Part:1
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It was a dark, cold and silent night in the village of Kyoto. As Leo gazed upon the lifeless body laying before him, a cold, crimson pool surrounding it, he recognized it as his father, Takeshi, sleeping in his own blood.
The 12-year-old Leo looked upon the scene in utter shock, the feeling of losing someone he had loved his entire life overwhelming him. With trembling hands, the young boy knelt beside the lifeless form, his eyes drawn to the unique white katana that had been driven into his father's skull. The tiger crest mark on the weapon's handle seemed to mock him, a cruel taunt from the unknown assailant who had taken his father's life.
Leo's gaze then shifted to the piece of paper lying beside the body, the same tiger crest stamped upon it. Picking it up, he felt a shiver run down his spine as he read the chilling Japanese kanji - "Death is coming." In that moment, the weight of his father's murder fully settled upon his young shoulders, and Leo knew that his life would never be the same.
Slowly, he rose to his feet, his eyes hardening with a determination that belied his tender years. "I will devote my entire life to revenge," he whispered, the words carrying a gravity that defied his age. "Even if it means a lifetime of suffering and death."
Part:2
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The five years passed, and now, at his grandfather's temple, Leo saw the true beauty of that place - the white, red, bold and black paint, the bright red rooftop, the diverse array of ancient Japanese markings and statues. But what captivated him most was what lay behind the temple's towering gates.
There, he witnessed a group of disciples, numbering around 30 to 40, undergoing a ruthless training regime. Some slept naked on nails, others walked on hot coals, and still more broke their fingers punching solid walls. This, he learned, was the Chensu awakening - a training that unlocks one's chi, or Chensu, granting power beyond human limits.
Once this training is complete, the disciples can then choose to specialize in one of the five Chensu arts - Force, Elements, Sword Style, Healing, or God Realm. As for Leo, despite five years of training here, he has yet to awaken his Chensu. But his grandfather, on the other hand, awakened his at the young age of 13, the youngest ever recorded.
His father and grandfather do not have a great history, and when his grandfather learned the details of his father's death, he was enraged, as if he knew something Leo did not. Whenever Leo tried to ask him about it, he simply tells him, "Boy! Focus on your training. I'll handle this matter myself."
The sun had barely crested the horizon when Leo rose from his futon, the familiar sounds of the temple's morning rituals stirring him from his restless sleep. As he made his way to the training grounds, the crisp morning air filled his lungs, and he felt a renewed sense of purpose coursing through his veins. All of a sudden, a young and athletic man surprisingly grabbed Leo from behind, saying happily, "How's it going, Leo boy?"
(Leo thought in his mind, "You're just a year older than me.") Leo then replied vaguely, saying, "Morning, Toji."
Toji, a young average man a year older than Leo with a slightly but average build and unique shiny silver hair, had joined the temple a year before Leo and was also training to awaken his Chensu. Toji then smiled, saying, "I see you are off for training as always."
Leo replied with a determined look on his face, saying, "Yeah, I just have to awaken my Chensu no matter what!"
Today, Leo decided, he would push himself to the brink, determined to finally awaken the Chensu that had eluded him for so long. The other disciples, their bodies adorned with the scars of their arduous training, looked at him with a grain of pity on their faces, seeing him as a talentless boy who was beneath them as he took his place among them.
Under the watchful and fearful gaze of his grandfather, Leo began the grueling regimen, his muscles burning with each strike against the unyielding stone walls. Suddenly, a group of people entered the temple. They were all wearing full black cloth with masks and a unique blend of white cloth crossed around their chests. They were all equipped with katanas with a bell and red rope on the handle. Leo looked as they were passing the training ground, heading towards the main temple where his grandfather was.
"I wonder what's going on with those guys,"
Toji's words barely registered with Leo as his focus remained fixed on the mysterious group entering the temple.
"I wonder what business those masked figures have with my grandfather,"
Leo muttered under his breath, his gaze unwavering from the ornate doors that had swallowed them up.
Toji quirked a brow, sensing the tension in his friend's demeanor.
"You seem troubled, Leo,"
he observed, placing a hand on the younger man's shoulder.
"Is everything alright?"
Leo forced a faint smile, the beads of sweat on his brow betraying his true emotions.
"It's nothing," he replied, the words coming out a bit too quickly. "I just...need to use the restroom. Excuse me."
