"This is so much better with the herbs," Konan said with a mouthful of food. "It's like we're having a feast."
I nodded, smiling at her enthusiasm. "Glad you like it," I said, taking a bite of the simple yet flavorful dish. The warmth of the food and the fire was a welcome relief from the relentless rain outside.
As we ate, the storm grew in intensity, the wind howling and the rain beating against the windows. The house groaned and creaked, but it held firm against the onslaught. Ame curled up between us, purring contentedly, adding to the sense of serenity in our little corner of the world.
"You know," I said, breaking the comfortable silence, "This isn't so bad."
Konan looked at me, a spark of surprise in her eyes. "Really?" she asked, the doubt clear in her voice.
"Yeah," I said, nodding. "We're together, we're safe, and we're eating a good meal. What more could we ask for?"
Konan considered this, then nodded in agreement. "You're right," she said, a small smile playing on her lips. "It's not so bad."
We sat there for a while longer, listening to the storm outside. It was strange how something so simple as a warm meal and company could make such a stark difference in our circumstances.
"Do you have any family, Haruto?" she asked, her voice soft.
The question took me by surprise. "No, I don't remember having any," I said, truthfully.
Her eyes searched my face, looking for a sign of pain or loss, but I felt none. "What about you?" I asked, shifting the focus.
Konan's smile faded a bit, "I had a family once," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "But they're gone now."
"Hey, I'm here remember?" I said, trying to cheer her up. "And Ame too," I nodded at the kitten, who was now fast asleep beside the fire.
Konan gave a small, sad smile, "Yes, you're right," she said, her eyes focusing on the flickering flames.
We sat in silence for a while longer, the storm outside seemingly mirroring the tumultuous emotions we both felt. The rain had become a soothing white noise, a reminder of the world beyond our temporary sanctuary.
"What do you think we should do next?" Konan finally asked, her voice barely above the din of the storm.
"I think I'll train started tomorrow" I said, "What do you think?"
Konan looked up at me, the firelight playing across her features, "Train?" she echoed.
"Yeah," I said, a determined look in my eyes. "We can't just sit around here forever. We need to learn how to survive in this world, and that means getting stronger."
Konan nodded thoughtfully, "But I don't know much about being a ninja," she admitted. "I've only read about it in books."
"Yeah, me too." I said, a small smile playing on my lips.
But I've watched a certain anime that, What you just need is, eat a lot of meat and then train the body and you'll get strong, right?
Can that principle do work here? Well, just try it then.
The storm outside seemed to sense our resolve, its ferocity increasing as if to challenge us. The house shuddered under the onslaught, but the fire remained steadfast, casting flickering shadows on our faces as we made our plans.
"Well, let's sleep first," I suggested, standing up and stretching. "We'll start fresh tomorrow."
Konan nodded, her eyes heavy with fatigue. "That sounds good," she agreed.
We cleared the dishes and I made sure the fire was low but steady, before we turned in for the night. The floor was hard, but the warmth of the fire and the makeshift blankets we had found made it bearable. Ame curled up between us, her gentle purrs a comforting lullaby.
"Goodnight, Haruto," Konan murmured, her eyes already half-closed.
"Goodnight," I said, lying down beside her. The rain was now a gentle lullaby outside, the storm having passed its peak. I listened to the soothing sounds, feeling a sense of peace wash over me.
As we lay there, the warmth of the fire and the fullness of our stomachs made sleep come quickly. But even as I drifted off, my mind raced with thoughts of the world outside, the mysteries of my new abilities, and the girl beside me who had become so important in such a short time.
It's plot, isn't? If it is, then there's an author outside there who put me into this situation.
With such wild thoughts in my head, I fell asleep.
---|||---
When morning arrived, the storm had passed, leaving behind a damp chill. The sun was a weak, watery disc in the sky, but it was enough to cast a glimmer of hope on the sodden landscape. We awoke to find Ame curled up in a ball of fluff, her eyes closed in contentment.
"Alright," I said, stretching my arms, "today we start training."
