I immersed myself in training, it was like finding an interesting new game or story that I couldn't help but just binge on. I even began having dreams about training.
As I practiced more and more with what I now call "one with the self" or "the one" for short—in reference to a martial arts movie where the characters gains superhuman strength, I summoned and moved that tingling feeling around my body faster and faster. I quickly learned how to hold onto a full body version of it.
It felt like everything just became better. The world around me felt brighter, my senses felt much more clearer, my reactions quicker and my body was surging with energy. My physical performance increase also went up as well, my jumping and running speed saw about a 30% increase than when I tried without.
Eventually I reached a point where I could call on "the one" in just under a minute and I could hold onto the feeling for most of the day. It was a huge improvement but not compared to using "one with the sword".
I could now instantly execute the technique on my bokken without any effort. It seemed like the wood was especially sensitive to the technique compared to my body.
'I guess this justifies the over 4 times cost of the bokken compared to regular ones. I wonder what type of tree it's made out of.'
In the beginning it took a bit of an effort to keep the balance. It was like riding a bike for the first time or trying to fix bad body posture, you had to learn to actively adjust to it and constantly remind yourself until it became a natural process.
At first I was conscious of it and sometimes wouldn't even notice that I stopped using it when I was more focused on another task. But as I got more used to "the one", it became an unconscious action. Like breathing, I became accustomed to the point that I was only aware of it when thought about it. I still lost control of it when I went to sleep though.
Today at the dojo, it may have been a bit boastful but I wanted to show-off a little in front of Mitsuhide-sensei. I had an alternative agenda as well. I was hoping that if he saw how much I improved he would make me a disciple. Then I could learn the true Thunder Step technique.
Class ran on as usual and there was no reaction from Sensei, even after my stellar performance during the sparring. I still lost to some of the more older and experienced kids but it wasn't as one-sided as it should have been. Finally after class was dismissed, Mitsuhide-sensei called out to me.
"Zai, stay behind, I need to have a word with you." He said before he left the hall for the inner building.
'Here it comes.' I thought to myself in anticipation.
"Yes, Sensei." I sat down again and waited as everyone left the dojo.
He soon returned and walked towards the side of the hall.
"Come this way." He said as he opened the side door, revealing a veranda overlooking a zen-like garden with a koi pond.
"Have a seat." He said as he sat down cross-legged.
I complied and sat down in seiza position.
"There's no need to be so formal out of class." He said. "There is a time and place for everything."
I changed my sitting position to let me legs hang from the porch.
"How is it at home?" He asked.
"It's good, Sensei." I answered tersely.
"What else do you do in your day besides attending this dojo?"
"I help my older sister with work and I also go to school at the temple."
"Ah, it is a good thing you are learning something from school. Although you can learn many lessons of life by wielding the sword, in these times of peace, wielding the brush is a very good choice." He said before he let out a long sigh. "All this old man has is the Thunder Step One-Sword Style, and it doesn't solely belong to me. Although I have left, for good or for bad, my actions still reflect on the Mitsuhide clan, but I cannot let go of the sword, it is all that I know."
Chiaki-sensei came onto the porch at that moment with a tray and set it down between me and Mitsuhide-sensei, before leaving.
"Look at me, rambling about my past. The lesson I meant to impart is that it is good to learn other things to contribute to society. Scholars thrive in these times of peace. While an old samurai like me has little to offer but my experience to the next generation." Mitsuhide-sensei said as he picked up a pipe on the tray and began to light it up. "Have some tea."
"Yes, Sensei." I said as I picked up a cup of tea on the tray.
Mitsuhide-sensei took a long puff of the pipe before exhaling it.
'Tobacco.' I noted.
"Now, tell me about what you have learned in your meditations."
I told Sensei about all that I experienced and even the name I gave that tingling feeling.
"Hahah, 'The One'." Sensei chuckled. "That's an interesting name you gave it. " He took another puff before continuing. "Because one of the names I've heard it called by is The All."
"One of?" I asked.
"There are many names depending on where you are in the world or who you ask. The most prevalent name used among the samurai around here is Ki or Chi. Other common names I've ran into in my travels are Life Force, Prana, Spirit Energy, Aura, Mana, Livity..."
Sensei took another puff of his pipe before releasing it.
"And Chakra."
Boom.