Histories Mightiest Huntsman in Training(Reboot)

by wiseotaku37

On his thirteenth birthday Jaune Arc grandfather tells him of a dojo that is famous for creating the strongest warriors. What he didn't tell him was the kind of hellish training that awaits him. Now Jaune has to deal with harsh training, Aliens, and martial arts gangs...what could possibly go wrong? oh wait he forgot about the Grimm. Ah I'm sure he'll be fine.

14. Mountains and Mafia

Alright so one small thing to address i brainfarthed when describing Jaunes height Jaune is Currently 6'0ft Theres a 3-4 inches size difference between him and Tanimoto not feet.

The morning after the play, Jaune lay on a mat in the dojo, his body stiff and sore as Master Ma inserted fine acupuncture needles into his skin. He had pushed himself to the limit yesterday, fighting two highly skilled opponents almost back to back. His mind was a whirl of thoughts as he remembered Hermit's demeanor. Unlike anything he'd faced before, Hermit had genuinely been trying to kill him. Fighting Grimm was different—they were mindless forces of destruction. But Hermit was human, and that made it personal.

"I still can't believe Tanimoto was responsible for everything," Miu said as she poured tea for the nearby masters. "And that he was Hermit as well."

"That kid's fighting style on the bus was quite the show," Master Ma said with a chuckle as he inserted another needle into Jaune's shoulder.

"Heh heh heh," Akisame agreed, his focus split between the conversation and his Othello game against Apachai. "It's rare for a young man to be so spirited nowadays, right?"

"What seems to be troubling you, Jaune?" Master Ma asked, his voice calm but probing as he began plucking the needles from Jaune's skin.

Jaune sighed, sitting up slowly. "That fight… It was the first of its kind for me. He was genuinely trying to kill me," he admitted, his voice quieter than usual.

Akisame glanced over at him, his expression unreadable. "A good experience, no?" he asked, his tone matter-of-fact.

Jaune frowned, rolling his stiff shoulders as the tension began to ease from Master Ma's treatment. "No, it really wasn't, Master."

"HOOOO HOOO! A PERSON WHO SEEKS THE LIFE OF A MARTIAL ARTIST IS AN ADULT!" a booming voice suddenly declared, startling everyone in the room. The Elder stepped into the dojo, a travel sack slung over his shoulder.

"Grandfather!" Miu said happily, rushing to greet him with a hug. She placed his bag beside him as he stepped further into the room.

"Ah, you're finally back from your trip," Akisame said with a nod of acknowledgment.

"Did you bring back souvenirs?" Apachai asked with a childlike grin.

The Elder chuckled as he settled onto a cushion. "Ho ho, I've missed some important events in my absence."

An intense aura radiated from the Elder, so palpable that even Jaune could feel it. It was as if he had just walked off a battlefield. This was the first time Jaune had seen the Elder in this state—profound, powerful, and ever so slightly worn.

"How was the South, Grandpa?" Miu asked as she poured him a cup of tea, her tone cheerful and light.

"It was tough," the Elder said gravely, sipping tea. His words carried a weight that silenced the room for a moment.

Jaune couldn't help but wonder what kind of battle the Elder had faced to call it "extremely difficult." For someone as formidable as the Elder, that meant something extraordinary—and terrifying.

As Jaune and Miu explained the events that had transpired in the Elder's absence, the room was filled with the quiet hum of their voices. The Elder listened silently, sipping his tea, though the intense aura radiating from him never wavered. When they finished, the Elder set his cup down with a satisfied sigh before bursting into hearty laughter.

"HAHAHAHA! So, Jaune-chan, you've found yourself a rival!" the Elder exclaimed, his booming voice filling the dojo. "Rivals are good, yes. They enhance you." He exhaled a puff of steam from his nose, his grin widening. "Rivals are the thorns in your side that break you out of your shell! They are suitable for a martial artist."

The Elder gave Jaune an approving thumbs-up, his grin almost glowing with pride. "Congratulations, my boy. With this, you have officially entered the rank of a martial artist!"

Jaune blinked, unsure what he had been expecting from the Elder after telling him about someone trying to kill him—but it was probably something like this. He sighed internally, deciding to lean into the conversation. "Do you all have rivals as well?" he asked, glancing at the other masters.

The question was met with a brief but telling silence.

Shigure quietly began counting on her fingers, tilting her head as if trying to keep track. Sakaki took a long sip of his beer, humming thoughtfully. Akisame chuckled lightly while Master Ma peeked over the top of his magazine with a grin.

"Last I counted, I had about fifty," Master Ma said with a nonchalant wave.

"Twenty-three, twenty-four… wait, no, he died," Sakaki said, frowning as he tried to tally his rivals.

"Apachai doesn't have enough pinkies or toes," Apachai muttered, glancing at his hands and feet. He then turned to Shigure with pleading eyes. "Shigure, lend fingers."

"I suppose there have been a few," Akisame said modestly. However, the knowing smirk on his face suggested the number was far from negligible.

Jaune let out a long sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Yeah, I should have expected this kind of reaction."

"But given that your life is now in danger, training must be dealt with a bit more strictly," Akisame said, his voice calm yet tinged with a sinister edge. "Defeating an opponent trying to kill you—without killing them in return—requires great control."

There was a sadistic satisfaction in Akisame's tone, one Jaune had grown all too familiar with. His body tensed as he caught the glint in the Jujitsu master's eyes. Slowly, Jaune turned his head to look over his shoulder.

"If I recall correctly," Akisame continued, his smile widening into something that could freeze even the bravest soul, "your summer break is coming up, isn't it?"

Jaune's heart sank as he locked eyes with the sadistic grin on Akisame's face. The kind of smile could make even the devil in hell shiver.

"...Be gentle, please," Jaune whimpered, his voice weak with resignation. He already knew there was no escape from whatever torturous drills Akisame had planned. All he could do was pray his body—and soul—would survive the coming ordeal.

Two days later, Jaune found himself deep in the wilderness of inland Japan. Towering, untouched mountain ranges stretched as far as the eye could see, their wild beauty unmarred by human development. The dense forests and rugged terrain were renowned as a training ground for local Huntsman academies. However, the schools were on summer break for the next three weeks.

They had been hiking for hours, and Jaune was already feeling the burn. At the moment, he was climbing up the steep side of a mountain, his fingers gripping firmly onto any handhold he could find as his armor and sword weighed him down like a boulder. Above him, Akisame and Apachai walked effortlessly up the incline as if gravity had decided to take the day off for them. Farther ahead, Miu moved with the grace of a mountain goat, her pace never faltering.

"Sensei!" Jaune called out, his voice strained as he carefully hoisted himself higher. Akisame glanced down at him, his expression as calm and unreadable as ever. "Why are we going so deep into the mountains?"

Akisame paused momentarily, then took a deep breath, letting the mountain air fill his lungs as he surveyed the view. Jaune was sure it must have been majestic, but he was too focused on not falling to his death to risk a glance.

"There's someone I want you to meet," Akisame finally said, his tone as casual as they were discussing the weather. "This person carries on a nearly lost art of old Jujitsu."

Jaune grunted as he pulled himself up another ledge. "Alright… What can you tell me about the style?" he asked, hoping the conversation would distract him from his burning arms and the treacherous climb.

Akisame stroked his chin thoughtfully as they continued upward. "It was developed during Japan's Warring States era, a time of great conflict and innovation. The style is an unarmed grappling system but incorporates techniques with small knives and short swords."

Jaune raised an eyebrow, wiping sweat from his brow. "Is that your style?"

Akisame chuckled, a rare hint of amusement breaking through his usual calm. "No, no. My style has absorbed techniques from every kind of Jujitsu and boiled them down to their core aspects. You could call it Koetsuji-style Jujitsu."

Jaune groaned as he climbed higher, his fingers starting to ache. "Of course, it has its own name…"

"It's an art of refinement, Jaune," Akisame replied, his voice light but firm. "The Koetsuji style is the pinnacle of efficiency, built on decades of experience and study."

Meanwhile, Apachai, who had been humming happily to himself as he climbed, suddenly turned to Jaune with a big smile. "Apachai thinks you will like this new person! They are powerful!" His voice echoed off the mountain, loud enough to scare away a few birds.

Jaune sighed, gripping another ledge as he hauled himself up. "Great. Another person who's going to beat me to a pulp…"

Having already reached the top, Miu leaned over the edge and waved cheerfully. "Come on, Jaune! The view is amazing up here!"

Jaune sighed again. Why did I agree to this? He thought as he continued climbing, his curiosity about this mysterious master barely keeping him moving.

Jaune was grateful to finally reach the top of the climb, his legs burning from the effort. The flat ground felt like a blessing, and he allowed himself a moment to savor it as they walked through the dense forest. The air was crisp, the sunlight filtering softly through the canopy above.

They had been walking briefly when Jaune heard a rustling sound above them. His senses immediately sharpened, and he caught a glint of something shiny descending rapidly toward Akisame.

"Look out!" Jaune yelled, drawing his sword in a flash.

Before he could act, Akisame calmly caught the small throwing knife in midair with two fingers. A moment later, a figure leaped down from the canopy, landing lightly before them. Akisame tossed his bag to the side, his movements measured, and Jaune barely caught sight of the blow he deflected with a casual motion. Miu flipped gracefully out of the way as the attacker darted toward Akisame again, only for Apachai to unleash a barrage of punches. The figure dodged and weaved effortlessly, his movements precise, until he was back in front of Akisame.

Jaune raised his sword, prepared to charge, but before he could take a step, Akisame and the mysterious man clasped hands firmly, the sound echoing like a crack of thunder in the forest.

"Welcome," the man said calmly, greeting an old friend at his doorstep rather than attacking them moments earlier.

"Long time no see," Akisame replied, his tone as composed as ever.

Jaune blinked, lowering his sword in confusion. He looked between Akisame and the stranger, unsure what to make of the situation.

The man stood tall, his muscular frame radiating strength and discipline. His wild black hair was tied back with a bandana, and a leather pauldron covered his left shoulder. Sleek black tekko guards adorned his forearms, hinting at his martial prowess. His expression was calm, his sharp eyes assessing Jaune before turning to Akisame.

"Is that Jaune I've been hearing so much about?" the man asked, his voice deep and steady.

Akisame nodded. "Indeed."

The man walked toward Jaune, his gaze piercing. He extended a hand, and Jaune hesitated only briefly before gripping it. He winced as he felt the sheer strength in the man's grip.

"Nice to meet you," Jaune said, his voice steady despite his surprise.

"The name's Taiki Yamato," the man said with a faint smile. "I've heard a lot about you. My son is eagerly awaiting your arrival."

Jaune blinked again. "Your son?"

Akisame stepped forward, gesturing toward Taiki. "Allow me to properly introduce you. Taiki preserves the knowledge and philosophy of the Yamato style—a nearly forgotten art. His only son, Naoki, has been training for years and, in my opinion, is close to your own skill level."

Taiki nodded, glancing at Jaune with a knowing look. "Hmm. You're strong from that handshake, but Naoki might have the edge. Not by much, though. The gap isn't big enough for what we both intend."

Jaune frowned slightly, curiosity prickling at him. How can he tell that just from a handshake? he wondered.

Taiki gestured toward the hill ahead, his expression softening. "Our house is just over that ridge. Let's head there before the sun sets."

As they walked, Miu glanced at Akisame, her expression puzzled. "I don't understand, Sensei. Why does Jaune have to fight Taiki's son? If it's sparring partners he needs, can't I do it?" she asked, her tone laced with concern.

Akisame hummed thoughtfully before answering. "You and Jaune are too familiar with each other's styles. And while sparring with you is valuable, there's another issue: Jaune unconsciously holds back when he fights you."

Jaune blinked, his surprise evident. "I… hold back? Why?"

"If I had to guess," Akisame said, stroking his chin with a slight smirk, "Miu might remind you of your sisters."

