A Spar With The Demon Grandfather

Another chapter for you guys

Hope you enjoy :)

[1941 words]

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Chapter 3

A Spar With The Demon Grandfather

{2 weeks later}

After that day, I got a huge hangover that lasted a few days. It was painful for me but provided plenty of entertainment for my grandfather, much to my chagrin. To add insult to injury, he further increased my training, making me spend most of my day training.Today, apparently, was different. We were supposed to start my sharingan training and I was going to advance onto the next set of katas for iaijutsu.

We started my training as usual, with basic body training and practice of manipulating chakra through the leaf exercise. Once I had no chakra we went onto bukijutsu and shurikenjutsu training, and after that was gunbai training.

Apparently, gunbais barely had any katas due to their simplistic use, however due to this the skill ceiling for them was extremely high, causing a rapid decline for the use of this weapon with the only notable person to use it to be Madara Uchiha. My gunbai training consisted of training a defensive, evasive and offensive stance. Each stance could be used in any situation, but, they took a very particular use of muscles as you direct the enemies attacks onto specific points on the gunbai where the most wind chakra can be brought out of the wood used to create the gunbai.

(Author: I already have my hands full researching iaijutsu, I don't have enough time to do the same for gunbais so im going to keep it simple)

Each training regime was grueling but rewarding, as my skill with each was rising steadily with the only anomaly being my skill with iaijutsu.After we finished my normal training we finally moved onto my new training.

''Let's start with the new katas you're going to learn today since you haven't regenerated enough chakra to open the sharingan'' He said as he took out his bokuto.

''The reason you spent so long on the two basic stances was to familiarise your body with iaijutsus concise use of our muscles and to increase the power in your core. Now since it's been long enough, we will move onto the next 6 katas, applicable in both iai-goshi and tachi-ai katas''He said as he crouched down and tensed his body.

''The first kata is Morote Tsuki'' He demonstrated as his upper body's muscles contracted significantly more than his lower body, with most of his power going towards his chest. Once he was ready with his slow contractions, he immediately drew his bokuto and stabbed the air. The power behind the attack caused the dojo's doors to rattle excessively as a resounding boom came slowly after.

'' This kata is utilised as a way to stab your opponents, however, most find this kata extremely awkward as drawing your sword and stabbing isn't quite convenient, but, this drawback is made up for with the power that can be produced with this attack. This kata focuses the body's energy into your chest to produce this power, so make sure to store as much energy as possible there when executing it. Now onto the next kata'' He instructed as he once again crouched.

'' This kata is called kesa-giri, an upward slash that utilises the muscles in your abdomen and calves and redirects the energy built up in them to your thighs'' He said as his thighs visibly contracted and enlarged to their breaking point and drew his bokuto in an upward slash.

''The next kata is called sanpou-giri, it is a downward slash. Here we mainly contract our lower body and evenly distribute our energy through it. Once enough power has been built up, you release the power all at once'' He demonstrated with a quick downward slash.

''Our last offensive maneuver for today is called the So-Giri, a combination of all the offensive katas i've taught today, you first stab utilising all the muscles that i've demonstrated then continue on with an upward slash and then finish with a downward slash, all while you continuously move forward to pressure the enemy'' He said as he produced each kata in their specific stances.

''Now onto the next ones, we will first do the evasive kata called Shiho-Giri. This kata is a movement in which you can dodge in any direction and execute the momentum produced from that movement into your next attack, canceling any need to build up your power.'' He then sidestepped around me and lightly hit my head with his bokuto.

'' The last is a defensive kata called Soete-Giri. This stance is used to block your enemies sword by parrying their sword away to push them off balance and then we will perform a riposte through the utilisation of the excess energy you obtained from your enemies attack. Try attacking and you'll see how it works'' Doing as he said, I attacked using Morote-Tsuki. He blocked my attack and tilted his bokuto slightly to his right causing my body to move to the right. Using that opportunity he performed a light downward slash on my head.

''As you have seen, each movement in iaijutsu is always focused on being offensively efficient. Wasting a single movement may mean death in battle and that wasted movement is an insult to our ancestors who created this sword branch, so be sure to keep it in mind that the core of iaijutsu is being efficient, now repeat the katas I have shown in the iai-goshi stance and then we will repeat the same for tachi-ai''

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{1 hour later}

After going through each kata together, we moved onto sharingan practice.

