Chapter Twenty-Eight: The Balance Between Duty and Family

The Fifth Year of Konoha's Founding — Kenichi's Age: 9

The final days of the ninja academy exams had passed, and a wave of relief swept over the students who had been anxious for days. As the others busied themselves planning for rest and play during the break, Kenichi Sato sat quietly on his rooftop, planning what would be the most important training period since he entered the academy.

He opened his small notebook, the one that had accompanied him since his first year, and sketched a precise schedule:

Before sunrise: Daily running and endurance exercises.

From 7 to 10 a.m.: Water breathing drills and Rokushiki training.

From 10 a.m. to noon: Theoretical revision of basic ninjutsu techniques.

Afternoon: Practical training and development of his first original combat style.

Before sunset: Meditation sessions and breath control.

He smiled as he looked at the schedule and said to himself, "This is the path that will take me one step closer to my dream."

But the plan didn't last long...

That afternoon, when he entered the house, he noticed his mother sitting at the kitchen table, her expression heavy with thought.

She spoke calmly, "Kenichi, we need to talk."

He answered immediately, "Is everything okay?"

She nodded, "Yes, but... our financial situation has become tighter. Your father can barely cover the basics, and your sister's medicine isn't cheap anymore. So I found a job in the afternoons, from two to six."

Kenichi looked at his mother, then at his little sister who was playing by the wall.

His mother added, "I need you to take care of her during those hours."

He didn't hesitate. He nodded silently, though he felt a storm of emotions inside.

That night, he sat in front of a candle, staring at his old schedule. He took out a new sheet and began redistributing the time:

From 4 to 6 a.m.: Endurance training and running.

From 6 to 8 a.m.: Rokushiki drills.

From 2 to 6 p.m.: Time dedicated to caring for his little sister.

Evening: Light meditation and theoretical revision while the child sleeps.

He whispered to himself, "Strength doesn't only come from intense training… but from the ability to persist, no matter how circumstances change."

The next day, he decided to take his sister to the new children's park that had recently opened near the market. He sat on a wooden bench in the shade of a tree, watching her play with the other kids.

There, something caught his eye — some children mimicking ninja movements from things they'd seen or heard. He smiled.

As he observed the peaceful moment, Dai appeared in the distance, carrying a backpack full of stones.

He grinned and asked, "Is this a new stage of your training? Or are you gathering rocks to build a house?"

Dai laughed, "Kenichi! I thought I'd find you at the training ground — didn't expect you here."

Kenichi pointed at his sister. "My training schedule changed a bit… I'm a part-time big brother now."

Dai sat beside him and said, "You know? Even this is a kind of training. Time management, patience, and awareness of others."

Kenichi replied with a small smile, "And I think I'll master all that before I master the Rasengan."

They both laughed, while the little girl ran toward them giggling. Kenichi lifted her gently into the air.

In that moment, he wasn't a ninja on a battlefield. He was a brother. A pillar of a simple family standing firm in a world that keeps changing.

But in his mind, a new plan was forming — shorter but more focused training, and a breakthrough in his combat style.

He told himself, "I won't stop. I'll just shift direction a little."