Two days later, Hanzo and his students were walking through the Fire region's dense forest. Each of them carried a heavy satchel on their back. The destination–Mt. Fuji. Along the way, Hanzo's hands trembled at random intervals. He had not drunk in over a week and his body reminded him of the fact.
"Hanzo-sensei," asked Mikoto with a concerned tone. "Are you okay? You're shivering..."
"Oh, this?" Hanzo looked at his hands. "I'm alright. Don't you worry about me, Mikoto-chan," he said with a smile. I do hope Kazuro-sensei was right...
"Alright, sensei," said Mikoto.
Three years to reach Senshin and learn Kōsoku? That won't be easy but it can be done. What still puzzles me is why Kagami wants him to be stronger?
They continued for some hours in silence until they arrived at Mt. Fuji and set up camp near its base.
Afterwards, Hanzo gave Kazuo and Mikoto iron weights to wear like bangles on their wrists and ankles. Each morning, they ran up Mt. Fuji, stopping near the peak for strength training. Their lungs were unaccustomed to the high altitude.
Once on the mountain, they struggled through one hundred push-ups and squats before taking a break.
This is madness! Mikoto thought, out of breath. She inhaled and exhaled slowly a few times. Sensei and Kazu-kun look like they didn't break a sweat.
"There is magic in the breath," Hanzo said with arms folded. "Great pranayama can conceal one's presence, speed up natural healing and even slow down aging. Part of this regimen is for you to control your breathing under pressure. So, inhale through the nose. Hold. Exhale through the mouth..."
They did as instructed.
After a few breathing practices, Kazuo also felt the burn in his arms and legs. To stop himself from wheezing, he made the Prana mudra and steadied his pulse. 'If you'd trained under me, Rina wouldn't have stood a chance.' He recalled Rani's words. Maybe I should've taken her offer...
"Sensei..." said Mikoto when she had caught her breath. "What are we doing after the break?"
"Mushin and Fudoshin meditation..."
The following week, Hanzo increased their weight by ten kilogrammes. If the first week had been arduous, the second was worse than hell. Hanzo's withdrawals got worse until he ran to the satchel for some saké. With his thirst quenched, he seemed jovial and his hands stopped shaking.
As weeks flew by, Kazuo and Mikoto became more accustomed to the harsh conditions near the peak of the mountain. They took more time to ascend and descend as the training weight increased. Seasons changed and weeks turned into months. Soon enough, the first year came to an abrupt end.
The Lightning duo's lung capacities improved so much that they could easily run up and down the mountain without weights. To add on, Mikoto had attained Mushin whilst Kazuo mastered Fudoshin.
"Time to begin our second year of training. Before we start, a secondary element is a combination of two elements. Then with a tertiary element, it is three or more elements. Kazuo has a head start with lightning, which combines fire and light."
He made the Chinmaya mudra and white sparks formed around his hand. "Lightning conduction–a result of Ajna and Manipura rotating at once."
The duo held onto Hanzo's every word.
"Are there other examples of such applications?" asked Mikoto, eyebrows raised. "For example, what do the shadow projectors use?"
"There's two techniques created by a blind rōnin–"
"Gen Hashimoto, by any chance?" said Mikoto.
Kaminari was responsible for his death. So they'd know. "Yes, that's him. Some time ago, he requested to train with us but Kazuro-sensei rejected him." Hanzo grabbed the few strands of his chin beard. "He developed the first technique out of spite. A shukuchijutsu (spatial compression) named Jinsoku. Using the Vyana mudra, one conducts air and ether. It is an imitation of Kōsoku which uses the Udana mudra to conduct air, ether, earth and lightning."
Mikoto's jaw dropped as she realised. "Rotating five chakras at once... that's even more insane!"
"Indeed. You catch on quick, Mikoto-chan."
Kazuo counted his fingers up to four.
"Care to explain it to him..."
Mikoto cleared her throat with a slight grin. "I noticed it with air conduction. Each mudra is activated by the thumb. Which means while actively rotating Anahata, Manipura was rotating passively."
