Chapter 7: Chapter 7: “Rising Tension”

As night descended, Kenji sat cross-legged on the floor of his room, deep in concentration. His eyes were closed, and his hands were placed lightly on the ground. He was trying to sense the chakra of anything that was around him.

But he couldn't seem to get the hang of it. His frustration grew, and he muttered to himself, "God dammit! I just can't seem to do it." Kenji had been working tirelessly to improve his sensor skills, but it seemed like no matter what he did, he couldn't seem to make any progress.

He began to focus his attention on a single point, his breathing slowing as he tried to center himself. He opened his mind, attempting to feel the flow of chakra around him. Gradually, he began to sense the faintest of energies emanating from the objects in his room. He concentrated harder, and the energies grew more pronounced.

Kenji's eyes snapped open, a look of surprise on his face. "Hell yeah, I did it," he said, awed by what he was sensing.Happy with what he has done, his thoughts wondered about what happened earlier that day, ‘I haven't heard any news yet. I wonder what's going on? No explosions or screams, no fighting. Everything seems to be normal in the village so far from what I can tell. What the hell is going on?’

 

His thoughts were disrupted, by what sounded to be Chiyo's voice. Her voice echoed through the house, pulling him towards the source of the sound, he heard a commotion. Kenji's thoughts scattered, replaced by a gnawing sense of worry as he emerged from his room. Finding out what happened.

As Kenji neared the main room, the sound of Chiyo's voice grew clearer, revealing a tone of sadness, almost like she was crying. He was wondering what had happened, and as he entered the room, he was surprised. Chiyo was clinging to Taro, her tears flowing freely. "Taro, please!" she pleaded, her voice filled with desperation. "There must be another way! You don't have to accept it!"

Kenji's mind raced with confusion, trying to piece together the events unfolding before him. ‘Wait why is Taro here? I thought he was on a mission. And what is with him with the gear, it looks like wearing a lot more than usual.’ he stood there listening intently, trying to clue himself on the situation. ‘What the fuck is going on!?’

Taro held Chiyo close, his expression somber and pained. "I'm sorry, Chichi," he whispered his voice heavy with regret. "The village requires me, and I must answer the call. Stay strong and prepare, I don’t know how bad it’s going to get. Our son needs you."

“Please…just choose another station, it’s suicide where you're going,” Chiyo spoke with a bare whisper, as she clung harder into Taro's chest.

Turning his head, Taro approached Kenji, he felt a palpable sense of foreboding settled over him. He knew that something big must of happened, his father looked like he was about to embark on a suicide mission.

Taro knelt down, his eyes blazing with a mixture of emotion and determination. "Listen closely, Kenji," he rasped, his voice low and steady. "I have been tasked with a mission, one that will test the limits of my skills to protect our village. I cannot predict what will happen, or when I'll return."

Kenji felt his heart sink as he listened to his words. He knew that Taro was skilled, but knowing what he knew, there were monsters out there and he was worried for him.

"And make no mistake, Kenji," Taro continued, his voice ringing with conviction. "You are a member of the proud Izumi family. It is your duty to protect your mother, to become strong, and to uphold the family's honor." Taro's grip on Kenji's shoulder was firm, conveying the weight of responsibility that lay upon him. "I have faith in you, my son," Taro continued, his eyes shining with pride. "You possess the strength and intelligence to succeed, to become a true master of the shinobi arts."

Kenji's mind raced as he gazed into his father's eyes, reading the love, the pride, and the fear that lay within. "What kind of mission, Dad?" he asked, his voice a hoarse whisper.

Taro's lips tightened into a thin line, and he cast a furtive glance over his shoulder. "A mission of utmost importance, Kenji," he replied, his voice a hushed whisper. "One that requires stealth and cunning, and may well put me in harm's way."

Chiyo clutched Taro's arm, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Please, please Taro" she sobbed. "Come back to us, safe and sound."

Taro pulled Chiyo into a fierce embrace, kissing her deeply before turning to his son. "Take care of your mother, Kenji," he said, his voice firm, then smiled. "I'll be back before you know it."

