Shimasai Island.

Takami is sitting in the middle of the forest while receiving teachings from his teacher Mr. Takeda. The forest is full of trees, plants, flowers, animals, and the soil is fertile. The weather is pleasant in the hot afternoon.

─ Listen, Takami. Use your instincts.

Still not understanding, the boy remained focused and tried to absorb as much information as possible from his words.

Mr. Takeda occupies Daymio's samurai charge in the army. It is one of the highest ranks in the military.

The unusual red hair, a black kimono, and his fiery sheathed katana make him look frightening. His appearance lives up to his patent. However, despite everything, he is very dedicated. With his teachings, Takami, with 12 years old, managed to become today what many samurai did not in years of life.

─ You need to feel your opponent without looking at him. Learning this is a requirement if you want to understand spiritual energy.

Despite respecting his teacher, Takami didn't like his words.

─ Why do I need this? - Takami said.

─ If it is to improve my dodge, I can already avoid your attacks without any problem.

He didn't just say for tantrum or outrage. Takami is a genius and manages to dodge his teacher's attacks.

─ You need to learn this if you want to become a samurai! - Takeda screamed in a brief moment of anger.

Becoming a samurai has been the wish of the prodigy boy since he was six years old. So even geniuses like him know when to open their minds to new possibilities.

─ So, what am I supposed to do? - Takami asks indignantly.

─ Close your eyes and feel your opponent.

“Only that? It would help if you talked more about it.”

When processing these thoughts about your teacher, he just quickly decides to do what his teacher says.

“Close my eyes and feel my opponent...” He thinks while closes his blue and piercing eyes slowly.

After a few seconds with nothing happening, Takami is confused about what he should do to feel his opponent. After all, the teacher was not so specific. Not even a genius would understand that.

─ What should I do now? I already closed my - While Takami do questions to clear up his doubts, his teacher quickly interrupted with a lunge of his sheathed Katana.

─ WHAT THE **** WAS THAT?

─ Hey, didn't I tell you to dodge? - Takeda says cynically.

─ NO, YOU DIDN'T!

─ Oh, I must have forgotten. But still, didn't I tell you to feel?

─ AAAH FORGET IT! - Takami screams while sulking.

─ I will tell you when I am going to attack. But you have to dodge it because you felt it. No, because I said when I would attack. - This time, Mr. Takeda was more serious than usual. It seems that this was enough to punish the boy for the previous offense.

Still sulking about what happened, Takami only agrees and keeps his eyes closed.

─ I will attack in three seconds.

─ 3... 2 - In seconds of seriousness, Takeda does not plan to go easy on the boy. He just thought one thing “You are a genius, so show me your natural skills.”

Upon hearing the count of seconds, the boy, with his extreme concentration, begins to reflect, “It is inevitable that I want to dodge at the last second. But it would not help me improve, so I need to know the difference between this second for the other seconds. What changes from 3 to 1?”

The sun's rays pass through the trees and invade the forest, illuminating only parts of the place. Wearing a kimono in the heat makes sweat drip and stick your black hair to your face. All this makes it difficult for him to concentrate, but it does not make him lose focus.

In that single second that remains until the attack, Takeda notices something in his student. The energy that emanated around his body was distorting the air. It was familiar to him, and it baffled him for thousandths. But that did not make him hesitate.

─ ...1 - Shouts the teacher when he throws a lunge with his sheathed Katana.

It was as planned. Takeda didn't take it easy and aimed it over his student's head.

For milliseconds, quick thoughts pop into Takami's mind. “What changes? I can not see. Do I have any way of knowing your position? If I could only know where he will attack. Wait...” At that moment, the boy thought about what Mr. Takeda said.

“You need to feel your opponent without looking at him." And finally, he can feel everything around him. Felt the leaves falling on the forest floor, felt the sun's rays on his skin, felt the presence of his clothes, he felt his body on the ground, felt the noise of the animals. Felt the atmosphere's presence. And more importantly, he felt the wind resistance in the Katana coming towards him quickly.

In that last second, Takami moved his face slightly to the left, avoiding the teacher's blow. It was an amazing dodge. An ordinary human could not do that. For Mr. Takeda, he just dodged. However, for Takami, it was an action made in just microseconds.

