Chapter 23: Practicing Chakra Control Using Leaves
Souta's eyes widened slightly, and a memory flashed in his mind. "Ah! That's right!" Souta said excitedly. He suddenly remembered that this training method had indeed been shown in the anime Naruto.
Without hesitation, Souta took a leaf from Pakura's hand and immediately pressed it to his forehead. However, as soon as Souta removed his fingers, the leaf fell off.
Souta stared at the leaf with vacant eyes, then sighed. "It seems this will be harder than I thought..." Souta murmured.
Souta tried again. He pressed the leaf on his forehead and then channeled Chakra to hold the leaf in place. However, each time he did this, the leaf still fell.
Fifteen minutes passed with no results. However, on yet another attempt, something finally changed. For the first time, the leaf stayed in place for two seconds before falling again.
Souta gasped and then smiled slightly. "I'm starting to understand how it works..."
Souta's enthusiasm reignited. He kept trying, repeating and repeating, gradually improving his control over Chakra.
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Time passed quickly. The sun that had been hanging high in the sky had now turned into an orange hue. Souta continued to practice, and finally, he managed to keep the leaf on his forehead for thirty seconds.
However, before Souta could try further, Pakura's voice interrupted him.
"That's enough. Let's call it a day."
Souta turned, slightly out of breath. "Huh? Why?" Souta asked with a confused expression.
Pakura glanced at the sky. "Do you still need to ask? Look, it's already evening. We'll continue tomorrow."
Souta lifted his head and saw the sky had changed color. He paused for a moment and then smiled faintly. "Ah! Sorry, I was so focused that I didn't notice..."
Pakura just sighed lightly before turning and starting to walk away. "Alright, let's head back."
Souta quickly followed behind Pakura. They walked side by side, taking the same path as yesterday.
Along the way, Souta observed the atmosphere around them. Just like the day before, several people seemed to be out for dinner. The aroma of food wafted through the air, tempting Souta's stomach, which was starting to feel empty. Souta briefly thought about asking Pakura if she would also go out to eat, but after reconsidering, he chose to remain silent.
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After walking for a while, Souta and Pakura finally arrived at the apartment building where they lived. The building was simple, with walls made of the characteristic sandstone of Sunagakure, looking sturdy yet slightly dull from the constant desert winds carrying grains of sand. A narrow stone staircase led to the upper floor, where their rooms were located.
Pakura ascended the stairs first with a calm stride, her movements graceful yet firm. Souta followed behind, watching how Pakura's orange hair fluttered slightly each time the desert wind blew through the gaps in the building.
When they reached the second floor, Pakura stopped in front of her room door. Before entering, she turned to Souta, who was still standing in the corridor.
"Thank you for today," Souta said, his voice sounding sincere, accompanied by a faint smile.
"You're welcome," Pakura replied in a flat tone, and without much more conversation, she opened the door and entered her room.
Souta watched this and smiled slightly before finally entering his own room. Once inside, Souta immediately took off his slightly dusty outer robe and walked to the bathroom to clean himself after a day of activities.
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After finishing his shower, Souta felt refreshed. He walked over to his bedroom window and pulled aside the slightly dusty thin curtain. The night air in Sunagakure felt cooler compared to the scorching daytime. The night sky stretched wide, adorned with twinkling stars that seemed to shimmer among the thin clouds.
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Chapter 24: Dinner
Souta's stomach rumbled softly, reminding him that he hadn't had dinner yet. The night before, Souta had gone straight to bed after cleaning himself up, too tired and still struggling to believe that it was his first day in the world of Naruto.
However, this time, Souta knew that his body needed food. After a day of training, he needed to replenish his energy.
With a relaxed stride, Souta stepped out of his apartment and walked down the streets of Sunagakure. Sunagakure was never truly quiet, even at night.
A few residents were gathered in front of small shops, chatting casually after a long day. There were also others like Souta—looking for dinner.
After a few minutes of walking, a mouthwatering aroma suddenly wafted into Souta's nose. The smell was so strong, a blend of rich broth with the distinctive slightly spicy spices of Sunagakure. Souta's stomach immediately reacted, and without hesitation, he followed the source of the aroma.
Finally, Souta found a simple food stall. The stall consisted only of a tent with a wooden frame and a few wooden chairs and long tables.
Oil lamps hung in several corners, providing dim lighting that created a warm atmosphere. The sound of clattering cooking utensils could be heard from the small kitchen behind the tent, accompanied by the increasingly tempting aroma of food.
The stall was quite busy, but there were still a few empty seats. Souta chose a spot that was somewhat secluded, and not long after, a teenage boy around fifteen or seventeen years old approached Souta with a friendly expression.
"Hey, would you like to order food?" the boy asked.
"Yes, is there a menu?" Souta asked while glancing around, noticing several customers who seemed to be enjoying their meals.
"Of course, here's the menu for this place," the boy replied, handing over a slightly crumpled but still legible menu.
Souta looked at the fairly long list. There were various options of Sunagakure specialties, ranging from spiced soup, roasted meat, to rice-based dishes and porridge.
After considering for a moment, Souta finally chose something simple—a porridge with small pieces of eagle meat. Besides being cheap, this dish seemed quite filling. Souta also ordered a glass of cold water to accompany it.
"Alright, please wait a moment," the boy said before heading to the kitchen to prepare the order.
Souta waited in silence, enjoying the calmness of the night. However, not long after, Souta's eyes caught sight of someone he recognized. It was Pakura.
At the same time, Pakura also spotted Souta. Their gazes met for a moment before Souta smiled slightly. Without hesitation, Pakura walked over to Souta.
"So you're having dinner here too?" Souta asked.
"Yes, I always come to this place for dinner," Pakura replied with a nod.
"Is that so?" Souta murmured. At least now he knew Pakura's favorite place for dinner.
Before long, the teenage boy returned with Souta's order. However, upon seeing Pakura, the boy's expression brightened.
"Oh, Pakura's little brother! You came right on time today, as usual. So, the usual?" the boy said in a familiar tone.
"Yes, please make it the usual," Pakura replied briefly.
The boy nodded before heading back to the kitchen. Souta glanced at the boy, noting his appearance—dark purple hair with brown eyes, wearing a simple brown shirt and black pants.
"Do you know that boy well?" Souta asked.
"Yes, that's brother Takuma," Pakura answered without much elaboration.
"Takuma?" Souta murmured as he began to taste his porridge.
As soon as the first bite entered Souta's mouth, he was immediately taken aback.
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