Wang Chen sat at the edge of his small bed, the dim light of dusk filtering through the cracks in the window shutters. The throbbing headache that had accompanied the flood of memories had finally faded, leaving him with a strange sense of calm.
He placed the bag of coins, earned through his monthly beatings, on the rickety wooden table in the corner of the room.
His mother was outside working, as usual. She spent most days laboring in the homes of wealthy families, only returning late at night when Wang was already asleep. They seldom saw each other, but he felt her love in the quiet gestures, like the blanket she draped over him while he slept or the small meals she left out before leaving in the morning.
With a quiet sigh, Wang made his way back to his bed, sitting cross-legged.
He closed his eyes and focused on the air around him, letting his senses expand. He could feel it now, the energy in the air. It wasn't chakra, but something similar. Soul power, they called it here.
Unlike chakra, which surged through the body like blood, soul power felt more... fluid. It existed in the world, surrounding everything, and when he focused, he could draw it into himself. The sensation was strange but not entirely unfamiliar.
He began his meditation, trying to absorb the foreign energy, letting it flow into his body. With each breath, the soul power became a part of him, blending with his essence. Unlike chakra, which coursed through the body's pathways, soul power seemed to connect deeper, into his consciousness, his very soul.
As the energy settled within him, Wang's thoughts drifted.
'Could I recreate the jutsu from my old life?'
The idea felt both exhilarating and daunting. He wasn't sure if the rules of this world would allow it, but there was one thing he was certain of, he needed every advantage he could get.
Next year, all children of age would be gathered to test for their martial souls, determining whether they could become spirit masters. If he was unlucky and ended up with a weak or trash martial soul, he'd be at a massive disadvantage. He could feel the soul power flowing within him now, even before his martial soul had awakened, which gave him hope that he could become one.
But the question gnawed at him, would the abilities from his past life, jutsu, even be possible in this new world? Elemental jutsu like the Fireball Jutsu seemed unlikely without the proper soul power type. But there were others he might be able to recreate.
'The Flicker Jutsu…' ,he thought.
That would be easy enough. It was just a movement technique. But there was one jutsu that called to him more than any other: Shadow Clone Jutsu. The ability to create a fully independent clone could be invaluable in this world. But would it work with soul power instead of chakra?
Determined to find out, Wang shifted his focus. The months ahead would be filled with experiments, learning to manipulate this new energy and testing the limits of what he could achieve.
Weeks passed. Wang Chen spent every free moment meditating, gathering soul power, and conducting experiments. His first attempts at forming a clone were disastrous. He tried splitting his soul power, but the clone immediately dissipated, unable to maintain its form. Each failure was frustrating, but it only made him more determined.
He realized quickly that creating a stable clone required an exact balance of soul power. Too little, and the clone wouldn't hold its shape. Too much, and he would drain his reserves, leaving himself weak and vulnerable. He eventually found that he needed to split his soul power evenly, giving half to the clone while retaining enough for himself to remain functional.
After several failed attempts, he finally succeeded in creating a stable form. But the clone was like a statue, completely immobile, unable to move or respond. It stood in front of him, perfectly resembling his young body, but lifeless. Wang stared at it, frustration bubbling up inside him.
'It's not enough', he thought.
"I need more."
More research followed. Drawing upon his knowledge of how chakra and soul power interacted with the body, he carefully experimented with embedding a portion of his instincts and consciousness into the clone. He theorized that if he could impart just a fraction of his own mind into the clone, it would gain the ability to move and think, albeit limited by the soul power's constraints.
Days of trial and error passed, but finally, something clicked.
One morning, after hours of focus and concentration, Wang formed a new clone. This one was different. It blinked. It shifted its weight. Slowly, it looked at him and spoke in his voice, "What now?"
Wang couldn't help the small grin that spread across his face. The clone walked like him, talked like him. But something was missing—it felt hollow. The clone wasn't truly alive. It was just a reflection of his own essence, a pre-made personality that mimicked his own thoughts. It wouldn't rebel or disobey, but its existence was merely an extension of him.
'Not perfect, but a start.' he thought.
More tests followed. Wang realized that when the clone was destroyed, the soul power dissipated into fragments, lost forever. To improve the technique, he worked on establishing a connection between himself and the clone, one that would allow the soul power to return to him upon its destruction. He experimented tirelessly, refining the bond between them.