"Oooh!" said Kazuo, his eyes widening. That time he got it. "When I used to conduct one element, I didn't think about it then but the fire cha–Manipura was always rotating. It all makes sense now."
Hanzo laughed, and Mikoto joined him. "Twenty points for you, Kazuo-kun and fifty for Mikoto-chan." He applauded them before continuing. "Moving on to Gen's other technique, which applies secondary conduction. Hankei Kakuchō. Since he couldn't see, he used the Apana mudra to conduct ether and earth. Hence, expanding his sensory radius."
They watched as he sipped from his new hyōtan.
"To then answer your second question, in its basic form, projection makes use of the shadow element. The first person to project a visible shadow was Kageyama Kentaro by rotating all seven chakras anticlockwise. Physical strength is required to learn the first six. But to fully master shadow projection, one needs a resilient and imaginative mind. A mind free from the self. That is... an enlightened mind."
For the first six months of the second year, Kazuo and Mikoto ascended Mt. Fuji during the mornings. Each of them wore iron vests equivalent to their weight as they made the strenuous climb.
After a quick break, Hanzo had them practice secondary chakra rotation. They meditated using the Vyana mudra to focus on Anahata and Vishuddha. Since they were Vata and had mastered Mushin, it took them half a year to grasp Jinsoku.
Hanzo cleared his throat. "For the next six months, we'll focus on mastering Jinsoku." He glanced at each of them. "The two of you will spar against me at Senshin. Kazuo-kun, this will also prepare you to learn the shukuchijutsu's truer form–Kōsoku."
The remaining six months dragged and felt longer. Each day comprised morning ascents and evening descents. Whilst on the mountain, Hanzo sparred against the duo using Senshin. It took time for them to get used to unarmed combat at high altitudes.
"I'm sure you two must've noticed it by now..." Hanzo took a few deep breaths and made the Prana mudra. A white aura formed around him, thinly shrouding his entire body. "The key to winning a majutsu battle is good pranayama and endurance. That or using a technique which is guaranteed to defeat your opponent with a single shot."
"Using Senshin consumes a lot of Prana." Kazuo raised his fists and made the Vyana mudra. He appeared behind Hanzo with a flying kick. Jinsoku!
Mikoto charged at full speed with a fist locked on Hanzo's gut. That's why he keeps recharging prana! If we can outlast him... we can overwhelm him...
"Hehe..." Hanzo grinned slightly as he made the Udana mudra. Kōsoku! Lightning sparks exploded where he stood and he vanished in a flash.
Kazuo and Mikoto collided in a swift clash. They rolled over a few metres away, breaking each other's falls. "Ow!" they groaned, almost in unison.
"Watch where you're going, Kazu-kun!"
"I tried stopping when he disappeared but it was too late," said Kazuo, getting up. "I'm sorry."
"We have to work on our coordination."
Hanzo walked towards them, laughing. "That was a close one," he said, taking quick breaths.
"We almost had you, sensei..." Mikoto chuckled. She got up, dusted herself and gave Kazuo a hand.
Kazuo grinned. "We nearly got him."
"Not quite!" said Hanzo, smiling. "Even without using Kōsoku that time... I would've easily blocked your attacks. Unfortunately, my limit is twice a day."
"What would happen if you used it for a third time?"
"Good question, Kazuo-kun. The short answer is, I would run out of prana and–" He gestured at his neck, as though he was beheaded.
"Can't you recharge it?" asked Mikoto.
"Another good question, Mikoto-chan. That's ten points for you!" Hanzo applauded. "Kōsoku is a kinjutsu. People are not built to move or sustain near light-speed. By rotating multiple chakras at once without rest... you risk breaking them beyond repair."
Mikoto gulped.
"Most kinjutsu require so much prana that they consume your reserves, which further reduces your lifespan. Some even involve taking or forfeiting one's life. They're forbidden for that very reason."
