In the early morning in Konoha, as the sky was just beginning to lighten and the first rays of light had not yet fully pierced through the thin mist, Tsubasa finished his morning training. During this time, he had become deeply fascinated by training, and watching the Spiritual Qi gradually fill his dantian was the happiest thing for him every day.
After Tsubasa finished his morning training, Hashirama Senju's powerful voice echoed across the empty training ground, " Tsubasa, do not slack off. You must go all out in today's battle!" This voice seemed to carry a surge of energy, igniting the fighting spirit in Tsubasa's heart.
Tsubasa came rushing from the restaurant in the distance, his steps brisk and his eyes full of excitement and anticipation. "Master, your disciple is ready!" he shouted, his aura as vibrant and energetic as the rising sun.
The two stood facing each other, a tense atmosphere filling the air, a fierce battle about to erupt. Tsubasa struck first, his hands moving rapidly, his ten fingers flying nimbly as he quickly Hand Seals, shouting, " Earth Release: Rock Pillar Spear!" In Setsuna, the ground trembled violently, and sharp rock pillars burst forth from the earth, like blades, piercing straight for Hashirama Senju. The rock pillars carried a powerful impact, tearing through the surrounding air with a sharp whistling sound.
Hashirama Senju remained calm, a confident smile playing on his lips. He moved with ghostly grace, weaving between the rock pillars with fluid, effortless movements. "Not bad, your speed is even faster than yesterday, and your Hashirama Senju Earth Release techniques are more refined, like solidified rock. But it's far from enough to hit me," he commented as he dodged, his voice clearly reaching Tsubasa's ears, igniting a fierce Tsubasa spirit within him.
Tsubasa took a deep breath, his gaze becoming even more resolute. He Hand Seals again, his movements fluid and seamless, " Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!" As his shout fell, a torrent of water erupted from his body, instantly transforming into a ferocious water dragon. The water dragon roared as it charged towards Hashirama Senju, its massive body tumbling in mid-air, leaving a trail of water vapor in its wake, and wetting the ground with the splashes of water.
A hint of admiration flashed in Hashirama Senju's eyes. He clapped his hands together, his movements as swift as lightning. " Wood Release: Advent of a World of Trees!" With a low shout, a powerful life force erupted from his body and merged into the ground. Countless thick vines burst forth from the earth, growing and spreading at an astonishing speed. These vines intertwined and entwined, instantly weaving an indestructible defensive barrier, tightly binding the water dragon. They not only firmly blocked the water dragon's attack but also crushed and shattered it, splashing huge sprays of water, yet they could not break through this defense line formed by Wood Release.
The battle paused briefly. Hashirama Senju withdrew his spell and looked at Tsubasa with a serious expression. " Tsubasa, your progress in water and earth-attribute Ninjutsu is remarkable. Your water dragon was even able to withstand my Wood Release strangulation for a while. But the training of Ninjutsu is not merely about pursuing speed and power. Water, seemingly soft and boneless, contains endless inclusiveness and resilience, and can overcome strength with softness; earth, heavy and stable, bears all things and is a symbol of power and solidity. You need to truly integrate their characteristics into every Ninjutsu you use to unleash their greatest power."
Tsubasa listened quietly to his master's teachings, his mind involuntarily recalling his experiences practicing water and earth elemental Ninjutsu. Initially, when releasing Ninjutsu, he only knew to pour in Chakra, relying on brute force. This not only greatly reduced the power of his Ninjutsu but also often left him in trouble due to excessive Chakra consumption. Later, he began to calm his mind and carefully observe the water and earth in nature. He often sat by the river, contemplating the flowing water, watching it meander through any obstacle, eventually forming rivers, lakes, and seas. He also ventured deep into the earth, touching the solid soil with his hands, feeling its power and inclusiveness in bearing all things. From that moment on, he seemed to grasp a sliver of the mystery of water and earth elemental Ninjutsu, and Ninjutsu technique underwent a qualitative leap, no longer merely a superficial form like when he first learned Ninjutsu.
"Master, I understand. Water Release shouldn't just be seen as a simple attack method. Its fluidity and flexibility can be used to trap enemies, disrupt their movements, and can also be combined with other Ninjutsu to produce unexpected effects," Tsubasa said thoughtfully, his eyes gleaming with wisdom.
