Training, continued

Uzumaki Hane shouted and thrust out his right hand, releasing the Chakra gathered in it.

Bang! The moment he made contact with Tsunade's fist, Uzumaki Hane was sent flying backward.

After that, Tsunade sent Uzumaki Hane flying again and again. Although he turned into magma in time to escape danger each time and wasn't badly hurt, he was still in a sorry state. Before he knew it, an hour had passed.

After sending Uzumaki Hane flying once more, Tsunade stopped attacking. She stretched and said, "A little exercise makes my whole body feel much better."

Just then, a voice called from the distance, "Lady Tsunade..." Shizune came hurrying over. Tsunade waved at Uzumaki Hane and said, "Hane, I'm leaving. I'll come give you some pointers again next time." She quickly left. Shizune saw Tsunade leave, greeted Uzumaki Hane, and immediately chased after her.

Uzumaki Hane stayed there and continued training until dark, when he finally prepared to head home. When he got back, Yamano Koromo was already making dinner. Seeing Uzumaki Hane come in, she said, "Hane, you're home." Uzumaki Hane walked over, took the plate from her hands, and said, "I'm home." The two sat down at the table and began eating dinner.

After they finished, Uzumaki Hane saw Yamano Koromo getting ready to clear the dishes and went over. "Let me help too," he said. Yamano Koromo said, "Okay." After they cleared the dishes, Uzumaki Hane walked Yamano Koromo home.

Back at his own home, Uzumaki Hane began his training for the night. One circuit, then two. The pain was as intense as ever, but Uzumaki Hane was beginning to get used to it. He gritted his teeth and endured it.

But after two rounds of strengthening, the magma did not stop. Tonight, Uzumaki Hane was preparing to begin a third round.

Uzumaki Hane gathered his resolve and began the third round. The intense pain, even worse than before, made his vision go black, and he immediately passed out.

The next day, Uzumaki Hane woke up and recalled what had happened. He hadn't expected to be completely unable to withstand the third round of strengthening. Shaking his head, Uzumaki Hane knew he had been a little too hasty. He calmed himself down, got up, and headed to the training ground for the day's training.

On the way, Uzumaki Hane ran into Mitarashi Anko and was about to pretend he hadn't seen her and quietly slip away. Mitarashi Anko spotted him too and stepped in front of him. With a gentle smile, she said, "Hane, you're back! Would you like me to help you train?" Uzumaki Hane stared closely at Mitarashi Anko for quite a while before saying, "Anko, could you stop imitating the way Koromo talks? You're really disgusting like that."

A vein bulged on Mitarashi Anko's forehead. "Uzumaki Hane, do you want to go train together or not?"

Uzumaki Hane thought for a moment, then said, "I'm free right now anyway, so let's go together."

"All right, let's go," Mitarashi Anko said, pulling Uzumaki Hane to a training ground.

At the training ground, Uzumaki Hane and Mitarashi Anko stood facing each other.

Mitarashi Anko said, "Uzumaki Hane, let's see if you've gotten any stronger lately. Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!" Several snakes shot from her right hand and lunged at Uzumaki Hane.

A Kunai appeared in each of Uzumaki Hane's hands. He swung them rapidly, cutting down every snake. Then he rushed up to Mitarashi Anko and slashed at her with a Kunai.

Mitarashi Anko took a step back, dodging Uzumaki Hane's Kunai. Uzumaki Hane spun and kicked at her. Mitarashi Anko raised her right arm and blocked the kick. Feeling its force, she cried, "You're so strong!" She staggered back several steps.

Uzumaki Hane stopped where he was instead of pressing the attack. Mitarashi Anko said, "It's only been a few days. How did you get so strong?" Then she rapidly formed Hand Seals and shouted, "Fire Style: Dragon Fire Technique!" A stream of flame rushed toward Uzumaki Hane.

Uzumaki Hane reached out with his right hand, grabbed the flame, and absorbed it. The Magma-Magma Fruit's power had grown stronger, and now Uzumaki Hane no longer feared flames from Ninjutsu like this at all.

Seeing Uzumaki Hane absorb her Fire Style just like that, Mitarashi Anko stared at him in shock. "How is that possible? Uzumaki Hane, how did you do that?"

Uzumaki Hane said calmly, "My strength has improved a little lately."

A dangerous look appeared on Mitarashi Anko's face. "Uzumaki Hane, do you know how much that look on your face makes me want to punch you?" She vanished in a flash and appeared behind him. Her hands rapidly formed seals as she shouted, "Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!" She spat a huge fireball at Uzumaki Hane. He had already noticed Mitarashi Anko when she appeared behind him. He spun around and thrust out his right hand, which swelled up and absorbed the fireball.

Seeing that her Fire Style had failed again, Mitarashi Anko snorted and shouted, "Multiple Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!" More than a dozen snakes shot from her hands. Uzumaki Hane remained calm. As the snakes lunged toward him, his enormous right arm of magma reached out and grabbed them. All the attacking snakes were enveloped in magma and burned to death in an instant.

Uzumaki Hane's arm returned to normal, and he said, "Anko, I feel like you've gotten stronger too."

Mitarashi Anko snorted, deeply unwilling to accept it. In the beginning, Uzumaki Hane's strength had been nothing special in any respect. It was only because his Kekkei Genkai was so powerful that she had been no match for him. But she hadn't expected that, in just a few months, Uzumaki Hane would surpass her in every respect. Now she was utterly powerless to resist him.

No, I'm too weak right now. Mitarashi Anko thought of Orochimaru. The last time she had met him, she had wanted to take him down with her, but she hadn't even had the strength to do that. He had subdued her in a single move. Mitarashi Anko silently resolved to work even harder.

Uzumaki saw that Mitarashi Anko wasn't attacking again and didn't know what she was thinking about. "Anko, aren't you going to continue?" he asked.

Mitarashi Anko waved a hand. "Forget it, I'm done fighting. It's only been a few days, Uzumaki Hane, but your strength has gotten even more ridiculous."

Uzumaki Hane said, "Fine by me. Come on, I'll treat you to some dango."

At the mention of dango, Mitarashi Anko perked up. "I want to eat the dango Koromo makes."

Just then, Yamano Koromo walked over. Seeing Uzumaki Hane, she gave him a gentle smile and said, "Hane, you came here too."

"Yeah," Uzumaki Hane said. "I just sparred with Anko for a bit."

Mitarashi Anko said, "Koromo, we were just talking about you."

Uzumaki Hane said, "We're planning to go eat dango. Koromo, do you want to come?"

Mitarashi Anko said, "Koromo, it's been ages since I had your dango."

Yamano Koromo smiled. "Then let's go home and make some together."

"Sure!" Mitarashi Anko said.

"That sounds good too," Uzumaki Hane said. Then the three of them went to Yamano's house together.