Late Night – Masaki's Hideout
Masaki stood atop the cliff overlooking the village. The moon was high, casting silver streaks across the rooftops of Konoha. The air was crisp, still.
His students were finally asleep—Guy with one leg twitching, Rin mumbling about chakra patterns in her dreams, Obito snoring so loudly he scared off an owl.
Masaki breathed in. Peace. Rare. Fleeting.
Then—the System chimed.
> System Alert: Disciple Bond Progression Tier II Achieved
Through sustained teaching, protection, and emotional mentorship, the bond between master and disciples has matured.
Evaluating spiritual balance…
Criteria met.
> Reward Unlocked: Technique – "Breath of the Guiding Flame"
Classification: Pseudo-Kekkai / Internal Chakra Art
Effects: Drastically enhances chakra circulation, nerve responsiveness, and stamina.
Description: A controlled breathing rhythm that feeds chakra directly into core reserves and clears mental fog. Increases the user's reaction time and healing rate.
Warning: Improper use may cause blood vessel damage or chakra exhaustion.
Masaki blinked. "So I… unlocked breathing?"
He rubbed his temples.
"I didn't expect to raise a bunch of prodigies and get yoga powers in return."
Still, he felt it—a soft rhythm aligning with his heart, breath syncing with chakra nodes. The first time he tried it, the world slowed. His senses sharpened. A tree's bark detail looked like sculpture. The moon felt like it was breathing too.
He exhaled slowly.
> Masaki has learned: Breath of the Guiding Flame – Level 1
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☀️ Next Morning – Training Ground #17
Masaki summoned his trio and stood with arms crossed.
"You three are finally stable enough to handle something advanced," he said.
Obito tilted his head. "Are we finally getting elemental jutsu?"
"No," Masaki said. "We're starting with… breathing."
Guy raised his hand. "But Masaki-sensei, I already breathe. Like, all the time."
Masaki gave him a long stare.
"You breathe loudly. What I'm about to teach you is different."
He demonstrated, kneeling with hands in a loose seal. His chest barely moved, but the wind around them stirred. The grass leaned inward. Even the air felt heavier.
Rin's eyes widened. "What is that?"
Masaki opened one eye. "The difference between chaos and control."
---
🔥 Training Begins
He split the trio into personal breathing focuses:
Obito – Breath of Focused Ember
Tailored to help him regulate emotions mid-combat.
Reduces wild chakra surges.
First trial: maintain steady breath while clones taunt and provoke him.
He nearly broke a clone's face at first—but eventually, he stopped letting anger guide his punches.
Masaki smirked. "Control your breath, control your fire."
---
Guy – Breath of Roaring Flame
Builds explosive stamina recovery and chakra flow.
Trains Guy to pace himself—a real challenge.
At first, Guy used it to sprint harder and passed out on lap three.
Masaki dragged him back by the ankle. "If your youth is crashing into trees, we need a gentler flame."
By the afternoon, Guy was bursting into short bursts of speed, then re-centering himself like a spring coil.
---
Rin – Breath of Blooming Ash
Slows chakra output to a fine, delicate thread—perfect for healing while under stress.
First test: heal a clone while running and avoiding Guy's high-speed charges.
She screamed. She ducked. She tripped.
Then… she started breathing with rhythm. Not just healing, but predicting.
Masaki watched from a perch.
"She's already syncing with battlefield rhythm. A natural."
---
☁️ Later That Evening – Campfire
The trio sat around a small campfire. Obito was surprisingly quiet. Rin doodled a seal in the dirt. Guy did pushups with his feet.
Masaki stood, sipping his tea.
"This breathing style isn't just about power," he said. "It's about identity. Flame adapts. Flame consumes. Flame protects. You three? You're learning to burn without destroying yourselves."
Obito nodded solemnly.
Rin smiled faintly. "I felt… calm. For the first time in a while."
Guy wiped a tear. "MY YOUTH HAS BEEN TEMPERED IN FLAME!"
Masaki raised his cup. "Don't get cocky. That's only Tier One."
The campfire crackled like it was listening.
---
📊 System Update
> Obito – Breath of Focused Ember (Rank 1)
+6% chakra control during emotional spikes
+3% accuracy boost when breath cycle is stable
> Guy – Breath of Roaring Flame (Rank 1)
+10% stamina regen during cooldown windows
Unlocks "Micro Burst Dash" – 0.5s dash at +15% speed
> Rin – Breath of Blooming Ash (Rank 1)
+8% chakra preservation while healing under stress
Begins unlocking dual-task seal-weaving
> Masaki – Breath of the Guiding Flame (Rank 1)
+5% overall chakra efficiency
Meditation now heals minor injuries and clears chakra fatigue
Unlocks: "Internal Flame Loop" – slow self-regeneration over time