By the time Karma and Hashirama's Wood Clone returned to Konoha, the sun was already beginning to set.
Karma walked through the village gates with his sword at his waist and his mission pouch hanging from his side.
He felt different.
Not stronger.
He had always been strong.
Just… more aware.
The road outside Konoha had shown him something training never could.
The moment they reached the house, Hashirama was already waiting.
His eyes immediately went to Karma.
"You're back."
Karma nodded.
"Mission completed."
Hashirama smiled.
"Good."
The Wood Clone disappeared in a burst of wood and chakra.
The memories flowed back to Hashirama.
His expression changed slightly as he saw the entire mission.
Especially the moment Karma's sword had stopped at the bandit's throat.
Hashirama looked at Karma.
"You almost killed him."
Karma nodded.
"Yes."
"Did you want to?"
Karma thought about the question.
"I wanted him to stop."
Hashirama watched him carefully.
"That's different."
Karma looked down at his hands.
"I could have killed him."
"I know."
There was no fear in Hashirama's voice.
No disappointment either.
"You're going to face that decision many times as you grow older."
Karma looked up.
"What did you decide when you were my age?"
Hashirama smiled sadly.
"I didn't have a village to protect when I was your age."
Karma understood.
The world had been different.
Hashirama placed a hand on his head.
"You don't need to figure everything out today."
Karma nodded.
But he knew he would think about it.
That night, Karma slept unusually well.
The next morning, he went straight to Madara.
Madara was already waiting at the training ground.
"You went on your first mission outside the village."
"Yes."
"How was it?"
"Interesting."
Madara raised an eyebrow.
"That's all?"
"I fought some bandits."
"And?"
"I almost killed one."
Madara's expression didn't change.
"Why didn't you?"
"Hashirama-sensei stopped me."
Madara stared at him.
"That's not what I asked."
Karma frowned.
"I don't know."
Madara walked closer.
"Then think."
Karma stayed silent.
Madara didn't rush him.
After a while, Karma finally spoke.
"I didn't need to kill him."
Madara nodded.
"Good."
He turned toward the training ground.
"Now understand something else."
Karma followed.
"There will be times when you do need to."
Karma listened.
"If you hesitate because you're afraid to take a life, you may get yourself or someone else killed."
Madara picked up a wooden sword.
"But killing without thought is just as dangerous."
He tossed the sword to Karma.
"On the battlefield, you need to know why you're acting."
Karma caught it.
"Not just what you're capable of."
Karma nodded.
"Understood."
Madara pointed his wooden sword toward him.
"Now attack."
Karma grinned.
"That's more like it."
He rushed forward.
Madara blocked.
Karma changed his angle.
Madara deflected.
Karma accelerated with Lightning Release.
Madara stepped aside.
Karma's sword cut through empty air.
Madara tapped his shoulder with the wooden blade.
"Dead."
Karma clicked his tongue.
"Again."
They continued.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Madara kept forcing him into situations where speed wasn't enough.
Karma couldn't simply overwhelm him.
He had to read.
Predict.
Adapt.
His movements became faster.
Then more controlled.
Then faster again.
Eventually, Karma began experimenting.
Lightning surged through his legs.
He accelerated.
Then immediately stopped using it.
Madara noticed.
"Good."
Karma smiled.
"I'm getting it."
"You're beginning to."
Karma attacked again.
This time he used normal movement.
Then Lightning.
Then normal movement again.
His rhythm became unpredictable.
Madara blocked one attack.
Then another.
Karma suddenly stepped back.
Lightning gathered around him.
"Lightning Clone."
A second Karma appeared beside him.
Madara smiled slightly.
"Good."
The clone attacked.
Karma attacked from the opposite side.
For the first time, Madara had to defend against both simultaneously.
The clone swung.
Madara blocked.
Karma came in immediately.
Madara twisted away.
The clone attacked again.
Karma followed.
Madara jumped backward.
Karma stopped.
His clone stopped beside him.
