The light suddenly intensified.
Then, like a tamed wild horse, it converged, collapsed, and condensed in an instant.
A smaller, brighter, but extremely contained and terrifyingly stable pure blue energy sphere appeared in the center of their tightly clasped palms.
It was no longer a turbulent nebula, but a miniature storm core, compressed to the extreme and packed with destructive force.
It spun at high speed, emitting a deep, powerful hum. The surrounding air was compressed so tightly that a visible transparent vortex formed.
It was done.
A stable, condensed prototype of the Rasengan.
"Do not let it dissipate." Ryo's voice was low, with a hint of barely perceptible tension.
His hand still firmly covered hers, as if they were sharing this dangerous energy sphere.
Kushina completely forgot about the Rasengan itself.
All her senses were occupied by that astonishingly hot hand enveloping hers, guiding her.
His breath brushed her hair as he spoke, the subtle pressure of his chest almost against her back, all of it burned into her senses.
Her body trembled slightly, not from fear, but from this unprecedented, heart-racing, blood-stirring closeness.
Could he feel it? What would he think?
Time seemed to stretch endlessly.
The training ground was silent, with only the deep, steady hum of the Rasengan and the increasingly clear heartbeats of the two, intertwined and almost indistinguishable. Thump, thump, thump…
Like two birds trapped in a small cage, colliding and trying to break free.
This damned tacit understanding.
Ryo clearly felt the delicate, searing warmth of the back of her hand, and the slight sweat from tension.
The air felt thick like honey, sweet and suffocating, with a hidden thrill.
No one spoke, no one moved.
Ryo's gaze stayed on their joined hands and the incredibly stable Rasengan.
Kushina lowered her head, her flushed cheeks almost buried in her chest, but her senses were like antennae, frantically catching his breath, his warmth, and the pressure of his hand.
He had not let go. He had not pushed her away.
This realization shot through her like an electric current, leaving her dizzy with delight.
In the end, the Rasengan's own energy consumption broke the stillness.
Maintaining a stable form required immense mental focus, and Kushina, having just mastered it, could not sustain it for long.
The stable blue light flickered.
Ryo reacted instantly.
"That's enough."
He spoke quietly, and at the same time, his hand finally left the back of hers.
In an instant, the scorching heat in her palm vanished. A strong sense of loss, mixed with the relief of release, surged into her chest.
Kushina felt a chill on the back of her hand. The sensation of being enveloped, guided, and controlled was withdrawn, leaving only cool air and clear sweat. Was it hers, or his as well?
She pulled back her still trembling hand, almost reluctantly.
The condensed Rasengan lost its final support. Its light flashed and went out, dissolving into specks of blue that faded into the air.
Ryo stepped back, keeping a safe distance.
"The form is there, but the duration is too short. Refinement and instant burst are lacking." His voice returned to calm.
"Keep practicing. Do not get cocky just because you got it once."
Kushina, blushing, couldn't look straight at Ryo, but she felt her heart like a tipped honey pot.
He held my hand for so long and did not pull away.
A surge of accomplishment mixed with sweetness made her want to scream.
She did not snap back or tease like before. She raised the hand he had covered and gently clenched her fist, as if the heat still lingered.
A soft, proud smile appeared on her face. Her voice was clear.
"Got it, Ryo-sensei. I won't let you look down on me." That "sensei" no longer carried teasing or malice, but a sweet, sticky undertone only they understood.
The scent of sweat from their training still hung in the air, and invisible threads were already quietly coiling, drawing the two figures closer.
(To be continued.)