Chapter 8: The First Steps Toward Mastery
Chapter 8: The First Steps Toward Mastery
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Hikaru's body ached as he sat up from the dirt, sweat trickling down his back. Every inch of his muscles burned, his arms felt like lead, and his legs trembled from exhaustion.
Kosuke had not gone easy on him.
The so-called "dodge training" had turned into a brutal test of endurance. Every time Hikaru had been too slow, too predictable, or simply reacted too late, Kosuke had punished him with a well-placed strike.
Hikaru had learned fast. Because if he hadn't, he would've been eating dirt the entire time.
Kosuke watched him with that unreadable smirk. "You're improving," he admitted. "Barely."
Hikaru wiped the sweat from his forehead, breathing heavily. "Barely's still better than nothing."
Kosuke chuckled. "True. But you still hesitate too much. Your mind is sharp, but your body hasn't caught up yet. That's a weakness."
Hikaru didn't argue. He knew it was true.
His brain was trained to analyze, predict, and react. But in a fight, you couldn't afford to think too much. You had to move instinctively.
Kosuke tossed him a water bottle. "Drink up. We're not done yet."
Hikaru's eyes twitched. "You're joking, right?"
Kosuke smirked. "Nope."
Hikaru sighed but took a long drink. He wasn't about to waste this opportunity. Kosuke was exactly the kind of teacher he needed—ruthless, direct, and experienced.
The system's notification had appeared in his vision earlier, confirming his progress.
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[Skill Gained: Instinctive Evasion]
→ +2 AGI, +1 STR
→ Dodge success rate increased by 10%
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It wasn't much, but it was a start.
Kosuke leaned against a tree, watching him. "Alright, lesson two. Chakra control."
Hikaru perked up. "I've already been working on that."
Kosuke raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
Hikaru nodded, placing a hand on the ground. He pushed his chakra downward, willing the earth to move.
The ground trembled slightly. Small, weak roots pushed through the dirt, twisting upwards before withering.
Kosuke's expression remained unreadable.
"That's pathetic."
Hikaru scowled. "I just unlocked my bloodline a few days ago."
Kosuke shrugged. "And?"
Hikaru clenched his fists. "Fine. What am I doing wrong?"
Kosuke stepped forward and kicked one of the dead roots. It snapped instantly, crumbling into dust.
"You're forcing it," Kosuke said. "That's not how Wood Release works."
Hikaru frowned. "What do you mean?"
Kosuke crossed his arms. "Wood Release isn't just Earth and Water. It's about life. Hashirama Senju wasn't just shaping wood—he was growing it. You're trying to control it like a jutsu. But that's not how nature works."
Hikaru stared at the dead roots, Kosuke's words sinking in.
He was forcing it.
Every time he had tried using Wood Release, he had treated it like any other ninjutsu—pushing chakra into the ground and commanding it to form.
But Wood Release wasn't like Fire Release or Lightning Release. It wasn't about destruction.
It was about creation.
Kosuke smirked at his silence. "Figured it out?"
Hikaru slowly nodded. "I think so."
Kosuke pulled out a kunai and tossed it to him. "Good. Now try again."
Hikaru took a deep breath, gripping the kunai in his left hand.
He closed his eyes.
This time, instead of forcing the chakra outward, he guided it.
Slowly. Carefully.
He visualized a seed growing beneath the soil.
Not an attack. Not a weapon.
Just a living thing taking root.
And then—something shifted.
A single, thin branch emerged from the ground. It wasn't large or strong, but it was alive.
Kosuke's smirk widened. "Now you're getting it."
Hikaru exhaled, feeling something click into place. This was the key.
Wood Release wasn't something he could just brute force.
He had to understand it.
Kosuke clapped him on the back, nearly knocking him over. "You've got potential, kid. Now we just need to turn that into skill."
Hikaru smirked. "Bring it on."
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Kosuke had no mercy.
The next phase of training focused on stamina and endurance.
Which meant running. A lot of running.
"Again," Kosuke ordered as Hikaru sprinted up a steep hill for the tenth time.
Hikaru gritted his teeth, pushing his burning legs forward. Every muscle screamed for him to stop, but he ignored the pain.
By the time he reached the top, his vision was blurry. His breath came in ragged gasps.
Kosuke was waiting for him, arms crossed.
"You're slow," he said.
Hikaru glared at him. "I'd like to see you run up this hill ten times."
Kosuke smirked. "I don't have to. I already did that in my prime."
Hikaru groaned but forced himself back down.
His system's notification flickered again.
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[Skill Gained: Shinobi Endurance]
→ +3 CON, +2 AGI
→ Stamina Recovery Increased by 15%
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Kosuke tossed him a water bottle. "Not bad. But you're still not good enough."
Hikaru wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Then what's next?"
Kosuke's grin turned sharp. "Tree climbing."
Hikaru blinked. "What?"
Kosuke tossed a kunai, embedding it into a massive tree.
"The Tree Climbing Exercise," he said. "A fundamental technique that teaches chakra control. You'll learn how to mold your chakra properly, strengthen your steps, and move faster in battle."
Hikaru frowned. He had read about this before—it was one of the first chakra control exercises Academy students learned.
But Kosuke wasn't done.
He tossed another kunai, embedding it higher up the tree.
"You're not stopping until you reach the top."
Hikaru let out a slow breath. No shortcuts, huh?
He placed a foot against the tree and focused his chakra into his soles.
Then, with a push, he sprinted forward.
For two seconds, it worked.
Then his chakra fluctuated—
And he slipped.
His body crashed face-first into the bark.
Kosuke burst out laughing. "This is gonna be fun."
Hikaru groaned. He had a long way to go.
But he wouldn't stop.
He couldn't stop.
Because this was just the beginning.
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To Be Continued…