Three Months
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The day passed without more events catching Horyu's attention, which was fine by him. He made significant progress towards the Wave Country, now edging closer to leaving the Hot Water Country behind. These vast nations stretched far and wide, and he was under no illusion about conquering every inch. His encounters with those bandit groups weren't planned; they were opportunities fate threw at him to weave his network wider. If such chances arose, he'd take them; if not, it wasn't meant to be. Finding a quiet cave as dusk settled, Horyu used it as a gateway back to the Twilight Realm, deciding to split his time between realms efficiently.
In the Twilight Realm, it was always dusk or near-dark, a constant shade of twilight that made the concept of day and night irrelevant. Here, he could train uninterrupted, focusing on honing the skills he needed. Back in the Shinobi World by morning, he'd travel, sleep in short bursts when necessary, blending his schedules between the two worlds seamlessly.
Training in the Twilight Realm was becoming a routine, albeit a challenging one. The Feather-Wing Kata demanded more than just physical prowess; it required a transformation of essence, a melding of spirit with the silent wings of the owls he sought to emulate. Each night, under the static moon of the realm, he'd push himself further, testing the limits of his body and mind in the quest for silent movement, for that elusive harmony with the darkness.
As days turned into a month, Horyu's journey through the borders of the Hot Water Country was silent and swift, making sure not to draw any attention. This period was marked by numerous events where Horyu's intervention either saved lives or subdued threats. Whether it involved rescuing civilians from danger or dealing with bandits, thugs, or even more sinister foes, Horyu tirelessly expanded his network. His Insight Sigil became invaluable during this time, allowing him to gauge the loyalty of those he decided to bring into his fold. Moreover, the seals he applied ensured that betrayal was not an option for them.
As Horyu made his way into the Wave Country, his mind was occupied with thoughts about his next moves. The Wave Country was familiar territory, in a sense. He had been here before, under different circumstances, and now he was back with a new agenda. His main goal was clear: to find Tazuna and secure a vessel for his journey to the Whirlpool Country. Yet, something gnawed at him, a consideration about the dual nature of his identity and how it might affect his plans.
He was stuck between two choices. First, he could work on making Zenkage more famous, which was what he wanted from the start. Second, he could show himself as Horyu to Tazuna, but that would make things tricky. He really didn't want anyone knowing he was heading to Whirlpool. Keeping his trip a secret was crucial. He had to be careful about how he handled his identity; mixing up Zenkage and Horyu could mess up everything he had planned. What he decided now would really affect his plans, and he had to think hard about it.
Walking through the streets of the Wave Country, Horyu, disguised as Zenkage, noticed no special treatment from the locals. This indifference was a clear sign that his identity as Horyu held no sway here under the guise of Zenkage. To build goodwill and perhaps gain some helpful allies, he knew he had to keep hunting bandits and responding to distress signals marked on his map.
He had been away from the Twilight Realm for quite some time, focusing on expanding his network in the Shinobi World. The Realm had been invaluable in honing his skills, especially in silent movement. Although he could now hunt the creatures of the realm without starving, he knew his training was far from over. He had only scratched the surface of what the Feather-Wing Kata could offer, and further mastery was essential for his plans.
Walking out of the village, Horyu found a small cave. It was time to touch base with Yoru and dive deeper into his training. A puff of smoke, and he was no longer in the cave but the Twilight Realm, where darkness hugged everything like an old friend.
Yoru and Shizuka awaited him, their presence felt before seen. Shizuka, with her ethereal grace, didn't waste a moment, sending a flurry of silver-white feathers towards Horyu the second he materialized. This had become their usual greeting, a test of his progress.
Reacting purely on instinct honed by countless hours of training, Horyu moved. He dodged the feathers, each movement more an instinct than a calculated response. "Not bad," came Shizuka's voice, floating down like a leaf on a calm stream. Her form was barely visible, a ghostly silhouette against the constant twilight.
With a renewed sense of determination, Horyu found himself falling into a routine in the Twilight Realm. His previous promise to train every day had been somewhat sidetracked by his journey to the Wave Country and the constant alerts from his Distress Map. However, he was now resolute in mastering the Feather-Wing Kata swiftly and pushing forward with his missions. The need to travel to Whirlpool and unearth the Uzumaki Heritage was pressing, but equally important was his mission to weave a vast Spy Network across the Shinobi World.
The Twilight Realm, with its perpetual dusk, provided the perfect backdrop for Horyu's rigorous training sessions. Yoru and Shizuka became his constant companions, their guidance crucial in his quest for mastery. The training was demanding, pushing Horyu to his limits, but he welcomed the challenge. Each day brought with it a slight improvement, a testament to his growing proficiency in the art of silent movement.
One evening, after a particularly intense session, Yoru perched beside him, its keen eyes observing him closely. "You're getting better," the owl remarked, its tone hinting at approval. "But remember, mastery isn't just about silence. It's about becoming one with the shadow, unseen, unheard."
Horyu nodded, absorbing the feedback. His focus on silent movement had indeed sharpened, but Yoru's words reminded him of the broader spectrum of skills the Feather-Wing Kata encompassed. The concept of blending with the shadows, of becoming indistinguishable from the night itself, was a challenge he was eager to tackle.
The training progressed, each session more demanding than the last. Horyu's nights were consumed by his efforts to master the kata, his days spent navigating the challenges posed by his Distress Map. The balance was difficult to maintain, but Horyu found solace in the routine, the constant push and pull between his duties in the Shinobi World and his commitment to his training.
As the weeks turned into months, Horyu began to notice a significant improvement in his abilities. The once elusive silent movement became second nature, his body adapting to the principles of the Feather-Wing Kata with a fluidity that surprised even him. Shizuka, ever the stern instructor, acknowledged his progress with a nod, a rare gesture of approval.
"Your training is coming along," Shizuka said one night, her voice cutting through the silence of the realm. "But don't grow complacent. The true test is yet to come."
Horyu understood her warning. The skills he was honing in the Twilight Realm were tools, means to an end. The real challenge would be applying them in the Shinobi World, using them to further his mission and expand his network. The thought of putting his training to the test was both exhilarating and daunting.
Three months after leaving Konoha, Horyu's efforts to weave a dense web of influence in the Wave Country began to bear fruit. He had ventured into the depths of forests and the heart of small settlements, rescuing locals from the clutches of bandits and dealing swiftly with any form of injustice he encountered.
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