Tsunade led Ryu to the Senju clan's private training grounds, a secluded area surrounded by tall trees. Ryu thought to himself, 'It makes sense; such techniques are usually passed down in private settings.'
They reached the place where Ryu fought Tsunade earlier, and there he found that there was a wide earthen bowl half filled with water.
Tsunade began her explanation, "The Senju style taijutsu can be divided into three simple parts: invoking, compression, and release. And finally, the timing of these three elements is crucial. The training method revolves around mastering each part separately. There's more to it, but since you already have superior chakra control, we can start directly by invoking a large amount of chakra in your fists."
She gestured to the bowl and said, "First, gather chakra in your hand in a large quantity and release it onto the still surface. Do not use muscle force; rely solely on your chakra. Repeat this process until you can gather enough to make the water touch the rim through the force of your chakra. You also need to gather fast enough, but that comes later."
Ryu nodded and said, "That sounds simple enough."
Tsunade smiled knowingly, aware of the challenge ahead. "We'll see about that, kid. Keep at it, and don't forget to alternate hands."
With that, Tsunade flickered and disappeared. Ryu tried the training technique, focusing his chakra before releasing it all by placing his hand on the water's surface.
The water moved a little bit; it did not touch the rim of the bowl. Ryu muttered, "Even this much chakra is not enough?"
Ryu tried again and again to get the right amount of chakra. His [Muscle Memory] would remember the feeling of the right amount of chakra if he got it right even once.
Ryu tried again but failed. He kept on trying for almost an hour until he got successful.
Ryu thought, 'I succeeded once, but now I'm out of chakra. And why do my hands hurt? Is this my chakra pathways screaming like muscles do after exercise?'
Ryu was exhausted and was sitting under a tree, thinking about his training. He said to himself, "I can only imagine how long it would take for someone who had poor chakra control, and for those who have low chakra quantity, it would be impossible to do it. When they grow a little, they will have enough chakra and control, but new chakra pathways won't form."
Just as Ryu was thinking, he sensed a familiar chakra. He turned to see a classmate from his academy approaching, with a casual smile on his face.
"You're late," Ryu said, a hint of amusement in his voice.
"I didn't expect the boy Lady Tsunade was training to be you," said Toshiro, smiling.
Ryu smiled and said, "Life is full of surprises."
He was Toshiro Senju, from the Senju clan. He was a classmate of Ryu and ranked 4th in the class. He was easygoing and cool with everyone in the class.
Toshiro Senju said, "My grandfather asked me to bring you home."
As they walked back to Toshiro's home, their conversation flowed easily. Toshiro asked, "What's Lady Tsunade teaching you?"
"Senju-style taijutsu," Ryu replied.
Toshiro's eyes widened. "I thought you'd be learning medical ninjutsu from her. Didn't you become her disciple for medical ninjutsu?"
Ryu shook his head and replied, "I'm not her student. She saw me treat a patient and was impressed by my method and offered to train me, but I refused."
Toshiro laughed dumbfounded and said, "Why would anyone in their right mind refuse her? She's a living legend!"
Ryu sighed and replied, "I don't want to leave the village and leave behind my grandfather and travel from one gambling den to another across the Fire Nation."
Toshiro laughed and said, "Fair enough. She does have that reputation."
Ryu said, "I know. I don't know why she became angry when I mentioned that."
Toshiro replied, "Ryu, fair warning. You should not anger her."
Ryu replied, "Too late."
Toshiro understood something must have happened and asked, "What happened?"
"Two broken ribs, bruises, surface wounds, and I guess destruction of property, if you call trees in your training grounds your clan's property," Ryu said, maintaining a straight face.
Toshiro laughed at Ryu's response.
When they got to Toshiro's house, he exclaimed, "I am home, Mom, and I brought a friend."
Ryu bowed politely. "Hello, pretty Mam. I'm Ryu Hamura. Thank you for having me."
Toshiro's mother blushed, her cheeks flushing, and commented, "What a well-mannered and adorable young man. Toshiro could certainly learn a thing or two from you."
Toshiro rolled his eyes. "Mom, I'm well-mannered."
"Oh, come on," she retorted playfully, rolling her eyes with a smirk.
Toshiro's father, Tashiro, who heard everything from another room, just came in and asked, "Hey, who is this brat? I heard everything."
Toshiro gestured towards Ryu and explained, "He's a classmate of mine from the academy."