Kenji watched in stunned silence as Taro disappeared into the night, leaving behind a trail of rustling leaves. The reality of the situation hit him like a ton of bricks, and he was filled with a deep sense of fear and uncertainty. The fear that he may never see Taro again, a man he had come to view as a close friend.

But as he gazed into his mother's eyes, he knew he had to be strong. Something had happened that morning, and it had changed everything. He didn’t know exactly what, but the clues were numerous. With a deep breath, he understood that he had to push himself even harder, as he didn’t know how long he had left, till something affected him.

"Mom, can you train me? I want to be strong," his voice spoke with resolve.

Chiyo's eyes brimmed with tears as she drew Kenji into a tight embrace. "Okay," she whispered, her voice thick with feeling. She recognized that this moment represented a turning point in Kenji's life, signaling the end of his innocence and the beginning of a difficult and arduous path to being a shinobi.

 

Kenji and Chiyo clashed in an intense duel in the yard, their bodies moving with precision as they exchanged blows and evasions. Kenji lunged forward with a punch, but Chiyo sidestepped with ease, delivering a sharp kick to his gut. He staggered backwards, gasping for breath. Chiyo pressed her advantage, raining down a barrage of strikes and kicks that Kenji struggled to fend off.

‘Dammit I still can’t give her a damn challenge,’ Kenji thought as he struggled to keep up with Chiyo's relentless assault. He let his guard slip for a moment, and Chiyo capitalized with a devastating blow to his midsection. "One mistake can be fatal in battle," she warned, her voice stern. "You must maintain your focus, Kenji."

Kenji doubled over, coughing and gasping for air. "Get up," Chiyo commanded. The fight continued as Kenji rose to his feet, resoluteness etched upon his features. Chiyo continued her barrage, forcing Kenji to defend himself with all his might. He could feel his energy waning, his focus slipping, and his resolve wavering.

‘Fuck she's relentless,’ while he struggled to keep up with Chiyo's relentless assault. He pushed himself to the limit, dodging and blocking with all his might, but Chiyo seemed to have the upper hand. He let his guard slip once again, and Chiyo seized the opportunity with a brutal kick to his chest.

"You're not paying attention, Kenji!" Chiyo yelled, her voice echoing through the yard. "You're not putting in enough effort! You're going to get yourself killed in battle if you don't focus!"

Kenji felt a surge of anger and frustration, and he redoubled his efforts. He fought with all his might, his movements quick and precise, his strikes and kicks swift and deadly. He and Chiyo clashed in a whirlwind of motion, exchanging blows and evasions, pushing each other to their limits.

Finally, Kenji saw an opening, and he took it with a punch that Chiyo had to block.

"You're getting better," Chiyo said with a smile. "But you're still not there yet. Keep practicing, and you'll get there eventually."

Chiyo clapped her hand ending the session. "Good job Kenji, it’s about time for you to advance to the next phase," Chiyo declared as she led Kenji to another section of the training grounds. The surroundings were dotted with various targets, set up for them to practice their skills.

"Alright, Kenji," Chiyo stated as she retrieved a kunai and shuriken from a hidden pouch. "We're going to proceed to use some weapons now. These are a kunai and a shuriken, crucial instruments for any ninja," she explained, presenting the weapons to Kenji for examination.

Kenji took hold of the weapons, analyzing them with a sense of wonder. "They're so small, wow, and so sharp," he noted, impressed.

"Precisely," Chiyo confirmed with a stern gaze. "And that's why it's crucial that we learn to handle these weapons with the utmost care. Kenji, if I catch you treating these weapons with anything other than respect, you will be banned from practicing them until you enter the academy. Is that clear?"

Kenji nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "Yes, mom. I will not treat them as toys," he pledged.

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Chiyo smiled, satisfied with her son's response. "Good. Let's move on to the shuriken, first." She demonstrated the proper grip and stance for throwing the weapon, showing Kenji the key to generating enough force to make a successful throw.

Kenji mimicked her grip, feeling the weight of the shuriken in his hand. "Understood," he acknowledged.

"Excellent," Chiyo praised. "Now, aim for that target over there," she indicated a makeshift target nearby.

Kenji took aim and launched the shuriken, watching as it flew through the air and landed just inches from the target. "Nice throw," Chiyo complimented.

