And so began the path where I could more easily advance beyond the first steps of mastering chakra. Back then, Hiruzen had approved my request to make our conversation private. Then, for whatever reasons of his own, he asked me not to spread the word about my abilities. Later, as we were leaving, Hiruzen remembered the ramen shop owner, and we apologized to him. After all, we had been discussing some not‑so‑kind topics.
But, back to the subject of keeping my abilities secret. If I went around blabbing about them to everyone, the first thing that popped into my overly paranoid head was a certain Danzo, who might try to snatch me up after that. He was known for scooping up talented shinobi for his sketchy organization, Root. An organization that, as you might guess, dealt in shady business: sabotage, assassinations, inciting wars. Though, of course, that chain of events is pretty unlikely.
A more rational take is that Hiruzen believes talent attracts fame, and fame, in turn, provides opportunities... and a host of additional threats. Like Danzo, for instance. By sharing the news of my abilities with Hiruzen, I had seized the opportunities while managing to avoid those very threats, all thanks to his character.
On one hand, I was now under his watch. On the other, I was already there anyway. And I don't see much wrong with this patronage. It comes in many forms, after all. I was never destined to have a completely free childhood. "Freedom" is a fluid concept and probably only attainable with the complete cessation of being. Because as long as you're living, there will always be something that infringes upon your freedom. Maybe a more powerful enemy who's interested in studying your insides. Maybe just a mundane death from old age.
But that's philosophy. One positive fact about my existence under Hiruzen's patronage is that Sarutobi's students are all alive. Hiruzen even let a certain Orochimaru—one seriously nasty shinobi who conducted inhuman experiments on the residents of his own village—go. Even though their worldviews really, really clashed. From this, it follows that to avoid provoking my guardian, I just need to avoid messing with my fellow villagers. Whereas, based on our conversation, anything that's an "enemy" is fair game... What am I even thinking about? I'm not going to become a maniac... although some of my caretakers might have thought so a year or a year and a half ago. Or a vivisectionist? I never killed anyone in my past life... I think. And I wasn't in any kind of relationship with any corpses, either...
In short, being under Hiruzen's watch is far from a bad position. Considering no duties were mentioned, you could even say I've got it made. Exactly how "made" remains to be seen. After all, I wasn't handed a list of future perks. As for duties, well, you're supposed to be grateful for what you're given, in theory. But at the same time, you need to find a balance for that gratitude. If the duties turn out to be more than they're worth, I'll definitely try to weasel my way out of them. Thankfully, Konoha is an organization, and in any organization, not everyone actually works.
Right now, by the way, I was sitting on a cot in one of the hospital rooms.
They had recently taken a whole battery of tests: blood, hair, skin, they'd stuck some thin needle into my stomach and, for some reason, clipped off a tiny piece of my nail. Thankfully, my anal orifice remained untouched.
Some old geezer in a doctor's white coat was cheerfully tapping away at the keyboard of what looked to me like an ancient computer. Though for this place, the machine might actually be state-of-the-art.
Holy shit. Turns out the internet might actually exist here.
"You have extensive dendritic vessels of chakra expansion, Uzumaki-san," he said, spouting some clearly smart‑sounding crap.
"...What?"
"I'm saying, you have high potential for chakra reserve growth. Astonishingly high..." He suddenly started moving, his fingers flying across the keyboard and mouse. "M-hm, m-hm, congratulations. If you start developing right now according to the latest program, by the time you're twelve, your reserve will surpass that of Lord Third's! At the peak of his power! And even though you have Yang-dominant accretive channels of chakra flow... your Yin component is remarkably developed!"
"Uh-huh..."
"You must have done a lot of mental work," he nodded to himself and clicked the mouse again. "As for the other results, you're surprisingly healthy—not a single allergy, pathology, or anything of the sort. Your hair is resilient; you definitely won't go bald before you're thirty. Strong nails. Normal skin type."
"Uh-huh... Though it's weird that all these tests were lumped together."
"What do you mean? It's standard procedure," he said, turning away from the monitor to face me with a puzzled look.
I could only shrug in response. Well, I'm no medical expert, maybe that's how it's done. They can't just be yanking my chain, can they? So instead of empty complaints, I showed some curiosity. "About those dendritic vessels... they determine potential, right?"
"Correct, although the subject is still very poorly understood."
"So... we don't have ways to increase the number of vessels to, you know, increase potential?"
"Alas, alas, the level of sensitivity required is immense!" the old geezer exclaimed, shaking his head. "These are the creations of Lord Third and a huge scientific team. And even with our combined fuinjutsu capabilities, we were only able to get a tiny glimpse of them."
"Fuin?"
"The fuin research complex, under the control of fuinjutsu masters, with Lord Third in the central position!"
His statement threw me for a bit of a loop. Because:
"Isn't fuin just about sealing things?"
"No, no, not at all. That's generally correct, but not entirely... It's a whole complicated story with the terminology," he said, waving his hand dismissively. "Fuin seals the creator's will so that... Well, you can read about it later."
