Gathering Ki in School and Meeting a Little Spidey

Taking in the Ki, spreading it through my body, circulating it a few times and then bringing it back to my Ki Center.

This is all I've been doing during this little...playtime the class seems to have before 'lessons' start.

I was surrounded by a bunch of snot-nosed brats, so I thought it'd be better to use my time productively. Though, to the outside world I probably looked like I was napping or something. I'd gotten rid of the need to be in the lotus position to cultivate a dozen reincarnations ago, so now I could be in whatever position I wanted to be in. I could do it when standing up, doing a handstand, or even lying down.

All I needed was concentration and to focus that concentration on the intake of Ki. Sadly, I can't take in Ki constantly - if I did, I'd be tripping over and falling on my face whenever I began walking.

Though with this new Dragon Heart, I've found that my control is already quite high. Usually, it took my a few years to get to the control I have now. Which is a good thing. I always hated control training. But that didn't mean I wouldn't continue to do it, just that I found it unnecessarily tedious.

I had two goals I always aim for at the start of every reincarnation:

1) Gain enough Ki to use the Outer Body Training Method. With this I can bring this bodies neural network up to scratch. Given my Dragon Heart and my own experience, this re-working of my nervous system shouldn't take long and by the time I'm ready for intense physical exercise, my body should be hardwired for fighting.

2) To implement the Iron Body Technique as soon as possible. It not only increases my innate strength by a large margin but it will always increase my durability to bulletproof levels along with making the strength given even more potent when activated. Even the disadvantages of making the body slow have been worked out by me over the years of practicing it.

They should be completed in that order as well. Knowing I have enough Ki for the Outer Body Training Method would mean I have enough Ki to Initiate myself into the Iron Body Technique.

I didn't just gain the Black Heaven & Earth School Martial Arts and knowledge but also the knowledge belonging to the Iron Fist School. Meaning, not only are my Ki Techniques superior to just about everything else I've found in this world, so are my Body Arts. Bringing my metal-like body together with my tenacious Black Heaven & Earth Ki...it has caused untold destruction throughout the ages.

Though...with this Dragon Heart giving me a sizable enhancement to my body already, I wonder what will happen after I initiate myself into the Iron Body Technique...Maybe I'll live up to my nickname back when I was in China even more?

Jinshu Long. Or Metal Dragon, in English.

I found myself opening my eyes, chuckling to myself before I, on instinct, moved my head back and away from the person who was practically right in my face.

If it weren't for the fact I saw they were a child, I would've crushed their throat purely on instinct alone. Luckily I had sufficient control over myself. Though, this Dragon Heart and the traces of Dragon Blood within me...they're making control quite a hard thing. I always wondered why they were so prideful and easily angered but it looks like it was actually because it was in their blood. Figures.

The back of my head bashed against the wall as I tried to move back but I barely felt the impact as I began to inspect the kid in front of me.

Shaggy brown hair that was left unkempt like most kids in this class, save for the girls, hazel eyes that were hidden behind thick glasses but even the thick lenses couldn't hide the curiosity in this kid's eyes.

"...Hello?" I asked when the kid just continued to stare at me. He looked a bit creepy doing that, honestly.

But looking a bit closer, it was like he was analyzing me. Like a computer. For a second I thought I was gonna be dealing with some kind of cold kid but when he began to smile with a goofy look on his face, I realized I'd jumped the gun and assumed too much. He put his hand out in a surprising display of maturity for a 6-year-old.

"Hi! My name's Peter B. Parker!" he said with a high-pitched voice and I looked at him for a few more seconds before taking his hand.

Peter Parker...Why does that name sound familiar? MCU...Peter Parker...nerdy demeanor...Spider-Man? Huh.

"Leo Fletcher. It's nice to meet you, Peter," I greeted while thinking something.

I'd have to change my plans somewhat, now that I've met the future Spider-Man. Mainly to see that Spider that bites him. I don't want to take those powers away from him but I wouldn't mind having a look at the Spider venom. Might make a pretty good Spirit Medicine.

More and more information came back to my head, though most of it was blurry and fuzzy, I got the gist of it and it showed me a multitude of enhancements that could probably pass off as good Spirit Medicine for my body.

"Umm what were you just doing, Leo?" Peter asked, bringing my attention back to him. He was looking at me curiously again and I just gave him an innocent look.

"Napping, I guess," I gave a nonchalant answer, wondering if he'd actually figured something out.

"Hmm," Peter just hummed, a hand on his chin like some kind of detective, "Well, it didn't look like you were napping. You weren't relaxed enough for that," he said with a self-assured tone, to which I raised an eyebrow at him.

No wonder he was seen as a genius.