*Hungry stomach noises*
"Well, breakfast first," I murmured, my stomach reminding me of our priorities. We had a good laugh about it, and I teach her how to make a fried rice with the ingredients we had. It wasn't perfect, but it was definitely edible and a step up from our usual meals.
After breakfast, we set into the empty room that large enough to be a training ground. I explained to her the basics training like, Push up, sit up, and running. She looked at me with a serious expression, eager to learn. I couldn't help but smile at her determination.
"Okay, let's start with some simple exercises," I began, demonstrating the movements. "These will help us build strength and endurance."
Konan watched attentively, then attempted the push-ups and sit-ups, her form a bit wobbly at first. Despite her initial struggles, she pushed herself, her brows furrowed in concentration. I offered her encouragement and guidance, occasionally demonstrating the correct posture and technique. Her determination was inspiring, and I found myself pushing harder alongside her.
After a grueling hour of basic training, we took a short break, both of us panting and sweating. Ame looked at us curiously from her spot by the fireplace, as if questioning our strange behavior.
---|||---
"How do you feel?" I asked, handing her a cup of water.
"Tired," she admitted, taking a sip. "But also... stronger."
"What? We've been doing this for the first time and you're already feeling stronger?" I said, teasing her with a smile.
Konan stuck her tongue out at me, her cheeks flushed from the exertion. "I'll show you," she said, and then proceeded to do a few more push-ups, albeit with a bit of a wobble.
I chuckled, "Alright, let's not push it too much for today. We'll build up our strength gradually."
After the training, We spent the rest of the morning exploring the village more thoroughly, collecting more supplies and getting a better sense of the area. We found nothing good, but it's okay, it's good for our training too.
In the afternoon, we decided to take a break and sit outside the house. It's still raining though.
"Let's take a rest," I suggested, wiping the sweat from my brow. "We've been working hard."
Konan nodded, her cheeks rosy from the exertion. We sat down on the porch, watching the rain patter down on the ground. It was a strange sight, seeing the rain dance in the light of the sun that had finally pierced through the clouds.
"It's beautiful," she said softly, her eyes never leaving the rain.
"Yeah," I agreed, feeling a strange sense of tranquility wash over me. "It's like the world's way of saying, 'Take a break, you two.'"
Or is it the author?
"...."
---|||---
We sat in companionable silence, listening to the rhythm of the rain and watching as it transformed the muddy streets into a canvas of rippling puddles. Above us, the sky was a tumultuous mix of grey and blue, the sun a fleeting guest trying to make its presence known.
We are in the middle practicing chakra control.
"Can you feel your chakra?" I asked, sitting cross-legged beside her.
Konan nodded, her eyes closed as she focused. I had started to teach her the basics of chakra control, hoping it would help us both in the long run.
Of course, I'm trying to feel my chakra, but it's like trying to grab a handful of smoke.
I nodded, understanding her struggle. "It takes time," I said. "But with practice, you'll get it."
As we sat there, I couldn't help but think about the vast differences between our worlds. In my original world, the concept of chakra was fantasy, In Hinduism as far as I remember, there's such thing like chakra too. But here, it was as real as the rain that still fell around us, soaking into the fabric of our clothes.
"How does it feel?" I asked her, breaking the silence.
"Strange," she replied, her eyes still closed. "It's like flames dancing under my skin."
"That's chakra for you," I said with a nod.
And here I'm, still trying to feel it.
We continued to sit in silence, the rain's rhythm syncing with our breaths. It was as if the world had slowed down just for us, giving us a brief moment of peace in the chaos.
"...."
I feel it, the chakra, It's like a blue flame flickering in my chest.
We sat there, both of us feeling the strange energy within us, trying to understand and harness it. The rain had started to slow to a gentle drizzle, the world seemingly giving us its blessing for our efforts.
"Let's stop for now," I suggested after a while, noticing her concentration waning. "We don't want to push ourselves too hard on the first day."
Konan nodded, opening her eyes and letting out a deep breath. "Thank you, Haruto."
