Chapter 23: Learning Ninjutsu

Chapter 23:

Murakami's POV

The sun was still dragging itself lazily over the horizon when I left the orphanage, the familiar weight of my seals pressing down on my limbs as I walked.

A crisp breeze swept through the village, carrying the smells of freshly baked bread and the distant clang of blacksmiths starting their day.

Konoha always felt like it was alive, even before most people were out of bed.

I liked that about this place.

It had grown on me, more than I ever thought it would.

Especially now.

I scratched at the back of my head, trying to shake off the warmth threatening to creep up on me.

"Tch. I'm getting soft."

Even if I told myself that, I knew the truth.

I'd been taking care of them the best way I knew how... quietly.

I reached the Academy just as the morning bell rang, slipping into the courtyard like I hadn't just spent the past two years juggling business, training, and school like some overworked salaryman in a child's body.

Most of the students were already gathered, stretching or sparring lightly to shake off the early chill.

"Yo."

I turned just in time to see him, Katsuro Nara, hands stuffed into his pockets, posture so lazy you'd think he'd rolled out of bed five minutes ago.

Which, knowing him, he probably had.

We met last year, got grouped together for a team project on battlefield formations. He carried the theory, I carried the execution, and somehow we managed to scrape a perfect score.

Since then, we just sort of... stuck.

He wasn't some kind of clan heir or something but you didn't think it's only the clan heirs that go to the academy, right?

Wrong! In fact, clan heirs don't actually go to the academy. And by clan heir, I mean, actual clan successor and future clan head.

Those ones receive personalised training from the clan itself.

"Late night?" Katsuro drawled, eyeing the faint ink smudges still on my fingertips.

I tucked my hands into my haori, scowling. "None of your business, Nara."

He smirked. "Business, huh? Must've been a busy one."

Cheeky bastard.

Before I could retort, a familiar voice cut in.

"You two gossiping again?"

Aiko strolled up, hands behind her back, her pale brown hair tied into a short ponytail.

I raised an eyebrow at her. "Shouldn't you be off dazzling the new fourth-years? Little miss early promotion?"

She rolled her eyes but couldn't quite hide the grin tugging at her lips.

"You're just jealous I got promoted and you didn't."

"Tch. Please. I refused promotion, remember?" I drawled.

But inwardly?

I was proud of her.

When I first met Aiko, she was just another scrappy orphan who tagged along with the others whenever I snuck out to train behind the building.

They'd copied my exercises, badgered me for pointers, and somehow, without me even realizing it, they'd gotten better.

Not genius level like some fanfic would make their side characters, but they were decent enough.

I hated that it made me feel... proud.

"Tch. Brats, the whole lot of them." I muttered inaudibly to myself

As we walked through the courtyard that buzzed louder as the morning wore on, I caught glimpses of upperclassmen showing off their elemental ninjutsu in sparring matches at the far end of the field, fireballs, wind bursts, even the occasional lightning spark.

Our class wasn't there yet.

This year would be the first time they'd allow us to learn chakra manipulation and elemental affinity.

Finally.

It was about damn time.

The village library and academy library placed restrictions on the books certain people of status can read, directly defeating the purpose of it being a library, but hey, who am I to complain, right?

Katsuro stretched lazily beside me. "You think they'll let us try fireball jutsu this year?"

I snorted. "Not unless you want to set half the class on fire."

He was from a clan but wasn't given specialised training so I wasn't all that surprised. Animation would just be messing with our heads.

Aiko giggled.

"Knowing you two, the academy could be on fire, and you'd just stand there debating whether it was worth putting out."

The Nara kid yawned, stretching lazily. "I mean, yeah. Do you know how much energy I'd expend doing something one of the higher-ups could handle more quickly and with less effort? It's just efficient."

Murakami shook his head with a smirk. "Efficient, my ass. You just don't want to move."

Aiko rolled her eyes but smirked. "And what about you, Mura-chi? You'd probably just watch the flames and mutter, 'Not my problem,' before walking away."

Murakami crossed his arms. "Please, if the academy was on fire, I'd at least take a moment to appreciate the warmth before leaving. It'd probably be rebuilt the next day."

…

The day went on, and while the others continued buzzing about ninjutsu training, my mind turned elsewhere.

Katsuro yawned beside me.

"Another year of blending into the background, huh?"

My thoughts returned and I smirked.

"You know me, Nara. I'm just here for the education."

He snorted. "Sure you are, Mr. I'm-Definitely-Not-Up-To-Anything-Shady."

Aiko giggled again.

"Whatever you're not up to," she said, her eyes narrowing, "just don't forget to teach us how to do it too."

I smirked. "Maybe if you pass this year without tripping over your own feet, I'll think about it."

As the instructor finally called us to attention, I fell in with the others, arms tucked inside my haori.

The year ahead stretched out before me like a blank scroll.

More training.

More business.

More secrets.

And maybe, just maybe, I'd find a way to carve out a place for myself in this world without getting dragged into the spotlight.

