In a few moments, Genzō’s eyes opened.

—Is it morning already?—

He turned off the alarm and remained seated at the edge of the bed, motionless, while his mind tried to grasp something that was already fading away.

«How strange… it feels like I dreamed about something far away…»

He got up and left the room shortly after.

A burning smell was coming from the kitchen.

«Damn!»

Kaito was wrestling with the pan, trying uselessly to avoid disaster.

«How many times have I told you?» Genzō immediately turned off the heat.

«Low flame. And stir the meat.» he scolded him in a dry tone.

«I did that, you know!» Kaito protested.

«Then how do you explain all this smoke?» Genzō planted his hands on his hips.

Kaito did not answer.

He took a plate and placed the charred meat on it.

«I like it this way…» he muttered, more to convince himself than the other man.

A little later, they found themselves seated at the table, in silence, sharing the last meal of the morning.

«Kaito…» Genzō said at last.

«It’s been almost a month since you arrived.»

«I’d say that, with your current abilities, you’ll be able to save your friend.»

He gave him a faint smile.

«That’s what I intend to do.»

His grip on the fork tightened.

«She… thinks I’m dead…»

He thought back to what had happened at Tenshō Tower.

«Genzō… I’m going to get her out of there.»

He took a bite.

«Even if it means making the entire Reikeitai our enemy.»

Genzō could not help but notice a certain resemblance to himself.

It did not take long before the two found themselves outside the house.

The patch of forest used for training had been completely devastated.

«Damn… maybe we went a little overboard.»

The old man scratched his head.

Meanwhile, Kaito moved a few meters away.

«Shall we begin?»

He gripped the only wakizashi he had left.

Genzō’s shadow stirred.

«Good, kid… last training session.»

Behind him, Kokuen took shape.

A gust of wind rose.

Then the two vanished.

Kaito and Genzō exchanged a rapid series of blows.

With a diagonal somersault, the boy’s blade sliced the opponent’s arm.

«Watch yourself!»

A tentacle of smoke struck Kaito.

The blade had softened the impact.

—Not bad, kid—

Genzō gave a faint smile.

Having landed on the ground, Kaito did not hesitate: in an instant he hurled the weapon at his target.

Genzō moved only a few centimeters.

The wakizashi sank into the ground.

The old man was still turning his gaze.

Kaito was already ready.

«Spiritual Block!»

A powerful strike hit the enemy’s abdomen.

Genzō was sent flying backward.

Kokuen’s bodily form grew fainter.

—Good… I hit the spiritual flow!—

Kaito advanced again.

A few meters from his master, everything around him suddenly turned dark.

«Smoke Cage.»

Kaito found himself trapped in the darkness.

«You did well, but…»

Genzō charged his attack.

«Now it’s my turn.»

«Spiritual Block!»

Just like a moment earlier, Kaito too was struck by that devastating force.

In no time, with only a trickle of blood, he got back on his feet.

«You’ve gotten sturdier. I still remember the first time we met.»

He could not help but smile.

«Back then, a single blow, and without Kokuen too, had knocked you flat.»

Kaito began to approach.

His figure now seemed almost imposing.

«Now you’re really starting to entertain me.»

Genzō prepared himself.

A wave of smoke spread through the area.

Kaito shot toward him.

«Take this!»

Genzō drew back a fist saturated with spiritual energy.

But, against all expectations…

Kaito touched his arm, using it as a foothold, and vaulted completely over him.

«Spiritual Block!»

The boy’s strike was about to hit his shoulders.

Genzō jumped upward.

«Spiritual Block!»

Kaito raised his head.

«Fine then!»

The two attacks were about to collide.

In the end, they both ended up on the ground.

They remained silent for a few seconds.

«Listen, Kaito…»

Genzō began, staring at the sky.

«Do me a favor. When you go to Yorigakure… be careful.»

Kaito was left stunned by those words.

He started to get up.

«You’re really strong. But I don’t want to see you dead.»

Genzō sat down.

«You’re still young. You still have so many things left to discover.»

He did not add anything else.

The two returned toward the house in silence.

The moment had come.

«Yorigakure is far away. On foot it would take you several days.»

They reached the back of the house.

«I’ll give you this.»

Genzō lifted a tarpaulin covering a shed.

Underneath it was a car, a little old…

but still undeniably beautiful.

«Take it.»

He tossed him the keys.

They found themselves facing one another.

«Well then… it’s time for farewells,» the man said.

«Genzō… there’s a problem.»

Kaito looked at the car.

The old man looked at him, puzzled.

«I’ve never driven.»

Genzō was left speechless.

«Are you kidding me?!»

He raised his voice.

«I was ready to just say goodbye and that’s it!»

He sighed.

«Come on… get in. I’ll teach you the basics.»

He turned his back on him and, without even knowing why himself, smiled.

About two hours passed.

Two hours in which Kaito seriously risked destroying the car.

But in the end, he seemed to have understood.

«I’d say now we can really say goodbye,» Genzō said, seated beside the boy.

«Yeah…»

«Did you take everything you need?» he asked.

«Yes… listen, Genzō…»

Kaito’s tone changed.

«Thank you. If it hadn’t been for you, I never would have been able to keep my promise.»

Genzō gave a faint smile.

«Since when are you so sentimental?»

He teased him lightly.

«Since we’re in the mood for sweetness… I have something for you.»

He got out of the car with him.

Genzō opened the trunk, took out a small backpack, and handed it to him.

«What’s inside?»

«Check.»

He leaned against the car.

Inside there was a set of clothes.

But not only that.

«Genzō… are you sure?»

Kaito pulled out an old scarf.

«If she were still here, she’d give it to you.»

He lowered his gaze.

«For what it’s worth…»

He fixed his eyes on his master.

«I’m sure… Aoi would be proud of the person you’ve become.»

Those words stunned Genzō.

«I would have liked to meet her.»

Kaito did not add anything else and sat back down in the car.

—That kid…—

Genzō approached the window.

«Kaito… you told me your story.

So, once you get Yume back… think about what I told you.»

«I will. Thank you for everything.»

Kaito started the engine.

Then he drove away.

The old man watched him go.

«Damn… I’m going to miss that idiot.»

He turned toward the house.

Something slid from his eye.

In the end, the two had gone their separate ways.

Please follow my story to see what happens next.