Chapter 13

( recap)

He gave me a pat on the shoulder. "Good. Now go practice your chakra. But remember—take it slow. Let it come to you."

I nodded again, feeling way better than I had that morning. As I headed back inside, I knew I still had a long way to go, but at least now my mind felt clearer. I wasn't so caught up in the frustration anymore.

And shogi? It wasn't bad. In fact it was quite good. Engaged my mind quite a bit. Even after some time after playing my mind was still comming up with the moves I can make in the future. Guess this proves my nara lineage hold true huh?

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(Itto pov)

It had been a while since Ojiisan and Jiji helped me figure out how to create chakra actively. For days, I struggled with keeping that balance while doing other things. But the more I practiced, the better I got at it. They kept telling me that eventually, it would become as natural as breathing.

Well I could feel it, today was that day.

It was evening, right before dinner. The sun was setting, casting a nice orange glow through the windows of the house. I was sitting by the corner, pretending to read one of the scrolls Jiji gave me on shinobi history. Except, I wasn't reallyonly reading. I was focusing. Creating chakra while keeping my eyes on the words.

After a unknown amount of time suddenly! I did it! I felt it inside, that flow of yin and yang mixing together, without me having to focus too hard. My mind wasn't divided anymore.

Focusing on one thing while subconsciously creating Chakra.

I had done it!

Right then, I heard the door creak open, and in came Chiharu. She had this big smile on her face, like she knew exactly what was going on.

"So, you finally did it, huh?" she said, crossing her arms. "You're able to pull it off subconsciously while reading?"

I grinned, probably looking like an idiot. "Yeah! I actually did it! I can keep it going now."

She nodded, looking kind of proud. "Good job, Itto. You've come a long way."

There was a brief moment where we just stood there, me still buzzing from the excitement, and her just observing.

"You know," she began, her tone shifting a bit, "I've been holding off on this for a while now, but I think the time's come."

I blinked, a little confused. "What do you mean?"

Chiharu smiled wider, almost teasingly. "Your physical training, of course. You think all that chakra control's gonna mean anything if you're too weak to fight?"

I straightened up a bit, suddenly feeling both excited and nervous at the same time. "You mean… we're gonna start?"

"Tomorrow, at 6 AM sharp," she said, not really asking but telling me how it was gonna be. "In the yard. No more excuses. I wanted to start right after your third birthday, but I gave you time because of your chakra stuff. Not anymore."

I gulped but nodded eagerly. I wasn't about to argue with her. Chiharu may have been a little softer than the others in the family, but when it came to training, she meant business.

She smirked at my enthusiasm. "Good. And don't think it's gonna be easy. You'll be learning more than just basic exercises. We're gonna focus on building your body up properly. Strength, speed, endurance… You're gonna learn it all."

I couldn't help but feel a bit of pride swelling up. Training with Chiharu was a big deal. She was tough, even if she didn't show it much.

She tilted her head, giving me a sly look. "You ready for it? Or you gonna start complaining after the first session?"

I puffed out my chest, trying to look more confident than I felt. "I'm ready. No complaints."

Chiharu chuckled, a knowing smile spreading across her face. "We'll see."

She ruffled my hair before turning toward the door. "Alright, enough talk. Come on, dinner's ready. Let's get some food in you before you start crying about being sore tomorrow."

I rolled my eyes, following her toward the dining room. She loved to tease me, but I didn't mind. It made everything feel normal, like no matter what we were training for, we were still family.

Tomorrow was gonna be tough, but I was ready. Or, at least, I hoped I was.

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Morning comes too fast, sunlight streaming into my room like an overly enthusiastic shinobi on a mission. Before I can even rub the sleep from my eyes, the door slams open.

"Up. Now."

I groan, turning over to shield myself from the blinding light, but it's no use. Sobo marched in with the same energy she'd bring to a battlefield, tossing a pair of training clothes onto my head.

"Training starts today," she announces, her tone leaving no room for argument. One would think that a lady that old lady would go easy on her grandson.

"I didn't know the training involved ambushing me before dawn," I mumble, stumbling out of bed.

"Discipline, Itto. Real shinobi don't need beauty sleep."

I tug on the clothes, still bleary-eyed. "Can I at least eat something first?"

"No," she says, sharp and unyielding. "Empty stomach builds character."

"Or kills me," I mutter under my breath, earning a raised eyebrow from her.

Outside, the yard is transformed. A table is neatly laid out with tools: shuriken, kunai, a staff, and some wire. A training dummy, fresh out of the store, stands nearby, and ropes are strung low across the ground.

"This looks… intense," I say, swallowing hard.

"It's nothing compared to what you'll face one day," she replies, hands on her hips. "We're starting with the basics. Katas, tools, techniques from all three clans. Akimichi strength, Yamanaka precision, and Nara strategy."

"All three?" I echo, surprised.

"Of course. You're all three. Can't ignore your legacy."

She watches me closely, her tone softening just a fraction. "Your father was a quick learner, but your mother? She had a natural grace. Let's see if you take after either of them."

The mention of my parents catches me off guard. She rarely talks about them. I hesitate, then ask, "What were they like?"

Chiharu pauses, fiddling with a kunai. For a moment, her expression shifts—softer, nostalgic. "Your father was stubborn, always thought he knew best. But he was brave, willing to do whatever it took to protect those he cared about. And your mother… she was sharp, quick-witted. Light on her feet. Smarter than most people gave her credit for."

"Do I remind you of them?" My voice is quiet, the question carrying more weight than I intended.

She snorts, but there's a warmth in her eyes. "You've got your father's stubbornness, that's for sure. And maybe a bit of your mother's spark. But you're still you, Itto. Remember that."

Her words settle in my chest, grounding me.

"Enough talk," she says, breaking the moment. "Start with a jog around the clearing. Ten laps. And no slacking."

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Hey guys. Sorry for the late chapter. I was busy looking for a job. Finally landed something, so can focus on this a little. Will try my best to do regular updates. Please leave comments and stones. If not stones at least leave comments or suggestions. Those are my fuel....