"To grow stronger, one must often leave the familiar behind."
Nagato's POV
Two years had passed since my last major breakthrough, and the boy who once struggled to activate his magic circuits had grown into someone stronger, sharper, and far more prepared for what lay ahead. But these years were not without their trials or moments of reflection—some of them bittersweet.
Advancing Through School
By the age of eight, I had surpassed most of my peers academically. My accelerated progress drew praise from teachers and the admiration of some adults, but it also distanced me from other children. Their games and carefree laughter felt foreign, and my focus on academics and training only widened the gap.
Ms. Tanaka's POV
Nagato was a quiet boy when I first began teaching him. His intelligence was apparent even then, but it wasn't just his ability to learn—it was the way he applied what he learned. He would ask questions that went beyond the lesson, questions that made me pause and think. "Why does it work like this? Can it work another way?" I knew early on that he wouldn't stay in my class for long.
When the time came to move him into advanced classes, I was proud but also concerned. "Nagato," I said after class one day, "you're going to do amazing things, but don't forget to enjoy being a child."
He gave me that polite smile of his, but it didn't reach his eyes. "I'll try," he replied.
Mr. Fujimoto's POV
The first time I met Nagato, I thought he might struggle in an advanced class. He was so young, and the older students could be intimidating. But within a week, he proved me wrong. His ability to absorb and analyze information was remarkable, almost unsettling. He never boasted about his intelligence, but there was a quiet confidence in everything he did.
Still, I couldn't help but notice how the other students interacted with him—or rather, didn't. They respected him, even admired him, but they didn't include him. It was as if they sensed he was different, and that difference created a barrier.
Matron Kuroda's Worries
"He's a special boy," I said to Ayumi once before she left. "But I worry about him. He's so focused, so serious. He's missing out on the joys of being a child."
Ayumi had smiled, though there was sadness in her eyes. "Nagato's always been like that. But he cares, Ms. Kuroda. Even if he doesn't show it the way others do."
Now, watching him bury himself in books and training, I couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness. He was growing up too fast, and while I was proud of his achievements, I wished he could laugh and play like the other children.
Ayumi's Departure
Four months ago, Ayumi left the orphanage to pursue higher studies in the city. Her absence left a hollow ache that I hadn't expected. She had always been a steady presence—a sister in everything but blood. Losing her wasn't just losing a companion; it was a reminder of the fleeting nature of the bonds I cherished.
The night before her departure, we sat on the steps of the orphanage under a blanket of stars. "You'll be okay, Nagato," she said, her voice soft yet firm. "You're smarter and stronger than you think."
"I'll miss you," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper. There was so much more I wanted to say—how much she meant to me, how grateful I was—but the words stuck in my throat.
When the morning came, I stood in the shadows as she hugged the younger kids goodbye. I wanted to speak, but the weight of her leaving made it impossible. As the bus drove away, I made myself a promise: I would honor her belief in me by becoming someone worthy of her pride.
Watching her leave marked a turning point for me. The ache of her absence lingered, but it was coupled with a realization—I was now truly alone in my ambitions. The bonds I cherished were slipping away, and the world felt larger and more daunting. Yet, in that vastness, I saw opportunity. If Ayumi believed in my potential, I couldn't afford to falter.
Growth and Progress
By now, I had accumulated 96 charges from Inspired Inventor over eight years in this world. Of these, 38 had been spent, each unlocking a deeper level of understanding and capability:
Theory of Magecraft (4 charges) — A profound understanding of magical circuits, mana flow, and their interaction with the world. These charges allowed me to refine spells, improve efficiency, and integrate advanced concepts like origin and elemental alignment.
Presence Concealment (formerly Magical Concealment) (3 charges) — Initially focused on suppressing my magical aura, this evolved into a full stealth ability, masking my physical and magical presence entirely, ideal for avoiding detection.
Circuit Activation (2 charges) — Ensured smooth, efficient magical energy flow, reducing strain and discomfort while enabling sustained spellcasting.
Bounded Fields (3 charges) — Advanced to multifunctional fields for detection, reinforcement, and protection, making them versatile tools in both training and combat.