And then, seconds of silence are witnessed in the place, and this left Takeda speechless.

“I could say that he dodge because I said when I was going to attack. But that is not what happened.” Takeda thinks, surprised about what happened.

“Previously, clearly, it was spiritual energy! Did he use it unconsciously, even without mastering his senses? No, he is a prodigy. His senses are already naturally dominated. This boy...”

“...will be a monster!”

A samurai takes years of practice to be able to use spiritual energy. Mr. Takeda was surprised. "Damn it. I thought he was just a genius, but that is not true. This boy is a monster. I'm sure if he trained, he would be the most powerful. I am not surprised that they are concerned." Lost in thought that only he knows the meaning, Takeda decides to speed up Takami's training. It was the only thing he could do for the boy.

Then, after a minute of silence, Takami becomes uneasy. ─ Mr. Takeda, what happened? Did I do something wrong?

─ A-AH. No. That was incredible. - Takeda says awkwardly.

Those simple words were what a 12-year-old boy would most like to hear. A Daymio from the samurai army saying such words means a lot to Takami. ─ W-Was it incredible?

─ Yes, you are just now. You could feel it, right?

─ Hmm. Yes, I think I'm beginning to understand. - Says Takami thoughtfully.

─ Good. Let's continue. - Takeda was eager to be able to teach this genius new things. But for some reason, he was also in a hurry for that.

─ We are going to do the same thing, but on a more challenging level.

─ And how would that be? - Takami is confused in thought. "What would be more difficult than not being able to see your opponent?"

─ We will fight as we have always fought until now. However, you must have your eyes closed. - Takeda says with a mean smile.

Takami is thoughtful. “This is going to be difficult. I can barely dodge all attacks with his eyes open. I'm glad he will tell me when he attacks.”

─ Ah! And this time, I will not say when I will attack. It is better to prepare.

─ WHAT?! - Shouts Takami was surprised.

─ Did you think it would be easy? I said we were going to raise the level. You can already feel it, so don't complain.

─ Fine. Damn it -Says Takami crestfallen.

Takami slowly closes his eyes and is in a battle position. He did not have his katana, so he used martial arts for this type of training. With his guard up and without any gaps in his position, he is 100% focused.

─ Prepared?

─ Yea! May come.

With his immense concentration, Takami witnesses nostalgic moments. It was the same feeling as when he dodged his teacher's last attack. He could feel it. “I can see everything. My eyes are closed, but I can still see. It is amazing." He thought.

Once again, Takeda realizes that his student is emanating spiritual energy. And he doesn't intend to take it easy. With an incredible two-foot ******, he advances towards Takami.

"I see it!" He thinks when he quickly jumps himself backward, out of his teacher's reach.

─ Not bad, Takami, keep it up! - Takeda says as she strikes the boy several times.

When narrowly dodging all attacks, Takami thinks about how strong your mentor is. "He is strong. I can see, but I can barely dodge. I think he is worthy of his title.”

"DID HE DISAPPEAR??!" He thinks.

Yes. Takami could no longer feel his teacher's presence. "He ran-away? No, he wouldn't do that. So, did he jump? No, I would have felt the impulse to jump. What the hell is happening?" Amid confused thoughts, he doesn't know what to do and decides to open his eyes.

─ Don't open your eyes, idiot! - Takeda says as he strikes diagonally with his katana sheathed over the boy's head.

─AAAH! - Shouts Takami as he falls to the ground.

─ What was that? Did you use any technique to hide your presence? - Says Takami, confused.

─ Well, that kind of technology exists. But I didn't use any of that. - He responds.

─ So why couldn't I feel your presence?

─ You know, when you use spiritual energy, you emanate a certain type of Aura around your body. You were doing well, but you suddenly stopped using it. I just came over and hit you. ”

─ So it was my fault, damn it. It is more difficult than I thought. - Takami says, frustrated.

─ Of course, it is difficult! Don't underestimate the samurai, brat. - Takeda says proudly.

~Tch! If I had my eyes open, I would dodge.” He grumbles.