Jaune opened his mouth to protest, but no words came out. His mind flickered to his brief fight with his sister, Christ, and he couldn't deny the truth in Akisame's observation.

Akisame continued, his tone growing more serious. "The next time you face a rival, Jaune, it may not be a simple sparring match. It may be a fight to the death. Before that happens, I want you to experience what it's like to face someone of similar skill and intensity. Someone you don't hold back against."

Miu frowned, her concern deepening, but she remained quiet, observing Jaune.

Jaune let out a breath, his hand tightening on the strap of his sword. "Master, I'm thankful for your foresight. In truth, I felt outclassed and unprepared when I fought Hermit."

Akisame nodded approvingly.

"Sorry to intrude," Akisame said as they entered Taiki's home. The cottage was a modest, single-story structure, clearly hand-built with care. Its wooden beams and tatami flooring gave it a rustic charm, and the faint smell of herbs and woodsmoke lingered in the air.

"There's no problem," Taiki replied warmly. "You are my guests." He gestured toward a small figure standing near the center of the room. "Let me introduce you. This is my son, Naoki."

Jaune's gaze fell on the boy. He was small, about twelve years old, wearing traditional judo pants and a shirt that matched his father's style. His spiky black hair gave him a slightly wild look, and his rich brown eyes gleamed with confidence—or perhaps mischief. Jaune, towering over him, barely managed to hide his skepticism.

Naoki stepped forward, looking Jaune up and down, then bursting into laughter. "Hahaha! Father, you mean to tell me I'm supposed to fight this frail-looking teenager?" he said, his tone filled with amusement.

Jaune took a deep breath, glancing at Akisame. "Master, is this a joke?"

Both Akisame and Taiki sighed in unison, their expressions unreadable.

"Father," Naoki said respectfully, turning to Taiki with a formal bow. "For as long as I can remember, I have trained in Jujitsu. And for my first opponent in an inter-discipline match to be… this scrawny teenager? It's unacceptable."

Jaune's brow twitched in irritation. Annoying little brat, he thought, forcing himself to remain calm.

"Naoki," Taiki said firmly, his tone sharp. "What kind of attitude is that to take with our guests?"

Naoki immediately knelt, bowing his head low to his father. "Yes, Father. I'm sorry."

He then turned to Jaune and the others, bowing just as low. "I apologize for my rudeness."

"It's quite alright," Akisame said with a small smile. "You were merely voicing your concerns."

Jaune crossed his arms, his exasperation evident. "Honestly, I'm in a no-win situation here, Masters. You said I needed to find an opponent I wouldn't hold back against, but… he's twelve. He's a child."

Before anyone could respond, Naoki straightened, his confident smirk returning. "A child, huh? Don't underestimate me, teenager. You might be bigger, but that won't help you once we step on the mat."

"I'm not doubting his skill," Jaune said, crouching slightly as he stretched. "He could probably teach me a thing or two with how long he's been training. But he's still a child. He's as old as my little sister. If I win, I beat a kid. If I lose… I lose to a kid."

Miu hummed thoughtfully. "Why not have a quick sparring match to clear the air? That way, you can see what you bring to the table," she suggested.

Both Jaune and Naoki sighed in unison, though for very different reasons.

"It looks like we're fighting," Jaune muttered.

Naoki grinned, his confidence unshaken. "I won't go easy on you, Bamboo."

Jaune blinked at the nickname. "Bamboo?"

Naoki tilted his head, smirking. "You're tall and skinny, and I bet you'll bend as easily as a twig."

Jaune took a deep breath, forcing himself to remain calm. On second thought… let's punt this kid.

"We still have some daylight," Taiki interjected, gesturing toward the clearing outside. "We can have a quick spar."

The group moved into the clearing, where the golden light of the setting sun painted the ground in warm hues. Akisame walked up beside Jaune as he began loosening his armor straps.

"Oh, Jaune," Akisame said in a deceptively casual tone, "if you're thinking about going easy on him, my advice is simple: Don't. Seriously."

Jaune raised an eyebrow at his master's warning but nodded. He removed his armor, setting it aside, and slipped on a pair of soft, fingerless gloves. Across the clearing, he noticed Naoki digging a small hole in the ground with the toe of his foot before carefully stomping a stone into place. The boy's movements were deliberate, his focus unshaken as he surveyed the area.

What's he doing? Jaune wondered, filing it away as he shifted into a Jujitsu stance. Naoki finally straightened, cracking his neck as he mirrored Jaune's movements with a confident grin.

"The rules are simple," Taiki announced, stepping into the center of the clearing. "Any throw or strike ends the match. We'll save individual evaluations for later."

Both Jaune and Naoki nodded in understanding.

The air in the clearing grew still, the sounds of rustling leaves and distant birds fading into the background. Jaune took a deep breath, centering himself. Despite Naoki's age, there was an undeniable energy in the boy's stance—a readiness that reminded Jaune of his determination.

"Ready?" Taiki called out, raising his hand.

Jaune's muscles tensed, his gaze locked on Naoki's. The boy's grin widened ever so slightly, his confidence unshaken.

"Begin!" Taiki shouted, dropping his hand.

Jaune briefly considered his approach. The size difference between him and Naoki was… significant. He easily stood two, maybe three feet taller than the boy, and his reach was far greater. But size wasn't everything, and Naoki clearly knew it. The moment the match started, Naoki darted forward like a bullet, keeping low and out of Jaune's longer reach.

Jaune saw the punch coming, a sharp jab aimed at his midsection. Instead of moving to block or grab, Jaune purposefully rolled back, his legs snapping around Naoki's waist. Using his momentum, he twisted, throwing the boy to the ground with a clean grappling move.

"Match!" Taiki called, his voice calm but firm.

Naoki blinked up at the sky, stunned by the sudden reversal. "Wha—? How did you…" He scrambled to his feet, his face mixed with surprise and frustration.

Jaune stood, brushing the dirt off his gloves. "Size isn't everything, sprout."

Naoki clenched his fists, determination flaring in his eyes. "One more time!" he demanded, pointing up at Jaune.

Jaune glanced at Akisame, who gave him an approving nod. Jaune sighed but smiled faintly, rolling his shoulders. "Alright, sprout. Don't hold back this time."

They returned to their starting positions, the tension between them palpable. When Taiki gave the signal, Naoki shot forward again, his speed just as blistering as before. Jaune moved to block this time, his arm coming down to intercept Naoki's punch. As he retaliated with a swift chop, his foot slipped into a small hole in the ground.

What the—! Jaune's balance wavered just long enough for Naoki to exploit the opening.

Naoki latched onto Jaune's extended arm with an agile leap, wrapping his legs around it in a textbook armlock. Naoki twisted sharply, using his weight and leverage, forcing Jaune to the ground with a thud.

"Match!" Taiki shouted again, his tone carrying a note of pride.

Jaune clicked his teeth as he sat up, shaking the dust from his hair. Naoki stood over him, beaming with pride, his chest puffed out like a victorious warrior.

"Alright, that's enough," Akisame called, stepping into the clearing. "The two of you, come here."

Jaune got to his feet, brushed himself off, and exchanged a glance with Naoki. The boy was grinning like he'd just conquered the world. Jaune sighed but couldn't help the faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

"Should we not have another match, Father?" Naoki asked, his voice eager.

Taiki shook his head, his expression calm. "Another match wouldn't serve any purpose at this point. First, let us begin the evaluation."

Akisame crossed his arms, his sharp gaze moving between Jaune and Naoki. "You both won one match. The margin of victory, however, was determined by a single factor: tactics."

Jaune rolled his shoulder, loosening up as he listened.

"Jaune, you observed Naoki using the stone to gain leverage and increase his speed, and you reacted accordingly, moving in a way he hadn't anticipated," Akisame explained. "But you lost the following match because you forgot to account for the hole he created in the ground before the battle."

Jaune nodded slowly, humming in understanding. "I see. I'll keep that in mind next time."

Taiki stepped forward, his tone instructive. "Relieve yourself of any frustration, Jaune. You have a natural inclination for tactics, and we will hone that. You will diligently train in the Yamato School for the next three days. You and Naoki will fight again once you have learned our secrets."

Jaune blinked, caught off guard. "Wait… I thought we were leaving after the match?"

Akisame's lips curled into a sadistic smile, making Jaune's stomach churn.

"Heh. After such a long time, it sets the blood dancing, doesn't it?" Taki laughed, and Jaune realized why he and Akisame were good friends. They were cut from the same damn cloth.

"Ah, it looks like it will be fun, Taiki," Akisame added, his smile mirrored by Taiki, whose eyes gleamed excitedly.

Naoki shivered, clutching onto Jaune's leg as his confidence evaporated. "F-Father laughed…" he murmured, his voice trembling.

Jaune sighed, glancing down at Naoki. "Let me guess, this will be fun for them and hell for us."

Naoki nodded solemnly, his grip tightening. "Father only laughs when thinking of ways to make training worse…"

The two masters shared another knowing look, their sadistic smiles sending a chill down Jaune and Naoki's spines. Jaune exhaled, already bracing himself for whatever torturous regimen the next three days would bring.

"Alright, fine," Jaune muttered. "But if I survive this, I'm punting you in the rematch, sprout."

Naoki looked up at him, his brow furrowing indignantly. "We'll see about that, Bamboo."

The training was a whole new level of hell.

It started with a brutal early-morning race down the mountain—barefoot—to beat the sunrise. Jaune had barely wiped the sleep from his eyes before he was hurtling down rocky paths with Naoki at his side, the cold morning air biting at their skin.

But that was just the warm-up.

Once they reached the bottom, the real torment began. Jaune and Naoki were strapped into a harness attached to what could generously be called a sleigh. In reality, it was nothing more than a wooden platform with crude logs at the base, just enough to slide over the rugged terrain. Seated on the platform was Taiki, holding a long whip and pointing up the steep mountainside like a general commanding his troops.

"You know the drill," Taiki said calmly, cracking the whip—not at them, but close enough to make Jaune flinch. "Let's see how fast you can pull me to the top."

Jaune groaned as he leaned forward, feeling the full weight behind him. Naoki smirked, already digging his heels in and charging forward.

"Come on, Bamboo! Can't handle a little sled pull?" Naoki teased, visibly enjoying Jaune's struggle.

"Oh, I'll handle it, alright," Jaune grumbled, his muscles straining as they climbed.

As if that wasn't enough, Akisame, standing at the top of the cliff, suddenly cut a rope that unleashed a deluge of logs, branches, and rocks down the path.

"Keep moving," Akisame called cheerfully, as if raining down potential concussions was part of standard morning drills.

Jaune's eyes widened. "ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?"

"Focus, Jaune!" Taiki shouted from behind.

Logs tumbled down, forcing Jaune and Naoki to swerve, jump, and dodge to avoid being flattened. At one point, Naoki's harness got snagged by a thick log, pinning him against the cliffside. Without hesitation, Jaune leapt onto a rolling log, running across it to cut Naoki's line free before the boy could be dragged up the cliff like an ornament.

Naoki panted as he stumbled back into step. "I owe you one."

"Damn right you do," Jaune replied, wiping sweat from his brow.

But that was just the morning warm-up.

By mid-morning, the two boys stood with their feet tied together, a thick rope anchoring them to massive stone Buddha statues. Jaune's statue loomed at nearly six feet, while Naoki—being smaller—had one only slightly larger than himself. The small preteen gulped as he looked up at the imposing weight behind him.

Akisame gestured to two tall, thick bamboo poles in front of them. "Simple rules," he said. "Whoever reaches the top last… does it again."

"Again!?" Jaune gawked.

"Consider it motivation," Akisame replied with a sly smile.

Without waiting for further explanation, Naoki sprang into action, shimming up the bamboo with practiced ease, the weight of the statue swinging dangerously below him.

Jaune cursed under his breath, scrambling to follow. "Damn monkey," he muttered, already trailing behind as Naoki chuckled overhead.

