Chapter 3 - Awakening

Kenshin wakes up sluggishly as the sun glares through the small orphanage window. Feeling peckish, Kenshin decides to get some mud to eat. He still don't know what exactly is in that mud and he'd rather not know. It's better than going hungry, scratch that, it's not better, but it will be better in the long run. Satisfied with his classification of this food, kenshin washes up and arrives at the cafeteria along with a gaggle of other kids. "Hey Kenshin!" Kenshin smiles and waves back "Hey guys! Come here!" Around 3-4 other boys around Kenshin's age sits down where he is and begin talking about mundane stuff like "Look at me, my boogers are all black" and the rest goes "Woah" while kenshin have some barely hidden disgust on his face. After a while of this Kenshin decides to ask the importance questions "So, how's the academy? I'm starting today, you know!" With a huge grin on his face. The other boys, one in particular by the name of Akira goes first "It's horrible! The teachers want to actually kill us"

The next one, by the name of Bakura shakes his head sadly "I've never felt so bored, ever" Draken goes afterwards "You just wait! Reading sucks!" Everyone nods at that while appearing very serious. Something that Kenshin finds hilarious. "Hey Draken, I bet that you can't put that booger on Mrs. Surei without being caught" While snickering with a smug smile. "Oh yeah? Watch me!" He jumps out of his seat as he sees Mrs. Surei and jumps up to give her a hug. Surei, with finely honed intuition for mischief by now proceeds to make the largest spectacle Kenshin has seen in the orphanage to date. And by the looks of the other boys faces, they too have never seen her this angry. Oh wow, it's like.. Her veins are popping out, her face matches her already red hair and that cannot be healthy for someone at her age. Then again, she might be really young, but stressed. Maybe it's possible to be 30 and have as much wrinkles as she, maybe not, Kenshin obviously don't care. Before she ever sets sights on him, Kenshin slurps up his mud and jumps down from his seat while yelling at the other boys to follow him. At a safe distance away they all look at each other and break down laughing. "What an idiot!" Kenshin says, which get's mimicked by the other guys. Smiling to themselves they start heading for the academy while laughing. Having earned some.. Minions, kenshin is satisfied with today's gains and feel the day can only get better from here on.

Arriving at the academy the boys part ways before going to their own classes, they weren't all the same age, in fact, kenshin was the 'youngest' one, even without taking into account him being younger than his told age. Smiling to himself he walks up to the lady at the reception. "Hey" he yells brightly while trying to look over her desk and failing miserably.

She smiles at his attempts and lean over "Hey there kiddo, what you doing here?" The receptionist was a pretty one, with brown hair and deep violet eyes. She might be getting up in her years, looks around 30, but she still had her charms. Some might say she's grown into her beauty, instead of growing into it.

Kenshin admires her for a second before proceeding to tell her about how it's his first day here, how excited he is and a bunch of other things which had no relation to the first topic purely because he is supposed to appear nervous. Laughing lightly at the rambling child before her the lady proceeds to walk him to his class. After walking with Kenshin for a moment she's charmed by his cute boyish attitude before knocking on the classroom door. "Come in" A booming voice calls. Kenshin acts eager and jump forward to open the door before rushing in. "Oh! Kenshin is it? Come over here!" The teacher says, he looks like a gentle fellow. But, then again, maybe that's the point. Don't scare the children and all that, maybe they will have to wait a few years before they get the scarred guys. Kenshin thinks to himself.

"Yeah sure!" Kenshin yello brightly and rush up to the teacher. The teacher introduces himself first "I'm Nakamura. Good to see you here early!" He then claps his hands to get the attention of the class

"Okay guys, this is Kenshin, He'll be starting with us today. Say hello!" "Hiiiii" They kids say in monotone loudly. Kenshin snickers a bit at the familiar yell. Smiling he looks up to the teacher as he tell him to Introduce himself. Stepping forward with a huge grin and upright figure Kenshin yell loudly "Hey guys! I'm kenshin, nice to meet you all!"

