Chapter 15

"You wanted to see me?" I ask Tsunade as I walk into the office.

"Ah, Mizuki, yes I did," she says "What are you doing today?"

"Uh not much," I say nervously. "I was probably going to help out at the hospital."

"Change of plans. We're going to the training field," she packs away her paperwork.

"Eh?"

"Sakura told me about your ability to do the body pathway derangement and that you need to perfect it."

I stand there in shock.

"And since Kakashi is taking over as Hokage I have some free time," she smiles as she looks up at me. "So I have to make sure all of my students are in tip top shape, and that means you mastering this technique."

"Alright!" I say with determination.

"Very well," she smiles. "I shall see you at the training ground after noon. Make sure you are fed and ready because I am not going easy on you."

"Not a problem!"

With that, I walk out of the office and head home to prepare some lunch.

"That smells good!" Gai walks into the kitchen.

"I hope so," I smile. "I'm trying to make a quick meal."

"Got some big plans today?" He grabs a fork and picks at the rice I'm cooking.

"Can you not!" I shoo him away. "Tsunade is training me today."

"Training?"

"Yeah, Sakura told her that I know the beginning stages to the body pathway derangement technique, and now Tsunade wants to take me as her official student."

"Being trained by one of the legendary Sannin. That is an accomplishment."

"It is very exciting, but I am also super nervous. I mean you had to protect me during most of the war."

"You held your own pretty well," he grabs some bowls and plates from the cupboard. "You are also a quick learner."

"I hope so. I'm just very nervous."

"I have an idea!"

"What's that?"

"How about I train you too!"

"What?"

"Think about it," he gives me a giant grin. "Imagine combining the body pathway derangement technique with taijutsu! You already know how to dodge and do basic taijutsu moves! You will be able to assist on higher rank missions if you were to master taijutsu!"

I can see him envisioning it now.

"Let me do one training at a time," I say with a sweat drop. "Let me survive Tsunade, then you and I can talk about that."

"I will start planning some training exercises for you!"

He begins to help me set up the table and we sit to eat.

"Hmmm…." he takes a bite of the rice. "We could start with 100 laps around the village as a warm up."

"How about no," I chuckle." You are not about to put me through one of your crazy training regiments."

"I will come up with the perfect exercise for you!"

"Alright."

We continue eating and I begin cleaning up.

"Wish me luck today!" I say.

"Good luck Mizuki!" He waves to me as I leave. "You will do great!"

I start heading to the training field. I see Tsunade standing in the middle of the field waiting for me.

"You ready, Mizuki?" She says when she sees me.

"I'm nervous but ready," I nod.

"Good," she smiles. "So you're already ahead because you know basic lighting release, and you know the nervous system and chakra points of a person."

I listen to her carefully.

"First, I am going to see how strong your electricity is," she summons a shadow clone. "So I want you to attack this clone."

"Okay," I nod.

I begin to charge up my chakra and run towards the clone. I strike her straight in the stomach sending electricity into her, causing her to fly back a bit and then poof away.

"Not bad for being self taught," Tsunade walks over to one of the stumps in the ground. "However, you need a lot of work."

She proceeds to strike the stump with her palm, causing the stump to move slightly and pieces of it come off. When she removes her hand you can see a burnt spot of where she shot her electricity through.

"I want you to strike this stump as hard as you can. Focus on the open palm technique and shooting electricity through your palm," she steps aside. "We will concentrate on pure power today. Once you gain control of that, we will concentrate on aiming on the body and precise points of the body."

"Right," I nod.

I step up to the stump, concentrate my chakra to my hand, and strike the stump with my palm. When I remove my palm, you can see the burn I left behind. However, it is concentrating on where the tips of my fingers are rather than my palm.

"That's interesting," Tsunade says. "Do it again."

I strike the stump again and the same thing happens. The burn is where my fingers were rather than my palm.

"Hmmm," Tsunade wonders. "Try striking the stump with the fingertips like a jab rather than with your palm."

I strike the stump again. I wince from the force. I check the stump and there is an indent from where I made contact. Upon further inspection, there are cracks along the stump all around it.

"Wow," I look at the stump.

I turn to Tsunade and she has a giant grin.

"So we do have a lot of promise with you," she says. "We just need to channel all that energy! Sakura was right about you. You will be able to master this easily."

"Thank you, Lady Tsunade!" I smile. "I promise I will not let you down! And thank you for accepting me as your student!"

"Thank me afterwards!" She says. "Now back to training!"

"Yes, ma'am!" I begin to strike the stump again.

She and I continue to train until the sun sets. I fall down to my knees completely out of breath and almost out of chakra. I look up at all the stumps and they are basically destroyed.

"You did well today, Mizuki," she pats me on the back. "I will let you go home and rest now."

"Thank you, Lady Tsunade," I take deep breaths.

"I expect to see you here at same time tomorrow," she begins to walk off. "Tomorrow we are going to work on your kicks."

"I shall see you tomorrow," I say still on the ground.

I take a couple more deep breaths before I have the strength to stand up. I slowly make my way back home. It is dark outside by the time I open the door and kick off my sandals.

"Hey, honey!" Gai says.

I grunt as I walk past him.

"Mizuki?" He's perplexed.

I make my way to the bathroom to shower and walk to the room after. I collapse straight onto the bed, exhausted from today's events.

"Hey, Mizuki?" Gai peeks through the door. "You okay?"

"Tsunade kicked my ass," I say with my face in the pillow. "My arms hurt."

I can hear him chuckle as he sits on the bed.

"She really worked you, huh?" He rubs my back.

"And I gotta do it all again tomorrow," I sigh.

"It will be worth it in the end."

"She's gonna kill me…" I stuff my face further in the pillow.

"Look at it this way," he continues to rub my back. "She is preparing you for when I train you!"

I groan as I lay on my side with my back towards him.

"You will be fine, Mizuki," he lays next to me and holds me. "The pain will be worth it in the end."

"It definitely will be," I say.

I close my eyes and drift off to sleep.