CH 5 : REFINING THE FLOW

With the early morning light filtering through the window, Ren woke up feeling refreshed. He sat up in bed immediately, wasting no time in resuming his chakra rotation. Though he had hoped to keep it up even while he slept, he knew it was too early for that. But he had to keep trying until he could. Now that he was on the right path with his training, he had concluded there was no shortcut to speeding up his progress. The only way forward was through hard work.

He quickly achieved the rotation of the two chakra rings and maintained them at a steady, constant speed. After about 15 minutes of controlled focus, he washed up and prepared to head for the nearby training ground.

Ren had set two primary goals for his physical training: the first was to increase his endurance, and the second was to build up his strength. For his chakra training, he focused on leaf concentration and chakra rotation. Upon arriving at the ground, he began with a thorough stretch, loosening up his muscles and preparing his body for the rigorous exercises ahead.

He then started running laps around the field to boost his stamina. After running at a moderate pace for 45 minutes, he transitioned into sprints. His first sprint covered roughly 150 meters, and he continued this pattern for nearly half an hour, pushing his limits. Each sprint felt more taxing than the last, but he knew that to truly improve, he had to endure this grueling pace.

All the while, Ren continued to maintain his chakra rotation—a feat that added another layer of difficulty to his physical exertion. His body, already exhausted from the intense running, felt even heavier with the constant drain of chakra. But he pressed on, understanding that this simultaneous practice was essential for becoming more efficient in both areas.

After finishing his sprints, Ren sat down on the ground, breathing deeply and steadily, trying to synchronize his breathing with the rhythm of his chakra rotation. It was a calming exercise, and as his breathing steadied, he felt his body gradually recovering from the strain. Thanks to his Uzumaki lineage, his natural life force was strong, allowing him to recover more quickly than most.

Once his energy returned, Ren moved on to body-strengthening exercises. He started with push-ups, focusing on perfect form while keeping his chakra rings in motion. After completing five sets of push-ups, he moved on to planks, holding his core tight and balanced for maximum effect. He finished the round with squats, pushing through the burn in his legs while remaining mindful of his chakra rotation.

Again, after completing five sets of each exercise, Ren sat back down on the ground, controlling his breathing and focusing on the flow of his chakra. Each breath he took in sync with the rotation brought him closer to a state of balance between his body and chakra.

Ten minutes later, he began the entire routine again, but this time, he actively used his chakra to assist in his movements. Surprisingly, he noticed that his chakra control had improved significantly compared to his training from the past seven days. Every move felt smoother, more efficient, and he could direct his chakra with more precision.

'Hmm... it seems my chakra rotation training is starting to show its effects,' Ren thought, impressed with his progress. 'If I'm able to use chakra this efficiently with just two rings, what would happen if I fully mastered this technique? '

Just the thought of that future possibility stirred excitement in him. He knew that to perform ninjutsu, chakra had to be molded in a precise way, usually with the help of hand signs. But with full mastery of his chakra rotation technique, Ren was confident he could mold chakra without them.

Within the past week, he had already experimented with this method. When he enhanced his body with chakra and trained using it, he noticed that a lot of chakra was being wasted, quickly depleting his reserves. Because of this, he had paused using the method until he could gain better control. 

But now, the chakra rotation training was showing its effects earlier than expected. He was already using less chakra for body enhancement, although much of it was still being wasted. With enough training, though, Ren knew he could overcome that.

After completing his physical training, he glanced around the clearing to make sure no one was watching him. The shadows of the trees stretched long in the morning light, and the clearing was still secluded, giving him the privacy he needed. Satisfied that he was alone, Ren picked up a leaf and sat in a lotus position on the ground.

He placed the leaf on his forehead, concentrating his chakra to hold it in place while still maintaining his two chakra rings. The ground beneath him felt solid and unmoving, unlike the constant flow of energy within him. The surrounding area was peaceful, with only the occasional breeze stirring the leaves overhead.

Though his chakra control had improved, balancing two tasks at once—holding the leaf and maintaining the rings—was mentally exhausting. The tranquil setting helped calm his nerves, but his focus was stretched thin. After an hour, the leaf fluttered to the ground, the soft sound of it landing lost in the wind. 

Ren wiped the sweat from his brow, feeling the strain on his mind. 

'Concentrating on two things at once is difficult, but for me, just maintaining these two chakra rings is already draining my mental energy.'

Even so, he couldn't help but feel a small sense of pride. 

'I'm surprised I was able to hold the leaf for an hour while maintaining the rotation. Maybe I do have a knack for chakra control.'

Despite his exhaustion, Ren could tell that his chakra reserves had increased through this training. Though he wanted to continue, his mind was too drained to perform at his best, he knew that even with his Uzumaki blood line he won't be able to recover for n hour.

Without the energy to continue his control training, Ren moved on to the next part of his regimen: elemental manipulation. He picked up the fallen leaf again and focused on the element he was most familiar with through out the series —wind. He gathered a small amount of wind chakra into his hand, aiming to slice the leaf.

The wind chakra felt sharp and unpredictable, like a blade he had yet to master. Even after an hour, he had only managed to cut the leaf a few inches, but he didn't let that discourage him. He kept pushing forward, trying to refine the control over the wind in his hand. After two hours, he had only cut the leaf halfway through, but it was still progress.

'This will take time,' he thought, staring at the half-cut leaf in his palm. 'But I'm getting there.'

After resting for a while, Ren packed up his things and began heading back to the orphanage. As he walked through the training ground, the crunch of gravel under his feet and the rustling of leaves behind him reminded him that even though his progress was slow, he was on the right path. And with a smirk, he thought, 'Better hurry back before Sister Shizune gives me an earful for being late to breakfast.'

Upon returning to the orphanage, Ren had a quiet breakfast, recharging his body after the morning's training. Afterward, he spent some time with Toma and the other children, allowing himself to relax and clear his mind. Their laughter and playful chatter eased his exhaustion and helped him reset for the next phase of his day.

With the first part of his training done, it was time to move on to the second. Ren sat on his bed in a lotus position, focusing inward. His goal for the rest of the day was simple yet crucial: to push his chakra rotation training further and break through to the third layer.

Though physical and elemental training were essential, Ren knew that chakra rotation formed the foundation of everything he aimed to achieve. Mastering this technique was his top priority—it had to become second nature, ingrained in his every move. His long-term success depended on it.

With this determination, Ren maintained his focus on the two chakra rings, holding them steady throughout the entire day. The hours slipped by as he immersed himself in the delicate flow of chakra, the rings spinning within him like two constant forces.

By the time night fell, Ren was utterly exhausted, far more than any physical workout could leave him.even after using evey bit of energy he had, he was still not able to breakthrough to the third layer.Though he tried to maintain his usual calm expression so as not to worry anyone, Sister Shizune saw through him instantly. She thought that Ren was exhausted because of the morning training so She scolded him gently for overworking himself, warning him not to push too hard. Ren nodded obediently, understanding her concern . 

As he lay down in bed, his body felt like it had been through a grueling battle, yet his mind buzzed with satisfaction. 'The exhaustion is intense,' he thought, staring at the ceiling, 'but the benefits of this technique are undeniable. Even though the breakthrough to the third layer is still far,My chakra reserves have increased noticeably today.'

With the day's progress in mind, Ren made a silent vow. 'For the next year, this will be my routine until the academy entrance exam.' 

His eyelids grew heavy, his body demanding rest. Despite his best efforts, he hadn't yet mastered the technique enough to maintain the chakra rotation while he slept. But with that thought lingering in his mind, his eyes finally closed, slipping into much-needed sleep.