Akiko asked, "HUH! How did you get here first, Shin?".
"Well I just ran with full power this time", replied an exhausted Shin while trying to keep himself from laughing out loud.
One minute later, Hiro arrived at the finish line as well.
He was huffing and puffing as if going through an ordeal.
Before Akiko could ask, Shin inquired with a smug face, "Hey, what took you so long?, I already completed a while ago".
"No fair, some kids shot a ball at me and I almost fell. Let me race you again". Hiro protested.
"No, I can't. I'm too exhausted".
"Please. Just one more time".
"No"
"One more"
"No"
"Alright, Alright settle down Hiro"
Akiko tried to calm down his overcharged brother. "Shin won fair and square. You can race him again tomorrow".
Seeing overcast look in his brother's eyes, Akiko relented. "Alright, tell you what I'll race you this time".
"Yay"
After winning a race against his elder brother, Hiro seemed to calm down a little bit.
Removing the sweat from his brow, Akiko raised his hand and pointed at Shin.
"Alright, you had enough rest. Now do some exercise".
"Okay".
Akiko and Hiro moved on to playing with the other kids in the playground.
'It's my first day, so I should take it a bit easy'.
Shin did some stretching exercises at first and then moved on to strength exercises, attempting push-ups. But after barely completing three, he collapsed face-first onto the ground, as if he were bowing to the playground itself.
With a newfound determination, Shin decided to tackle squats next. He managed one set with a grand total of three reps, each squat accompanied by a wobbly struggle for balance.
Feeling a burst of inspiration, he eyed the swings, deeming them perfect for pull-ups. He hoisted himself up with great effort, managing a measly two reps before his grip gave way, sending him flying in an arc through the air before landing in a heap on the ground.
Unfazed by his series of misadventures, Shin rounded off his workout with sit-ups. He managed to complete five reps, each one accompanied by exaggerated grunts and facial contortions that would put even the most seasoned ninja to shame.
Taking his well-deserved two-minute breaks between each exercise, Shin looked like a warrior in training, but his weary expressions and wobbly movements added a touch of humor.
After the grueling session, Shin decided to do another run around the playground, hoping to prove his resilience. However, his legs had other ideas. As he stumbled across the finish line, he collapsed onto a nearby park bench, gasping for air like a fish out of water.
Between breaths, Shin managed to mutter, "I... can't... feel... my legs".
After catching his breath he spread his arms on the bench, "Damn it, I still can`t feel any chakra in my body".
"I have to keep at it for a few days. If this exercise doesn't work, then I will consult some ninja for this problem" he paused for a second.
'But, that is its own issue. I have to contact a preferably close character. Any normal ninja would think it weird that a 3-year-old tyke is asking how to unlock chakra. Normally, kids who join the academy exams at age six can get their chakra unlocked by an actual ninja from the village'.
'Ah! If I need to, then I can go consult that doctor, Dr. Harumi was it. Or maybe I can just try to ask some other prominent ninjas from the Naruto anime. The Sannins Jiraiya and Orochimaru should still be inside the village, Minato, and Third Hokage Hiruzen, but I can't just go ask them about such a pedestrian problem. There might be suspicion cast on me if I do this.
Shin concluded, 'Hmm, but that is a problem for a later time'.
Regaining his focus, he reassured himself, "Right now, I need to concentrate on building stamina and strength. Even if my chakra remains unlocked, the training won't go to waste."
Shin focused on doing 1 set of each exercise again. This time increase their reps by two for every exercise. He finished with another two laps around the playground.
Feeling extremely exhausted, he fell to the ground instead of the bench. After huffing and puffing for a few minutes he calmed his breathing and focused on doing meditation in the same laid back position. Although the environment wasn't suitable for meditation with the kids making noise every which way, he tried to focus and clear his mind.
After muttering "Omm.....Ommm....Ommm" for a few minutes. he got tired of it as well and sat on the bench.
He watched Akiko and Hiro playing tag with the other kids.
"Ah! Childhood. No worries and no regrets. I wish I could remember it so fondly as they will", Shin sighed
In an attempt to clear his mind, Shin decided to take another lap around the playground. However, halfway through, exhaustion caught up with him, and he plopped down on a nearby park bench, sweat dripping down his face.
As he recovered his breath for five minutes, he saw Akiko and Hiro walking towards him.
"What's up? Did you finish playing?" Shin managed to ask, his voice laced with fatigue.
Hiro responded quickly before Akiko could start, "Yeah, we played football and then fought Gekko and Takeshi. Big Brother was so strong. He beat both of them and then even let me kick..."
"Hiro, at least let me answer one time" Akiko barked.
"Oh sorry. Aki. Okay, you can explain it this time" With half his tongue out, Hiro apologised.
"What`s there to explain? You finished almost all of it." Akiko replied in a rage.
"No, no there are some parts which I didn't tell. Like how you told Gekko that he was a flabby Dango ball, like we should just play with him instead of the football, and when Takeshi walked forward and challenged you. How you beat him with the stick. See.. you could tell Shin this part. With a proud smile, Hiro replied.
"You...."
Shin made a prayer for Hiro in his heart and then blew towards him.
"Why are you blowing air towards me, Shin"
"Is there something you're trying to tell me" With an innocent face, Hiro ignored the steam coming from behind.
"Hiro... you Idiot. you did it again" a deep monstrous voice sounded.
Hiro looked back and tried to dodge but was immediately caught in the hands of a monster.
"Wait... Wait. Aki calm down".
With an unrelenting force, Aki forced Hiro down and ordered Shin, "Shin bring me that branch"
Shin picked up the branch,
"Sorry Hiro, I`ll pray for you" Shin spoke mournfully.
Many screams were heard throughout the playground that day.
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Author Note:
Please share your thoughts in the comments or reviews.
Thankyou very much dunkinB and auceptin for power stones.