chapter 4

Ryuma sat cross-legged on the cold floor, his eyes closed tightly as he focused on his breathing. Kashin Koji's presence was a silent weight in the room, an ever-present reminder of the seriousness of the task.

—To activate the ninja tools implanted in your body, you must first learn to feel the chakra flowing within you,— Kashin Koji's cold, commanding voice echoed from behind him. —Without that, you're just a sack of flesh with fancy metal inside.—

Ryuma's brow furrowed in concentration. He'd heard the term 'chakra' many times before in his past life as a mere anime fan, but now it was real. It was inside him. The challenge was finding it.

—How am I supposed to feel something I've never used before?— Ryuma's voice held a hint of frustration as he kept his eyes closed.

—Quiet your mind, fool,— Koji's voice snapped like a whip. —Stop thinking so much. The more you doubt, the farther away it gets. Focus on the breath, listen to your heartbeat, and sink into that stillness.—

Ryuma bit his lip, feeling the sting of Koji's words. He inhaled deeply, holding it for a moment before slowly exhaling. His mind fought against the quiet, thoughts of doubt and insecurity rising like a storm. "What if I'm not strong enough? What if I—"

—I can hear your thoughts from here,— Koji's tone was sharp and cutting. —If you have time to doubt, you have time to feel. Stop resisting it.—

Ryuma's fists clenched, and he took another deep breath, this time slower, deeper. He focused only on the rhythm—in and out. The world around him seemed to dim, leaving only the sound of his heartbeat. Ba-dump. Ba-dump. Ba-dump. Like a slow drum in the distance.

Then, something shifted.

It was faint at first, like the ripple of water after a single drop falls. A warmth swirled in his core, subtle but present. His eyes snapped open, filled with a mix of surprise and realization.

—I think… I felt it.— Ryuma's voice was soft but filled with hope.

Kashin Koji's gaze sharpened from under his mask. —Then keep going. Feeling it once is nothing. You need to feel it constantly. Breathe it. Own it.—

Another deep breath. This time, Ryuma's senses were more attuned to that warmth. It wasn't just a ripple—it was a current, flowing through him. The warmth ran through his arms, his legs, his chest. It was everywhere.

—Good. Now, focus it to one point. Your palm will do. Call it there. Draw it in like water from a well,— Koji instructed, his eyes watching Ryuma's every move.

With gritted teeth, Ryuma raised his right hand, palm facing upward. He visualized the warmth in his core being pulled up, moving through his chest, his shoulder, his arm, and finally his palm. At first, nothing happened. But slowly, ever so slowly, a soft blue glow flickered to life in the center of his palm.

—I… I did it!— Ryuma's face lit up with joy, but it faded as quickly as the glow did. His hand dropped in exhaustion, sweat rolling down his face.

—Don't get cocky, boy,— Koji's words were harsh but firm. —That's step one of a thousand. If you can't sustain it, it's useless. Again.—

The cycle repeated. Minutes turned into hours. Ryuma's arms felt like lead, his breathing was ragged, and his entire body ached. But every flicker of blue light in his palm was brighter, stronger, and lasted a little longer each time. Each attempt chipped away at his doubt.

—Now… summon your tools,— Koji's command came without warning. —They're connected to your chakra. If you've truly grasped control, you'll call them out without thinking.—

Ryuma's heart pounded. This was different. He had only ever seen ninja tools being drawn from scrolls, but his were inside his body. Taking a deep breath, he visualized the chains—thick, unbreakable chains with sharp ends. They were part of him now. He poured his chakra into his arms and willed them to manifest.

With a sharp metallic sound, two chains shot out from his wrists, rattling as they hung in the air. Each link was thick, polished steel, glinting like the edges of swords. They hovered with a faint blue glow, swaying like snakes ready to strike.

—Hah… Hahaha! I did it!— Ryuma's grin was wide, his breathing heavy.

Kashin Koji's eyes narrowed in silent approval. —Not bad for a first try,— he admitted. —But you're still far from mastering it. You'll train until summoning them becomes as natural as breathing.—

Ryuma stared at the chains, still in disbelief that they were his. They moved as he moved, like an extension of his own arms. For the first time, he felt power—real power—flowing through him.

—I'll master it. Just watch me,— Ryuma declared with unwavering resolve.

Kashin Koji's lips curled into a subtle, unseen smirk beneath his mask. —We'll see, boy. We'll see.—