In a secluded part of Musutafu city, within the ruins of an old warehouse, the sound of clashing metal brought new life to the surroundings.
Sparks flew and faint grunts of effort accompanied the deadly clash between the combatants.
Terumi Mei executed a leg sweep that Tetsumaru avoided by jumping. He threw several shuriken at the kunoichi at point-blank range, but Mei pushed off with a single hand and got out of the way.
Giving her no time to readjust her stance, Tetsumaru darted toward her with a kunai in hand. He launched a strike at her throat, but it was intercepted by Mei's kunai.
Both struggled in place, sweat covering their bodies and limbs aching from the prolonged combat.
Mei broke the stalemate with a twist of her wrist that destabilized her other half. She spun on her foot and delivered a back kick to Tetsumaru's torso.
In retaliation, the shinobi slightly turned to the side, grabbing her leg while lifting his knee and striking Mei's thigh, which numbed her limb.
Skillfully, he swept her other foot, knocking Mei down and putting the kunai to her throat, ending this round with his victory.
—Tch, you're supposed to be a mage, Tetsumaru. Wasn't the Third Kazekage famous for Satetsu? How the hell are you so good at Taijutsu?— Mei complained as she pushed the kunai away with disdain.
Tetsumaru stepped away and helped her up.
—He was a Kage, Mei. Besides, he wasn't born with Satetsu. Before that, he had to practice and fight like any other shinobi— he replied softly, appeasing Mei's frustration.
Despite Mei's efforts, she only surpassed Tetsumaru in brute strength when chakra was involved. In terms of pure physical combat skill, Tetsumaru's incarnation was better.
Analyzing it, Mei nodded. Unlike her own incarnation, who was not weak by any means in terms of Taijutsu, Suna's Third lived in an era full of absolute monsters on the battlefield.
The original Terumi Mei was caught up in Kirigakure's internal war, but that was not the same as having to live in the era where the young Sannin, the Third Raikage, a young White Fang, and other heavyweights swept through the world.
Suna's Third lived through those times and managed to become Kazekage. Of course he had to know how to fight hand-to-hand.
—Hmph, but it's not fair. If only we could transmit our muscle memories to each other...— the kunoichi murmured.
Although they shared a strange bond and could communicate thoughts, feelings, and sensations, anything related to their Ninja instincts could not be transmitted.
Thus, for example, if Mei wished to share her chakra control for Boil Release, she would not be able to transmit the proper sensation, and Tetsumaru would never be able to replicate it.
Similarly, Tetsumaru could not teach Mei how to even sense magnetic fields. Was that a restriction from the God, or did they simply lack enough experience to communicate the way they did things with their chakra?
They were tempted to believe the second option. After all, they weren't real shinobi. They weren't instructed in Ninjutsu or anything, and everything they did was by instinct. The instinct of the Kages they embodied.
That thought had made them reflect on future potential. Without Ninjutsu, could they truly reach the power level of the original Kages?
At the same time, the Deity had told them they would have to learn to manage their power on their own. That meant their abilities weren't eternally sealed, but that they had to discover them. And they already knew what steps to follow for that, although they were annoyed that they realized this a little too late.
Mei was so lost in thought that she didn't notice Tetsumaru's expressionless face just millimeters from hers. She only reacted when he bit her cheek.
—W-What the hell!?— she exclaimed, wiping the mixture of drool and sweat from her face. —What's wrong with you, pervert!?
—Nothing, nothing. I just saw you in deep thought and wanted to distract you— he excused himself with a rare but faint smile.
—Hmph! Control yourself, Tetsumaru. If you keep this up, I'll report you to the police for harassment— Mei seriously threatened.
The shinobi's expression hardened for a second before he jumped on Mei and cornered her against the wall, holding her wrists above her head.
Her breath hitched and her cheeks flushed, but she didn't look away from her other half. The bond that united them pulsed as much as Tetsumaru's chest.
During the exam period, Mei had denied the boy any nighttime activity, which was killing him inside. This had lasted for almost two full weeks.
The reason? Because Mei had found out about the small drama between Midnight and Thirteen and was angry because the woman had invited her other half to her office, in private, just the two of them, to discuss interesting topics.
In the past, she would have licked her lips at the mere thought of that teacher/heroine, but now things were different. She didn't like the idea of her and Tetsumaru sharing a space alone and talking about such intimate things at all.
She would not allow it.
But to Tetsumaru's dismay, the punishment was for him. It was at that moment that all his doubts were cleared. Mei was already a real woman.
If she wasn't, why this irrationality?
—ACK!!— he groaned upon receiving a stomp on his toes. Mei was glaring at him.
—Stop thinking rude things— she threatened in a cold voice.
—But I didn't think it, nor did I say it through our link— he replied in a lower tone.
—My intuition warned me— she responded with a grimace.
Tetsumaru could only sigh and let Mei go. She scoffed, internally disappointed that the moment was ruined, but still maintained her disdainful attitude.
She couldn't back down. For some reason, she felt this was the right path, no matter how much it clashed with her mental logic.
After the Taijutsu training, both returned home. This time, they didn't find their adoptive parents and had to prepare dinner themselves.
Again, Mei prevented Tetsumaru from joining her in the shower, which left him somewhat unsatisfied, but he could only shrug in defeat and return to the kitchen.
Suddenly, his phone vibrated, and he checked the messages. Apparently, Mina was inviting them on a group outing tomorrow.
Tetsumaru considered the matter and came to a conclusion.
He couldn't continue treating Mei as an extension of himself. She wasn't a boy. In fact, over the years, Tetsumaru had become more delicate with Mei, gradually treating her like a girl.
But that wasn't enough now. Perhaps it was time to change his attitude, to stop seeing her as an extension of himself, but sexier and with a vagina.
Perhaps he should start treating her like his girlfriend?
At that moment, enlightenment struck Tetsumaru like lightning. Mei, whether she was aware of it or not, was acting like a wronged girlfriend, like a girl throwing a tantrum and expecting something.
An apology, a gesture from him.
Or a date.