Chapter 5: Two Mysterious Boys

In the rehearsal venue's shadowy corner, Morittonio waited for Hisoka and Oboro to arrive. The circus leader gestured for them to join him, and while Hisoka took a seat beside him, Oboro remained standing.

"The others are afraid Hisoka will steal their techniques," Morittonio observed with a slight smile, nodding toward the practice area where several members continued their late-night rehearsals. Usually, everyone would retire to rest after dinner, but lately, more performers had taken to practicing in secret.

"Such timidity," the leader sighed. "When Hisoka clearly has no interest in their simple tricks."

"Actually, Captain, there is one thing I'd love to learn," Hisoka interjected, his eyes gleaming. "Your 'Air Swimming' technique... now that seems fascinating."

Morittonio didn't react to Hisoka's casual use of his name. "I won't teach you that, no matter how talented you are. Some things can't be replicated."

"True enough."

Hisoka nodded, but his eyes suddenly sharpened as they fixed on Morittonio. "The Captain's ability... it's related to this, isn't it?" He gestured to the air around them. "This flowing energy I can see around you."

"Oh?" Morittonio's surprise was evident. "Hisoka... you can see aura?"

"Aura?"

"Or as some call it, Nen."

"You mean this film-like light surrounding your body?"

Hisoka's words sent a jolt through both Morittonio and Oboro. The latter had assumed Hisoka had merely sensed the leader's powerful aura presence. Instead, the boy could actually see aura with untrained eyes, a sign of extraordinary potential.

Even more unsettling was Hisoka's next observation: "My aura's quite weak compared to yours, Mr. Morittonio."

The leader chose his next words carefully. "You've developed this awareness purely through natural insight..."

"Everyone possesses aura," Morittonio continued, abandoning pretense. "The reason mine appears stronger is through cultivation. Those who can strengthen and manipulate their aura are known as Nen users."

"Most people cannot perceive aura at all. Their nodes remain closed, causing their life energy to leak away constantly. Learning to contain and direct this power requires specific techniques. The ability to keep your aura from dispersing is called Ten, while strengthening it is called Ren."

Hisoka's expression showed genuine interest, while Oboro maintained his composure. For him, this was elementary knowledge from his previous life.

"Abaki, demonstrate," Morittonio instructed.

The girl nodded and took a stance, crossing her arms. With a focused breath, she released her aura in a controlled burst. To Hisoka's awakened senses, the display was impressive. Oboro, still unable to see aura, could only feel the sudden pressure in the air.

"Is this... Ren?" Hisoka rose to his feet, captivated.

"Ren represents the basic concept of concentrating and releasing aura," Morittonio explained. "But mastering Ten is equally essential. With your talent, Ren may come naturally, but even gifted students typically need a year to develop proper Ten. To reach Abaki's level usually takes three years of dedicated training."

"You'll begin training with me today, like Abaki has."

Only after settling this did Morittonio turn his attention to Oboro. Multiple pairs of eyes settled on him, waiting. The leader wasn't certain whether this second student could perceive aura like Hisoka.

Failure to sense aura naturally would place him in a different category entirely, a gap not easily bridged. While dedicated training could eventually develop aura sensitivity, it would indicate limited potential. As a busy Nen master running a circus, Morittonio had little time for teaching basics to those without natural aptitude.

"I have a request, Captain," Oboro spoke suddenly, his tone cold and deliberate.

"Go on..."

Morittonio's surprise was evident. Rather than addressing his aura sensitivity, Oboro had chosen this moment to make a demand.

"I want you to forcibly open my aura nodes."

The statement landed like a thunderbolt. Both Abaki and Morittonio's expressions transformed instantly.

"You... you know about Nen awakening?" Morittonio's voice deepened with concern.

"I encountered a Nen user who explained some things," Oboro replied with calculated ambiguity.

"I see..." The leader studied him carefully, noting how the boy's composure seemed beyond his years. His knowledge of Nen appeared genuine rather than superficial.

"You understand what you're asking?"

Morittonio's tone grew grave. A forced awakening, if the subject's aura nodes were completely unprepared, could be catastrophic.

The others' reactions to Oboro's declaration led Hisoka to turn to Abaki with a questioning look.

"Is he insane?" she whispered, then briefly explained the dangers of forced awakening to Hisoka.

A delighted laugh escaped Hisoka's lips, and his gaze when he looked at Oboro took on a predatory quality.

Oboro caught that look as he followed Morittonio out. He knew Hisoka had realized the truth, that Oboro couldn't naturally sense aura, that his talent was ordinary. Morittonio and Abaki, too focused on his shocking request, had missed this detail entirely.

Soon after, they gathered in an empty room where Hisoka and Abaki would witness Oboro's initiation into the world of Nen.

"When my aura enters your body, you must focus entirely on feeling the flow and turbulence of your own life energy," Morittonio instructed. "Once your nodes open, it will be like a dam breaking. Your aura will flood out all at once. If it's fully depleted, you'll experience extreme weakness. Even if you survive... the aftereffects may be beyond what you can handle."

"You must establish control quickly and maintain Ten!"

"Understood." Oboro's calm never wavered.

He'd made this choice after careful calculation. Lacking Hisoka's natural talent, he needed to take risks to keep pace. Once Hisoka became a full Nen user while they shared living quarters, Oboro would be at his mercy. At least Oboro had theoretical knowledge of what awakening would feel like, even if he'd never experienced it personally.

Oboro sat cross-legged on the floor, steadying his breathing before closing his eyes. Morittonio placed his aura-wrapped palm on Oboro's shoulder.

Instantly, a violent wind erupted in the room, sending papers flying and whipping through Hisoka and Abaki's hair.

Hisoka's eyes widened slightly as his tongue flicked out to wet his lips. The sight before him was extraordinary, aura exploded from Oboro's body in staggering quantities. The sheer volume spoke to a life force far beyond ordinary levels, likely developed through his relentless physical training.

Hisoka recalled the nightly sessions he'd witnessed in the park, understanding now how Oboro had achieved such impossible growth rates. While not the strongest physical specimen Hisoka had encountered, Oboro's rate of development was unprecedented.

"You truly are... different," Hisoka murmured, a disturbing smile playing across his features.

Abaki caught this expression and felt a chill run through her. She'd never seen such a hungry look in Hisoka's eyes before.

Raw aura continued pouring from Oboro's nodes while sweat beaded on Morittonio's forehead as he tried to contain the flood. Though his efforts helped little, it was better than nothing.

Blood began to spot Oboro's skin, his brow furrowing in pain. But within minutes, far faster than should have been possible, the chaotic aura emission stabilized, forming a controlled shroud around his body.

"He succeeded?" Abaki's voice held pure disbelief.

Even for those with talent, gaining initial control after forced awakening typically took fifteen minutes or more. Oboro had managed it in mere minutes, like running a nine-second hundred meter dash in two seconds. It defied everything they knew about Nen awakening.

Morittonio withdrew his aura, staring at Oboro in amazement before looking to Hisoka. What kind of prodigies had fate delivered to his circus?

...

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