Location: Hanzo's Bedroom, Branch Quarters
Time: 09:05 PM
"...I think I awakened it, Father," Hanzo said quietly. "But..."
He stared at his own hands.
Thick, dark blue cursed energy flickered across his knuckles.
"..."
Noboru stood frozen in the shattered doorway. He stared at the splintered floorboards and the torn paper walls.
CLATTER.
Noboru dropped his short blade onto the floor.
He walked quickly across the ruined room and dropped to his knees right in front of Hanzo.
He grabbed Hanzo's wrists. His rough, callused thumbs rubbed against Hanzo's small hands.
"...You actually did it," Noboru breathed heavily.
He let go of Hanzo's wrists. He wiped a layer of cold sweat from his own forehead.
A rare, exhausted smile broke across Noboru's scarred face. He sat back on his heels.
"...You gave me a heart attack," Noboru chuckled, looking at the broken room. "...But you woke it up."
Hanzo looked down at his fists again.
The heavy, static feeling still buzzed in his stomach.
He unclenched his fingers. The blue aura sparked and faded slightly into the cold air.
"...Where is my technique?" Hanzo asked.
He looked up at Noboru. He was genuinely confused.
"...I can feel the energy," Hanzo continued. "...But I don't know how to do anything else."
"Haha.." Noboru laughed softly. He crossed his legs and sat comfortably in the middle of the rubble.
"You are moving too fast kid," Noboru said gently.
Hanzo tilted his head.
'I thought it you will learn it directly.'
The anime never explained this part.
The characters just seemed to directly use their innate techniques the second they appear in the episode.
Even Junpei awakened his innate technique, a jellyfish after he was modified by Mahito.
Or maybe he forgot something.
"...I don't understand," Hanzo said.
Noboru leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees.
"...Waking up the energy is just the first step," Noboru explained. "...It just means the door is open."
Hanzo watched his father carefully.
"...Your body is still too small," Noboru said. "...Your blood is still figuring out what it wants to do."
Noboru reached out and tapped Hanzo's chest.
"...The actual technique takes time to show itself," Noboru continued. "...It might happen next month, or maybe when you turn six or seven."
Hanzo slowly opened his hands completely.
FSSSH.
The blue energy dissipated entirely.
"...So I just wait?" Hanzo asked.
"You practice," Noboru corrected him. "...You push that energy into your hands every day until your body finds its natural shape."
Hanzo rubbed his sore stomach.
'It is just a massive waiting game.'
He realized real life didn't have instant power-ups.
He had to manually figure out his own skillset through trial and error.
"...What if nothing else happens?" Hanzo asked quietly. "...What if I never get a technique?"
Noboru's smile softened.
"...Then you will be just like your mother," Noboru said.
Hanzo blinked in surprise.
"...Your mother never awakened a specific technique," Noboru explained.
He looked away for a second missing her while staring at the broken sliding door. "...She just had the raw energy."
Noboru looked back at Hanzo.
"...And she was incredibly strong," Noboru said firmly. "...She learned how to fight and protect herself with just energy."
Hanzo gave a slow nod.
It made sense.
He felt a lot better hearing a practical explanation.
"...I will practice every day, Father," Hanzo promised.
Noboru reached out and patted Hanzo's shoulder.
--<>--
Location: Hanzo's Bedroom
Time: 09:15 PM
The freezing mist in the room finally started to settle after both father and son cleaned up the mess.
Hanzo sat cross-legged on the tatami mat. He looked up at the ceiling.
The grotesque, multi-eyed spider creature was still clinging to the wooden rafters.
"...Father, what is that thing?" Hanzo asked quietly. Even if he knew it, he still needed to act noob.
He pointed a small finger toward the roof.
Noboru leaned his head back and looked up. He let out a tired breath.
"Just a bottom-feeder," Noboru sighed. "...They spawn from bad dreams and stress around the estate."
Noboru crossed his arms loosely.
"...It is completely harmless," Noboru added. "...You just never had the eyes to see it before tonight."
Hanzo stared at the ugly creature. 'This cursed spirit is so dreadful in real life. So disgusting. They look nicer in the anime.'
"...What does your technique look like, Father?" Hanzo asked.
Noboru rubbed the back of his neck. He reached inside the fold of his dark kimono.
RUSTLE.
He pulled out a blank, rectangular paper talisman.
"I call it Raijin's Thread," Noboru said. He held the paper between his index and middle fingers.