Despite the burning in his arms and legs, Jaune grit his teeth and pushed forward, determined not to let the younger boy show him up. The bamboo creaked slightly under their combined weight, the statues swaying precariously beneath them. One wrong move and the heavy stone could slam into the pole, knocking them both down.

"Little faster, Bamboo!" Naoki called down playfully, inching higher.

Jaune growled through clenched teeth, his grip tightening. "I swear if I survive this, I'm going to punt him off this mountain."

In the end, Jaune had to climb the bamboo pole twice.

His arms ached, and his legs felt like jelly by the time Taiki finally nodded in approval.

"Now that the warm-ups are out of the way," Taiki said, brushing his hands together, "I think it's time for that."

At those words, Naoki visibly tensed, inching closer to Jaune and instinctively grabbing onto his leg.

Jaune raised an eyebrow. "Uh… what's that?" he asked, watching as Taiki led them toward a heavy wooden door built into the side of the mountain. The door was weathered, its surface scarred by time. A faint draft seemed to breathe from the cracks, carrying with it a deep, unsettling chill.

Naoki shifted nervously, clutching Jaune's leg tighter.

"What's with the cave?" Jaune asked, feeling a weird vibe radiating from the entrance.

Naoki glanced at him with wide eyes. "If you go in… you won't come out unhurt." His voice dropped to a whisper. "They call it the Cave of Death."

Jaune stared at him for a moment, deadpan. "Comforting."

Taiki lit a candle, handing it carefully to Naoki. The flame flickered faintly in the dim light.

"Listen up, you two," Taiki said firmly, his gaze steady. "You must not come out until this candle burns out."

Jaune shot a glance at Akisame, silently hoping this was some kind of exaggerated training gimmick. Akisame simply nodded, his expression unreadable.

With a resigned sigh, Jaune followed Naoki's lead, stepping cautiously into the cave.

"I get stuck in here a lot," Naoki muttered as he held the candle carefully ahead of them, illuminating the narrow stone path. "Whenever I prank someone or do something bad, Father locks me in here."

Jaune glanced down at him, incredulous. "Your dad locks you in a cave as punishment?"

Naoki shrugged. "It builds character."

Jaune rubbed his face. Of course it does. "Alright… what's actually in here?"

Naoki's eyes flickered to the shadows ahead as they approached a set of old wooden bars, worn smooth by time.

"There's a Tengu in here," Naoki whispered ominously. "A long time ago, my father defeated an evil Tengu and sealed him inside this cave."

Jaune opened his mouth, ready to tease Naoki for spinning some kind of childish ghost story, when his eyes locked onto something deeper within the cave.

Sitting cross-legged behind the bars was a large, wild-haired man. His face was concealed by an ominous red Tengu mask, and he wore regal, faded Japanese robes. His muscular arms rested lazily at his sides, the flickering candlelight glinting off a familiar pair of bracers on his wrists.

Jaune froze. "What the hell—"

"Quick, Jaune! We need to score a point on him before the candle burns out!" Naoki said, suddenly excited as he set the candle carefully on a nearby boulder. "If we do, Father said I can go down and visit the city!"

Jaune's eyes darted back to the imposing figure behind the bars. "…You want me to fight that?"

Naoki grinned. "We fight him."

Jaune took a slow breath, glancing at the masked figure who hadn't moved a muscle yet. The cave suddenly felt a lot colder.

"Great," Jaune muttered. "I climb a mountain, dodge boulders, and now I get to wrestle with a Tengu. Best summer vacation ever."

It didn't take long for Jaune to piece things together. The "Tengu" sitting cross-legged behind the bars? Yeah, that was definitely Taiki in a costume. The wild hair poking out from under the mask and the familiar bracers were dead giveaways.

Jaune had no idea why Taiki felt the need to dress up as a demonic mountain spirit, but he decided not to ask. Some things were better left a mystery.

Instead, he focused on the task at hand—fighting.

Naoki, on the other hand, was proving to be the most annoying partner Jaune had ever dealt with. The kid darted around like a mosquito, using Jaune as a human shield or springboard whenever the "Tengu" pressed the attack.

"Stop climbing on me!" Jaune growled as Naoki vaulted off his shoulder, narrowly avoiding a powerful strike.

"Hey, you're taller! It's strategy!" Naoki shot back, grinning as he attempted a flying kick.

It didn't matter, though. Every attack—whether from Jaune or Naoki—ended with them being unceremoniously tossed aside or struck by bone-rattling blows. Jaune swore Taiki was enjoying this way too much.

By the halfway point, Jaune shifted tactics. Instead of just blindly attacking, he started observing the Tengu's movements—studying how Taiki flowed between attacks and counters.

I can't beat him, but maybe I can copy him.

Piece by piece, Jaune began roughly imitating Taiki's fighting style. His movements were sloppy at first, but gradually, he mirrored some of the strikes and dodges, even managing to hold his ground a little longer before being flung across the cave.

By the time the candle burned out, both boys were sprawled on the cave floor—bruised, battered, and thoroughly exhausted. Their auras flickered faintly, slowly knitting together the worst of their injuries as they dragged themselves outside.

Later, as the sun dipped behind the mountains, Jaune and Naoki sat cross-legged at a small table, gingerly eating the meal Miu had prepared for them.

The spread was simple but delicious—summer mushrooms, fresh alpine leeks, grilled fish, and ginger. Jaune winced as he reached for a piece of fish, feeling the dull ache in his ribs.

Naoki, sitting across from him, didn't look much better.

"Your Father's Training is insane," Jaune muttered between bites, poking at a leek with his chopsticks.

Naoki grinned despite the bruise forming under his eye. "Yeah, but you get used to it."

Jaune glanced at him. "Do you, though?"

Naoki shrugged, stuffing a mouthful of mushrooms into his mouth. "Not really."

Jaune sighed, shaking his head. He was starting to understand why Naoki had tried to use him as a human shield.

"Hey, Jaune," Naoki said, his tone softening slightly. "Thanks for helping me with the logs earlier… and, you know, not letting me get crushed."

Jaune arched an eyebrow, surprised by the sudden gratitude. "Sure. Can't exactly let you get flattened when you still owe me a rematch."

Naoki chuckled. "You're going to regret that when I win."

Jaune smirked. "We'll see, sprout."

The final day of mountain training unfolded much like the previous two—grueling, exhausting, and filled with bruises. Yet, it all built toward the highly anticipated rematch between Jaune and Naoki.

By now, the two had trained alongside each other long enough to know better than to underestimate one another.

"Same rules as before," Taiki announced, standing between them in the clearing. His eyes moved carefully between his son and Jaune. "Any throw or strike wins the match. Ready?"

Naoki bowed deeply. "Naoki of the Yamato School, ready!"

Jaune mimicked the gesture, sliding into his stance. "Jaune of Ryozanpaku School, ready!"

Taiki raised his hand, pausing just long enough to build the tension. "Begin!"

The instant Taiki's hand dropped, Jaune lunged forward—only to watch Naoki dart into the nearby bamboo forest.

Smart.

Jaune sprinted after him, gripping onto one of the bamboo stalks as he entered the dense thicket. Through the gaps, he caught sight of Naoki pivoting, a strike aimed straight for his ribs.

Acting on instinct, Jaune yanked on the bamboo stalk, swinging himself around to avoid the blow and land behind Naoki in one fluid motion.

Gotcha!

Jaune's roundhouse kick shot toward Naoki's back, but the younger boy rolled to the side just in time. Jaune's foot crashed clean through a thick stalk of bamboo, splintering it with a sharp crack.

"Tch," Jaune clicked his tongue, lunging forward to grab Naoki by the collar.

But Naoki was quicker. He jumped high, using another bamboo stalk for leverage to launch himself upward.

Jaune's eyes narrowed. I see what you're doing.

Before Naoki could stabilize midair, Jaune kicked the base of the bamboo, causing the stalk to bend sharply. With nothing to grip onto, Naoki flailed, dropping helplessly back toward Jaune.

The blond teen smirked as he readied a strike—only for Naoki to twist midair, catching Jaune's arm and wrapping his legs around Jaune's shoulder in a flying armlock.

"Not bad," Jaune muttered.

Naoki pulled, trying to use Jaune's momentum to throw him. But this time, Jaune was ready.

Rather than resist, Jaune let the momentum flow, grabbing onto the edge of a shorter bamboo stalk nearby. The stalk bent under his weight, but Jaune's free hand caught him from falling completely.

Naoki grunted as he clung to Jaune's arm, his grip tightening.

Jaune grinned. Perfect.

With a twist of his body, Jaune snapped his legs in, coiling the bamboo stalk beneath him. As it bent, the tension grew—until he finally let go.

SNAP!

The bamboo sprang upward, smacking Naoki square in the face with a satisfying thwack!

"Gah—!" Naoki yelped, tumbling off Jaune's arm and landing hard on the ground.

Jaune crouched over him, his fist hovering just inches from Naoki's face, his smirk confident.

"Match! Winner—Jaune Arc of Ryozanpaku!" Taiki declared, his voice echoing through the forest.

Naoki groaned, rubbing his nose as he sat up, glaring at the broken bamboo stalk.

"You kicked bamboo into my face…" he grumbled.

Jaune chuckled, extending a hand to help him up. "Hey, you used me as a springboard for three days straight. Consider it payback."

Naoki reluctantly took Jaune's hand, pulling himself up. Despite his frustration, there was a faint glimmer of respect in his eyes.

"Next time, I'm winning," Naoki muttered.

"Looking forward to it, sprout," Jaune replied, brushing dust from his shoulder.

From the side, Taiki crossed his arms, nodding approvingly at the two boys. "Good. You both learned well these past few days. This rivalry will only make you stronger."

Akisame, watching from a rock nearby, smirked knowingly. "It's rare to see someone as stubborn as Jaune. But I suppose having a rival suits him."

Jaune glanced down at Naoki and ruffled the boy's hair, earning a small, surprised grunt. It felt nice—having a rival who wasn't actively trying to murder him atop a speeding bus.

Naoki looked up, smiling as he bowed respectfully. "You were able to learn our tactics and adapt after three days of harsh training. This was my defeat. You were truly great, Jaune."

The boy straightened, his eyes shining with determination. "When I come to the city, let me fight you again, Jaune Arc."

Jaune grinned, shaking Naoki's hand firmly. "I'll be waiting for that day, Yamato Naoki."

The next morning, Taiki and Naoki stood at the edge of the clearing to see the group off. The sun was just cresting over the mountain, casting long shadows across the steep path they had climbed only days before. Jaune let out a long sigh as he gazed down the dizzying mountainside.

Jaune reached into his pocket and tossed a small chocolate bar to Naoki. The boy caught it, holding it up curiously as if he wasn't quite sure what he was looking at.

"What is this?" Naoki asked, turning it over in his hands.

"Eat a piece," Jaune said with a smirk. "It's good."

Naoki carefully peeled back the wrapper and took a bite. His eyes widened in pure delight as the chocolate melted in his mouth.

"This is so good!" Naoki exclaimed, practically vibrating with excitement. "Is this what city kids eat all the time?"

Jaune chuckled. "It's called chocolate, and no—it's a once-in-a-while treat. Don't get too hooked."

Naoki looked down at the rest of the bar like it was treasure. "I'm going to make this last forever."

Jaune laughed, turning toward the cliff. "Alright, I guess it's time to climb down. I'll get the rope."

"I'll help," Miu offered, stepping toward the packs.

But Jaune's eyes drifted to something promising—a large, smooth boulder further down the cliff, sitting at a precariously loose angle.

A mischievous grin spread across his face. He took a few steps back from the cliff's edge, stretching his arms as if preparing for a sprint.

"No… I think I have a better idea," Jaune said, rolling his shoulders.

Akisame arched an eyebrow. "Oh?"

Without another word, Jaune broke into a run, sprinting full force toward the edge.

"Jaune, what are you—!?" Miu's voice trailed off in alarm as Jaune launched himself over the cliff.

