Chapter 7: REVOLUTION

Kenichi was strolling leisurely down the familiar path that would lead him to the Ryozampaku. He should have been excited to return, but he wasn't.

Unbeknownst to him, spending so much time with friends and family had caused him to reconsider many things, including whether Ryozampaku should have been the center of his life.

In fact, he wasn't sure which was more wrong: having neglected his loved ones for so long in favor of training, or now lingering in their company for so long that he almost didn't want to start over.

Probably both, he told himself.

But before he could think, "Sure, everything would have been different if I had seen Miu-san," it happened.

There she was, right in front of him on the path leading to the dojo, waiting for him in her gym clothes and a nice pink sweater. She had a big smile on her face as she looked at him, seemingly enjoying his thoughtful expression at the idea of the surprise she had in store for him.

And it was a surprise.

Kenichi was stunned, his eyes sparkling. He thought it was a celestial vision. "Miu-san…"

"Nice to see you again, Kenichi," the girl said with a slight blush on her cheeks.

For a long moment, they just stared at each other.

Then Kenichi shook himself and said, "Um… How was the trip? I hope you had a good vacation…"

What a fool I am, why did I just say that?

Miu moved closer to him with an understanding smile.

"Very well, thanks. I hope you enjoyed yourself with everyone else."

Seeing the look of surprise—and a bit of guilt—on Kenichi's face, she quickly added:

"It was my grandfather who organized everything, remember? Before we left, he asked if I wanted to join. But I… as much as I wanted to, I felt I wouldn't forgive myself if I missed this chance to spend a few more days with my father. We had a lot to talk about, a lot of time to make up for. And… I'm glad I spent this month with him. I'll tell the others I'm sorry, but I know there will be other chances."

Kenichi had a revelation.

Of course, it's obvious. How selfish I've been.

"You're… you're right, Miu-san. Actually, I've realized more about the importance of family during these holidays, and… I'm glad you had this opportunity, too. I know how much it meant to you."

The girl's eyes seemed to light up.

"At the same time, I'm glad to see you again. And to start the school year, the training at the Ryozampaku, and whatever else awaits us, as we always have. Together."

The girl nodded sweetly, and they headed towards the entrance.

…or rather, that SHOULD have been the entrance to the Ryozampaku, right? Because it didn't look like it at all.

The massive gate was polished to a shine and decorated with mythological figures carved in bronze, Bodhisattvas, Kanon, and others Kenichi couldn't recognize. The surrounding wall seemed incredibly more solid—almost as if it had been rebuilt brick by brick—and had undoubtedly been repainted in bright orange. Even the tiles were new.

"What… what the heck…?"

Once inside—by the way, the doors seemed about 30% heavier than before—they had even greater surprises.

The buildings were the same but had been entirely renovated and repainted like the walls. A new structure extended about twenty meters from the main building where the sleeping quarters were located.

Another building made entirely of metal opened from Akisame's statue storage. And at the end of the courtyard, a glass building resembled… a greenhouse?

In this regard, the grass was freshly cut, and Kenichi, always attentive to botany, noticed many more trees planted here and there, and around them, in small metal flower beds, grew flowers of various types.

A few meters from the main portico, a serene Japanese-style pond collected water from some artificial channels that split the lawn in half—crossed by wooden footbridges—and in the pond swam four or five koi carp.

"But… what on earth happened here?"

The masters—everyone, even Shigure—were gathered standing in front of the portico, enjoying the surprised expressions of the two youngsters and showing a certain satisfaction and justified pride in the results of their work.

"Ohohoh, welcome back, kids. So, what do you think of the little changes we've made to our humble dojo?"

"Elder! Can you explain…?"

"There's not much to explain, really," Hayato said, completely satisfied, stroking his beard. "As I told you, Kenichi-kun, the dojo needed renovations. Since we were at it, we took the opportunity to make a few small changes: we improved security to prevent spying from Yami, added some new buildings to accommodate potential new students, and made everything more pleasant. Now, if you have a bit of patience, I'll give you a little tour."

Kenichi and Miu (who had grown up there and was even more accustomed to the old look) were constantly wide-eyed at each new room.

First of all, Koetsuji had transformed the old statue storage into an art studio where he displayed his works: sculptures, paintings, ceramics, etc., in an extraordinary exhibition that wouldn't look out of place in a major Western museum.

The training statues had been evenly distributed along the walls, as if they were both bizarre examples of pop art and unsettling supernatural guardians.

One of the new buildings was a gym. A real one. Ultra-modern and fully equipped, with all kinds of equipment that must have cost a small fortune.