Noboru pushed a small spark of cursed energy into the paper. He flicked his wrist upward.
SWISH.
The paper flew through the air and stuck flat against the wooden beam right next to the spider curse.
"...I leave these papers on trees in the woods," Noboru explained. "...I string an invisible thread of my energy between them."
Noboru held up his right hand. He snapped his fingers.
SNAP.
A tiny arc of yellow lightning jumped from the paper on the ceiling.
BZZT.
The spark hit the spider curse. The creature twitched violently and lost its grip on the wood.
It fell straight down.
SPLAT.
The curse hit the floorboards.
Noboru casually stepped forward and crushed it under his wooden sandal. The curse instantly dissolved into black ash.
"...When a real curse walks through the woods and breaks my thread, the paper burns up," Noboru said.
Noboru tapped his own shoulder.
"...And I feel a sharp pinch right here," Noboru finished. "...The shock points me directly to the target."
Hanzo looked at the small pile of black ash on the floor.
'That is a perfect scouting tool. But an average normal one. Would I also awaken this?'
It explained why Noboru worked so many night shifts.
He was the early warning system for the branch family.
"...That sounds really useful," Hanzo said honestly.
Noboru let out a dry, quiet laugh.
"It helps us find them," Noboru agreed. "...But it is useless in a real fight."
Noboru brushed some dust off his kimono sleeves.
"...I cannot throw lightning bolts," Noboru admitted. "...I just track the monsters so the other men can cut them down."
Hanzo looked up at his father's tired face.
'He knows exactly what his limits are.'
Noboru worked a dangerous, exhausting job just to keep him fed. Hanzo felt a deep wave of genuine respect for this biological father.
"...I hope your art takes a stronger shape than mine, Hanzo," Noboru said softly.
Noboru reached out and gently patted Hanzo's head.
"...The clan needs strong fighters," Noboru added. "...Not just scouts."
Noboru stood up and grabbed his short blade off the floor.
"...Try to get some sleep," Noboru ordered warmly. "...I will fix the paper doors in the morning."
Hanzo bowed his head.
"Goodnight, Father," Hanzo said.
--<>--
Location: Zenin Clan Estate, Kyoto
Time: 10:00 PM
Dust blew across the dry dirt of the fighting pit.
Elder Naoki blew on his hot tea.
"...The Emperor moved to Tokyo in 1868," Naoki complained.
He took a slow sip from his clay cup.
"...Master Tengen shifted the main barriers east to cover the new capital," Naoki added. "...And we are losing all our eastern lands."
Elder Kenzo leaned forward on his silk cushion.
"The Kamo clan is stealing the Tokyo contracts," Kenzo muttered. "...Noritoshi acts like a polite scholar while robbing us blind."
Naoki tapped his fingernail against his teacup.
TAP.
"...And the Gojo clan is still the same." Naoki spat. "...No Six Eyes means they are completely passive to the society right now."
Kenzo rubbed the bridge of his nose.
"...We need a strong leader this time," Kenzo said tiredly.
Naoki looked down at the empty dirt pit below the deck.
"...The current head is dying, and the Ten Shadows did not manifest," Naoki sighed. "...So the two sons will fight for the seat."
Kenzo gripped his knees tightly.
"First to break yields," Kenzo stated. "...Brutality is the only way."
--<>--
Location: Zenin Clan Estate, Fighting Pit
Time: 10:10 PM
Footsteps crunched against the dry dirt.
CRUNCH. CRUNCH.
Zenin Shingen and Zenin Raizo walked into the pit from opposite sides.
Shingen carried a plain wooden spear. Blood already stained the bandages on his forearms from his morning warmups.
Raizo stopped ten paces away. He cracked his knuckles.
POP.
"...You should just yield, brother," Raizo grinned. "...The clan needs a fast killer right now."
Shingen didn't say a word. He lowered his stance and gripped his spear with both hands.
Up on the viewing deck, Elder Kenzo raised his hand.
"...Begin," he ordered.
SWIISH.
Raizo dashed forward. He closed the gap in a split second.
He threw a lightning-fast jab directly at Shingen's face.
SWISH. SWOOSH. SWISH.
Shingen twisted his wrists.
THWACK.
He used the wooden shaft of the spear to parry the punch away.
Raizo didn't stop. He unleashed a furious barrage of hooks and straights.
Shingen stepped backward, spinning the spear in tight circles.
SWISH. CLANG.
SWOSH. CLANG.
FWOSH. CLANG.