'Kazuo-kun has more prana reserves thanks to his genetics and Kundalini awakening.' Kazuo recalled what Hanzo had told them during their initial training. "You once said that I have more prana reserves..."
"Indeed. A person's genetics and their lifestyle can determine the size of their prana pool. Descendants of people who had large reserves also have large reserves. Examples of increasing one's pool are great exercise, diet, meditation and enlightenment."
Weeks turned into months until the second year ended. Towards the last month, Kazuo and Mikoto landed a few light hits on Hanzo when he exhausted his Kōsoku and Senshin. Hanzo congratulated them on mastering Jinsoku. They duo could use the shukuchijutsu for longer periods without tiring.
For the final year, Mikoto focused solely on two different meditations. The first was Fudoshin activation and the second Ajna rotation. Hanzo had given her the same set of instructions he gave Kazuo several months ago.
On the first day, Hanzo and Kazuo traversed into the shadow plane for the latter to learn Senshin activation and Sahasrara rotation. Once he had grasped those two, Hanzo would introduce Kōsoku.
"In order to open Sahasrara, imagine a violet sphere rotating clockwise just above your head. What makes this easier in your case... is that you can think of your violet hair." Hanzo explained, pausing briefly. "As for Senshin, its meditation focuses on detachment from all things that tie you to the world."
Kazuo held onto each word attentively.
"If we have four-hour meditations each day for six months, it'll give us five years' worth of time within the shadow plane. Which then leaves us room to practice Kōsoku for the remainder of the year..."
However, that was easier said than done. The third year–even though they spent half of it meditating, proved to be the most challenging of all. Kazuo realised enlightenment was no easy feat. As he tried to detach, visions of Mikoto clouded his mind.
'It is only when we let go of the things we love...' Hanzo had told him. 'The things that bind us to this world. Similar to a leafless tree, which is free from earthly attachments. The sudden realisation that there is no self. That right there... is enlightenment.'
The months progressed and Kazuo struggled with letting go of the memories of those he treasured. Near the end, when he had surpassed four shadow years, everything clicked. A violet aura exploded around Kazuo while he sat in the lotus pose. His hands were in a praying gesture–the Anjali mudra.
'Remember what it felt like when you nearly died.'
A memory of him being struck by Raijin flashed. Kazuo recalled feeling everything and nothing all at once. His mind was at peace and free from thought. He had finally reached it. Enlightenment!
Hanzo smiled. "Congratulations, Kazuo-kun!"
Having reached Senshin, the second half of the year was slightly better for Kazuo. He meditated in his shadow plane while holding the Udana mudra in each hand. It only took him a few shadow months to rotate five chakras at once. His knowledge of Jinsoku became useful in grasping its truer form, Kōsoku. He spent the rest of the year perfecting it.
Mikoto also made significant progress in her own training. By year's end, she had mastered Fudoshin. She could also use Jinsoku for close to an hour.
"I think before we leave," said Hanzo, during the last day. "Let's have a rematch on the ground. Low altitude and no weight. This time, I won't hold back."
Kazuo and Mikoto agreed and they all descended.
When they reached the ground level, Hanzo delivered a heavy punch directed at Kazuo's cheek.
As the blow connected, Kazuo weaved back and followed its path. Shit! He didn't even say 'begin...'
Hanzo's grin widened, his eyes glistening with excitement. Guiding my fist to lessen the impact!
Kazuo grabbed Hanzo by the arm and spat bloody saliva in his face. A purple aura burst from his feet. He tried lifting Hanzo but the man stood his ground.
"Nice!" Hanzo wiped his face. Before he could punch Kazuo with his free hand, Mikoto grabbed it from behind. "It would seem you have me pinned..." He made an Udana mudra on each hand. Kōsoku!
An immense shockwave boomed. At that moment, the surrounding earth trembled. Hanzo's sheer force pulled them down. By instinct, Mikoto and Kazuo activated Jinsoku and Kōsoku to hold him in place.
The stalemate continued for a few minutes until Hanzo extinguished his aura. "Together, you're as strong as I am. My work is complete..." he exhaled.