Chapter 8 - Ayumu theory on chakra?

In the village of Sunagakure, there stands a building constructed from the same clay as the surrounding structures. Its design is subtly different, just enough to distinguish it from the others. However, what truly sets it apart is visible from an aerial perspective: eight major roads or paths converge at this building, marking it as the central hub of the village.

This building, a focal point in Sunagakure, is not just unique in its external appearance but also in its internal significance. Inside, it houses a spacious room dominated by a large, round table surrounded by twelve seats. These seats are arranged meticulously, suggesting meetings of great importance take place here.

Beyond the table, the room features three imposing statues, each intricately carved in the shape of men. These statues, standing as silent sentinels, add an air of solemnity and gravity to the room, indicating that it is a place of considerable significance. The craftsmanship of the statues hints at a rich history and cultural heritage.

This central building, with its distinctive design and strategic location, serves as a symbol of unity and governance for the village of Sunagakure, reflecting its importance in both the physical and social landscape.

Currently, twelve people were seated in the room. They are the ones who run the village and are known as the Sunagakure council. The council consists of reputable shinobi of Jonin rank and above, most of whom are older shinobi aged 40 and above.

"We must not be so hasty to make decisions," said a man with dark bluish hair, who seemed to be in his late 30s. His voice had a sense of charisma and power. Compared to the other council members, he stood out. While the others wore white cloths covering most of their heads except their faces and almost sand-colored robes, he had no head covering and wore a white cape.

If you looked closely, he bore a striking resemblance to one of the statues placed around the room.

"Lord Kazekage, this is the best time to escalate the war. If not, we would simply be foolish!" a man shouted, sounding increasingly frustrated. This caused other members to reprimand him, telling him to stay calm.

After a moment, the man he was speaking to, the Kazekage, who had advised against haste, responded. Looking in the man's direction, he proceeded to say, "Toji, although I know it seems beneficial to launch a full campaign on Konoha, taking advantage of their current dispute with the other three great nations, we have our own problems."

Everyone sitting at the table knew exactly what he meant by having their own problems.

"Yes, the Land of Water hasn't been following the maritime treaty made before the First Ninja War. And that fence-sitter Onoki is being stubborn as usual about the Land of Birds, plus Konoha…" the older man ended, trailing off as if this whole situation had been causing him great worry.

"Ebizo, you shouldn't worry too much," an older lady responded, trying to relieve his concern.

"I know, sis," the older man replied, revealing their familial tie.

Those talking were the two elders, Chiyo and Ebizo, siblings who were both skilled shinobi. One was a puppet master, skilled in poisons and medical ninjutsu, while the other was an all-around skilled shinobi with a great tactical mind. They were known in the village as the Honored Siblings.

The discussion continued, with various council members contributing their opinions on the best way to proceed. Some advocated for caution, while others saw it as the perfect opportunity to gain an advantage in the war.

This was all unknown to our little protagonist Ayumu, who was happily playing at the playground that sunny afternoon. He was enthusiastically boasting to his best friend about an incredible experience he had the previous day. Ayumu excitedly recounted how he had sensed his chakra for the first time, an achievement that filled him with wonder. His friend listened, joining in on the excitement since he could potentially join the academy with him now.

They continued talking until Taro eventually brought up something they seem to be related to the war, "Hey, have you guys noticed your parents disappearing on missions for longer?" This topic caught everyone off guard.

"I don't have anyone that's currently a shinobi in my family," responded Ayumu, something he didn't know about due to neither his mother nor grandfather being shinobi.

"Yeah, even my father has been leaving the village more often, even though he is a part of the barrier corps," Maki said, sharing her thoughts.

"It might be due to the war," said Ayumu.

This revelation sparked a mix of curiosity and excitement among Ayumu's friends. Hana's eyes widened with a sense of adventure. "Do you think our parents are going on secret missions? Maybe they're doing something really important for the village!"

Maki nodded eagerly. "Yeah, maybe they're fighting powerful enemies or protecting something valuable. It's like the stories we've heard about legendary shinobi!"

Ayumu, sensing the enthusiasm but feeling a pang of worry, added, "But you know, if your parents are involved in the war, there's also a chance they could get hurt or... worse." His voice trailed off, the weight of his words sinking in. What he just said could possibly worry his friends, thinking maybe he shouldn't have mentioned the possibility of them not coming back.

The group of friends fell silent, the gravity of Ayumu's statement casting a shadow over their excitement. Taro's eyes dimmed with concern. "You really think so, Ayumu? I hadn't thought about that..."

