Chapter 27: Beneath the Sun's Glow: The Masochist's Path to Power
Beneath the Sun's Glow: The Masochist's Path to Power
The sun's light hovered in the sky over Konoha, casting golden rays upon the village. Kiyoshi Hyuga walked down the street with a determined air, his muscles still throbbing from the punishment of the previous day's training. His steps were slow and steady, his expression defiant.
The academy had been a challenge in itself. Every movement, every gesture, every word spoken seemed to carry a sharper pain in his fatigued muscles. He could still feel the silent questioning gazes of his classmates, wondering why he was walking in such a peculiar way, but he didn't care.
"I must be a masochist," Kiyoshi muttered to himself, a low laugh escaping his lips. Even in that pain, he couldn't deny that the experience was instructive. Every move he made, every step he took, he felt his connection with his own body growing. He could sense the weakness in his muscles, but also the hidden strength, the strength he knew he could tap into with time and effort.
As the afternoon wore on, a decision weighed on his mind. Should he veer off his path and go home to rest? The idea was tempting; his bed had never seemed so welcoming. He stopped, wavering between the desire for comfort and the need to strengthen himself.
"In the end, I really am a masochist," Kiyoshi said, laughing at himself. With a sigh, he straightened his back, assumed a determined expression, and walked toward Tsunade's house.
The Senju mansion loomed ahead, as imposing as ever. Kiyoshi, despite his pain, took a deep breath and pushed open the wooden gate. When his eyes met Tsunade's, a shiver of anticipation ran down his spine.
The blonde leaned against a wall, a cup of sake in her hand. Her eyes gleamed with amusement as she saw Kiyoshi. "I was thinking the poor little boy would prefer to take a day off...," she began, a mocking smile dancing on her lips.
But Kiyoshi wasn't willing to engage in the teasing game. He ignored the comment, his expression serious. "Why didn't you heal me yesterday, Tsunade-sensei?" he asked, his voice filled with determination.
Tsunade's eyebrows raised slightly, visible surprise in her eyes. She hadn't expected him to be so direct, but her surprise quickly turned into admiration. She let out a low laugh, taking a sip of her sake before responding. "Are you ready for that answer, boy?" she asked, a challenging gleam in her eyes.
Kiyoshi nodded without hesitation, his intense eyes fixed on Tsunade, eagerly awaiting her response. Tsunade scoffed at the boy's answer, set down her sake cup, and pointed to a nearby chair. "Sit," she commanded.
Obeying without question, Kiyoshi sat down, feeling Tsunade's eyes on him. Tsunade's experienced hands began to heal him, her touch enveloping his body with a comforting warmth.
"With your keen insight and sharp intelligence, I presume you've already realized your own weaknesses for some time now," Tsunade began, her brown eyes narrowing as she continued. "That explains why you challenged a Sannin in front of everyone, obviously it wasn't just to learn medical ninjutsu, was it?"
Kiyoshi's mouth opened, but no words came out. He simply swallowed hard, his eyes widening in surprise.
Tsunade continued, her tone serious and direct. "You've always wanted to break through that barrier that holds you back in fights, that instinct that makes you react late, always trying to escape and hide...," she said, observing the shocked expression on Kiyoshi's face.
Kiyoshi's eyes widened even more, shocked at how accurately Tsunade had hit the truth. He swallowed hard, surprised and a little embarrassed. "Yes," he finally admitted, his voice just a whisper. "I... I want to overcome it."
"Good," Tsunade said, a mischievous smile forming at the corners of her lips. "You seem surprised, brat."
Kiyoshi stared at her with his mouth agape, surprised by her response. He expected reprimand, or perhaps even anger for manipulating her. But Tsunade seemed almost... proud?
"Don't be so shocked," she said, crossing her arms under her ample breasts. "I've figured out your game from day one. But, to be honest, you're a box of surprises. I've never seen someone so young think so astutely."
Kiyoshi felt a blush rise to his face at the compliment. "So... you're not angry?"
"Why would I be?" Tsunade shrugged. "After all, it's better for you to learn under my guidance than to waste this incredible talent because of some silly fear."
