The sandstorm was less intense than usual at the training ground in the early morning, and the sunlight filtered through the thin clouds, casting a relatively gentle glow.
Shira moved around the field. Unlike his usual pure Taijutsu training, he now carried an unsharpened practice short sword.
The movements were somewhat awkward, even clumsy.
He practiced every basic movement repeatedly, striving for perfection: chopping, slashing, stabbing, parrying...
But he was clearly not a swordsman's genius; his point of attack often went astray, and his footwork and swordplay were stiff. Sweat dripped down his chin, leaving dark marks on the sand.
Not far away, Ameno was practicing Water Release. She formed hand Hand Seals, carefully condensing moisture from the air to create a thin stream of water. Occasionally, if she miscontrolled it, the stream would "plop" and scatter, splashing up a few droplets.
" Shira, why did you suddenly want to practice swordsmanship?" During a break, Ameno wiped her sweat and asked curiously.
Shira twirled her sword in a rather unremarkable fashion, then replied, panting, "Relying solely on your fists can be disadvantageous in some situations, such as against those armed, or when you need to control the situation at mid-range. Learning more skills is never a bad thing."
He recalled the battle between Kusagakure and Fang; if they had had a suitable weapon, they might not have been so passive.
"Oh, that's true. But you seem to be practicing really hard." Ameno nodded.
"Trying to figure it out on your own is a waste of time and effort." Shira sheathed her sword, her eyes clear. "So, I've decided to use the reward from that mission."
"Award?"
"Hmm, an opportunity to consult with a village-designated expert." Shira took out a small scroll certificate engraved with the Sunagakure symbol from her ninja tool pouch. "I've applied to consult with Teacher Kenmei."
" Kenmei- sensei?" Ameno thought for a moment, "Is he the Special Jōnin who supposedly retired from the front lines due to an old injury?"
"Yes. The village arranged for him to specifically instruct the young people on the basics of weaponry." Shira looked towards the entrance of the training ground. "He should be here soon."
As soon as he finished speaking, a figure appeared at the entrance of the training ground. The person was about forty years old, tall and thin, wearing Special Jōnin vest with the left sleeve hanging down, secured to the side with a strap.
His face was somewhat pale, but his eyes were unusually calm, like a deep pool. What was most striking was the longsword he carried on his back, its scabbard wrapped with gray cloth strips. Although it was not drawn, it naturally exuded a cold aura.
Shira immediately stood up straight and bowed respectfully. "Hello, Teacher Kenmei. I am Shira, Genin. Thank you for your guidance."
Kenmei's gaze swept calmly over Shira, lingering for a moment on the practice short sword in his hand. His voice was steady, revealing neither joy nor anger. "You are Shira. The mission reward is very valuable. Are you sure you want to use it on basic weapon practice? Many people would choose to ask for more practical Ninjutsu or Genjutsu combat techniques."
"I'm sure, teacher," Shira replied without hesitation. "I believe the fundamentals are the foundation of everything. And what I need to improve on most right now is my weapon handling."
Kenmei nodded slightly, saying nothing more. He walked to the center of the arena and casually picked up a wooden sword from a nearby shelf with his only remaining right hand. "Perform what you were practicing earlier for me."
Shira took a deep breath, concentrated, and unleashed the basic slashing and thrusting attack he had practiced countless times. To an expert, his movements were full of flaws, his power was stiff, and his footwork was unsteady.
Ameno, watching from the side, felt a little nervous for Shira.
After finishing her practice, Shira sheathed her sword and stood up, sweat beading on her forehead, looking at Kenmei with a damp, sweaty expression.
Kenmei remained silent for a moment before slowly speaking, "Your physical foundation is very good; your strength and speed are excellent. But..."
He paused, raised the wooden sword with his one arm, and casually made a thrusting motion. The movement was slow, even somewhat understated, but Shira's pupils contracted—he felt a concentrated "force," as if the tip of the sword had already touched him, sending chills down his spine.
"Your sword lacks 'intention'." Kenmei put down his wooden sword. "You're swinging it like a punch, only thinking about hitting the target."
"The sword is not only an extension of the arm, but also an extension of the will. Every time you exert force, your breathing becomes disordered; your footwork shifts, and your center of gravity becomes unstable. You are not wielding a sword, but merely swinging a rather stiff iron bar."
Every word hit the nail on the head, and Shira's face flushed slightly, but his eyes grew brighter and brighter. He knew he had met a true expert.
"Put down your sword," Kenmei said.
Shira did as she was told and put down her short sword practice.
"Watch closely." Kenmei raised his sword again, still with the simplest straight thrust, but this time, his breathing became long and rhythmic, his feet shifted slightly, and his waist and hips moved his shoulders and arms, making the whole movement a seamless whole.
"The sword moves, the body follows, the mind precedes. Your breathing technique is unique; why not try incorporating it into your sword-wielding? Let your breath flow in the direction of the sword's pointing finger, instead of being held in your chest."
Shira seemed to understand something. He tried to adjust his breathing, following the rhythm of the Seven Heavens Breathing Method, and picked up the short sword again, imitating Kenmei's straight thrust. Although still clumsy, this time, the thrust seemed a little more stable.
A faint hint of surprise flashed in Kenmei's eyes, but he quickly regained his composure. "Your comprehension is acceptable. But remember, weapons are killing weapons; Isshiki and every stance has a single, pure purpose—to efficiently destroy the target."
"Fancy moves are meaningless in a life-or-death struggle. From today onward, forget all your preconceived notions of 'swordsmanship,' and practice only three things: thrusting, parrying, and footwork."
In the following time, Kenmei used his concise, almost harsh, method to re-examine Shira's most basic movements.
He explained the techniques for generating power, corrected minor mistakes, and even gently tapped Shira's joints where he was generating power incorrectly with a wooden sword, allowing him to experience it firsthand.
He taught with extreme patience, but also with extreme strictness. He required Shira to repeat a simple straight thrust hundreds of times until the movement formed initial muscle memory.
When the training ended, Shira was drenched in sweat and even more exhausted than after a high-intensity Taijutsu training session, but her eyes were unusually bright.
He felt as if a new door was opening a crack in front of him.
"Thank you for your guidance, teacher!" Shira bowed respectfully.
Kenmei waved his hand and put the sword back on its shelf. "Your style is different from ordinary people; you don't need to be bound by traditional swordsmanship. Remember 'intention' and 'momentum,' and integrate your own strengths into it. Come here at this time every three days. Next time, if it's as chaotic as it is today, you don't need to come again."
After saying that, he turned around, carrying the cloth-wrapped longsword on his back, and slowly left the training ground. His one-armed figure looked somewhat lonely in the wind and sand, yet it possessed a straightness like a sword.
Ameno then leaned closer and whispered, "This teacher is so strict. But she seems really amazing."
Shira looked in the direction Kenmei had left and nodded heavily. "Yes! This reward was totally worth it."
He clenched his fist, savoring the novel sensation of the short sword against his body.
Only by continuously expanding one's abilities can one make up for the shortcomings of Ninjutsu and Genjutsu!
I'm really sick. I finally got a weekend off, but someone in my class infected several people around them, and I got infected too.
It's still H1N1! I'm so angry! I feel so listless and have no interest in doing anything.
By the way, many readers have mentioned that inserting jokes affects the reading experience. I'm sorry, my current literary level isn't enough to bring the words to life completely. I inserted jokes to increase the humor, and I won't suddenly insert random jokes in the future (O∆O).