Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!
Thirty-six fireballs, controlled by Taiichi, split into two groups and homed in on Yohei and Saori.
Unlike usual fireballs, these were visibly different. They were brighter, burning with a far more intense heat. Even from a distance, Yohei and Saori felt their skin prickle.
"Don't let them get close!" They had the same thought and dashed to opposite sides to dodge.
But it was futile. Taiichi maintained the hand seal, and under his control, the fireballs arced dangerously, chasing them down like homing missiles.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Explosions dogged their heels. Searing heat waves licked at their backs, forcing them to sprint at full speed.
When the last fireball finally detonated, they stopped to catch their breath. Looking back, they saw the ground pitted with half-meter craters. The edges of the craters glowed red, and molten rock trickled down the sides.
Yohei's pupils constricted. Is this still Fire Style? Normal Fire Style burns. Taiichi's Fire Style incinerates!
But Taiichi didn't give them time to marvel. He activated his Body Flicker Technique. In an instant, he was in front of a shocked Yohei.
Using the momentum of his high-speed approach, Taiichi suppressed Yohei with a flurry of strikes. This storm-like fighting style was completely different from his usual measured approach, perfectly suited to his enhanced speed.
If not for the dynamic vision of his three-tomoe Sharingan, Yohei wouldn't have even been able to parry.
On the other side, Saori was helpless. Unlike Yohei, she could barely see Taiichi. All she perceived was a blur moving rapidly around her teammate. She couldn't help if she couldn't see.
Desperate, she fired Lightning Balls around Yohei, hoping the scattered electric arcs would limit Taiichi's movement.
It worked to an extent. Annoyed, Taiichi abandoned Yohei and flickered towards the support.
Saori knew she stood no chance in Taijutsu. Retreating rapidly, she wove signs. "Lightning Style: Lightning Net!"
A Lightning Ball exploded mid-air, expanding into a large electrified net that rushed to envelop Taiichi.
"Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!"
Taiichi didn't dodge. He countered directly. A powerful gust of wind blew the lightning net apart effortlessly.
Without pausing, he ghosted behind Saori before Yohei could intervene. A swift chop to the neck with the back of his tanto knocked her unconscious.
"Saori!" Yohei's heart sank. Two against one was hard enough. One on one? Hopeless.
Taiichi didn't give him time to think. Having dealt with Saori, he turned to Yohei and wove signs instantly.
"Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!"
The gale hit Yohei like a giant hammer, sending him flying. By the time he groggily got to his feet, a cold blade was already resting against his neck.
---
Ten minutes later, the three sat together, discussing the spar.
"After that fight, I believe you both have a better understanding of your current levels," Taiichi started.
Yohei and Saori nodded. They had gone all out, but they still didn't know how much strength Taiichi had used.
"Yohei. In our fight, your Sharingan could see my movements clearly. But your body's reaction was always a beat slow."
As he spoke, Taiichi suddenly threw a punch at Yohei's face.
The Sharingan tracked the trajectory instantly, but Yohei's body lagged behind his brain's command to dodge. Taiichi's fist stopped millimeters from his nose.
A drop of cold sweat rolled down Yohei's forehead.
"See? Your eyes saw it, your brain commanded it, but your body couldn't keep up."
"What about me?" Saori asked. "I couldn't even see your movements."
"There are two ways to solve this," Taiichi said, causing both of them to sit up straight. "The first, and most orthodox way, is to improve your physical fitness."
"Ugh, that takes forever," Yohei groaned. Then he looked at Taiichi suspiciously. "Wait, you're so strong at your age. Do you have a secret method?"
Taiichi rolled his eyes. "You wish. There are no shortcuts."
Yohei slumped.
"However, I do have a specialized training regimen I summarized myself. It's very effective for improving physical fitness. I can teach you that."
Yohei perked up instantly. "Really? You'd teach us? Isn't that like... a secret technique?"
In this era, specialized training methods were guarded jealously by clans.
Saori stared at Taiichi with hope in her eyes.
"This mission made me realize something. We are friends and comrades. On the battlefield, I am safer only if you are stronger," Taiichi said solemnly.
