Chapter Twenty-Nine: A Meeting with an Important Future Figure

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

Dawn had just begun to tint the sky in pale shades of blue when Kenichi woke up, as always, before anyone else. He slipped quietly out of the house, leaving behind his sleeping parents and his little sister, Haru.

He walked silently toward Training Ground No. 2 — the one recently designated for him and Dai. There, he began his usual morning exercises: slow, steady breathing, flexible stretching for his muscles, followed by a series of movements combining the Six Powers, basic taijutsu techniques, and chakra coordination skills. He repeated each movement dozens of times with near-military precision.

His physical training continued until nearly noon, as the sun's heat gradually intensified. At that point, he returned home to have lunch with his family. He helped his mother a bit, then took his little sister to the park after a short rest.

...

By the afternoon, Konoha's public park was full of life. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting warm patches on the ground. Blooming flowers filled the air with fragrance, while children's laughter mixed with birdsong and the gentle breeze of spring.

Kenichi Sato sat on a wooden bench, watching his three-year-old sister Haru waddling around among the children, her laughter echoing as she stumbled and explored. Still in the early stages of learning to speak and run, her boundless energy was evident.

Suddenly, a bright laugh drew his attention. A short-haired blonde girl was playing energetically nearby, dragging a wooden doll with obvious enthusiasm. She seemed to be around Haru's age, maybe slightly older, but her bold movements and expressive face showed a confidence rare for someone so young.

Haru approached her instinctively, and soon the two were playing together despite their different styles.

Watching them was a middle-aged woman in a simple kimono. Her calm, stern features were softened by a gentle smile as she walked over.

"They seem to have found something to keep them busy," she said softly.

"Yes, my little sister loves to play," Kenichi replied politely. "I'm Kenichi Sato."

The woman offered a faint smile. "I'm a relative of Tsunade."

"Tsunade?" Kenichi asked, intrigued.

"Yes, from the Senju clan," she replied.

He recognized the name immediately. From the way she spoke, and the name she mentioned, it was clear she was from the First Hokage's family. His interest deepened, and a faint sense of nervousness crept in. Though the girl looked just a bit older than Haru, her boldness and sharp expressions hinted at someone special. Being a descendant of the First Hokage was no small matter.

Haru ran back, holding the blonde girl's hand. In her toddler speech, she said, "Big bro… this is Suna, my friend!"

Kenichi chuckled. It was obvious Haru had mispronounced "Tsunade," but the meaning was clear.

Tsunade looked up at him with wide eyes, then raised her small hand and declared with adorable determination, "Pa…paaa! Ninja!"

Smiling warmly, Kenichi said, "You'll be a strong ninja. I'm sure of it."

He returned to his seat, watching the two girls. It wasn't just an ordinary scene of children playing — it was a reminder that the future was being shaped right here, in their laughter.

As evening approached and sunset drew near, families began to leave the park with their children. Haru and Tsunade hesitated for a moment before hugging quickly and exchanging innocent giggles, waving their tiny hands in farewell.

The woman turned to Kenichi with a soft smile. "I hope we meet again soon."

"I hope so too," Kenichi replied calmly.

He gently took Haru's hand and began walking home, listening to her excited chatter about her time with "Suna." But his thoughts were elsewhere.

Seeing those two girls laugh together stirred something within him — a desire to protect such moments. He drifted into thought, reflecting on his future and the new technique he'd been working on.

"My current techniques are mostly defensive. I need an offensive style."

He began thinking of movements that relied on chakra flowing into his legs — a sudden dash, a strike aimed to break the opponent's balance.

"I'll call it, for now: First Breaking Wave."

It wasn't refined yet, but it was the first spark. The birth of a new style.

As the sun set, Kenichi realized he needed to hurry home before dark — his mother would worry, and he still had his evening meditation to complete before dinner.

Once back home, he sat in his small room, steadying his breath and focusing on the chakra flow through his body. This part of his day was as important as physical training — perhaps even more. It was the foundation behind every move he would execute later.

At that moment, he wrote in his notebook:

First Breaking Wave — initial concept.

Controlled breathing, chakra flow, sudden dash.

Then he closed the notebook and looked toward the window, where the final strands of sunlight bid farewell to the sky.

"Attacking isn't just about breaking the enemy… it's about beginning the path to something greater."