Bab 24: Chapter 24: Mentor and Student
The sun had barely begun to rise when Asura arrived at the training grounds, the early morning mist still lingering in the air. He took a deep breath, feeling the coolness fill his lungs, and glanced around the empty field. It was peaceful now, but soon, it would be filled with the sounds of training. He had promised Madara they'd meet, and he intended to make sure the boy got a proper lesson.
An hour passed, and Asura stood waiting, arms crossed, when he saw a small figure approaching. Madara jogged up, slightly out of breath, his face flushed with a hint of apology. "Sorry I'm late," he said, panting a little. "I was helping my brothers get ready for the day."
Asura waved a hand dismissively. "It's fine," he said, offering a small smile. "Family comes first. But now that you're here, are you ready to train?"
Madara's eyes lit up, and he nodded eagerly. "Yes!"
"Good," Asura said, dropping into a loose fighting stance. "We're starting with taijutsu today. Show me what you can do."
The two began sparring, Asura moving fluidly, his strikes controlled but precise. Madara mirrored him, his form solid, but there were gaps in his defense. Asura exploited them, tapping Madara's side with the blunt edge of his hand or sweeping his legs out from under him. Each time, he paused to correct the boy, explaining what he was doing wrong and how to improve.
"You're quick, but you telegraph your moves," Asura said after a particularly sloppy counter from Madara. "Try not to be so obvious. Make me guess what you're going to do."
They repeated this for an hour, Asura guiding, Madara learning. The boy improved with each exchange, adjusting his stance, his movements becoming sharper, more precise. By the end, he was holding his own better, and Asura could see the determination burning in his eyes.
"Not bad," Asura said, wiping a bit of sweat from his forehead. "Now let's move on to chakra control. I'm going to show you how to walk up a tree without using your hands."
Madara watched with intense focus as Asura demonstrated, placing one foot against a tree trunk, then another, walking vertically as if it were the most natural thing in the world. He turned and looked down at Madara. "The trick is to control how much chakra you send to your feet. Too much, and you'll push off. Too little, and you'll fall."
Madara nodded and approached the tree, placing his foot against it. His first few attempts were clumsy, either slipping off or being repelled back. But he was persistent, and on the fourth try, he managed to get halfway up before leaping back down, a look of triumph on his face.
Asura chuckled, shaking his head. "You've got scary talent, kid."
For the next half hour, they continued practicing, Madara perfecting his chakra control, running up and down the tree until it became almost effortless. Finally, Asura decided it was time for the next lesson.
"Alright, let's try a ninjutsu. It's called Wind Style: Gale Palm," Asura said, raising his hands. "This technique can stop projectiles or enhance your fire jutsu. Watch closely."
He formed the seals and exhaled, releasing a controlled burst of wind that sent leaves flying across the training ground. Madara's eyes gleamed, and he attempted to mimic the technique, but the wind that he conjured was weak and unfocused, dispersing almost immediately.
"It's okay," Asura said, his tone encouraging. "Try again. Focus on compressing the wind before you release it. Like this…" He demonstrated the hand signs slowly, showing Madara how to harness and release the chakra. They worked on it for another hour, Madara improving bit by bit, his wind becoming stronger, though still not quite where it needed to be.
When Asura finally called for a break, they decided to go fish for lunch, heading to a nearby stream. As they cast their lines and waited, they made small talk, with Asura using the time to learn more about Madara.
"So, Madara," Asura said casually, watching the water ripple, "what's your goal? What do you want to accomplish?"
Madara was quiet for a moment, as if choosing his words carefully. "I want to be strong," he said finally, his voice steady. "Strong enough to protect my family, to protect the Uchiha. I don't want anyone to look down on us."
Asura nodded, understanding. "That's a good goal. Just make sure you don't lose sight of yourself in the process."
They managed to catch seven fish, which they brought back to the training field and cooked over a small fire. The sun was high now, casting warm rays over the area as they ate, the smell of grilled fish filling the air.
After a while, Asura turned to Madara, a serious expression on his face. "Madara, I've been thinking. You've got a lot of potential, and I think with the right guidance, you could be even stronger. How would you feel about becoming my student?"
Madara looked up, eyes wide with surprise. "You…you want to train me?"
Asura nodded. "I can teach you more than just fighting. If you're serious about becoming stronger, I can help you."
Madara's lips twitched, forming a small smile before he looked away, trying to hide it. "Yes. I'd like that…Sensei."
Asura chuckled. "Good. Meet me here every other day at dawn. We'll make sure you're the best warrior this clan has ever seen."
Madara nodded enthusiastically, and the two of them continued eating in comfortable silence. When they finished, Madara thanked Asura once more before heading back to the village, his steps lighter than they had been that morning.
Asura watched him go, a sense of pride swelling in his chest. But he still had his own training to do. Once Madara was out of sight, Asura made his way back to the training field and prepared for something he had been working on for years.
He stood in the center of the clearing, taking a deep breath as he focused his chakra. "Wind Style: Domination," he murmured, and the air around him thickened, becoming heavier, as if gravity had increased. The pressure was intense, the ground beneath him cracking and splintering under the force. But that wasn't enough—he needed to push it further.
From his feet, he began channeling lightning chakra, letting it course up his legs, sparking and crackling as it traveled up his body. The combination was difficult to maintain; his wind technique demanded immense control, and adding lightning made it exponentially harder. Still, he persisted, letting the lightning armor envelop him, enhancing his speed while the air around him slowed everything else down.
For three and a half minutes, Asura maintained the dual jutsu, the pressure crushing the earth around him while the lightning made his body blur with speed. But the strain was immense, and eventually, he felt his chakra drain, the techniques dissipating, leaving him exhausted and gasping for breath. His legs buckled, and he fell to his knees, the energy completely drained from him.
Panting, he pushed himself up, every muscle screaming in protest. I'm getting closer, he thought, a grim smile on his lips. But I need more control.
With what little strength he had left, Asura dragged himself back to his house, barely managing to crawl into bed before sleep claimed him, his body already preparing for the next day's training.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone