__________________________________________________________________
___________________________________
The chapter got you itching for more? Read ahead and get exclusive content before anyone else? Join me on Patr -e-on! Your support would mean the world to me.
( | p@treon.com/FictionGoat | )
Read over 20+ chapters in advance.
. . . .
__________________________________________________________________
___________________________________
Standing atop the surface of the water was a black-haired boy, wearing nothing but his shorts. He lunged forward with quick, sharp jabs—left hook, then right hook—his movements fluid yet precise. Despite the rapid flurry of strikes, his feet remained steady on the water's surface.
With a burst of energy, he lunged backward, flipping onto his hands and smoothly landing back on his feet, the ripples on the water beneath him quickly settling.
He had been rigorously training his chakra control, refining it to the point where he could perform water walking without even a hint of wobble or misstep. He had pushed himself to master the art of channeling chakra to his feet while dynamically shifting it throughout his body to maintain balance, even during rapid and complex movements.
He had finally learned the ability to conserve his chakra, using only what was absolutely necessary and never wasting an ounce more. His precision in Chakra control had improved drastically—every movement, every action was backed by just the right amount of chakra, no more and no less.
His training with the leaf concentration technique had played a huge role in it. By balancing leaves and other small objects on different parts of his body, he had trained himself to adapt to the constantly shifting flow of chakra. Whether he needed to channel it to his hands, his back, or his feet, he could do so with relative ease.
That's why he was practicing taijutsu on the water. While most fights would likely happen on land, he wanted to be prepared for the unexpected. The water beneath his feet forced him to adjust his balance and chakra flow with every strike and movement.
He was training his instincts for water combat, pushing himself to adapt to the unsteady surface beneath him. This wasn't just about looking cool or showing off—it was about being ready for anything.
Fights don't always happen where it's convenient, and he wanted to be prepared, even if that meant learning to fight on water. The bonus? All this training was sharpening his chakra control in ways he hadn't imagined. Every step, every movement, demanded complete focus, and he could feel himself improving each time.
As his control grew stronger, so did his confidence. Maybe, just maybe, he was inching closer to finally tackling medical ninjutsu. He'd thought about it for a while now, but he knew it wasn't something you could just pick up overnight. The level of chakra control it demanded was on a whole other level, and while he wasn't there yet, he could see the path forward. It was an exciting thought, even if it felt a little out of reach.
Then there was the issue of his chakra reserves. Did he even have enough to perform techniques like that? Probably not—at least, not yet.
But that was a problem for future him. Right now, his focus was on building a solid foundation, one small step at a time. If he kept this up, who knew how far he could go?
' It's been about a week since I started my job at the hospital, and I've been talking to that Hitori guy. He's a tough nut to crack, that's for sure. The guy's ridiculously quiet—barely says a word unless he absolutely has to. But every once in a while, he'll toss out a word or two. Geez, it's like pulling teeth.' Kaito scratched the back of his head in frustration as he mulled over his efforts to actually become friends with the guy.
Hitori was as stubborn as they came, with a wall around him that seemed impossible to break. And he was quick—too quick, in fact. It was like trying to keep up with a shadow, always just out of reach.
As slow as the process was going, He knew he couldn't just come right out and ask the guy, "Teach me medical ninjutsu." That'd be way too pushy, and honestly, Hitori didn't seem like the type to take that kind of request well.
He spun off his right foot, flipping over the surface of the water. As he twisted mid-air, his left leg swung down in a sharp roundhouse kick motion, cutting through the air. When he landed back on the water, the impact sent small ripples outward, disturbing the surface for just a moment before it settled into gentle waves.
He paused to catch his breath, wiping the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. The training was intense, but he knew it was worth it.
Lately, he had been focusing on more than just maintaining his chakra control. He had also been working to improve his taijutsu also. Although he didn't know any formal taijutsu techniques yet, he figured it was better to start somewhere.
For now, he practiced basic movements and forms, hoping to build a solid foundation. Someday soon, he planned to buy a scroll or somehow gain access to the Konoha Library Archive, where he could study proper techniques and take his skills to the next level.
( This name is too long, I'll be calling it Shinobi Archive moving on... )
Since he was still in the Academy and not yet a registered Genin, he didn't have access to those resources. Even if he did, he'd probably lack the money to buy anything useful. So, all in all, things weren't looking great for him.
Well, not entirely hopeless. He figured he could try replicating some of the martial arts from his old world and use them to develop a new fighting style.
He wanted to create a fighting style that was unpredictable but still delivered serious power. It reminded him of Killer Bee, whose unique fighting style was strong enough to push back Sasuke, even with his fully developed three-tomoe Sharingan. Despite that advantage, Sasuke didn't stand a chance and ended up getting completely curbed stomped by Killer Bee.
Learning from Taijutsu scrolls might be helpful, but there was a downside—those styles were well-known. If an opponent recognized the techniques, they could exploit the weaknesses in the style and gain the upper hand. That was exactly the kind of vulnerability he wanted to avoid.
Kickboxing came to mind, it was the one martial art he actually had some experience with. Back when he was a kid and obsessed with anime, he had begged his parents to sign him up for lessons.
He'd wanted to move like the characters he watched on TV. He didn't stick with it for long—maybe a year or two—but he still remembered a few basic moves. It wasn't much, but it was a starting point.
