Third pov:

Once the Saryuki saw Kage their eyes interlocked in acknowledgment. This was fairly common when magic beasts and humans within 2 levels of each other engaged in one-on-one combat.

Not to show respect necessarily, but to either analyze or remember the opponent. It may sound strange, but to magic beasts, it was very important to see what killed them so the Monarch of their race could be aware of its existence.

It became so popular that unless one has intense animosity or blood lust for the other then it was always done, and eventually, it was given a name, Ishi no shototsu, the clash of wills. After a 5-second stalemate, Kage slowly walked up to the beast using his family art, Kotta shinkiro (frozen mirage steps).

One could tell he was a true master of the technique. If it was compared to his nephew's version, Soras' approach would be like a rapid tsunami and Kage's' would be reminiscent of a calm cold breeze strolling around. As Kage got closer to Saruyuki something odd occurred.

The beast didn't move an inch.

An inexperienced chevalier would think nothing of it, saying Kage's' powers cast fear into the beast, but every seasoned vet knows that demons under Kirin rank can't process fear because they lack the emotional maturity to do so.

Besides, what the Saruyuki was doing didn't look like what a scared beast would do because when someone or something is scared it looks more intently at the subject causing them to feel that fear. However, the Saruyuki didn't even look at Kage's' direction.

It looked more like the beast didn't acknowledge Kage's' presence. As Kage kept walking the space between the beast and him was shrinking. 10 meters, 6 meters, 1 meter eventually Kage stood right in front of the beast and used an ether-infused punch to attack it.

The beast went flying through the mountain. After taking care of the beast, Kage walked up to an unconscious Itami's' shredded body and started treating him.

Itami woke up the next day in a log cabin with a mental haze.

"I guess I died. I mean that makes the most sense, right because there's no way I could've survived that hit. Well, that sucks, but at least I don't have to see that (ba*****) uncle of mine again.

Honestly, how could he make an 8-year-old like me fight a Saruyuki?

Did he want me to die?

I get that I have potential, but that didn't mean he had to kill me for me to grow. My bad I misspoke, I had potential.

Dead people can't improve. Damn it what's going to happen to Mother now. Are they going to torture her again or will they simply kill her?

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Honestly, I'm hoping for the latter because at least that way her pain is temporary." As Itami was coming to terms with his 'death', unbeknownst to him there was a shadowy figure, listening to all of his words with a disapproving look on his face.

It was Kage. After hearing all of the things Itami said he was very disappointed, so he walked up behind him and pounded him on the head. "You're not dead! Just stupid." Feeling the weight of Kage's' fist Itami shot a glare at the source of his pain, but when he saw that it was his uncle, he immediately turned docile. Itami was in shock.

'Did he save me, but how? Even if the beast was defeated by him, I should've been in an irreparable state.' Itami was deeply confused because to him his uncle shouldn't have the medical skills to save him.

It would be different if it was simple first aid, but his entire upper half had been smashed to cinders. It's not that he was doubting his uncle, but to Itami, he didn't look like the healing type.

He felt he was more suited to espionage. 'Knowing him he probably heard the entire -' Wait, if he was here the entire time, did he hear what I said? I hope he missed the part where I almost cursed him out.'

"Dear uncle, how long have you been there?" "The entire time, and yes I heard what you said" Hearing this Itami's face went from docile to pale white.

'Oh no! That means he's probably going to punish me now. If I thought the Saryuki was bad, what's next will be worse. What'll it be a salamander or maybe it'll be a dragon? Either way, I'm going to die. I'm so cooked.' While Itami was thinking of ways he was going to be 'trained' his thoughts were interrupted by Kage.

"Don't worry I'm not going to punish you for the words you've said" 'Yay' "because from now on I'm not going to train you."

'What?'

"You can live here as long as you want until the test date, but I will not be leading your training." "Why?" Itami said deeply confused.

"Because you're too naive.

You think of everything as a game on your way to being a hero and don't think of anything else. Let me ask you. Why did you fight the Saruyuki?"

"Because I thought you left it there on purpose and that meant somehow, I could win if I pushed past my limits." "That type of thinking right there would get you killed on the floor of some random dungeon even if you won the fight in 1 and a half years.

Did it ever occur to you that maybe I didn't leave it there on purpose? Maybe I made a mistake. No, it didn't because you were so focused on proving yourself to me and defeating an insurmountable mountain that you didn't realize you had the option to keep running.

If you paid attention to the earlier parts of the training it had a survival/endurance theme meant to train you on multiple dimensions, so how did the option you arrive at have nothing to do with the parameters of the training".

"But that's because you never taught me how to think that way, and you made a mistake. How is that my fault." Itami said in frustration.

Then Kage sighed "Firstly, I can't teach you common sense. When an unreasonably strong danger appears, you flee or die. Secondly, nobody can be perfect 100 percent of the time, so to expect me to do that is unreasonable.

What are you going to do when the information you have to take down a monster on a quest isn't 100 percent accurate? Fight it anyway without gathering information first. You're preparing yourself to be a martyr, not a hero, and I refuse to be a part of your foolish crusade to an early grave." Hearing This Itami became solemn.

"This is the first time I made this mistake. Didn't you say no one can be 100 percent perfect? Why can't you give me a second chance?" "I can't because this isn't the first time you've done this. Remember when you and my sister were captured? Do you remember what you said to her?" Thinking back to this, Itami nodded.

"Do you think your mother would just stop talking to you on purpose? She was emotionally and physically drained and had been tortured. However, you couldn't see past the fact that you needed her comfort and needed to escape immediately because that's what heroes would do. Instead of calmly analyzing that you decided to throw a tantrum that led to you and her being tortured more. Have you ever noticed how I've never apologized for torturing you?

It's because I'm not sorry, and it's your fault. What type of Chevalier would I be if I simply let you escape on my watch while I was on a mission? I'm sorry, but I'm not sacrificing my status and the family because of you."

Hearing this Itami became solemn and apologetic, so he got down on his knees with moist eyes and said,

"Please uncle I need you". His uncle looked at his nephew with an unsatisfied look. "A man should never kneel to another unless he's proposing to his true love or protecting something equally as precious without any other solution. You are still not ready. I'll pretend I didn't see this. Now wash up. I am preparing dinner." Hearing this, Itami finally got up and walked to the guest shower.

AUTHOR:

Thank You for Reading. as always if you have any critiques, opinions, or things you want me to add or edit please let me know. Know I will not listen to every request, and I can't compromise certain things.