"Really? You lied to me?" Kaoru asked, his voice heavy with mock betrayal as he stared at Ogashi, feigning deep offense.
"Haha! Kid, you are more shameless than anyone I've ever seen!" Iseki cut in before Ogashi could answer, laughing so hard his whole frame shook. Then, with a wide grin, he pointed his thumb toward Ogashi, adding, "I enjoyed watching his face so much that I almost considered playing along with the lie. But we can't let you participate in that tournament. Even if my slow little brother was ready to ruin everything just to get back at me."
Iseki's teasing only deepened Ogashi's scowl. His face flushed crimson, or rather deep blue, veins faintly visible on his temples. The sight made Iseki burst into another fit of laughter, barely able to speak.
"That's enough!" Ogashi finally snapped, glaring at both Kaoru and his older brother, though most of his irritation was reserved for Iseki. His voice dropped into a stern, teacher-like tone. "We've decided it's time you begin isolated training. Starting now, you'll be receiving instruction from both of us, each focusing on different fields."
"Stop depressing the kid, you grumpy geezer," Iseki interrupted, jabbing Ogashi playfully in the ribs with his index finger. His voice, though lighthearted, carried genuine excitement.
'If they start pulling each other's beards now, I swear I'll lose it…' Kaoru thought, barely suppressing the laughter bubbling inside him as the image flashed in his mind.
Iseki's tone shifted, finally addressing Kaoru with the seriousness the moment demanded. "Kaoru, you've been making steady progress lately, far more than most would in your position. But at this rate, you'll need years to reach the level we want you to achieve. So, we've made a decision to accelerate the process."
Both brothers exchanged a quick glance, their teasing temporarily replaced with unified resolve.
"I'll help you with expanding your chakra reserves," Ogashi continued, his voice calm but firm. "And Iseki will guide you in refining your chakra control and assist with your yin and yang development… that's what you call them, right?"
"Now he will think that's all we are planning to teach him before he goes back to Takimura," Iseki grumbled, shooting a side glance at his younger brother, though his lips tugged upward in amusement.
Kaoru, still processing, furrowed his brows. "Wait… I'm going back? When?" His tone shifted sharply as he spoke, and for a moment, his easygoing expression hardened completely. The playfulness drained away, replaced by fierce resolve and sharp focus.
"Did something happen in Takimura?" The thought hit him hard, his jaw tensing as his mind instinctively prepared for the worst.
Both Iseki and Ogashi exchanged another glance. Seeing the fierce determination burning in Kaoru's eyes, they both smiled with satisfaction. This was the resolve they had hoped he'd have.
"Nothing has happened, Kakaru," Ogashi said gently, his voice softening in an attempt to calm him. "But you need experience. Real, practical experience."
"No matter how carefully you mold a blade, if you never sharpen it, it remains useless," Iseki added, stroking the tip of his beard as if to emphasize his wise words. His attempt at sounding profound earned him a low growl from Ogashi, who was now also pondering which wise proverb he could deliver.
Still, Kaoru's mind latched onto the parts that mattered most. "So… you'll help me increase my chakra reserves?" His voice shifted again, now filled with childlike excitement. "And…" he turned toward Iseki with wide, eager eyes, "...aside from chakra control, could you also teach me some really cool jutsu?"
"No." Iseki cut him off flatly. Then he nodded toward Ogashi, like agreeing that the playful back-and-forth was over. "Go pack your things. We leave in a few hours."
Kaoru blinked, momentarily thrown off by the sudden shift in tone. But as he turned to leave, a grin crept across his face. He could already feel the excitement building. This wasn't just another step. This was the beginning of something far bigger.
…
Kaoru was once again inside the familiar water bubble, the semi-translucent dark blue sphere gently shifting around him as they moved. He was surrounded by two massive Leviathans, their true forms cutting through the water with frightening speed despite their enormous size.
"Grandpa Ogashi," Kaoru spoke up, unable to restrain her curiosity anymore, "you said I need experience, and that's why I have to return... but can't I gain experience here? There should be plenty of opponents to fight, right?"
The question caused both Ogashi and Iseki to exchange a glance - a silent, meaningful one that only deepened Kaoru's suspicion.
"Kid," Ogashi finally replied in a calm voice that carried the same cryptic undertone he always used whenever he wanted to avoid giving a full answer, "there are many things you don't yet understand. But let's just say... we can't afford to let you fight freely here. If you use your powers too openly, you might attract attention we'd rather avoid."
Kaoru narrowed his eyes, clearly unsatisfied. 'That answers absolutely nothing.' But he let it slide… for now.
"Alright, but weren't the other tribes supposed to come and offer their candidates for the contract?" he pressed, still hoping to uncover the real reason behind their sudden decision. "You told me before that they'd all want me to meet their candidates."
"That's why we didn't bring Soma, Sona, or Daki," Iseki responded smoothly. "We've limited your contact on purpose. If there are no younger Leviathans around, they can't argue that you were never given a fair chance to choose a contract. And no one can pressure you later. Simple, isn't it?"
With that, Iseki gave a powerful swing of his tail, increasing their speed once again. The sudden burst made the bubble jolt forward sharply, causing Kaoru to brace himself.
"Where are we going?" Kaoru asked, wincing as countless glowing organisms zipped past his field of vision, their lights blending into long, dizzying streaks that made his eyes ache.
"There's a safe place we've prepared just for you." Iseki flashed a sly smirk. "You'll like it."