─ Come on! We have a lot ahead of us.

The boy was eager to master the technique, but following such strict training can be very difficult for a 12-year-old boy. "Without any rest?!" He thinks.

─ Yes, Mr. - Takami is motivated.

Takeda shows a slight smile from the corner of his mouth and continues with the teachings.

After that, hours pass on the spot.

─ I am surprised. You have mastered this technique in such a short time. - Takeda is proud.

─ Yexu! - With your face swollen and covered with wounds. Takami answers his teacher without being able to pronounce the words correctly. Despite being a genius, it seems that he was unable to avoid all of his teacher's attacks.

Suddenly Takeda gets serious again and catches the boy's attention.

─ Takami.

─ Yea? - He responds, curious and surprised.

─ You have talent even though you are so young.

─ Yeah... M-Really?! - Receiving so much praise leaves Takami embarrassed and surprised. But that makes him very happy.

─ I am sure you are ready. You already unconsciously emanate spiritual energy. But before I teach you how to control it. I need to know something.

─ What? - He responds, still confused.

─ Why do you want to become a samurai?

─ Why is this question? - Takami feels judged for Takeda's inconvenience.

─ Answer me. Is it because of your father?

─ This has nothing to do with my father! - Takami screams.

─ It is true that my father was a great Shogun of the samurai army. But I’m not doing it because he asked.

"..." Takeda pays attention while he is speechless.

─ Everyone thinks my dad makes me be a samurai just because he was too. But that is not true.

In his controversial words, Takami explains himself. ─ I said it has nothing to do with my father. But in fact, it has.

─ The truth is that I have always admired my father since I was six years old - Takami says when expressing smiles and expressions of admiration.

─ He is strong, skilled, intelligent, and kind. I want to become as cool a person as my father is. I want to be as good as he is. He complements.

─ That's just why! - The serious expression on Takami's face shows why he is so determined.

Takeda takes a corner smile. ─ Not bad. It's a good reason.

─ I'm sure it will be complicated for you going forward. The only thing I can do is teach you. - Takeda changes his expression easily and quickly becomes serious.

─ Is training that difficult? - Takami hesitates.

─ The training is difficult. That is a fact. But not only that. Being a samurai also means being aware that your hands will be stained with blood. - He answered.

─ You will kill. You will get hurt. You will see things on the battlefield that can be traumatizing. You can die at any time. And, of course, you will have to offer your life to the emperors. - He complements.

Upon hearing Takeda's words, Takami remains serious and determined without saying any word.

─ It looks like you are prepared.

─ Yes, I am aware, Mr. Takeda. - He Answered.

With smiles of pride, Takeda continues his teachings. ─ You must be wondering, 'why should I learn spiritual energy', right?

Takami is excited about his teacher's question. Is the moment he most expected. He wants to understand why the training was so hard. ─ Yea!

─ I said it was a requirement to become a samurai. It is not an exaggeration.

─ By controlling spiritual energy, you can use Katanas like this. - Takeda says as he unsheathes his Katana.

His Katana looks different from the others. The handhold is covered with white bandages. The blade and sheath are blood-colored metal that emits a glow when it strikes sunlight. Unlike the other Katanas, this one is wonderful and unique.

─ This is no ordinary Katana. Katanas like this are made with special ores. Before being forged into swords, ores were protected by spirits. ─ Spirits? - Takami asks.

─ Yes. When people die, our spirits are sent to the other world. However, if a person still has connections with this world after death, they will be wandering the earth.

─ Oh! This paranormal conversation is interesting. - He says excitedly.

─ It may be interesting, but that is not my point. Some of those spirits that still maintain a connection with our world have become protective spirits. They protect a place for some personal reason. - Takeda continues the explanation.

─ So, do any of these places contain the ores? - Takami asks.

─ Exactly! When the place that these spirits protect contains some ore. The spirit also incarnates in Katana with unimaginable power. - He complements.

Takeda tilts his body down slightly and leaves his scabbard on the floor, focusing only on his Katana. ─ This Katana was forged from Poudretteite ore.

─ Poudeteirete? - Takami tries to pronounce.

─ Poudretteite. It is a rare ore.