He flipped midair, lining himself up with the boulder as he landed squarely on top of it. His weight dislodged the rock, sending it sliding down the mountainside in a deep, grooved path.

"WOOOO! I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT WORKED!" Jaune shouted, arms out for balance as he rode the boulder like a surfboard.

Miu ran to the edge, leaning over with wide eyes. "Jaune!" she yelled, half-worried, half-amazed.

Akisame, watching the whole thing with a calm expression, chuckled deeply. "Hahaha, I think we're finally rubbing off on him."

With a graceful leap, Akisame followed suit, descending the mountainside with practiced ease. Apachai grinned, letting out a loud "APA!" as he jumped after him.

Miu, though exasperated, couldn't stop herself from smiling. "Nice going, Jaune! But maybe warn me next time. I nearly had a heart attack."

Jaune laughed as the boulder carried him down, the wind rushing past his face.

"HAhaha if i told you i wouldnt have done it!" Jaune said as his heart thumped in pure adrenaline leaping off the boulder as it reached the bottom jaune tucked and rolled back onto his feet.

---

Jaune hummed quietly as he sat in his room. Something was off with Master Ma. He hadn't been himself these past few days.

Normally, Master Ma would be scheming ways to peek at Miu and Shigure during their baths, but lately, he hadn't even tried. In fact, he'd been so distracted that he was reading his porn magazines upside down.

Jaune frowned. That was concerning.

After cleaning up and changing into a pair of jeans and a white shirt with blue and gray stripes, Jaune spotted Master Ma walking down the hall. Something about the way his master moved, quieter and more deliberate than usual, made Jaune pause. His instincts nagged at him. Something was up.

So, Jaune decided to follow.

He kept a safe distance, shadowing Master Ma through the streets, onto the same bus, and then onto the same trains. The evening passed in silence as they reached the Jade District. The area pulsed with quiet life: glowing green lanterns swayed gently overhead, and intricate archways loomed like ancient sentinels watching over the streets. Despite the beauty, Jaune couldn't shake the feeling of unease building in his chest. Whatever this was, it wasn't a simple errand, and Jaune felt compelled to stick close—just in case.

For a moment, Jaune lost sight of his master in the crowd. He glanced around, his pulse quickening. Then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw Master Ma standing right beside him, arms tucked into his sleeves, mimicking his posture with exaggerated, mocking precision.

"Did you know I was following you all along?" Jaune asked, a mix of frustration and embarrassment on his face.

Master Ma smirked and nodded. "Of course I did."

Reaching into his robe, he pulled out a thick stack of lien bills and held it out casually. "Look, since you've come this far, grab something to eat and head home. Here, pocket money."

Jaune stared at the money—far more than any reasonable amount for a snack—and shook his head firmly. "No, Master."

Master Ma let out a small sigh, his usual playful demeanor softening. "It might be dangerous if you follow me this time. I ask you, as your teacher, to return home."

Jaune took a deep breath, standing his ground. "I won't, Master. I live and train with you. If something's wrong, I want to help. You've done so much for me—it's only fair I'm here when you need me."

He crossed his arms in defiance. "Your worries are my worries, too."

Master Ma raised an eyebrow, an amused smile creeping across his face. "I can't say how this night will end. Are you sure you want to make this choice?"

Jaune nodded resolutely. Master Ma tilted his head slightly, as though considering his student's stubbornness, before pulling the brim of his hat down.

"Well," he said with a chuckle, "if my pupil insists on throwing himself to the wolves, who am I to stop him? Come along, boy."

Jaune followed close behind, his nerves still humming but his determination stronger. They walked in relative silence until Master Ma turned and led him to a small, nondescript restaurant tucked into a corner of the district. Its wooden façade and soft, glowing interior lights made it look warm and quiet—at odds with the tension Jaune still felt.

"Uh, Sensei," Jaune asked cautiously, "why are we at a restaurant?"

"Ah, we're here to see my uncle first," Master Ma replied, his tone light but with an undertone Jaune couldn't quite place. "After that, well... we'll see what happens next."

Before Jaune could press for details, the restaurant door slid open, revealing a short, bald man with a long black beard. He wore a vibrant red robe that seemed to glow under the lantern light, and his sharp, assessing gaze fixed immediately on Master Ma.

"So, you've finally decided to see me."

"I apologize for neglecting my visits, Uncle Hakubi." Kensei bowed deeply, his tone respectful. "The boy behind me is my disciple, Jaune."

Jaune followed suit, bowing stiffly as he tried to match his master's reverence. He didn't know much about the older man, but he could tell from his calm presence and sharp gaze that Uncle Hakubi was a master-class fighter.

"It's an honor to meet you, sir," Jaune said.

Uncle Hakubi chuckled, his deep voice warm. "Hahaha, I like the manners on this one. Well then, the two of you should come in and eat something."

They were led to a low table, and before Jaune could even glance at a menu, waiters began bringing out plates of food. The aroma was incredible—rich spices, sizzling meats, and steaming bowls of noodles.

Jaune blinked in surprise. "I didn't even order anything…"

"Haha! Don't just stare at it, eat up, boy," Kensei said, gesturing to the food.

As Jaune dug in, savoring every bite, he listened to the quiet conversation between the two older men. Their voices were low but heavy with meaning.

"Well, Kensei, I can think of two reasons you may have come today," Uncle Hakubi said between bites. "Did you come for Sougetsu?"

Kensei nodded, removing his hat and setting it carefully on the edge of the table. "He's really come to Japan, then?"

"Mmm." Uncle Hakubi hummed in confirmation. The bald master set down his chopsticks, his expression darkening. Kensei sighed deeply, his eyes closing as if reminiscing about a long-lost time. When he spoke again, there was a quiet weight to his voice.

"If that's true… then I must meet him."

There was something in the way he said it that made Jaune's chest tighten with an unfamiliar sadness.

"So, who's Sougetsu?" Jaune asked, breaking the silence. Kensei sighed, his expression softening.

"Sougetsu Ma is my long-lost older brother," Kensei replied. "I've been looking for him for twenty years."

Jaune's eyes widened, about to respond when a sharp voice rang out from above.

"Really? Your brother is all you're concerned about!?"

The sudden outburst jolted Jaune, and he rolled instinctively out of the way as a figure dropped down from the second floor with startling agility. Uncle Hakubi didn't so much as flinch—he merely moved his plate aside with calm precision.

"Ah, I thought you might show up," Uncle Hakubi said as if addressing an expected guest.

Jaune scrambled back to his feet, his eyes narrowing as the figure turned toward Kensei. To his surprise, it was a young woman—strong and nimble, with an energy that filled the room. Her foot lashed out in a sharp kick aimed at the back of Kensei's head, but the man vanished in an instant, reappearing effortlessly behind her. The girl's kick slammed into the table instead, rattling the dishes.

"I'll admit you've got skill," Kensei said, his tone smug. "But plenty of beautiful women have tried to kill me in the pa—"

He froze mid-sentence, his eyes widening as he got a proper look at her. "Ahhh!"

The girl smirked, her arms crossed. "What? Surprised to meet your daughter, Papa?"

Jaune blinked in confusion, glancing between Kensei and the girl. She was fair-skinned, with bright blue eyes and upper-back-length purple hair styled into intricate braids that looped up like cat ears. A strand of hair curled down her back like a tail, adding to her feline appearance. She wore a revealing Chinese dress that only emphasized her noticeably curvaceous frame.

Kensei groaned, rubbing his temples. "Yes, that's my daughter. Renka Ma. She's sixteen."

Jaune barely had time to process this before Renka hurled a weighted metal ball attached to a rope straight at Kensei. He dodged easily and used Jaune as a shield.

"Ach!" Jaune gasped as the rope wrapped tightly around his neck. Kensei pushed him forward into Renka, and they collapsed onto the floor in a tangled heap.

"Master Ma!?" Jaune choked out, struggling to free himself.

"Well then, you two have fun now~." Kensei waved nonchalantly and bolted out the door.

"Wait, Papa! Get back here!" Renka yelled, trying to untangle herself. In the chaos, she ended up sprawled on top of Jaune, their faces inches apart. Jaune froze, his cheeks burning red as he tried very hard not to notice how close they were—or the rather unfortunate position.

"Why do you want to take Master Ma to Mistral?" Jaune mumbled through the rope, attempting to look anywhere but at her.

Renka scowled. "You really don't know? Papa is the head of the Chivalric Phoenix Alliance. He has over 100,000 disciples back in Mistral."

Once they untangled themselves, Jaune and Renka scrambled out of the restaurant and onto the street.

"Wait, i heard about your dads old school from your brother. i just didnt believe that Master Ma oversees such a large organization." Jaune asked, panting as he ran alongside Renka.

"My papa Ma Kensei is the grandmaster, there isn't a practitioner of Mistral Kempo who doesn't know his name. But if you're talking about my papa…" Renka huffed, clearly irritated. "One day, he just disappeared. Left a note saying it was 'a pain' and walked out, leaving Mama in charge...Wait wich brother?"

Jaune winced, looking off to the side. "Yup, that sounds like Master Ma. and it was Shang. i kinda crashed through the window of the dojo on accident in gemini city."

Renka shot him a look clearly wanting to ask more about how jaune knew her brother but there was a far more pressing issue on hand. "So where's he headed now, then?"

Jaune slowed to a stop, his face falling. "…Uh. I was following you." He rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "I thought you'd have an idea where he was going."

Renka froze, her eye twitching. "You thought I knew where he was going?" Her voice rose in frustration before she cursed loudly and jabbed a finger at Jaune. "Of course I don't! If I did, I wouldn't have had to transfer as an exchange student and stake out Jade Town for months!"

Jaune blinked. "Wait, you've been here that long?"

"Yes! Months! Looking for him! And by the way, just who the hell are you, huh? Why were you with Papa?!" she demanded, hands on her hips.

Jaune grinned in response, slipping effortlessly into his usual charm. "The name's Jaune Arc. Short, sweet, rolls off the tongue—ladies love it. I'm one of your father's best disciples."

There was a long, awkward silence as Renka stared at him, her expression unreadable. Then, without warning, she lunged forward with a double-hand palm strike. Jaune yelped but sidestepped the attack, narrowly avoiding a follow-up kick as he ducked low.

Renka froze mid-motion, blinking at him in surprise. "Huh. I guess you really are one of his disciples." Her voice carried a hint of grudging respect. She had half-expected Jaune to be sprawled unconscious on the pavement.

Jaune straightened up, dusting off his jeans. "Geez. Starting to see why Master Ma left," he muttered under his breath.

Renka turned to glare at him dangerously. "I heard that."

Jaune chuckled nervously as they started walking down the street, Renka taking the lead while Jaune fell in step beside her. The streets of Jade Town were quieter now, lanterns swaying gently above them in the evening breeze.

"So what now?" Jaune asked, shoving his hands into his pockets.

Renka sighed, glancing at him out of the corner of her eye. "We find Papa. He couldn't have gotten far, not with how loud he is."

The two of them wandered the streets, searching for Master Ma, when a commotion caught their attention. A restaurant owner, still wearing his stained cook's uniform, was being harassed by two men in dark suits. One of them, a short man with a cigarette dangling between his lips, glared down at the owner with a smug sneer.

"Well, what's your excuse for not paying up this time, huh?" the smoker asked, his voice a low growl.

The restaurant owner, a middle-aged man with a scarred face and trembling hands, still managed to look defiant despite his fear. "We're cutting off the mafia!" he shouted, his voice firm. "Mr. Hakubi is calling everyone together. I'm not the only one who won't pay you bastards a damn cent!"

The smoker exhaled slowly, the tip of his cigarette glowing red. "Old Uncle Hakubi, huh? Well, don't worry. We'll pay him a visit soon. As for you…"

The large thug standing next to him stepped forward, a towering man over six feet tall with a shaved head and a long, braided ponytail trailing down his back. Without hesitation, he grabbed the restaurant owner by the collar and lifted him like a ragdoll.

