Training

Uzumaki Hane was satisfied with the power his Magma-Magma Fruit had unleashed, and his body returned to normal.

Next, Uzumaki Hane planned to train his Chakra Enhanced Strength. Paired with his Magma-Magma Fruit, it would definitely send his strength soaring again.

But Uzumaki Hane had never been very satisfied with his progress in Chakra Enhanced Strength. He murmured, "Maybe I'd gain some insight if I sparred with someone. Who should I ask? Teacher Kaido, then. He should be happy to do it." Having made up his mind, Uzumaki Hane prepared to leave and find Might Guy for a spar.

Just then, Tsunade walked over. Looking at the ground, which resembled the aftermath of a volcanic eruption, and the forest that had been burned down, she exclaimed, "Hane, the destructive power of your magma Kekkei Genkai is truly astonishing. Anyone who gets close to you might end up getting burned."

Of course. This is the Magma-Magma Fruit, one of the strongest Logia Devil Fruits in the Pirate King world. Naturally, it's incredibly powerful, Uzumaki Hane thought. Of course, he couldn't say that aloud, so he changed the subject. "Teacher Tsunade, what did you come to see me about?"

Tsunade said, "There's nothing going on today, so I came to see how your training was going."

Uzumaki Hane looked at Tsunade suspiciously. Several times before, she had used the excuse of giving him training pointers to sneak out and relax, only for Shizune to drag her back every time.

Uzumaki Hane said, "Teacher Tsunade, is that really why?"

Looking a little guilty, Tsunade said, "Of course it is. What's wrong with a master being concerned about her disciple's training?"

Uzumaki Hane suddenly looked behind Tsunade in surprise and said, "Ah, Shizune, what are you doing here? Teacher Tsunade is right here. Why do you look so angry? What are you going to do?"

Tsunade stiffened. As she turned around, she said, "Shizune, it's not what you think. I was just checking on Hane's training, not trying to take a break." But she found no one there, and Uzumaki Hane burst out laughing behind her.

Tsunade turned around with a serious expression. "Hane, I'm very dissatisfied with your progress in Chakra Enhanced Strength. You've been training for so long and still haven't gotten the hang of it, so I'm going to give you some proper training today." As she spoke, she clenched both fists, and the air cracked explosively.

Cold sweat poured down Uzumaki Hane's forehead. Looks like I took that joke too far. But this works out. I was just looking for someone to fight.

Tsunade continued, "Today, I'm giving you pointers on your Chakra Enhanced Strength, so you're not allowed to use your Kekkei Genkai." With that, she slammed her right hand into the ground. Bang! A crack split the earth and raced toward Uzumaki Hane.

Uzumaki Hane performed several backflips, avoiding the impact.

Uzumaki Hane landed, immediately steadied himself, and charged at Tsunade, delivering a fierce kick to her waist. Tsunade reached out with her right hand and caught his foot with ease. Feeling the terrifying strength of the hand gripping his foot, Uzumaki Hane tried to pull it free, but couldn't move it.

Then Tsunade let out a shout, lifted Uzumaki Hane by the foot, spun him around violently, and hurled him into the distance.

Bang! Uzumaki Hane slammed hard into a tree trunk. Tsunade pushed off with her feet, cracking the ground beneath her. The explosive recoil sent her rushing in front of him in an instant, her right hand clenched into a fist as she punched at him.

Before the fist even reached him, the wind from the punch stung Uzumaki Hane's face. Startled, he rolled across the ground in an ungainly scramble, avoiding Tsunade's punch. Boom! A tremendous sound came from behind him. Uzumaki Hane turned and saw a crack about ten meters wide where he had been, stretching into the distance.

Cold sweat poured down Uzumaki Hane's face. "Teacher Tsunade, you're serious about this." Yet he was wondering whether his magma would be blasted away by the wind from her punches before it even had a chance to touch her.

"Of course. Otherwise, how would I know your true level?" Tsunade said matter-of-factly. Then she walked toward Uzumaki Hane.

Uzumaki Hane immediately stood up. "Teacher Tsunade, it's not fair to restrict my Kekkei Genkai like this."

Tsunade said righteously, "Hane, I think your Kekkei Genkai is the reason you've never been able to control your Chakra properly. Restricting it might be a great help to your Chakra Enhanced Strength training." With that, she threw another punch at Uzumaki Hane.

"That's just an excuse, isn't it? You just want to hit me!" Uzumaki Hane shouted. His body moved at once, turning sideways to avoid the punch. He then struck at Tsunade with his right fist, but she tilted her head and dodged it. Uzumaki Hane spun and kicked at her, but Tsunade reached out and blocked the kick. Seizing the chance, he kicked at her again. Tsunade leaned back, dodging that kick as well, then threw a punch at him.

Uzumaki Hane leaped up in an instant, and Tsunade smashed a large crater into the ground beneath his feet. He flipped and landed, then looked at her. "Teacher Tsunade, you really aren't holding back."

Tsunade said, "Hane, you need to use Chakra Enhanced Strength to meet my attacks head-on. That's the only way you'll improve."

"Okay, Teacher Tsunade," Uzumaki Hane said. He closed his eyes and calmed himself, then snapped them open, a sharp look in them. Clenching his right fist, he punched at Tsunade.

Tsunade raised her right hand and easily blocked the punch. "Hane, you didn't gather your Chakra in your hand quickly enough, so your power was dispersed. Feel how I make my move." She clenched her right fist and slammed it into the ground. Bang! The ground cracked in every direction, with her fist at the center.

Uzumaki Hane felt the ground shake. Looking at the power of that punch, he wondered when he would be able to reach that level.

Tsunade said, "I'll aim this punch directly at you. Feel it for yourself." She raised her right hand and threw another punch at Uzumaki Hane.

Facing Tsunade's punch, Uzumaki Hane sensed intense danger and instinctively wanted to dodge. No... I can't run away! he roared inwardly. Raising his right fist, he extracted as much Chakra from his body as he could and gathered it in his fist in an instant. But he felt that the Chakra was still gathering too slowly. Faster, faster... he screamed inwardly. As the Chakra gathered in his fist, Uzumaki Hane thrust it out, unleashing it explosively.

Bang! Their fists collided, and Uzumaki Hane felt an overwhelming force surge through his right hand. The intense pain made him instinctively turn his right hand into magma, but his Magma Arm was blasted apart in an instant. He flew backward uncontrollably and crashed heavily to the ground. Uzumaki Hane looked at his shattered Magma Arm. If he hadn't turned it into magma in time, his arm would definitely have been smashed into pulp.

Tsunade said, "I won't hold back. Don't worry, with my Medical Ninjutsu, I'm confident I can heal you no matter what injuries you suffer." Then she threw a right-handed punch at Uzumaki Hane.