Chapter 8: Forging Ahead

The sun was barely peeking over the horizon as I made my way through the village. The cool morning breeze was a welcome contrast to the warmth I still felt after a light workout. My body was more agile now, stronger, and my senses were sharper with each passing day. But today, I had something else in mind, something different from my usual training.

I was heading to Kenta's father's forge.

Since arriving in this world, I'd been thinking about everything I could do with chakra. I'd heard about chakra-infused weapons in the ninja world and figured if I could learn the craft of forging weapons, maybe I could create something that combined both my strength and chakra.

I arrived at the forge just as Kenta and his father, Goro, were opening up shop. Goro was a massive man with arms like tree trunks, covered in soot and sweat from years of working the forge.

His long black hair was tied back into a rough ponytail, and his face bore the signs of a life dedicated to hard work. His eyes, however, were sharp and focused, always analyzing everything with a craftsman's eye.

"Morning!" I called out, giving Kenta a wave.

Kenta, already sweaty from hauling materials, looked up and grinned. "Darius! You're early. What's up?"

"I was hoping to learn a bit about forging," I said, looking between him and his father. "Figured it might be a useful skill."

Goro raised an eyebrow, setting down the large hammer he'd been holding. He crossed his arms, his gaze settling on me. "You want to learn blacksmithing?"

"Yeah," I said, nodding. "I've been thinking about it. Plus, maybe down the line, I could create weapons that work with chakra. But first, I need to understand the basics."

Goro stared at me for a moment longer before grunting. "It's not an easy craft. Takes years of practice."

"I learn quickly," I said with a grin.

Goro chuckled, the sound rumbling from deep within his chest. "We'll see about that. All right, let's get started."

....

The forge was hot, the heat from the coals burning my skin, but I didn't let it distract me. Goro moved with purpose, demonstrating each step in the process as if it were second nature. I watched his every movement closely, how he heated the metal, the way he hammered it out, the precise angles he used to shape it.

"Pay attention to the color of the metal," Goro said, holding a red-hot piece of iron with a pair of tongs. "When it's at the right temperature, it'll glow a bright orange. That's when it's ready for shaping."

I nodded, absorbing the information. As Goro worked, I studied everything, from how he positioned the iron to the rhythm of his hammer strikes. It wasn't just brute force, it was a balance of heat, timing, and technique.

When it was my turn, I took the tongs, pulling a fresh piece of iron from the coals. I could feel Goro and Kenta's eyes on me as I brought it to the anvil. The heat from the metal radiated through the air, but I focused on the task. I raised the hammer and struck the iron, just as I'd seen Goro do.

The sound of the hammer hitting the metal rang through the forge, and I couldn't help but smile. It wasn't perfect, but it wasn't bad for my first try. I adjusted my grip, remembering how Goro held the hammer, and tried again. This time, the strike was more precise, and the shape of the iron started to take form.

Goro grunted in approval. "Not bad."

I kept at it, every strike more accurate than the last. I made small mistakes here and there, like hitting the iron too hard or not positioning it right on the anvil, but each time I corrected myself. I was learning fast, faster than I expected. I could feel the rhythm of it, the way the metal responded to the heat and the pressure of the hammer.

By the end of the morning, I had created my first rough blade. It wasn't much to look at, just a simple, flat piece of iron shaped into a blade, but it was mine. And it felt good.

"You picked that up quicker than most," Goro said, nodding his approval. "Most people mess up a lot more on their first day."

I shrugged, grinning. "Told you, I learn quickly."

Kenta laughed, wiping his brow as he leaned against the workbench. "I'll say. You were hammering like you'd been doing this for years by the end."

I held the blade up to the light, turning it in my hands. There was still a lot to learn, techniques for tempering the metal, sharpening the edges, and creating balance in the weapon, but this was a good start. I was getting the hang of it, and I could already see the potential for more.

"What's next?" I asked, eager to keep going.

Goro chuckled. "Next, you'll learn how to temper the blade. We heat it up again, then cool it down rapidly to harden the metal. It'll make the weapon more durable."

....

Hours passed, and I absorbed every detail like a sponge. Each time I made a mistake, I corrected it immediately, never repeating the same error twice. I watched Goro and Kenta work, and each movement, each technique, was stored in my mind, refined and improved as I practiced.

Tempering the blade was fascinating. Goro explained how the rapid cooling process strengthened the iron, making it less brittle and more durable. When it was my turn, I did exactly as he showed me, lowering the red-hot blade into a vat of cold water, steam hissing as the metal cooled.

I pulled the blade out, inspecting it carefully. The once-rough iron had smoothed out, hardened by the process. It felt more solid in my hands now, more real.

Goro watched me, nodding approvingly. "You've got a natural talent for this. I've never seen someone pick it up so fast."

I grinned, wiping sweat from my brow. "I'm just getting started."

He clapped a heavy hand on my shoulder. "You said something earlier about chakra-infused weapons. That's a different kind of skill. Not just any blacksmith can make weapons that channel chakra."

"I figured," I said. "But if I can learn the basics of forging, I can figure out the rest."

Goro smiled. "I like your attitude, Darius. Keep working hard, and who knows what you'll be able to create."

....

By late afternoon, the forge had quieted down. I stood outside, looking at the sky as the sun began to sink below the horizon. My body was exhausted from the physical work, but my mind was buzzing.

Blacksmithing was more than just hitting metal with a hammer. It was about precision, control, and patience. All things I'll need if I was going to master this world.

I walked back through the village, feeling the cool evening breeze against my skin. As I passed the market, I waved to the usual faces, smiling at the familiar greetings I'd come to recognize.

"Evening, Ayako-san," I called to the herbalist.

"Good evening, Darius-san!" she replied, waving as she packed up her stall for the night.

I continued down the street, heading back toward the inn. Tomorrow would bring more challenges, more lessons, but for now, I was content. Learning to forge weapons was just one step, but it was a step in the right direction. And with each passing day, I was getting closer to mastering the power within me.