And so, Zenitsu endured a grueling bout of intensive training and sparring under Horitake's supervision.
The process of the training was pure agony, but the results were undeniably gratifying.
However, the moment the session ended, young Zenitsu could do nothing but gasp for air as if his life depended on it. He didn't have a single spare thought to worry about whether he had actually made any progress.
It didn't matter, though. Horitake, who had been the one relentlessly sparring with him, could feel the difference. Thanks to his unyielding pressure, Zenitsu's techniques had become significantly more fluid, and his overall strength had taken a clear step forward.
Of course, Zenitsu himself was far too exhausted to notice.
The boy, currently hovering between life and death from fatigue, had initially assumed that a single bout of training would be the end of it. He had no idea how wrong he was.
Afterward, Horitake wiped his brow and spoke with a calm finality:
"I can't stay at Momoyama for long; I have other places to be. Therefore, Yae, Zenitsu—the time I have to guide and train the two of you is short. At most, I only have one day."
He looked at them, his gaze sharpening. "Within this day, we must pick up the pace and intensify the rhythm. We will conduct as much blitz training as possible to boost your strength as much as we can. We need you ready for the upcoming Final Selection."
Upon hearing this decision, Yae was overjoyed.
She understood clearly that under her senior brother's guidance, her rate of improvement was staggering.
Zenitsu, on the other hand, nearly burst into tears the moment the words left Horitake's mouth.
His mind immediately flashed back to the "Hell Training" he had previously endured under his senior brother's hand. He feared that the intensity of this session would be no less demonic than the last.
It's over, he thought despairingly. In this one day, I'm probably going to lose a few layers of skin.
Realizing this, Zenitsu looked like a man who wanted to cry but had no tears left to shed.
Consequently, for the remainder of the day, Yae and Zenitsu remained under Horitake's direct tutelage. To call the intensity of the training "frightening" would have been an understatement.
Though the training was extreme and the process utterly draining, the fruits of their labor were sweet.
Setting aside Zenitsu—who didn't care about his progress and wouldn't have noticed it even if he did—Yae could explicitly feel her own strength surging.
If Yae's combat effectiveness before Horitake's arrival at Momoyama was a "1," then after this day of grueling refinement, she felt she could now exert at least a "1.3."
It was an incredible leap. In just a single day, her effective strength had increased by thirty percent.
Yae absolutely loved this feeling of rapid growth.
As the sun began to set and their day together reached its end, Yae looked at her senior brother with deep reluctance.
"Senior Brother, I beg of you! Can you train us for just a little longer? I feel like the results from today were incredibly effective. Please, just a bit more!"
That was Yae's earnest plea.
Beside her, Zenitsu, who was on the verge of coughing up his soul from exhaustion, heard her request and looked at his senior sister with a face of pure, unadulterated collapse. Then, his eyes rolled back into his head, and he slumped onto the ground.
It was hard to tell if the boy had actually fainted or was simply pretending to be unconscious.
Seeing his junior sister so eager to learn, Horitake felt a great sense of accomplishment. He was increasingly satisfied with Yae's attitude.
Unfortunately, time truly was of the essence.
"I'm sorry, Yae. I really don't have enough time left. My training for you and Zenitsu ends here."
He shook his head slightly. "Besides, even if I continued, your strength wouldn't continue to grow at this rate. This type of training is highly time-sensitive; it's perfect for a short-term 'blitz,' but it's not suitable for long-term practice. Even if you continued such high-intensity drills, your strength wouldn't necessarily increase. Instead, you would likely damage your body from overexertion."
Hearing Horitake's explanation, Yae felt a wave of disappointment.
"I... I see. Then there's nothing for it."
Seeing her slumped shoulders, Horitake chuckled and reached out to pat his junior sister's head, comforting her:
"Come now, don't look so miserable. Your strength has already grown enough. If you keep pushing this fast, your foundation will become unstable, which will limit your future potential. It's about time; I should be heading out."
He paused, his expression turning serious. "When the Final Selection begins in a few days, take your junior brother to Mount Fujikasane and participate. I believe both of you have what it takes to pass."
"Oh, right," Horitake added, his voice dropping an octave. "Once you enter the Final Selection, your junior brother will undoubtedly try to cling to you for dear life, wanting to act together so he can 'huddle for warmth.' I'm laying down the law right now: that is not allowed!"
At the sound of Horitake's stern voice, Zenitsu—who had been playing dead on the ground—immediately snapped wide awake. He jumped up, looking at his senior brother with a mix of indignation and resentment.
"Why, Big Brother?! Why can't I act with Senior Sister? It's much safer if we work together!"
Horitake didn't hesitate to deliver a sharp chop to the top of Zenitsu's head.
"Act together, act together... I can see right through you. Your goal isn't 'acting together'; you just want your senior sister to protect you, don't you?"
Having his inner thoughts laid bare, Zenitsu's face crumpled. He remained silent, unable to argue.
"Hmph, I knew that's what you were thinking," Horitake snorted. "Zenitsu, let me tell you—not a chance! Given your current strength, as long as you're cautious, passing the Final Selection won't be a problem. But if you two bunch up, the entire point of the trial as a training exercise is lost."
He looked at Yae before turning back to the blonde boy. "Yae would be fine either way, she doesn't mind. But what about you, Zenitsu? Your personality desperately needs to be tempered! Therefore, once you enter the Final Selection, you are not allowed to act together. You must move separately. Especially you—you need to push yourself and train in solitude. Do you understand!?"
Faced with his senior brother's harsh questioning and authoritative aura, fear gripped Zenitsu's heart. He nodded reluctantly.
"Fine... Alright. I'll act alone when the time comes..."
Standing off to the side, Jigoro watched this scene and nearly let out a laugh.
As expected of his eldest disciple; he handled the youngest one with total ease. Furthermore, the single day of training had been remarkably effective. This eldest disciple of his was simply too good at sharing his master's burdens.
As for Zenitsu and Yae...
Jigoro contemplated for a moment and decided that they shouldn't have much trouble passing the Final Selection. The thought put his mind at ease.
After giving Zenitsu one last scolding and Yae a final few words of advice, Horitake looked at the sky. The time was right. It was time to leave.
Thus, Horitake officially bid the three of them farewell.
"Alright, I'm off. Junior Brother, Junior Sister—be cautious during the Final Selection. As your senior brother, I wish you success in passing the trial."
He then looked toward the old man. "And Old Man, I don't have much to say to you, other than take care of your health. Although, seeing how sturdy you still look, there shouldn't be any issues. If anything does come up, contact me via Kasugai Crow, and I'll come at once."
"That's it. Farewell, everyone!"
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