Maki, trying to remain optimistic but clearly affected, said, "But they're strong, right? They've been through a lot. We just have to believe they'll be okay."

Ayumu nodded, though the worry didn't leave his face. "Yeah, we have to believe in them. But it's important to remember that being a shinobi is dangerous. We have to be prepared for anything."

What he said made everyone not enthusiastic to hang out anymore, deciding to leave early today. The weight of Ayumu's words hung heavily in the air, casting a shadow over their usual playful banter. They all nodded solemnly, understanding that the life of a shinobi was fraught with peril. The conversation shifted to lighter topics in an attempt to lift the mood, but the underlying worry remained.

As they parted ways, each friend walked home lost in their own thoughts. Ayumu couldn't shake the feeling that he had unintentionally dampened their spirits. He hoped they understood the reality of their situation, but he also wished he could have found a way to keep them hopeful. His mind wandered back to his own family, and he found himself worrying about his brother. Was he also at risk? The thought sent a shiver down his spine.

Meanwhile, Taro, Maki, and Hana each replayed the conversation in their heads, the reality of the war hitting them in different ways. Taro wondered about his father's safety, Maki thought about her friends and their families, and Hana tried to stay positive, though the fear was hard to ignore.

Eventually, Ayumu arrived home, greeted by the comforting sight of his mother and grandfather.

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Two weeks have passed, and for the last few days, Ayumu has stayed home more than usual. This was mainly due to the many sandstorms and extreme cold. His friends bailed on him, and everyone eventually exchanged addresses to stay in contact over the winter. This marked the end of his playground days for the rest of the year.

Ayumu didn't waste time. During this period, he practiced with his chakra and eventually got a sense of it, being able to instinctively feel and control it in his body.

In the living room, on the floor, lay an unfurled scroll filled with knowledge. At the top, in big bold calligraphy, were the words Hand Seals. A pair of eyes stared down at the scroll, focused intently on the top, almost as if the letters would walk away if he looked away.

"It works, but it doesn't make sense," his voice echoed around the room, confused and frustrated about something written on the scroll. He brought his hands to his head, feeling like he was going insane.

He calmed himself down and began to ponder, 'The initial sign to mold chakra allowed me to sense and control my chakra instinctively, like spinning it.' A look of confusion crossed his face as he continued his thoughts, 'So why, when I put my hands in the current form, do I still have to put great effort into moving my chakra? This whole thing isn't scientific,' the problem confusing him more and more.

As he sat there, he switched between looking at the scroll and mimicking the hand seals drawn on it, just to feel the manipulation of his chakra. Eventually, he stopped as if he had a realization. He began to pace around the house, searching through many drawers.

Finally, he found what he was looking for: a sheet of paper and a pencil. He started writing down his realization.

About five minutes later, he seemed to be done writing his main ideas. Looking at the paper, he focused on a circled part of the text that answered his main question, 'sense rotation.'. Looking at it, he exclaimed, "I was looking at it wrong!"

He then examined his theory: 'Unlike the normal molding seal, which spins or disturbs your chakra only, the twelve regular hand seals are meant to bring a sort of balance to your body, allowing you to mold chakra in a certain rotation easier and act almost as if making a gateway, or limiters of sort where it is easier to sense how much you should rotate, allowing you to then easily rotate your chakra and manipulate it to things like your throat or hands for jutsu.' A smile grew on his face. He felt a bit too proud but reminded himself it was just a theory for now.

'This means someone who senses chakra wouldn't be able to use jutsu because they wouldn't be able to control their chakra properly. No wonder there aren't many shinobi around,' he concluded. 'Although I'm pretty new, it still takes me time to bring my chakra into the correct rotation to match the seal, something which I can eventually get better with.' He then lay on his back, relieved. This whole chakra thing has been stumping him, but at least he has some sort of theory to go off of. He would probably be better off asking his grandfather.

He had spent the last week trying to understand the scroll his grandfather had given him. It detailed the hand seals more visually than his previous ninjutsu book. He wasn't supposed to actually learn them; in his grandfather's words, it was meant to "open his horizon" or something like that. Unknown to his grandfather, he had tried the hand signs on his own, hoping to discover something about them.

As he lay down, experiencing a sense of relief, a sound knocked him out of his thoughts. He heard a knock at the door, leaving him to wonder who it could possibly be.

Making his way to the door, unlocking it and opening it, two familiar faces popped up.

"Yo," he was greeted by Taro and Kenji.