Chapter 6: Training
Chapter 6: Training
Today was a bright, sunny day.
The Ninja Academy was on break, and for once, Grandpa Kosuke also had a few rare days off. This was the perfect opportunity for Kazama to ask the one thing he had been holding back on for so long—training.
Taking a deep breath and steeling his resolve, Kazama finally made his request.
"Grandpa, I want to start training."
"Alright."
Kosuke responded as if Kazama had just mentioned the weather. He didn't even pause in eating his breakfast, his expression completely calm, as if he had already expected this.
Kazama had braced himself for a refusal.
After all, at just six years old, training to refine chakra was theoretically possible but rarely done. Only children from ninja clans started that early—ordinary students were still building their foundational knowledge and physical conditioning.
Chakra refinement was typically taught in the second year of the Academy, once a child's body and mind were more developed.
"It's about time," Kosuke continued. "Children from ninja clans start learning chakra control before they even enter the Academy. Your body isn't particularly strong, so I held off for half a year. But now, you're ready. It's time I teach you how to refine chakra."
Kazama was shocked.
Tears welled up in his eyes.
"So that's why?!"
"Grandpa, why didn't you just say so earlier?! If I had known, I would've worked on my body even harder!"
For months, he had assumed Kosuke had some hidden reason for delaying his training. But no—it was just a simple matter of physical readiness.
Why did the old man have to be so cryptic?
"Sit down and listen," Kosuke instructed. "Chakra is formed by…"
Kazama already understood the basics of chakra.
Knowing the theory, however, didn't mean he could actually do it. If it were that easy, he wouldn't have waited for Kosuke's guidance.
Chakra refinement involved countless intricate factors. Even the smallest mistake could lead to failure.
Kosuke's voice remained steady as he explained.
"First, empty your mind. Let go of all thoughts and desires. Focus inward and sense the energies within your body—the balance between your physical energy and spiritual energy…"
Kazama followed along, allowing his thoughts to settle.
Gradually, his body felt light—as if he had become a hollow, transparent vessel.
Within him, he could see his energies:
Mental energy concentrated in his brain, calm and composed.
Physical energy flowing through the rest of his body, wild and unrestrained.
"Once you feel them, gather them together and blend them…"
"The two forces must merge—meld them into a new energy. That is chakra."
"Don't ask when it will work. You'll know when it does."
Kosuke's words guided Kazama into deep concentration.
His mind grew quiet.
Still.
At peace.
Kazama could now see his own inner energies—an ability he hadn't expected.
"Why can I suddenly enter a meditative 'inner vision' state? Never mind, that's a question for later—right now, my focus is on refining chakra."
Following Kosuke's instructions, he attempted to control his energies.
The mental energy responded well—though a bit sluggish, it was still manageable.
The physical energy, however, was an entirely different beast.
It was wild, restless, and completely ignored his commands.
"Damn it. How do I make it listen?"
He tried using his mind to chase the physical energy, but it was too fast. Every time he thought he had control, it slipped away.
Kazama wasn't making any progress.
He needed a new approach.
Instead of chasing the physical energy, he decided to observe it carefully.
What was its pattern?
What was its movement like?
After focusing on one particular strand of physical energy, he began to understand its behavior.
It wasn't moving randomly—it followed a natural rhythm, flowing through his body without a set destination.
"I've been trying to forcefully control all my physical energy at once… but maybe I don't have to."
"What if I just focus on guiding one small part at a time?"
His mind latched onto the single strand of physical energy.
Surprisingly, with this narrowed focus, it became easier to control.
With careful precision, he led this tiny strand of physical energy towards his mental energy.
Then—
He crashed it directly into his spiritual energy.
The two forces clashed.
At first, they refused to merge, completely rejecting one another.
But Kazama kept pressing forward.
Gradually, the mental energy wrapped around the physical energy, holding it in place like a dumpling wrapper enclosing its filling.
The energies weren't fully merging yet, but this was progress.
For the first time, Kazama felt that he wasn't entirely failing.
---
Kosuke's voice broke through his concentration.
"How's it going? Any progress?"
Kazama opened his eyes, feeling exhausted.
His entire body ached.
His head felt like mush, as if he had pulled an all-night gaming session.
He clutched his forehead, groaning.
"Some progress… but I still haven't produced chakra yet."
Kosuke chuckled.
"That's fine. It's only your first day. We'll continue tomorrow. For now, rest. No other activities until this process is complete."
Kazama sighed in relief.
Kosuke wasn't surprised by his failure—this was normal.
Most kids with average talent took several days to succeed.
Only geniuses could refine chakra on their first attempt.
And Kazama?
He wasn't a genius—he knew that.
Still, he had made progress, and that was what mattered.
Kosuke knew the limits of chakra refinement.
At most, they could keep trying for seven days.
Beyond that, if Kazama still failed, then it meant he simply wasn't meant to be a ninja.
The process of refining chakra drained both physical and mental energy.
Unlike the passive energy loss from daily life, this was a forced, conscious exertion.
That was why Kazama felt so exhausted—his body and mind were both being pushed to their limits.
A person could only endure this for so long.
If he failed within seven days, the continued strain would begin depleting his life force.
Kosuke had no intention of letting that happen.
But for now—
They still had time.
Kazama closed his eyes, determined to succeed before the seven-day limit.