"Don't mention it," I said, standing up and offering her a hand. "Now, let's get inside before we catch a cold."
Her cheeks were flushed, but she took my hand and allowed me to help her up. We retreated back into the house, the warmth enveloping us like a comforting blanket. Ame followed, jumping onto the blanket and curling up again.
---|||---
For dinner, we cook a lot of rice and a lot canned meat with the vegetables of course. It's really much, and we eat like it's the last meal we'll ever have. Afterward, we sit by the fire, the flames casting a warm glow on our faces as we discuss our plans for tomorrow.
Basic training and practice chakra control will be our routine for the next few days. We made progress, with Konan getting better at controlling her chakra and me getting more comfortable with my inventory abilities. I found that I could manipulate the items within it with more precision and on certain range, which would be useful in combat situations. I also discovered that my inventory and duplication ability was limited to inanimate objects. I copied Ame, our little furry companion, out of curiosity, but nothing happens. I just can't store and copy living things.
The option delete in my inventory was really good too, I can delete something that I don't need and not just like that, the things that I deleted will move to the recycle bin, yes it's recycle bin.
It's like, I have double Inventory with the limit that I don't even know.
---|||---
The following days passed in a blur of training and discovery. Each morning, we'd wake up to the sound of the rain, a constant reminder of the world outside waiting for us. We'd start with the basic exercises, our muscles protesting at first but growing stronger with each repetition.
"Come on, you can do it," I'd encourage, as Konan struggled through push-ups and sit-ups. Her progress was visible, and her determination never wavered. She'd smile up at me, her eyes sparkling with effort, and I couldn't help but feel a swell of pride.
As the days turned into a week, the village began to feel less like a desolate wasteland and more like a home. We had turned one of the rooms into a makeshift dojo, with a few weapons we found scattered around.
With Konan's help, I also trained my observation haki, of course I don't know that it will works or not, but I still try to mimic it from the anime. She watched with interest as I closed my eyes and focused, while she trying to hit me with a stick. It's surprisingly harder than it looks, but with each failed attempt, I felt myself getting more attuned to the presence around me.
"You're getting better," she said with a smile, holding out the stick for me to try again.
"Thanks," I replied, taking a deep breath and focusing. This time, I managed to sense her presence a split second before she swung the stick, allowing me to dodge it with ease.
"Wow, you really are getting better," she exclaimed, her eyes wide with amazement.
"Practice makes perfect," I said with a grin, wiping the sweat from my forehead. "But it's just a few Dodges from hundreds hit, I still need to improve."
Konan nodded, her eyes still bright with excitement. "We'll keep working on it," she assured me.
We spent the next few hours in the makeshift dojo, pushing ourselves to our limits. My body ached, but the pain was a familiar friend, a sign that I was growing stronger. As the light outside began to fade, we called it a day and retreated to the warmth of the fireplace.
---|||---
"How about we take a bath?" I suggested, looking at the tub we had found in one of the houses. We had filled it with water in the pot earlier, heating it with a small fire underneath.
Konan looked at me with surprise, "A bath? Now?"
"Yeah, we've been training hard," I said, stretching my sore muscles. "We deserve it."
Konan hesitated for a moment before nodding, a hint of excitement in her eyes. We gathered clean clothes and made our way to the small bathing area we had set up. The water was steaming, and the warmth was already filling the room.
"I'll go first," she said, her cheeks a light shade of pink.
"Alright," I agreed, turning my back to give her privacy. "Just call me when you're done."
While she bathed, I tended to the fire and made sure the house was secure for the night. Ame was curled up in her usual spot, watching me with sleepy eyes. I couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment wash over me as I listened to the sound of the water and the crackling of the fire.
When it was my turn, the water was still warm, the scent of the herbs we had added earlier lingering in the steam. I sank into the tub with a sigh, feeling the tension in my muscles melt away. It was a simple pleasure, but one that felt luxurious in our current circumstances.
"How's the water?" she called out from the other room.