All the masters' rooms had been renovated and made more comfortable, and the other new wing housed rooms for potential new students.

Ranma also slept there on the days he stayed at the dojo (though his room was now locked), and Kenichi was surprised to find that he would also be sleeping in that wing.

"What happened to my old room?"

And no surprise was greater than discovering it had been turned into a small library, complete with a desk. Many of the spaces were empty, while others held classics of literature or many of the books Kenichi had at home (likely smuggled by Honoka, who would have made room for her things).

While Kenichi was still in awe, Hayato added, "Actually, it was Ranma-kun who suggested we create this room so you could practice writing during your free time."

What? Was it really him? Could it be?

"And not only that," Kensei added, "he also proposed another small change."

Behind the main building was a thirty-meter flower bed with every imaginable type of flower and a small shed containing seeds and gardening tools.

Miu and Kenichi were now paralyzed with surprise. Kenichi was almost moved.

"But that's not all," Koetsuji interjected. "Our new student also thought we could use your—uh—peculiar skills to save a bit on our budget. Which comes in handy, considering all the expenses we've just incurred."

And so it turned out that the glass and steel building that looked like a greenhouse was indeed a greenhouse. One for growing every type of fruit and vegetable known to man, for the daily consumption of the Ryozampaku.

One of the rooms in the main building contained a computer and a kind of control panel that Kenichi guessed was the hub of all the security measures the Elder claimed to have introduced into the dojo.

Even though they weren't shown to them, Kenichi and Miu had no doubt that the security measures were formidable and terrifying.

Which, now that I think about it, would make it even harder to escape from here, thought the young Shirahama.

Every single room—walls, plaster, paint, parquet—had been renewed.

To Miu's great delight, the decrepit appliances had been replaced with new models, including an oven, a stove, a ten-burner cooktop, and a refrigerator large enough to hold even the supplies needed to satisfy Apachai's appetite.

As the kids wondered how they could afford all this, they noticed a heavily fortified room with extreme security measures. They deduced it was a safe for storing the proceeds from the Masters' various activities.

Miu was pleased and honored to discover she was the only person authorized to access it, through an electronic system invented by Koetsuji that combined fingerprint recognition, voice recognition, and retina scanning. The Elder, who from now on wouldn't be able to pilfer the dojo's proceeds to buy his rare Choju Giga, was a bit less pleased.

In one of the central rooms was a calendar displaying household duties and other notes related to work activities. A second calendar seemed to be covered by a cloth, for some still unknown reason.

A modern, clean infirmary had replaced the small room where Kenichi had been treated many times, showcasing both Western medical advances and, in a striking contrast, jars with strange ingredients for Kensei's potions, as if it were a modern-day version of Dr. Frankenstein's lab.

Back outside, the kids were surprised to see Apachai playing with a half-dozen dogs of all breeds, sizes, and colors.

"He's finally found the job that suits him," Sakaki explained. "On odd days, he's a DOG-sitter, on even days, a BABY-sitter. He manages to use that mysterious aura of his that makes all creatures feel calm around him, and for the first time, he contributes to the Ryozampaku's income. It's about time, with all he eats!"

The group walked around the garden, noting how the cut grass, the fresh water in the channels, and the increased number of trees and flowers had indeed improved the outdoor environment.

Miu noticed birds chirping in the trees and was thrilled to discover that the masters had prepared a shelter for a half-dozen cats, which—she promised—she would soon populate.

Kenichi then heard the sound of a blacksmith's hammer and realized it was coming from a small stone hut with a chimney, also extending from the main building. Inside, Shigure was hammering metal, with a headband on and dressed like a blacksmith.

"Even Shigure has found a way to contribute," said Akisame. "He uses her metallurgical skills to restore ancient weapons displayed in museums, returning them to their original sharpness, and in their absence, she makes incredibly sharp sushi knives, sold all over Japan."

"Finally," Hayato concluded, "besides everyone's work—the missions of Sakaki, the clinics of Akisame and Kensei—we fund ourselves, as always, with the proceeds from the fees paid by those who want to challenge us. We've implemented a revised fee schedule with slightly higher rates; after the Eternal Sunset incident, we've become quite famous, at least in the martial arts world; and your friend Nijima helped us a bit with advertising, given our limited knowledge of the modern world."

Even Nijima contributed…

In all this, there were two things left to understand.

First, if at least the internal dojo had remained similar to how it used to be.

Second, where the heck Ranma had gone.

They discovered both.

The dojo was the closest thing to how it originally was, but all the wooden planks had been replaced with new, healthy planks made of fine wood.

