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TSSITWON Chapter 44: Sage Mode
🕑 Added 2024-10-05 16:22:01 +0000 UTCOn the right side, Aoki's eyes had changed drastically. The straight black patterns resembling cat pupils looked sharp, with a bright white outer part.
Conversely, in Aoki's left eye, a similar pattern appeared, but this time it was inverted—white pupils in the midst of the dark black surrounding them. A strange aura emanated from Aoki's eyes, making anyone who looked at him feel intimidated and uncomfortable.
Not only had Aoki's eyes changed. The kimono Aoki wore looked different from before. Black and white dominated, as if separating light and dark, all appearing as if made from transparent mist—crafted from pure Nature Energy. Every movement Aoki made caused the kimono to flow, almost unreal.
"How is this possible!?" Kuroshiro exclaimed, unable to hide his shock. Kuroshiro's large eyes widened, staring at Aoki in disbelief. "How could you do this so quickly!?"
Kuroshiro couldn't comprehend it. Sage Mode, a rare technique that usually takes years to master, now seemed so easy for Aoki. Kuroshiro himself had spent years studying the balance between Nature Energy, body, and mind, yet Aoki absorbed it all in a matter of months—something impossible for anyone.
Aoki merely smiled faintly, his face remaining calm, as if what he had just achieved was not impressive at all. "It's not difficult," Aoki replied casually, his voice soft yet full of certainty. "You just need to accept the light and dark sides within you."
Kuroshiro's face twitched, anger and disbelief clashing in his mind. Kuroshiro stared at Aoki with a sharp gaze, as if searching for further explanation behind his words. But there was none. Only silence answered. Aoki remained calm, unshaken.
"Forget it," Kuroshiro finally said, giving up on finding logic behind Aoki's speed. "From now on, you will train using Sage Mode until our contract is complete." Kuroshiro's face looked weary, as if disappointed by Aoki's rapid mastery of what should have been difficult.
Aoki fell silent upon hearing that. In the past five months, their relationship had developed rapidly. Aoki no longer saw Kuroshiro merely as a mentor or trainer—Kuroshiro had become like family. However, Aoki also knew that their time together was limited. The day they would have to part was drawing closer.
A faint smile appeared on Aoki's face, and suddenly, an idea crossed his mind.
"Master Kuroshiro," Aoki called, lifting his face, looking at his mentor with newfound enthusiasm. "Would you fight me?"
Kuroshiro raised an eyebrow, not expecting such a request to come so suddenly.
"I want to test this Sage Mode, as well as the sword technique I just created," Aoki continued, his voice full of confidence. "If I fight Uncle Sakumo, I won't be able to use this technique fully. Uncle Sakumo is too cautious, and that could cause problems for me later."
Aoki smiled widely, his excitement evident. "That's why I want to fight you. I need the experience, and there is no better opponent for that than you."
Kuroshiro looked at Aoki attentively. Kuroshiro could sense Aoki's burning spirit and desire. This fight would be more than just practice—it was Aoki's final step to perfecting his power.
"Are you sure you want to fight me for experience, or do you actually intend to bully me because I've made things difficult for you all this time?" Kuroshiro stared sharply at Aoki, his eyes tracing the face of his student, who was currently smiling widely—a smile that seemed a bit mischievous, almost as if he was enjoying the situation.
Aoki, with a relaxed expression, replied with an even wider smile. "No, of course not. How could I think like that, Master Kuroshiro?" Aoki answered, his tone light yet full of irony. "So, can you help me?" Aoki's smile seemed to grow even wider, as if there was something more behind his good intentions.
