Running back home, I quickly grabbed a bite of the leftover rice and sat down with the scrolls. Yesterday, I had reviewed and sorted them all but didn't dive deep into any particular one. Now was the perfect time to focus on studying. My priority was the chakra scroll. Luckily, I had one.
Opening it, I began reading:
"Chakra is the fusion of spiritual and physical energy. The stronger these two energies are, the more powerful the chakra becomes. It circulates throughout the body and has key points called tenketsu. If these points are pressed with force, the chakra flow can be blocked. This complex technique is used by the Hyuga clan.
Chakra is formed in special 'chakra coils' that surround and connect chakra-producing organs. It is then distributed throughout the body via the 'Chakra Pathway System,' which resembles the circulatory system. To unlock chakra, one must enter a meditative state, focus their mind, and merge the two energies."
The reading seemed a bit chaotic, but I grasped the basic principles. I decided to try unlocking my chakra channels.
Sitting in a meditation pose, I focused on my breathing, trying to relax and disconnect from the outside world. It turned out to be incredibly challenging to stop the endless flow of thoughts rushing through my mind. The only thing that helped was patience. I simply sat there until the thoughts gradually faded away.
At some point, I felt an unusual sensation — as if I was beginning to sense some kind of energy. It was like two rivers merging into one, forming a powerful current. Spiritual and physical energy were combining — I realized this intuitively.
I focused on that feeling, trying to immerse myself in it completely. Time lost meaning. When I opened my eyes, the world around me seemed different: my body felt lighter, my vision sharper, and my hearing more acute.
"YEEEEESSSSS! I did it!" I shouted.
However, my joy was short-lived: my gaze fell on the clock — 3:43 PM.
Three hours?!
It had taken three whole hours to clear my mind of thoughts! That was a real challenge. I had hoped to do it faster. But back then, I didn't know that for ordinary children, awakening chakra could take even longer — focus and concentration are difficult to master at a young age.
The sound of my stomach growling brought me back to reality. Awakening chakra had drained a tremendous amount of energy, and I needed to replenish it urgently.
Since I had already finished the rice, I had to settle for instant noodles. While the kettle boiled, I reflected on how this simple food always saved the day during tough times. Three minutes later, the noodles and tea were ready.
Quickly finishing my meal, I decided to move on to the second part of my day's plan — physical training.
The academy's training ground seemed like a good option. First, I could observe the training methods of upperclassmen. Second, being around people had its own benefits.
Dressed in my usual academy attire, I headed to the training ground located just behind the building.
All my expectations crumbled as soon as I arrived. There were only five people on the field, and it was immediately clear they weren't the best students. My attempt to pick up training methods failed.
Why were they useless? One was futilely trying to hit a post with a kunai, while the others simply laughed at his failures. After about fifteen minutes, they got bored and left.
Meanwhile, I decided to focus on my own training and began running laps around the stadium. The monotonous rhythm of running gave me time to think.
What was I even expecting? the thought crossed my mind.
The answer came almost immediately: children from clans trained on private grounds under the supervision of mentors. They had privileged conditions and access to secret techniques. Only clanless kids or "geniuses" like me showed up here.
Hoping for anything different was naive.
Well, I was already used to handling things on my own.
Enough of these thoughts; better to think about something positive. Despite being unprepared, my body surprisingly handled the run with ease. I wasn't out of breath, which indicated either good physical shape or significant improvement after unlocking chakra. I leaned toward the latter.
After finishing the run, I moved on to a set of push-ups and pull-ups. I managed 10, then another 10 push-ups before collapsing to the ground. Surprisingly, my body handled it even after the run.
After resting for a couple of minutes, I attempted pull-ups. Here came the disappointment — I could only manage four.
A few hours later, I was sitting under a tree, covered in dust and slightly dirty. My motivation had run out within an hour of training. Everything suddenly felt tedious and heavy. Each exercise turned into a battle not only with my body but also with my own fatigue and laziness.
I had been through this before — starting training from scratch when my body refused to cooperate, and every step required immense effort. Remembering those times was unpleasant because I had felt weak and helpless. And now, here I was again, back at the starting line. That realization was demotivating, making me question:
Is it even worth trying if I have to start all over again?
But then I caught myself thinking differently. Compared to the past, things were much better now. My body adapted to the load faster, and the feeling of lightness after unlocking chakra clearly gave me an advantage. Running no longer felt like torture, and even after numerous push-ups and pull-ups, I wasn't lying flat on the ground like before.
Yes, the progress was small, but it was there. I forced myself to stop whining.
During this time, a few more people arrived at the training ground, but they quickly gave up and left. I couldn't blame them — I understood how they felt.
Finishing the last lap, I decided to head home.
It was getting dark as I left the field. The streets were crowded with people in a hurry, and the air was filled with the appetizing aroma of street food. Even a tired person couldn't resist it, let alone me, who had spent hours training.
Unable to hold back, I decided to find a place to eat. Remembering the legendary Ichiraku Ramen shop, I decided to go there and asked a passerby for directions. He pointed me in the right direction without hesitation.
Five minutes later, I arrived. The place was popular — almost all the seats were taken. Lifting the curtain, I walked inside and sat at an empty spot.
The menu was right on the table. Picking it up, I decided to try the classic pork ramen.
"Hello! Can I have pork ramen, please?" I asked.
A young Teuchi came out of the kitchen.
"Pork ramen? It'll be ready in a couple of minutes," he replied with a smile.
While waiting for my order, the cozy atmosphere of the shop helped me relax. People were enjoying their meals, and the aroma of the broth heightened my appetite.
A few minutes later, a steaming bowl of ramen was placed in front of me. The broth was rich, the noodles perfect, and the pieces of pork melted in my mouth. I ate with pleasure, feeling my strength gradually return.
"That was pretty good," I thought, finishing the huge bowl. "But I can't eat this all the time — it's too greasy."
After paying, I headed home.
Character Stats:
Strength: 6
Speed: 6
Chakra: 10
Chakra Control: ?
Techniques: None
Genin Attribute Benchmark: 100 in each category.