Chomi created a shadow clone with a single hand seal. "You," she said to the clone, "handle Tatsuo. I'll take care of Satoru."
The clone nodded and motioned Tatsuo to follow her to a nearby area. Chomi turned to Satoru, studying him carefully. "Alright, let's see where you stand. How far have you gotten with chakra-enhancement?"
Satoru rubbed the back of his neck. "I've got most of it down, but I'm stuck on two parts—ranged burst and external projection."
Chomi raised an eyebrow. "And how much do you know about them?"
"Not much," Satoru admitted. "I just know they're supposed to be advanced techniques."
Chomi nodded thoughtfully. "Alright, let me explain. Ranged burst is primarily for weapons, while external projection is for taijutsu. With ranged burst, you coat your weapon in chakra and release a wave of it. The type of weapon you use affects the wave's size and impact."
She picked up a katana from a rack nearby, its blade shimmering faintly as she infused it with chakra. With a sharp swing, she launched a crescent-shaped wave of chakra toward a small rock, slicing it cleanly in two.
"That's ranged burst with a sword," she said, placing the katana down. "But it's versatile. You don't need to limit yourself to traditional weapons."
Using earth style, she molded a bat out of solid rock, gripping it tightly. Chakra flared around the bat as she swung it, releasing a powerful shockwave. The wave struck a tree with a loud crack, leaving a deep dent in the trunk.
"See? Different weapons, different effects," Chomi explained.
Satoru's eyes narrowed, intrigued. "And external projection?"
Chomi grinned. "Watch closely." She stepped toward a nearby boulder, clenched her fist, and threw a punch—but her fist didn't touch the rock. Instead, a burst of chakra shot from her knuckles, smashing into the boulder and reducing it to rubble.
Satoru blinked in surprise. "What are its uses in battle?"
Chomi gestured to the shattered remains of the boulder. "It has several applications. It can increase your raw attack power, add a double impact to your strikes, or extend the range of your attacks. For example…"
She turned to the tree she had damaged earlier. Throwing another punch, she landed a solid hit on the trunk, but a secondary impact followed, shaking the tree violently as more bark splintered off.
Satoru whistled in appreciation. "That's… pretty versatile."
"It is," Chomi agreed. "But it takes practice. So, warm up. You'll need full control over your chakra output for this."
Satoru began stretching and focusing his chakra, preparing for the grueling training ahead. Meanwhile, Tatsuo, under the shadow clone's guidance, was working on improving his control over his fire coat, aiming to extend its duration and efficiency.
Both boys were ready to push their limits.
Chomi's shadow clone watched Tatsuo as he stretched, then crossed her arms. "Before we begin, what's your goal with this fire cloak technique?"
Tatsuo straightened up, determination in his eyes. "I want to become the strongest nin-taijutsu user."
The clone nodded approvingly. "Good ambition. If you're serious about that path, you'll need to master the first two stages of chakra augmentation. The first is enhancing your body externally—focusing on muscles and physical attributes. The second stage, however, involves enhancing each and every individual cell in your body."
Tatsuo blinked in surprise. "Each individual cell? How is that even possible?"
Chomi smirked. "It's not easy, that's for sure. You start by enhancing entire muscles, then progress to individual tissues, and finally, the cells. It requires insane chakra control and years of discipline. But if you pull it off, your physical power will be unmatched."
Tatsuo hesitated for a moment before asking, "How long does someone need to train for this?"
"Years, depending on your dedication," Chomi said matter-of-factly. "And once you've mastered the second stage, you'll need to add your fire chakra nature into the mix. That's how chakra modes are created—combining chakra augmentation with elemental nature transformations."
Tatsuo's eyes lit up. "Chakra modes? Like the Third Raikage's lightning cloak?"
Chomi chuckled. "Not quite. The Third Raikage's mode is far more advanced. It's a specialized technique that gives an incredible boost to physical abilities. What I'm talking about is a simpler chakra mode—less potent than his, but still immensely powerful."
Tatsuo nodded, excitement barely contained. "How strong will I be if I master all these stages?"
Chomi's expression turned serious. "Completely mastering the first stage will make you at least chunin-level in physical strength—probably higher. Mastering the second stage will push you to jonin or even elite jonin rank. And if you can achieve a chakra mode… you'll be S-rank or low kage-level in power."
Tatsuo's amazement turned into resolve. "I'll do whatever it takes."
"Good," Chomi said, stepping back. "We'll start with the basics of muscle enhancement. Focus your chakra on a single muscle group at a time."
Tatsuo nodded and closed his eyes, centering his chakra on his arms. A faint glow surrounded his muscles as he concentrated. Chomi observed silently, offering pointers whenever his control faltered.
"Steady," she said at one point. "Don't rush. Precision is key. If you're sloppy here, you'll hit a wall later on."
Tatsuo gritted his teeth, sweat forming on his brow as he focused. He could feel the strain, but the thought of reaching the levels Chomi described pushed him forward.
As the training continued, the clone offered occasional tips and feedback, her demeanor calm but firm. Tatsuo knew this would be grueling, but he was determined to take the first step toward becoming the strongest nin-taijutsu user.
The day went by quickly, with Satoru and Tatsuo pushing themselves to their limits. Their muscles screamed in protest, and their chakra reserves were nearly dry from the relentless training. As the sun dipped low, Tatsuo slumped onto the ground, panting heavily.
"What now?" Tatsuo asked, his voice tired but tinged with satisfaction from the hard work.
Satoru stretched his sore shoulders and replied, "We can head over to Mitsuki-sensei's house. She can patch us up, and then we'll find something to eat."
