A week passed quickly. With Nao's constant guidance, Akihiro had learned to py the ocarina to a decent level. While he didn’t consider himself an expert, he was competent enough to py it properly.

  Akihiro was practicing in the backyard, trying to familiarize himself with its sound while channeling his chakra through the music, attempting to create a functional Genjutsu. Every note, though clumsy, required great effort and concentration as he strove to py correctly.

  —Still at it? —asked a voice with a pyful edge.

  Startled, Akihiro turned around, the ocarina still in his hands. Standing there was his mentor, Miyuki, watching him with a casual smile.

  —Sensei! —he excimed, straightening up as if caught doing something wrong. —What are you doing here? Do we have a mission? —he added, trying to divert attention from what he thought was a disastrous performance.

  —No, we don’t have a mission —Miyuki replied, approaching with unhurried steps, her arms crossed and her smile unyielding. —I just wanted to check on your training. And from what I can see, it looks like you’re making... slow progress.

  —Of course I’m improving! —Akihiro said, puffing his chest slightly. —In fact, I think I’ve gotten a lot better.

  Miyuki raised an eyebrow, her interest clearly piqued.—Oh, really? In that case, can I hear what you’ve achieved?

  Akihiro swallowed nervously.—I don’t think you should. You probably have better things to do, like training Kōsetsu.

  —Kōsetsu? —Miyuki repeated with a soft chuckle. —Don’t worry about her; I left her in good hands. But don’t try to distract me, Akihiro. I want to hear you py. And I’m not taking no for an answer.

  Her firm tone left him with no choice. He sighed, resigned but still uneasy.—Alright. But... don’t ugh if it’s not as impressive as you expect.

  —I won’t ugh —Miyuki promised, though her mischievous smile suggested she was thoroughly enjoying the situation. —Come on, let me hear this “beautiful” melody you’ve been practicing so much.

  Akihiro took a deep breath, closing his eyes to focus. He brought the ocarina to his lips and began to py. The melody was simple and rudimentary, but with each note, he tried to channel his chakra. While he had learned the basics from Nao, applying that knowledge to create a Genjutsu was far more challenging than it seemed.

  At first, the notes felt unsteady, as if his energy was scattering into the air. However, as he continued to py, he managed to stabilize enough for a faint vibration to ripple through the environment. The leaves on the nearby trees quivered almost imperceptibly, and an unusual silence enveloped the yard, as though the ocarina's sound had dispced all other noises.

  When he finished, Akihiro lowered the instrument and looked at Miyuki with a hint of shyness.—That... was the best I could do for now.

  Miyuki remained silent for a few seconds, evaluating him. Finally, she nodded with approval.—Not bad for a beginner, Akihiro. But you still have a long way to go. The vibration of your chakra is inconsistent, which makes the Genjutsu unstable. If you were to use this in combat, the effect would be weak, maybe even useless, —she advised. Though Miyuki hadn’t learned Genjutsu herself, she knew a lot about it, both from her teammate and from battles she had fought against Genjutsu specialists. She could offer advice and assess its quality just by experiencing its effects.

  Akihiro frowned, disappointed in himself.—I understand... I’ll keep practicing.

  Miyuki smiled gently, pcing a hand on his shoulder.—Don’t get discouraged. What you’re trying to do isn’t something many would dare attempt. Turning a musical instrument into a weapon for Genjutsu is an enormous challenge. There are far fewer Genjutsu specialists compared to Ninjutsu specialists, and even fewer who use instruments as a medium. You should be proud of yourself.

  —Thank you, sensei, —Akihiro said, regaining some of his confidence.

  Miyuki’s smile softened as she leaned forward slightly, trying to lighten his mood.—Come on, want to eat something? I’m sure your mom is cooking something delicious inside, —she said in a kind yet enthusiastic tone, hoping to cheer him up.

  She gestured toward the house, where the aroma of freshly prepared food was beginning to waft through the windows.—Besides, —Miyuki added, tilting her head with a warm smile, —after an afternoon of practice, I’m sure a homemade meal would do you good. What do you say?

  —Sounds good to me, —Akihiro replied.

  —Alright, let’s go.