Chapter 5: Precursor to the Chakra-Enhanced Strength
Standing beside the older sister and watching the cute Miyuki playing with her ninken, Kuro's thoughts drifted back to a part of the series where Tsunade's chakra strength was explained.
Based on what he remembered, it was a combination of three to four aspects: a strong physical body, high chakra control, massive amounts of chakra, and if you had a bloodline physique, you would automatically have the physical aspect and chakra amount covered.
But if he wasn't wrong, chakra reinforcement and enhancement should be common tools for ninja after the initial training period for genin. The Body Flicker technique should have a similar training method, after all.
Hence, the chakra-enhanced strength that Tsunade used shouldn't be something she uniquely created perhaps just refined to what seemed like an ungodly degree. Nodding at his own thoughts, that should be it.
Therefore, Miyuki's training should be facilitating a version of it, being that the Inuzuka based their combat techniques on methods like Fang Over Fang and Man-Beast Transformation all of which required significant physical enhancement and chakra reinforcement.
It made sense when he thought about it. The Inuzuka clan's entire fighting style was built around overwhelming physical power combined with their ninken partners. That kind of combat methodology would require building chakra reinforcement pathways from a young age, which explained why Miyuki was training this way at six years old.
The frisbee throwing isn't just about coordination, Kuro realized. It's laying the groundwork for their clan techniques.
"What's got you so deeply in your thoughts?"
Kuro blinked and turned to find Kaori bent at the waist, looking at him with curious eyes. Her wild brown hair swayed slightly in the breeze, and there was an amused smirk on her face. "I called out to you, you know. Twice."
"Sorry," Kuro said. "I was thinking about the training."
"Oh?" Kaori straightened up, crossing her arms with interest. "What about it caught your attention? Most kids your age just see it as playing around."
Kuro hesitated for a moment, then decided there was no harm in asking. "Is there an enhanced version of what Miyuki is doing now that's generally used? Like, a more advanced training method for chakra reinforcement?"
Kaori's eyebrows rose, and she let out a low whistle. "You really do pay attention, don't you?" She glanced over at Miyuki, who was still throwing the frisbee with Kuromaru happily chasing after it. "Yeah, there is. What Miyuki's doing now is the foundation the baby steps, if you will."
She gestured for Kuro to follow her to a nearby bench, apparently deciding this deserved a proper explanation. Once they sat down, she continued, her tone taking on a more instructional quality while maintaining that energetic Inuzuka edge.
"So, chakra reinforcement has stages, right? What Miyuki's learning now is Stage One basic pathway development. She's teaching her body to channel chakra into specific muscle groups and hold it there while performing an action. The frisbee throw is perfect because it's a controlled, repetitive motion that doesn't risk injury."
Kaori held up one finger. "Stage One is all about building the highways—the chakra pathways need to be strong and stable before you can push large amounts through them. That takes months, sometimes years, depending on the kid."
She held up a second finger. "Stage Two is where it gets interesting. Once the pathways are established, you start increasing the volume of chakra flowing through them. That's when we transition from frisbee throws to actual impact training hitting training posts, running with weighted gear, that kind of thing. The body's ready to handle the stress by then."
"And Stage Three?" Kuro asked, genuinely curious now.
Kaori grinned, showing those slightly pronounced canines. "Stage Three is what separates good taijutsu users from great ones. It's instant reinforcement being able to channel chakra to the exact point of impact at the exact moment you need it, then disperse it immediately after. No wasted energy, no unnecessary strain. That's what lets Inuzuka use techniques like Fang Over Fang without tearing our own muscles apart from the rotational force."
She leaned back on the bench, looking up at the darkening sky. "But here's the thing Stage Three takes most people until they're chunin to really master. Some never get it at all. They can do the basic reinforcement, sure, but the precision and timing? That's a whole different level."
"What about beyond Stage Three?" Kuro pressed, thinking about Tsunade's monstrous strength.
Kaori's expression shifted to something more serious, and her voice dropped slightly as if discussing something almost legendary. "Beyond Stage Three... well, that's where you get into the territory of the real monsters. The founders' generation and their top students."
She leaned forward, her enthusiasm returning. "There are shinobi who've refined chakra enhancement to the point where it looks like something entirely different. I've heard stories about Senju Takehiko—one of the First Hokage's cousins who survived the Warring States period. They say a single punch from him could shatter boulders and crack the earth itself. Not with some fancy jutsu, just pure chakra-enhanced strength."
