3 : Ezio's Family & Chakra Control

As the day at the Academy wrapped up, Ezio began his walk home. His mind wandered as he walked along the familiar streets, feeling the gentle wind against his face and the faint warmth of the setting sun on his skin. The hustle and bustle of the village surrounded him, but his thoughts drifted inward, towards his family, towards this world that was still new to him.

This world... It's strange having a family again. A clan, responsibilities... Yet it feels familiar too. Ezio's thoughts lingered on his family in this world. His parents, both Jonin, respected in the Uchiha clan, and his elder brother, Kenji, who had already earned a strong reputation as a talented shinobi during the First War.

His parents, Haruto and Sayuri, were strict but caring. His father, Haruto, had a stern exterior, but Ezio knew it came from a place of discipline and duty. Sayuri, on the other hand, was warm but with an underlying sharpness that reminded Ezio how dangerous she could be if pushed. They were Jonin of considerable skill, and Ezio had grown up in a household where expectations were high.

And then there was Kenji, his elder brother. Eighteen years old and already considered a prodigy within the Uchiha clan. Kenji was a powerful shinobi, but more than that, he was someone Ezio respected—a rare bond in a life where he had learned to trust few.

He, who had seen his brother and father 50 years ago, felt very nostalgic to live with parents again. Even if in his heart he had not yet completely accepted this situation.

As he turned the corner and saw the familiar stone steps leading up to his family's home with the Uchiha emblem, Ezio's thoughts quieted. He was greeted by the faint scent of dinner being prepared, and the sight of his father training in the courtyard. Haruto noticed him immediately.

"You're late, Ezio," his father said without turning to face him, his voice calm yet stern. "What kept you?"

"Training at the Academy," Ezio replied, stepping into the courtyard. "They had us practicing shuriken today."

Haruto finally turned to face him, his dark eyes studying him intently. "And?"

Ezio shrugged. "It wasn't too difficult. I hit my targets."

His father gave a small nod of approval, but before he could say more, the door to the house slid open, and Kenji stepped out, his expression brightening when he saw Ezio.

"Finally home, little brother?" Kenji grinned, walking over to ruffle Ezio's hair. "You're late. I've already done two training sessions."

Ezio swatted his brother's hand away, though he couldn't help but smirk. "Don't you have anything better to do than wait for me?"

Kenji laughed, his easy-going nature a stark contrast to their father's more serious demeanor. "You're lucky I do. Otherwise, you'd be stuck sparring with me all day."

Ezio's eyes narrowed playfully. "Oh? Is that a challenge?"

Kenji's grin widened. "I think it is."

Haruto stepped aside, a rare smile playing at the corners of his lips. "Keep it controlled," he said, giving them permission to spar.

Ezio nodded, stepping into the courtyard and facing off against Kenji. He was in a child's body, yes, but his muscle memory from his previous life and the combat experience he carried allowed him to keep up with his brother—at least for a little while.

Kenji, however, was a seasoned Jonin, and as soon as the spar began, Ezio felt the difference. Kenji moved swiftly, closing the distance between them with speed that Ezio, even with his experience, struggled to match in his current form. The first few strikes were a test, light and playful, but Ezio knew his brother wouldn't hold back for long.

"Come on, little brother," Kenji taunted lightly. "Show me what you've got!"

Ezio did not possess the Sharingan, nor his eagle vision. The only thing he currently had was his experience. He dodged the next strike, moving in to counter with a swift kick aimed at his brother's side. Kenji blocked it with ease, his movements fluid.

"Nice try," Kenji said, before launching a series of rapid punches that Ezio barely managed to deflect.

Ezio gritted his teeth, pushing himself harder. Despite the difference in their physical abilities, his mind was still sharp, and he could read Kenji's moves. But Kenji was relentless, his strikes coming faster, testing Ezio's limits.

Finally, Kenji caught him off guard, sweeping Ezio's legs out from under him and pinning him to the ground. "Got you," he said, grinning triumphantly.

Ezio stared up at his brother, slightly winded but not defeated. "You're faster," he admitted, though there was a spark of determination in his eyes. "But I'm getting better."

Kenji's grin softened into something more serious. "You are. And you'll only keep getting better, Ezio. Just don't forget that even when you're strong, there's always more to learn."

Ezio nodded, appreciating his brother's words. He was still adjusting to this world, to this body, but moments like these—sparring with Kenji, feeling the support of his family—grounded him.

As they finished, their mother, Sayuri, called from inside the house. "Dinner's ready!"

Ezio and Kenji exchanged a glance before standing up, dusting themselves off, and heading inside. The warmth of family, of home, settled over Ezio as they sat down for the meal, his mind momentarily at peace despite the complexities of his dual life.

As they ate, his father spoke again, his voice thoughtful. "You're doing well, Ezio. But remember, the Uchiha carry a heavy legacy. Our power is both a blessing and a curse."

Ezio looked at his father, nodding silently. A legacy I intend to understand fully, he thought to himself.

Kenji, always more lighthearted, gave Ezio a wink. "Don't worry, little brother. With me around, you won't have to carry it alone."

For the first time in a while, Ezio allowed himself to relax, enjoying the brief respite with his family. He missed his wife and children, but this kind of comfort was also something he had missed. He could never imagine himself in a situation like this even in his wildest dreams.

