Chapter 4: Awakening the Bloodline
Chapter 4: Awakening the Bloodline
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Hikaru sat cross-legged in the center of the ruined training ground, his palms resting on his knees, his breathing slow and deliberate. The early morning mist hung low over the village, a quiet contrast to the chaos that had shaken Konoha just a day before.
He exhaled slowly, reaching inward.
Chakra.
It wasn't something he could see, but he could feel it—a slow, swirling energy within his core, pulsing beneath his skin like a second heartbeat. Every living being in this world possessed it, but not everyone could wield it.
And if he wanted to survive in this world, he had to master it.
The sensation was strange, like trying to control something that wasn't fully a part of him. He could feel the warmth of the chakra within him, but it was wild—untamed.
It resisted.
Hikaru's brow furrowed. He needed control.
His hands formed a half-ram seal, something he had seen shinobi use countless times in training exercises.
He exhaled and pushed.
A faint spark of energy flickered around his body.
Then, everything snapped.
A surge of power coursed through him—sudden, overwhelming, too much. The ground beneath him cracked, tiny roots bursting through the soil, twisting wildly before withering in an instant.
He gasped, falling back, his hands trembling.
What the hell was that?
He stared at the small, brittle roots that had pushed their way through the earth. They were fragile, barely developed, but they had appeared.
That wasn't normal.
Hikaru's pulse raced.
Was this… Wood Release?
He didn't even have time to celebrate before his system flickered.
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[Bloodline Activation Detected]
→ Senju Bloodline: Unlocked
→ Latent Elemental Affinity: Earth & Water
→ Kekkei Genkai: Wood Release (Dormant)
→ Chakra Reserves Increased by 10%
→ Chakra Control: Beginner → Adept
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Hikaru's breath hitched.
It was real.
The Senju bloodline. The very thing that had made Hashirama Senju—the First Hokage—one of the most powerful shinobi in history.
And now, it was his.
Or at least, it would be.
Wood Release was still dormant. It wasn't fully awakened, meaning he didn't have actual control over it yet. But the fact that his chakra had reacted at all meant it was possible.
He could reach that level.
A slow grin spread across his face.
He had something no one else in this village had. Not even Tsunade, the last known Senju, had inherited Wood Release.
But he did.
And that changed everything.
He needed to train. Hard.
Hikaru shifted back into position, closing his eyes, breathing evenly. His chakra had flared wildly before, so he needed to learn how to control it. He couldn't afford to lose focus like that in the middle of a fight.
Chakra Control.
It was one of the most fundamental skills for a shinobi. Without control, no amount of raw power would matter.
He needed to start with the basics.
And there was one exercise every Academy student had to master before anything else.
The Leaf Concentration Exercise.
Hikaru reached into the pouch he had taken from a broken weapons stall and pulled out a single green leaf.
He placed it on his forehead and took a slow breath.
Focus.
Instead of forcing his chakra outward like before, he guided it.
A slow, steady stream of energy flowed from his core, moving upward, pressing against the leaf.
At first, nothing happened.
Then, the leaf quivered.
Hikaru smiled.
Now, the real training began.
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The sun had risen high by the time Hikaru stopped. His body ached, his chakra reserves were running low, but he had made progress. The leaf exercise had become easier with each attempt. His chakra wasn't fighting him as much as before.
His system had even confirmed it.
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[Skill Gained: Leaf Concentration Exercise]
→ Chakra Control: Adept → Skilled
→ Chakra Efficiency Increased
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He let out a deep sigh, leaning back against a nearby tree.
He wasn't anywhere near ready for combat. But he was improving.
A rustling sound nearby made him freeze.
Hikaru's head snapped to the side, his muscles tensing. He wasn't alone.
His chakra flared instinctively, heightening his awareness. Footsteps. Two people. Approaching fast.
He turned just in time to see two figures land in the clearing.
Both were wearing Konoha headbands. One was a young boy, maybe ten, with wild brown hair and red fang-like markings on his cheeks. A small white dog sat on his head, its ears twitching.
The other was a tall man, probably in his late twenties, with dark glasses, a high-collared jacket, and an eerie stillness to him.
Hikaru immediately recognized them.
Inuzuka Tsume and Aburame Shibi.
The mother of Kiba Inuzuka. And the father of Shino Aburame.
Both of them were jonin-level shinobi.
Tsume was the first to speak.
"Oi, kid," she called, hands on her hips. "You got some strong chakra for a brat your age."
Hikaru swallowed. His chakra surge earlier—had they sensed it?
Shibi adjusted his glasses. "We were monitoring the area to ensure no remnants of the attack were left behind. Imagine our surprise when we detected a flare of senjutsu-like chakra."
Senjutsu?
No, that couldn't be right. He wasn't using Sage Mode or anything close to it. But the Senju bloodline was known for producing abnormally strong chakra.
Tsume's sharp eyes studied him. "You're a Senju, huh?"
Hikaru tensed.
"Not a lot of you left," she muttered. "Figures you'd have ridiculous chakra."
Shibi nodded. "It would be unwise to train alone. Even controlled bursts of chakra can attract attention. You are fortunate we arrived first."
Hikaru exhaled slowly, nodding. "I understand."
Tsume smirked. "Good. Then let's see what you can do."
Hikaru blinked. "What?"
She cracked her knuckles. "I've seen plenty of strong brats before. But strength ain't worth much without skill."
Shibi remained silent, but Hikaru could tell he was equally curious.
This was a test.
A real one.
His first fight against actual shinobi.
Hikaru's pulse quickened.
He didn't know if he could win.
But he wasn't about to back down.
He stepped forward, shifting into a basic stance.
Tsume grinned.
"Alright, Senju brat. Let's see if you've got the bite to match that chakra."
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To Be Continued…