The time is now half past five, for anyone that is observing. For Kyoichi, it seems as if time has been standing still for as long as he has been inside that temple. The monk, acting as if nothing was out of place, stood still with his staff in his hand. "Your forefathers would be ashamed. It has taken you, a supposed prodigal child, too long to understand the meaning of my words. One must flow like the mighty river in order to temper the flames that burn within. Take that to heart, child, and you will find that your skills grows five-fold. Until then, you must receive these rods in penance." The monk said, moving in a shunpo-esque motion. Kyoichi, still befuddled, was trying to raise his sword to block as fast as he could. However, the monk's staff struck hard and true, literally beating Kyoichi all over the ground.
Finally, after what seemed like hours of beating, Kyoichi stood up and paced back, eyes fully closed. "Flow...like water..." He said. His reiatsu, to those that can see it, seemed calm but still containing that sense of wildness that he has always had. With one deep breath, he opened his eyes and said "I understand now, master Monk." He held his sword loosely in his right hand. "Then come and test your understanding, baka disciple..." The monk said, displaying a wild grin that is not supposed to appear on a man of spirituality.
Taking one hard step forward, Kyoichi shunpo'ed towards the monk and swung his sword arm upwards at a 45 degree angle. The monk instinctively moved to his right to dodge, only to receive a downward slash on his right shoulder from Kyoichi. "Hm." The monk said, swinging his staff to bat the sword away. Retracting his sword, Kyoichi swung it horizontally at the monk. The monk moving once more to dodge, this time simply moving backwards. However, Kyoichi had switched his sword hand to his left and had thrust the sword forward, piercing the monk at the sternum. "Very good..." The monk said before disappearing in a puff of smoke...
Reappearing uninjured, the monk said "You, after many tribulations, have passed my test, you may pass to face your next task, which will be more difficult and will require you to utilize what you have learned here to pass...Also, say hi to the old man you'll meet for me. Simply tell him the monk says hi, he will understand..." Kyoichi, sheathing his sword, said "I will, master." Giving a full bow, he gathered his things and moved on, past the temple and into the mountain path behind it...
Flowing like water, Kyoichi is finally learning how to tame the fire that burns within him...