Chapter 10: A Dream of Ninja Begins
Before drifting off into the depths of his dream, Ryan received a message from the orb. It assured him that he would undoubtedly become the greatest ninja in his dream, as long as he didn't die young or abruptly wake up in the middle of it. The promise filled him with a mixture of anticipation and a touch of apprehension.
As the seconds ticked by, Ryan's consciousness gradually slipped away, and he found himself immersed in a whole new world. The dream had transported him to an academy, where he was no longer his present age but regressed back to being a 7-year-old child. His eyes sparkled with excitement as he took in the vibrant surroundings, brimming with other young students learning the ways of the ninja.
Amongst the crowd, Ryan looked here and there excitedly and quickly realized that his memories in this dream world belonged to a boy named Ryan . He resided in a small room all by himself, and the excitement of being in this dream academy overwhelmed him. A mischievous thought crossed his mind, and he chuckled internally, unable to resist cracking a joke even in his own thoughts.
"Hey, Ryan," Ryan whispered to himself with a wide grin, "If you think about it, being a ninja is like being a professional ninja warrior... but with better outfits! Who needs a boring office job when you can wear cool ninja gear, right?"
He stifled a laugh, finding humor in his own ridiculousness. The anticipation of learning the ways of the ninja, mastering stealth and combat techniques, filled him with boundless energy. Even though he was just a child in this dream, his determination to excel and become the greatest ninja burned bright.
The middle-aged teacher stood before us, his face adorned with wrinkles that hinted at a lifetime of wisdom and experience. He began demonstrating the art of throwing shurikens, teaching us the intricacies of wrist movements, aiming, and the proper technique to launch those deadly projectiles. As he shared his knowledge, the excitement within me grew, eager for my chance to put these skills into practice.
Finally, the moment arrived, and I stepped forward to take my turn. With shaky hands and a mix of anticipation and nerves, I grasped the shurikens and attempted to throw them towards the target. However, to my dismay, not a single one came close to hitting the mark. It was as if my aim had been replaced with a whimsical twist of fate, leading to amusingly off-target throws.
As my turn came to an end, I stepped aside, watching as other children took their shots. To my surprise, many of them showcased remarkable accuracy, landing their shurikens on or near the target. It was a spectacle that left me astounded and, in a way, humbled. But amidst my slight frustration, I couldn't help but find humor in the absurdity of a child, no older than seven, being expected to possess such precise throwing skills.
"Guess I'll have to stick to playing darts for now," I mused to myself, a mischievous smile dancing across my lips. "Who knew ninja training would make me appreciate the simple joys of a bullseye on a dartboard ? But just using deadly weapons instead of darts"
Laughter bubbled up from within me as I released the tension that had built up during the practice.
But the trials were far from over. The teacher, with a twinkle in his eye, announced the next challenge: running ten laps around the academy, each lap measuring a kilometer. My jaw dropped, incredulous at the distance I was expected to cover. Nevertheless, a fire of determination ignited within me, pushing me to strive for greater strength and endurance.
With trembling legs and a pounding heart, I began my run. The first three laps drained my energy, leaving me exhausted and questioning my decision. Yet, driven by sheer willpower and an unyielding desire to grow stronger, I pushed forward. Each step was a battle against fatigue, but I persisted, refusing to let my tiredness dictate my progress.
By the time I completed my fifth lap, I was dead last among my peers. The sight of children younger than me surpassing my endurance amused me to no end. Through heaving breaths, I couldn't help but crack a joke to lighten the situation and release some of the frustration.
"Who needs the Olympics when you have a bunch of ninja-in-training running marathons? I mean, seriously, a seven-year-old running more than seven kilometers? Talk about raising the bar!" I chuckled to myself, finding solace and laughter in the midst of physical exhaustion.
Finally, our teacher granted us a well-deserved rest for an hour. I collapsed onto the grass, relishing in the opportunity to catch my breath and let my legs recover. In that moment of respite, I reflected on my run and was frustrated even more .
In that hour of rest, I replenished my energy, both physically and mentally. And as the time ticked away, anticipation for the next lesson, burned in me.
As the hour of rest came to an end, the teacher's voice rang out, commanding us to gather for our next challenge. It seemed that rest was not the only thing on the agenda. The real training had just begun.
We were instructed to perform 50 push-ups and 50 squats. The thought of it made my muscles ache in protest, knowing they were already fatigued from the previous exercises. I mustered up all the strength I had left and pushed myself to complete as many as I could. But, alas, I fell short. Despite my efforts, I couldn't finish the entire set.
Feelings of shame and embarrassment washed over me. I looked around at the other children effortlessly performing the exercises, their determination evident in their every move. It seemed as though they possessed boundless energy and strength, leaving me feeling inadequate.
However, in a moment of realization, I reminded myself that this was just a dream. These children were merely NPCs, programmed to excel in their training. The weight of my perceived failure began to lift as I adopted a more lighthearted perspective. I chuckled to myself, thinking, "Well, I guess even ninjas have their off days, right? I'll just have to work harder tomorrow!"
With a renewed sense of humor and determination, I bid farewell to the academy for the day. As I was about to head home, a familiar face caught my attention. It was Haruka, the girl who lived next door in this dream world. We walked together, sharing lighthearted banter and laughter. Her presence brought a sense of not being alone in unfamiliar world *cough* dream .
The next day, I woke up early in the dream sounds crazy right but that's the truth, feeling the soreness in my muscles from the previous day's exercises. I took a moment to stretch, easing the stiffness from my body. Determined to make progress, I met up with Haruka, and together we made our way to the school.
The teacher, once again, focused on refining our shuriken throwing techniques. Each of us received personalized tips and guidance to enhance our skills. It was clear that the teacher was invested in our growth and development as future ninjas.
After the shuriken practice, we were met with a series of rigorous exercises, pushing our bodies to the limit. The day was filled with intense training, leaving us physically and mentally exhausted.
And so, time passed swiftly, with each day blending into the next. And so a year passed in a blink of an eye with everyday training been more rigorous than yesterday... This year came to an end and the new year in academy began.
To be continued. ....
//Authors note //
Hey there readers!
I am back your one and only a kami with a pen. I wanted to ask you all if you want to continue reading this dream or should end this early because according to my plan ithis dream is going to be atleast 6 chapter long .
Did you enjoy the this chapter? Let me know in the comments! Your feedback fuels my writing and helps me craft the best story possible.
Stay tuned for more excitement in "Dreambound." We're just getting started!
Thanks for reading