But on another note he couldn't help but wonder, what if he combined kickboxing with the Gentle Fist technique? It sounded wild, maybe even impossible, but the idea wouldn't leave his head. Of course, he knew learning the Gentle Fist would not be easy at all. The technique wasn't just some regular fighting style; it was tied to the Byakugan, an ability he didn't have. Still, he wasn't one to back down from a challenge.
The Gentle Fist was all about precision, targeting the body's tenketsu points to disrupt chakra flow—or in extreme cases, cause serious damage. The Hyuga clan had it down to a science, using their Byakugan to see these chakra points clearly. For someone like Kaito, who couldn't see chakra points at all, the odds weren't exactly in his favor.
But giving up wasn't an option either. He figured there had to be another way. What if he memorized the location of every tenketsu point? Not just memorized, but burned them into his mind until he could pinpoint them instinctively.
It wouldn't be easy—it might take months, maybe even years—but the thought of mastering the Gentle Fist without the Byakugan stirred something inside him. And that thought? It made him smile. Another crazy idea, another impossible goal. But that was just how Kaito liked it.
But that would take years for it to be even somewhat potent in combat. That kind of project would take a lot of research and testing out in the field. He would have to tackle that when he had more freedom. Right now, as an Academy student and not yet a genin or part of the military, he wasn't even allowed to leave the village.
Yet somehow, they could send kids to the battlefield to die? The rules of the Hidden Leaf made no sense sometimes. Honestly, screw their logic.
As for alternatives, the Eight Gates came to mind. But even that option felt out of reach. Kaito's body was way too weak to handle the power of the Eight Gates. Even if he somehow managed to learn it, the side effects were brutal and came with way too many risks to make it worth it.
Probably when he had an insane healing factor he'd think of learning the Eight gates. If he could push it all the way to the Gate of Death, imagine stacking its power with Edo Tensei. The thought of becoming nearly unstoppable, practically a god, was tempting and a little insane.
But then reality hit. Dying and coming back to life didn't sound like a walk in the park. Besides, how would he even perform Edo Tensei on himself? Someone else would have to help him, and trust wasn't something Kaito handed out freely.
Still, learning taijutsu sounded like a good idea. Yet, as always, money stood in the way. Training cost way more than he could afford right now. It was frustrating, but he had to figure out a way to make it work.
Everything in the world costs money, and he was painfully aware of how little he had. Even with the paycheck he earned, it was just enough to scrape by—barely covering rent and bills. Once those were paid, his wallet was as empty as his stomach.
His pockets weren't just empty; they might as well have been black holes, filled with nothing but spider webs and loose buttons. Things were starting to look bleak, though he was lucky he didn't need to worry about food just yet. The boar meat and rice he had left would keep him going for a little while longer.
But he knew he needed a better solution. His two jobs weren't cutting it anymore. Sure, he had another paycheck coming soon from his hospital gig, but it wouldn't stretch far.
He'd either have to pick up a third job or seriously consider diving into the underworld business. As risky as it sounded, it could pay well—really well. And at this point, Kaito was starting to think it might be worth the gamble.
He didn't mind getting his hands dirty if it meant earning some extra money. The problem was, he didn't have any connections to the underworld to make that happen. To even get a foot in the door, he'd need someone already in the game to vouch for him and pull him in.
But that was out of the question. He was just an orphan stuck in the Konoha Academy, not even a genin yet. Nobody in their right mind would take an interest in someone like him. If he had his way, he'd jump straight into something like being a hitman or a bounty hunter—those seemed like the easiest ways to make a name for himself.
But even that wasn't realistic. He wasn't strong enough yet, and even he knew that.
Kaito thought about every possible way to make some quick cash. Selling narcotics? Maybe he could pull off a Walter White knock off. But no, that was off the table. He didn't even have the money to buy the supplies needed to start something like that in the first place. It was a ridiculous idea, but desperation was starting to mess with his thoughts. "Damn it... I need money. Like, right now." He muttered under his breath
After wrapping up his training for the day, he made his way back to solid ground, cutting off the chakra flow to his feet. The session had pushed him to his limit. His chakra reserves were nearly empty, and his body trembled slightly from exhaustion. Still, he wasn't so drained that he couldn't manage the walk home.
With a tired sigh, Kaito pulled on his clothes—because, unlike some people, he had enough decency to not wander around half-dressed—and started his journey back to his cramped little apartment.
. . . .
_________________________
Kaito was still in the Academy, so he didn't have access to the Shinobi Archives. That meant he had to make do with the public library for now.
Not that he minded too much—at least not yet. The library had a few of the books he needed, and he had a clear purpose in mind. The first book he was looking for was about human anatomy. It was going to be essential for his research into learning medical ninjutsu.
Understanding anatomy wasn't just a helpful skill; it was one of the fundamental requirements for mastering the technique. Another book on his list was about the chakra pathways. He knew that without a solid grasp of how chakra flowed through the body, his efforts in medical ninjutsu would go nowhere and so did his attempt to replicate the Gentle fist technique.
For now, the public library would have to do.
_________________________________
________________________________________________________
Leave a review and comment!
Read over 20+ chapters in advance, on P@treon.