"Hey!" Jaune hissed, glancing toward Renka, who watched the scene with a disgusted scowl.

"I didn't realize the mafia was this bold here," Jaune muttered.

Renka crossed her arms tightly. "The Mistral Marias have been branching out a lot lately, trying to divide up territory. It's been getting worse."

The smoker stomped out his cigarette against the pavement. "Now, fly for me, old man." With a smirk, he nodded, and the large thug hurled the restaurant owner high into the air.

The man's terrified screams rang out as his body flailed helplessly, falling headfirst toward the hard concrete.

Jaune moved on instinct. His body shot forward in a blur, dashing across the distance. He leapt, arms outstretched, catching the old man midair and twisting to absorb the momentum before they both hit the ground.

"You okay?" Jaune asked as he set the man down gently.

The restaurant owner gasped for breath, his face pale. "Y-yes… I think so."

A low growl interrupted them. Jaune looked up to see the smoker glaring at him, his face twisted in irritation.

"And who the hell are you supposed to be?" the smoker sneered.

Before Jaune could respond, Renka stepped forward, her presence commanding. She held up one hand, fingers spread wide. "Only family gets to call him Uncle Hakubi. I'll give you five seconds to disappear."

Jaune helped the restaurant owner to the side and cracked his knuckles, ready to back Renka up.

"Shove off, little girl," the ponytailed thug barked, rolling his shoulders. "Hakubi's relatives, huh? Seems like they're everywhere these days."

Renka ignored him and began counting down. "Five… four…"

The two mafia men chuckled darkly, and the big man lunged at Renka with a powerful punch.

"Three."

Renka sidestepped effortlessly, catching his wrist with one hand. Using his own momentum against him, she spun and slammed a devastating palm strike into his stomach. The thug's eyes bulged as all the air left his lungs, and he crumpled to the ground in a heap.

"Two," Renka said coldly, stepping over the man's groaning form.

Jaune saw the smoker's hand twitch toward his hip.

"Knife!" Jaune shouted.

The man snarled as he pulled out a concealed sword whip—a segmented, flexible blade that glinted dangerously in the dim streetlights. He swung it in a wide arc, the edge slicing through the air and—

Rip!

The top strap of Renka's dress tore, and she froze for just a moment, glaring murderously.

Before the smoker could get another swing off, Jaune was already on him. He grabbed the man's sword arm, gripping it tight as he twisted him around with practiced ease.

"Big mistake!" Jaune grunted, channeling his strength as he lifted the man clean off the ground and threw him over his shoulder. The smoker hit the pavement hard, skidding to a stop several feet away.

"Ugh!" the man groaned, clutching his back.

Renka stepped up beside Jaune, adjusting her torn dress with as much dignity as she could muster. "You're lucky my hands are clean right now," she muttered to the fallen thug.

Jaune shook his head and exhaled. "Starting to think Master Ma's training attracts a certain type of chaos."

Renka snorted, shooting him a sideways glance. "Welcome to my world."

The restaurant owner, still trembling, managed to stand up. "Thank you… thank you both. I don't know what would've happened if you hadn't shown up."

"Don't worry about it," Jaune said with a grin, dusting off his hands.

"That was a close shave," Renka muttered, glancing at the torn strap of her dress. Thankfully, the damage wasn't too bad; as long as the other strap held, she wasn't in any danger of exposing herself.

Meanwhile, Jaune pried the belt sword from the mafia thug's hands and held it up, examining the segmented blade with curiosity. "A belt sword, huh? Might have to think about getting one myself," he mused before casually tossing it aside.

Renka approached him, narrowing her eyes. "Hey, Jaune, that wasn't Kenpo technique you were using just now, was it?"

"Oh, that?" Jaune turned to her with a grin. "That was Judo."

Renka's brow furrowed, her cat-like ears twitching in confusion. "Judo? What else have you been studying?"

"Well," Jaune began, counting off on his fingers, "besides Master Ma's training, I've been learning Jiu-Jitsu, Karate, Swordsmanship, and Muay Thai."

Renka's expression darkened, a vein practically popping on her forehead as she stomped her foot in frustration. "What?! You're supposed to dedicate yourself to Mistral Kenpo! Don't do it part-time, you indecisive idiot!"

Jaune held up his hands defensively. "Hey, hey! I'm fully committed to all the arts I'm studying!"

Renka glared at him, sighing heavily before shifting her attention to the groaning mafia thug still sprawled on the ground. "Whatever… Thanks for the help back there, I suppose."

The thug grimaced through his pain, spitting out his words. "You brats… Don't think this is over. Far from it. The mafia just has to say one word, and Ma Sougetsu will deal with you."

"Ma Sougetsu?!" Renka and Jaune exclaimed in unison, whipping their heads toward the thug.

Renka didn't waste a second. She crouched down, grabbed the thug by his collar, and hauled him up with surprising ease, her grip like iron. "Listen here, you little shit. Tell us where Ma Sougetsu is!" she demanded, twisting his arm painfully behind his back.

"OW! OW! Ow, fuck!" the smoker yelped, squirming helplessly in her grip.

Jaune blinked, holding his hands out uncertainly. "Whoa, whoa, Renka! Aren't we supposed to be looking for Master Kensei?"

Renka shot him an exasperated look. "Don't be silly, Jaune! Papa's looking for Sougetsu. So, if we find him first, we can just wait for Papa to show up." She punctuated her words by twisting the thug's arm a little harder.

Jaune scratched the back of his head. "That… actually makes sense."

The thug, sweat dripping down his face, finally broke. "Fine! Fine! I'll take you to him! He'll probably kill the two of you anyway!"

Renka smirked, her grip loosening just slightly. "That's better. Now lead the way, tough guy."

"Look, my uncle is a practitioner of the Killing Fist," Renka said, her voice firm but noticeably tense. "Twenty years ago, he killed a lot of people and had to flee Mistral. Uncle uses hard fist techniques, while Papa uses the gentle fist. Back home, it's still widely debated whose style is superior."

She paused, her shoulders stiffening as she turned to face Jaune. Her eyes were sharp, her tone deadly serious. "But listen to me—he's a ruthless killer. I'm only going to ask you this once: Do you really want to follow me? I'm about to enter a world where even heroes cower in fear. If you take one wrong step, you'll lose your life."

Jaune didn't answer immediately, his usual lighthearted demeanor replaced with something far more serious. He locked eyes with her, calm and unwavering.

"If it's that dangerous… will you keep going?" he finally asked.

Renka blinked, thrown by the question. "Of course I will."

Jaune's expression didn't waver. "Then I'm coming with you."

She froze. Her mouth opened slightly as her brain scrambled for a response she didn't have. "What?"

"If it's so dangerous, then of course I'll go with you," Jaune said firmly, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I let you go through this alone."

For a moment, Renka could only stare at him. Her heart gave a strange flutter, and an unfamiliar warmth crept up her neck to her cheeks.

"What—what are you—?!" she stammered before catching herself. Embarrassment flared like a spark.

Her foot shot out in a sharp kick aimed straight at Jaune's head. "Did you even listen to me?! It's going to be dangerous!"

Jaune smoothly sidestepped the kick, completely unfazed. "I heard you just fine."

Her cheeks flushed deeper. "Then why are you still coming?!" she yelled, her voice a bit higher-pitched than usual. She launched another kick, followed by a flurry of strikes—each one sharper than the last.

Jaune ducked and weaved effortlessly, dodging each blow. "Because we're wasting time."

Renka clicked her tongue sharply, halting her attacks with a frustrated growl. She turned her back on him abruptly, the faint redness in her face refusing to fade. "Fine! Follow me if you want—but don't slow me down."

She stalked forward, dragging the mafia thug behind her with more force than necessary. Her grip on his collar was firm, though her thoughts were anything but.

What the hell is wrong with him?! she thought angrily, her face still burning.

Jaune jogged up beside her, hands in his pockets, completely unbothered by the chaos she'd thrown at him. His steady presence only made her flustered state worse.

Geez, Papa picked such a weird guy to be his student.

She stole a quick glance at Jaune out of the corner of her eye. He looked calm, confident, and maddeningly at ease—as if dodging her attacks was no big deal.

…Well, I guess he's not completely useless.

Her ears twitched, and she looked forward quickly, shaking her head. "Tch."

"Something wrong?" Jaune asked casually, breaking the silence.

"Shut up and keep moving," Renka snapped, walking faster to hide her still-warm face.

They walked in silence, following the grunt's directions until they stopped in a shadowy alley across from their destination. The mafia building loomed ahead—seven stories tall, its windows dark and foreboding.

Renka knocked out their tied-up guide with a swift chop to the neck, while Jaune worked on securing him further by tying him up with his own shirt.

"So, what's the plan?" Jaune asked, staring at the building warily. Seven floors probably meant dozens of mafia members. Who knew how many ex-Hunters, soldiers, or aura users were lurking inside?

Renka cracked her knuckles, her voice confident and unwavering. "We're going to storm the place."

Jaune blinked and immediately grabbed her shoulder, stopping her mid-step. "Hold on—maybe we don't storm the seven-story building filled with mafia guys. Just hear me out."

Renka turned to glare at him, her cat-like ears twitching in irritation. "Oh, this should be good."

"Look," Jaune began, raising his hands defensively, "maybe we just… walk through the front door. We tell them we're here to see Sougetsu. He hasn't seen any family in twenty years, right? If you're his niece, there's a chance he'll want to see you."

Renka stared at him blankly, like he had grown a second head. "You can't be serious."

"I'm just saying," Jaune persisted, "there might be a peaceful option here."

Renka sighed deeply, glaring down at the unconscious thug they'd left tied up. "Fine. Peacefully," she muttered under her breath, standing up and brushing off her hands. "We'll try it peacefully first."

"See? That's the spirit!" Jaune grinned, jogging to catch up as she stormed toward the front door.

"Peacefully, peacefully," Renka grumbled, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "He says it like it's going to work."

enka strutted confidently through the double doors of the mafia building, her golden eyes gleaming with determination. Jaune followed close behind, his gaze darting nervously around the spacious but dimly lit lobby.

A greasy-looking man in his mid-thirties lounged behind the front desk, dragging lazily on a cigarette. He didn't even bother looking up at first, exhaling a puff of smoke with practiced apathy.

"You kids lost?" he finally asked, his tone dripping with disinterest.

Renka's palm slammed onto the desk, rattling the scattered papers and nearly knocking over an ashtray. "Sougetsu Ma. Where is he?" she demanded, her voice sharp and unwavering.

Jaune glanced around and noticed several mafia thugs in the lobby perking up at the mention of the name. A few of them exchanged glances before slowly rising from their seats and moving to block the front entrance.

The man behind the desk raised an eyebrow, a crooked smirk tugging at his lips. "Heh, didn't realize Sougetsu was interested in young little esco—"

WHAM!

Before the last syllable left his mouth, Renka's hand shot out and gripped his greasy hair, slamming his head into the desk with a sickening thud. The man groaned, slumping forward, and Renka dusted off her hands as if she'd just taken out the trash.

Jaune sighed, pivoting on his foot as one of the mafia thugs lunged toward him. "Okay, guess we're doing this!" he shouted, twisting into a sharp punch that sent his opponent stumbling backward.

"Obviously," Renka snapped, raising her arms over her head as another thug rushed toward her. With a fierce shout, she charged forward, swinging her arms down in a devastating hammer blow that connected with the thug's shoulder. The sheer force sent him crashing into a coffee table, which splintered beneath his weight.

"Careful, you're wrecking the furniture!" Jaune called out, ducking under a wild swing from another thug.

"Shut up and focus!" Renka shot back, sidestepping another attacker and delivering a precise kick to his midsection, sending him sprawling into a potted plant.

Jaune spun on his heel, his movements fluid as he dodged a pipe swing and countered with a solid jab to the thug's jaw. "If we're doing this, let's at least try not to destroy the whole lobby!"

Renka snorted, flipping her hair out of her face as she squared off against the next opponent. "Stop whining, Arc. You knew this wasn't going to be peaceful!"