Hashirama Senju nodded in satisfaction. "That's right. As for Wood Release Ninjutsu, you seem to be using it more for support these days. Have you gained any insights into that?"
Tsubasa scratched his head, a shy smile appearing on his face, "Master, Wood Release Ninjutsu requires extremely high control over Chakra. Although I can use some basic Wood Release, I always feel that compared to Water and Earth Release Ninjutsu, it lacks a certain ease and fluency. However, I've discovered that using Wood Release to restrict the enemy's movements, combined with Water and Earth Release attacks, often achieves twice the result with half the effort."
Hashirama Senju stepped forward, gently patted Tsubasa on the shoulder, and said earnestly, " Wood Release is an extremely special power, containing the mysteries of life and nature. Don't be impatient; as your training deepens, your understanding of it will gradually grow. Remember, every elemental Ninjutsu has its unique value and meaning; the key lies in how to discover and utilize it."
After a brief exchange, the master and apprentice assumed their stances once more, Shinichi of combat about to begin. This time, Tsubasa incorporated his understanding of elemental attributes into the execution of his Ninjutsu. He first swiftly Hand Seals, unleashing Water Release that created a thick curtain of water. The water curtain permeated the entire training ground, like a veil, blurring Hashirama Senju's vision. Immediately afterward, under the cover of the water curtain, he silently activated Earth Release technique. Within the water curtain, countless sharp earth spikes silently emerged, like hidden weapons, ready to deliver a fatal blow to the enemy at any moment.
Hashirama Senju sensed the threat emanating from the water curtain, his gaze becoming focused and vigilant. He moved swiftly, weaving and dodging through the water, while simultaneously unleashing Wood Release to detect and defend against the hidden earth spikes. In an instant, the training Jonin, filled with the mist of water, and echoed with shouts of battle.
In terms of Taijutsu, Tsubasa also showed amazing progress. His movements were like lightning, and every punch he threw was accompanied by a whooshing sound, as if it contained endless power. His strength was approaching 80,000 jin, yet he was able to use this powerful force perfectly, truly achieving the ability to lift heavy objects with ease and light objects with great force.
To achieve this exquisite control over power, Tsubasa devoted countless hours of arduous effort. He spent countless days and nights in a corner of the training ground, lifting heavy, mountain-like boulders, feeling the power flow through his muscles and meridians. Initially, he could only hold the position for a few minutes before his arms ached unbearably, as if they were about to break. But he never gave up, challenging his limits time and time again. As time went on, he could hold the position for longer and longer, and his strength grew ever greater.
He repeatedly punched the wooden stake, each punch using all his strength. At first, the stake was only knocked away or broken, but as his control over the power deepened, the stake was pierced, and finally, the stake was shattered by his punch.
He also tried hitting eggs, making them fly through the air without breaking. This seemingly simple action required extremely precise control of his strength. He tried again and again, failing each time, but each failure brought him closer to success. After countless practices, he finally mastered the skill, able to easily make eggs dance in the air without being damaged in the slightest.
At that moment, Tsubasa seized the opportunity, leaped forward, raised his right fist high, and slammed it towards Hashirama Senju with immense force. Hashirama Senju felt the power of this punch and dared not be careless in the slightest. He quickly dodged to the side, and the punch grazed the hem of his clothes, but the powerful wind from the punch was like a sharp blade, punching a deep crater in the ground.
"Good lad, your progress in Taijutsu is simply beyond imagination!" Hashirama Senju exclaimed with a smile, his eyes filled with satisfaction and pride.
Tsubasa was not arrogant or complacent because of his master's praise. He knew that he still had a long way to go on the path of cultivation. While pursuing greater strength, he was also constantly exploring his own way of ninja. He understood that Ninjutsu and Taijutsu were just tools to achieve his goals, and what was truly important was the belief deep in his heart and his understanding of the mysteries of heaven and earth.
As the sun set, painting the sky a vibrant orange-red, the battle between master and apprentice finally came to an end. Though exhausted, they both wore satisfied smiles. On this training ground, filled with sweat and passion, they were not only master and apprentice, but also close friends. Tsubasa's growth had been so rapid that he himself had almost run out of things to teach him. Hashirama Senju saw his former self and Madara in Tsubasa.