Two days after Sam acquired the ability to use Nen, the old man summoned him to his humble hut. The atmosphere was charged with seriousness, unlike the usual casual conversations. Sam sat in front of the old man, awaiting what would be said.
The old man spoke in a calm tone, yet one that carried the weight of responsibility:
"Sam, you've proven that you have a strong will."
He paused for a moment, looking directly at Sam, then continued:
"I want a promise from you. Protect this village for ten years, and I will train you to master Nen properly."
Sam didn't need much time to think. Despite his theoretical knowledge of Nen basics and techniques, practical application was something entirely different. Additionally, the idea of wandering in this strange and dangerous world didn't appeal to him. Life here was safe, and with the strength he would gain... he could protect himself. Moreover, if Nen depended on willpower and training, his ultimate goal was immortality, not adventure.
Sam smiled and nodded with confidence:
"I promise. I will protect the village for ten years."
Starting the next day, the old man began his intense training on Nen fundamentals. His day would begin in the fields in the morning, and the rest of the time was spent in exhausting yet refreshing training.
Ten was the first technique he learned. The old man taught him how to channel his aura around his body and maintain it in an active state to protect himself from invisible attacks. At first, Sam became tired quickly, as if the energy was leaking out of his body. But over time, he slowly learned to control the flow of his aura, and his body began to adapt to this new form of training, having to remain in a fixed position for hours while focusing on the flow of his aura around him.
Once he had mastered the basics of Ten, the old man moved on to teaching him Ren. This technique was more complex, requiring him not only to maintain his aura but also to expand and intensify it. The old man pushed him to extract as much of his internal energy as possible, and Sam often ended up exhausted, barely able to stand. However, he noticed over time that his energy had increased, and he could handle more pressure without collapsing.
Then came the turn of Zetsu, the technique that relies on completely stopping the flow of aura to hide one's presence. This technique was more of a mental challenge than a physical one. He had to calm both his mind and body to become as though he were nonexistent. At first, he failed repeatedly, unable to silence his thoughts. But over time, he learned how to shut his mind off from the world.
Months passed, and Sam balanced working in the fields in the morning with intense training in the afternoon. His body was slowly but steadily changing. His muscles became more defined and stronger.
And with the passing of an entire year since he began his training, Sam had mastered the fundamentals of Nen remarkably. He was no longer just a beginner learning the first steps.