--

Ezio woke early the next day, the sound of birds chirping outside his window as the soft rays of morning light filtered into the room. He sat up in bed, still feeling the faint remnants of his spar with Kenji from the previous evening. His muscles were sore, but the familiar sensation brought a small smile to his lips. Training again, even if it was just a spar with his brother, reminded him of the discipline and skill he once honed in another lifetime.

After a quick breakfast with his family, Kenji teasing him as usual, and his father quietly observing him.Ezio set out for his second day at the Academy. Today, he felt more grounded, more prepared. He knew that the Academy was more than just a place to learn the basics; it was a testing ground, a place where he could begin mastering his abilities and lay the foundation for his future as a shinobi.

But he has his clan to help him improve, he thinks the academy is not demanding enough.

As he arrived at the Academy, he noticed a few familiar faces from the day before. The goofy smile of a white-haired boy was hard to miss after all. Some students stood in small groups, chatting excitedly about what they had learned or practiced. Others, like Ezio, walked quietly towards the building, already focused on the day ahead.

Entering the classroom, Ezio took his usual seat near the back. The atmosphere felt different today, less tense, more familiar. Maybe it was because they have a better idea of what to expect.

"Good morning, class!" their instructor, called out as he entered the room, immediately silencing the chatter. His eyes scanned the room before landing on Ezio for a moment, a hint of curiosity in them, as if he still couldn't quite figure the new student out.

"Today, we'll continue practicing your basic techniques, but we're also going to start working on chakra control," He announced, gaining everyone's attention. "Your chakra is your life force, and mastering control over it will determine how effective you'll be as shinobi."

Chakra control. Ezio's mind immediately flashed back to the basics he had read about in his new life. This was something he had studied briefly in his first life as well, though it wasn't called 'chakra' where he came from. Still, the concept was similar enough that he understood the importance of balance and focus.

The instructor continued, "We'll be starting with something simple: walking up trees."

A few students exchanged glances, their confusion evident.

"Without using your hands," The teacher clarified, smirking slightly at their bewildered expressions.

Ezio sat up straighter. Chakra control exercises, especially something like tree climbing without hands, required intense concentration and precision. He knew this would be the perfect opportunity to test how well he could manipulate this world's energy system with his past experience guiding him.

As the class made its way outside to a training area behind the Academy, the students gathered in front of a large set of tall trees. The professor demonstrated the exercise, casually walking up a tree, his feet sticking to the bark as if it were second nature.

"The key is to focus your chakra into the soles of your feet," He explained once he was back on the ground. "Too much, and you'll blow the bark off the tree. Too little, and you won't be able to stick at all. Balance is everything."

He gestured for the students to begin.

Ezio stepped up to one of the trees, observing the other students as they hesitantly approached theirs. Some looked nervous, while others seemed eager to try.

He saw people like Tsunade succeeding effortlessly, she had a proud and self-satisfied smile it seemed. On the other hand, there are people like Jiraiya who kept falling, provoking laughter and mockery on him.

"You can't even climb a tree, how bad are you?" Tsunade showed a triumphant smile as she looked at her pitiful comrade.

"Shut up! This thing is nothing to me! You'll see." Jiraiya's grimaces clearly showed that he couldn't do it.

Without further ado, Ezio closed his eyes, focusing on the flow of chakra within him. He visualized the energy pooling in his feet, controlling the output with precision, and then took his first step.

At first, he felt the familiar surge of energy as his foot stuck to the bark. But as he lifted his other foot, he realized just how different this world's chakra system was from the energy he used in his previous life. It required more finesse, more control. The energy from his previous world was insignificant, allowing at most a slightly superhuman strength and a sixth sense.

Tsunade watched the Uchiha carefully to see if he would succeed, naturally she already knew how to use Chakra to a small extent, but what about this guy?

Taking a few more steps, he felt the resistance of the bark beneath his feet. The chakra control wasn't coming as naturally as he hoped, but his body's instincts were sharp. His previous life's combat training helped him maintain balance and focus, even in this new form.

"You're almost there, Ezio!" The teacher encouraged the child, surprised that there was a talent like him.

Ezio didn't respond, too focused on maintaining his chakra flow. Finally, after a few tense moments, he reached a steady pace. The bark held under his feet, and he began climbing faster, surpassing some of his classmates who were still struggling with their control.

A few minutes later, the instructor called the exercise to a halt. "Good progress for the first day," he said. "Remember, chakra control takes time to master. Don't be discouraged if you're not perfect right away."

As they regrouped, Tsunade bounded over to Ezio. "You were pretty good up there for someone who looked like they didn't know what they were doing at first," she teased.

Ezio gave her a small, amused nod. "You weren't too bad yourself."

She laughed, clearly pleased with the compliment. "Just wait until tomorrow. I'll be running circles around everyone."

Ezio shook his head, but couldn't help the small smile that crept onto his face. He found himself starting to enjoy the camaraderie of his new classmates, even if he was still adjusting to this life. He might even forget for a moment that he was a dying man before he came here.

The rest of the day went by quickly, filled with more chakra control exercises and basic training. By the end of the day, Ezio's body felt fatigued, but in a good way, like he was making real progress.

Saying goodbye to his few comrades, he left the Academy, walking back towards the familiar streets of the Uchiha compound, Ezio found his thoughts drifting again. His second day had been easier than the first, but he knew the road ahead would only get more challenging.

Still, for the first time since arriving in this world, he felt like he was starting to find his place.

The future... will be interesting.