Chapter 34 – The First Sense
Year 6 of Konoha's Founding
Kenichi Sato's Age: 10
Fourth Week of the School Term – Early May
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On the third day of testing his water affinity, Kenichi decided to raise the challenge—he would try to use "sensory" techniques through water.
But this time, he wasn't on the rooftop, nor in the academy garden. He had gone to the eastern forest, behind the small river—where no one could see him, and no one could hear his footsteps.
He stood at the center of a circle of trees, extended his right palm slowly toward the ground, and released his water chakra as naturally as breathing.
Today, he extended it even farther.
The sensation was softer than before, yet the contact with the earth was deeper. It was as if he could hear the water's response—a whisper through the ground.
He closed his eyes—and began to feel.
Something moved at the edge of the circle. Not a sound—something deeper. Not hearing, but a sense.
His eyes snapped open. Nothing visible.
He steadied his breath again, calmed his heartbeat, and focused.
Then—a slight tremor to the left. Barely noticeable.
His heart pounded.
He waited.
Then—a small rabbit hopped out from between the bushes.
Kenichi smiled.
> "If I can tell the difference between a rabbit and a ninja… then it's working."
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The next day, he returned to the backyard of their home.
This time, he brought something new: wooden pieces shaped like targets.
He began setting them up—until Haru appeared behind the garden door, holding a short stick like a kunai and smiling brightly.
> "Let's play ninja! I'll be the runaway and you're the hunter!"
Kenichi hesitated for a moment but smiled and nodded.
> "Alright… but you have to know—this hunter has a new technique."
Haru giggled and darted off into the garden, hiding behind rocks and bushes, laughing and jumping around.
Kenichi sat quietly, closed his eyes, and began releasing his water chakra.
Not even seconds passed before he sensed a light tremor behind a dirt mound.
> "There…"
He jumped toward her. Haru let out a surprised squeal, followed by laughter.
> "How did you find me?!"
Kenichi patted her on the head with a grin.
> "A real ninja never reveals his secrets."
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After Haru left, Kenichi resumed his training.
He hid the wooden targets behind rocks, dirt piles, and thick plants. Then he sat again, closed his eyes, and focused.
The scent of moist earth filled his nose. The rustling leaves whispered gently.
Breathing – Focusing – Chakra release – Stillness.
He felt it again—rings, small but spreading.
In his notebook, he gave the technique a preliminary name:
> "Phase One – Sensory Wave"
And below it, he wrote:
> "Current range: 2–3 meters max. The more chakra I use, the more I feel—but I tire faster.
I need to test it in danger. If I increase chakra, I might cover the whole arena.
It's not enough to feel motion… I have to tell what's moving."
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At the academy, not much seemed different to most people—but something had changed.
Every time kunai were thrown from behind, Kenichi avoided them before turning.
Every time someone moved close, he stepped aside a moment earlier.
Kagami said:
> "You're like an animal—sensing danger before it even happens!"
Kenichi laughed:
> "Maybe it's because I hear the ground before I hear the people."
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But the technique wasn't perfect.
One day, he tried using it in the training field.
He released too much chakra too quickly—trying to sense every movement. It backfired.
He couldn't focus. Everything blurred. He became disoriented.
A headache struck. He dropped to the ground, sitting to recover.
Their instructor said:
> "Don't strain yourself. Chakra isn't infinite, you know."
Kenichi nodded. He knew what the real problem was.
That night, he wrote in his notebook:
> "I need to learn to tell the difference between a rock and an enemy…
Sensory Wave isn't for show. It's a tool for danger.
I can't afford to get dizzy just by using it."
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At the end of the week, he sat under an old tree with Dai.
Dai looked at him and said:
> "You've gotten really quiet. Like your eyes are moving, but you're seeing something we're not."
Kenichi smiled and replied:
> "Maybe… because I actually do."
He fell silent again.
And looked far—toward the forest.
Something was coming.
Kenichi could feel it… before it even showed itself.
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