"Then what's the difference?" Kuro asked, leaning forward.
"Precision multiplied by volume," Kaori explained, her eyes lighting up with the enthusiasm of someone who loved this subject. "She's got massive chakra reserves—Senju bloodline, you know—but more importantly, she's got perfect control. She can channel exactly the right amount of chakra to exactly the right point at exactly the right microsecond. And she's been refining that technique for decades."
She nudged Kuro with her elbow playfully. "There's also Uchiha Kazuki—before he awakened his Sharingan, he was known for his taijutsu and chakra-enhanced speed. They say he could move so fast with chakra reinforcement that most people couldn't even track him without a doujutsu. That's what perfect Stage Three plus years of refinement looks like."
She continued. "So yeah, there's an 'enhanced version,' but it's not something you just learn. It's something you build, layer by layer, year by year. What Miyuki's doing now with that frisbee? That's the first brick in a very tall building."
Kuro nodded slowly, processing the information. It aligned with what he'd suspected—Tsunade hadn't invented chakra-enhanced strength, she'd just perfected it beyond what most peoplewith era thought possible.
"You ask good questions, you know that?" Kaori said, studying him with those sharp Inuzuka eyes. "Most academy kids your age are still trying to figure out how to throw a shuriken straight. You're thinking about the theory behind advanced techniques."
She tilted her head, her expression shifting to something more curious and less instructional. "So, Genki Kuro of Class 1-A, what kind of ninja do you want to be? You've obviously been thinking about this stuff. Got a path in mind?"
Kuro paused, the question catching him off guard despite how obvious it should have been.
"I'm... not sure yet," he said carefully, which was both true and not true at the same time.
How do I even answer that? he thought.
In his mind, he knew there were many paths to strength. He'd seen them all in the series the various routes shinobi took to reach the upper echelons of power.
There were ninjutsu specialists like Kakashi and the Third Hokage, who mastered hundreds or thousands of techniques. There were taijutsu masters like Might Guy, who proved that physical prowess alone could rival even the most powerful bloodlines. There were weapons specialists, puppet masters, medical nin who doubled as combat monsters like Tsunade and Sakura, genjutsu experts, fuinjutsu masters...
The list went on.
But the truth was, he was building his foundation right now. He was waiting waiting to see what the black substance in his chakra network would become, waiting to see if it would fully awaken, waiting to understand what advantage it might give him.
What if this thing grants me a massive chakra pool? he thought. Then I could become a ninjutsu master, someone who has the reserves to use high-level techniques repeatedly without exhaustion.
Or what if it enhances my physical capabilities? Then taijutsu or swordsmanship would be the natural path maybe even a combination of both.
Hell, even becoming a medical nin and taijutsu master isn't out of the question. Tsunade proved that combination was devastatingly effective.
There were so many paths to strength, so many ways to become powerful enough to protect what mattered. And until he knew what his unique advantage would be if it even was an advantage and not some kind of curse he couldn't commit to a single path.
So he needed to keep his options open. Master the fundamentals. Build every aspect of his foundation so that when the time came to specialize, he'd be ready to excel in whatever direction made the most sense.
"I want to build a solid foundation first," Kuro said finally, choosing his words carefully. "Master the basics before deciding on a specialty. My father says that shinobi who rush to specialize too early often find themselves with glaring weaknesses later."
Kaori studied him for a long moment, then broke into a wide grin. "Ha! Your old man's got a good head on his shoulders. That's actually solid advice." She ruffled his hair, much to his annoyance. "Most kids your age are already declaring they're gonna be the next Hokage or master of all five elements or whatever. But you? You're thinking long-term."
Or perhaps that was just how his father lived his life, and it was because of it that he was able to reach the heights he had. His father definitely treated him differently than some other six-year-olds. After all, most parents wouldn't seemingly discourage their children from overperforming in front of others. While it wasn't the era of the Third Hokage and Danzo yet, he didn't have much resistance to this thinking.
She stooped down to his height, looking more relaxed. "Though between you and me, that's kind of a boring answer. Come on, there's gotta be something that gets you excited. Everyone's got a style they're drawn to, even if they don't realize it yet."
Kuro considered that. What style did appeal to him, setting aside the practical considerations?