Inside, alone, Ranma was performing a kata with intense concentration.

They remained in respectful silence, and when the heir of the Saotome school finished, he noticed them and turned. He gave Miu, or so it seemed, a knowing glance, and then said, "Oh, so you're back. About time." Then he began to wipe the sweat from his brow with a towel.

For a long moment, Kenichi was unsure what to say. Then, suddenly, he dropped into a deep bow.

"RANMA-KUN! THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING; FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!"

The boy with the pigtail, somewhat surprised, turned to look at him with a mix of skepticism and confusion.

"Feh! If you have so much energy for these formalities, focus on preparing yourself. A grueling training session awaits you."

But as the young Shirahama stood up, he said something else, his expression serious.

"I haven't forgotten what you told me that day, you know. I… have thought about it a lot. It's possible that, in fact, I don't love martial arts for what they are, but only for what they allow me to do. But I… promise I'll keep thinking about it. About what they mean to me. And one day… I'll be able to give you an answer, I swear."

Ranma listened in silence and merely nodded, closing his eyes.

When he changed into his combat gear and stepped out into the courtyard, Kenichi noticed that Miu—dressed in her usual tight-fitting suit—and Ranma were waiting for him. They all assumed the Yoi position in front of the Elder and the others.

"Kenichi, Miu, Ranma," Hayato began in a solemn tone, "from today you are full-time students at Ryozanpaku. Each of you will follow a different program, but all three of you are expected to respect each other and obey the rules of this dojo. Furthermore, we expect you to adhere to the principles of Katsujinken as you always have. Is that clear?"

"Yes," the three of them answered in unison.

"Very well. Before we begin, I will outline your training programs. You should know," he said as Akisame arrived with a rolling whiteboard, "that today's surprises are not over yet. Ranma, who, as you know, contributed some ideas to the dojo's renovation, came to us a few weeks ago with a proposal, and we accepted it."

The students exchanged curious glances, while Ranma appeared very pleased.

"That is, some modifications to your training programs, the most significant of which is reorganizing them on a daily basis, with one Master assigned to one student for the entire day."

In brief, the Elder explained the changes that Ranma had presented to the Masters three weeks earlier. He was frequently interrupted by questions or comments—mostly the same ones they had made—which he answered thoroughly.

By the end, the two students were impressed and felt a heightened respect for their new companion, and perhaps a bit of envy.

So that's what he was doing locked in the storage room…

And the argument with Kenichi… does he want him to train better so he gets hurt less in battle?

Ranma-kun-Miu thought admiringly-has he really reached this level already? Noting the flaws in our training and suggesting changes? Suddenly… catching up with him seems more difficult than ever. But… I won't stop trying, so much so that my name is Furinji Miu-she concluded, clenching her fist with determination.

Kenichi's thoughts, prone as usual to depression and sudden mood swings, were a bit darker.

Ra-Ranma convinced the Masters to change the training program? And they accepted? What's happening? Everything is moving too fast! Will he become my teacher? And what about Miu…

Actually, now that I think about it… what kind of training will he make me do? I'm sure it'll be terrifying…

"Hey, wake up from your daydreams," the boy with the pigtail jolted him back to reality.

What? How did he notice? Did he read my mind? Like the Masters?

"Ah-um!" Akisame cleared his throat, holding a stick to point at the whiteboard. "As you'll soon see, the modifications are not enormous but are substantial. To start with, Kenichi, you will be doing general physical training…"

Kenichi found himself performing basic techniques (forward punches, upward thrusts) while being tethered to a complex metal structure with chains attached to his wrists, with heavy weights at the opposite ends. Every time he moved his fists forward, the chains would slide, and the weights would be lifted, only to fall back down when he changed position.

"IT'S EVEN WORSE THAN USUAL!"

"Oh, come on, stop whining," Ranma scolded him. "I was doing these exercises when I was finishing middle school!"

What? These are his old exercises? But…?

"Well, Kenichi-kun," Akisame began, "as the Elder explained, Ranma helped define your training program. He reorganized the technical training shifts but also proposed splitting the physical training into two phases: a general phase and a specific one for each martial art. Then he suggested some exercises for the general phase. I accepted these suggestions because they seemed valid, but mostly because they gave me the opportunity to invent new training devices."

And it was true: Akisame pressed a button on a remote control, and the structure transformed itself like a Transformer, changing shape. Suddenly, Kenichi found chains attached to his feet as well. Instead of forward punches and upward thrusts, he had to perform movements similar to judo throws, side to side, then kick forward, both right and left, ending with squats and jumps, all while the weights moved up and down according to his movements.

