-----
-----
Deep in a quiet mountain range, Venom and Saeko Busujima stood facing each other in silence. Their eyes locked, as if testing each other's resolve.
"Are you ready?"
Venom's voice was calm, though his gaze sharpened as he searched Saeko's expression.
"Always ready."
A faint smile tugged at Saeko's lips as she gave a slow, confident nod.
"Then let's begin."
Venom's answer came instantly.
Saeko sat cross-legged on the ground, steadying her breath. Following the instructions of chakra extraction, she began to draw the mysterious energy from deep within her body.
Venom stood watch at her side, guarding against any disturbance.
Within seconds, Saeko had already gathered the faint shimmer of chakra.
Venom blinked, caught off guard. That fast?
It was shocking, really. Super-genius was the only way to describe it.
But then he relaxed. It wasn't unreasonable—Saeko was already blessed with talent as the story's heroine, and with her genes further enhanced, her aptitude could only be called monstrous.
She continued, and her chakra output climbed rapidly until her body reached saturation.
At last she opened her eyes, lips parting to exhale a faint mist of white breath.
Venom stepped closer, sensing her energy carefully before giving his verdict.
"If I'm right, you already have the chakra reserves of a peak-level genin."
"And… how do I actually use this power?"
Saeko's brows furrowed. She could feel the energy flowing inside her, but had no clue how to wield it.
"Guide it with your will. Direct its flow where you want it to go. Shape it through intent."
Venom's explanation was vague. He didn't know much himself—after all, watching a few episodes of Naruto wasn't the same as actually using chakra.
Closing her eyes, Saeko raised her hand, trying to channel chakra into her palm.
But after only moments she gasped, eyes snapping open, breathing hard.
"Don't rush. Calm yourself, focus. Think back to when you practice kendo—find that same stillness of mind."
Venom's voice was steady, encouraging. If she could reach the same serene state she had in sword practice, he was sure she'd succeed.
Saeko slowly drew her katana, holding it before her. Centering herself, she began channeling chakra into the blade.
Venom nodded. Her aura had settled.
A faint blue glow spread along the blade, from hilt to edge, making the weapon gleam sharper than steel alone.
"Wind chakra?"
From the color, Venom recognized it—Saeko's nature was wind.
With her katana glowing, Saeko's eyes flashed. In one swift motion, she swung.
A blue arc of energy shot forth, slicing straight through a massive boulder.
For a heartbeat the rock stood untouched, then the upper half slid cleanly away, leaving a flawless cut.
"Damn… that's jōnin-level power."
Venom stared at the severed stone. Even an elite ninja would struggle to block such a strike. And she had just awakened chakra today! Her talent was frightening.
"It's not enough. That swing drained half my chakra in one shot. I can't fight like this for long."
Saeko frowned, clearly dissatisfied.
Venom almost laughed aloud. What the hell did I create? A genius? Or a monster?
Still, she was his woman—and seeing her grow this strong only pleased him.
"Alright then. Let's focus on control. If you master precision, you'll save a lot of chakra."
Saeko nodded immediately. Her instincts told her the same thing—better mastery meant sharper, leaner use of power.
Venom sighed inwardly. So this is what it's like to live with a terrifying prodigy… Good thing he already knew some of the "plot," or he'd be completely lost.
He suggested training on tree-walking and water-walking to sharpen her chakra control.
Saeko accepted without hesitation and threw herself into practice.
By the next day—less than twelve hours later—she had already mastered it.
Venom had no choice but to declare the first stage of training complete.
Then, together, they moved to an open clearing for the next step.
Venom looked around at the silent forest before turning to Saeko. Raising his left hand, he summoned a large goblet into existence.
Inside sloshed steaming red blood, sparks of lightning arcing across its surface like furious roars.
This was the concentrated blood of the Zinogre—a beast of thunder. Its essence was pure, unrefined lightning, raw and violent.
In the original story, Esdeath had drunk processed blood from a dangerous species. This was unprocessed. Wild. If even refined blood was violent, this was a storm waiting to explode.
"Are you sure about this? I suggested it, but I can't guarantee you'll survive the backlash."
Venom's eyes narrowed as he stared at the thunder-wreathed blood. The risk was immense. In the end, it all came down to her willpower.
Saeko stepped forward, her slender hands taking the goblet. She stared into the boiling liquid without flinching.
"Don't you want me to grow stronger?"
Venom hesitated, then answered softly.
"Of course I do. But—"
"That's enough."
Her smile was gentle, resolute. Lifting the cup, she raised it to her lips and drank deeply.
Venom moved as if to stop her, but in the end he just stood still, watching in silence.
The goblet fell to the ground with a metallic clang, empty.
"I'll gain the power you want me to—ahhhhhh!"
Saeko's body convulsed violently, arms clutching her chest as an agonized scream ripped from her throat.
Bolts of lightning engulfed her, lashing outward uncontrollably.
From afar, it looked as though a sea of thunder had swallowed the mountain whole.
"....."