"Taiichi..." Yohei was touched. "Don't worry. I won't teach it to anyone without your permission. Not even my clan."
Saori nodded in agreement.
"Haha! Now for the second method to improve reaction speed," Taiichi continued. "This one is good for Saori, but for Yohei... it depends on your development path."
"What is it?" Saori asked.
"Using Lightning Release chakra to stimulate and vitalize muscles, comprehensively boosting physical stats, including reaction speed."
"Of course, this requires fine control. Saori, you have a Lightning affinity. Ask your family if they have records on this."
Saori nodded seriously. She vaguely remembered her father mentioning something similar.
"Ah! I'm Fire nature. Should I train a second nature?" Yohei lamented.
"Master your Fire Style first," Taiichi shot him down mercilessly.
"Speaking of Fire Style," Yohei said, intrigued. "Your fire was way hotter than usual. How did you do that?"
"Nature Transformation is subjective. My understanding of Fire is 'Heat.' Extreme heat. So, I spent time observing high-temperature furnace fires at a smithy, combined with training. That's how the temperature increased."
Taiichi shared his method and insights on Nature Transformation without holding back.
Yohei and Saori listened intently. Hearing a unique perspective on Nature Transformation was invaluable, especially from someone as skilled as Taiichi.
"Alright. That's enough theory. Now, I'll teach you my training method."
Taiichi stood up and walked to the center of the field.
He taught them the Basic Taijutsu method he had long outgrown but perfected. The specific forms and breathing techniques were far superior to standard Academy drills.
It took them the whole day to grasp the essentials, even with Yohei's Sharingan, because the internal force exertion techniques were complex.
By the end, they realized just how precious this gift was.
---
The Next Day, 2:00 PM.
After morning training, Taiichi bought a huge bag of snacks—dango, dorayaki, tempura, sushi—and headed to the orphanage.
He felt guilty for not visiting Nono and the kids for so long.
He knocked on the gate.
"Who is it?" Masami's clear voice called out.
"It's me. Open up," Taiichi lowered his voice playfully.
"Ah!" A gasp of surprise, then delight. "It's Taiichi-nii!"
The gate flew open, and a small figure launched herself at him.
Taiichi patted Masami's head, feeling a warm happiness. "Masami, have you been good? Did you listen to the Director?"
"Of course! I'm the best!"
The noise drew the other kids out. They swarmed Taiichi, chattering excitedly.
"Taiichi-nii! What's in the bag?" Masami stood on tiptoes, trying to peek.
Twenty pairs of eyes locked onto the bag.
Taiichi lifted it high, teasing them. "It's dango, dorayaki, and..."
"And tempura! And sushi!" Kota shouted, sniffing the air like a puppy. "I smell fried shrimp!"
The yard exploded with cheers.
"Alright, everyone line up! Don't crowd Taiichi!" An old woman came out to maintain order.
"Grandma Keiko! You're here today?" Taiichi asked, surprised.
"Nono had to go out on business, so she asked me to watch the place. These kids would tear the roof off without supervision," Grandma Keiko smiled kindly.
"Oh? Nono-nee went out? Did she say when she'd be back?" Taiichi asked casually, but his heart sank.
"She's been gone about two weeks. Should be back in a day or two. You know her, she goes out sometimes. I didn't ask much," Grandma Keiko replied while sorting vegetables.
Taiichi's suspicion was confirmed. Nono was back on a Root mission. Despite the orphanage having money now, she hadn't escaped Danzo's control.
He felt powerless. He was still too weak to influence the higher-ups. He'd have to ask her when she returned.
He joined Grandma Keiko in preparing vegetables, chatting about his ninja life to entertain the kids.
He spent the day playing with them, using his chakra control to form mini water dragons and fire birds, amazing them.
"I want to learn that!" Masami waved her arms at the fire bird.
"Then you have to train hard, study hard, and become a ninja!" Taiichi encouraged.
"I will!"
"We all want to be ninjas like Taiichi-nii!"
Time flew by. He played, ate, and eventually helped put the kids to bed.
Just as he was preparing to leave, the orphanage gate creaked open quietly.