Karma looked at it.
'This is different from a Shadow Clone.'
The Lightning Clone wasn't just another body.
It was a weapon.
A trap.
A second angle of attack.
And when it was destroyed, the stored lightning could punish whoever was too close.
Karma smiled.
'One swordsman.'
He looked at the clone.
'And one walking trap.'
Madara saw the expression.
"You understand."
Karma nodded.
"Yeah."
"Then don't rely on it every time."
"I won't."
"Good."
After swordsmanship, Karma went to train with Hashirama.
His elemental practice continued.
Lightning remained his strongest nature.
But Hashirama kept pushing the others.
A small Fire Release technique.
A basic Earth Release technique.
A simple Water Release technique.
A weak Wind Release technique.
Karma practiced all of them.
He wasn't trying to create powerful attacks.
He was learning the language of each element.
Fire responded explosively.
Water flowed.
Earth resisted.
Wind moved sharply.
Lightning reacted almost instantly.
Karma found himself fascinated by the differences.
Hashirama watched him experiment.
"You don't have to master all of them now."
"I know."
"Then why are you trying?"
Karma looked at him.
"Because eventually I will."
Hashirama laughed.
"Fair enough."
Karma continued practicing.
By afternoon, he was exhausted again.
He returned home and found Mito preparing dinner.
She looked at him.
"You look tired."
"I trained."
"I can tell."
Karma sat down.
Mito placed a cup of water in front of him.
He drank it immediately.
After a moment, Mito asked quietly,
"Did something happen on your mission?"
Karma paused.
"How did you know?"
"You've been quiet since you came back."
Karma stared at the table.
"I almost killed someone."
Mito didn't react with shock.
She simply sat beside him.
"How do you feel about that?"
"I don't know."
"That's okay."
Karma looked at her.
"You aren't angry?"
"Why would I be?"
"I almost killed someone."
"You didn't."
"But I could have."
Mito smiled gently.
"Karma, you're learning how to live as a shinobi. Some lessons are easier than others."
She placed a hand on his head.
"You don't have to decide today what kind of shinobi you'll become."
Karma was quiet.
Then he smiled.
"Thanks, Mito nee-san."
She smiled back.
"Now eat."
Karma immediately reached for his food.
'That part of being a shinobi is much easier.'
The following days returned to their usual rhythm.
Missions.
Training.
Rest.
Repeat.
But Karma noticed a difference.
He was starting to think during fights.
Not just react.
He started combining his abilities instead of treating them as separate techniques.
A Shadow Clone could create an opening.
Lightning could close the distance.
A sword strike could force an opponent into a specific position.
A Lightning Clone could punish them for following.
Even his basic elemental techniques could change the battlefield.
None of it was powerful enough to impress the strongest shinobi in Konoha.
Yet.
But the foundation was forming.
One afternoon, Karma stood outside the mission office reading the assignments.
His eyes stopped on the C-rank board.
He looked at one of the mission sheets.
Then another.
He reached for one.
A hand appeared over it.
Karma looked up.
Hashirama.
"No."
Karma frowned.
"I didn't even say anything."
"You were about to."
"It's C-rank."
"Correct."
"I can handle it."
"I know."
Karma blinked.
Hashirama continued.
"That's not the problem."
"Then what is?"
"Experience."
Karma crossed his arms.
"I just fought people outside the village."
"One mission."
"I did well."
"You did."
Karma stared at him.
"Then?"
Hashirama smiled.
"Then we'll keep doing D-rank missions."
Karma groaned.
"Seriously?"
"Seriously."
Karma looked back at the C-rank board.
He knew Hashirama wasn't doubting his strength.
He was protecting his development.
That somehow made it more annoying.
'Fine.'
He turned away.
'I'll just get more experience.'
Hashirama smiled as he watched him walk away.
The boy wasn't being held back because he was weak.
He was being taught patience.
And Karma was slowly learning that patience might be one of the hardest skills of all.