Magical Sensing (3 charges) — Sharpened my ability to detect and analyze magical fluctuations across a wide area, invaluable for anticipating threats.
Chakra Theory (4 charges) — Extended my understanding to chakra's interaction with elemental energies, spiritual forces, and its role in advanced techniques.
Chakra Control (4 charges) — Mastery over exercises like water walking and wall climbing, translating into refined stamina, strength, and energy efficiency.
Chakra Sensing (2 charges) — Enhanced my ability to distinguish chakra signatures, allowing deeper insights into strength and emotional states.
Academic Knowledge (1 charge) — Covered essential academic topics, providing a foundation for strategy and innovation in both magic and chakra applications.
Elemental Control
Fire (2 charges) — Progressed from basic to advanced fire chakra manipulation, enabling precise and powerful techniques.
Fire Jutsu (2 charges) — Practical fire jutsu mastery up to C-rank, including techniques like the Great Fireball Jutsu, refined for enhanced combat utility.
Rituals (2 charges) — Expertise in the symbolic significance of ritual materials, allowing precision in complex spellcasting setups.
Specific Rituals (2 charges) — Revealed my elemental alignment as Ether and facilitated attempts to uncover my origin, though the latter remained a mystery. While Ether is considered a "fake" version of the mythical True Ether, it is still far beyond the capabilities of an average magus. Its inherent properties made it significantly easier to actualize spells, granting them a physical, almost tangible quality. This unique advantage gave my magecraft a versatility and potency that set me apart, even at my current level.
Physical Enhancement
Reinforcement (Magecraft) (2 charges) — Amplified my strength, speed, and durability, placing me on the edge of F-rank servant stats.
Chakra Physical Enhancement (2 charges) — Boosted my stamina and regeneration, working in tandem with magecraft reinforcement.
Alchemy (2 charges) — Granted techniques like memory partition, thought acceleration, and basic transmutation, blending magic with practical science.
Hand Signs (2 charges) — Understanding the fundamental connections between hand seals and chakra manipulation, allowing smoother execution of jutsu and minimizing errors in combat.
Martial Arts Knowledge (4 charges) — With four charges invested in martial arts, I had gained a solid foundation blending Naruto's combat styles with modern tactics. Theoretical mastery over stances, strikes, and defensive maneuvers came naturally, but without sparring partners, the moves lacked fluidity and real-world adaptability. Practicing alone refined the basics, but true mastery demanded the unpredictability of live combat, something I still yearned to experience.
Every training session deepened my understanding but also intensified my internal conflict. Should I push further into magecraft, refining my bounded fields and alchemy to their highest potential? Or should I focus on chakra, an energy unrestricted by Gaia's limitations, offering versatility and possibilities that magecraft couldn't match?
The answer came to me in a moment of clarity during my training. Chakra had one undeniable advantage: the Shadow Clone Jutsu. This technique could create duplicates of myself, each capable of independent action. It wasn't just a tool for combat; its real strength lay in its ability to accelerate learning. Each clone could focus on a separate task, whether it was refining chakra control, experimenting with new jutsu, or practicing magecraft. When the clones dispersed, their experiences would return to me, a shortcut to mastery that no magecraft could replicate.
However, I hadn't attempted the jutsu until now. My body, while enhanced, wasn't developed enough to handle the strain of creating multiple clones, and my chakra reserves, though substantial, were nowhere near the massive amounts possessed by someone like Naruto. The feedback from the clones' memories also posed risks. A flood of fragmented experiences could overwhelm my mind, potentially causing disorientation or worse.
To mitigate this, I had invested a charge in memory partition through alchemy. It allowed me to compartmentalize and process the influx of memories more efficiently, reducing the strain on my consciousness. The preparation had been meticulous, and now the time had come to test its limits.
I took a deep breath, the weight of my choice settling over me. "Chakra it is," I murmured, determination hardening in my voice. The path ahead would still be long and grueling, but now I had a clear direction. My progress, though painstaking, laid the groundwork for something far greater. The horizon stretched endlessly before me, and I resolved to face it head-on.