The creek laughed first.
Ryuuto slammed his palm against the concrete pillar and barked, "Katie! You okay in there?"
Silence. For a heartbeat he imagined the worst — that the kid had been atomized into molecules and nothing human remained. Adrenaline went from zero to disaster-mode. He gathered chakra in his palm and carved into the cement with a spinning Rasengan, chipping the pillar away piece by piece.
Still nothing. No face. No hand. Just a hole.
Then — laughter. Clear, teasing, impossibly cheerful laughter from the stream.
Ryuuto tore toward the sound and nearly face-planted when he found Katie Dee standing waist-deep in the pool, dripping, grinning like she'd pulled off the best prank of her life. Water ran off her blonde hair. Her white dress clung thin and ridiculous — and yes, a certain shade of pink showed through. The sight made Ryuuto half furious, half relieved, and entirely flustered.
"Katie!" he snapped. "Do you have any idea what you put me through?"
"Knew you wouldn't let me die," she said, smirking. "I was just messing with you. Payback for the concrete trick."
"You merged yourself into a five-meter pillar of reinforced concrete and then popped out under the creek," Ryuuto said, trying for stern but landing on exasperated. "Do you know how that looks? You could've—"
"I can phase through stuff now." Katie shrugged, splashing water at him. "I can turn my molecules into… whatever and slip between them. You've been training me for days. I can control it. If you attack me, your attack goes right through. I'm basically invincible."
Ryuuto's mouth twitched. That kid was ridiculous. Dangerous. Brilliant.
"Good," he said finally. "Then let's see how invincible you really are."
Katie's grin widened. "Bring it on, Sensei."
Ryuuto didn't bother with theatrics. He summoned the executioner's broadsword from the summoning world — a heavy, black blade that hummed when it appeared — and pointed it at her like he meant business.
Katie clapped, excited. "Is this punishment time?"
"Training," Ryuuto corrected. "Big difference."
She dove, and the blade sliced through air and water with nothing to catch it. Katie surfaced, dripping and still smiling.
Ryuuto let out a long, pleased breath. She could phase a slash like that and come out unscathed — that meant she could survive fights that would ruin anyone else. His chest swelled the tiniest bit. That was the teacher in him, proud and dangerous.
But a teacher's work was never done. He wanted to punish her properly — for teasing, for the heart-attack he'd nearly had — and for making sure she never got cocky.
Ryuuto dropped the sword back into the summoning world and took a step back. He slammed both hands to the ground about fifteen meters away and pushed chakra into the earth. The pool and the surrounding soil rose like a classroom-sized block being lifted out of the ground. Katie's eyes widened.
"Earth Style — Core!" Ryuuto called.
The block shot into the air, dirt, water and all, forming a floating platform about four meters high. Panic flashed on Katie's face. She dove, pulled herself up, and clung to the edge of the soil island, breath coming fast.
Ryuuto smiled, half cruelly, half fondly. "Don't scare me again."
Katie pouted. "You tricked me!"
"You merged into a pillar and then hid in a creek. I think I'm allowed one prank in return." He crouched, watching her intently. "Now — admit you were wrong and do what I ask, and I'll let you down."
Katie glared, huffed like a sixteen-year-old should, and then, with mock resignation, asked, "What do you want me to do, teacher?"
Ryuuto's grin widened. He had plans. Dangerous, sharp, teacherly plans. This was how apprentices grew into threats the world wouldn't ignore. He'd push her until she matched the chaos that would come for them later — and he'd enjoy every second watching her rise.
"First," he said, "you stop teasing me like you're immortal. Second, you keep training. Third…" He paused, savoring the moment. "You make me proud."
Katie rolled her eyes but the color in her cheeks said she'd take that as a compliment. Ryuuto felt that familiar, slightly sick thrill — a student catching fire. It was the best sound in the world.
....
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