Chapter One: The Spark Of Rejection
The morning sun bathed the Hidden Leaf Village orphanage in a gentle warmth. The children were full of energy, their laughter filling the air as they played in the courtyard. Riku Kurozawa, however, sat in a corner, watching the others without participating. He had always been this way—quiet, distant, observing rather than joining in.
Riku wasn't rude or mean. He helped when asked, and he rarely caused trouble. Yet, he never formed connections. No one tried to get close to him either, and he preferred it that way. There was no point in forming bonds when they would only lead to disappointment.
Riku didn't fully understand why he had been reborn in this world. He could recall fragments of a past life—a life where he had made mistakes, where emotions had been his downfall. The memories had faded over time, but the lesson remained: feelings were dangerous. They led to pain, betrayal, and loss.
So, Riku kept his distance. He avoided trouble, stayed out of others' ways, and blended into the background. It was a life that required little effort, and for the most part, it was enough.
But today, things would change.
---
"Today is the day we announce who will join the ninja academy," Nono said with a warm smile, entering the room.
The children cheered at the news, their excitement palpable. Becoming a shinobi was the dream of every child in the orphanage, a chance to protect their village, to be strong. They gathered eagerly, hoping their names would be called. Riku stayed at the back, his face as calm as ever. He had no particular desire to become a shinobi, but he would accept whatever decision Nono made.
Nono's voice rang out as she began to read the names from a list. Each one brought a cheer from the children, but Riku's name wasn't called.
As the list came to an end, Nono folded the paper and smiled at the children. "Congratulations to those who will begin their training. The academy is a big step, and I'm proud of all of you."
Riku stood up and walked forward, his footsteps quiet. The room fell silent as he spoke, his voice calm and collected as always. "Nono-sama, my name wasn't on the list."
Nono's gaze softened. She regarded him with kind eyes, but there was something else there, something Riku couldn't quite place. "Riku," she said gently, "you're a good boy. But… I don't think you're ready for the academy. Shinobi training is difficult, and it requires a strong spirit. You're smart, but you're quiet, and I'm not sure you're suited for this path."
Her words hung heavily in the air. They weren't cruel, but they stung nonetheless.
"I understand," Riku said simply. He didn't argue, didn't complain. He just turned and walked away, his expression as unreadable as ever. He left the room without a word.
---
Later that evening, the children gathered for dinner, their chatter filling the orphanage's dining hall. Riku sat at his usual spot, his mind distant. He ate slowly, lost in his thoughts.
His name hadn't been called for the academy, and though it wasn't the first time he had been rejected, it felt different this time. He couldn't shake the sense of unease that lingered in his chest.
What was he supposed to do now? He wasn't a shinobi. He wasn't special. What was his place in this world?
He glanced at the other children, who were full of excitement over their future training. He felt an unfamiliar ache inside, a reminder of how powerless he was in this new life.
But just as these thoughts weighed heavily on his mind, something strange happened.
A faint warmth began to build in his chest, an almost imperceptible sensation that flickered in and out of existence. It wasn't a feeling he could fully explain. His breath hitched for a moment, and he glanced down at his hands. They seemed no different than before, but there was something there. A new sensation that he couldn't ignore.
As his thoughts swirled, the warmth in his chest intensified, and then, out of nowhere, a strange panel appeared before his eyes. It was a translucent display that seemed to materialize out of thin air.
Chakra Obtained
The words flashed briefly, disappearing before he could fully comprehend what they meant. Riku blinked, staring at the empty space where the panel had been. What had that been? A trick of the mind?
But before he could think further, he felt it—a weak flow of energy moving within him, almost like a current of warmth that ran through his veins. He instinctively focused on it, trying to understand the strange sensation.
As he concentrated, another panel appeared in front of him, this time displaying more information:
---
Name: Riku Kurozawa
Age: 12
Bloodline: None
Techniques: None
Chakra: Ordinary
---
Riku stared at the panel. The words were simple, and they made no sense to him. What was chakra? And why did it say his chakra was "ordinary"? What was this phenomenon?
He hadn't noticed any change in his body—no new powers, no dramatic transformations. But something was there, something that had never been there before. The warmth, the energy, the flow of chakra—it was real.
He didn't have answers, but he wasn't the type to dwell on questions for too long. What mattered now was that he had something, something that might give him the strength he needed to survive in this dangerous world.
The panel disappeared just as quickly as it had come, leaving Riku alone with his thoughts.
---
Over the next few days, Riku tested this newfound power in secret. He practiced sensing his chakra, trying to control the weak flow of energy that now pulsed through his body. The progress was slow, but each time he focused, he could feel it—a faint trace of power within him.
The other children noticed nothing. He still kept to himself, still spoke only when necessary. But inside, Riku felt the stirrings of something more, something that could change everything.
As he sat in the quiet of his room one evening, the thoughts began to return. The sensation of chakra had only started after Nono's rejection. Was there a connection? Could it be that the rejection itself had triggered something within him?
Riku frowned, his sharp mind working through the possibilities. It seemed too strange to be a coincidence, but he couldn't be sure. He wasn't one to believe in coincidences, but he also didn't know enough to draw conclusions.
If rejection was the key, then it was something he would have to accept. But for now, he pushed the thought aside. He didn't need answers yet. He had time to figure it out.
For now, he had his chakra, and that was enough.
Riku's lips curved ever so slightly—a rare, fleeting smile. The world might be cruel, but he would find his own way. He would not rely on anyone. He would stand alone.
---
To be continued...