When Kaiden and Zack arrived in front of Kaiden's house, the atmosphere was still comfortably silent, though heavy. Zack knew that Kaiden needed time to process everything, so he decided not to pressure him with more questions or advice.
As soon as they stepped into the entrance, an animated voice broke the silence.
Boy (running joyfully): "Bro, you're back!"
A child, appearing to be around six years old, ran towards Kaiden with outstretched arms, ready to hug him. His face radiated happiness, but the expression quickly changed as he noticed the bruises on Kaiden's arms.
Boy (stopping abruptly, eyes wide): "What happened to you, bro? Your arms..."
Seeing the concern in his little brother's gaze, Kaiden tried to smile to reassure him. The last thing he wanted was to frighten the child. He knelt down to be at his height, placing a loving hand on his head, gently tousling his hair.
Kaiden (with a forced smile): "It's nothing, little buddy. Just some tough training today, you know how it is, right? Some days, we just push ourselves harder."
The boy furrowed his brow, clearly unconvinced, but he didn't press the issue. He carefully held Kaiden's hand, as if afraid of hurting him further, and looked at Zack.
Boy (in a serious tone): "You were with him, right? Why did you let my brother get hurt like this?"
Zack was surprised by the firmness in the child's voice and smiled, kneeling down beside Kaiden.
Zack (gently): "Your brother is very strong, you know? He held his ground and did an incredible job today. Those bruises are because he's becoming even more amazing to protect you and everyone else."
The boy seemed to consider Zack's words for a moment before offering a small smile.
Boy: "So you're getting stronger, bro?"
Kaiden looked at his little brother, and for the first time since the fight with Hiroshi, he felt the weight on his chest lift a little. He realized he couldn't let himself be shaken, as he was an example to that little being who admired him so much.
Kaiden (with more confidence): "That's right. I'm getting stronger, for you and for me."
The boy finally smiled, hugging Kaiden carefully. Zack watched the scene with a light smile, knowing that despite everything, Kaiden had something precious in his life that gave him strength to move forward.
Zack (thinking to himself): "He's going to be alright. He has more courage than he realizes."
As Zack entered his room, he sighed deeply. It was a rare moment of silence and solitude, something he valued, especially considering the intense interactions and conflicts of the past few days. He took out his notebook from the drawer and sat down at his desk. This notebook was his silent confidant, where he organized his thoughts, strategies, and observations about the world around him.
Opening the notebook, he revisited the most recent entries, which had been written with care but also with a sense of urgency.
Notes in the notebook:
About the clans:
Each clan has a specialization in a specific area. From the stories of Konoha, there's mutual support among the clans and the village. The clans contribute something significant to the village, while the village offers: [Jutsus; Equipment; Proper training]. Access to the smaller clans seems difficult, especially considering the two-year time limit. Decision: I will postpone any plans related to the smaller clans. Regardless of what Haruto has entrusted to me, my focus should be on strengthening my personal power to gain enough leverage.
Strategy:
Prioritize the development of my power. Create a solid foundation for negotiations. Establish a reliable information network.
Pending questions:
Nagato: I searched various books, but found no information related to this name. Who is Nagato? What does he want with Naruto? Is there a connection between Nagato and the monster sealed in Naruto, mentioned in some stories? Recent considerations: Nagato is someone whose name seems to be highly confidential, with very limited access in the library. When I tried asking people about him, no one knew that name. It suggests that it is not a publicly known name. Could it be a nickname? Investigate this later.
Zack read each line attentively, his eyes fixating on the last section. The name "Nagato" seemed to resonate in his mind, laden with mystery. He knew there was more behind this name than met the eye, but the pieces of the puzzle were still scattered.
Zack (thinking): "I need more information... but I can't neglect my own training. If I go after this unprepared, I might get involved in something I can't handle."
Closing the notebook, Zack decided that his next step would be to train intensively the following day.
Zack (murmuring to himself): "Everything in its own time. First, I strengthen myself. Then, I'll find out who Nagato is."
After reviewing his detailed notes, Zack put the notebook back in his special drawer. He had created a simple but effective device to protect his notes: a small container with water positioned precariously. If the drawer was opened incorrectly, the device would trigger, spilling water over the notebook.
He had used ink that smudged easily upon contact with liquids, ensuring that if his notes fell into the wrong hands, they couldn't be read. Zack knew that the information he was gathering was too sensitive to risk.
As he carefully locked the drawer, his fatherly words of caution echoed in his mind: "Never trust anyone blindly, Zack. Especially those who show too much to you. The world is full of people who will use your emotions against you."
Zack looked toward the window, where the shadows of night began to fall over the village. He knew Haruto was trustworthy in many respects, but he had learned over time that fully trusting someone could be a fatal mistake. This precaution was part of who he was and what he needed to be to survive in a world where intentions were often masked.