He deflected every single strike. He used the long reach of the weapon to keep the brawler at bay.
Raizo ducked under a wide, horizontal sweep.
He stepped completely inside Shingen's guard.
Raizo planted his feet and threw a heavy right hook.
SMACK.
The fist slammed into Shingen's jaw.
PTUI.
Shingen spat a mouthful of blood into the dirt.
He didn't stumble.
He pivoted sharply on his heel.
And drove the blunt butt of the spear upward directly into Raizo's knee.
CRACK.
Raizo grunted in pain and stumbled backward, creating distance between them.
HUFF-PUFF.
HUFF-PUFF.
Both men stood in the dirt, panting heavily.
"...My technique is Flash-Powder Ignition," Raizo shouted loudly.
He intentionally revealed his hand.
The Binding Vow instantly multiplied his cursed energy output. The air around his fists began to distort.
"...I turn my raw energy into concussive blasts on impact," Raizo explained.
Shingen wiped the blood from his chin.
"...Crucible Strike," Shingen grunted back.
He activated his own Binding Vow.
"...I feed my energy into the wood to multiply its mass and density," Shingen declared. "...Without changing its size."
The air around his wooden spear warped heavily.
SWISH.
Raizo rushed forward again.
He threw a punch directly at Shingen's chest.
The air around Raizo's knuckles ignited.
CRACKLE-CRICKLE.
BOOM.
A blinding spark erupted.
The concussive force blasted forward like a cannonball.
Shingen swung the immensely heavy spear to intercept it.
CRASH.
The explosion slammed into the dense wood.
The sheer weight of the spear absorbed the blast, but the shockwave shattered the bedrock under their feet.
Raizo used the explosion's recoil to launch himself sideways.
SWISH.
He flipped through the dust cloud and landed right beside Shingen.
Raizo swung a quick left hook into Shingen's ribs.
BOOM.
BAAM.
Another explosive spark detonated.
Shingen's hakama burned away.
CRUNCH.
A rib cracked loudly under the blast.
"Ugh!" Shingen grunted in intense pain.
He swung the heavy spear horizontally to clear the space.
SWISH.
The sheer weight of the wood made the swing slightly slower.
SWOOP.
Raizo easily weaved under it.
But the extreme wind pressure from the heavy spear cut a deep gash across Raizo's cheek.
SLASH.
Raizo jumped back, wiping the blood from his face.
He glared at his older brother.
He ripped the white bandages off his hands.
He poured every drop of his cursed energy into his bare fists.
"...GO DOWN!" Raizo yelled.
He lunged forward for a Maximum Output blast to incinerate Shingen.
HUFF-PUFF.
Shingen watched him approach. He breathed heavily through his broken rib.
'Too slow.'
Shingen channeled pure, positive energy into the wooden shaft.
He activated his Cursed Technique Reversal.
The infinitely heavy spear instantly became lighter than a feather.
Shingen swung the weightless weapon with both hands.
SWISH.
The wood moved with blinding, impossible speed.
Raizo's eyes went wide. He couldn't even track the blur.
The tip of the spear touched Raizo's ribs.
At that exact fraction of a second, Shingen cut the positive energy flow.
The spear instantly returned to maximum density.
The massive kinetic force transferred directly into Raizo's body.
BOOM
CRUNCH.
Raizo's entire ribcage caved in.
"AGHH!" He screamed as the impact launched him sideways through the air.
He crashed violently into the dirt wall of the pit.
THUD.
Zenin Raizo rolled into a heap in the dust.
GAH. HUFF-PUFF.
He clutched his ruined chest and gasped for air. He couldn't stand up.
Shingen stood in the center of the pit.
His skin was burned and he bled heavily, but his posture remained perfect.
THUD.
He rested the heavy spear against the dirt.
"..."
"..."
The fighting pit fell entirely silent.
Up on the viewing deck, Zenin Kenzo stood up.
"...Combat mastery wins," Kenzo stated calmly.
Sip.
Zenin Naoki took another sip of his tea, "...Zenin Shingen is the heir and the next clan head."
--<>--
Location: Branch Dojo
Time: 08:00 AM
The morning sun hit the wooden floorboards of the dojo.
The children were already kneeling on the tatami mats in perfect seiza.
Hanzo walked through the sliding doors.
He didn't go to his usual spot in the back row.
He walked directly toward the front of the room.
Shigeru stood near the chalkboard. He tapped his bamboo stick against his leg.
TAP. TAP.
"...Take your seat, Hanzo," Shigeru grunted.
