Woosh
A flist slipped just by Masaru's ear as he tilted his head to the side. Maruboshi followed with a chamber kick to his foot, but he managed to step back just in time. However, he wasn't fast enough to stop what followed.
Maruboshi whipped his foot to the side, catching Masaru's lead foot and knocking him off balance. Wasting no time, the old man followed, grabbing hold of Masaru's collar as he fell. His fist stopped a hair's breath from the boy's nose, causing his hair to flutter from the air pressure.
"Ninety seven to zero." The old man smiled, holding out a hand.
Masaru resisted the urge to roll his eyes as he accepted the hand. It had been a month since he'd arrived in this world, and he'd improved rapidly. From a defensless pup, he'd risen to the admirable position of a teething babe, barely being able to defend himself.
"Progress is progress." He muttered to himself, dusting off his kimono, looking up to his teacher. "Hit me."
Maruboshi smiled at his bluntness, nodding. "You have trouble keeping your feet under yourself. When stepping back, it is important that you use both feet, not just one."
Masaru closed his eyes, replaying the fight in his head. He remembered the moment he tried to escape Maruboshi's kick, and how he had left an opening for the old man to capalize on. The version of himself in his mind followed the advice, stepping back then pulling his forefoot with him.
A frown grew between his brows as he realized he'd be unbalanced like that, his back falling over his back foot. Taking a breath, he decided to change how he retreated. Moving in real life, he recreated the position.
He imagined catching the motions Maruboshi went through, which the older man had ovbiously left for him to catch. The image in his mind twisted his core, pulled his shoulder back, lifted his foot, and his eyes drifted to Masaru's foot.
Instantly, Masaru completed the transition he'd imagined in his mind. He pulled the targeted foot back, switching to a southpaw stance. Then he lowered his hips slightly and pushed off his forefoot, sliding it with him as his body moved and threw out a chambered fist, aiming for the old man's midsection, but his fist met the air.
It took him a moment to remember that he was just shadow boxing, slowly opening his eyes. 'I really need to stop getting to caught up like that...' He thought to himself.
When he looked up at his teacher, what he saw was something he didn't expect- Maruboshi's eyes had widened slightly. Just a smidge, but he could see it. He'd impressed him.
His teacher clapped. "I didn't expect you to figure it out that quickly. Keep your hips low when transitioning. It be uncomfortable for a while, but you will find that transitioning will be tremendously easier."
Masaru nodded, opening his mouth to speak when Maruboshi turned and gestured for him to follow. "Come, it's time for breakfast."
The old man had brought his wok to all their training sessions, making a full breakfast for the both of them before Masaru had to go to school.
Sitting down across from his teacher, Masaru waited until the older man had collected his portion of breakfast before scooping out his own.
The two of them ate in silence, enjoying the morning air, before Maruboshi spoke up first. "You're begining to channel chakra subconciously."
Masaru's eyes snapped up from his bowl, filled with confusion. "What? I didn't feel anything different?"
Maruboshi chuckled softly, setting his bowl down for a moment. "I said 'begining.' I think some of your skills are begining to resurface as you learn."
He thought for a moment before continuing. "I it won't be very long before you can defend yourself from your classmates, maybe another month or two."
Masaru ate in silence as he contemplated his words. He currently had eight months left before the exams, and he felt more anxiety every moment he wasn't training. And Maruboshi hadn't even begun to teach him the three academy jutsu, not to mention that he'd have to learn the Kano clan's hijutsu/hidden jutsu afterwards.
When he had time in the afternoon, he'd spend time training on his own, practacing his kata on the training posts in his backyard, as well as reading the jutsu theory present in the scrolls. He'd learned that theory came easier to him than his peers. Maybe it was because he'd lived in a more scientific time, but he enjoid reading and understanding the underlying mechanisms to the jutsu he was learning.
Many times, they'd be tested in class, and while his practacal scores had absolutly plummeted, his theory scores had actually improved.
'But theory won't stop a kunai from slicing my neck.' He sighed.
Taijutsu, ninjutsu, shurikenjutsu...those were the minimum requirements for passing the exams, and while the Kano clan was understanding of his situation, that didn't mean they'd allow him to bring shame to their name.
Looking up from his bowl, which he'd long sinse stoped eating from, he gazed at Maruboshi for a moment. "Can we start learning shuriken jutsu as well?"
The older man leveled him with a look before sighing. "Young Masaru, take a breath."
Biting back an anxious responce, Masaru let out a hot breath before taking a deep one, doing his best to calm his nerves.
"I will teach you much more than simply taijutsu. We will work on leatherworking, foraging, caligraphy, survival skills, and much more, but to be able to do those things one must be able to defend themselves. I will not have you move on before then."
Taking another deep breath, Masaru heaved a sigh. "I understand." He understood that he needed to put more effort into training, more than anything.
He must pass that test.