Chapter 12: Training

The training yard was a wide-open space on the Daimyo's estate, surrounded by a garden of meticulously trimmed hedges and towering cherry blossom trees. The ground was packed dirt, worn smooth by years of training, and the air carried the faint tang of sweat and steel.

For generations, this yard had been the birthplace of countless warriors who served the Daimyo.

And today, it was where Kenta Madoka's journey into physical conditioning and samurai arts would begin.

Standing in the center of the yard was a man whose presence demanded respect. Kenta's new instructor, Master Gorou, was a towering figure with graying hair tied back in a simple ponytail. His broad shoulders and thick arms spoke of decades of wielding a blade, and his sharp, weathered eyes seemed to see straight into a person's soul.

Gorou wasn't just any samurai—he was one of the strongest sanurais in the Land of Fire and a personal trainer to the Daimyo's family.

Next to Gorou stood Ikkyū, Kenta's elder brother, clad in a simple training gi. His wooden practice sword rested casually against his shoulder, and a faint smile played on his lips as he watched Kenta with curiosity.

Ikkyū had been training under Gorou for a couple years now and had proven to be a prodigy in the samurai arts, though he had no interest in becoming a shinobi.

For him, the elegance and discipline of samurai combat were more than enough. After all he was going to become the Damiyo and he just needed the samurai arts for self protection as well as a hobby.

"Are you ready, little brother?" Ikkyū asked, his tone light but teasing.

Kenta rolled his shoulders and grinned. "Born ready."

"Listen carefully," Gorou said, his deep voice cutting through the morning air. "You may think this training will be easy because of your noble blood or because you've had a taste of chakra. Let me assure you—it will not be. Physical strength and stamina are the foundation of all combat, whether you are a samurai or a shinobi. Without it, you are nothing but a liability."

Kenta nodded, his expression serious. He knew Gorou wasn't exaggerating. His yin-yang imbalance had left him physically weaker than other boys his age. If he wanted to strengthen his yang chakra and unlock his full potential, he would need to push his body to its limits.

Gorou crossed his arms. "We'll begin with basic exercises to build your strength and endurance. You'll run laps around the training yard, practice striking forms with a wooden sword, and perform bodyweight exercises until your muscles scream. The bodyweight excercises would be on the lighter side to not stun your body's growth. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir," Kenta replied, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

"Good," Gorou said, stepping back. "Then let's begin."

The first part of Kenta's training was simple but grueling: running. Gorou ordered him to run laps around the training yard, his small legs pumping furiously as he tried to keep up with Ikkyū, who ran effortlessly beside him.

Kenta's lungs burned, his muscles ached, and sweat dripped down his face, but he refused to stop. His determination was rooted in more than just a desire to impress—this was a challenge he welcomed.

'This is nothing,' Kenta thought, gritting his teeth. 'I've done worse training in my past life. I can handle this.'

After running came striking drills. Gorou handed Kenta a wooden practice sword that felt heavier than it looked and demonstrated the basic striking forms. "Feet shoulder-width apart," Gorou instructed, guiding Kenta's stance. "Grip the sword firmly but not too tightly. Your strikes should be smooth, not forced."

Kenta mimicked the movements, his strikes clumsy at first but improving with each swing. Gorou nodded approvingly. "Good. Now do it a hundred times."

Kenta didn't complain. He simply raised the sword and began swinging, counting each strike under his breath. His arms trembled by the time he reached fifty, but he pushed through, sweat dripping into his eyes.

"You've got good form for a beginner," Ikkyū commented, leaning casually against a tree. "But can you keep it up?"

"Just … watch me," Kenta huffed, his grin never fading.

As the days turned into weeks, Kenta began to notice subtle changes in his body. His legs grew stronger from running, his arms more defined from countless sword swings, and his endurance steadily increased. The imbalance between his yin and yang chakra was still there, but it was shrinking.

'I would have to continue physical training till I fully grow up so the imbalance stays at bay.' Kenta thought

Gorou noticed the progress as well. "You're a quick learner," he said one morning after a particularly grueling session. "Most children would be whining by now, but you haven't complained once. Why is that?"

Kenta wiped the sweat from his brow and smirked. "I'm no stranger to hard work, Master Gorou. This might be tough, but it's also fun."

"Fun?" Gorou raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah," Kenta said, rolling his shoulders. "I like pushing myself, testing my limits. It's like a game—how far can I go before I break?"

Gorou chuckled, a rare smile crossing his face. "You're an unusual boy, Kenta. Keep that attitude, and you'll go far."

From the balcony overlooking the training yard, Shizuka watched her younger son with a mixture of pride and worry. Kenta was so small compared to the wooden sword he wielded, yet he attacked each drill with a fierce determination that belied his age.

"Look at him go," she murmured, her voice tinged with awe.

It wasn't just Kenta's physical efforts that impressed her—it was the joy on his face as he trained. Despite the sweat and exhaustion, he always wore a smile, as if he truly loved the challenge.

"Maybe I was wrong to doubt him," Shizuka thought, her heart swelling. "He's so much like his father—always chasing something greater, always determined to prove himself."

But a part of her couldn't help but worry. The world of shinobi was dangerous, far more so than the disciplined life of a samurai or noble. Would Kenta's strength and determination be enough to protect him?

"Be careful, my son," she whispered. "I can't lose you too. I promise that I would try my best to protect you"

By the end of the first month, Kenta's training had reached a new level. He could complete the striking drills without faltering, run longer distances without tiring, and even spar lightly with Ikkyū under Gorou's supervision.

The results were clear—his yang chakra had grown significantly, and the imbalance between his physical and spiritual energy had reduced. With each passing day, his chakra reserves increased, and his body became stronger and more resilient.

----------Author Notes----------

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