Life settled into a cautious rhythm. Kenji became a ghost in the machine of the Academy – present, participating, but rarely drawing the eye. He learned the katas with acceptable stiffness, sparred with predictable mediocrity, and answered questions in class correctly but without flair. He was becoming convincingly, comfortably average, just another face in the crowd of aspiring shinobi. The tension eased from his shoulders, the constant feeling of being watched slowly faded, even Sasuke's occasional glance seemed to hold no more than the usual Uchiha disdain for mediocrity.
Inside, however, Kenji's world remained vibrant. Every lesson, every movement, every interaction was filtered through his runic sight, deepening his understanding even as he suppressed his ability to directly influence events. He watched the intricate dance of chakra as Iruka demonstrated techniques, dissected the runic structure of simple genjutsu illusions practiced by classmates, and mentally mapped the energy flow required for every standard Academy exercise. He was building a vast internal library of knowledge, a theoretical mastery far exceeding his peers, even if his practical application remained deliberately restrained.
His secret affinity for Water and Wind became a quiet comfort rather than a tool for advancement. He felt the way his chakra naturally resonated with those elements, like tuning forks humming in harmony. It made certain concepts click instantly. When Iruka explained how Water chakra could be both yielding and crushing, Kenji understood – he saw the fluid 'flow' runes shift easily into dense 'pressure' constructs. When the lesson touched on Wind's cutting sharpness or its ability to amplify, he saw the 'sever' runes hone to a razor edge and the 'propulsion' runes channel energy with focused force.
This innate understanding faced its first real test when Iruka introduced rudimentary elemental manipulation drills. These weren't full jutsu, Iruka stressed, just exercises to get a feel for shaping raw elemental chakra outside the body – a precursor to more advanced techniques they might learn post-graduation.
The classroom buzzed with renewed excitement. Students were divided based on their suspected or hoped-for affinities (since no formal test had occurred). Those leaning towards Water gathered around basins, tasked with creating ripples or small whirlpools. Those favouring Wind attempted to generate controlled breezes, trying to rustle leaves in small potted plants placed nearby without blowing them over entirely.
Kenji, having identified his own dual nature, quietly joined the Water group first. He watched Sakura, whose chakra held that underlying Water potential he'd seen, struggle to make more than a faint tremor on the surface, her brow furrowed in concentration. Others splashed water haphazardly, their control lacking.
Iruka demonstrated the standard method: focusing mudras, projecting the feeling of fluidity. Kenji saw the runic process – the mudra subtly emphasizing the 'water' aspect of Iruka's chakra, followed by a simple 'agitate' rune projected onto the water's surface.
When Kenji dipped his hands into the cool water, he consciously followed Iruka's physical instructions. He formed the mudra, focused on the idea of swirling water, and pushed his chakra gently. A small, respectable ripple spread across the surface. Good. Average. Acceptable.
But oh, the itch to do it properly. He could see the elegant 'swirl' rune needed, could feel his Water-aspected chakra eager to form it directly. It felt like painstakingly copying letters when you already knew how to write the word perfectly. With immense restraint, he generated another weak ripple, earning a simple nod from Iruka who was busy correcting another student's explosive splash.
Next, he moved to the Wind group. Here, Naruto was creating chaos, his uncontrolled gusts sending leaves flying and nearly knocking over a smaller student. Iruka was patiently trying to guide Naruto's overwhelming energy, while others produced barely perceptible puffs of air.
The task was to create a breeze focused enough to rustle specific leaves. Kenji watched the demonstration, seeing the 'push' and 'direction' runes needed. He mirrored the hand gestures Iruka showed, pushed his Wind chakra forward conventionally… and produced a sigh of air that barely disturbed the nearest leaf. Perfect mediocrity.
He tried again, focusing just a fraction more. This time, a small, directed puff ruffled the intended leaf cluster. Again, adequate, drawing no special attention. But inside, he felt the crisp, clean 'wind' runes practically begging to be unleashed, to form the tight, controlled vortex he knew he could create instantly. He clenched his fists subtly, forcing himself to stick to the clumsy, conventional methods.
Shikamaru, assigned to the Wind group presumably due to his Lightning affinity being unsuitable for either drill, was leaning against the wall, observing the proceedings with heavy-lidded boredom. His gaze swept past Kenji without lingering, but Kenji caught the faintest flicker in the Nara boy's own runic signature – a spark of 'analysis' briefly cutting through the overwhelming 'apathy'. Shikamaru might act lazy, but Kenji suspected very little escaped his notice entirely. It was another quiet reminder to stay vigilant.
The exercises finished, leaving Kenji feeling strangely unsatisfied. He had successfully navigated them without revealing anything, maintaining his carefully constructed facade of averageness. But suppressing his true understanding felt counterintuitive, like deliberately hobbling himself. He knew he could learn faster, achieve more, if he allowed himself to use his sight to its full potential.
Walking away from the Academy that day, he pondered the trade-off. Safety lay in obscurity. Power lay in his secret. For now, safety had to win. Mastering the conventional methods, however slow, built a necessary foundation. It provided camouflage. His runic sight would remain his private tutor, his analytical engine, working unseen behind the curtain of normalcy. The path to truly wielding his power would be long and require immense patience. But as he felt the subtle hum of Water and Wind runes flowing within him, a quiet determination solidified. He would walk this path, however slowly, and learn to master both the seen and the unseen worlds.
--- End of Chapter 5 ---