"Awesome! I can’t wait to get good at this" Kenji exclaimed. ‘Damn, I’m starting to actually feel like a ninja now.’

"You will," Chiyo reassured him. "But for now, let's move on to the kunai." And with that, the training continued.

As he and Chiyo made their way to the park, Kenji couldn't ignore the palpable tension that gripped the village. Even the parents at the park, who attempted to maintain a facade of normalcy, couldn't hide the worry etched upon their faces. Kenji, with his keen sense, saw through their guise.

They reached the playground, and Kenji noticed a group of sullen children playing. He approached them and asked, "What's wrong, guys? Why the long faces?"

One of the children looked up at him and replied, "Our moms and dads aren't coming back home." Kenji was taken aback and inquired further, "What do you mean? Where did they go?"

The child looked at him with tears in his eyes, "Mommy went to the pure land. They were fighting in a big battle to protect the village and didn't return."

Kenji's heart dropped as he realized the severity of the situation. He turned to an older child for more information, and the child revealed, "We're fighting with another bad village. That's why our moms and dads have to leave."

Kenji's expression darkened, 'Shit, are we at war? What the hell happened? How did it start?’ His thoughts recalled on what happened recently. ‘Those birds and Taro's sudden appearance, then departure. Chiyo's harsh training. It starting to make sense. Shit.’ Calming himself down. ‘No, I can’t jump to conclusions. It might be a small skirmish instead.’

He surveyed the children and saw the sadness and worry on their faces, struggling to cope with what was happening in the village. ‘They need help. I can’t mope right now’ Kenji didn't want them to endure another moment of sorrow and decided to take action.

"Hey everyone," Kenji spoke with a gentle tone, "I know things are tough right now, but let's have some fun. How about we play our favorite game, ninja tag!" He spoke in excitement.

The children looked at each other uncertainly, unsure if they were ready to have fun just yet. But Kenji's infectious enthusiasm soon had them nodding in agreement.

"Awesome!" Kenji exclaimed, "Let's get started!"

As they started to play, Kenji watched the children relax and smile. The worry and sadness in their eyes slowly dissipated, replaced by laughter and joy.

A child tagged Kenji and exclaimed, "I got you!"

Kenji laughed, "Well done! And remember, even in the darkest of times, we can always find something to laugh and smile about."

Another child added, "Like playing ninja tag with you, Kenji!"

Kenji smiled, "Exactly! And who knows, maybe you'll tag me again."

The children laughed and continued to play, the atmosphere lightening with each giggle and shout. Kenji felt a sense of satisfaction knowing that he had brought happiness to the children and made a difference in their day.

Kenji sat at home, his mind consumed by thoughts of what had happened at the park. He had an uneasy feeling from it all, from what he heard from the kids he was wondering if the village was at war and he hoped his suspicions weren’t true. Deciding to get over it and confirm it, he decided to confront Chiyo, and get a clearer understanding of the situation.

Chiyo sat across from Kenji, her expression serious. "Kenji, I know you have questions about what's happening," she said. "I can tell you that there is unrest in the land of fire. And our enemies, Iwagakure are putting pressure on our borders."

‘Shit! I suspected as much,’ Kenji thought with a tinge of worry. "But who else is involved? The village is strong, right? Everyone in the village looks worried. They wouldn’t look so down if everything was okay. Are there other villages?" asked with increasing concern.

Chiyo hesitated, her eyes shifting away from Kenji's gaze. "There are...other factors involved," she said evasively. "But rest assured sweetie, the village is strong and we have nothing to fear."

Kenji felt a sense of panic rising within him. He wasn't ready for this, for the prospect of war and the dangers that came with it. ‘Shit! Shit! Shit! I’m just a fucking kid. I’m weak, how the hell am I going to survive this? I’m not ready! God dammit! I don’t remember any of this being in the fucking show.’

Chiyo reached out and took his hand. "Sweetie, don't worry," she said, her voice gentle. "You have the strength and skill to face whatever comes your way. Just focus on your training and let the village handle the rest."

Kenji nodded, taking comfort in Chiyo's words. Taking a deep breath, ‘Fuck, I’ve got to train more, no more fucking around.’ He would do his best to be ready for whatever lay ahead.

 

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