"IT'S EVEN WORSE THAN BEFORE!"

"Woah! I have to say," commented Ranma, "that Koetsuji-sensei's modification makes the training more efficient. Compared to my father's design, now you can change movements without having to dismantle and rebuild the whole structure from scratch."

"Moreover… it's very effective!" Miu affirmed with admiration. "Kenichi, with this method, trains simultaneously: maximum strength, because the weights are just a bit heavier than what Ken-chan could lift comfortably; general warm-up, to prepare for the next work and stay flexible; technical aspects, refining movements, stimulating muscle memory, and preventing incorrect movements; and finally, cardiovascular endurance, as I see from this display, it lasts for thirty minutes exactly."

"W-WHAT? THIRTY MINUTES?"

"It's a method for training all physical attributes at once, and it can be performed any day, regardless of which Master will train the technical part afterward. It's truly fantastic!" the girl concluded.

"Oh, just a trifle!" Ranma waved it off. "I have to admit that my old man had a good idea. I just proposed it for Kenichi, and then Koetsuji improved the technical aspects a bit."

"Ranma-kun, your training also needs to start," Kensei reminded him.

"I'm coming," Ranma replied. Before they parted ways, he and Miu shared a meaningful glance and a high-five with their hands as they headed in opposite directions.

Do your best-they both thought-until next time.

Furinji went to the back of the dojo, where her grandfather awaited her. The details of their training would remain a secret for a long time.

Meanwhile, Ranma was undergoing the physical preparation proposed by Kensei before starting technical training with him. Sakaki, Apachai, and Shigure, with nothing better to do, were there watching curiously.

Ranma had removed his jacket and was doing handstands on small wooden posts embedded in a sand track. It would have been almost normal if he weren't balancing a large rock—approximately 30 tons, half the maximum he could bear—on his bare feet.

Even so, the young Saotome, though cautious, looked puzzled.

"It's not bad, and it's definitely challenging, but even for the first day, I expected something more… let's say…"

"As the wise say," interjected the Chinese master, "be careful what you wish for, boy."

At that moment, one of the posts Ranma was supporting himself on suddenly gave way, tipping sideways into the sand. It was a miracle that the boy managed to avoid falling and keep the rock balanced despite the wobbling.

"Ohoh!"

"Apa!"

"Well… well thought out… Kensei…"

The master merely shot a glance at the new student.

Ranma was sweating bullets. In an instant, he realized the dreadful implications of it all.

Some of the posts were fake, hollow inside, and meant to fall once weight was placed on them, just like the one that had given way.

He was supposed to proceed to the end—30 meters of track—without letting the rock fall. And there was no way to tell which posts were fake just by looking at them.

Then, concern gave way to the thrill of the challenge.

Tsk! So this is the famous Ryozanpaku, huh?

"I'LL SHOW YOU!"

And he took off, faster than before, adjusting his movements to avoid falling even when the posts gave way. The masters merely chuckled in approval.

The first week of training passed quite quickly.

Ranma would stop by in the morning to train, return home for lunch with his mother Nodoka, then going back to Ryozanpaku to watch Kenichi's training, and finally heading home for dinner and sleep. Only on a couple of occasions did he stay for dinner after training, helping Miu prepare everything. The Masters were so pleased that they didn't even try to take the food from the students.

During that week, Kenichi had to start adjusting to the modified routine. It was unusual for him to train all day with a single Master, but he realized that this way, he had the chance to learn, delve into, and experiment with many more things all at once.

He learned more complex concepts than he was used to and managed to apply them well; he even began to doubt whether he had any talent. He also felt a bit uneasy initially about training two days with Kensei, but even here, he had to admit it was a well-chosen approach.

The "soft" methods of Chinese internal martial arts allowed him to integrate the more "muscular" methods of Karate, Muay Thai, and even Jujutsu, maintaining a necessary balance.

Furthermore, he began to learn many more techniques suited to various situations and started thinking more strategically. As for physical training, after the initial shock, he found that the general half-hour became easier each day—which meant it was working.

The specific half-hour consisted of traditional physical training methods for each martial art, preparing him for the subsequent training.

It's surprising to think that Ranma managed to improve Ryozanpaku's training methods. I mean, he didn't actually modify them himself. He noticed errors and made suggestions. Still, he's certainly not on the same level of expertise as the Masters. He couldn't have taught them like this.

But he did manage to identify their mistakes and persuaded them to correct them. It's astonishing, considering their personalities. I remember an old saying: even the most foolish of men can discover the errors of the wisest. Yet Ranma is anything but a fool. On the contrary, it seems there's nothing he can't excel at. In some ways… he reminds me a bit of Saiga Furinji, Miu's father.