Toji eyed him skeptically.
"What, number two's really got you sweating that bad, huh?"
he chuckled, shaking his head.
"Well, don't take too long, or you'll miss the rest of training."
With a nod, Leo slipped away, his steps quickening as he made his way towards the main temple, rather than the restrooms. Reaching the ornate window that overlooked the inner sanctum, he peered down, his heart pounding in his chest.
There, seated in a circle, were the mysterious masked figures, their hushed voices barely audible from his vantage point. And at the center of the group, his grandfather sat, his weathered features etched with a grave expression.
Leaning in closer, Leo strained to catch the words being spoken, his fingers gripping the windowsill with white-knuckled intensity. Whatever was transpiring below, he knew that it held the key to unraveling the mystery surrounding his father's death. With bated breath, he listened, determined to uncover the truth, no matter the cost.
The leader of the masked figures stepped forward, his imposing presence casting a shadow over the young Leo. "The time has come, my lord," he announced, his voice laced with a reverence that betrayed his true allegiance. "Everything is set."
Leo's grandfather nodded, a cold, calculating gleam in his eyes. "Good," he replied, his tone dripping with malice. "Very soon, I will exact my revenge on that cursed family." His gaze then shifted, locking onto the spot where Leo had been hiding, a knowing smirk spreading across his weathered features. "Hmm, it seems I have a rat."
Before Leo could even think to flee, one of the masked figures was upon him, a Katana pressed against his neck. A thick, black mist seemed to swirl around the blade, and Leo felt a chill run down his spine. "Don't move," the figure growled, his grip tightening as he dragged the young man before the grandfather.
Leo's grandfather studied him with a fierce, bold look, his eyes glowing an unearthly blue. "I see, so it's you, Leo," he said, his voice dripping with suspicion. "Why did you come here, boy, when you know that entering without permission means death?"
Leo's mouth went dry, his heart pounding in his chest. "I-I just..." he stammered, the words catching in his throat. "No, I have to know who killed my father, so I can exact my revenge!" he declared, his voice steadying as the fiery determination in his eyes met his grandfather's gaze.
The old man's lips curled into a grim smile. "Ho, I see," he mused, a glint of satisfaction in his eyes. "Then I shall tell you - the ones who killed your father are your mother's clan, the Tora no Ichizoku."
Leo's eyes widened in shock. "What?" he breathed, the revelation hitting him like a physical blow.
Leo's grandfather fixed him with a piercing stare, the blue glow in his eyes intensifying. "For centuries, the Tora no Ichizoku and the Yunikuran have been locked in a never-ending conflict, a battle that has been passed down through the bloodlines."
The old man's expression darkened as he continued. "Then, the unthinkable happened - the heir of the Yunikuran fell in love with the second daughter of the Tiger Clan. When the Tiger Clan discovered this, they tried everything to separate your mother and father."
Leo felt a lump forming in his throat as the gravity of the revelation sank in. His grandfather's voice grew more somber as he recounted the tragic events.
"I tried to help them, but your foolish father refused to listen. He thought that by living in a remote house in Kyoto, they could escape the conflict. But the Tiger Clan was relentless." The old man shook his head, a bitter edge to his words.
"When your mother became pregnant with you, the Tiger Clan made their move. On the day of your birth, they tried to poison her, seeking to kill both the mother and the child. But fate had other plans - only you survived, while your father fought to keep you safe for the next twelve years."
Leo's hands clenched into trembling fists as he listened, his heart racing with a maelstrom of emotions.
"Then, five years ago, they sent their elite Chensu users to... to kill your father," the old man said.
"That is what happened to your father. Now, what do you think, boy?" The old man's gaze bore into Leo, a hint of expectation in his expression.
Leo stared back, his eyes brimming with tears of rage and anguish.
"No, this can't be..."
he breathed, the revelation shattering the very foundation of his life. His mother's clan, the ones he had sworn to avenge, were the ones responsible for his father's murder all along.
The grandfather's lips curled into a grim smile. "You speak of revenge, but five years have passed since then, and you have shown no progress in taking down the ones who killed your parents." He leaned forward, his voice rising with a note of accusation. "You need power, boy, and you will get it."