Tatsuo raised a skeptical eyebrow. "You sure about that? What if… you know… they're still going at it?"
Satoru smirked mischievously. "Then we ruin their time together."
Tatsuo looked at Satoru with mock disgust. "You are a truly sick and twisted individual," he said, before grinning slyly. "I like that about you."
They both laughed as they began their slow walk toward Mitsuki-sensei's house, their exhaustion evident in their pace.
"So," Satoru began, "where should we go after ruining Shinichi-sensei and Mitsuki-sensei's alone time?"
Tatsuo pondered for a moment. "Well, since Dai and Keiko are off on their missions, it's just the two of us. Maybe we can hit a ramen place or a barbecue joint?"
Satoru considered the options before an idea struck him. A small smile crept onto his face. "I've got a better idea. I know a great restaurant nearby."
Curious, Tatsuo followed Satoru as they approached Mitsuki-sensei's house. Satoru gestured for Tatsuo to keep quiet as they sneaked into the house, their footsteps light and deliberate.
As they stepped inside, a faint noise reached their ears, confirming that someone was indeed home. Satoru led the way toward the source of the sound, moving stealthily, while Tatsuo followed a bit more hesitantly.
Suddenly, the door to one of the rooms swung open. Mitsuki-sensei stood there, wrapped in a bathrobe, her wet hair a clear sign she'd recently bathed. Her surprised eyes locked onto the two boys frozen mid-step.
From behind her, Shinichi-sensei scrambled to grab his pants from the floor. With an awkward shuffle, he bolted toward the bathroom, disappearing with a slam of the door.
The silence in the hallway was deafening as Mitsuki-sensei stared at the two intruders. Satoru and Tatsuo exchanged a glance, one filled with both amusement and apprehension.
Mitsuki's face hardened as she crossed her arms. "What are you two doing here?" she asked, her voice sharp but tinged with curiosity.
Tatsuo, ever blunt, responded, "We needed someone to heal us. We're completely drained."
Mitsuki raised an eyebrow and glanced at Satoru. "Satoru knows medical ninjutsu too. Why didn't he heal you?"
Satoru, leaning against the wall with a weary expression, said, "No chakra left. None of us do."
Letting out an exasperated sigh, Mitsuki motioned for them to sit down in the hall. "Fine, sit still," she said as she formed the seals to begin healing.
As her green chakra began to knit their wounds and restore their energy, the door to the bathroom creaked open. Shinichi stepped out, fully dressed but notably relaxed. He glanced at the trio, grabbed a beer from the fridge, and plopped down in front of Satoru with a smug expression.
Satoru's brow twitched at Shinichi's audacity. Shinichi leaned closer, his voice dropping to a low whisper. "Nothing personal, kid," he began, his tone dripping with mockery, "but she's mine now. She won't be as free as she is anymore."
Satoru's gaze hardened, his body stiff despite the healing glow surrounding him. He said nothing, but his mind burned with quiet fury. 'I'll get you for this, Shinichi-sensei,' he vowed silently, already plotting his revenge.
Mitsuki, oblivious to the tension, let out a soft laugh at Shinichi's odd behavior. "You're acting so weird, Shinichi," she teased, shaking her head.
Once their wounds were healed, Satoru stood abruptly, pulling Tatsuo up with him. "Thanks for the help," he said curtly, his voice laced with hidden disdain.
As they left, Satoru turned back to glare at Shinichi and Mitsuki, his judgmental stare lingering just long enough to make the couple shift awkwardly. Without another word, Satoru dragged Tatsuo out of the house, slamming the door behind them.
Tatsuo turned to Satoru as they walked away from Mitsuki-sensei's house. "So, where's this restaurant you're talking about?"
Satoru thought for a moment, his mind drifting to Reiko. He remembered how much effort she had put into ensuring he enjoyed the food the last time they ate together. A small smile crossed his lips. "Follow me," he said.
They arrived at Reiko's cousin's restaurant, the familiar smell of freshly cooked food wafting through the air. As soon as Reiko spotted Satoru, her face lit up with excitement. She hurried over, her enthusiasm evident in her every step.
"Satoru! Tatsuo!" she greeted cheerfully.
Tatsuo raised an eyebrow. "You working as a waiter here?"
Reiko nodded, smiling. "Yep, just helping my cousin out for a bit."
Tatsuo leaned on the counter. "Alright then, what's good on the menu today?"
Reiko quickly listed a few items, her energy infectious. The boys placed their orders, and Reiko disappeared into the kitchen.
As they waited for the food, Satoru's attention wandered to the other customers in the restaurant. His gaze fell on a man slicing his food with a knife. The man's hand slipped, and he nicked his finger lightly. Blood welled up and trickled down his finger.
Satoru's eyes fixated on the crimson drop. He felt a strange pull as if the sight was demanding his attention. He wanted to see more. The man, however, quickly wiped his finger with a tissue and resumed eating.
Lost in thought, Satoru barely noticed when Reiko returned with their food. Tatsuo thanked her and eagerly began eating. Meanwhile, Satoru remained in his trance-like state, his eyes still drawn to the bloodstained tissue.
Subtly, he activated Boogie-Woogie. In an instant, the bloodied tissue disappeared, replaced with a fresh one. No one around him seemed to notice the switch. Satoru pocketed the tissue and finally turned his attention back to the table.
Reiko tilted her head, slightly confused. "Satoru? You okay?"
He snapped out of it, offering a quick nod. "Yeah, just tired from training."
Tatsuo smirked. "You better eat before I finish your share."
Satoru picked up his chopsticks and started eating.