Perhaps… the Elder might have thought so too?

Meanwhile, Miu, unaware of these musings, continued her secret training with her grandfather. In some ways, she was happy, feeling like she had returned to her childhood. In other ways, however, she was being recognized for the first time as having a certain level of maturity. Hayato believed that his granddaughter was ready to move to the next level.

She was almost an Expert. And he was determined to ensure she became as strong as possible. He owed it to her, given his regret for neglecting her training in recent months.

Most of the time, as when she trained with Ranma, the blonde girl focused on attacking her teacher, using her new style, which combined Silat for ground attacks with the Furinji style for aerial ones, but with the difference that she enhanced it with the Ki of the Dou.

Hayato thought that to fully control it, Miu needed to get used to it, so he allowed her to open the "tap" of Ki only gradually: first 10%, then 20%, then 30%, and so on…

As for Ranma, his expectations had not been disappointed. Now that he finally had the chance to train at Ryozampaku, he had to admit that the place's reputation was more than deserved and perhaps even underestimated.

Thanks to the Masters, he learned complex concepts he hadn't even suspected, despite having trained all his life and mastered very difficult techniques. Moreover, it was clear that each of them had skills at an unimaginable level in their field.

Ranma often found himself thinking about when he would be able to beat all of them.

Not anytime soon, I'm afraid. But that day will come.

On Thursday, it was Ranma's turn with Shigure, and he was actually intending to ask her about all the hostility and suspicion towards him. Easier said than done. Communication was not the strong suit of the prodigy of all weapons, and the boy with the pigtail hadn't found the opportunity—or the courage—to ask her.

That time, as it was the first lesson, Shigure had wanted to assess his level, so they had limited themselves to sparring; first with traditional Okinawan weapons, those that Ranma handled best—Bo, Jo, Tonfa, Sai, Nunchaku, Tekko—and then with all traditional Chinese weapons, many of which were local versions of swords, sabers, and halberds, which Ranma had learned to use on that fateful training journey with Genma.

The Master had merely parried, and even so, the boy with the pigtail was astonished at how the young woman could counter all his attacks with nonchalance using only the sword sheath held in one hand. During the fight, Ranma felt he learned more about attacking and defending with weapons than he would in a month of regular training.

Is this how Miu and Kenichi usually feel? Is this what it means to be at a much lower level than your teacher?

On Friday, the Elder questioned Ranma about his past training. He concluded that the young man had neglected methods for defending against multiple opponents, and the boy with the pigtail could only admit that this was an area his father had overlooked and that even in the years at the Tendo dojo, he hadn't particularly focused on.

Focused on perfecting the art of dueling, the masters of the Indiscriminate Martial Arts School had neglected large-scale battles, but this could become a problem in real fights against unscrupulous opponents, especially against criminal organizations or the armed section of Yami.

Ranma was a bit annoyed to discover such a gap, but even more so because the Elder, to get him used to it, moved around him at super speed, hitting him from every direction as if there were many copies of him.

It was Monday evening, the first day of the second week of the new training, and Ranma had decided to stay for dinner (he had spent the weekend with Nodoka, visiting the places where she had grown up, paying respects at the graves of relatives he realized he had never heard of, and then browsing markets suited to her tastes; although he always enjoyed spending time with his mother, Ranma NEEDED different and possibly younger company), so, as he often did on such occasions, he was helping Miu in the kitchen.

That day, she and Kenichi had resumed school, marking the start of their third and final year of high school. To celebrate the occasion and the first week of the new training, lobster had been bought, making an exception to their usual frugality.

Ranma realized that cooking relaxed him; he even enjoyed it. He had often wondered what he would have done with his life if he hadn't focused on martial arts, or how he would have earned a living. He had to admit that cooking could have been a good option, even though most of what he knew he had learned in the past year.

Another novelty was that Kenichi popped into the kitchen, more to observe them cooking—or was it to spy on them? the boy with the ponytail wondered—rather than to help with the cooking, which he was indeed terrible at.

"Hey, um… is everything okay?"

"Well, up until a moment ago, yes."

"Ranma-kun! Don't be rude to Kenichi-kun. Especially since it's very rare to see him around here."

Feh, and no wonder… he can't tell a pan from a grater…

"Eheh, I actually… wanted to know what you were preparing," the disciple fumbled.

