The next morning, Arthur woke to the soft patter of rain and a dim light slipping into the cave. His body was still weak, but his mind was clearer than ever. The overwhelming flood of memories had calmed, merging into something coherent. The voice of the system was silent now—only focus remained.
"First step... chakra."
He sat cross-legged and closed his eyes. From the scattered fragments of memory, he found a few basic insights about chakra sensing. Slowly, he took a deep breath, held it, and exhaled—just like the breathing techniques passed to him through the Tanjiro template.
A faint warmth gathered in his stomach, spreading lightly to his limbs. It wasn't perfect, but it was something.
Days passed. He meditated, focused on his breathing, and tried again and again to circulate chakra. Gradually, he improved—eventually managing to stick briefly to the cave walls using chakra in his feet.
After about a week, he began crafting crude traps using sticks and stones, placing them near the river. He also fashioned a simple net from tree bark fibers, which allowed him to catch small fish and animals.
Weeks turned into months.
His body grew stronger, leaner, more agile. The breathing techniques helped him endure the cold and hunger. And at night, he worked on something new…
"Rasengan..."
Gathering chakra into his hand, he tried to make it spin like he had seen in the inherited memories. Without a teacher, progress was slow and painful. Dozens of failed attempts ended in frustration and chakra burns. But he didn't give up.
One night, the chakra spun—unstable, but real. Then it exploded in his palm.
He grinned, his face smudged with soot.
"I'll master it... even if it takes a year."
By the end of the third month, the helpless boy who once fell off the cliff was gone. Now, Arthur stood at the edge of the cave, gazing at the endless rain over the Hidden Rain Village.
"Solitude gave me strength. But I can't hide forever."
With quiet steps, he packed up what little gear he had. A worn scarf wrapped around his neck. His expression was calm. Focused.
"It's time to explore the Hidden Rain... from the shadows."