Tashiro's eyes narrowed as he said, "Looks like he is tired of living."
He looked at Ryu and said, "Flirting with my wife in my own home. Either you are too stupid to understand the taboos of this world, or you have balls of steel."
Ryu suddenly felt his imposing chakra. The room shook slightly as the air in the room suddenly thickened with intense chakra pressure from him.
Ryu thought, "So all Senju are like that. It wasn't just 1st and 2nd. I guess this is how they rivalled the Uchiha Clan. Such monstrous chakra."
Tashiro asked, "Which one is it, boy?'
"Ouch!" screamed Tashiro in pain after he was hit in the head by his wife.
Tashiro's wife said, "Stop scaring the boy.'
She said, "Come, lunch is ready," glancing at Ryu.
As they sat down, Toshiro's mother complimented Ryu's hair. "You have very pretty hair; strange but pretty."
Ryu smiled, reciprocating the compliment, and said, "Thank you, Mam. You also have very pretty hair."
Tashiro's wife replied, "Oh, please call me Harada."
Just then Ryu felt chills, as if someone was about to kill him. He looked and found Toshiro's father glaring daggers at him. Toshiro's mother gave her husband a sidelong glance, and he made a puppy face.
Ryu thought, 'He was completely under her control.'
Just then Natsurama, Toshiro's grandfather and Tashiro's father, entered, surprising Ryu. "Ryu, it's good to see you here."
With a respectful bow, Ryu said, "Thank you for inviting me."
Tashiro was surprised that his always-busy father knew the kid and asked, "Father, do you know this brat?"
Natsurama replied, "Yeah. He is currently under the tutelage of Tsunade."
Tashiro was surprised; he asked, "Lady Tsunade! She is here?"
Natsurama replied, "Yes, she is here and staying at an inn. She asked me to take care of the kid. I sent Toshiro to fetch him.
Tashiro said, "I thought Toshiro brought him here."
Natsurama replied, "They are in the same class and know each other, so I send him."
Tashiro said, "I didn't know Lady Tsunade was interested in teaching brats."
Natsurama said, "Don't underestimate the boy. He is already an apprentice medic."
He paused and said, "Such a loss for our Senju clan," with a look of regret on his face.
Toshiro's mother asked, "Father, what do you mean by that?"
Natsurama replied, "Your generation doesn't know this because it happened a long time ago. Young Ryu here has the same Senju blood as us."
Both Toshiro and his parents were surprised.
Toshiro asked, "Grandpa, you mean to say Ryu is related?"
Natsurama told a little about his background related to the Senju clan, and Toshiro, his parents, and Ryu fell silent.
Natsurama looked at Ryu and asked, "I hope you won't hold the current generation of the Senju clan responsible for our past mistakes."
Ryu replied, "As much as I want to blame, I know Toshiro has no fault in this. Therefore, I have no ill will against him."
Natsurama replied, "I am glad to hear it."
Toshiro's mother pleaded with her son, "Toshiro, please treat Ryu well."
Toshiro replied, "Mom, I get along with everyone in the class, except for the Uchiha. They can be quite bothersome with their superiority complex and constant rivalry."
Toshiro looked at Ryu and asked, "Isn't that right, Ryu?"
Ryu said, chewing his food, "Hmm … the Uchiha had stopped bothering me since my fight with Itachi."
Toshiro asked, "Itachi, our genius senior who was promoted out of turn last year."
Ryu said, "Yeah, I had a duel with him. They watched me beat him."
Natsurama thought, 'Of course you did. I don't think anyone below jonin level can beat you.'
Toshiro then said, "Then he must be out for your blood, like Kenji?"
Ryu replied, "No. Surprisingly, Itachi is very cool, unlike other Uchiha. We hang out sometimes."
Toshiro exclaimed, "An easygoing Uchiha? Now, that is truly unexpected."
Hadara, Toshiro's mother, looked at Ryu and said, "Ryu-kun, you can come here and hang out with my son anytime you want. That way he would learn some manners."
"Mom, ..." Toshiro protested at the remark about manners.
Ryu bowed and replied, "Thank you, Lady Harada. I should return to my training."
Toshiro said, "Wait, Ryu, count me in for the training. I could use some action too."
And with that, Ryu and Toshiro left, leaving behind the Senju family.
Tashiro looked at his father. He had many questions, and Natsurama told him everything he could not say in front of Ryu.
##PoWeR StOnEs##
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