Hanzo stopped two feet away from the scarred teacher.
"...I need to report something, sensei," Hanzo said quietly.
Shigeru narrowed his single eye.
"What is it?" Shigeru asked.
Hanzo held out his right hand.
He focused on the heavy feeling in his stomach. And pushed the raw energy up into his knuckles.
BZZT.
A thin, dark blue aura sparked across his small fingers.
"..."
"..."
The entire dojo went completely silent.
Ren dropped his wooden training sword onto the mat.
CLATTER.
"...What is he doing," Ren whispered. His mouth hung wide open. "Could Hanzo awakened cursed energy?"
Daiki leaned forward in the second row. His eyes were wide with jealousy.
"... Although we can't see it but sensei told us to approach him if we awakened cursed energy... But he is only four," Daiki muttered. "...I turn six next month and I still don't have it."
Yumi stared blankly at the Hanzo's fist but she couldn't see anything.
Loud whispers broke out across the kneeling children.
Shigeru slammed his bamboo stick against the floorboards.
WHACK.
"Silence!" Shigeru barked.
The children instantly closed their mouths and straightened their backs.
Shigeru looked back down at Hanzo's hand.
The strict, terrifying Grade 2 sorcerer didn't smile.
But the muscles around his scarred cheek twitched. He was genuinely pleased.
'He values results,' Hanzo thought.
"...You woke it up early," Shigeru said. His voice was slightly lower than usual.
Hanzo let the energy fade away into the air.
FSSSH.
"...Yes, sensei," Hanzo replied.
Shigeru turned around and grabbed a small wooden token from his desk.
"...You are done here," Shigeru announced.
He tossed the wooden token to Hanzo.
CATCH.
"...Grab your sandals," Shigeru ordered. "...You are moving to the upper courtyard."
Hanzo bowed deeply.
"Thank you, sensei," Hanzo said.
He turned and walked back toward the entrance.
Ren gave him a quick, envious thumbs-up as he passed.
Hanzo smiled back and slipped his wooden sandals on.
--<>--
Location: Advanced Branch Training Grounds
Time: 08:15 AM
Shigeru led Hanzo up a steep dirt path behind the main dojo.
They reached a large, open courtyard enclosed by high stone walls.
Loud shouts and the sound of cracking wood echoed through the air.
CRACK.
Hanzo stepped through the open wooden gate.
About fifteen older children stood in the yard.
They looked to be between six and ten years old.
They weren't just swinging normal wooden swords.
They were coating their weapons in raw cursed energy and smashing them against thick stone pillars.
A tall, lean man with graying hair walked between them.
He was Kamo Juzo. He was a grade 1 instructor who specialized in energy manipulation.
He smoked a thin wooden pipe.
PUFF.
Juzo blew a cloud of gray smoke into the air. He looked toward the gate.
Shigeru walked forward and pushed Hanzo gently by the shoulder.
"...I brought you a new one," Shigeru grunted.
Juzo pulled the pipe from his mouth. He looked down at Hanzo.
"...He is tiny," Juzo noted. "...Barely out of diapers."
Hanzo looked up at the older instructor.
"I awakened my energy last night, sensei," Hanzo said respectfully.
Juzo raised an eyebrow. He tapped the bowl of his pipe against his palm.
"...Show me," Juzo demanded.
Hanzo clenched his fist. He pulled the heavy static from his gut instantly.
The dark blue energy flared across his hand. It was much thicker than before.
Juzo stared at the blue light. A slow smirk crossed his tired face.
"...Good," Juzo said. "...Put it away."
Hanzo opened his hand and dropped the energy.
Shigeru gave Juzo a stiff nod.
He turned and walked back down the dirt path without another word.
Juzo pointed the stem of his pipe toward the far wall.
"...Grab a heavy wooden sword from the rack," Juzo ordered.
Hanzo walked over to the weapon rack. He picked up a bokken.
It was much heavier than the ones in the beginner class.
He carried it back to Juzo.
"...The basic class taught you how to endure pain," Juzo explained casually.
Juzo took a long drag from his pipe.
"...Here, we teach you how to inflict it," Juzo finished. "...Coat the blade and hit the stone."
Hanzo gripped the heavy wooden handle.
He looked around at the older kids channeling their energy.
He was finally playing with the big kids.
'This is where the real work starts.'
Hanzo pushed the dark blue energy into the wood and walked toward the stone pillar.
'Before I know what my innate technique is... I still needed to learn the basics.'