𝑆𝑎𝑛𝑒𝑚𝑖 𝑆ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑧𝑢𝑔𝑎𝑤𝑎Հ

Being chosen as the official Tsuguko of the Wind Pillar was a great honor, but in practice, you would sometimes regret it. You had only been at the Wind Estate for a few days, and Sanemi's training had already pushed you to your absolute limits. He had shown you no mercy; he forced you to repeat the Wind Breathing stances over and over again under the blazing sun, until your legs gave way and you ended up on the ground, gasping for breath, your hands mangled by the wooden katana.

Sanemi stood before you, panting slightly, his chest bare and the wooden katana resting on his shoulder. He looked down at you, his eyes wide and clearly irritated.

—Is that all my future successor has?!

His voice echoed throughout the courtyard, rough and full of rage.

"If you give up because of this nonsense, a demon will rip your head off on your first real mission! I won't allow the name of the Wind Pillar to be inherited by someone who lies on the ground begging for pity!"

He took a couple of steps with his back to you, as if he were going to leave you alone in the courtyard. However, he stopped abruptly. After a tense silence, he let out a long sigh and walked back to you with a determined stride. He knelt down abruptly beside you, pulling a roll of bandages from his uniform. Without asking your permission, he firmly grasped your wrist, though his fingers moved with almost imperceptible care as they wrapped them around your wounds.

—Don't move...

He grumbled under his breath, looking away with a frown as he clumsily began to bandage you.

"I'm only treating your hands so you won't make excuses tomorrow and will come back to training. If you truly want to be my Tsuguko, you'll have to endure this and more, understand?"