Chapter Fourteen: Before the Storm

Year of Foundation: The Third Year of Konoha's Establishment

Month: October

Age of Kenichi Sato: 7 years and 6 months

Konoha was asleep, but there were those who didn't know the taste of sleep at this hour. For Kenichi Sato, dawn wasn't just the beginning of a new day—it was a signal that the body and mind must grow once again.

And with him, there was always someone running with a hairstyle resembling a watermelon and a smile bright enough to wake ten sleeping children.

"Yaaah! Running before breakfast makes me faster in the first class!"

That was the voice of Might Duy, shouting through the stillness as he ran with bouncy strides that looked more like a dance.

Kenichi laughed quietly, as he always did—laughter no one ever really saw—and said under his breath:

"I think it's breakfast that's running from you, not the other way around."

Every morning, Kenichi and Duy met before sunrise behind the farmlands, in a small clearing between the trees. The ground was slightly muddy, dew covered the grass, but it was the perfect place to unleash energy and test what they had learned.

Kenichi led the training in silence and focus. Duy, on the other hand, filled the space with enthusiasm and shouting, but he followed instructions with more precision than one might expect.

Today, however, was different.

"We'll try a new taijutsu style—based on breathing and controlling your center of gravity. Ready?"

Duy answered with exaggerated excitement:

"If I'm not ready, then my green pants will rebel against me!"

Kenichi launched a sudden attack. Duy stepped back, stumbled, tried to flip midair—clumsily—and landed… on his head.

"Oww! My head! Was that a secret technique or a strike from another planet?"

Kenichi walked over and said with a sarcastic smile:

"That was the air. It couldn't handle you."

—

Despite the jokes, Duy was an excellent training partner for Kenichi.

For the first time since arriving in this world, Kenichi could test in-development techniques on a living person, observe reactions, spot flaws, and adjust accordingly.

It was as if Duy had become a moving mirror of his progress.

As Duy once said during one of their sessions:

"I'm no genius, but I'm the best human training dummy you'll ever find."

—

At home, the atmosphere was growing tense.

His mother could barely move; her eyes were heavy, her breathing slow. Her body gave clear signs—the birth was near.

That night, his father sat with them and said:

"There's no hospital yet, but I'll find someone who can help us."

The next day, he returned with an elderly woman carrying a basket full of herbs and rolls of cloth.

She spoke gently:

"I was a midwife in my village before joining Konoha. I'll stay with you."

Kenichi felt a weight lift from his chest.

He sat beside his mother and asked the midwife:

"How much longer until she gives birth?"

She looked at him with a warm smile and replied:

"A few days, maybe less. Everything depends on your mother's strength… and her patience."

Kenichi knew his mother had patience… but he was worried about her strength. Her fatigue was obvious, and her voice softer than usual.

—

The next day during training, Kenichi was quieter than normal.

Duy said:

"You alright? You look like you've got a mountain on your shoulders."

Kenichi gave a faint smile:

"I'm thinking about my mom… I hope everything goes well."

Duy stopped the exercise, walked over, and placed a hand on his shoulder:

"She's strong. And you're her son. If you need anything… I'm here. I may not know medicine, but I can make her laugh."

Kenichi finally smiled and nodded in gratitude.

—

That evening, Kenichi stood on the rooftop.

The stars shimmered quietly, and the air carried a sense of anticipation. Everything was still… as if waiting for the birth.

He looked to the horizon and whispered:

"Please come peacefully… little sister."

End of Chapter Fourteen.