She finished the healing session and patted Kiyoshi's shoulder. "There you go, good as new. Now, about that fear of yours... I think the best way to overcome it is through battle. A life-or-death battle, every day."
Kiyoshi swallowed hard, feeling a shiver run down his spine. "What?"
Tsunade simply smiled, standing up and walking toward the training field. "Come on, boy. We have a lot of work ahead..." Her figure seemed like a beautiful blonde angel, yes, a death angel, Kiyoshi thought...
In the training field, Tsunade stopped, a serious expression on her normally playful face. Today, she gave no introduction, no warning. As soon as Kiyoshi assumed his position, her expression transformed.
"Byakugan!" she yelled as she advanced, and Kiyoshi swallowed hard. With the clear sight provided by the Byakugan, he could see the pulsating chakra in Tsunade's fists, each drop screaming danger. The tension in his body was a siren, every fiber of his being urging him to run, to hide. But he knew he couldn't. This was the training. This was a battle of life and death.
The first attack was swift, so fast that Kiyoshi barely had time to react. He felt the sharp wind as Tsunade's fist passed by him. His mind went into hyperdrive, every instinct and fragment of training he had received kicking into action. If he could keep Tsunade at a distance, if he could evade her attacks, maybe he could find an opening, maybe he could strike.
So he ran, his feet barely touching the ground as he moved. He could hear Tsunade behind him, the sound of her heavy footsteps filling the air. His mind raced, plans and strategies being formulated and discarded rapidly.
And then, amidst the chaos, he saw it. A split second of opening as Tsunade prepared the next attack. It was tiny, almost insignificant, but it was there. And Kiyoshi knew he had to seize it.
Spinning on his heels, Kiyoshi turned to face Tsunade, his eyes locked onto the Sannin. He knew the chance of success was slim, but he also knew he had no other choice.
Kiyoshi, facing the imposing beast that was his mentor before him, swallowed hard. He knew he was at a disadvantage, but he couldn't retreat. Not now. And so, swallowing his fear, he shouted, "Tajū Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" Suddenly, hundreds of his clones filled the training field.
"Prepare yourself, Tsunade-sama! Let's see if you can handle all of us!" Kiyoshi exclaimed, trying to hide the insecurity in his voice.
Tsunade, on the other hand, only smirked. She looked at the clones and commented, "So, little Kiyoshi decided to use the Kongōken with the Tajū Kage Bunshin no Jutsu... An interesting strategy. But can quantity really make up for quality?"
"I don't know," Kiyoshi replied, "But I'm ready to find out!"
The clones advanced, each one carrying the same determination as Kiyoshi. Tsunade watched with a smile. In her mind, she formulated a plan. 'If he wants to use numbers to compensate for his lack of strength, so be it. It will only accelerate the process. When I defeat these clones, he will feel every blow. The experience will be all his.' And with that thought, the Sannin threw herself into battle with an audible laugh.
The panoramic view of the ongoing battle could deceive any distant observer. The field was covered with Kiyoshis, facing Tsunade in the center, appearing like a fierce and balanced fight. However, the truth was quite different.
Kiyoshi, already exhausted from creating countless clones, could no longer rely on his Kaite. His attempt to master the Kongōken was still in its early stages, especially when compared to Tsunade's absolute mastery of the technique.
After crushing clones for a while, Tsunade decided it was enough. The blonde leaped high into the air, her features serious as ever. Shouting as she descended, she struck the ground with a devastating punch. The shockwave that followed was enough to make the last of Kiyoshi's clones dissipate into smoke.
The impact of the shockwave sent Kiyoshi flying backward, thrown with such force that he crashed into a nearby tree. Pain struck him full force, causing him to cough desperately, and in doing so, he tasted the metallic flavor of his own blood.
Struggling to breathe, he leaned against the tree, his eyes still fixed on Tsunade. The Sannin observed him, her piercing gaze not missing a single detail. And despite the pain and humiliation, Kiyoshi ironicaly smiled and said, "this is the current unbridgeable gap between us, interesting..." The boy collapsed unconscious on the ground.
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