Zack approached the window, where the soft light of the moon illuminated the space gently. He sat in a lotus position, crossing his legs and straightening his posture. Closing his eyes for a moment, he took a deep breath and began to murmur to himself, revisiting his observations and conclusions:
"Let's review what I've learned... I think I have a good foundation, but there are still pending issues. From what I've gathered, when we talk about chakra, we can divide it into three main aspects: quantity, quality of manipulation, and elemental affinity. These three factors seem to be the fundamental pillars that define a person's ability to use chakra."
He paused, organizing his thoughts, and continued:
"A person can specialize in techniques that require more or less of each of these attributes. For example, genjutsu requires great control of chakra but not necessarily a large quantity. On the other hand, kenjutsu also requires control but follows divergent paths regarding how chakra is directed through the body. This means that someone skilled in genjutsu may not be equally good at kenjutsu."
Zack took a deep breath before continuing:
"Increasing the quantity and control of chakra is possible through training and continuous use. However, from what the books say, this doesn't seem to be as effective as naturally possessing a body with a high capacity for absorbing external chakra. Perhaps combining the two approaches is ideal, but I still need more data to confirm that."
Opening his eyes, he contemplated the starry sky, allowing his thoughts to flow:
"The control of chakra is conducted through the body's meridians, and the way it is manipulated can generate varied effects. It's fascinating how this energy can be used in such diverse ways, depending on the user's abilities."
He lightly touched the table beside him as if holding an imaginary paper.
"As for elemental affinity, that is something innate. It determines the efficiency with which the user extracts and manipulates a specific nature of chakra from the environment. The affinity test... that's really intriguing. From what I've read, it uses a special paper that reacts to the user's chakra, revealing their predominant nature. I need to take that test to get a clearer view of my own capabilities."
Zack remained seated, absorbing each idea as he reflected on his discoveries. The determination to better understand his own potential and the complexities of chakra shone in his eyes.
"My innate chakra control is very low," Zack murmured to himself, frowning slightly. "I'll need to deduce a new path to assist me in that aspect. I'll probably have to modify the system used by everyone, which will be extremely hard not to mess up. Now, imagine if, besides not messing up, it becomes a beneficial system..."
He took a deep breath, contemplating the possibilities and risks. "Another alternative would be to create a jutsu that benefits me and saves me time in this area. There are accounts of ninjas who managed to do something like that. The Third and Fourth Hokage are examples. Of course, they had a good starting point with superior natural skills and conditions, but still, they are models of inspiration."
Zack stood up, stretching his arms and looking at the moon with determination. "Given all this, I'll have to focus, for now, on my physical conditioning and improving my fighting techniques. If I manage to build a solid foundation in hand-to-hand combat and my endurance, I can gain the time needed to refine these more complex ideas. Every advance, no matter how small, could be the difference between success and failure."
He gave a faint smile, recognizing the challenge but also feeling a spark of excitement. "It won't be easy, but no worthwhile journey ever is. Everything begins with the next step, and mine will be to strengthen what I already have while looking for a way to overcome what I lack."
With that, Zack closed his eyes again, revisiting in his mind the exercises and training he needed to implement. Every movement, every effort, was a step toward becoming stronger and, above all, more prepared for the challenges that were surely to come.
Zack slowly stood up, determined. He walked over to the closet, grabbed some more comfortable and flexible clothes, ideal for training. Dressing, he reflected on what his body could truly withstand. He knew he couldn't overdo it, but he also needed to challenge his limits.
"I need a simple and direct plan. Something that makes my body stronger and helps me endure a fight longer. There's no point in being fast if I tire halfway through," he thought as he tied his shoes.
He sat on the edge of the bed for a moment, organizing his ideas:
Running for endurance and speed: "I'll start with a run, maybe about 5 kilometers at a pace I can maintain. After that, I'll do some short, quick sprints to train my bursts. This way, my body gets used to constant effort and quick explosions."
Basic strength exercises: "I need to strengthen my arms, legs, and core. I can do push-ups, pull-ups, and squats. Push-ups will help with punches, pull-ups will build strength to hold onto things or escape. Squats will make my legs stronger for kicks and running. I think I can manage three sets of fifteen without dying."
Training for strong and fast strikes: "Maybe jumping onto something high, like a box or a rock in the yard. That should help me become more agile and add more power to my attacks. I can also grab some stones and throw them to train my arm strength."
Agility and reflex training: "I need to improve my reaction time. I can hang something that swings and try to hit it with strikes, or evade. That helps me get faster and also to think about the movement before I act."
Stretching and breathing: "At the end, I'll do some stretching to prevent my body from tightening up. Oh, and I need to learn to control my breathing better. They say it helps you stay calm and not tire as quickly."
Zack took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the plan he had just created. He knew it wouldn't be easy, but he was confident that each step was important.
"It may not be the most advanced training in the world, but it's what I can do right now. I'll start slow and improve over time. There's no point in wanting everything at once."
With renewed determination, Zack stood up, ready to face the first day of his training regimen. The soft light of the moon and the silence of the night would be his only companions.