The warmth of Chakra

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[A/N: Warning, Heavy AU elements incoming, the description of Chakra usage and learning is so barebones in the manga that I've taken it on myself to construct my own system based of fanon, canon and my own ideas. The system will be consistent but since this is my story and Chakra will heavily influence the future plot, I made it specifically to suit the Fic and some ideas I have for the future, hope you find potential in it as I do]

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The moment he uttered those words, a smile threatened to erupt on my face and my heartbeat quickened. I did my best to contain my emotions but I think he picked on some of my excitement as he grinned, or so I think, his mouth was hidden but his eyes curved up slightly.

"Chakra is an an energy that everyone possesses in varying quantities, it's used by ninjas to utilise Jutsu and is an integral part of growing as a ninja." I replied back.

"Hmm, right… what else?" he pushed for more info.

"Umm… Chakra is…" off the top of my head I could think of a few more things I could add on, but still, none that had an explanation for where I learnt it. I didn't want to slip up and make myself seem suspicious so I pretended to stumble over my words and added some extra "ums" to elongate my sentence. 

The man chuckled again at my seemingly not knowing and explained, "Chakra is a combination of both physical and spiritual energies present within all living beings, and Aoki, not just ninjas, but warriors across the continent use it in a variety of different ways to enhance their strength and improve their overall quality of life." he explained.

It was surprising how much his personality had changed from when we began, first, he annoyed me, then he was helpful and now he was teaching me earnestly. I had no idea what to make of the man.

"Today I will teach you about Chakra, and if we have time, use it, if only a little. This is to better get a handle on your… unique situation." the man said the last part a little strangely, but I understood what he was eluding to. 

I nodded back, not wanting to talk of that Snakey fuck even if indirectly.

"First off, any questions?" he asked.

Oh boy, do I have questions?

'How do you sense Chakra? How do you know how much you have? How does Chakra quantity affect your development? What does it feel like? Does it grow as you get older? Can you improve the quantity of Chakra? Can you increase the quality of Chakra or is that a myth?!' this and hundreds more questions erupted as he asked me but I tempered myself. There was one question above all that had been plaguing me for weeks.

"How do I feel my chakra?" I asked, hopeful that finally, I would receive my long sought-after answer.

The man tilted his head and furrowed his brows in confusion, "What do you mean Aoki?"

"I've been trying to sense Chakra for a really long time, I've meditated, I've exercised, I've focused and concentrated as much as I can… still, I've felt nothing!" I said to him, almost complaining at the unfairness of the situation. The story never mentioned sensing Chakra for the first time so I was completely out of my depth in that aspect of my training, I hoped he knew more.

He tilted his head and questioned, "You don't feel anything at all after all that?" 

I shook my head and grew a little panicked, what do you mean I can't feel anything? Was I supposed to?

Tokei hummed, "It's more common to be able to sense it around your age, especially those with higher volumes of Chakra than normal…"

I wanted to question him more but Tokei offered a detailed explanation.

"You see, Chakra isn't a hormone or fluid that is developed within your body and circulates naturally, Chakra is an energy that, when not in use, settles down near your abdomen and moves throughout your body when in use. Chakra stays more or less stagnant until the person wills themselves to use it or goes through physical and/or mental turmoil, in which case, Chakra can also manifest without their will," he added onto this a short explanation of what hormones are but since I already knew, I mainly focused on digesting the information he had given me.

'An energy that sits within you, only being called upon when willed or under pressure…' I repeated to myself.

"For you specifically…" he said, flicking his wrist out and pointing a finger at me, "you should be able to sense it… hypothetically speaking of course…" he said before trailing off, his brows knitting a little as if he was scouring through his memories. I hoped to god that this was his playful and annoying attitude rearing its ugly head as he tried to scare me but I had the terrifying realisation that this wasn't the case.

"So… so how can I use my Chakra?" I asked, frowning in worry as my heart started to pound.

'What if I don't have it… who gives a fuck about a superior body if I can't use a single jutsu…' I thought.

'Spiritual and physical energies… my spirit isn't native to this world…' long suppressed thoughts and theories jumped up from my subconscious and latched onto my train of thought.

'If I'm crippled... if I can't do anything in a world like this...'

'I don't want to be crippled again...

'Fuck…'

I was starting to spiral. Normally I wouldn't stress, normally I wouldn't panic, normally I wouldn't collapse… but screw this stupid body of mine, I had only a fraction of the emotional control I had before. I was doing all of the above.

"Oi kid! Relax! Most don't have enough Chakra to sense it, and that's even more common at your age! Completely normal!" Tokei came over to me and lay a hand on my shoulder.