One step at a time.

…

The instructor stood at the front of the class, arms crossed, a thoughtful expression on his face as he scanned the gathered students.

"Alright, listen up," he called out, voice cutting through the morning chatter. "Today marks the start of your formal ninjutsu training. Up until now, you've worked on basic chakra control, enhancing your bodies, molding chakra for the Academy fundamental three. But from this point on, you'll be learning practical combat techniques."

A murmur spread through the students.

Some, like the clan kids who already had a head start, barely reacted. Others, like Aiko, clenched their fists in excitement. I kept my expression neutral, but inwardly, I was interested. Not excited, just… interested.

"Today, we'll be starting with a fundamental D-rank technique that all shinobi should be able to perform: Shokkuha no Jutsu—Shockwave Technique."

The instructor stepped forward as he raised his right hand. His fingers moved with fluid precision, forming a quick sequence of hand seals—Ox → Tiger → Ram. Chakra pulsed visibly around his palm, shimmering in the air. Then, with a sharp thrust, he pushed forward.

A concussive wave of force erupted from his hand, distorting the air as it surged outward.

Dust scattered. The grass in front of him flattened under the invisible pressure. Some of the students in the front row instinctively stepped back.

It wasn't flashy. No flames, no lightning, no explosions. But it was efficient.

"A direct application of controlled chakra release," the instructor explained, lowering his hand. "This technique uses chakra to generate a sudden burst of force that can push opponents back, break objects, or disrupt attacks. The key is precise chakra molding, not brute strength."

I tapped my fingers against my arm. A technique like that was subtle and practical. No wasted movements, no overuse of energy. I liked it already.

"Like all ninjutsu, this technique requires hand seals," the instructor continued. "Ox, Tiger, Ram. If you don't form them correctly, the chakra won't stabilize, and the technique will either fail or backfire."

He glanced around, scanning the class. "Who wants to give it a shot?"

Immediately, hands shot up.

Aiko was the first to step forward. "I'll go first!"

She squared her stance, raised her hands, and carefully formed the hand seals, Ox, Tiger, Ram. I could see the chakra gathering in her hand, flickering with unstable energy. With a quick motion, she thrust her palm forward—

Nothing.

The instructor sighed. "Too much chakra, not enough control. You're trying to force it instead of shaping it. Try again."

Aiko scowled, nodded, and went through the seals again. This time, a weak pulse of air left her hand, barely strong enough to rustle her hair. She clenched her fist in frustration but backed away to let the next student try.

One by one, my classmates attempted the technique.

Some managed weak pulses. Others lost control completely, sending bursts of chakra in all directions. One kid nearly fell over from pushing too hard, his own shockwave rebounding on him.

Katsuro sighed beside me. "You go. I'll go after."

I rolled my shoulders and stepped forward.

"Alright, let's see what you've got," the instructor said, watching me closely.

I took a deep breath and formed the hand seals—Ox → Tiger → Ram.

I raised my hand, feeling the familiar weight of my chakra stirring. The principle was simple: controlled chakra release. It was just like a gentler version of what I did when I reinforced my seals.

I focused, guiding my chakra into my palm, shaping it instead of dumping it out like raw force. Then, with a measured breath, I thrust my hand forward.

The air rippled.

Not a huge blast, but a controlled, concentrated pulse of force that shot forward, kicking up a small cloud of dust. It wasn't as strong as the instructor's, but it was stable.

He raised an eyebrow. "Huh. Not bad. You controlled the output instead of just pushing as hard as you could."

I shrugged. "Wasting energy is pointless." and walked back to the crowd.

Katsuro clapped me on the shoulder as he walked out. "You've got that whole 'minimal effort, maximum result' thing down, huh?"

"Says the guy who hasn't gone yet."

He groaned but stepped up. Katsuro was a Nara, and if there was one thing I'd learned about him in the past year, it was that he hated wasting effort.

He lazily formed the seals, Ox, Tiger, Ram—then lifted his hand. With a half-hearted push, he sent out a small but steady shockwave that traveled about a meter before fading.

The instructor tilted his head. "Not bad, but you barely tried."

Katsuro shrugged. "Enough to pass, right?"

The instructor pinched the bridge of his nose.

By the time everyone had taken a turn, it was obvious that most of the class still needed practice. The technique wasn't complex, but the level of control required meant that even the strongest students struggled to get consistent results.

Aiko was still fuming over her weak attempt. She crossed her arms and scowled at me. "How the hell did you get it so easily?"

I smirked. "Because I don't just brute force things."

"Ugh. Smug bastard."

I chuckled.

The instructor clapped his hands, bringing everyone's attention back. "Alright, not terrible for a first attempt. You'll be practicing this regularly from now on, along with chakra control drills. By the end of the year, I expect every single one of you to be able to perform this technique without issue."

Some students groaned. Others nodded determinedly.

I simply tucked my hands into my haori.