After weeks of meticulous adjustments, he finally achieved a breakthrough. When the clone was destroyed, a portion of its soul power and experiences flowed back into him. It wasn't perfect. He only recovered around 80% of the energy but the memories of what the clone had seen and done were transferred back into his consciousness.
The first time it happened, Wang felt a rush of dizziness followed by a strange excitement.
It worked.
He stood in his small room, his heart pounding with both exhaustion and triumph. This Soul Clone Jutsu was no longer just an idea.
It was real, and it had the potential to accelerate his growth beyond what he had imagined.
Wang glanced at his reflection in the dusty window. He was five years old, still small and weak in this world, but with this technique, his path to power had begun. There was still so much to learn about soul power, and Nuoding Academy would be his next step.
But for now, he had something no one else did—a technique from a world long gone, remade and reshaped for this new life.
Late that night, the house was quiet, the only sound a soft creak as the door to Wang Chen's room slowly opened. He stirred in his sleep but didn't move, instinctively knowing who it was.
His mother always came to check on him after a long day's work. She moved silently, careful not to wake him as she approached the bed.
Gently, she pulled the blanket back over him where it had slipped off, tucking it around him with care. Then, as she often did, she sat on the edge of the bed, brushing his hair away from his face and softly patting his head. The warmth of her hand, the quiet comfort she provided, it was something that always made him feel safe. But tonight, something felt different.
Wang Chen opened his eyes, gazing up at his mother's face. She smiled down at him, the kind of smile that was filled with exhaustion but also love. Her face had aged in the past few years, the lines of hardship and neglect etched into her skin. She had sacrificed so much, working day and night to provide for him, never complaining, never asking for more.
For a long moment, Wang just looked at her. There was something strange inside him now, a feeling that had not existed before. He had always cared for his mother, but the memories of his past life, memories of losing his parents when he was too young to even understand their absence, had stirred something deeper.
He felt an overwhelming sense of fear at the thought of losing her. The regret of not spending enough time with his parents in his past life, of not appreciating the moments he had, weighed heavily on his heart. He didn't want that to happen again. This time, he had a chance to protect her, to keep her close. But he would never tell her about his past life. It was too strange, too far beyond what any normal person could accept. Even if she loved him now, knowing that he wasn't just her son, but also someone else, could change everything.
So, he kept his silence, pushing those thoughts down deep where they belonged.
Instead, he reached out and hugged her, something he hadn't done in a long time. His small arms wrapped around her waist, and for a moment, she was startled. But then she softened, returning the hug as she gently rubbed his back.
"Chen'er," she said softly, her voice warm, "what's wrong? Why are you awake?"
Wang rested his head against her side, not answering at first. He wanted to say so much, but the words felt stuck in his throat. He couldn't tell her about the memories, about the life he once lived. But he could tell her something else, something true.
"I just wanted to say…" Wang began, his voice quiet. "I'm going to protect you, mom. I'm going to get stronger. No one will hurt you ever again."
His mother chuckled softly, though there was a hint of sadness in her eyes. "You're still so young, Chen'er. You don't need to worry about things like that."
But Wang shook his head. He wasn't just a child. Not anymore. Even if his mother didn't know the truth, he couldn't just be a child in this life. He had already seen too much, lived too much.
"I will," he insisted. "I'll get stronger than everyone. I'll make sure we're safe."
His mother looked down at him for a long moment, her expression softening. She reached out and stroked his hair, her touch gentle. "You don't have to carry that burden alone," she whispered. "You just need to be happy, that's enough for me."
Wang's grip on her tightened slightly. He wanted to believe her, but deep down, he knew he couldn't let things play out like they had in his past life. He had lost too much before. This time, he would protect what mattered. But he didn't say that. Instead, he just held her, letting the comfort of her presence soothe the lingering fears that gnawed at him.
They sat together in the quiet for a while, talking about small things. His mother told him stories of her childhood, of the old city and the people she had known. Wang listened, absorbing every word. It felt peaceful, and for once, the worries of the future faded away.
Eventually, his mother stood, giving him one last gentle pat on the head. "Get some rest, Chen'er. Tomorrow is another day."
Wang nodded, watching as she left the room, her soft footsteps fading down the hall.
He lay back down, staring at the ceiling. The weight of his promise still pressed on his chest, but now it felt a little lighter. He wouldn't tell her about his past life. He couldn't. But in this life, he had a second chance, and he would use it to make sure she never had to suffer again.
As sleep finally claimed him, his resolve solidified.
He would protect her, no matter what.
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A/N: No lovey dovey. Don't even think about it.
Word Count: [1965]