'Fuck, I was cursing this man and now... I'm damn near tearing up in front of him.' even if I was a child in stature, I had the pride of a man.

'Aoki man the fuck up… please.' I stood up and balled my hands into fists, unwilling to let him see me in such a weak light.

"Help me sense Chakra… please." I needed to do this more than he would ever know. The world would turn to shit sooner than anyone expected and I had to be prepared.

Tokei nodded, not trying to annoy me anymore and offered some advice, "Sure kid, Chakra can be sensed even if you don't have enough to pull on by yourself, don't worry." he assured me, "Tons of clan kids have this done early on to practice way earlier than they should, really, its a problem"

Even though normally I would've been interested to learn how ninja clans operate, now's not the time. I was about to ask him to continue with his explanation but he did so without my asking.

"They usually do this with the help of someone else pushing their Chakra into you to stimulate yours," Tokei said, "it enables your body to feel the changes within it and, theoretically, gives you enough insight into your Chakra to use it on your own."

I nodded quickly, trying to signal him to hurry.

"Now, sit down on the ground and don't move, I'll move some Chakra into you; let me know if you sense it…"

I wasted no time and all but leapt to the ground, freezing in place once I found a good position and waited.

Tokei also sat down and placed a singular hand on my back.

"Brace yourself," he said.

And so I did.

I closed my eyes, silenced my mind and focused entirely on the mysterious energy that I knew was within me. It wasn't long before I felt something that made me almost twitch in shock.

'A buzz...' I thought.

I felt it. A warm, buzzing sensation originated from where Tokei's hands were on my back, the warmth travelled along my back and travelled through my whole body, my arms, legs and head being the last to feel it.

It never once occurred to me to be wary of him as he was directly endorsed by Hiruzen, but now I wouldn't lie that I was worried at what this foreign energy of his would do.

Instead of voicing out any displeasure, I hoped for the best and kept it in, soon after... I was rewarded.

'...'

It was small... and warm but I could notice wisps of something... different. I didn't know what sense it was that picked it up, it wasn't touch, smell or taste, nothing that I had ever felt before. It was completely new.

'... There...'

The warmth grew stronger as I explored that feeling. I grasped onto the warmth and pulled, immersing my entire focus and concentration onto the source of the heat.

'... Somethings there!'

I didn't need to guess, I didn't need to be told. I knew what it was that I had just felt. 

Chakra.

'I feel it! It's hot... getting even larger...'

It was amazing, I felt as if I had regained the use of a limb I never knew I had, in my zeal I further grabbed the heat, thrilled at what it was I was feeling.

'Wow, it's getting hot...'

Amazing... this is Chakra! The heat feels strong.

Really strong.

'It's really hot...' I thought. As I immersed myself in the intoxicating feeling it only grew stronger and stronger.

'Fuck.'

It's burning!

My body started to tremble, half in pain, half in sheer excitement. I was feeling Chakra! It hurt and it burned... but this was Chakra! Genuine, pure, magical Chakra.

I recognised two sources of heat, one in my belly that I felt was almost cooking me from the inside and the other, a warm foreign sensation that was quickly subsiding, the heat in my body seemed to overpower and envelop the other smaller warmth, kicking it out of my body.

The moment the foreign buzz escaped, I heard Tokei move at the speed of light from behind me to my front, I could hear him say something out loud but I flat-out ignored him. I would do the next part on my own.

It hurt like hell. But I knew it existed... that was good enough for now.

Slowly but surely I let go of that heat, I stopped pulling it, my grasp on the intangible energy free as it dissipated... settling back into god knows where within me. I revelled in the coolness that hugged my body, a soothing sensation that brought a small smile to my face.

I opened my eyes to Tokei standing over me with eyes as wide as saucers, his scarf was removed and he was flapping his mouth, saying something that I didn't care to hear so I closed my eyes once again and focused on letting go of the feeling. He can wait.

'Almost...' Only bare wisps of the once-burning energy could be felt.

Now, only one singular flare remained, as if saying goodbye, it blinked before once joining its kin, retrating inside my lower belly.

'Amazing...'

I looked at Tokei, now that I was no longer immersed in the Chakra, I could hear what the man was saying beneath all that mouth flapping.

"AOKI! WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING?!"

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[A/N: 4/5 chapters done for the week. 400 powerstones or 25 reviews for an extra chapter, whichever comes first.

Words: 1998

How do you all feel about the way I wrote Chakra? Clearly, it is very AU but I have big plans for it in the future, let me cook dear readers, let me cook.

P.S. The chapter is out early as the last one came out a little late :) ]