Ryo felt the heat radiating from his arm and the low growl of the Rasengan in his palm, caused by the slight instability from Kushina's forceful impact.
He lowered his head, looking at the girl who was almost hanging onto him.
She lifted her face, eyes burning with unshakable determination, reflecting the blue light of the Rasengan against his still-taut expression.
"Alright, Kushina, get ready."
"Put away your impulses," Ryo's voice cut in, calm but sharp. "Quiet down. Use your head."
The dangerous, ghostly blue orb in his hand slowly dissipated in the morning light, leaving only a faint scorched smell in the air.
Ryo walked over to an old oak tree with gnarled branches and mottled bark.
"First step, feel it."
He didn't use chakra, only extended a finger and pressed it against the rough trunk. His fingertip slid down the bark without obstruction. "The tree's veins are your path."
Kushina was supposed to stay back and watch, but instead she stepped forward until her shoulder nearly brushed his arm.
Ryo's hand froze midair, his eyes narrowing slightly. The sudden closeness was deliberate.
"What are you doing?"
Kushina stiffened under the weight of his tone, but she didn't back down. She took a breath, puffed herself up, and declared, "To get a clearer look! How else am I supposed to learn?"
Without waiting for his reply, she copied his movement, pressing her finger against the bark. "Like this, right?"
Her voice was edged with defiance, her fingertip landing close to where his had been.
Ryo studied her, his gaze unreadable. For a moment, only the rustling of leaves and Kushina's quickened breath filled the field.
"Fine. Since you're this close, pay attention."
He tapped another groove in the bark with precision. "Feel the flow. Don't force your chakra. Guide it. That's the difference between control and waste."
Kushina clenched her jaw, nodding quickly. "I'll get it right this time."
Mimicking him, she held her breath, concentrating her chakra slowly at her fingertips.
A faint blue glow lit up, flickering with unstable fluctuations.
"Flow. Adhere." Ryo's low voice gave the command, his gaze fixed tightly on the glow of her chakra.
Her control was crude.
The faint blue light flickered on and off, dancing like a drunkard at her fingertips. Let alone flowing like water, even keeping it stable was strenuous.
She pressed her finger against the bark, attempting to mimic Ryo's smooth, unhindered touch.
"Buzz." The chakra, like a small bird hitting an iron plate, suddenly trembled, emitted a faint whir, then dissipated.
Not even a mark was left on the bark.
"Ah!" Kushina exclaimed in frustration, stamping her foot hard, her canvas gaiter boots thudding against the ground.
"Chakra is superficial, impatient, and unstable." Ryo's verdict was merciless. "Control, rotten."
That word again.
Kushina immediately bristled like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. "What rotten! This is my first time seriously learning the Rasengan!"
Her fists clenched, her teeth grinding audibly. She was angry enough to punch the tree, but instead she growled, "I'll prove it!"
Ryo's expression didn't soften. He simply turned toward another trunk and said flatly, "If you can't control it here, practice the basics. Go climb a tree."
Kushina glared, cheeks puffed, but didn't argue further. She stomped toward the nearest large tree.
She kicked off her mud-stained boots with a huff, planting her bare feet firmly on the grass. The morning dew clung to her skin as she flexed her toes, grounding herself.
"Watch carefully," Ryo ordered. "Gather chakra to your soles. Distribute it evenly. Too little, you'll slip. Too much, the bark will tear and you'll fall harder."
"Tch, I know that much!" Kushina shot back, but she bent down, focusing as she gathered chakra at her feet.
The gravel on the training ground dug into her feet, but her smugness soared like it had wings.
She glanced sideways at Ryo, who stood with his arms crossed.
She clung to a thick tree trunk high off the ground, held there purely by chakra on her right foot.
She deliberately paused for two seconds, building anticipation.
Then, her left foot slowly lifted, moving so sluggishly it looked like a slow-motion close-up.
Her toes finally pressed lightly against the rough bark, a faint thud sounding unusually soft.
A tiny, triumphant tsk escaped her throat, smugness overflowing in her expression.
The next second, her foot landed on empty air.
Creak. Snap.
The thick branch beneath her suddenly broke. The groan of the rotten wood sounded like it was mocking her failure.
"Ah!" Her short scream was torn apart by the wind.
The sky tumbled violently, the coarse, sandy ground lunging up before her eyes.
It's over. Kushina closed her eyes in despair.
The expected crash never came.
The whistling wind suddenly stilled, and an overwhelming force abruptly clamped around her waist.
Bang.
Her back slammed into a scorching wall, Ryo's chest.
Through the thin training uniform, the heat made Kushina jolt.
What flooded her senses next was the heartbeat deep within his chest, steady and powerful, each beat echoing through her spine.
Kushina opened her eyes in alarm, her gaze colliding with Ryo's hard, clenched jawline, which still held a trace of surprise he hadn't had time to hide.
Her waist was encircled by one of his arms. His other hand firmly cradled her right knee, his grip steady and unyielding.
Her left foot hung uselessly in the air, inches from his face.
The air instantly froze.
The rustling of leaves stopped. The birdsong ceased.
The entire training ground seemed drained of sound, leaving only the rhythm of two heartbeats, loud and heavy in the silence.
Every stiff line of their bodies, every rise and fall of their chests, was clear.
Where her waist met him, it was all taut, solid muscle. His hand on her knee carried undeniable strength.
The sudden closeness overwhelmed Kushina. Embarrassment rushed through her body, wiping away all her earlier smugness.
"Still… not… letting go!" she said quickly, trying to cover her fluster.
Ryo finally released her and set her back on the ground, steady and controlled.
Kushina wobbled before regaining her balance. She glanced at him, saw his slightly awkward expression, and felt her own face heat up.
Then, unable to hold it in, she suddenly laughed.
"Pfft hahaha!" Her crisp, bright laugh startled birds from the branches above.
Ryo looked at her sudden laughter and felt speechless. "Alright, that's enough for today. See you later." He disappeared into the edge of the forest in a few bounds.
Training ended there.
(To be continued.)