─ Cool! - He is impressed.

─ But not only that. This sword has Hi's spirit reincarnated in it. - Takeda flexes his knees. He spans from his left hand forward while placing his Katana under his armpits.

─ Thanks to that, I can do things like that. - Takeda goes to great lengths to stop surprising his student. Maintaining his posture, he quickly moves his katana upwards, giving off a blast of fire into the air. He was precise enough to make his attack go to heaven without burning the forest.

That was something that Takami had never seen in his life. What came out of his sword was not just any fire. This blast was like a great volcano spewing fire upwards. He, like anyone, would be impressed. But that was not all. Takami is also excited.

─ That was cool! How do I do that? - He says as he smiles a huge smile.

─ When you add spiritual energy to swords like this, you can communicate with the spirit within them. - Takeda explains.

─ Being able to control spiritual energy is a requirement, but I would say it is the easy part.

─ Easy?! - Screams Takami discredited.

─ Yes! - The tricky part is to tame the spirit that is within it. - He responds.

─ There are several spirits, and each has a unique and incredible power. But the most powerful katanas are incarnated with spirits who in their past life were also samurai. These are the most difficult to tame. - He complements.

─ And how do I manage to tame them? - Takami asks.

─ You will know when the time comes! - He responds.

─ Tch! Stingy. - Says the disappointed boy.

Takeda looks at Takami without saying any word. The boy is uneasy. However, the teacher continues to stare. He seemed lost in thought. It was like he was in another world.

─ What?! - Shouts Takami.

─ Nothing.

Mr. Takeda looked uneasy. “What is he thinking? He keeps staring at me all the time. That's a little scary.” Takami thinks.

─ Kid. Never abandon your companions. Regardless of everything, they will give you strength. - In moments of silence, Takeda starts repeating random things. Takami can't know what's going on in Takeda's mind. He suddenly becomes serious and speaks enigmatic things again.

─ Being a samurai is difficult. On your journey, you will find people who will help you. When that happens, keep them close to you and protect them.

─ Y-Yes. - Says Takami meaningless.

─ You will face many difficulties. So here's more information for you. - Takeda says.

─ Thanks! - He responds.

─ I said that you need to learn all your senses to use spiritual energy, but that is not true.

─ Not is true? - Takami feels cheated.

─ You only need hearing, sight, and smell. These three senses combined will cause you to use spiritual energy. - Takeda adds.

─ You have talent. A genius like I've never seen in my life.

Takeda's words again make Takami happy. "What is happening to this old man today? He is praising me too much." He thinks.

─ But what I said was not in vain. Mastering all the senses makes you a better samurai.

In continuing with his teachings, Takeda lists the senses and their uses.

─ Sight: The power of vision allows you to analyze an opponent and to predict his movements;

Hearing: The power of hearing allows you to hear everything around you. It is useful for getting rid of ambushes and also for ambushing;

Smell: Feel your opponents' smell allow you to track people and be difficult to be hunted;

Taste: With this, you will never be poisoned by food. Of course, you will not go hungry in a forest. Even if you have to eat insects, you will survive;

And finally. Touch: Keeps you alert when touched. You can avoid some problems with this.

Takami is impressed by his mentor's wisdom. ─ Amazing! - He says.

─ The first three are enough to invoke spiritual energy, but they are all critical. - Takeda says as he approaches Takami.

He rests his hand on his student's head. His fingers intertwine with the boy's medium black hair. ─ Take care of improving all of them. - Takeda closes his eyes and smiles.

Again Takeda is suddenly serious. It seems to be a craze for him. “The sun is going to set. Should I go then?” He thinks when looking at the orange sky.

─ Takami, it's getting dark. I'm late for an appointment. I need to go, but don't leave here until you have mastered the 'touch'. - He says.

─ Hey, wait. - Before he even finishes his words, Takami realizes that Mr. Takeda is no longer at the scene. It's like he's here a second, and in milliseconds later, he disappears. "I couldn't even see where he went. That bastard, was he taking it easy on training? Damn it.” The boy thinks when he sees that the teacher is much superior to what he imagined.

"Wait, am I going to have to stay here until I learn to master touch?" Takami thinks and immediately shouts. ─ Damn it!

