Leon stood before the two children after their training battle had ended, a cold evaluative look on his face, while the two of them were panting from exhaustion, their bodies covered in dust and a few minor bruises.
Yet they were eager to hear the opinion of this new teacher, each of them waiting for a word of praise or criticism, but what came out of Leon's mouth was harsher than they had expected.
"Your level is disappointing. It was nothing more than a children's game. There was no precision in your movements, no clear plan, no exploitation of opportunities. This isn't fighting; it's merely a reckless brawl."
Madara shouted at him, his anger obvious on his face, especially since during his confrontation with Hashirama he had felt that he was slightly weaker than him.
This feeling annoyed him greatly because he was not accustomed to being second, and he was always striving to be the best. Seeing his friend surpass him, even by a small margin, was enough to ignite his anger, so he said loudly, trying to hide his frustration behind his anger:
"What did you say, you...? We're still children, and we don't have years of combat experience, so don't judge us as though we're professional soldiers!"
But Leon paid no attention to his anger and did not respond to him. Instead, he calmly walked toward a huge rock near the river, climbed onto it, then stood there looking down at the two children from his elevated position.
His eyes still carried the same serious gaze that made them fall silent, then he said as he began teaching them a lesson.
"The first thing I will teach you is this. Pay close attention, because I won't repeat myself over and over again. Words are easy, but understanding requires effort."
The children's expressions suddenly changed and became more serious. They put all their emotions aside and listened with intense concentration, feeling that this moment would be a turning point in their lives, and that every word this teacher said now would become a precious treasure that had to be remembered.
"First, the body is the foundation, the basis that cannot be abandoned. No matter what techniques you learn, and no matter how much power you reach in the future, if your body isn't strong enough to support it, you will never be able to achieve its full potential. You will be like a building trying to construct a tall tower on a foundation of sand; it will collapse during the first storm. All supernatural power and all those incredible techniques are worth nothing if the body carrying them is weak, and you will never be able to use them to their full extent. That is why the first thing I will teach you is how to build and refine a strong body, a body that can endure, a body that doesn't tire easily, a body that will serve as the foundation upon which you build everything else."
He paused for a moment, looking at the two children who were listening with absolute seriousness and trying to absorb every word, then continued:
"As for techniques, I don't think either of you lacks them. You come from two ancient clans, both famous for their combat abilities, and each possesses its own techniques that are passed down through the generations. Those will be your primary weapons. But without a strong body, those techniques will be like an unsharpened sword. It may look beautiful, but it won't cut anything in battle."
When the two children heard these words, their expressions suddenly changed, becoming more serious and cautious.
Ever since their first meeting, they had been careful not to reveal their clan names to anyone, because in the outside world, doing so could put them in danger and make them targets for their clans' enemies. Yet it seemed that this strange young man already knew their identities.
This was both concerning and reassuring at the same time, because it meant that he was not an enemy. The two children looked at each other and decided to ask him, but Leon beat them to it, smiling faintly in a way that put them at ease as he said:
"Don't worry, you two. I'm not interested in your clans, nor in any conflicts between them. What matters to me is who you are as individuals, nothing else. Every clan has its own style, and every clan has its own techniques, but what determines who will truly become strong is the body carrying those techniques, not the family name."
He fell silent for a moment to let them absorb his words, then said:
"But I think you should decide whether you're going to reveal your clan names to each other. You're training together now, and you will become closer, and this trust between you will be the foundation for everything you will do in the future. Think about it. The decision is yours."
The children's expressions changed once again. Each turned toward the other, their gazes carrying a mixture of hesitation, curiosity, and a desire to reveal the truth, but also fear of the consequences.
Then they looked back at Leon, who smiled and broke the tension before suddenly saying in an enthusiastic voice:
"All right, now we'll begin an old training method from my family. It's been used with our children from a young age. It's basic training designed to build and strengthen the body, and I'll show you how it's done."
Then he pointed his finger toward the ground near the river, his eyes gleaming with a hint of amusement, as though he were preparing to begin something enjoyable, while the two children beside him felt that they were standing at the threshold of a new stage in their lives, a stage that could change everything and bring them closer to their dream.
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P*atreo*n :Aaron4dicard
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