isn't the Mystical Palm Technique, is it?"
Hearing Hinata's soft voice, the medic blinked in surprise. From what she remembered from watching anime, the Mystical Palm Technique was an A-rank medical jutsu that healed injuries almost instantly. If the medics were using it, her wounds should be healing much faster than this.
"Ah... I'm sorry. This is just the basic Healing Jutsu. I... haven't learned the Mystical Palm yet."
The medic's voice carried a hint of guilt, as if she could sense Hinata's dissatisfaction. But Hinata simply shook her head, signaling her to continue.
Even though she had expected it, she was now certain—the training method she made up was extremely harsh. But at the same time, this only proved that it would definitely make her stronger.
Even so, she couldn't ignore the damage this training was doing to her body. Constantly ending up in the hospital would hurt her confidence, and it might also make the higher-ups unhappy.
No choice, then...
A cold smile crept onto Hinata's lips. She clearly remembered that in the original story, the Mystical Palm Technique required incredibly precise chakra control, so only a handful of people could use it. Among the Konoha 12, besides Tsunade and Shizune (who weren't around right now), there were only two people who could use it—Sakura and Ino.
Heh~ That's right~ Since I've already suffered this much, it wouldn't be fair if the original characters had it too easy, would it~?
"Excuse me, nurse. May I ask—are medical jutsu scrolls available for purchase at the Konoha library?"
Turning her head slightly, Hinata smiled faintly. The nurse quickly nodded in response.
"Yes, both the Healing Jutsu and Mystical Palm scrolls are sold there. But... they're quite expensive. Are you planning to learn it yourself?"
"Oh, no problem~ I happen to have plenty of money right now. Actually, I just thought of two friends who might like to learn medical jutsu, so I figured I'd buy them a little gift."