At 15, Itsuki was growing like crazy, and his appetite grew with him. Add in the fact that he was finally doing okay financially, and two months of regular meals meant he'd earned his second skill point today.
He'd been saving up—because upgrading a skill from level one to level two took two points.
The skill he wanted to upgrade? Flame Breathing, obviously. Once you hit "Proficient Mastery," it wasn't something you could just pick up by listening to someone talk about it. Using skill points was the fastest way to level up. Anything past that, though, would cost even more.
That was for later. Right now, his goal was to push Flame Breathing to level one on his own.
Luckily, he was almost there.
That afternoon, Shinjuro was relaxing with some good sake and snacks while Itsuki was practicing in the courtyard. Kanao was off to the side, quiet like usual, but watching Itsuki with a focused look and cheering for him in her own way.
"First Form: Unknowing Fire!"
Itsuki burst forward like he was shot out of a cannon, feet slamming into the ground. His practice sword sliced across in a clean horizontal arc, waves of heat rushing out of the sword making it seem like fire. The thick wooden post in front of him split clean at the middle. With a quiet "thud," the two halves dropped, and Itsuki slowly sheathed his sword like he'd done it a thousand times.
Shinjuro took another drink and didn't say anything. That form was solid. Nothing to critique.
But Itsuki wasn't done.
He'd learned every single Flame Breathing move over the past two months. Shinjuro had been drunk more times than either of them could count, and he'd long since given up on the "three-question rule." How much knowledge Itsuki could pull out of him now just depended on how well he steered the conversation before Shinjuro passed out.
It was almost too easy. By now, Shinjuro just let it happen, and Itsuki got to learn the final form way sooner than expected.
Honestly, it worked out for both of them.
Itsuki picked up the half of the broken post and tossed it in the air.
This was where the real show started.
"Second Form: Rising Scorching Sun!"
His practice sword came up from below like a flash of heat. A sharp red arc cut through the air.
Crack!
The chunk of wood split midair. Smoke curled off the burned cut, and the smell of singed wood spread through the yard.
Shinjuro narrowed his eyes. Not bad. Hitting a flying target like that with a wooden sword took serious strength and timing.
Itsuki didn't stop.
"Third Form: Blazing Universe!"
He rushed forward and jumped slightly bent forward and slashed
The sword arced from above, flipping the last slash upside down. This one came down hard. Sparks lit up around the blade. One of the half-stakes, still mid-fall, got caught in the strike.
Boom!
It exploded into glowing splinters, each one catching a little flame. It looked like fireworks.
Shinjuro gave a small nod. That was explosive. The kid's foundation was good—really good.
Still no break.
Itsuki touched the ground
"Fourth Form: Blooming Flame Undulation!"
Itsuki turned in place bent slightly, put his sword Infront horizontally swinging the sword in a wide spin. Sparks spiraled around him like a small vortex of fire. This one was more of a defense, good for knocking enemies back if they got too close.
Shinjuro finally put his cup down and leaned forward. That one hit the mark. The feeling was there—it had that fire essence Flame Breathing needed. He's learning and he's fast
"Fifth Form: Flame Tiger!"
With the flames still spinning, Itsuki charged in again. made a stance This time, there was an edge to it. The Breathing technique made the air ripple, and made it seem like fire curled around his practice sword in the shape of a tiger lunging forward.
Crash!
The last wooden stake, the one planted in the dirt, exploded from the impact. Under the fiery light, Itsuki looked like someone straight out of an epic tale.
Shinjuro stood up, eyes wide. The kid really had it. Just a little more real battle experience, and he'd be the real deal.
The sword was starting to burn at the edges now, and Itsuki was breathing heavy, way too heavy, shoulders rising and falling fast. Flame Breathing took a lot out of you, especially if you pushed this hard.
"Itsuki!" Kanao finally shouted, fists clenched at her sides in excitement. "You've got one left!"
Shinjuro crossed his arms. "You outta steam already, kid?"
He could tell Itsuki was at the edge, but that was the turning point. Pushing through here was what made a fighter level up for real.
"I'll go over the Ninth Form again," he said suddenly. "Pay attention. First, you gotta—"
Maybe it was because of how far the kid had come, or maybe it was the teacher part of him still buried under the sake. Either way, this was the first time Shinjuro explained the form while sober.
Itsuki listened closely. As the explanation continued, his breathing started to steady. Slowly, his strength returned.
"And the most important part—"
Itsuki knew. He could feel it. He lifted his burning sword, picked up the pace of his breathing, and pulled in a ton of air.
His whole body felt like it was on fire.
"Flame Breathing Secret Art…"
He put the sword on the side of his waist and slightly bent down
Shinjuro's voice cut through the air. "Feel the flame in your chest, kid. Burn like fire."
"Ninth Form: Rengoku!"
Itsuki shouted from the core of his chest and took off. His speed blew past even the First Form—his whole body was a fireball now, racing forward like a comet.
The flames behind him lit up the whole courtyard.
Shinjuro grinned. "That's what I'm talkin' about!"
He didn't move at first, just smiled like he was proud. But he knew—if he didn't step in, the whole courtyard was going to burn down from the heat waves coming from the kid.
He dropped his flask, took a deep breath, and pulled out his Nichirin blade for the first time in a long while.
The wind whipped around him. Fire roared in his face.
Clang!
His blade met the burning practice sword in a perfect angle. The strike stopped Itsuki cold. It was clean, precise, and full of power. The fire waves behind Itsuki crumbled like the wind.
Crack!
The practice sword shattered. Itsuki, drained, sweaty and dizzy, fell forward from the force of his own momentum.
But Shinjuro had already moved again. A quick twist of his body, a light swing of a controlled Fourth Form, with the back of his Nichirin blade and Itsuki was flung upward—gently this time.
"Itsuki!"
Kanao dashed forward, her body glowing with her own Breathing technique. She flew across the courtyard, eyes locked onto him and reached out.
She caught him right in her arms.
Itsuki looked up, a little dazed, breathing rough.
"You, okay?" Kanao asked softly, hugging him tight like she didn't want to let go.
"…Yeah," he managed, resting against her shoulder and head.
Shinjuro sighed and smiled, watching them.
"Good kid," he muttered. "Real good."