The teacher smiles slightly before smacking him on the back "Okay, take the seat over there" He points over to the back corner of the class before returning to his lecture about the different letters in the alphabet. Kenshin considers himself lucky that he can read them at all, he never thought it would be the same as he remembers. Imagine learning a whole new language when you've already learned three in your life. It has to stop somewhere, right? Smiling to himself he calls the teacher and tell him about how he already know how to read. Nakamura looks surprised for a while before thinking to himself "Well, it's not that rare for new students to already know how to read" But he's still slightly suspicious so he tells Kenshin to read a passage on the blackboard. Kenshin all too happy to do so reads it flawlessly before turning to the teacher who gapes at him. Although he expected that he might be able to read what it said, he never thought he'd get it flawlessly! You must know that there is a difference between reading something like this a-l-i-t-t-l-e-b-o-r-e-d a little bored! And flawlessly saying sentence upon sentence like it's an inborn talent. At his age this is already a sign of real intelligence. Smiling to himself the teacher consider what to do 'Maybe I should move him up? Nah, the first year has too much basics. Though, if he manages to read as well as i suspect he could just.. Learn by himself.'

Looking at Kenshin with a gleam in his eyes Nakamura says slowly "Okay, Kenshin, If you manage to memorize the textbook for this year I'll move you up a year. That means as the other children" He gestures around him "Learn how to read, you will be reading. The other classes will still be with them." He says "Sounds okay"

Kenshin, knowing what the teacher is trying to achieve smiles "Sure thing teach, I'll get it done by the week!" The teachers sputters at that, before smacking Kenshin's head "Don't get over your head, tell me how you're doing in a week and we'll see how we go from there"

Kenshin rubs his head, annoyed "Alright" He says while glaring at the teacher.

Nakamura then drops the book on his desk before going back to the blackboard.

Opening the book kenshin almost drop his jaw in surprise "This won't even take me a week, I can do this in a few hours" For while the academy might be advanced compared to their time period, kenshin is a man from the 21 century. He lives and breathes knowledge, that is the only strength of his people. Plus a brain of child which absorbs knowledge like a swamps it didn't even take the rest of the hour before he was finished. "I'm even better than I were in my last life! Then again, I always were lazy, not this time! Chakra is waiting!" Kenshin shakes with excitement at his memory being as good as it is.

"Teacher, I finished!" He yells loudly.

Nakamura was just about to take a sip of his coffee as he heard Kenshin's voice, almost spilling the coffee out in surprise he turns to look at kenshin with wide eyes "Finished? Already?" He says and walk over. 'Impossible, it's not even been an hour. There are some crazy geniuses in this world, but this guy?' He thinks while standing in front of the boy wonder, scrutinizing him. Kenshin nods eagerly "Yeah, can I move up now?"

The teachers smiles at that "Not so fast, let's test your first" Nakamura takes the book from kenshin and flips a few pages before asking a random, but essential question.

"Alright, What is the ….. From the last ninja war?" He says with a bored air

But, bored turned into interested, interested turned to astonished and astonished turned to pure amazement as Kenshin got everything correct but a few obscure questions. And even then he only got the details wrong, like dates and names. Bursting with pride at his newly discovered talent Kenshin smugly looks at the teacher over the tip of his nose "So, what you think teach? This genius enough for you, yet?" The teacher laugh a bit at the smug little fucker before telling him that it's quite enough. "We'll get your moved up tomorrow, you'll still have PE with those here. But everything else is with those above" Nakamura tells Kenshin calmly "You will still have to catch up with those above, you're a few months behind, after all. But, that shouldn't be a problem, right?" He says with a wink, then clap his hands and yell "Ok, class" Let's go outside!" "Yaaah" The class yells excitedly before rushing out. Kenshin being the only one left. "Hey teach, I read about ... " Rolling his eyes as if looking for an answer "Chakra in that book, how do I get that?" He says excitedly.

Nakamura stops shuffling papers for a moment before looking at kenshin as if just realising "Oh, right, you haven't gotten chakra classes yet. Can't move you up like that" Nakamura puts a hand under his chin before continuing "Ok, meet me here after PE, I'll help you out while the rest of the class have history" Kenshin nods with a smile before running out.

