~~~POV: Fuyuki Uchiha~~~

  PUFF

  “THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE!!!”

  A heavy breath leaves my mouth as I fail once again. I’ve been at this for hours, and I’m getting nowhere. I’m missing something important in the process of gathering the chakra and turning it into a Ninjutsu. I plop down on the grass and look at the orange sky.

  “There is more to making and using nature releases than I know. My lack of knowledge about the Naruto world is detrimental to my training. I have to ask myself what comes between molding the chakra and a Ninjutsu coming out with a nature release.”

  For the very life of me, nothing I think about helps me remember. Guess only watching the cool fights has come back to bite me in the ass for the umpteenth time.

  “I need more time… I don’t ever seem to have enough of it… Time is a person's greatest tool if wielded correctly. Something I find myself lacking…”

  I’ve changed my sleep schedule to get the most out of my training, but I’m stagnated right now. I’m missing a fundamental piece of knowledge or training, and I don’t know what it is or where to look for it. Being ahead of kids my age isn’t good enough.

  Not when I can see there is no tangible limit to what I can learn and do. The only limit I set is what I wish it to be, and it’s driving me nuts that I wasted half a day banging my head against a wall.

  “Sigh…”

  I lean up from the grass and run a hand through my dark hair. I’m not getting anywhere with this tonight, so I might as well head back to the orphanage. Aiko is probably looking to chew me out, and I’m pretty hungry from all the physical training I’ve done today.

  After another few minutes of thinking about what I’m doing wrong, I give up for now and stand up. Leaving the secluded training area. The nearly quiet streets of Konoha are a regular occurrence when this time of night is approaching. The sun has just set.

  The days have gotten longer, allowing me to train later. I don’t hate training at night, but Aiko doesn’t give me as much grief when I come home before the sun is down.

  ‘I’m the only kid my age at the orphanage heading for the academy. At least, that I know of. I don’t know if others might try. I’m not around enough to find that out.’

  I know Aiko would hate it if I said this out loud, but the orphanage is just where I have some food and sleep. It’s not a home. I don’t talk to the other kids. They’re thinking about things kids their age should. In honesty, I’m sticking out way more than I first believed.

  It’s been forever since I was a kid, and I don’t know or remember how to be one. I can pull off an act when needed, but my unconscious behaviors will always be more mature than those my age.

  One day, I know something bad will happen because of this.

  ~~~POV: Aiko Hikara~~~

  As I sit at the empty table with a plate of food ready on the other side, my eyes drift to the clock hanging on the wall. It’s around the time he usually comes home. A small sigh escapes from me as I turn to look at the plate of food again. Seeing the steam coming off some parts.

  Creeeak

  The familiar sound of the front door opening causes my attention to shift. After a few seconds of watching the doorway leading into the dining room, Fuyuki strolls in like he’s done nothing wrong.

  ‘He hasn’t broken any rules or agreements we’ve had. I wish he’d come home early just once. To show that he’s capable of taking a break. I’m worried he’ll destroy his young body with overtraining.’

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  As always, that worry is offset as I sense his chakra. It’s almost as big as mine these days. It’s only a matter of a few weeks or months before he surpasses my chakra levels. Insane that a child who turns six in a few days is doing this.

  This isn’t just Uchiha power or talent. Something else is up with Fuyuki. He wouldn’t know what it’s about. A kid his age can’t understand complex subjects like genetics.

  “Hey, Aiko.”

  He climbs up the chair and sits down. Looking at the plate of hot food, and he takes a deep whiff. I watch as his eyes gain a hungry look.

  “The same time as always, Fuyu. Are you sure you’re okay pushing yourself like this every day?”

  I ask him this more times than I care to admit, but I have to make sure. Asuna would never forgive me if I let something happen to her kid. Not after she trusted me to do the right thing by him.

  Instead of answering me, he lifts his fork and knife. Digging into the food. Even from how he moves his hands and fingers with the utensils, I can tell he’s made fantastic progress. I don’t know how good he is at Shurikenjutsu, only that the way he’s holding and moving the utensils says he’s good.

  He gulps water to wash down his first few bites of food. Looking at me with the intent to answer my earlier question.

  “Of course, Aiko. It’s easy for me! You know that!”

  I watch him flex his arms as he smiles. Trying to ease my worries. I know he’s a genius and more mature than he should be at this age, but I’m hoping he acts a bit more like a kid. He shouldn’t be in a rush to grow up. Not with the life he’s choosing.

  There are a few minutes of silence as I just enjoy the company of Fuyuki. It’s easy being around him. Asuna would’ve had a blast raising him. He’s got all her best qualities and none of her bad ones.

  “Aiko, can I ask you a question?”

  I’m pulled from my thoughts about Asuna and Fuyuki. I look at him with a soft expression and waiting eyes. He sees this and sets down his knife and fork. It’s not very often Fuyu asks me questions. I’m actually a bit excited.

  As if reacting to my emotions, I sit up straighter and lean forward, showing that he has my full attention. He takes on a thoughtful expression, likely trying to find the best wording for his question.

  “I couldn’t find any books at the library explaining it, but how does one get from chakra molding to a nature release Ninjutsu?”

  Umm…

  Wow.

  It’s the perfect question if someone doesn’t know about Nature Transformation and Shape Transformation. They’re the two essential techniques for using Ninjutsu. Without them, you’re not getting anywhere.

  My surprised look at the question can’t be hidden as I lean back in my chair and think about the answer. But before I give him the information he wants, I have my own questions, starting with why he wants to know.

  “Fuyu… Why do you want to know something like this? If you wait, you’ll learn it at the academy with everyone else.”

  As if something changes in Fuyu, I can see a flash of realization in his eyes. I don’t know what he’s thinking, but something clicked in his head.

  ~~~POV: Fuyuki Uchiha~~~

  HA!

  So, there is something important I’m missing between the steps! I knew it! I take a moment to organize my thoughts and return to the situation. Aiko watches me with curiosity, concern, and confusion. I need to answer her question if I want to get the answer to my question.

  “Well… It’s like an itch at the back of my brain that I can’t scratch… I know there is something that I’m missing that’s important, but I can’t find it anywhere… And I don’t want to wait for the academy; it will keep itching my brain until I know…”

  In truth, that’s what it feels like. I haven’t been able to find this critical information, and it’s driving me crazy. Like a damn tickle in my skull that I can’t scratch away.

  But I word the answer to her question the way a kid my age might. Again, I’m acting here and haven’t been a kid mentally in decades. So, I’m having to wing it here and there.

  Aiko watches me, looking for any deception. Not seeing any, she sighs and leans forward in her chair again. I can’t help doing the same. I’m on the edge of my damn seat.

  ‘I need to know!’

  After a brief moment of silence, she takes a small breath.

  “After chakra molding, what comes next to cast true Ninjutsu is Nature Transformation and Shape Transformation.”

  I would’ve never figured that out on my own before the academy. It’s not knowledge that I have or even to look for.

  “Nature Transformation is advanced chakra control. You alter the properties and characteristics of your chakra with Nature Transformation. The second component is Shape Transformation. Nature Transformation changes the properties of the chakra, and Shape Transformation changes the form and movement.”

  She carefully explains it to me, speaking slowly and carefully choosing each word she uses since this is my first time hearing it. I take in all the information, and now that I know what I’m missing, I know what I need to do. As this feeling comes over me, I get a system message.

  Quest created - ‘Nature Transformation & Shape Transformation’