A few hours later.

Taking light and quick steps through the forest. Takami runs to your home in the middle of the night. “Damn it! I got lost in time. I was wondering how to learning touch. I didn't even see time go by. And I've not progressed.” Takami thinks while he runs in Zigzag as he dodges the forest trees. “And that shitty teacher told me not to return until I learn it. Shouldn't he teach me? Damn it."

“I wasn't going to stay there until I learn it. Ahhh! I want to take a shower and sleep."

It was dawn, and he was tired of his hard training. But as he moved by the forest, Takami was lost in thought with a happy expression on his face. “I want to tell my dad what I learned today. I'm sure he'll be surprised."

Everything is going well. Takami is happy with his progress, content with his teacher and comfortable with his current life. He has a talent like no other and confronts his purpose as no one. He is committed and improves faster than anyone. But when Takami arrives at his home. It is as if everything he has lived up to now is a lie.

"What..." The boy froze without any reaction.

Takami cannot thinks, move, speak or understand what is going on. In his mind, the only one thing was going on is "What the hell is this?"

Before your eyes, a man is attacked in his heart with a Katana. On the small steps of his house, the body of a woman be cut in half. Blood was everywhere. The floor around it is disfigured. There are holes, is burning, and have smoke. It is as if a natural disaster has occurred at the place. But none of that was the reason he is paralyzed. Worst of all are those involved. The woman who is cut on that small staircase is his mother. The man who was being stabbed in the heart is his father. And the aggressor...

It's Mr. Takeda.

~ Is this a joke? If so, please stop. It's not funny. Takami mumbles while his father falls to the floor.

Without reacting to what happened. The boy still keeps paralyzed and fell sitting on the floor. His mind is disturbed, his body does not respond as it should, the tears flow uncontrollably down his face, and in moments of despair, some words escape him. ─ What is happening here? - He said. However, he can't control his voice. The noise that the embers produce when completely burning his house is louder than his voice.

While the boy is paralyzed. His father, former Shogun of the samurai army. The man that was known as the most powerful samurai. He was on the floor. Agonizing in pain after having his heart pierced. The pain is immense. He was dying and spitting blood on the floor.

With short movement, Takeda put your katana down. The floor is stained with a little blood that falls from your sword. ─ Hey! Mr. Minamoto. I expected more from a former samurai army general. Were you the most powerful? Bullshit. Takeda insults Takami's father by sketching an expression of superiority.

Then that the boy who could barely move, he can act. After all, his father was someone he deeply respected. Hearing these insults made Takami furious. ─ Shut up!

─ My father is much better than trash like you. How dare you hurt my family? - Takami wasn't sure what was going on. But the truth was one. Mr. Takeda was an enemy. His father is damaged, and his mother is dead. He acts calmly. But in fact, Takami is lost. He doesn't know what else to think. He doesn't know what else to do. He is simply in deep darkness.

Takeda perceives one presence. ─ Yoh! Takami? I told you not to come back anytime soon. What are you doing here?

“He'sacting like he hasn't done anything. Slag. How dare you? You came to my house. You eat our food. You drink our wine. You pretend to be my teacher. You bastard, I'm going to kill you.” Takami thought.

─ What is it? Are you speechless? Ah... It must be difficult to see your father like that, right? Don't worry! He will soon die. Just like I did with your mother. Takeda is different for Takami. Now it just looks like a common scum from this world.

─ Ta-Takami. R-Run. Please. You need... to survive. Those were Minamoto's last words.

Seeing his father on his deathbed made Takami out of the darkness and think again about living. Holding on to keep from crying, sadness on her face was evident. But Takami couldn't let the death of your family be in vain. Then, without looking back, he runs into the forest as quickly as possible. Running away is his only option.

─ DAMN IT! - Takami shouts, frustrated.

When Takami has your fifth step towards the forest, he sees a black figure after his. He instinctively turned back around.

─ What was that? - Says Takami meaningless.

─ Are you looking for me?

