Death

Regretfully I was right about Saiga´s mother, it seems she had already passed, before my meeting with Hayato.

Mom told me he hadn`t mentioned anything since that was supposed to be our first meeting, and as sad as he was, he wanted me to see a happy father, not a sad one.

As I said before a good man.

Even after I asked mom if I could meet him, that wouldn´t happen at least until my eighth birthday, so two years after my triumph over mom.

._._._._._._._._._._.

My sixth and seventh years alive were uneventful.

Jujitsu practice and homeschooling, if mom refuses to go outside obviously, I would not be allowed to go to a school.

Two new things I learned about mom, one she´s smart, genius smart, and two, we are filthy rich.

I didn´t really realize but our house is gigantic, there is a forest, pool, and a garage larger than some houses I remember from my previous life.

Wait, I learned a third thing about mom she likes cars, specifically the ones in the sell body parts to afford them category.

Should keep that in mind for birthday presents.

The jujitsu practice continued, as usual, a little more advanced than before, mom says I was nearing high-class disciple in jujitsu, quite strong for a student, but I tried to not get overconfident, Chikage was a full-fledged high-class disciple at thirteen and that without the care mom is putting into me or my wish.

Next was my ki, and accessing ki is not easy, I would have struggled for years without my talent for understanding.

I seem to lean towards Sei ki, like mom, but also towards Dou ki, like dad, although the ki dad uses is a topic for another time.

And there are levels for the use of ki, great.

._._._._._._._._._._.

"Excellent Azuma, it seems you are indeed a little monster, being able to show Ki no Hatsudō at such a young age" Surprise and pride was what I felt from mom.

"What? The fuck is Ki no Hatsudō" Instant regret, if a goddess tells you, you have a colorful vocabulary you should pay attention to that.

"What did you just say, Azuma!" The anger mom was excluding was scary, to say the least.

So, I ran, like my life depended on it, it did.

I did not get far.

A couple of hours of trying to get my head out of my ass, and no, I am not speaking figurately if you`ve seen Handcock you know what I mean.

A lot of apologies, blaming dad for the word, told her I heard him once over the phone, sorry dad, but you are stronger than her, nothing will happen to you.

It did.

"So, what is Ki no Hatsudō?" I ask, somewhat scared for my life.

She glares at me and sighs.

"Ki no Hatsudō or invoking of ki is the ability to channel ki inwards into your attacks or martial arts, bettering them. While not hard for any disciple class, as a seven-year-old, you have exceeded my expectations."

"Thanks, mom" I enjoy the praise, one, being praised by your mother will always feel good and second, if said mother is one of the best in the world, well that's just the cherry on top.

"As with everything you have thought me, there must be levels to the technique, right?"

"Yes, the next level is Ki no Kaihō or release of ki, that how you extend your ki outwards, towards your opponent, increasing the damage of your attacks, and how I previously destroyed the rock with Dou ki."

Well, that explain things, it seems that the physical parameters in the world are not as high as I thought, while there are masters that exceed the norm, you could attribute those actions to the help of Ki no Kaihō.

"And which classes perform this?"

"High disciple, experts and masters, the last two have mastered the technique to the fullest."

This is the next goal, will ask mom more about it later.

"And the next?"

"This is a little tricky, Ki no Shōaku, holding of ki, is controlling ones ki inwards and outward, while also being able to redirect and pull the ki of others, some grandmasters and advance grandmasters can do it, but in a limited fashion, if you want more information on Ki no Shōaku you should ask your father, he is one of the only people that have completely mastered the technique."

Dam my parents really are a cheat.

Who needs systems if your parents are some of the most overpowered people in the world.

Am I right or am I right.

._._._._._._._._._._.

The rest of the year was spent training, finally reaching high disciple class, and starting to practice Ki release.

Fast as I have been in my training, I believe expert class will take me at least four years. And who knows how many more to reach master.

Don`t take Kenichi´s growth as the norm, his masters were different, and even though mom is stronger than most of Ryōzanpaku, his circumstances, drive, and threats were different.

Simply being the disciple of Ryōzanpaku put a target on his back, his life was in constant danger and he needed to grow fast.

Me on the other hand, while training and martial arts have grown on me I still enjoy life, I like to play like a normal kid, I enjoy reading, and I haven't had the chance to fight someone my level or at all. So big difference there.

._._._._._._._._._._.

Today is my eighth birthday, and it seems it is a family tradition for dad to enter through the front door, yelling, and destroying said door in the process.

"AZUMA! Happy birthday!" I hear what can only be dad in the living room.

We were in the garden, I was trying to coax a Kushinada style technique out of mom for my birthday present.

"Hayato! Do. Not. Shout. In. My. House. Is that clear!" I swear I hear him miss a step and fall.

I just hear a sheepish "Yes, sorry." From him.

They seem to be walking towards us.

Wait

They?

"Azuma, come meet your brother," A happy father says.

I turn around to see dad, and what can only be a teen Saiga standing in the garden entrance.

Jumping up and running towards them, ending standing in front of Saiga, observing my half-brother, him doing the same to me.

He looks thirteen, fit, blonde, not the same blond as me, mine is paler, his blond looks seem to come from his mother and not dad. Taller than me, at least 150 cm, a small smile on his face.

Time for introductions.

Dad was silent, observing us both observing each other with anticipation.

"Hello, I`m Azuma" I extend my hand towards him.

"Saiga" He takes my hand and shakes it, his small smile transforming into a full one.

The handshake takes a bit longer than it should and things start getting awkward, so as any other eight-year-old should.

I take my hand back, look towards dad.

"Hi dad, so… presents?" I expectantly extend my hand towards him.