"Lobster in cognac sauce, with a side of spaghetti in three versions: Chinese with fried egg and vegetables, Italian with tomato, garlic, and basil, and Japanese with shrimp and konbu seaweed. As a side dish: red crab uramaki with a sprinkle of fish roe and boiled vegetables to your heart's content. For the drink, we've chosen a chilled Italian white wine, a Riesling, and for dessert, we'll make green apple Mochi."

Kenichi had clearly asked a random question to justify his presence, but he was genuinely impressed by the level of sophistication and detail achieved.

Wow… he's really good. Practically professional level. I even get the feeling that Miu has improved in cooking since Ranma started coming here…

"Ranma-kun is exceptional, isn't he?" Miu said with a beaming smile, as if reading his thoughts. "He even wants to stay later to teach me some recipes."

Damn! But I can't stand knowing those two are so close, Shirahama thought, putting his hands in his hair as tears welled up.

Miu was unaware of his inner turmoil, completely absorbed in cooking and humming, but one could swear Ranma let out a half-smile.

Immediately, though, he became serious again. "Oh! We're out of horseradish. Kenichi, could you pass it to me, please? And while you're at it, could you grate some into a small bowl?"

Kenichi complied with the request, still with a depressed look. "This is what I've come to, grating horseradish for the great chef. I wonder, maybe Miu likes kitchen hands…"

And at that moment…

"Kenichi, don't think you can keep us in the dark," the blonde suddenly said.

The two boys had the same puzzled expression. From the outside, they would have looked comical.

"What? Is she guessing what I'm thinking?"

"You didn't come here to watch us cook. You came here because you want to ask us how the training is going."

Busted.

"Oh, well… in a way…"

Ranma gave him a questioning look. He hadn't thought of that.

"Yes, it's true. Don't take it the wrong way; the new training is going well… I must admit that the revised schedule by Ranma is very efficient. I feel like I'm learning more than usual, and I think even the Masters enjoy it more, even though they won't admit it. But… Well, before we trained all together, and I could always see you, Miu-san. Now, however, we're separated, and I don't know what any of you are doing. I was wondering… if things are going well for you too, and if you'd like to tell me something. I'm a bit curious about how you're finding this new Ryozampaku."

Miu had expected this and smiled gently.

"Bah! I was wondering what you'd say," Ranma said. "Anyway, now that I'm really experiencing the training at Ryozampaku, I must admit that it's incredibly effective. It's not even that they… work, but rather that… well, observing the Masters, you'd never say they're… complex people, if you know what I mean?"

Kenichi and Miu could only nod, embarrassed, well aware of the eccentric and childish personalities of all the dojo members.

"And yet… they're not just strong; they're genuinely skilled. Everything they do has multiple layers of meaning, like an onion or a Matryoshka doll, which you might notice immediately, or later, or never at all. But they would still be useful later, even if you don't fully understand them on the spot.

For example, today I found myself training with Kensei for the second time. He made me do the same warm-up as last week—and here Ranma briefly explained what it involved and how he had managed, seven days before, to complete the course, knocking down all the fake poles but not making the rock fall—and so I expected something different, or that he wanted to see me complete the training in less time.

Instead… after realizing that, obviously, the fake poles weren't the same as the previous week, I understood that… he didn't just want me to complete the course. At first, he asked me to do a second round moving the rock left and right, despite the fake poles, while training my oblique abs at the same time.

Then he had me do a third round—and each time he changed the arrangement of the poles at a speed I couldn't follow, damn him—this time walking, still on the tightrope, but backward."

Kenichi and Miu were stunned by the story.

"And when I completed that too—and of course, it took me a bit longer—he said that was enough for today, but that I hadn't grasped the true meaning of the exercise."

"Eh? And what could that be?"

"I don't know, but looking at all the fake poles fallen to the ground… I don't know, it's just a feeling, but… I think he'll keep making me repeat the same training until I can… walk on my hands, not just avoiding the fake poles, but actually walking on the fake ones on purpose, without making the rock fall."

"What? Are you serious?"

"Well, I don't know, but it's possible. It would be consistent with their twisted logic. With a moral or philosophical lesson: not to avoid difficult situations but to face them until they no longer cause problems.

At the same time, it trains, all at once, balance, coordination, reaction time, sense of danger, core stability, and more. Walking on the poles without making the rock fall is already impressive. When I'm able to intentionally walk on the fake poles without falling, I'll have supernatural balance."

The other two were sweating, contemplating the implications of that reasoning, which seemed to disturb even Ranma.

Come to think of it, this is how they've always done it… Kenichi thought.

…training someone with overly complex methods for the immediate goals they aimed to achieve… but in this way, laying the foundation for future milestones, even if the student doesn't initially realize it… concluded Miu.