Getting up, the height difference between me and Peter was quickly shown. Whether due to the positive effects of my Yang-type Body or because of my Dragon Heart and the accompanying bloodline, I had a bigger than average build. Taller and broader than others my age with a lean, unblemished body. I didn't have much in the way of muscles yet - I'm only 6-years-old, after all - but I still have a somewhat athletic look.

When compared to the short and skinny Peter, it was like night and day.

"Well, I wouldn't say I was napping like a normal person. I was just thinking about stuff while closing my eyes," I shrugged, seeing no point in stubbornly sticking to my guns on whether I was napping or not. If anything, I wanted to show Peter that I wasn't like the other kids. That I wasn't stupid, mainly.

And as if to prove the impression I had of him, Peter's eyes sparkled with a sort of excitement, "Thinking? Thinking about what?" he asked with a slightly hurried tone, like he'd never expected someone to answer this way.

...If I remember right, Peter was a science kid, right? Ki and Spirit Medicine is kind of related to Biology, right? Worth a shot.

"Biology or rather my body. I was thinking about how to make it stronger," I spoke with a smirk, wondering what type of reaction I'd get from Peter. I wanted to gauge his reactions toward my oddness. I wasn't odd in a bad way or even in an abnormal way...if you didn't mention my age. Out of bad habits more than anything, I said things a normal child would never say.

I was trying to see if Peter would understand what I was saying, get weirded out by it, or just get confused.

"How to improve your body...?" Peter asked, his face turning confused for a second before he continued, "Like exercise?" he asked and I nodded before his face turned into one of childish worry, "You can't do that! We're too young for things like exercise! You might damage your body and leave it badly developed!" he said and I just looked at him before laughing out loud.

His worry became confusion but I ignored that.

Instead of thinking it was an odd thing to say, he was worried about what I'd do to my body? Hahaha! Truly something a future-hero would say and think. Though I must say, to understand that heavy physical exercise can deform a child's body, that's quite an achievement for a kid his age.

Most children would have no idea the extensive damage one could do to their body if they rushed exercise or did the wrong types as a child. Even bodyweight exercise can deform a child's bones and muscles and make them develop in a bad way as they grow. Which is why I've only stuck to stretches and yoga. Everything else will be reserved for when I'm 11 or older.

Luckily my Dragon Heart will continue to passively buff my body and with Ki I should be able to temporarily enhance my power to superhuman levels.

Though with the Dragon Heart inside of me...I should be able to initiate myself into the Iron Body Technique a year before I start my proper physical training. And once I've reached a certain level, I should get into contact with 'them' once again. I'll need some favors.

Who am I speaking about? Why, The Hand, of course.

They still owe me one and I intend to use that favor to secure some resources. Though, this life will be the life where I finally destroy them. Especially that bastard Murakami.

Oh, it's been a long time coming. His death, mainly. I'll avenge everyone he took from me.

And not even his whole fucking army will be able to stop me this time. Not when I'm in this body - this body that has the most potential out of every body I've been in.

Realizing I'd went back into my head and just left Peter looking worried, I waved a hand as if to say 'Ah, it's no big deal' and spoke up to Peter, "Don't worry about it, Peter. I know the risks. Anyway, wanna be friends? You're not like the other kids. You've actually got a brain," I said with a chuckle, though Peter's face went a little uncomfortable-looking when I insulted our classmates.

"You...you shouldn't look down on them just because they're not as clever...a person's value shouldn't be placed on their intelligence! That's what my aunt always says!" he said with a righteous tone but I just kept smiling. He has his beliefs. I have mine. Seeing my lack of reaction, Peter just huffed before nodding in my direction, "As long as you aren't mean or anything...I'll be your friend, Leo," he smiled at me, like he'd already forgotten his warning.

Just as he said this, our teacher started calling for us to gather round. So we did.

Peter just looked happy that he'd gained a friend while I was beginning to think about how I'd have to change my plans a little.

...13-years-old. I'll be ready to contact 'her', the leader of The Hand, when I'm 13. I should have the strength to defend myself and with that favor, I should be able to get them to stay away from my part of New York, which was Queens, for reference. I could maybe even wait until I was 14 just to make sure...though I need to be ready to get the Spider from Peter after he's bitten. When was that again? I know he was a young-ish teenager but I can't remember when exactly.

Too much time focused on fighting and too little on remembering my past life, I guess. Though, you can't blame me. I didn't know I was in the MCU until a few hundred years into this 'life'.

Haah~ I'll just have to keep a close eye on Peter for a while. But it'll give me enough benefits, so it should be fine. With this body, I can handle the smaller training time and still get more results than in my other lives.

Smiling to myself, I wondered if I'd become childhood friends with any hot heroines...though that's an Anime troupe, isn't it? Ah, whatever. Probably happens in comics sometimes as well.

With that, I sat down and watched as the other kids began to introduce themselves.

I just focused on gathering Ki again.