"It's perfect," I called back, closing my eyes and letting the warmth seep into my bones. The rain outside still pouring but it's just a background music now. We've grown accustomed to it.
When I emerged from the bath, feeling clean and rejuvenated, I found Konan sitting by the fire, her hair damp and her skin glowing from the heat. She had made tea using the herbs we had found, the steam rising to mingle with the smoke from the fire.
"You'll have to dry your hair," I said, handing her a towel. "You don't want to catch a cold, do you?"
Konan took the towel with a nod, wrapping it around her shoulders. "Thanks," she murmured, her eyes never leaving the flickering flames.
We sat there, sipping our tea in companionable silence, the warmth of the fire seeping into our very souls. Ame had curled up on the rug, her purrs a gentle reminder of the comfort of our little heaven.
"You know, Haruto," Konan said, her eyes reflecting the flames, "I never thought I'd find something like this in a place like this."
I looked at her, knowing she wasn't just talking about the fire. "What do you mean?"
"I mean... us," she said, gesturing between us. "A home, a purpose... a friend."
Her words resonated deep within me. This strange world had thrown us together, but we had created something beautiful amidst the ruins. "Yeah," I said, my voice low. "It's not so bad."
Yeah, how mature, when I was her age, I don't even really know the meaning of some words.
"...."
We sat for a while longer, sipping our tea, lost in our thoughts. The warmth of the fire and the sound of the rain outside created a comforting cocoon around us. It was moments like these that made me feel a strange sense of belonging, despite the chaos of our situation.
"We should get some rest," I finally said, standing up and stretching. "Tomorrow's another day of training."
Konan nodded, her eyes still on the fire. "Goodnight, Haruto."
"Goodnight," I said, my voice warm.
We cleaned up and headed to our makeshift beds, our muscles aching but our spirits high. As we lay down, Ame curled up between us again, a warm and reassuring presence.
Maybe because I was tired, I fell asleep almost immediately, my dreams filled with images of flaming blue chakra, it's really cool.
---|||---
When I awoke, it was to the sound of rain on the rooftop. I stretched and sat up, looking around the room. It was still early. The fire had burned down to embers, casting a dull glow across the room. Ame was gone, probably off exploring again.
"Konan," I called out softly, "You up?"
Her eyes fluttered open, and she sat up, yawning. "Yeah," she said, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. "What's the plan for today?"
"More training," I said with a determined look. "We need to get stronger, faster."
"But... like always, breakfast first," I added with a smirk. Before my stomach reminds me.
Konan chuckled, "You and your stomach," she teased.
I shrugged, "Can't argue with biology," I said.
We set to work, preparing a simple breakfast of porridge and berries we had found the day before. It was filling and warm, perfect for the chilly morning.
After breakfast, we headed into our training room with renewed vigor. The floorboards were slick with condensation from the rain outside, but we ignored the dampness as we started our warm-up. I led her through a series of stretches and basic training exercises, pushing ourselves to improve our strength and endurance.
As we trained, I noticed that her movements were becoming more fluid, her body adapting to the newfound routine. I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride in her progress. Her determination was unyielding, and she never complained, even when her muscles screamed for rest.
We practiced chakra control, with me trying to teach her everything I knew from the anime, which wasn't much. But she picked it up quickly, her focus unwavering as she manipulated the chakra within her. It was fascinating to see the blue flames dance around her fingertips.
"You're a natural," I said, watching her in amazement.
She smile at me, a little proud of herself, "Thanks to you," she said, her cheeks slightly red.
After a few hours of intense training, we took a short break. We sat on the floor of our makeshift dojo, both of us breathing heavily. The smell of sweat filled the air, a testament to our efforts.
"You have dodged my hit for twenty times straight," she said, her eyes sparkling with admiration. "Your training on observation haki is getting better."
"Thanks," I replied, panting slightly. "It's all thanks to you."
We continued our training, pushing each other to our limits. Each day, our bond grew stronger, and so did our body. We were no longer strangers but comrades, fighting against the harsh Land of Rain together.