The leader bowed deeply. "As you wish, my lord," he intoned, before fixing Leo with a piercing stare. "Meet me at the special training grounds tomorrow morning. We have much work to do."
As the masked figure departed, Leo felt a mixture of trepidation and determination. The path ahead was fraught with danger and uncertainty, but the burning desire for vengeance had been stoked to a fever pitch. He would do whatever it took to unlock the power of the Chensu and bring down the Tiger Clan, even if it meant sacrificing everything.
With a final nod to his grandfather, Leo turned and made his way towards the exit, his steps measured and purposeful. The time for mourning was over; now, it was time to prepare for war.
The next morning, as the first golden rays of dawn began to creep through the window, Leo found himself roused from his restless slumber by a sudden presence in his room.
Whirling around, he came face-to-face with the imposing figure of Takeshi, the Grandmaster's trusted Chensu warrior. The man's unique hairstyle, a wild mane of fiery hues, framed his features as he fixed Leo with a piercing gaze.
"It is time, boy," Takeshi said, his deep voice brooking no argument. "The Grandmaster has ordered your training to begin. You will accompany me to the special training grounds immediately."
Leo felt a surge of trepidation, but also a growing determination that burned within him. After the revelations of the previous day, he knew that the path ahead would be arduous, but he was resolved to uncover the truth and exact the justice that had been denied him for so long.
Nodding firmly, Leo quickly dressed and followed Takeshi out of the room and towards the training grounds. As they walked, the young man could feel the weight of the task that lay before him, but he refused to be daunted.
"I'm ready," he said, his voice steady and resolute. "Whatever trials you have in store, I will face them head-on. I need to know the truth, and I will do whatever it takes to become powerful enough to bring down the Tiger Clan."
Takeshi's expression remained impassive, but Leo thought he detected a glimmer of approval in the man's eyes. "Then let us begin," the Chensu warrior replied, leading the way to the training grounds.
As they approached the training grounds, Leo could feel the anticipation building within him. This was his chance to unlock the power of the Chensu and take the first steps towards avenging his father's murder.
Takeshi led him to a secluded, open area, the morning sun casting long shadows across the well-tended grounds. Turning to face Leo, the masked warrior's posture exuded an aura of unwavering discipline.
Takeshi stood before Leo, his imposing presence commanding the young man's full attention. "Before we can begin your true Chensu training, there is a crucial step you must take," the masked warrior announced.
Leo leaned in, his eyes burning with anticipation.
"What is it? I'm ready to do whatever it takes."
Takeshi's gaze narrowed beneath the mask. "You must first awaken your Chensu abilities," he stated matter-of-factly. "Until you can unlock that power within you, I will not teach you the full breadth of our clan's techniques."
Leo felt a surge of impatience, but he knew better than to argue with the seasoned Chensu master. "Then how do I awaken my Chensu?" he asked, his voice laced with determination.
Turning, Takeshi gestured to a figure who had been lurking in the shadows. "This is Fujitsu," the masked warrior introduced, "one of the Grandmaster's most formidable Chensu warriors. He has graciously agreed to assist in your training."
Fujitsu stepped forward, a faint smile playing on his lips, but Leo could sense the underlying current of superiority and rage beneath the man's facade. "It is an honor to train the grandson of the Grandmaster," Fujitsu said, his voice dripping with false humility.
Leo eyed the man warily, already sensing the challenge that lay ahead.
"Your task is simple, young Leo," Takeshi continued. "You will fight Fujitsu until you are able to awaken your Chensu abilities. Only then will your true training commence."
Fujitsu's smile widened, and he clenched his fist, a thick mist of Chensu energy swirling around it. "Let us begin, then," he said, his gaze locked onto Leo's with a predatory intensity.
Leo steeled his nerves, his own fists brimming with the raw, untapped power of the Chensu. With a resolute nod, he readied himself, his body poised to strike.
The clash of their Chensu-infused attacks echoed across the training grounds as Fujitsu launched a relentless barrage of swift, precise strikes. Leo parried and dodged, his focus unwavering, but the sheer force of Fujitsu's blows began to overwhelm him.
As the battle raged on, Leo knew he had to find a way to fight back, to unleash the full potential of his Chensu abilities. But Fujitsu was a seasoned warrior, his mastery of the Chensu arts honed to a razor's edge.
