Chapter 7: Breaking Barriers

The sharp crack of my fists slamming into the tree echoed through the forest. My knuckles were red, but the pain was a distant memory now. A week had passed since I started training in earnest, and the changes were undeniable.

I could feel the strength in my body with each strike, each punch hitting harder and digging deeper into the bark. The tree before me, once solid and imposing, was now splintered and broken in several places from the relentless force of my punches.

I pulled my fist back and let it fly again. The sound of cracking wood filled the air, the tree giving way more and more under the impact. My chakra flowed effortlessly through my body now. A week ago, it had felt like a struggle to get the energy moving through those blocked pathways. Now, it was smooth, almost automatic, circulating without thought, fueling my strength.

I threw one last punch, and the bark shattered, pieces flying off in every direction. I grinned, breathing heavily but feeling more alive than ever. My body had transformed since the day I arrived. The raw potential I'd felt back then had become real power.

I wiped the sweat from my brow, feeling the muscle in my arms flex as I did. It wasn't just my strength that had improved. My physique had become leaner, harder. My muscles were more defined, more capable than they'd ever been back in my old world.

"Time to clean up," I muttered to myself, stretching my arms overhead before heading toward the small stream that ran just outside the village.

As I reached the water, I stripped down, dipping my hands in the cool stream. The reflection of my face rippled as I cupped the water and splashed it over my skin. My eyes, a light brown that looked almost golden in the sunlight, stared back at me. I hardly recognized myself. My jawline was sharper, more chiseled, and my body, well, it looked like something out of a fitness ad. Every muscle was defined, tight, and there was almost no fat on me anymore. I smiled at my reflection. Not bad.

I stood up, letting the water run down my body as I shook out my arms. I hopped once, bouncing lightly on the balls of my feet, then took a deep breath. I focused, letting my chakra gather in my legs and feet before stepping out onto the water.

The surface didn't even ripple as I placed my foot down. I walked effortlessly, the chakra control I'd worked so hard on making it second nature now. No leaks, no overcompensating. I was in full control. I grinned as I reached the middle of the stream, spinning in a slow circle, admiring how far I'd come in just a little over a week.

"Damn," I muttered, shaking my head in disbelief. The water beneath my feet stayed still, perfectly balanced with my chakra, as I walked back to the shore.

....

I dried off and dressed, heading back into the village. The once-foreign streets now felt familiar, and I greeted the few villagers I passed by name. "Good morning, Ayako-san," I said, waving to the elderly woman who sold herbs in the market.

"Good morning, Darius-san!" she called back, her smile wide and warm. "You look stronger every day."

I chuckled. "Thanks. Training hard."

Ayako was in her sixties, with silver-gray hair tied in a loose bun and deep wrinkles that marked a life full of hard work. She had a keen eye for plants and had been helping me with small injuries from training. Her kindness reminded me of someone's grandmother, always offering advice and remedies for the smallest of cuts or bruises.

I continued walking, feeling more at ease with every conversation. My Japanese had improved, though some words still eluded me, especially when people spoke too fast. But I could get by now, no longer relying on broken gestures or single words.

"Yo, Kenta," I called out to the blacksmith's son as I passed the forge.

"Darius!" Kenta waved back, wiping the sweat from his brow. He was about my age, with short-cropped hair and a thick build from helping his father forge weapons every day. "You headed back to the inn?"

"Yeah, just finished training," I replied.

Kenta grinned. "I'll see you around, then. Try not to break anything else!" He laughed, clearly referencing my earlier training, where I'd accidentally shattered one of the practice dummies in the village square.

"Can't make any promises," I called back, grinning as I waved him off.

The village was lively, with people bustling about their morning routines. There was Akira, the butcher with his massive arms and short temper, prepping his meat for sale; and Kazumi, the baker with flour dusting her apron, handing fresh buns to a group of children who ran by laughing. Everyone had grown used to seeing me around, and their initial wariness had given way to familiarity.

As I neared the inn, I saw the innkeeper, Hiroshi, standing by the door, his arms folded over his broad chest, a friendly grin on his face. He was a large man in his fifties, with thick eyebrows and a bald head. His eyes crinkled when he smiled, a sign of his good nature despite his intimidating size.

"Ah, Darius! Back from training already?" Hiroshi called out as I approached.

"Yeah, for now," I replied with a smile. "How's business today?"

"Busy, as always. We have travelers passing through later. I might need your help with setting up extra rooms."

"No problem, I got you."

Hiroshi nodded, his eyes glinting with approval. "You've become quite the fixture in our village, you know that?"

I shrugged, but inside, I felt proud. "Just doing my part."

"お兄さん!" a voice chimed in from inside the inn. A young girl darted out from the doorway, her bright smile lighting up her face. It was Hiroshi's daughter, Aiko, who had just returned after staying at a friend's house for a few days.

She had long, jet-black hair that she kept tied in a ponytail, and her dark eyes were always filled with curiosity. She couldn't have been older than 10, but she had more energy than most adults I knew.

"Darius-nii-san!" she repeated, tugging at my sleeve. "Did you bring me something from the woods?"

I chuckled, shaking my head. "Not today, Aiko-chan. Maybe tomorrow."

She pouted for a second but quickly bounced back. "Okay! But you better bring me something cool!" She darted back inside, her laughter ringing through the air.

"She's taken a liking to you," Hiroshi said, watching her with fondness. "You're good with kids."

"I try," I said, leaning against the doorway. "She's got a lot of energy."

"She does," Hiroshi agreed. "You're welcome to stay as long as you need, Darius. You've become family here."

That hit me in a way I didn't expect. Family. It had only been a little over a week since I arrived, but these people had already accepted me in ways I hadn't anticipated. I smiled, giving Hiroshi a grateful nod. "Thank you. That means a lot."

"Now go eat something," Hiroshi said with a wave of his hand. "You've been working too hard."

....

I stepped inside the inn, my stomach growling at the mention of food. The warmth of the room hit me, and I realized how much I'd come to enjoy this place. The soft chatter from the other guests, the crackling fire in the corner, it all felt like home.

I sat down at one of the low tables, and Aiko darted over with a bowl of steaming rice and grilled fish. "Here you go, nii-san!"

"Thanks, Aiko-chan," I said, digging in immediately. The food was simple, but after a morning of training, it tasted like heaven.

As I ate, I thought about how far I'd come. In just over a week, I'd gone from a complete outsider to someone who could hold conversations, train like a ninja, and walk on water without even thinking about it. But this was just the beginning. There was still so much more to learn, so much more to discover.

And I had a feeling that soon, things were about to get a whole lot more interesting.

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