To my disappointment, he quickly stopped answering questions and returned to his computer. Hmm.
"Now for the most interesting part!" he jumped up and slid the door to the side. "Come in."
And on his command, in walked shinobi who looked similar to the ones who accompanied Hiruzen in masks. ANBU—the Special Assassination and Tactical Squad, directly under the Hokage's command and not as shady as Root. They'd been waiting in the hallway for about ten minutes, by the way. It was kind of interesting to watch, as they were talking amongst themselves the whole time. Probably about work. Too bad I can't read lips. With this ability of my soul, I could be a great spy.
Then I noticed three chairs, which the newcomers sat down on. After that, I was asked to sit up, and they wheeled over some kind of metal cube on a pedestal covered in characters.
"Uzumaki-san, now listen carefully and follow my commands," the old geezer said in a serious tone, though he immediately undermined it by kicking his legs and rolling over on his chair.
The chair was a bit too big for him, so his feet didn't quite reach the floor… I know that feeling all too well.
"You mentioned that you are capable of chakra manipulation," he continued. "Your task is to concentrate images in your chakra as much as you possibly can. I will say a word, and you are to pour the very first thing that comes to mind into your energy! Don't try to find meaning in the words; they will be random. The main thing is to channel the first image that comes into your head as quickly as possible. Ready?"
"I guess..." I answered, placing my hands on the cube and peripherally noting the sharpened attention from the three shinobi.
"Green..."
In that same moment, with a pleasant, quiet hum, my chakra rushed through its channels. The current stopped inside the cube, quickly filling the unknown artifact. The humming disappeared; I held my energy within the object. An image flared in my mind. Clear, reflecting the ever-growing essence of the word that denotes color. I felt something inside me strain to change the chakra.
"Elephant."
My hands trembled involuntarily as other images tried to follow the one of the animal… but I managed to hold them back.
"Grass."
I focused more and more. Without my noticing, the world around me began to fade. My soul vision dimmed…
"Tower."
The word seemed to echo from somewhere farther away as my consciousness slipped into a trance.
"Carriage."
Even farther...
"Flooower."
Suddenly, my spherical vision expanded, and I felt a hand shaking my shoulder.
"What, flower? Oh... oops, sorry." Apparently, I had zoned out and gotten lost in my own head.
"It's quite alright," the not-yet-introduced older man said, moving away. "That's enough."
He took three clipboards with data from the shinobi. Where did they get those, I wonder? I hadn't noticed them in the room before.
"Thank you, you may go." As they were leaving, he started rapidly inputting data into the computer again. "And so... O-o-oh, uh-huh, uh-huh… I must congratulate you again, Uzumaki-san. I envy you… A diamond in the rough. The facts have all aligned. From the moment you were born, you were destined to be great..."
"Could you be more specific?" I asked, pulling him back from his poetic stream of thought.
"Yes… My parents were powerful ninja. I inherited a great talent for chakra reserve growth. But my talent for control was deficient… so much so that I couldn't become a shinobi…"
Seriously? I thought wearily. Is some random guy really about to tell me the sob story of his life? Oh, right… I'm in Naruto…
"The world is unfair," he continued. "Some get nothing, others get everything. Usually, everyone is born with an average talent for control. More rarely, with one like mine. Even rarer are true geniuses, like Lord Third. But cases where all talents converge at their highest point… We only know for certain of Lord First."
"More concisely, please," I requested, already a little glad that he was keeping his autobiography brief.
"You have the greatest talent for energy control! But it will only fully blossom in your old age. And I must say, on behalf of the scientific community, do not die! By fifteen, you could already replace Lord Third, but beyond that, you will only surpass him exponentially. I must also ask you—study fuinjutsu! It's an incredibly broad field. But in any of its branches, you can reach heights that others can't even fathom." Finishing his spiel, the scientist stared at me with immense expectation and some kind of hidden… reverence? Awe? It was strange to be on the receiving end of that.
"I'll... keep that in mind." Not dying… I'd like that. "And I'll try my best."
"Excellent! All the data has been collected. Later, a messenger will deliver your individual chakra source development program. Lord Third himself will create it!"
"Thank you for your work," I said, about to get off the cot and go about my business.
"Oh, don't mention it, they pay me for it," the old geezer said with a wave of his hand. "Perhaps you have any more questions, Uzumaki-san?"
I suddenly stopped, halfway to getting my feet on the floor, and climbed back up. This man seemed quite knowledgeable about chakra. So why not continue this little "interview," just not about him, but about a topic that interested me.
"Yes, going back to the dendritic vessels. Is there a similar marker for control potential?"
"We hope so," he said without hesitation, spreading his hands. "We would very much like to find one. Perhaps that discovery could elevate humanity. The ability to control energy is extremely important… But, alas, not everything is within our power."
