Chapter 66: A Month Later, A New Journey
When Ryuzen emerged from the shower, a burst of delicious aromas drifted from the direction of the dining room.
He glanced at the clock on the wall—10:45 AM—then walked into the dining room. "You haven't had breakfast yet?"
"Well..." Hanabi seemed to have overcome her earlier shyness and returned to her usual lively self. She patted her belly and teased Hinata with a grin: "Big sister made breakfast really early, but she refused to eat until Ryuzen-nii came back. She wouldn't even let anyone else use the chopsticks when she got hungry!"
Ryuzen smiled and ruffled Hanabi's hair, then looked at Hinata. "From now on, you don't need to wait for me for breakfast. If I'm not back by the time you eat, just save me some lunch. Starting today, I'll be training until eleven or twelve every morning."
Hinata nodded obediently, but silently made a different decision in her heart.
I'll just have to wake up earlier. Even earlier!
They sat down together and began their meal.
The atmosphere wasn't formal at all—it was cheerful and warm.
Among the three, Hinata and Ryuzen were both thirteen, and Hanabi was eight. Ryuzen had never been a withdrawn person. In the past, when it was just him and Hinata, he would always find topics to keep the conversation flowing. Now with lively Hanabi added to the mix, there was never a dull moment.
He chatted with Hanabi while eating, reminding her not to slack off in her training. After winter passed, they would resume water-walking practice in the small valley.
Hinata ate quietly, watching her beloved and her sister with soft eyes, a happy smile gracing her features.
This kind of life is so wonderful.
If only time could freeze right now—the three of us together forever.
Suddenly, Ryuzen turned to her. "Hinata. Let's go traveling together soon. What do you think?"
The sudden question caught her off guard. "Eh?"
Then she saw the expectant look in his red eyes, and her mind flashed back to what he had said during the Chunin Exams—about traveling the ninja world together someday.
Her beautiful face gradually flushed crimson. She lowered her head, answering in a voice barely above a whisper:
"...Mm."
"Hey hey hey! What about me?" Hanabi immediately set down her chopsticks, looking at Ryuzen with hopeful, sparkling eyes. "Ryuzen-nii, can I come too?"
Ryuzen ruffled her hair gently but shook his head with a smile. "You're still young. When you grow up and become a genin, then we can all travel together. Okay?"
"...Oh, fine!" Hanabi responded with obvious disappointment, but knowing Ryuzen's mind was made up, she didn't push further.
After breakfast, Hinata cleaned the dishes while Ryuzen headed to the training ground to complete his daily tasks.
Slashing practice was the best measure of his progress.
When he was younger, just after awakening the Breath of All Things, he had trained outside for fear of accidentally destroying the house. Later, as he gained better control, he moved back indoors.
Now, he had the bearing of a true master returning to simplicity.
He held a bamboo sword—not Shigure Kintoki, just an ordinary practice blade—and swung it with ordinary movements. Each swing produced no whirlwind, no cutting of airflow. His hair didn't stir. His clothes didn't flutter.
Yet the system's task counter skyrocketed with every second.
An hour and a half later, he stopped.
Nearby, Hinata and Hanabi had already begun their own training. They knew better than to disturb him.
Ryuzen set down the bamboo sword, sat cross-legged in a meditation pose, closed his eyes, and entered the spiritual world.
Since September, he hadn't entered this space. The 0.02% daily swordsmanship experience had become too small to make a difference. So he had accumulated it all, adding Kimimaro's 1.22% on top, to process in one concentrated session.
His consciousness began to shift. His soul seemed to cross boundaries, merging with the man with hawk-like eyes.
In the spiritual world, Mihawk appeared to be walking the path of one who seeks defeat—a solitary journey toward the peak.
For several percentage points of his swordsmanship life, there were never more than a handful of battles. Most were like a cat playing with mice—crushing challengers who came seeking glory.
But Mihawk was already at the level of a Great Swordsman.
And in those rare, genuine battles, Ryuzen stepped into his perspective and entered a familiar state.
The feeling of perceiving everything's breath across a vast range... the sense that anything could be cut...
It was intoxicating.
When he emerged from the spiritual world, Ryuzen kept his eyes closed. He immersed himself in that feeling, letting the Breath of All Things expand around him.
During the Chunin Exams, his maximum range had been just over a hundred meters. A slash using seventy percent of his strength had carved through the arena wall.
Now, his range had reached four to five hundred meters.
Not only had the number of things he could perceive increased dramatically, but their breathing felt heavier, more distinct.
His foundation was solid. His cutting technique was pure. He was already a top-tier swordsman in every sense.
All that remained was expanding the range of the Breath of All Things. Once that happened, he would step into the realm of a Great Swordsman.
After a long while, he slowly opened his eyes.
The remaining thirty percent of his swordsmanship life was spent walking the path of seeking defeat alone...
The World's Greatest Swordsman truly is something else.
It was only two in the afternoon. He asked Hinata to take Hanabi home, then began his physical training—the boring, repetitive work of building his body for Soru and Geppo.
One month later. The New Year approached.
Ryuzen declared Team 8 on extended leave. He visited the Hokage's office, secured a long-term vacation, and left Konoha with Hinata—who had already received permission from the Hyūga clan.
They embarked on a journey through the ninja world.
Soon after, the Child of Destiny would begin his own two-and-a-half-year training with the Legendary Sannin Jiraiya.
When he returned, the troubles would begin.
But for now, there was only the open road, the changing seasons, and two figures walking it together.
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