"Hah... hah..."
The sound of heavy breathing filled the area, as if the two were trying to swallow all the air around them in a single breath.
The two children's bodies were covered in sweat and dust, their muscles trembling from exhaustion, yet their eyes shone with confidence and the feeling that they had become stronger, and that all the exhaustion they had endured had been worth it.
Madara's gaze toward Hashirama carried a mixture of challenge and satisfaction, as if he were telling him without words:
"I haven't fallen behind you."
Then he spoke in a voice that was still breathless, but carried a faint tone of pride:
"You've improved. I didn't expect you to reach this level so quickly. It seems this strange man's training is actually paying off, even though it seemed more like torture at first."
Hashirama replied with a smile, smiling as he said:
"You too. You've become faster and more precise."
"All right, that's enough for now. You can rest for a little while, because what comes next will be different, and it will require greater concentration."
The two children heard a familiar voice behind them, so they quickly turned around and saw a young man wearing a simple martial artist's outfit, his blue hair tied behind his head, with an expression of complete relaxation on his face.
In truth, this calm and carefree nature made the two children feel admiration and even respect for him, despite the fact that this person always refused to let them call him their teacher and insisted that he was merely a guide. Nevertheless, deep down, they considered him their true teacher.
In their eyes shone a respect and admiration that could not be hidden, especially since the rapid improvement in their strength was due to this young man, who had trained them in strange methods completely different from everything they had learned within their clans. At first, they had seemed illogical to them, and sometimes even insane.
On the first day, he had shocked them when he told them to descend into the deep pit filled with water and perform intense physical exercises beneath the surface.
Both of them had looked at him with great suspicion, wondering how training in water could possibly make them stronger. Nevertheless, they decided to trust him and follow his instructions because they felt that he was not an ordinary person. Indeed, after a period of training, they began to see the results.
Their bodies had become tougher, their muscles had grown stronger, and their endurance had increased noticeably.
Later, Leon also began training them in new chakra-control techniques, which seemed extremely strange at first. But with time, repetition, and perseverance, they noticed a significant improvement in their chakra control.
They became capable of directing it with greater precision and using it more efficiently, which directly affected their overall strength.
"All right, you must pay close attention now. This will be the only technique I am going to teach you, because it will be enough."
Then, after seeing that the two children were completely focused, their eyes fixed on him, he continued:
"This technique can be considered both Taijutsu and Ninjutsu, so it depends on how you use it and how far your imagination can take it. It is not merely physical movements, nor is it simply the manipulation of chakra. Rather, it is a fusion of the two, and it requires you to think, imagine, and innovate, because it is flexible and capable of development, giving you room for creativity. That is what will make it special if you invest in it properly."
Leon then approached a massive rock, placed his hand against it, and continued speaking:
"And this will be the last thing I teach you. Once you master it, I will consider you both graduates of my training. Each of you will have obtained what you need to continue your own path, and I will leave you to develop it according to your own styles. This technique will be the key that opens many doors for you, if you master it properly."
Hashirama and Madara looked at each other, their eyes carrying a hint of sadness, as if they had suddenly realized that this moment might be their last with this strange man. The thought that they would never see him again after he passed this technique on to them weighed heavily on their hearts.
For a moment, they even considered deliberately slowing down and being lazy while learning the technique, as if they wanted to prolong their time with him. However, both of them quickly drove the thought from their minds, because doing so would be considered disrespectful toward him.
Although he refused to let them call him their teacher and insisted that he was merely a guide, deep within their hearts, he was much more than that. The only way they could honor him was to master this technique, become strong, and achieve their dreams, and that would be the greatest gift they could give him.
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P*atreo*n :Aaron4dicard
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