The soft chirping of birds woke Kaito, who was sleeping in his bed.
He yawned deeply, his vision shifting lazily to the clock on his nightstand.
5:00 a.m. I guess it's early enough, he thought.
He sat up in his bed, deep in thought.
Oh... right, how will I train? He asked himself.
Let me think... my body isn't that of an average child, but it's not that of an adult either. If I push myself too hard, it could affect my growth in the near future, but if I don't train hard, I'd miss out on years of vital training. He calculated.
Physical conditioning is the most important thing for now. Maybe some stretching to increase the flexibility and control of my muscles. That will make my punches more accurate.
Next, I'll study human anatomy, which will help me understand the pressure points of the human body and where I should hit.
"Ah... how lazy, I'll just train," Kaito muttered.
Putting these thoughts aside, Kaito began refining his chakra and trying to control it again.
He failed miserably.
The worst chakra control I've ever seen... and it's mine. He sighed.
Well, I guess I'll train my physique, like I said.
Kaito got ready, took off his pajamas, and changed into flexible training clothes.
He grabbed about 600 ryō in case he needed them on the way.
Kaito left his room. Many children were downstairs having breakfast. Kaito didn't join them; he would have breakfast on the way to Soka's house.
He walked to leave the orphanage, but the matron stopped him.
"Kaito, you've been going out a lot these days. What's going on?" the matron asked, her voice gentle.
"Just exploring the village," Kaito replied. "And making friends," he said, to make his facade more believable.
"Well, I guess I'll let you go. Making friends is good for childhood," the matron spoke, her voice understanding.
Kaito just nodded, then calmly left the orphanage.
Well, I guess I'll train in the Yard.
He took a few steps before stopping in his tracks.
Should I invite that Soka I met yesterday to spar?
Well, training together will be more effective. Maybe I can have a practice fight.
What a genius I am, he thought.
He started walking through Uzushiogakure, looking for Soka's house, who had shown him her yesterday.
She's an orphan too, only she inherited a house and money.
But there's time for some ramen... I hope the shop is open.
He walked to the Aōsukanawa ramen shop. As soon as he arrived, he found it open. He sighed in relief and entered.
"4 bowls of Miso Chashū Ramen, please!" Kaito exclaimed.
Kaito didn't hesitate to spend all his ryō on ramen, so simple and delicious that he could become obsessed.
"Aye!" replied the girl who usually served the customers.
...
As soon as the bowls were placed on the table, Kaito became a living whirlwind, devouring the ramen.
Haaa...
He let out a satisfied sigh.
"Thanks for the food!" he said before leaving the shop.
The girl just smiled. It seems that boy will be a regular customer.
...
Knock knock.
Kaito knocked softly on Soka's door, waiting for a response.
No one answered.
Oh, right, it's still 5:20 a.m., or so. He's sleeping, I guess. Kaito thought.
He had to wait several minutes, during which he began to do some simple stretches and warm-ups.
Yawn.
Soka had just gotten up, still sleepy; she stretched out in bed.
Well... a new day. She thought, as she got out of bed.
"How did you sleep, sleepyhead?" Kaito asked from outside, a mocking tone in his voice.
Soka was startled. "I didn't know you were here!" He blushed in embarrassment.
"So, do you want to train?" he asked, without giving it much thought.
"Well..." Soka hesitated.
"That way you'll be strong and won't get bullied," he persuaded her.
"Go on!" Soka exclaimed without hesitation.
"Well, then go change, I'll wait for you in the garden," Kaito said.
Before Soka could protest, Kaito left.
That baka... Soka grumbled.
Soka began to change into something more suitable for training, while Kaito was already doing some simple exercises in the garden.
"I'm here!" Soka waved, approaching Kaito.
"Then start stretching and warming up," Kaito urged.
...
Soka was speechless, but then he laughed softly and began doing some clumsy warm-ups.
"Look, you have to do it like this."
Kaito corrected all his mistakes so he could improve faster, while he himself did some exercises.
"Do you know how to extract chakra?" Kaito asked.
"What is chakra?" Soka asked, confused.
Oh, right, kids my age don't know about chakra.
Kaito sat down on the grass and gestured for Soka to sit down too.
"Well, chakra is the fusion of vital/physical energy and mental/spiritual energy. Chakra allows you to..."
Kaito spent a long time explaining to Soka the basics of chakra, its history, how to refine and train it.
"Ohh... I think I understand," Soka whispered softly after a moment of listening attentively.
Kaito nodded before standing up from the grass where he had been sitting.
"Good, now try extracting chakra," Kaito urged, watching Soka closely.
"Understood!"
Soka exclaimed, then sat in the lotus position and, putting Kaito's teachings to the test, attempted to refine chakra.
Fusing physical/vital energy with mental/spiritual energy...
Closing his hands over his Hara, concentrating the energy...
Failing miserably.
"Well, it's your first time, do it again," Kaito encouraged her.
Soka nodded, although a little discouraged, but continued.
One more try.
And the chakra began to form.
"Now try guiding it through the 361 tenketsu in your body," Kaito instructed.
Soka didn't speak, but she clearly heard what Kaito said, but she found it impossible to manipulate it freely.
"Well done! You're very talented at extracting chakra on the second try!" Kaito congratulated her.
Soka's cheeks blushed slightly with happiness at the praise.
I'm an unofficial Master jeje, oh right, I'm still a kid. Kaito thought, amused.
"Now... let's have a practice fight. This is the easiest way to improve," Kaito urged.
"EHH??!!"
End of chapter.
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Thank you for reading the first chapter of this novel!
Please give me Power Stones and I'll put more effort into this story.
On weekends, I'll upload an extra chapter for every 5 Power Stones; I'll upload one chapter per day.
This story is my own.