—< Asai Clan, 3 months and 2 weeks after the Kyubi attack >----
"Huff, huff, huff, argg, again !" I shout while forming the hand seals.
Boar ram ram tiger, crystal release: crystalline veil
I projected my chakra into the environment within a sphere of 10 meters in diameter, transforming and rearranging the surrounding crystalline molecules.
All around me, hundreds and hundreds of tiny crystals formed in the space. Thin and transparent, they were invisible except for the chakra in the air revealing the presence of the dome around me.
In each and every cristal were tiny drop of chakra , making them detecable and hence defeating the purpose of the technique. One of the solution I came up with was to push my chakra around me at the same time, even if it's consuming it disturb the environment, making my ennemy focus on my chakra release and ignoring the technique entirely ... at least in theory.
Maybe a sensory expert would be able to detect them, but otherwise they were very well hidden.... meh, it's still give me an edge I think ?
Ok... I succeeded with this jutsu once again ! But I would need to do it hundreds of times to master it.
Currently, my objective was to feel the fluctuations of my internal chakra when I formed the seals, in order to understand how the jutsu was formed so I could perform it without seals.
It was complex and it took time, but once I mastered it, the technique would become much less predictable.
…
It had now been 2 weeks since I had started learning the 4 jutsu, and I had made progress.
I could now perform these jutsu, and I could probably use them in combat.
However, there were several points of improvement I was working on, first of all chakra consumption.
I didn't have a very large chakra reserve ... well at least for me, which caused problems when I performed these jutsu since I couldn't use them continuously, and after about twenty rank E jutsu, I was completely drained.
I therefore had to improve my chakra control, my mastery of the techniques, and my chakra reserves.
To do that, I followed a training plan my uncle had helped me put together.
In the morning, I did light physical training because I was still young, I don't want to stunt my growth and all that y'know ?
Since chakra was composed of physical and spiritual energy, improving my body increased my reserves while also strengthening me.
Then I trained taijutsu with my uncle.
I had also started learning shurikenjutsu, throwing kunai and shuriken at targets, but I was really bad at it, so I didn't focus much on it.
Besides, except against low level ninja, I couldn't imagine throwing a shuriken at someone like Itachi, he would just laugh at me.
Kunai and shuriken couldn't, or at least it was almost impossible, to injure a jonin level ninja with them.
Anyway, in the afternoon I focused on ninjutsu, then chakra control afterward.
By the way, exhausting my chakra reserves like I did allowed them to grow like a muscle, which was really great.
This way, I covered the basics quite well for a solid foundation.
Of course, for a ninja, real field experience remained very important, but for the moment, I was content with this…
… As I was recovering after a series of techniques, a familiar voice resonated behind me.
"Oi, Jun ! How are you doing after all that training ?" an old man asked as he approached, a benevolent smile on his face.
I turned around, wiping the sweat from my forehead. "Oh, old Jesé ! I'm doing well, thanks. I think I'm making good progress. With Haito, we're going to start combined training this weekend and I'm lowkey looking forward to it !"
Jesé nodded, his graying beard trembling slightly with his breath. He looked pleased with my response.
"That's good, that's good. But don't overdo it, young man. At your age, you also need to know how to enjoy life," he said in a paternal tone, thoughtfully stroking his beard before adding
"Oh, don't forget, tonight there's the communal reading. We'll be talking particularly about the history of the clan. I very well know how curious you are about that..."
My eyes lit up at the idea of learning more about my clan. "That's right ! I won't miss it !" I declared enthusiastically.
Jesé seemed satisfied with my response. "Very well, I'm glad you're interested. Now, I have to go visit my daughter. See you tonight."
I watched him walk away down the alley, his back slightly hunched, and a smile formed on my face.
Life in the Asai clan had something warm about it. Slowly but surely, I was starting to feel at home here.
—< Later in the evening >----
At the heart of the Asai clan stood a building larger and more imposing than the others. Located near the center of the village, it served as a school for the young children of the clan.
Built from wood in a traditional Japanese style, the building showed signs of age. Its worn walls and slightly tilted roof told a long story, yet it still retained a certain nobility.
Inside, on carefully arranged tatami mats, a compact group of children aged from 4 to 10 sat cross legged, ready to listen to the daily reading.
The room buzzed with whispers and muffled laughter, but everything stopped when Jesé entered.
"Hmm, hmm," he said, gently clearing his throat, immediately capturing the children's attention.
With a slow and steady step, he walked toward the center of the room. "Good evening, children. Are you all here today ?" he asked, his voice filled with wisdom and warmth.
"Yes, Grandpa Jesé !" the children replied in unison, their enthusiasm filling the room.
Jesé sketched a satisfied smile, his eyes sparkling beneath his graying beard. "Good, good... Then let's begin today's lesson. Does anyone have an idea what we're going to talk about today ?"
He rubbed his beard, clearly amused by the curiosity of his young audience. The children exchanged impatient murmurs, each trying to guess the subject.
"Jun, do you know what it could be ?" Hiro asked, a round faced boy leaning toward his friend with a curious look.
Jun, his arms crossed and a mischievous smile on his lips, replied calmly: "Hmm, I know what it is, Hiro. Jesé talked to me about it earlier, but I'm not going to spoil the surprise."
Hiro frowned, insisting. "Oh, come on, Jun ! I'm going to know in two minutes so it's not much important if you tell it now !"
Jun shrugged, a mocking smile on his face. "No, and no. No way, I'm not telling you."
"Pfff, always so secretive, huh !" Hiro sulked, before suddenly changing the subject. "By the way, when are you coming back to play ninja with us ?"
Jun thought for a second, feigning indifference. "Hmm... this weekend, if you want."
Hiro's face lit up. "Oh awesome !" he exclaimed, but he was quickly interrupted by Jesé's firm yet amused voice.
"Silence, children," he said, slightly raising his hand. "I'm going to tell you everything. Don't be so impatient, hehe."
The room fell into an almost solemn calm, the children's gazes fixed on the patriarch.
Jesé sat down on a cushion in the center, crossed his legs, and placed his hands on his knees. His voice grew deeper, almost ceremonial.
"Today, I'm going to tell you the history of our clan," he began, his gaze sweeping over the assembly. "It's an important story. It is part of who you are, so listen carefully, and above all... remember."