Chapter 35
Asakawa Naoki had no idea how long he had been asleep. When he woke up, all the injuries he had suffered from the burning flames had completely disappeared. There was no trace of the pain that had once tormented him, and his body felt unusually light. The only lingering evidence of the fire's intensity was the warm sensation near his heart, reminding him of its power.
He quickly tested his mana and was astonished by the results. It flowed smoothly through his body, almost 50% faster than before. Asakawa Naoki couldn't help but grin. He hadn't expected such a profound effect from the fire.
"Could this be because of the Essence Fire?" he mused, trying to make sense of the situation.
His initial fear that the fire had destroyed his meridians quickly turned to realization. Instead of harm, the Essence Fire had healed and strengthened his energy pathways. The meridians had not only remained intact, but the fire had also expanded and reinforced them, allowing his mana to circulate more swiftly.
"It seems I was too quick to judge the Samadhi True Fire," he muttered. "It really is a marvel created by a great cultivator. No wonder it's said to be so powerful."
The thought of testing the Essence Fire in a more open area excited him. Now that he had successfully ignited the fire, his sword techniques would be complemented by the Samadhi True Fire, adding another powerful tool to his arsenal.
But as he stood there, lost in thought, he noticed something else.
"What time is it?" Asakawa Naoki wondered aloud, pulling himself from his musings.
He opened the window, allowing the morning sunlight to spill in. The air outside was cool and crisp, a refreshing change after the heat of his inner training. It was bright, signaling the start of a new day, but was it Sunday or Monday?
Naoki had started his retreat on Saturday, expecting to break through to the late stage of refining essence into qi in two days. He had made more progress than anticipated, igniting the Essence Fire and experiencing a surge in power. However, he hadn't expected to sleep for such a long time. The lingering sense of energy depletion made him wonder exactly how much time had passed.
"I must have slept for a full day... so it's probably Monday morning," he reasoned.
Realizing the time, panic struck. He was late! The graduation examination for the ninja school was today, and if he didn't hurry, he would miss it. At other times, being late wouldn't be a big deal, but today was different. Today was important.
Naoki quickly packed his belongings, not wanting to waste any more time. After all, this was his final test. The graduation exam for all the students of the ninja school. He had to pass with flying colors. There was no room for failure.
Hastily opening the door, he was greeted by a familiar face. Uchiha Mikoto stood in front of him, dressed in black and looking as graceful as ever. Her long hair, now flowing down to her waist, added to her striking appearance. In just two years, she had matured into a beautiful young girl, and her presence alone could captivate any room. The growth of the Uchiha clan's bloodline was apparent in Mikoto's features—already, she possessed the kind of beauty that would only intensify with age.
"Naoki-kun, you didn't lose sleep over today's test, did you?" Mikoto asked, a small smile on her face as she glanced up at him.
Naoki, a little caught off guard by the calmness in her voice, shook his head with a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, Mikoto. I haven't been nervous about the exam. I just didn't sleep well last night."
"I'm sorry for making you wait," he added, feeling a pang of guilt.
Mikoto waved it off. "It's okay, I just arrived. But we need to hurry, or we'll be late."
"I know," Naoki said. "But I think if we rush now, we'll still be late. Let's not waste time. I'll carry you to school."
Mikoto looked at him, momentarily unsure, but her hesitation faded quickly as she nodded and climbed onto his back. Her arms wrapped around his neck, and she settled against him. There was no fear in her actions; she trusted him implicitly.
"Are you sure this is okay?" she asked softly, her voice laced with concern for his well-being.
Naoki chuckled, the sound warm and comforting. "Don't worry. I've got you."
With Mikoto securely on his back, Asakawa Naoki bent down slightly, adjusting his grip to make sure she was comfortable. Although Mikoto had grown considerably, standing at 1.5 meters tall, her weight was still light—only about 70 kilograms. The moment Mikoto was settled, Naoki surged into motion.
In the blink of an eye, he was dozens of meters away, his speed almost blurring as he raced toward their destination. Though his speed wasn't quite the same as teleporting, it was certainly faster than most ninja techniques. Thanks to the strengthening effects of the Samadhi True Fire, his body was far more powerful, enhancing his speed and agility without even using his sword control technique.
As he sprinted through the streets, he was acutely aware of Mikoto's presence on his back. He adjusted his body position to make sure she was comfortable, taking care to minimize any jarring motions.
Meanwhile, Mikoto, despite the fast pace, felt a strange sense of tranquility. The wind rushed past her, and her mind seemed to clear. She didn't need to worry about anything. For the moment, all she needed to do was stay behind Naoki and let him take care of the rest.
As she felt the steady rhythm of Naoki's movements, she couldn't help but think to herself: I wish this time could last a little longer.
She had known Naoki for almost two years now, and their bond had only grown stronger with time. They attended school together almost every day, and yet, it always felt too short. Graduation was fast approaching, and with it, the inevitable separation.
Maybe if we were assigned to the same group… Mikoto thought, though she knew that even if that happened, their time together would eventually end. Naoki had already applied for early graduation, and it seemed that her own future was already mapped out for her as well.
"Have you eaten yet?" Asakawa Naoki's voice interrupted her thoughts.
Mikoto blinked, caught off guard by the question. "Not yet, but it's fine. I can skip breakfast."
Naoki immediately frowned. "You can't skip breakfast, especially not today of all days. We have an exam coming up. You need your energy."
Mikoto didn't argue. She knew he was right. And sure enough, Naoki steered them toward a breakfast shop.
"You can't go into the exam on an empty stomach," he said firmly.
Mikoto smiled softly, feeling a warmth in her chest. Even on such an important day, Naoki was always thinking about others, always looking out for her. She couldn't help but appreciate the little gestures that made him so dependable.
As they made their way to the shop, Mikoto silently hoped that, no matter what happened after graduation, these small moments would stay with her forever.
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