"Come on, boy," Fujitsu taunted, his fists raining down with a resounding, bone-rattling impact. "Show me the power of the Grandmaster's bloodline!"
Leo gritted his teeth, his muscles straining, but he refused to give in. He had come too far to surrender now. As the battle continued, he could feel his body reaching its limits, his energy flickering and fading.
Sensing an opening, Fujitsu's expression hardened, his Chensu surging with a violent, primal power. "Time to finish this," he growled, unleashing a devastating punch powered by the full force of his awakened Chensu.
Leo's eyes widened in horror as the attack hurtled towards him, its sheer destructive might beyond anything he had ever experienced. Bracing himself, he tried to counter, but the impact sent him crashing through the air, his body slamming into the training ground wall with a sickening thud.
Coughing up blood, Leo's consciousness began to fade as Fujitsu loomed over him, a look of disdain etched on his features. "Pathetic," the seasoned warrior spat. "And you carry the blood of the Grandmaster? How disappointing."
Takeshi stepped forward, his gaze stern. "That is enough, Fujitsu. Take him to the temple healers. His training is not over yet."
As the trainees rushed to Leo's aid, the young man's mind slipped into darkness, the weight of his failure weighing heavily on his heart. But deep within, a spark of determination still burned, fueled by the knowledge that he must grow stronger, no matter the cost, if he was to bring down the Tiger Clan.
As Leo's consciousness slowly returned, the sound of gentle chanting and the scent of burning incense filled the air around him. Blinking his eyes open, he found himself lying on a simple cot in what appeared to be a tranquil temple infirmary.
An elderly woman, her face etched with lines of wisdom, approached his bedside. "Ah, you're awake," she said, her voice soft and soothing. "You've been through quite an ordeal, young one."
Leo tried to sit up, but a sharp pain in his abdomen caused him to wince. "What happened?" he asked, his voice hoarse.
"Your Chensu training did not go as planned," the woman replied, her expression sympathetic. "You were badly injured in your battle with Fujitsu."
The memories came rushing back, and Leo felt a surge of frustration. "I couldn't unlock my Chensu," he said, his fists clenching at his sides. "I was so close, but I just couldn't..."
The woman placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, her eyes filled with understanding. "Do not be too hard on yourself, child. The way of the Chensu is a long and arduous path. You have only just begun your journey."
As the elderly healer finished her examination and prepared to take her leave, she turned to the young woman standing by Leo's bedside.
"Mari, my dear," the healer said, her voice warm and maternal. "I need you to look after our young guest here until he's well enough to resume his training. Can I trust you with this task?"
Mari, a vibrant redhead with a serene expression, nodded dutifully. "Of course, Grandmother. I'll make sure he's well cared for."
The healer smiled approvingly, then cast a final, concerned glance at the battered Leo. "Rest now, child. You have a long journey ahead of you." With that, she departed, leaving Mari alone with the young warrior-in-training.
As soon as the healer's footsteps faded, Mari's demeanor underwent a startling transformation. Her previously calm features twisted into an expression of disdain, and she tsked under her breath.
"Great, now I'm stuck babysitting some lame kid," she muttered, her voice dripping with irritation.
Leo, still flushed from his defeat, looked up at her in surprise. "Hey, wait a minute! We're the same age, aren't we?" he protested, his voice laced with indignation.
Mari leaned in, her face mere inches from his, and Leo couldn't help but notice the fiery intensity in her eyes. "Look, just because we're the same age doesn't mean we're equals," she hissed. "I'm training to be a Chensu healer, while you're just some pathetic wannabe warrior who couldn't even handle Fujitsu."
Mari rolled her eyes, straightening up with a dismissive wave of her hand. "Whatever, just don't expect me to go easy on you. You're on your own, got it?"
With that, she turned and stalked to the other side of the room, leaving Leo to stew in his frustration and wounded pride. As he watched her go, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of resentment, but also a growing determination to prove his worth.
With a deep breath, Leo settled back onto the healing bed, his mind already racing with thoughts of his next training session. He knew the road ahead would be arduous, but he was more determined than ever to unlock the full power of the Chensu and uncover the truth about his father's murder.
As the sun began to set outside the temple walls, Leo closed his eyes, his resolve hardening like tempered steel. Tomorrow, a new chapter in his journey would begin, and he was ready to face whatever challenges lay in store.