the next day...
Satoru Gojo:steps back, eyes gleaming with excitement Alright, y/n… that tiny spark was good yesterday, but now let's try a controlled blast. Nothing too big – I don't want to decorate my domain today.
y/n:gulps, eyes wide O-okay… I'll try… but you shouldn't drag me here direct from school.
Satoru Gojo:crosses arms, grinning Relax. Ok now focus here. The energy flows through you, not against you. Picture it leaving your body like a gentle wave… not a hammer smashing through.
y/n:closes eyes, concentrating Like a wave… not a hammer…
Her mark glows faintly. A soft pulse of energy radiates from her chest, swirling outward in a shimmering orb.
Satoru Gojo:claps lightly, impressed Good! That's exactly it – see how it flows naturally? Now… release it toward that training target. points to a floating sphere made of cursed energy
y/n:nods, takes a deep breath Here goes…
The orb pulses, then shoots a controlled beam toward the target. It hits perfectly, causing the sphere to shiver but not explode.
Satoru Gojo:grinning, hands on hips Boom! Nailed it. That's precision, not chaos. I'm impressed – you're a natural.
y/n:panting, cheeks flushed I… I did it… without hurting myself?
Satoru Gojo:kneels beside her, teasing softly Of course. And don't look so surprised – you have my kind of talent. Raw power, just waiting for control.
y/n:blushes, shyly But… controlling it feels… strange. Like it's alive…
Satoru Gojo:smirks Good. That's exactly how it should feel. The Tenchu mark responds to your will. Treat it like a partner, not a tool.
y/n:nods, closing her eyes again A partner… okay… I think I can do this.
Satoru Gojo:stands, steps back, arms crossed Alright then. Next step: mobility practice. Blast small pulses while moving. We need to see how your mark behaves under stress.
y/n:gulps nervously Under stress…?
Satoru Gojo:grinning, teasing Don't worry – I'll catch you if you explode. Maybe.
He laughs, then disappears with a flicker of cursed energy, reappearing behind her instantly.
y/n:jumps, startled S-Sensei!?
Satoru Gojo:grins You called me Satoru now, remember? And yes – that's exactly the kind of reflex we're training.
She steadies herself, mark glowing faintly. Tentatively, she moves forward, releasing controlled pulses at floating targets, each pulse sharper and more precise.
Satoru Gojo:clapping lightly, eyes sparkling That's it! Look at you, y/n – moving, blasting, controlling. You're getting stronger with every step.
y/n:panting, exhilarated I… I never thought I'd… feel this… powerful…
Satoru Gojo:smiling softly, serious for a moment Power is nothing without control, y/n. And you're learning that faster than anyone I've trained. Soon, Mahoraga or any curse won't stand a chance.
y/n:eyes widen, determination flickering I… I won't let him hurt anyone… not ever again.
Satoru Gojo:grins widely, placing a hand on her shoulder That's my student. Now, ready for a little challenge? A test to see how well your Tenchu mark responds under pressure…
y/n:nods firmly I'm ready, Satoru.
Satoru Gojo:laughs low, mischievously Good. Let's turn this training up a notch…
Satoru Gojo:steps back, arms crossed, smirking Alright, y/n… now it gets interesting. I'm activating moving cursed targets. Your goal: hit all of them without overusing your energy.
y/n:gulps, mark glowing faintly M-moving targets…?
Satoru Gojo:grins, voice teasing Don't worry, I won't throw a fireball at you. Yet.
Several small spheres of cursed energy begin floating around, darting unpredictably.
y/n:eyes widen, taking a deep breath Okay… stay calm… control the flow…
She releases a pulse at the nearest sphere. It wavers, then stabilizes, glowing brighter where her energy hit.
Satoru Gojo:clapping lightly, impressed Not bad! That's one down. Now track the others. Remember – focus, don't force. Let the mark respond naturally.
y/n:nods, heart pounding Got it…
The spheres start moving faster. She steps, dodges instinctively, and releases another pulse. The mark hums with energy, guiding her movements.
Satoru Gojo:appears behind her suddenly, voice low Don't forget – mobility counts too. Your mark should flow with your body.
y/n:jumps, startled, then grins nervously I… I can do this…
She continues moving, releasing smaller pulses, the mark glowing steadily. One sphere drifts too far—she hesitates, then focuses, releasing a perfect, controlled blast that hits dead center.
Satoru Gojo:laughs softly, impressed Whoa! That was perfect! Look at you, y/n… tracking, dodging, controlling. You're improving faster than I expected.
y/n:panting, exhilarated It… it feels amazing… like I'm actually… in sync with it…
Satoru Gojo:kneels beside her, smiling warmly Exactly. That's the key. The Tenchu mark responds to your intent, your focus. As long as your mind stays calm, your energy stays under control.
y/n:determined I… I won't let Mahoraga or any curse hurt anyone again. Not ever.
Satoru Gojo:grins widely, placing a hand on her shoulder That's my student. Now… one last test. Let's see how you handle simultaneous targets.
y/n:gulping, mark glowing brighter Simultaneous… targets…?
laughs low, teasing Relax. I'll be here if you need a soft landing. But I expect focus, control… and a little flair.
The cursed spheres multiply, moving in erratic patterns. y/n steadies herself, breathing deeply, and the Tenchu mark pulses in perfect rhythm with her heart. She releases controlled blasts one after another, each striking its target with precision, dodging and moving naturally.
Satoru Gojo:clapping, eyes sparkling Yes! That's it! steps back, grinning proudly
y/n:relieved, mark dimming slightly as she exhales It's… gone… I… I can't believe I actually… handled it.
Satoru Gojo:standing, eyes gleaming Handled it? You dominated it. And that, y/n, is just the beginning. Soon, you'll face challenges even stronger. But with this Tenchu mark… you'll be ready.
y/n:looking at him, determination in her eyes I… I want to get stronger… I'll master this mark… no matter what it takes.
Satoru Gojo:smirks, placing a hand on her shoulder That's my student. Now… how about we celebrate surviving your first challenge with some ramen?
y/n: laughs softly, flushed from adrenaline Yeah… ramen sounds perfect.
Satoru Gojo:laughs low, teasing Of course. Nothing like a little victory meal after defeating a cursed spirit.
They head off, the faint glow of y/n's Tenchu mark still pulsing gently, a sign of the power she's beginning to master.
As she moved further, she felt her feet numb, she stumbled... the effect of adrenaline has wore off.
Satoru Gojo:swiftly catches her, concern flashing across his facey/n! – too much power at once. You fainted because your body isn't used to this much cursed energy yet.
y/n drifts, unconscious, mark dimming slightly
Satoru Gojo:mutters softly, lifting her gentlyNot a problem. We'll get you stabilized. First challenge complete… now it's recovery time.
He activates a faint glow from his Infinity Void, channeling healing energy into her. Within moments, her breathing steadies, her color returns, but she remains unconscious.
Satoru Gojo:lays her gently on a nearby safe spotGood. Lesson learned: power without endurance is dangerous. Tenchu mark's incredible, yes, but it must be trained gradually.
He mutters to himself, a mix of amusement and admirationStill… she handled it perfectly, even if she passed out. My student… already impressive.