Kaoru exhaled, narrowing his gaze in suspicion. 'What are these old geezers planning now?' But he knew better than to ask again - whatever plan they had, they weren't about to explain it here.
With little else to do, he shifted his attention to the world around him. Their speed had gradually slowed, allowing him to finally take in the scenery. And what he saw was mesmerizing.
Small schools of colorful fish danced around them in synchronized waves, their bioluminescent scales creating the illusion of floating orbs, shifting from pale blues to vibrant oranges and deep violets as they shimmered under the filtered light of the deep sea. The surrounding plants, long and ribbon-like, glowed faintly themselves - tiny pulses of light running through their translucent stalks, trying to lure smaller prey closer. Every movement, every flash of color, added to the surreal beauty of the underwater world.
Even though many of the larger sea creatures had long since fled from the presence of the giant Leviathans, the scene remained breathtaking, a living canvas of light and movement that seemed almost otherworldly.
'This is more colorful, more vibrant than anything I've ever seen,' Kaoru thought, his mind momentarily forgetting all his earlier suspicions as he let himself get absorbed by the scene.
But soon, the open space gave way to a dark passage. The glowing fish and plants vanished one after another as they entered a narrow underwater tunnel, its walls rugged and rough, as if carved by someone in a hurry. There was no light here, just endless black, swallowing their surroundings whole. The deeper they went, the more oppressive the darkness became.
For the first time since leaving the Leviathan settlement, Kaoru was allowed to activate his Suijingan without restriction. The moment his eyes lit up, the world sharpened into clarity. He could see the tunnel snaking far ahead, the rocky walls laced with smooth mineral veins, but little else. No fish, no plants, no drifting organisms.
Minutes passed like hours as they descended deeper into the hidden passage, until finally, the narrow tunnel opened up. They resurfaced into a cavern so massive that Kaoru's breath caught at the sight.
Taking a deep breath, he noticed that the air here was different. It seemed fresh and… familiar.
Lifting his gaze, Kaoru slowly took in the space around him. The chamber was colossal, almost unnatural in scale. Stalactites hung like fangs from the ceiling, glimmering as faint beams of light filtered through narrow cracks above. Soft, freshly grown patches of moss glowed on the rocky walls, illuminating the cavern in a faint, pale green hue that made everything feel calm but eerily still.
'They really made all of this… for me?' Kaoru marveled, silently awestruck.
But then Iseki gently nudged the water bubble with his massive tail, sending it rolling softly across the smooth stone until it landed near the cavern's center.
"You can let it dissipate, kid," Iseki added with a grin as his massive form began to shift. The enormous Leviathan body condensed, twisting and folding into itself until, with a gentle ripple of chakra, he fully transformed into his humanoid shape. His dark blue hair swayed as he straightened his robe.
Ogashi was already ahead of him, moving toward a large chest resting near the far wall. The old Leviathan hummed softly under his breath, a satisfied expression forming as he lifted the lid and began sorting through its contents.
"This is where you'll be staying," Iseki said, stepping beside Kaoru and nudging him lightly with his elbow. "For the next six months… at the very least."
"Well, as long as you teach me some cool jutsus, I really don't mind staying here," Kaoru grinned, trying once again to bargain with Iseki, hoping to sneak a few extra techniques into the training.
"If you don't stop pestering," Iseki retorted, crossing his arms and smirking, "I might decide not to teach you even what I was planning to."
Kaoru let out a small chuckle, already used to these constant verbal battles with the old Leviathans. But before he could press further, Ogashi's voice cut through their exchange.
"That's enough." Ogashi returned, carrying two flat seals etched with intricate patterns. He handed them to Kaoru carefully. "Put these on your arms. And start preparing your sleeping place now. Once we begin training, you won't have the energy to even breathe properly, let alone set up your bed."
Kaoru nodded without arguing. He had already learned that when Ogashi spoke in that tone, he meant business. Quietly, he walked over to the modest corner that had clearly been prepared for him. A simple matt rested on the stone floor, beside it a small chest where he could store his belongings.
One by one, Kaoru began unpacking his storage seal - clean clothes, the dried fruits Anya had packed for him before his departure, and several scrolls containing the notes he had taken during training.
Finally, his hand brushed against something that instantly made him smile - a thin notebook with intricate seals lining its cover. The one he used to communicate with Mizuki.
'I can't wait to tell you about my new training.'
The thought alone made his chest feel lighter. Mizuki always enjoyed hearing about his progress, and writing to her helped him reflect on his own growth. He gently placed the notebook beside his bedding, already thinking about what to write once the first training session ended.
The smile stayed on his face as his gaze shifted to the two weapons lying carefully beside the mat - the custom Leviathan blade Soma and Sona had gifted him, and his favorite weapon, Nagizume.
'Every step brings me closer,' Kaoru thought, his resolve hardening. 'I'll keep pushing forward until I'm strong enough that no one can threaten Takimura again.'
He carefully secured the two seals onto his arms as instructed, feeling the immediate strain on his body.
'Rock Lee would be proud,' He chuckled inwardly.
Just then, Ogashi's voice echoed once more from across the chamber,
"It's time."
Kaoru stood up immediately.
The training that would define the next six months of his life had officially begun.
**
A/N -
We'll be rushing through the current arc, focusing only on the main training parts. I ran out of steam while writing this part and in the end was not enjoying it at all...
We'll still return to the Leviathans from time to time through flashbacks or side stories to explore their world and Takime's background, but it won't be part of the main plot.
Now I gotta go to sleep, I'm exhausted.
Reminder - Next Chapter on Tuesday
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