Disciples 

After the small Ragnarök event, Ryōzanpaku members went back to the dojo. While a tired and injured Kenichi rested, the masters, including Azuma were in conversation.

The elder started "Yami has started to move."

Everybody had a degree of knowledge on Yami, thanks to Saiga they knew about its members and the disciple group.

Akisame was the next to talk, "They will target us, but more importantly they will target Kenichi, the title of the strongest disciple is too good to miss, every master would want their disciple to hold it."

"I just visited mom recently." As Azuma said that, he got the focus of everybody, continuing, "I also met Yami's disciple group, if I'm honest, the current Kenichi would stand no chance against them."

Seriousness filled the room, all the masters, silent and contemplating about this information, until Sakaki, interrupted, "So... the usual plan?"

When words left his mouth the rest got excited, light coming from their eyes, they all responded, "Yes!"

Hearing this Azuma and Shizuha just wanted to facepalm, they had a great understanding of Ryōzanpaku's members, and the plan was most probably something along, -let's just wait.-

Miu who was passing beside the room, got extremely worried about Kenichi, she also had a degree of understanding of Yami, and if they were going to target him, she also believed he will stand no chance.

By the next day, Kenichi, with a thoughtful Miu, left the dojo, heading for school.

Meanwhile, a sighing Azuma could be seen in the forest behind Ryōzanpaku, talking with an exited Kisara. In the end, he accepted her as a disciple, the decision came in two parts, one, Shigure was the one that recruited her, instantly gaining her points in favor, and second, she was the only one that had the slightest interest in taekwondo.

Finishing his thought Azuma told the girl, "Alright kid, let's start. Attack me."

Gaining her attention, Kisara differently than when Shigure asked the same, instantly attacked Azuma, starting with a simple sidekick, followed by a jumping axe kick.

Azuma just dodged, not telling his disciple anything, after a minute of Kisara trying everything in her arsenal and never hitting once, Azuma finally told her to stop. Walking to one of the multiple fallen trunks in the forest, Azuma sat down, signaling for Kisara to do the same.

Sitting on the floor in front of Azuma, Kisara waited patiently for him to start, something Azuma took notice of, the previous impatient and overconfident girl he had seen before nowhere in sight. Azuma asked her, "To you, in taekwondo, which is more important, strength or speed?"

Kisara took a moment to think about the question, finally answering, "Speed."

To Azuma this was not a right or wrong question, he mainly wanted to understand what his disciple focused on, "I see…." After a pause, Kisara was nervous, thinking that maybe she answered wrong. "I will be able to teach you, but I must warn you that my style focuses on both strength and speed, if you lack strength, then you will never squeeze the full potential of Renewal."

Astonished, Kisara did not understand what he said, how come without both she will not be able to use her sense's style to the fullest. Seeing her confusion, Azuma stood up, startling the girl, "Watch."

Focusing entirely on Azuma, Kisara watched in disbelief how her sensei sent a kick at a tree, or at least that's what she thought happened, as Azuma's kick was faster than what she could see, then adding to the surprise, the distant tree in front of Azuma fell, breaking in half. Her jaw almost hitting the floor, Kisara was speechless, hearing, "Do you get it? Strength and speed make Renewal what it is, there is way more to it, but it's too early to talk about the advanced stuff."

Kisara only absentmindedly nodded her head, her imagination going wild on the power her sensei wielded, and the fact that someday she may wield it as well. "What do I have to do?"

Azuma gave her a devilish smile, making Kisara sweat, this smile was filled with promises of pain and near-death experiences, "Follow me."

Going back to the dojo, Azuma headed to Akisame, Kisara following behind. Shouting outside of Akisame's room, "Oi Akisame, I need a favor."

After a few moments Akisame came out, Azuma noticed after a glance that the man was reading and drinking some tea.

Seeing Azuma and his new disciple Akisame nodded at both and asked, "What can I do for you, Azuma?"

Once again Azuma devilishly smiled, "Can I borrow one of those tort-training machines you got?"

Kisara noticed that slip of tongue, cold sweat filling her body, because she noticed Akisame had the same devilish smile, and both masters were looking at her.

Akisame coughed, suppressing the excitement of another subje-disciple to try his machines on. "Of course, Azuma, come follow me, I have a great deal of variety of... machines you can choose from."

Looking at Kisara, Azuma told her, "You can leave for today, by tomorrow I should have a training plan for you, get a good rest and relax... you'll need it."

Leaving with Akisame, Azuma left Kisara alone in the dojo, starting to regret her decision.

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

In school, Miu attacked Kenichi with all her strength, the boy not being able to protect himself in the slightest.

Miu wanted to make sure Kenichi understood that, yes, he was becoming stronger, but he, in no way, was the strongest disciple, a title was starting to get over his head.

As school ended, Kenichi headed to Ryōzanpaku alone, Miu had gymnastics practice. Returning more bruised than how he left, he encountered Kisara roaming the dojo, not knowing what to do.

Approaching the wandering girl, "Oh, Kisara-san, what are you doing here?"

Kisara was absentminded, still nervous about her future, noticing Kenichi, "Ah? Oh, well sensei told me that today was over, and tomorrow my training would start."

Kenichi was envious, training over this early? His life has been hell since he joined Ryōzanpaku, "I see, I wish you luck." After a small pause, he continued, "Do you know where Akisame-sensei is?"

Why would he wish her luck? Wishing to change subjects, Kisara quickly answered, "The man with the mustache? Not the short one?"

Kenichi nodded, having a small mental laugh at her description of Akisame.

Glad that she could get out of her thoughts, "Sure, follow me, he is with Azuma-sensei."

He noticed how Kisara addressed Azuma, happy for the girl to finally gotten her master, "Congratulations Kisara-san, I'm sure Azuma-san will be an excellent sensei."

Only nodding, Kisara led Kenichi to Akisame's room, as they got near they heard Akisame's proud voice, "This one helps building muscle strength, it borders exactly where muscle tissue can reform safely...This one helps with reaction time, if the user is slow, it electrocutes them…."

Hearing this Kisara wanted to run and Kenichi got goosebumps remembering previous 'training'. Even closer they heard Azuma, his voice filled with happiness, "I'll take them all."

This time Kisara did run, leaving Kenichi alone, she had led him to where he wanted. She will follow Azuma's advice and rest today, least her fear makes her run away from here.

Surprised by Kisara's tactical retreat, Kenichi gave her a small prayer, understanding exactly what she will suffer. Finally reaching the room, before he could knock, Azuma opened the door, not noticing Kenichi, he walked absentmindedly, thinking about Kisara's training and all the machines he just saw.

Being completely ignored, Kenichi entered Akisame's room, rushing towards him, with grieve, "Sensei, how strong am I?"

Having already noticed Kenichi, Akisame knew he wanted to ask something, as only for questions would he approach any of the masters from his own volition. Hearing his disciple question Akisame started to think about the answer. In his usually cryptic manner, he answered, "Kenichi, sometimes, having no answer, is the answer."

Confused, as usual, Kenichi thanked Akisame and left, wondering who he could talk with. Meanwhile, Akisame was forming a plan on how to teach Kenichi about his own strength. Sakaki may have a job soon, a couple of months have passed since the last one.

Azuma walked back home, one-fourth of his brain was thinking about Shigure, wishing to see her soon, the rest of his brainpower was focused on Kisara and her training regime.

He wanted to take a page out of Ryōzanpaku's book, let's traumatize the disciple so much, the katas and techniques are engraved on their mind.