The lobby quickly descended into chaos as the two of them fended off wave after wave of thugs. Renka's strikes were precise and brutal, while Jaune moved with a blend of practicality and frustration, his exasperated commentary punctuating the fight.

By the time the dust settled, the lobby was littered with unconscious bodies, broken furniture, and the faint smell of cigarette smoke lingering in the air.

Jaune reached the elevator and clicked his teeth in frustration when he noticed a physical key lock installed next to the buttons. He pressed the call button anyway, but the panel flashed red, confirming the lock was active.

"Renka, the elevator's locked," Jaune called over his shoulder.

Renka, crouched over the unconscious man from the front desk, rummaged through his pockets with an irritated scowl. She pulled out a jingling set of keys and quickly began trying them one by one on the elevator lock.

Click. Jiggle. Nothing.

"Ugh," Renka muttered under her breath, trying another key. Click. Jiggle. Still nothing.

"How do none of these work?" she growled, tossing the keys aside in frustration. Her golden eyes darted toward the stairwell door. Without a second thought, she marched over and kicked it open with enough force to crack the frame.

Slam!

"Screw this, we're taking the stairs!"

Jaune sighed, adjusting his jacket as he followed her to the stairwell. "And what floor are we going to?"

"We'll go floor by floor if we have to," Renka snapped, her tone making it clear she wasn't in the mood for complaints.

Jaune pinched the bridge of his nose with a groan. "Oh, yeah, sure. Why not? It's not like there are seven whole floors or anything," he muttered sarcastically as he trudged after her.

Renka didn't respond, already bounding up the stairs two at a time, her determination practically radiating off her. Jaune shook his head and quickened his pace to keep up.

"Well, at least we're getting our cardio in," he muttered under his breath, earning a sharp glare from Renka as they ascended.

The second floor was dimly lit, with wooden crates stacked along the hallway walls. Some towers of crates reached the ceiling, while others sat in haphazard piles barely up to Jaune's waist. The air was heavy with the faint scent of sawdust and the sharp tang of something chemical.

A few gang members were sorting through the crates when they noticed Jaune and Renka at the stairwell entrance. Jaune quickly counted seven men spread out along the hallway, all of them now turning their attention toward the intruders.

He glanced at Renka and gave her a quick nod. Without hesitation, she surged forward, her movements quick and decisive.

The first thug barely had time to react before Renka's knee drove into his midsection with bone-crunching force. The man let out a choked gasp as he crumpled, but Renka was already moving, pivoting toward her next target.

Jaune wasn't far behind. He leapt onto one of the lower stacks of crates and launched himself into the air, his momentum carrying him into a brutal kick to the face of the gang member standing behind Renka. The man staggered back, and Jaune used his collapsing body as a springboard, vaulting off him and driving a flying knee into the face of another thug farther down the hallway.

As Jaune landed, he felt the rush of footsteps behind him. He spun just in time to see another gang member charging at him, but before he could react, Renka stepped into his blind spot.

"Got your back," she said sharply, placing one palm firmly against the thug's chest and pushing with incredible strength. The man was sent stumbling backward, crashing into a stack of crates that toppled over him.

Another thug farther down the hall pulled a knife from his belt and ran straight at Renka, the blade gleaming ominously in the dim light.

"Renka, knife!" Jaune called out, rushing forward.

Before the man could get close, Jaune intercepted him, catching his wrist mid-swing. With a quick twist, he forced the thug's arm into an awkward angle, the knife clattering to the floor.

Jaune didn't stop there. Gripping the back of the man's head, he drove him forward with a powerful motion. The thug's head slammed into the door of a nearby room, splintering the wood as it broke through the surface.

The hallway was filled with groans and the sound of crates tumbling as the gang members struggled to recover from the sudden onslaught.

Despite barely knowing each other, Jaune and Renka quickly found a rhythm in their fighting. Each move flowed naturally, as if they'd trained together for years. They instinctively guarded each other's openings, their coordination sharpening as they pushed through the hallway.

More and more gang members poured into the fray, some charging down the stairs, others emerging from side rooms. The hall grew louder and more chaotic with every passing moment, but Jaune and Renka held their ground, their teamwork turning the tide.

As they pressed forward, Jaune's attention was drawn to a crate that had cracked open during the scuffle. Inside, he spotted thick cylinders glowing faintly with red energy—fire dust.

His heart skipped a beat. "That explains why they're not using guns! This place is packed with dust!" he shouted in alarm, sidestepping a wild swing from a thug.

Renka glanced back and nodded, her expression unfazed. "Good. That makes it easier for us, then," she said confidently, vaulting over a crate with fluid ease.

As she landed, her heel drove into the chest of two thugs with a powerful split kick, sending them sprawling backward into a stack of crates.

Jaune followed her, sliding under her mid-air body just as another thug swung a lead pipe in his direction. Using the momentum from his slide, Jaune planted his foot firmly and delivered a strong side kick to an approaching enemy, sending him crashing into the wall.

Renka landed smoothly behind Jaune, pivoting around his outstretched arm as if they'd choreographed the motion. Her sharp eyes caught the thug with the pipe preparing another swing, this time aimed for Jaune's head.

"Not on my watch!" she snapped, grabbing the man's wrist and redirecting the pipe mid-swing, the force of the motion sending the weapon flying out of his hand. With a quick step forward, she delivered a high kick to his jaw, the impact snapping his head back and leaving him dazed.

Jaune spun around, grinning despite the chaos. "I guess we're just winging this now?"

Renka smirked, planting her feet as the hallway began to clear, a few remaining gang members backing away warily. "Winging it seems to be working."

Jaune gave a mock salute before glancing down the hall. "Then let's keep going. I don't think they're going to make this easy for us."

"Who the fuck are these kids?!" one of the thugs near the back of the hall yelled, ducking just in time to avoid the body of a comrade that had been hurled his way.

"Screw this! Go get Sougetsu!" another thug shouted, panic clear in his voice as he pointed to a lackey already making a break for the elevator.

Both Jaune and Renka immediately zeroed in on the fleeing thug.

"Oh no, you don't!" Renka growled, grabbing the legs of a large thug in front of her and slamming him to the ground with a loud thud.

Jaune leapt off the wall, using it to propel himself into a spinning axe kick that connected with another thug's head. The man crumpled like a sack of bricks as Jaune landed nimbly.

The two of them didn't miss a beat, practically sprinting down the hall after their target. The thug reached the elevator first, slamming the call button repeatedly with a shaking hand as he glanced nervously over his shoulder.

"Come on, come on, come on!" he muttered frantically, his voice cracking as the two "demons" tore through the hall toward him. His heart nearly stopped when the elevator dinged open, revealing a handful of other grunts already inside. He dove into the elevator, jamming the button for the upper floors and spamming the "close door" button with rapid, desperate jabs.

Jaune's eyes locked on the elevator. Without hesitation, he ripped the lid off a nearby wooden crate, hauling it into the air like a discus.

"Renka, go!" Jaune shouted, throwing the lid with all his strength.

The crate lid spun down the hall, skidding perfectly into the narrowing gap of the elevator doors just as they began to close.

"No!" the thug screamed, his terror mounting as Jaune and Renka reached the elevator and practically tackled their way inside.

The two teens hit the elevator's cramped interior like a freight train, forcing the doors back open and shoving their way in.

"Oh fuck, no!" the thug yelled in sheer panic, his back pressed against the elevator wall as Jaune and Renka turned their attention to him.

Renka cracked her knuckles, a devilish grin spreading across her face. "You were trying to leave without us? How rude."

Jaune dusted off his hands, leaning casually against the wall. "Yeah, not cool, man. We worked really hard to catch up."

The thug looked between the two of them, wide-eyed and trembling. The cramped space of the elevator suddenly felt suffocating, not because of its size but because of the two relentless "psychos" now standing before him.

The elevator doors slid shut with an ominous ding, trapping the thugs inside with Jaune and Renka.

Jaune glanced at the illuminated floor number the thug had selected. "That where Sougetsu is?" he asked, his tone calm but sharp.

The thug nodded nervously, sweat beading on his forehead. "Y-yes."

Renka crossed her arms, her piercing gaze locked on him. "Why do you need so much Dust?"

The thug hesitated, swallowing hard before blurting out, "We're gonna burn down all the businesses not paying protection fees… starting with Hakubi's Restaurant."

Renka's expression darkened instantly. In one swift motion, she grabbed him by the collar of his shirt, pulling him close. "What did you just say?!" she hissed, her golden eyes blazing with fury.

Before the thug could stammer a response, the elevator chimed and the doors slid open. Renka and Jaune were forced to step aside as three more thugs spilled into the elevator, crowding the already cramped space.

The doors closed with a soft ding, trapping everyone inside.

Jaune barely hesitated. As one of the new arrivals lunged at him, he immediately shifted into a Muay Thai stance, his body flowing into a series of rapid, punishing strikes. His elbows shot forward, slamming into ribs and faces, while his knees drove into torsos with devastating force.

Renka, for her part, used the confined space of the elevator to her advantage. She planted her feet against the walls and crates for leverage, delivering powerful palm strikes that sent her opponents crashing into one another.

The cowering thug, desperate to prove his bravery, swung a clumsy punch at Jaune. Jaune sidestepped with ease, catching the man's arm mid-swing.

"Nice try," Jaune said flatly, twisting the arm and dragging the thug directly into the line of fire.

WHAM!

One of the other thugs had already thrown a punch, and it connected squarely with the unlucky man's face instead of Jaune's. The force of the blow knocked the cowering thug out cold, and Jaune let him slump to the ground unceremoniously.

Renka caught another attacker's arm as he tried to grab her, twisting it behind his back and driving him into the elevator wall. Her hand shot out in a palm strike to his side, the impact making a sickening crack.

"Stay down," she snapped, shoving him to the floor.

Within moments, the elevator was littered with groaning bodies, the confined space now eerily silent except for the hum of its ascent.

Jaune leaned against the wall, catching his breath as he glanced at Renka. "Well, this is cozy," he said, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

Renka rolled her eyes, her gaze fixed on the elevator doors. "I thought we were supposed to do this peacefully?" Jaune added with a smirk, a hint of amusement in his voice.

The elevator chimed, and the doors slid open to reveal yet more thugs piling in.

"This is peaceful," Renka said matter-of-factly.

Before Jaune could argue, Renka surged forward, kneeing a thug squarely in the gut while simultaneously driving her fist upward into his chin. The thug crumpled instantly.

"WHAT PART OF THIS IS PEACEFUL?!" Jaune shouted, his face red with exasperation as he intercepted another thug, gripping the man's arm and twisting him around in one smooth motion.

The elevator chimed again, the doors opening to the floor where Sougetsu was supposed to be. Jaune wasted no time, throwing the thug out of the elevator and onto the floor with a loud thud.

Renka followed his lead, shoving another thug so hard he stumbled out and landed painfully against the wall, groaning.

Stepping over an unconscious thug sprawled across the floor, Renka brushed some dust off her sleeve, her expression calm and nonchalant. "They're alive, aren't they?" she said, her tone as casual as if she were discussing the weather.

Jaune glared at her, panting slightly as he rolled his shoulders to loosen the tension in his muscles. "That's not the same as being peaceful!"

Renka smirked, flipping her hair over her shoulder as she glanced around the now-empty elevator. "Close enough."

Renka ignored his complaints, her eyes sharp as she cracked her knuckles. "I'm not killing anyone—except Sougetsu Ma." Her voice turned cold, her words deliberate. "He's tarnished my family's name and honor, and he must die."

Jaune froze for a moment before quickly falling into step behind her. "Wait—hold on! You can't seriously be thinking about killing your own uncle."

Renka shot him a sidelong glance. "Watch me."

"You're the one who said this guy was extremely dangerous. What happened to waiting for Master Ma?" Jaune asked as he hurried after Renka, her brisk pace showing no sign of slowing. He expected another sharp retort, but instead—

Renka suddenly turned on her heel, grabbed Jaune by the collar, and tackled him to the ground.

