1 Chapter 1 - A simple life
Okay so before you start, I'm in the middle of rewriting this project. When you reach the last chapter I rewrote, it will appear in the title. After that, there will be a sudden shift in style and quality so be warned.
==================================================================
The village of Tazaki, lodged away within a lush valley in the Land of Water, was surrounded by rolling hills and dense forests. Despite its picturesque appearance, there was a subtle grim undertone to the atmosphere that hung in the air.
The villagers took great pride in their craft of blacksmithing and worked tirelessly to maintain their reputation. Every morning, before the sun had even risen, the blacksmiths could be heard hammering away in their forges, the sound echoing through the narrow and winding streets. The houses were crowded close together, built of wood and stone, with roofs made of tiles or wooden shingles. Each house was uniquely designed, reflecting the personality and taste of its owner.
As the day began, the villagers rose from their beds and began their daily routines. The farmers tended to their crops, carefully plowing the fields and watering the plants. The fishermen set out on their boats, casting their nets into the river and hoping for a good catch. The weavers worked on their looms, crafting intricate designs into the fabric. The sound of horse hooves could be heard as the traders made their way to the market, carrying goods from far-off lands. The aroma of freshly baked bread wafted through the air, drawing people towards the local bakery.
The village's design was simple yet practical, with most of the houses built of wood and stone. The streets were narrow and winding, with buildings crowded close together. The village center was marked by a large fountain made of white marble, which was the centerpiece of the square. The water in the fountain sparkled in the sunlight, and the sound of its gentle splashing filled the air.
A young boy sprinted through the ever-pouring rain, seeking shelter. Ryu, a lively twelve-year-old with black hair and eyes, wore a simple set of clothes: a worn-out red shirt and long black pants. His light brown sandals splashed through puddles as he raced home.
As Ryu approached a small stone house with an bordering large shack, the front door suddenly slammed open with a resounding "Bo!" It struck him in the face, sending him flying backward.
"Ow!" Ryu covered his nose, managing to twist in midair and land upright, his feet sliding across the muddy ground. He continued clutching his nose as a snickering man emerged from the house. With a similar attire to Ryu, the man's short black hair and beard framed his green eyes. "Ever the performer, huh Ryu?" he teased.
"Dad, that hurt!" Ryu complained, rubbing his face.
"Please, I know how much force to put into my-" Ryu's father, also known as Haru, began to speak, but before he could finish a lump of mud hit his face. "Ha! That's revenge!" Ryu smirked with one of his legs high up as if he just kicked something. "Is that so?" Haru asked menacingly as he wiped the mud off his face.
---
"Ryu, today we need to complete the order the village guards requested. I have something to take care of, so you'll be alone in the forge, okay?" Haru asked while the two washed off the immense amounts of mud that stuck to their skin and cloths. Ryu nodded, curiosity piqued as he inquired about his father's plans. "That's a surprise, but you'll like it, I promise," Haru responded. Anticipating the surprise, Ryu shooed his father away and began his work.
With enthusiasm, Ryu heated different metals to create a durable alloy for the swords. After melting the metals and mixing them, he placed the alloy in a large iron mold, submerging it in a water bath to cool and solidify. Repeating this process several painfully slow times, Ryu had enough material for the entire order.
But that was just the prep work. Now the real job was about to begin.
Ryu tapped his foot anxiously as he watched the alloy heat up. His mind raced with ideas for the next steps in the process, and he could barely contain his excitement. He paced around the forge, trying to distract himself as he waited for the metal to reach the perfect temperature.
With the alloy heated and glowing, he moved it to the anvil, a blue aura surrounding his arm and hammer. Despite his remarkable strength for a twelve-year-old, Ryu needed Chakra to sustain his stamina and strength during the forging process.
Surprisingly, this proved to be an extremely effective way to train Chakra control since each strike needed to have a very specific amount of Chakra. If he struck with too much Chakra he'd just smash the metal into bits, and with too little, he won't make a dent in the metal. As a result, Ryu developed an almost supernatural skill in Chakra control, and his Chakra pool grew immensely from his endless hours of work.
Channeling Chakra into his hammer, he began to shape the metal.
Initially, Ryu struck the metal slowly and deliberately, but as he continued, his movements grew faster and wilder. His forging resembled a ferocious predator tearing into its prey – fierce, yet purposeful.
Ryu's eyes never left the metal as he shaped it, each one of his strikes sent a shower of sparks flying, and the scent of heated metal fills the air. Ryu tilts the blade, examining it from every angle, checking for any imperfections. Satisfied with his work, he ran his fingers over the beveled edge, feeling the smooth angle of the blade
Ryu then normalized the blade to increase its ductility. After reheating it to a glowing red, he allowed it to cool at room temperature before repeating the process twice more. He then sanded the blade's edges smooth, reheated it, and quenched it in oil to strengthen it. With a cloud of steam billowing around him, Ryu caught his breath and prepared to forge the next blade.
Once all the blades were shaped, Ryu sharpened them on a grindstone. His hands flowed like water, ensuring an even cut across each blade. He pushed their sharpness to the limit, only removing them from the grindstone a second before they'd get ruined.
Finally, Ryu carved the wooden handles, crafting perfect ellipse-like shapes to fit the blades seamlessly. Silky smooth and splinter-free, he carefully attached the handles to the tang of each sword, securing them tightly with metal pins. Proud of his work, Ryu stood back to admire the finished weapons. Each sword was a masterpiece in its own right, perfectly balanced and ready for battle.
---
"Thank you for all your hard work, Haru," a local guard said to Ryu's father, gratefully lifting a large box full of the top-notch swords Ryu made. "If you're happy with them, you should thank Ryu. He made those swords. Oh, and by the way, Ryu and I are going on a trip tomorrow, so our shop will be closed," Haru informed, gesturing toward Ryu, who lay on his back, catching his breath. "Alright, Ryu, your work for today is done. You can go and get ready," Haru told the exhausted boy.
"Finally!" Ryu sprang up, his energy seemingly restored, and dashed into the house. Haru laughed at his son's actions before closing the door to their workshop.
---
Inside the closed workshop, Haru used a Jutsu to part the ground, revealing a hidden staircase leading deep underground where a faint light glowed in the distance. Ryu followed Haru as he descended, with the earth sealing itself above them, thanks to another Jutsu.
After a few minutes, they arrived in a dimly lit cavern. There, they found another forge and various blacksmithing tools. However, the equipment here far surpassed the quality of the tools in their workshop above ground.
The cave walls were adorned with countless weapons of all shapes and sizes, including axes, hammers, daggers, and swords. Each weapon appeared flawless, and if held, one would find them all perfectly balanced. These masterpieces were fit for the most skilled warriors, and even the finest blacksmiths would be in awe of their craftsmanship.
"Alright, Ryu," Haru began, his tone serious. "It took almost all our money to get this precious Chakra Metal, so you won't have a second chance with this. Understand?" Ryu nodded enthusiastically in response. "Good. Now, watch closely as I forge the sword," Haru instructed.
With a quick hand sign, Haru grew two additional arms from his rib cage area. He grabbed the piece of Chakra Metal and started heating it up. Ryu watched his father and the metal as if his life depended on it. Suddenly, his cornea rotated, changing in appearance. It turned red with three black, comma-like shapes surrounding his black pupil.