Ryozampaku… really is not like any other place, Ranma reflected.

"And that's not all," the boy continued, "because that kind of training was perfect for preparing me for the next technical lesson, in which we covered internal Chinese martial arts, which all rely on strength, flexibility, and stability in the abdominal region. It was all calculated."

The three of them ended up smiling together, spontaneously.

"Even if it doesn't seem like it…" Kenichi began.

"…they're all reliable people, huh?" Miu finished.

Ranma merely nodded, in good spirits.

"Oh, and… that's not all, you know!" Kenichi interjected. "The other day, Master Sakaki…"

And soon they were sharing their impressions of their respective training sessions, enthusiastic as children, as if they had known each other forever.

As before, Hayato smiled with satisfaction from a few walls away.

The best part was that while they talked, Ranma and Miu continued to cook, while Kenichi helped by passing them dishes, ingredients, and arranging the prepared food on trays. If they had done it consciously, they wouldn't have managed it so well.

After a few minutes, they realized something. One of them hadn't spoken.

"By the way, Miu-san… how is your training with the Elder going?"

"Yeah, for some reason, he's the only one who keeps his sessions behind closed doors."

The girl looked at her companions with a mischievous grin, her tongue poking out like a child's, relishing the chance to keep them in suspense for once.

Then she launched into her best imitation of Shigure.

"It's a seee….creeeet…"

And burst out laughing at her own trifle and at their puzzled expressions.

"Aww, that's not fair, Miu-san," Kenichi complained.

"Don't think you can fool us," Ranma chided her good-naturedly, tossing vegetable scraps at her.

At first, Miu seemed puzzled, then with a playful smile, she began doing the same, and soon a full-scale food fight erupted, using the leftover parts from dinner: vegetable stems, eggshells, lobster shells, and more.

When the "battle" ended as it had begun, the three of them found themselves sitting on the floor, covered in all sorts of mess, laughing their hearts off.

As silence returned, Ranma found himself reflecting.

When was the last time I was this carefree? At the Tendo house?

No, maybe not… there was always some craziness going on… and even when there wasn't, there were tensions, arguments, grudges…

here, though, there are no expectations or obligations… we can really just be who we want to be…

is this what it means to be… happy?

No, maybe… serene is the right word.

Happiness is a specific moment, but serenity is a lasting state…

I should really say…

"Thank you."

The boy with the pitail turned his head, surprised.

It was Kenichi who spoke.

"I have to admit… when you first arrived, I was a bit worried. Maybe it's selfish, but… I feared our routine would change, maybe for the worse. You'll have to excuse me; I tend to be pessimistic by nature and a bit anxious."

Well, I noticed that.

"And instead," Kenichi continued, his face lighting up, "I have to say that, since you've been here… everything seems to have improved for us at Ryozampaku. Thank you so much."

Ranma hadn't expected this reaction and simply took in the moment. He had sensed some worry and jealousy from Kenichi, but now he understood what everyone meant when they said he had a light inside that influenced others.

"Come on, come on, cheer up, boys," Miu said, teasingly but genuinely happy to see them getting along. "We need to clean up this mess, and soon dinner will be ready to serve."

But as they did so, it was the blonde who had a brief moment of shock. The others didn't notice; it was as if she had gone into a trance for a moment.

That vision again.

The girl with the red hair and pigtail.

Why does she keep coming to mind? And more frequently lately?

Could it be… because of the training with the grandfather? Learning to control Dou's Ki, am I remembering better what happens in those moments?

But why does it feel so important?

Why do I feel this… anger when I think of her?

"Hey, Miu, what are you doing? We're bringing everything to the table."

"Yes, I'm coming."

It wasn't just a dinner; it was a feast. The atmosphere was undeniably cheerful. To mark the occasion, Shigure joined the dinner at the table and even refrained from giving Ranma her usual accusatory looks.

The wine flowed freely, and even Ranma, unlike his usual self—thanks to Sakaki's encouragement—had a bit. He realized it was very good and thought that, perhaps, if you work hard, then sometimes it's okay to to cut yourself some slack.

The following Thursday, when Ranma trained with Shigure again, it was established that the Master could also counterattack to test Ranma's defensive abilities.

This concerned him slightly because he imagined it meant Shigure would use a cutting weapon as well. However, she only wielded a Wakizashi instead of a katana. The boy felt both relieved and slightly offended.

As he executed parries and tried to counterattack with the DaDao, he realized that perhaps the attacks were a bit faster than he had expected. A bit closer.

