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The wind had calmed, and the only sounds that could be heard were the faint rustling of leaves and the steady breathing of Renjiro.
Duy shifted slightly, stretching his legs as he continued to keep watch. He didn't know how long it would take for Renjiro to wake up, but he wasn't about to leave him alone out here.
Despite the fact that they had only just met a few hours ago, Duy felt a responsibility to ensure that Renjiro was safe.
After all, he had pushed Renjiro by helping him open two more gates, and it was only right that he be there to help him recover.
Yet, despite his concern, Duy found himself in a bit of a dilemma. He didn't actually know where Renjiro lived, and taking him to his own home didn't seem like a good idea.
Renjiro was still technically a stranger to him, and bringing him into his personal space felt too intimate, too soon. Duy sighed, as he glanced around the empty and destroyed training ground.
'I guess I'll just have to wait it out,' Duy thought, his eyes returning to Renjiro. He couldn't very well carry Renjiro through the village, especially not in his current state. The sight of an unconscious Uchiha would undoubtedly raise questions—questions that neither of them were prepared to answer.
So, Duy waited.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Renjiro stirred. Duy leaned forward, his eyes narrowing as he watched the younger man slowly come to.
Renjiro's eyelids fluttered, and he let out a soft groan as he shifted on the ground, his body still wracked with the aftereffects of the third gate.
"Renjiro?" Duy called out softly, his voice low and soothing as he reached out to gently shake the younger man's shoulder.
"Hey, you awake?"
Renjiro's eyes slowly opened, blinking against the harshness of the moonlight as he tried to focus.
For a moment, he was disoriented, his mind foggy as he struggled to remember where he was and what had happened.
But as his vision cleared, the memories of their spar came rushing back, and he winced as he felt the soreness in his muscles.
"My body..." Renjiro muttered, his voice hoarse as he slowly sat up, wincing at the pain that shot through his limbs.
"It's still sore."
Duy offered a sympathetic smile, his hand still resting on Renjiro's shoulder. "That's to be expected," he said, his tone gentle.
"You pushed yourself pretty hard out there. It's only natural that your body would feel the strain."
Renjiro nodded, though the pain in his body was more than he had anticipated. Every muscle felt like it had been stretched to its limit, and even the act of sitting up was a challenge.
He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself as he glanced around, taking in their surroundings.
'I wonder how it will be when I open the fourth gate if just the third gate has me this sore,' Renjiro thought.
'It will most likely be worse.'
The third gate had been a struggle, and the idea of pushing himself even further was both daunting and exhilarating.
"Thanks for staying with me, Duy," Renjiro said, his voice a bit stronger now.
"I appreciate it. Your guidance really helped."
Duy waved off the gratitude with a modest chuckle. "Don't mention it," he said, standing up and offering Renjiro a hand to help him to his feet.
"Even if you have the power of youth, you have to remember to pace yourself."
Renjiro accepted the hand, pulling himself up with a grunt as he stood on shaky legs.
"I'll be more careful next time."
Duy watched him for a moment, making sure that Renjiro was steady on his feet before stepping back.
"You should head home and get some rest," he suggested, his tone light but firm.
"You'll need it after today."
Renjiro nodded again, grateful for the advice. "I will," he said, offering a small smile. "Thanks again, Duy. I'll see you tomorrow."
With that, Renjiro turned and began to make his way home, his movements slow and deliberate as he navigated the empty streets of the village.
When he finally reached his home, the first thing Renjiro did was head to the mirror.
He needed to see for himself—needed to confirm what he had suspected during their spar.
Standing in front of the mirror, Renjiro took a deep breath and activated his Sharingan.
The familiar crimson glow filled his vision as the three tomoe spun lazily in his eyes.
Renjiro stared at his reflection, his gaze intense as he searched for any sign of the fourth tomoe.
But it wasn't there.
His Sharingan was the same as it had always been—powerful, but still limited to the three tomoe.
"It seems like the fourth tomoe only appears when I open the third gate," Renjiro muttered to himself, his voice tinged with both disappointment and curiosity.
He continued to stare at his reflection, his mind racing as he tried to make sense of what this meant.
The fourth tomoe had enhanced his abilities to a level he hadn't experienced before. But now, with the gates closed, it was gone, leaving Renjiro with more questions than answers.
'For now, it seems like the fourth tomoe only improves my eyes further,' Renjiro thought, his mind turning over the possibilities.
The additional tomoe had undoubtedly made his Sharingan more powerful, allowing him to see and predict Duy's movements with incredible precision.
But even with this enhancement, it hadn't reached the level of the Mangekyo Sharingan—not like Renjiro has seen its effects first-hand.
Moreover, Renjiro had a deep feeling that improving his eyes further was just scratching the surface of what his fourth tomoe could do.
There was something more to it—something that he hadn't yet discovered. The potential was there, lurking just beneath the surface, waiting to be unlocked.
This realization left Renjiro with a sense of both excitement and frustration. He had tapped into something powerful, but he didn't fully understand it.
And until he did, he knew he couldn't fully rely on it in battle.
"Disappointing," Renjiro muttered, his gaze dropping from the mirror as he let out a small sigh.
"But I'll figure it out."
He shook his head, a determined expression settling on his face as he resolved to continue his training.
"I just need to keep on training to ensure I have access to it and the three gates longer than I can compared to now."
The fact that the fourth tomoe only appeared during the third gate was both a blessing and a curse.
On the one hand, it meant that he didn't have to worry about explaining its sudden appearance to the rest of the clan.
But on the other hand, it meant that he couldn't fully use it—not yet, at least.
"Besides," Renjiro muttered, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his lips,
"It has saved me the trouble of explaining how I got it to the rest of the clan."
With that thought in mind, Renjiro decided to call it a day. He had pushed his body to its limits, and now it was time to rest and recover.
Over the next few days, Renjiro fell back into his usual routine. The missions and responsibilities of the force took up most of his time, but he always made sure to set aside time for his personal training.
He continued to work on his efficiency with the three gates he had access to, pushing himself to master their power and control.
The training was gruelling, but Renjiro welcomed the challenge. Each session brought him closer to understanding the limits of his abilities and how to push beyond them.
The soreness in his muscles eventually faded, replaced by a growing confidence in his strength.
And so, Renjiro trained, day after day, honing his skills and pushing his limits. The days turned into weeks, and slowly, a month passed
Yet, despite his progress, Renjiro knew that there was still more to be done.
The other five gates loomed on the horizon—a challenge that he would face when the time was right.
But for now, he was content with the progress he had made.
"I think it's time for my squad to take up another mission," Renjiro said to himself.
=====
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