''I hope you've been practising by yourself with the sharingan'' to which I replied with a nod

'' Good, now close your eyes and observe what occurs to your eyes when activate your sharingan''

I did as he said, and traced the path that my chakra took to my eyes and once my eyes touched my eyes, I, once again, saw the hidden energy present in my eyes, however, this time there was much more and it was much more active.

''I guess you saw the results of your training from the look on your face, as you've guessed consistently pushing our eyes to their limits increases that energy in our eyes, once the energy reaches a certain threshold your sharingan will evolve into two tomoe in which you will gain the ability to slightly predict your enemies future movements. The same will repeat with three tomoe, however, here you will gain the ability to copy an enemies techniques with the three tomoe sharingans ability to have eidetic memory. The alternative way to evolving your sharingan is to have a big enough emotional catalyst to skip these requirements. There are later stages to the sharingan but...I don't want you to experience the requirements to acquire those evolutions'' He said solemnly about the mangekyo.

'' From now on, your training regime will include sharingan training in which each spar we will have will be doubled, one without it and one with it'' he said with a savage smile on his lips, eliciting a groan from me.

''Now, onto our spars'' He said as he brought his bokuto out.

I readied my stance into a crouched stance, I built up my power and scanned him for any openings. I saw an opening on his right abdomen but it was too obvious so I immediately crossed it out as bait for me. While I was scanning, grandfather suddenly dashed at me and performed a downward slash that I countered with a Soete-Giri I just learned, however, despite my execution being perfect I didn't have enough power to hold the defensive maneuver long enough to counter attack. Seeing my struggle, he pulled back causing me to lose balance due to the excessive amount of power I put into my stance.

''Arata, don't distract yourself with one thing. Keep a clear mind and always stay observant to your surroundings. Only imbeciles will let you scan them while you're completely open''

Taking his advice in stride, I cleared my clouded mind and immediately performed a stab, specifically at his bokuto. If he doesn't have any openings, all I have to do is make one. My attack seemed to adjust his stance a bit, leaving a small opening for me to utilise. I quickly performed an upwards slash towards the opening at his right abdomen. Easily blocking my attempt, I continued attacking him with an onslaught of attacks, always taking advantage of any openings I managed to pry open in his tight stance. However, having enough, my grandfather easily dispersed my momentum with a fast stab to my side.

Buckling under the pain, I coughed out saliva that I seemed to have choked on, all the while, my grandfather emotionlessly stood by waiting for my return.

''Arata, another flaw you seem to have is that you always get caught up on your own momentum, discounting the fact that the enemy can easily break it when a slightest flaw appears in your stance''

Taking his words of wisdom to mind, I once again attacked, this time pushing away the rashness I had before. My attacks seemed sharper and my movements were gaining momentum again. Just like before, my grandfather suddenly attacked me, however, this time I used my momentum to my advantage and managed to perform a shiho-giri. Blocking my counter, my grandfather never gave me the chance to rest as he continued his attacks, each one aimed perfectly at any openings left in my stance. Blocking each of his attacks was grueling work as he purposefully adjusted his power to a point that would overwhelm me but not to the point it would immediately end the match.

My body cried in my pain, as I struggled to handle his raging attacks. His stance never left me the opportunity to counter attack so the only way to open his stance was to perform a soete-giri correctly. Resolving myself, I focused my mind to its breaking point as I executed the defensive stance to my best ability on my grandfather's upward slash. His slash pushed my muscles to their limits as I slightly tilted my sword to the side. The tilt gave me the chance to perform a riposte to his left pectoral; however, my riposte immediately turned out to be a mistake as it was bait that my grandfather had set for me from the beginning. Seizing his long awaited chance, my grandfather sent out a powerful downward slash to my shoulder that sent me rolling onto the ground in pain.

''Hahaha, very good Arata, the only reason I wasn't caught out by that attack was that I knew at your rate of progression you would be able to eventually use the defensive stance in battle. Next time, don't be baited so easily, still you gave me a good fight'' He said as his iconic grin adorned upon his face as he held out his hand towards me.Swallowing a sigh, I smiled at my grandfather's antics and clasped his hand as he pulled me back onto my feet again.

''Now go wash, I brought some mochi for you while I was out, so you can have it after dinner''

Mochi was all I needed to hear as I rushed to the bath to wash. Somehow, I gained a sweet tooth and now anytime my grandfather would want something from me he would bribe me with sweets. It was something that disgruntled me every time but my body would answer for me before my mind could register what happened.