"Wha—!?" Jaune barely had time to react before a body crashed through the wall above them, sending chunks of debris flying. Dust clouded the air as the two coughed and stared, wide-eyed, at the man-sized hole now carved into the wall.

A tall, hulking figure emerged through the dust—a very muscular, middle-aged man with short black hair and a neatly trimmed beard. His open vest revealed a broad, scarred chest, while dark pants and thick armbands made him look even more imposing. In one hand, he lazily gripped a large gourd that sloshed ominously with liquid.

Compared to his younger brother Kensei, Sougetsu Ma had aged almost gracefully, his features still sharp and strong—though hardened like weathered stone.

"Hmm…" Sougetsu's gruff voice rumbled through the room as he squinted toward them. "I thought I sensed Kensei… Looks like I was mistaken."

Renka's ears perked up, the hair on both her head and ears puffing up like an angry cat. "Sougetsu Ma!" she shouted, springing to her feet. Before Jaune could stop her, she launched into the air, flowing into a perfect flying kick.

"Renka, NO!" Jaune yelled, reaching out too late.

Sougetsu's hand snapped up with frightening ease, catching her leg mid-air. "Tch." With a single swing, he spun Renka like a ragdoll, slamming her sideways into the crumbling remains of the wall. She gasped sharply as a strong hand pinned her against the shattered surface, pressing her stomach with unrelenting force.

Jaune scrambled to his feet. "Wait! She's Master Ma's daughter! She's your niece!"

Sougetsu's cold gaze shifted to Jaune, utterly unfazed. Renka struggled against his iron grip, clawing at his arm to break free. "She challenged me as a martial artist," Sougetsu said flatly, his voice dripping with indifference. "And as far as I'm concerned, I have no blood relatives."

He pressed harder, causing Renka to let out a sharp, pained cry. Her body gave a faint glow—her Aura was spent.

"Renka!" Jaune's fists clenched tightly. He didn't think—he couldn't. He just moved.

Charging forward, Jaune slid his foot into position, his breathing deep and steady. Without realizing it, his movements shifted into a natural flow—calm yet devastating, like water gathering into a rogue wave. His strike coiled like a current, and with all the strength he could muster, he threw a punch at Sougetsu's exposed side.

His fist connected. For a split second, Jaune felt a surge of energy—aura rushing to reinforce his strike. But as soon as it hit, his knuckles screamed in pain. It was like punching solid steel.

The impact reverberated through his body, leaving him breathless. Sougetsu didn't even flinch. The hulking man stared down at Jaune, utterly unphased, as though swatting away an insect.

Jaune swallowed hard, his entire body tense. A cold dread sank into the pit of his stomach, but he refused to look away, locking eyes with Sougetsu even as his heart pounded in his chest.

"You've got guts, kid," Sougetsu said, a faint trace of amusement flickering in his voice. "But you're not very smart."

Before Jaune could react, a sudden blur shot through the window.

Crash!

Master Kensei appeared in a flurry of motion, his foot slamming into Sougetsu's side with enough force to make the larger man shift backward. Sougetsu released Renka, who gasped for air as she slumped forward.

"Brother, are you still living like this?" Kensei asked, his voice calm yet carrying a quiet sadness.

Sougetsu, standing tall and unyielding, ignored the question entirely. Instead, he smirked grimly. "Finally, I can settle the matter with you."

Kensei's eyes narrowed. "Jaune, take Renka and leave. Now!"

Jaune reacted on instinct, rushing to catch Renka as her legs gave out beneath her. She slumped against him, her breath shallow and ragged.

"Take it easy, Renka. Breathe. I've got you," Jaune whispered softly, holding her steady as she tried to regain her composure.

Sougetsu, unshaken, dusted off his chest as though nothing had happened. His gaze flicked toward Jaune, the faintest glint of amusement in his cold eyes. "So, he's your pupil, huh? Trying to copy me? kids like my pupile only more doey eyed and soft" Sougetsu cracked his neck lazily, his voice laced with derision. "I still don't understand why you waste so much effort training idiots like him."

"Hey!" Jaune snapped, glaring up at Sougetsu indignantly at being called doey eyed.

Renka groaned faintly, shifting her weight as she clung to Jaune's arm. "Papa… I'm sorry…" she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper.

Kensei looked at her briefly, his expression softening for the barest moment. Then he turned his attention back to Sougetsu, his gaze steely. "It's unfortunate, brother. Even after twenty years, you still don't understand. You're lost… but I won't let you stay on this path."

"Ha!" Sougetsu's laugh was bitter, almost hollow. "Stop talking nonsense, Kensei. It's already too late for that."

Without another word, the two brothers moved, their actions perfectly synchronized as they stepped into their stances. The air grew heavy, charged with energy and unspoken history.

Jaune gasped, his eyes widening as he recognized the gesture both men made—a fist salute, held firm and deliberate. It was the sign of a duel to the death.

"Master Ma, don't do it!" Jaune called desperately, his voice cracking. "Brothers killing each other is wrong!"

But neither of them so much as glanced at him. Their focus was absolute, their intent unshakable. Kensei's brow furrowed as he spoke calmly, his tone final. "Even if it's by my own hand, I'll stop you, Sougetsu. I'll make you abandon this path."

"Don't be conceited, Kensei!" Sougetsu growled, his stance firm and deadly. "You will die here, witnessing the true pinnacle of martial arts!"

Jaune felt his heart drop into his stomach. He could feel the weight of the moment—the sheer, overwhelming tension that filled the space between the two masters. He looked down at Renka, who watched silently, her face pale but resolute. Despite her pain, she didn't look away.

"Renka… what do we do?" Jaune asked quietly, his voice uncertain.

Renka's ears twitched, her eyes locked on the two figures preparing to clash. "…We watch," she whispered.

Jaune swallowed hard, his fists clenching as he looked back at his master. In his core, he understood. He had to be here—to see this, to witness this clash of titans. It was his duty as Kensei's disciple.

The room fell silent, as though even the world itself held its breath. Kensei and Sougetsu faced each other, their stances perfectly balanced, their auras crackling like a storm about to break.

And then they moved.

Sougetsu moved first.

For a man his size, his speed was monstrous—a blur of muscle and power. His punch shot forward like a cannonball, the force tearing through the air with a shockwave that shattered every window in the hallway. Jagged shards of glass blew outward, scattering into the alley below.

Kensei redirected the devastating blow with fluid precision, barely grazing the edge of Sougetsu's massive fist. Without missing a beat, Kensei zipped past his brother's outstretched arm, his movements a whirlwind of agility. He rebounded off the wall, then the ceiling, a blur of motion as he flipped to Sougetsu's other side.

With a sharp breath, Kensei planted both feet against the top of the wall and ceiling, his body coiled like a spring. He lashed out with a lightning-fast knife hand strike, aimed with deadly precision at his brother's chest.

Sougetsu met the attack with an unyielding snarl, his hand snapping up to intercept it. Their fingers pressed against each other with bone-crushing force, the power of the clash echoing like a thunderclap.

For a split second, the hallway froze—two titans locked in a moment of raw strength. Then, with a brutal twist, Sougetsu kicked Kensei squarely in the chest, sending him crashing through the door and into the next room.

"Jaune! Quick, after them!" Renka shouted, her voice urgent as the dust settled.

Jaune didn't hesitate. "Got it!" He scooped Renka up into his arms, careful to hold her securely, and sprinted down the hall.

"Left! That way!" Renka barked, pointing toward the source of the sounds.

Each blow exchanged between the brothers shook the building to its core. The walls groaned, and the floors vibrated under the pressure of their duel. Dust and debris rained from the ceiling as Jaune ran, guided by Renka's hurried instructions.

"The sounds are coming from that room! Hurry!" Renka shouted, urgency sharpening her tone.

Jaune grunted, his breathing heavy. "If you're feeling well enough to give orders, maybe you can get up and run yourself, y'know!"

"Are you saying you can't follow an injured damsel's orders? Hmph!" Renka shot back, smirking faintly despite herself.

"More like a demon's orders," Jaune muttered under his breath, though a small grin tugged at the corner of his lips.

Renka's ears twitched, and she shot him a glare. "What was that?"

"Nothing!" Jaune quickly replied, adjusting his grip to make sure she didn't hurt herself further.

Ahead of them, the deafening crashes of the fight grew louder, the entire building seeming to quiver under the force of every exchange. A final, massive BOOM sounded as Jaune skidded to a stop outside the room. The door was shattered, the walls splintered, and the floor cracked beneath the two brothers as they clashed midair.

Jaune and Renka watched in awe as Kensei and Sougetsu continued their ferocious duel, every strike carrying the weight of decades of rivalry and untold strength.

"Master Ma…" Jaune whispered, his chest tight with a mix of fear and admiration.

Renka, still cradled in his arms, didn't say a word. Her golden eyes were locked on her father, her expression unreadable as the duel of the century unfolded before them.

The two of them burst into a massive meeting room just in time to witness an explosive clash.

Kensei had blocked a powerful upward palm strike from Sougetsu, but instead of resisting the force, he jumped with it. His body tucked into a tight ball, flipping rapidly through the air with uncanny control. In one fluid motion, Kensei caught himself in the top corner of the room—his legs extended into a perfect split, feet pressed against the ceiling and wall. Both fists were held out in front of him, ready and steady.

"Hmm! As always, a splendid transfer of power," Sougetsu said, his gruff voice tinged with genuine admiration as he planted a hand on his hip, looking up at his brother. "Taking the full force of my attack and turning it into motion. Your soft fist hasn't weakened one bit, Kensei."

He smirked slightly, his eyes sharp. "It seems both of us have continued to train over these decades."

Jaune's breath caught in his throat. He barely dared to blink as he watched the scene unfold. The raw energy between the two brothers was suffocating.

Renka gripped Jaune's shirt tightly, her ears twitching nervously. "Kensei, the soft, and Sougetsu, the hard… Both men are renowned as the strongest hand-to-hand fighters in Mistral," she whispered, her voice shaky but certain. "From my view… they have the exact same power and skill."

Jaune nodded faintly. He wasn't about to doubt her. She'd grown up in this world—she understood it far better than he did.

Kensei, still perched on the wall, gazed down at his brother with somber eyes. "Tell me, Sougetsu—what happened to that earnest heart that loved martial arts? When did it become so wicked?"

Sougetsu huffed dismissively, his grin fading as his expression hardened. "Still talking nonsense, I see."

Before Kensei could respond, the building shook violently.

BOOM!

An explosion somewhere below rocked the foundations, sending tremors through the room. The remaining windows shattered into a shower of glass, and flames licked up from the lower levels. Dust and debris rained down, the sound of destruction rumbling around them like a storm.

Jaune's instincts screamed at him to run, but his feet remained planted. Despite the chaos—the fire, the cracking walls, the groaning structure—his eyes stayed locked on the two brothers.

Above them, Kensei lost his leverage as the wall behind him began to crumble. He fell, his body twisting midair to regain control.

Sougetsu was already moving.

"There's my opening!" Sougetsu roared, his body a blur of motion. "Power is a weapon to decimatew weaker opponets!"

Time seemed to slow. The sound of destruction faded into a distant hum, as though the world itself held its breath. Jaune watched helplessly as Sougetsu's massive fist rocketed toward Kensei's chest.

CRACK!

The impact landed with devastating force. Jaune's heart lurched, his mind reeling as he thought, for a split second, that he had just witnessed his master's defeat—his demise.

Kensei's body seemed to shudder under the blow, his form crumpling toward the ground.

But then Jaune noticed it—the faint, almost imperceptible shift of Kensei's movements.

With impossible precision, Kensei caught himself with one foot on Sougetsu's knee, using it as leverage to stabilize his fall. For the briefest moment, the brothers froze in that position—Kensei perched like a coiled spring, Sougetsu's fist still embedded in his brother's chest.