One hour later

A sweaty and panting Kenshin walks to the locker room to get changed from the basic gym clothes, something passed on to him just before class and take a shower. Feeling the cold water run over his back he sighs in relief, but it doesn't last long as he hear the teacher yell for them to get done and come out. Like some kind of military discipline. Kenshin sighs at that "I guess I'm really going to join the military, never bothered in my last life, such annoying things, taking orders that is" He then turns off the water, quickly dries himself and pull some grey and worn out second hand clothing over his thin body before walking calmly out of the lockers. "Then again, It's the road of a ninja, chakra, murder and similar. It will probably be fun" He grins at that, like an internal joke before heading to the old classroom. Opening the door he greets nakamura brightly "Hey teach! How Ya doing!?" Nakamura looks over to Kenshin before smiling slightly "Good to see you, kenshin. Sit down on the mat over there in a cross legged position. Actually, read this book in the meantime. I gotta grade some papers before we start" He then hands him a small book the size of his head and a few pages long. Kenshin nods before heading over to the mat. He sits down comfortably before reading:

Chakra 101

Chakra exist in all living beings and even the air around us contain it. Chakra is everywhere, the concept of what chakra actually is, is a complicated philosophical question. That, however, is high above your current level. In this book you will be introduced to the practical aspects of chakra. Having a the help of a teacher, while helpful, is not necessary to activate and find your chakra. Knowing what to look for is always better than looking without a clue, especially when it comes to something as elusive as chakra.

The first step of finding your chakra is to meditate, to do this …..

Kenshin studied the book vigorously for half an hour, by this time his teacher had already finished grading the test and were watching him silently. When Kenshin raised his head to meet Nakamura's gaze, he received a smile in response. "Do you have any questions?"

Kenshin inwardly went over what the book said and shook his head in response "No, I'm ready"

Nakamura narrowed his eyes and begun to rise from his chair, but not before saying "Alright then, please begin"

Kenshin nodded, crossed his legs, closed his eyes and focused his breath. Now, Kenshin used to meditate regularly in his past life. It helped him clean up his head, keep his attention crisp and had a lot of benefits in regards to mental health and stress. He were no sage, but left at least 15 minutes to do this every day. Now, since coming to the world of Naruto he'd kept up this habit, but never once noticed anything strange during his meditation. This, it turns out, was because he'd not focused on his abdomen, but rather on the air coming in his nostrils. After a few minutes he feels an energy intruding on the front of his stomach, this, were nakamura injecting his chakra into Kenshin and directing it towards his 'core' Following the chakra Kenshin were brought to a spot around his navel. The chakra then quickly retreated, deeming it enough help to make Kenshin understand.

Nakamura stood up form his knees and sat himself behind the desk "I wonder how long it will take him. Most people don't get it the first time, even with the teachers help. But, I have a feeling he'll succeed." Nakamura smiled to himself and watched silently

Kenshin felt around his navel for any kind of energy, but then noticed he'd been too eager. "I need to calm down. The book said to focus on the breath and meditate silently. Not go looking for it straight away." Chastising himself he calmed down and begun to meditate for real, feeling the euphoria of concentration depicted in the book Kenshin felt around for any kind of energy. 'There it is!' Like a frightened animal the energy begun to disappear. 'No you don't!" Kenshin inwardly yelled before pulling, like a muscle he'd never before used it was slow and painful, but with time the energy became stronger and his senses with it. Feeling the power welling up into his body, swirling, dancing around his system. Like a river of blood rushing through he heard it swishing in his ear. As he opened his eyes the world had become beautiful, more lifelike, all colors enriched. A large grin broke out of on his face as he felt the rush of power. Nakamura felt the wind against his face as a new student activated his chakra and let him have moment to himself before he slowly began to clap "Well done, kenshin. You're officially qualified to be a ninja. How do you feel?" Nakamura said while smiling

Kenshin looked with a feral gaze at the teacher "I feel great! Better than great! I feel amazing!"

"Hahaha" Nakamura laughed with a knowing gaze "It does feel great, doesn't it? Enjoy it while it lasts"

Kenshin looked with wonder on his hands as he clenched them tightly "This is what power feels like? I need more!" And thus begins the journey and ambitions of one Kenshin.