You know how some kids get a cake and a few presents for their second birthday? Yeah, well, in the Inuzuka clan, we do things a little differently. My second birthday came with a side of "here's your first deadly weapon, kiddo!"
The whole clan had gathered in our backyard. The air was thick with the smell of grilled meat and anticipation. I sat on a cushion in the center, Akamaru fidgeting beside me, both of us decked out in formal kimonos that were probably going to be ruined by the end of the day.
Tsume stepped forward, and the crowd hushed. In her hands was a small wooden box, intricately carved with the Inuzuka clan symbol.
"Kiba," she began, her voice carrying across the yard. "Today marks the beginning of your journey as a shinobi of the Inuzuka clan."
Oh boy, here we go. I tried to look appropriately solemn and not at all like I was internally screaming about the absurdity of giving a toddler a weapon.
Tsume continued, "Our clan's strength lies not just in our own abilities, but in our partnership with our ninken. Today, you receive two gifts - your first kunai, and the official recognition of Akamaru as your partner."
She opened the box, revealing a gleaming kunai nestled in red silk. "This kunai represents our clan's pride, our strength, and our duty to Konoha. It is a tool of protection and, when necessary, of war. Use it wisely, train with it diligently, and may it serve you well in the years to come."
As she held out the box to me, I hesitated. In my past life, the closest I'd come to handling a weapon was a butter knife. Now I was expected to wield something that could actually, you know, kill people.
With a deep breath, I reached out and grasped the kunai. It was heavier than I expected, the metal cool against my palm. As I lifted it, memories flooded my mind - countless anime scenes of ninja flinging these things around like confetti, the glint of metal in moonlight, the thud of a blade embedding itself in flesh.
I must have zoned out because suddenly Tsume was kneeling in front of me, her hand on my shoulder. "You okay, pup?" she asked softly.
I nodded, forcing a smile. "It's pretty," I said, running a finger along the flat of the blade.
A low whine drew my attention. Akamaru was staring at the kunai, his ears flat against his head. Oh, buddy. Was he jealous of an inanimate object?
I set the kunai down and pulled Akamaru into my lap. "Don't worry," I whispered, scratching behind his ears. "You're still my number one partner."
His tail wagged tentatively, and he licked my chin. Crisis averted.
The ceremony continued, with clan members coming up to offer congratulations and advice. I nodded and smiled, playing the part of the excited toddler while my mind raced with the implications of what this day really meant.
Finally, as the party wound down, Tsume pulled me aside. "Ready for your first official lesson, pup?"
I nodded eagerly. This was it - the moment I'd been both anticipating and dreading.
We moved to a quiet corner of the yard. Tsume knelt in front of me, holding out her hands palms up. "Watch closely," she said. A soft blue glow emanated from her palms. "This is chakra. The energy that flows through all living things, but which we shinobi learn to harness."
I stared, fascinated despite myself. It was one thing to feel chakra, to manipulate it in secret. It was another to see it so openly displayed, to have it acknowledged as a tangible, usable force.
"Now you try," Tsume instructed. "Focus on the energy within you. Imagine drawing it out, like water from a well."
I closed my eyes, pretending to concentrate hard. In reality, I was trying to figure out how to make this look believable. I'd been molding chakra for months in secret. How did I make it seem like a new, difficult task?
After a few moments of furrowed brow and exaggerated breathing, I let a tiny trickle of chakra flow to my palms. Not enough to be visible, but enough that Tsume would sense it.
"Good!" she encouraged. "That's it. Now try to bring it to the surface."
I made a show of straining, gritting my teeth. Then, with a gasp, I released a burst of chakra. My palms glowed blue, the energy swirling visibly.
Tsume's eyes widened. "Kiba! That's... that's incredible for a first try!"
I beamed up at her, playing the part of the surprised prodigy. "Did I do good, Mom?"
She ruffled my hair, pride shining in her eyes. "You did amazing, pup. Absolutely amazing."
As we headed back inside, Akamaru trotting at our heels, I couldn't help but reflect on the past two years. I'd gone from a confused, reincarnated soul to... well, still confused, but now with added ninja powers. Talk about a career change.
The mess ahead was long and, if my knowledge of the future held true, incredibly dangerous. There would be wars, invasions, godlike beings trying to enslave humanity. You know, typical Tuesday stuff in the ninja world.
Part of me was excited. I mean, who wouldn't be thrilled at the prospect of learning to shoot fireballs and walk on water? But another part, the part that remembered being a normal guy in a world where the biggest danger was forgetting to file your taxes, was terrified.
But first, I had to survive growing up in a world where giving toddlers weapons was considered a normal birthday tradition.
One step at a time, Kiba. One step at a time.