I see. According to the scientist, this control, unlike chakra, develops throughout one's life. "But it will only fully blossom in your old age." For now, it seems they only have some cobbled-together formulas for roughly calculating something they don't fully understand. I'll need to dedicate time to this question in the future. For now, next question:
"What did you mean by an individual program?"
"A set of exercises with chakra. As for physical training," he said, looking me over, "it's not recommended without a course of special preparations and the supervision of an experienced mentor. One thing at a time—first, you need to get used to the methodical development of your chakra."
"So that means, for a while, I won't be developing my Yang component. That component progresses from physical training, right?"
"No, Yang, like Yin, can be developed through any chakra manipulation. By training the body, a shinobi undoubtedly increases the production, reserve, and slightly the quality of Yang. Every cell in the body produces and stores Yang. The chakra nexus penetrates every cell; it directly interacts with and is the center of energy. But this means that by manipulating chakra, we can work backward: develop the body through the use of chakra… though, generally, that develops Yin better than the body. Although the method isn't significantly worse than physical training if you use a single methodology."
"So, Yin can be developed by practicing chakra manipulation?"
"Not only, but it's one of the most effective ways. You can also do it through any kind of learning, meditation, and gaining experience in something. For example, you can hone one technique and try to add something to it. That will strengthen your Yin and, as a result, the chakra created with it."
"M-hm... you mentioned potentials for reserve and control. Based on that, are there perhaps some objective power rankings? Besides dividing shinobi into Genin—junior shinobi, Chunin—senior, and Jonin—elite."
"There are also Tokubetsu Jonin and their commanders—Senior Jonin. A Tokubetsu holds the rank of Jonin in only one area, while regular Jonin have at least two specialties. As for Senior Jonin, we have almost none… They are appointed by the Hokage for exceptional mastery in their field and the ability to teach it. But all these ranks can be considered relative. It happens that a Genin will defeat a Tokubetsu in a fight—and there's nothing surprising about that."
"How so?"
"There are a ninja's main stats: Bloodline Strength—you could call it potential—mastery of weapons, Ninjutsu, Genjutsu, and Taijutsu—using the body for combat. That's speaking generally, without details. But there are also other characteristics: speed, energy, strength, intelligence. Many pass the Chunin exams thanks to the last one. Good teamwork is one of the two qualities a Chunin must possess. The other is the ability to prepare for and adapt to an opponent. But that doesn't mean a Chunin has to be strong on their own. Everyone has weaknesses—a Chunin must exploit them."
"Based on my tests, could you give me a breakdown?"
"Of course, I essentially did that before. Just in much greater detail. But to summarize, among the main stats, you only have Bloodline Strength—your genome is maxed out. Though that's relative. Some, like the Uchiha for example, also have this stat at maximum. But your talents are incomparable. I've also symbolically put a few points into the Ninjutsu line. Of course, your control is higher than almost any Genin's. But you don't know any techniques. Of the other characteristics: speed is that of a normal person, since you can't enhance your body with chakra; strength is at the same level. But due to the properties of your chakra, your stamina is much higher than it should be for an untrained person. Intelligence, considering your age, is presumably over two hundred IQ points. And you have as much energy as a dozen Jonin."
"As much as a dozen Jonin?" I asked, surprised.
"Yes. That is the 'injustice' of the world!" the old geezer feigned outrage this time. "All shinobi, one way or another, have a limit to which they can develop. Until that limit is reached, they can multiply their chakra reserves. And in a relatively short time. Once the limit is reached, of course, a shinobi can continue to develop. But nowhere near as quickly."
"So, in a way, everyone is equal after all? And, let's say, in terms of reserves, it's quite possible to catch up to me?"
"No, it's not. You were born with a reserve that almost all shinobi will never develop. It's very good if a shinobi reaches the reserve of a Jonin by twenty. But even that is rare."
Well, cool. Good thing I stayed in this body. It's an awesome vessel. Not only are my connections damn impressive, but my potential turned out to be even higher, it seems.
"That's an understatement, Uzumaki-san. But for now, it doesn't reflect much of your actual abilities. With this ranking system, you can become a shinobi with just brains and a bit of talent. Even a Senior Jonin, in fact. Though you'd have to get lucky with the brains. And the position would be military, yes, but definitely not a field one."
"Thank you for your explanations… Hospital-Worker-san," I said with a nod of gratitude, finally hopping off the cot.
"Oh, don't mention it, Uzumaki-san. This stuff is all in the basic literature anyway. And I enjoyed slacking off. Stop by anytime. I'm always here."
"Uh... Okay."
I walked out into the corridor and trudged off toward my section of the hospital.
They sure gave me a lot to chew on. A thought is even creeping in—did I do the right thing with all this?.. I could have spent years in my usual rhythm, without overexerting myself. But now, with some kind of training system, I'll have to work. Heh.
On the other hand, if you don't leave your comfort zone, life can eat you up. In my case, literally. So… we grab our something-or-other, and forward we go, with a song!
A/N
The characters in this story—even the ones in lab coats—can be wrong. How much, and in which direction, is a secret.)
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