Takami couldn't explain what happened. He can barely see. But on his back is Mr. Takeda. “How fast was that? I couldn't even see it. Was he taking it easy on our training?”.  A flashback appears in his mind. "If it is to improve my dodge, I can already avoid his attacks without any problem." His earlier words made his current actions look ridiculous. "With no problem? Don't play with me. I can't even see his movements."

He is taking advantage of his position. Takeda unleashes an attack on the boy's neck. This time it was not an attack to attract attention. His Katana is unsheathed. He intended to kill the boy. Despite being weaker, Takami still has wild instincts. He can sense the current danger, slowly moves forward, and falls to the ground.

“Did he avoid a fatal attack? I was attacking from a blind spot... As expected of a monster.” Takeda thinks.

─ What is happening, genius? Can you dodge all my attacks without a problem, right? Ah! Of course, it must be because this time, I'm not fawning over you.

Takami knew it was ridiculous. He couldn't run. He couldn't fight. He couldn't do anything against Takeda. He is inferior in everything. What could he do? "Nothing. Can't I do anything? Dad. Sorry, I won't be able to survive.” Takami thinks while crying uncontrollably.

─ What a ridiculous expression on your face. Do you still call yourself a samurai? - Takeda says, disappointed.

─ I thought because you are the most powerful son, you would be a great samurai. But he wasn't the most powerful. Congratulations, you're like your dad - Takeda remains insulting Takami.

─ Or should I say you're like the your trash mother? Hmm. That sounds good. Congratulations. - Takeda smiles wickedly.

─ DON'T TALK AS IF YOU KNOW MY PARENTS, YOUR TRASH! - Takami yells as he gets up slowly.

While he gets up, Takami gathered a great deal of spiritual energy around his body. It's never happened in training before. Takeda had also never seen anything like that. It was uncontrolled energy, but the density was immense. An average person would not be able to breathe in the presence of this energy. "You bastard!" He thought.

─ I don't care for your reasons. You took everything from me. I only had one thing left... - Takami speaks calmly.

─ ...The will to kill you! - Takami returns to darkness. However, this time he has a clear purpose in mind. He is thirsty for blood, intends to do anything to kill the Takeda.

Takeda quickly propels himself backward. He does not know what is going on. Even though he is a boy, he does not intend to underestimate him.

“You're a monster, after all. But even if you emanates spiritual energy, you will not be able to hurt me. Because you don't tame one spirit.” Takeda calms down by bending his knees and raising his guard.

Takami continues to gather spiritual energy around his body, and this increases considerably. “Does he intend to continue to invoke energy? No, he doesn't know what he is doing. Instinct?" Takeda thinks.

─ What the hell?

Takeda has never seen this before. It wasn't just Takami's energy that was constantly increasing. In both hands of the boy, something materialized.

─ Katana? How? - Takeda was confused.

In Takami's hands were two katanas. He didn't unsheathe it. After all, he didn't even wield one katana. With his spiritual energy, he materialized them. It is not known how, but it did happen. ─ Hey, Mr. Takeda. I will not say when I go attack, so you should prepare. Takami says while smiling wickedly.

"He..." Takeda is surprised that Takami says the same words he said before.

Within seconds, a shadow appears on Takeda's back. ─ Hey. Are you looking for me?

Yes. Not even a Daymio from the samurai army could see this boy's movements. It was so fast that it left Takeda speechless. "Damn, I can't move," Takeda thinks when he sees that Takami is about to attack.

─ DIE! Takami screams as he attacks Takeda's chest.

─ What?I...- Takami realizes is slowly falling.

Strength alone was not enough. He is exhausted from his training. He must have spent his last energies moving behind Takeda.

Takami falls to the ground and is gradually losing his consciousness. “Damn, is this my end? Damn-Damn-Damn-Damn. Why? Daddy, why? Mommy, Why? Damn it. Sorry!"

─ You should have learned to master your senses. You would smell the smoke. And would also have noticed the soot in the forest. You would have arrived before. You and your father fighting together would have a chance to win. It is a pity. - Takeda says. ─ Well, let me clean up this mess. Takeda goes towards the bodies near the house.

"Frustrating. It's frustrating because it is true. I... I couldn't do anything.” Those were Takami's painful thoughts when he lost consciousness.