"I guess..." he started slowly, "I like the idea of being versatile. Someone who can adapt to any situation. Not locked into one approach."
That's true enough, he thought. In my old life, I always valued flexibility over specialization. Why should this life be any different?
Kaori nodded thoughtfully. "Versatility, huh? That's ambitious. Hard to master, though being good at everything means you might not be great at any one thing. But..." she grinned again, that wild Inuzuka energy coming back, "if you can pull it off, you become the kind of shinobi people don't want to fight. Never knowing what you'll pull out makes you unpredictable, and unpredictable is dangerous."
She stood up, stretching her arms over her head. "Well, you've got time to figure it out. Six years at the academy, right? Though something tells me you might finish early."
"Maybe," Kuro said noncommittally.
Time flowed easily like this. Having seemingly in-depth conversations with a six-year-old Kaori didn't seem to bother him much, and her constantly fluctuating excitement whenever something interested her was internally amusing.
This caused his active participation in the conversation, all while watching the cute Miyuki training until her sister shouted.
"Miyuki! Time to wrap it up!" Kaori called out to her sister. "The sun's going down, and Kuro here needs to head home before dark!"
Miyuki and Kuromaru came trotting over, both looking pleasantly tired from their training. The little girl's cheeks were flushed, and Kuromaru's tongue was hanging out, but they both looked happy.
"Did you see my last throw, Kaori-nee?" Miyuki asked excitedly. "It went really far, and I kept the chakra stable the whole time!"
"I saw! You're getting better," Kaori said warmly, then turned to Kuro. "What'd you think? Think she's got potential?"
"Definitely," Kuro said, and he meant it. Miyuki was building good habits early, which would pay off immensely down the line. "Keep training like this, and you'll probably advance to Class 1-A within a year."
Miyuki's face lit up at the compliment, and even Kuromaru barked happily.
"Alright, enough mutual admiration," Kaori said with a laugh. "Kuro, you heading home now?"
"Yeah, I should get back," Kuro replied, glancing at the horizon where the sun was indeed beginning to set. His mother would start worrying soon, and his father would probably have some comments about punctuality being a shinobi virtue or something equally parental.
"Well, it was good meeting you, Genki Kuro," Kaori said, offering a hand for a handshake. When he took it, she grinned. "You've got a good head on your shoulders. Keep that up, and you'll go far."
"Thanks for the explanation about the training stages," Kuro said genuinely. "It helped clarify some things."
"Anytime! And hey" she pulled out a small piece of paper and scribbled something on it before handing it to him, "if you ever want to talk about training theory or whatever, feel free to stop by. That's our clan compound address. Miyuki could use more friends who actually understand what she's working toward."
Kuro took the paper, nodding. "I might take you up on that."
"You better! Otherwise, I'll hunt you down at the academy," Kaori said with a mock-threatening gesture that would have been more intimidating if she wasn't grinning like a maniac while doing it.
Miyuki stepped forward shyly. "Um, Kuro-kun... thank you for playing with us today. I mean, training with us. And... I'll work hard so I can catch up to Class 1-A!"
"I'm sure you will," Kuro said with a small smile. "See you at the academy, Miyuki."
"See you!" she said, waving enthusiastically as Kuro turned to head home.
As he walked back through the park, now much quieter as families had begun heading home for dinner, Kuro reflected on the conversation.
The information about chakra enhancement stages was valuable. It confirmed his suspicions about how these techniques were built and gave him a framework to understand what he'd need to work on. But more than that, it had been... nice. Just talking about training, about potential paths forward, with someone who genuinely knew what they were talking about.
Kaori was rough around the edges in that typical Inuzuka way, but she was knowledgeable and willing to share. That was rare and valuable.
And Miyuki was sweet genuine in her eagerness to improve, without the arrogance that sometimes came with clan kids. She'd make a good friend for whoever she ended up close to.
Two good acquaintances in one day, Kuro thought as he navigated the darkening streets toward home. Not bad for someone who was planning to just sit under a tree and think.
Maybe his father's advice about making friends really was sound after all.
The Genki compound came into view, warm light spilling from the windows. He could smell something cooking his mother's work, no doubt, since his father's "cooking" was probably more supervisory than actual.
Time to head home, have dinner, and maybe do some light training before bed. Tomorrow, the real academy work would begin.
But for tonight, he'd made progress in unexpected ways.
And that was enough.