"Shigure…"

No response. In fact, the attacks grew more frequent, and he could now feel the air hissing close to his face.

He would have sworn he'd received a couple of superficial cuts just from the pressure of the air.

"SHIGURE!"

Still no response. The pace continued to increase.

Tsk, I won't be fooled like this.

Ranma went on the offensive, ignoring the danger, using the longer reach of his weapon.

The master, of course, ducked suddenly, and in response, delivered a horizontal cut across his chest. Superficial, but still a cut.

Ugh!

"You're… reckless… with weapons… that means… death."

"Tsk! And what should I do, then? Since my master is TRYING TO KILL ME!"

"If… I had wanted… to kill you… you'd be… dead already."

"Oh, really? Good to know!"

At that moment, Ranma feigned an attack, then, noticing Shigure's counterattack with a thrust, executed an unexpected tactic.

He pulled back his saber to attack Shigure's short sword, rather than her directly, causing their blades to lock and crack against each other, metal against metal.

What?

"And now you'll tell me…" he said, leaping at her, using the length of the saber to bring it closer to her neck, while her weapon was stuck halfway.

"…WHY ARE YOU SO ANGRY WITH ME!"

Crack!

One blade broke.

The saber Ranma was using. Shigure had twisted her wrist, and the DaDao's blade had shattered completely, while her Wakizashi remained intact.

What kind of metal is that blade made of?

Ranma thought this instinctively, as it flashed just inches from his neck.

He had stopped just in time; otherwise, continuing forward would have been suicide.

Sweating and breathing heavily, he looked up at Shigure with increased respect, though her mood had not improved.

"Do you want… me to tell you… what I want… to know?"

"Yes."

"I need… to trust… those who… train here. You don't… tell the truth… Some of… your techniques… are not martial arts… I've seen you… use… ninja skills!"

WHAT? Ah, so that's it!

"And I know… that most… of those clans… are not… reliable…"

Ranma stared directly into her eyes, defiantly. He didn't seem frightened anymore by the blade at his throat.

"Oh, in a way, you can definitely say those clans aren't… because the Saotome clan is made up of the least reliable people in the world, and above all… we are descendants of an ancient ninja family!"

Glossary

Bodhisattva: An entity that has achieved spiritual awakening, according to Buddhist doctrine.

Kanon: One of the forms taken by the Bodhisattva to scare demons in hell: in this form, it has a thousand arms and ten heads.

Koi: The name given in Japan to the red carp that swim in private ponds.

Choju Giga: Precious watercolor drawings depicting animals in caricature. The Elder is passionate about them, even though purchasing them drains the Ryozampaku's finances.

Konbu seaweed is used as a seasoning; Riesling is an Italian sparkling white wine for meals; mochi are rice cake sweets.

Core: The central area of the body, including the front abs, the obliques, and the lower back muscles. Training the Core is essential for stability, almost all sports activities, and any exercise involving body rotation, such as throwing a ball or throwing a punch.

Bo (a 180 cm long stick), Jo (a 130 cm stick), Tonfa (wooden batons), Sai (the mini tridents of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), Nunchaku (sticks with chains), Tekko (a type of knuckle duster). Okinawa is the Japanese island where Karate originated. Japanese martial arts that use weapons are collectively known as Kobudo.

Wakizashi: A short sword used by Samurai as a secondary weapon; sometimes they fought with two weapons, using a Katana in one hand and a Wakizashi in the other.

DaDao: A type of Chinese saber or Dao, but longer and with a wider blade.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

So here we are! They finally started training in the new dojo, and the kids have all established a good relationship. It was time!

However, Shigure does not trust Ranma, and we're gonna see why.

I've also thought it could be a nice little twist to add a personal change to the (established ?) lore of the Saotome family, adding this ninja origin you'll read about in the next chapter.

Which is one of my favorites, and i'll hope you'll enjoy it reading as much as i had writing it.

Stay tuned! The story has spent quite some time getting here, but now it will ran faster! Still, there's almost 30 chapters in total, so still a long way to go.

BTW: Saiga just happened for a cameo, but he will return later with a more important role.

BTW 2: Also, i'm a martial arts nerd and a martial arts manga nerd, so you can expect long and tedious explanations of training and techniques like in this chapter

BTW 3: Ranma is being a bit of a Gary Stu here (but hey, that's his main schtick anyway) and Kenichi is sometimes the butt of jokes. I assure you it's not intentional, but merely a realistic interpretation, based on their usual selves. Tables will be turned soon. I honestly like them both.

And have you noticed Ranma's cooking skills? They are, too, a mistery to be solved