Then, Kensei struck.

All the force and damage from Sougetsu's devastating blow was transferred back through Kensei's body, redirected into a single, perfectly executed punch to Sougetsu's muscular chest.

WHAM!

The sound reverberated through the room like a cannon blast.

Sougetsu's eyes widened in shock as Kensei's fist connected, the impact rippling through his massive frame.

Jaune gasped audibly, his heart pounding in his chest as he clutched Renka closer for stability. "He… he reversed it," Jaune whispered in awe.

Renka's grip on his shirt tightened further, her voice trembling. "Papa…"

Sougetsu let out a weak, sputtering gasp, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. His broad shoulders sagged, his body trembling under the weight of his injuries.

"Weapons don't kill people," Kensei said quietly, clutching his chest as he struggled to steady his breath. Though he had redirected most of the damage, Sougetsu's strike had still taken its toll. "It's the person who wields it that kills. Brother, you were overwhelmed by your own power."

Sougetsu dropped to one knee, his heavy breaths labored. "Urgh… why…" He coughed again, spitting blood. "Why have your skills improved so much?"

Kensei straightened up, his posture calm yet resolute. "Because I have friends. A strong comradeship with people I've trained with diligently over the years. You've always trained alone, Sougetsu. That's the difference."

As the two brothers spoke, flames licked their way into the meeting room. The building groaned under the spreading fire, bits of the ceiling cracking and falling to the ground. Smoke filled the air, and the heat grew oppressive.

Jaune gritted his teeth as another section of debris crashed down. He instinctively shielded Renka with his shoulder, ignoring the sting of embers as they scattered around him.

"Master Ma, we need to go!" Jaune shouted over the roar of the fire.

"Papa!" Renka cried, wriggling out of Jaune's arms and landing lightly on her feet. Her golden eyes were wide and desperate. "I may not understand everything, but let's get out of here—together!"

Sougetsu leaned back against the wall, pulling out his gourd with shaking hands. He smirked faintly, though his expression was laced with bitterness. "Heh… Just like always… Everyone around me becomes your friend." He tilted his head, his voice rough with exhaustion. "Even though we had the same power, I was feared by everyone, while people flocked to you."

He uncorked the gourd, his fingers trembling. "I didn't leave Mistral because I killed someone," Sougetsu continued, his voice quieter now. "I left because… from the very beginning, there was no place for me to live."

"Brother…" Kensei's voice softened, his face shadowed beneath the brim of his hat.

Sougetsu glanced at the spreading fire, watching as it crept closer. He took a deep breath, as though savoring the smoke-filled air, and nodded. "Go, brother. For a martial artist, defeat means death."

Jaune froze, his chest tightening as he watched the two brothers share a long, silent look. The weight of a lifetime seemed to pass between them in that moment.

Kensei bowed his head. Slowly, he tucked the brim of his hat down, shielding his face from view. "Let's go," he said softly, his tone heavy with resignation.

"Master…" Jaune began, hesitating.

Kensei shook his head, his voice firm but quiet. "If I tried to get close to him now… I feel he'd take his own life. As his brother, I want him to atleast die as a martial artist."

Renka, her face unreadable, quickly pressed the elevator button, the doors sliding open with a faint ding.

The fire roared behind them as Kensei stepped forward, followed by Jaune and Renka. Jaune took one last glance over his shoulder at Sougetsu, who remained seated against the wall, his gourd in hand and a faint, bittersweet smile on his face.

As the elevator doors began to close, Jaune caught a glimpse of Sougetsu sitting amidst the spreading flames. The man leaned back against the cracked wall, uncorking his gourd and taking a long swig of his prized sake, as if the inferno around him didn't exist.

"Heh… A murderer's death should be like this," Sougetsu muttered, his voice carrying a strange, bittersweet satisfaction.

Jaune's eyes widened. Without thinking, he jammed his hands into the narrowing gap between the doors and forced them open.

"Jaune, what are you doing?!" Renka shouted in disbelief as she struggled to keep the doors from closing.

But Jaune was already sprinting back into the blaze. The heat was unbearable, the flames snarling and flickering like wild beasts around him, but he pressed on, weaving through the chaos. He didn't stop until he reached Sougetsu, who regarded him with a mix of amusement and surprise.

Jaune stood before the seated martial artist, sweat running down his face as he extended a hand. "Well, come on!" Jaune shouted, his voice raw. "Don't you want to see your own disciple again? Don't you want a second chance?!"

Sougetsu stared at him, the flames dancing in his dark eyes. For just a moment, the room seemed still. Then, slowly, a faint smile tugged at the corner of Sougetsu's lips—a small, knowing smile.

"Kensei really is training a weird pupil," he muttered, shaking his head.

Before Jaune could react, Sougetsu planted a strong hand against Jaune's chest. "Go, kid."

With a grunt, Sougetsu pushed, and Jaune felt himself soaring backward. The world blurred as the flames closed in around him. He barely had time to register the movement before he crashed into the elevator, his momentum effortlessly stopped by a firm, familiar grip.

Kensei caught him.

Jaune coughed, dazed, as the doors slid shut. The last thing he saw through the narrowing gap was Sougetsu, still seated, still smiling faintly, with the gourd in hand as flames began to consume the room.

The elevator rumbled softly as it descended, the shaking of the building growing louder in the distance.

Jaune sat there, his chest heaving. "…I had to try, Master," he said quietly, his voice barely audible.

Kensei said nothing. He merely brushed the dust from Jaune's shoulder with a soft, deliberate motion.

Renka, still holding herself up against the wall, looked away as her ears drooped. Her face was shadowed, her emotions hard to read.

When the elevator doors opened to the cool night air, the three of them walked silently back to Uncle Hakubi's restaurant. Kensei led the way, the brim of his hat shielding his face. He didn't say a word, but as they walked, he reached out and gently ruffled Renka's hair. She flinched at first, surprised, but then said nothing, her gaze fixed forward.

Jaune followed behind, his steps heavy. The weight of everything that had happened pressed on his shoulders, but he held his head up.

In his mind, the image of Sougetsu remained—alone, drinking sake, surrounded by flames.

Maybe he found peace, Jaune thought, clenching his fists. I just hope… he did.

When they reached Uncle Hakubi's restaurant, Kensei silently made his way upstairs with Hakubi, leaving Jaune and Renka sitting at a table.

A cup of steaming tea sat in front of Jaune, its warmth rising in soft curls of steam. For a long moment, neither of them spoke. The two of them were a mess—covered in ash, dirt, and smudges of dried blood.

"…Thanks," Renka said finally, breaking the silence.

Jaune glanced up from his tea, surprised. "For what?"

Renka lifted her own cup, her golden eyes fixed on the liquid as it swirled faintly. "For following me." Her voice was quieter than usual, steady but with a hint of vulnerability. "I probably would've died there if you hadn't been with me, Jaune… So, thank you."

Jaune blinked, processing her words. He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Well… if you ever plan on raiding a mafia den again, just let me know. I'll happily tag along."

He took a sip of his tea. It wasn't bad—though, if he were honest, he'd always been more of a coffee guy.

Renka stared at him for a moment, her cat-like ears twitching slightly. Then, to his surprise, a small smile crept onto her face. It wasn't her usual confident smirk or sharp grin—just a soft, genuine smile.

"Careful," she teased lightly, her voice regaining its usual energy. "I'll hold you to that."

Jaune chuckled softly, leaning back in his chair as the exhaustion finally started to settle into his bones. "Yeah, I figured you would."

"Ugh, I feel filthy and desperately need a bath. Are you and Papa staying the night?" Renka asked, stretching her arms above her head before the winced and held her stomach in pain. "ow!"

Jaune shrugged, swirling the remnants of his tea. "No idea. We might. Your dad took a pretty hard hit back there."

Renka nodded thoughtfully. "Figures. Well, I'm going to go shower and use up all the hot water."

Jaune rolled his eyes, smirking. "Go ahead. I have seven sisters—cold showers are all I know."

Renka paused mid-step, turning to look at him in surprise. "Seven?! Damn."

"Yeah," Jaune said with a casual shrug.

Renka chuckled, shaking her head as she waved him goodbye. "You're tougher than I thought. See ya, Jaune." She made her way upstairs, leaving Jaune alone at the table.

Jaune sighed and leaned back in his chair, taking another slow sip of his tea. The warmth was soothing, and for the first time in a while, things felt… calm.

It wasn't long before Master Kensei walked in. He approached silently, placing a hand on Jaune's shoulder. Jaune blinked, looking up, but Kensei said nothing. With a simple motion, he guided Jaune out of the restaurant and back toward Ryozanpaku

In the days that followed, news spread quickly. The remaining mafia members were rounded up and arrested. Investigators discovered that the fire had been started with Dust—a desperate move after Sougetsu had attacked their boss.

But Sougetsu's body was never found.

As for Master Kensei, the man barely said a word for ten days. He trained quietly, his movements precise and deliberate but his demeanor heavier than usual. Jaune gave him space, though the silence lingered like a weight between them.

On the tenth day, as Jaune passed Master Kensei in the hallway, the older man paused.

"Thank you," Kensei said softly, the words barely more than a whisper.

Jaune turned, surprised, but Kensei had already walked on, his figure disappearing down the corridor.

Jaune sat beside Master Ma on the porch of the dojo, his guitar resting comfortably in his lap. The late afternoon sunlight filtered through the trees, casting dappled shadows across the wooden deck.

Beside him, Master Ma sat cross-legged with a pervy magazine in hand. Or, at least, Jaune thought he was reading—until he noticed something odd.

"Your magazine's upside down, Sensei," Jaune said dryly, strumming a lazy chord on his guitar.

Without missing a beat, Master Ma flipped himself upside down instead, balancing perfectly on his head with the magazine still in hand. "Hmm, better?" he asked, the pages now right-side up relative to his position.

Jaune blinked, then burst into laughter. "No, that's not quite the solution, Sensei."

Master Ma allowed himself a small chuckle, spinning on his head slightly like a bizarre circus act before settling again.

Jaune smiled, the sound of his guitar strumming a soft, simple melody as the moment quieted. "Master… was it really alright for us to ditch Renka back at Uncle Hakubi's?"

Master Ma hummed thoughtfully, his upside-down gaze shifting toward the horizon. "It's fine. This place is my home. I'm sure she understands that."

Meanwhile, at Uncle Hakubi's restaurant…

"Grr! I can't believe they got away again!" Renka shouted furiously, swinging the broom in wide, chaotic arcs. Dust scattered across the floor as if caught in a whirlwind.

"Hey, sweep properly!" Uncle Hakubi called from behind the counter, his expression mildly annoyed. "You're gonna get dust in the customers' food."

Renka let out an annoyed huff, gripping the broom tighter. "That rascal old man… The next time I find him, I'm dragging him home to Mistral—even if I have to tie a rope around his neck!"

She brought the broom down with a little too much force before grumbling under her breath, her motions finally settling into proper sweeping. A faint blush crept onto her cheeks as her thoughts drifted.

"…I wonder if it'd be alright to bring Jaune too," she muttered softly, her voice barely audible even to herself.

Uncle Hakubi glanced up with a sly smile, having caught every word. "What was that?"

Renka's ears twitched, and she whipped around to glare at him. "Nothing! Mind your own business!"

"Uh-huh," Uncle Hakubi said knowingly, chuckling to himself as he returned to his work.

Renka scowled, her face still tinged red, and resumed sweeping—this time more carefully.

"Tch. Focus, Renka. Focus!" she muttered, though the small smile tugging at her lips refused to be hidden.

---

MERRY CHRISTMAS.

This is my gift to all of you who have tolerated my schedule over the years. This will probably be the last update fro this year but dont worry ill update the story again after the new years. Just wanted to say thank you all again for joining me on this story and bearing with my rewrites, hiatus and silence.

Im looking forward to the new year with all of you and wish you all a wonderful Holidays. So until next time.

~Later Days~

-Wiseotaku