The Academy's first year wasn't meant to produce warriors, but Ren was never content with doing the bare minimum.
Weeks turned into months. The leaves began to turn golden, and the smell of autumn filled the air. It was during a crisp morning class that Ren decided it was time to push for the next step.
Months had passed since Ren's first day at the Academy. Life quickly fell into a routine — classes in the morning, training in the afternoon, and hanging out with his new friends: Haruto, Akemi, and Sayori.
Haruto, the calm and gentle Uchiha, often helped Ren with shuriken practice. His aim was flawless, and Ren could almost swear the boy could guide his projectiles midair with pure willpower. Akemi, on the other hand, was a wild storm. If she wasn't wrestling with her ninken pup, she was dragging Ren into sparring matches. She never seemed to get tired, and her competitive streak ensured their matches ended with at least one of them covered in dirt.
Sayori… she was different. Quiet, reserved, and carrying the constant weight of the caged bird seal. Most of the other kids barely spoke to her, but Ren found himself drawn to her calm, precise movements. Her taijutsu was sharp and fluid, and training with her often left him more sore than any match with Akemi.
Together, they became an odd but balanced training friends
Sayori honed his footwork and body positioning. Haruto corrected his grip, throwing form, and taught him how to read a moving target. Akemi… mostly pushed him until he couldn't breathe.
Ren quickly developed a reputation for being a fast learner. His ability to absorb techniques was unnatural
.......
"Sensei," Ren said after the lesson ended, approaching Arisan.
"Hm? What is it, Ren?"
"I want to start learning chakra molding."
Arisan blinked. "That's not taught until your third year. You're too early."
"I know, but I'm ready. I train every day, my control is good, and… if I want to protect my family, I need to start sooner."
The teacher studied him for a long moment. Most students didn't even know why they wanted to become ninja yet — but Ren's eyes were steady, without hesitation.
"Fine," Arisan sighed, "I'll speak with the Hokage. No promises."
"Thank you sensei." Ren grinned as he scratched the back of his head. If his parents were Ninja it would have been easier, but even then, only Ninja he knows outside of the Academy is Duy-san and, well. Ren was too embaressed to bring it up to him during the times he came over for dinner. Not to mention his and Guy, chakra situation.
Later that day, Arisan knelt before Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Hokage-sama, one of my students has requested early chakra training."
Hiruzen raised a brow. "Year one? That's unusual."
"He's… determined. And honestly, I think he can handle it. Perhaps it wouldn't hurt to allow willing students to advance."
The Hokage tapped his pipe thoughtfully. "You make a fair point. Very well — he may begin." Hiruzen answered while smoking his pipe. it would also be good to have more ninjas with the current tension in the world he thought.
The next day, Ren stayed after class while the others left.
"Alright, Ren," Arisan began, "chakra is the combination of your physical and spiritual energies. You draw it out, mold it, and then direct it. For now, just focus on bringing it forth."
Ren closed his eyes and followed the instructions. He felt the faint thrum deep inside him, like a slow heartbeat. He coaxed it forward — and something clicked. Faint blue energy seemed to come to live, Chakra molding was not a continous thing he realized, but more like a turning a light on, once you click the switch, the light stays.
Then, all of a sudden information poured into his mind. Ren knew what it was, it was his "cheat" that was hidden still. He knew instinctivly what it was
Ability Unlocked — Energy WeaverYour chakra control, imagination, understanding, and intent shape constructs of pure chakra. The more chakra used, the stronger the creation. The higher the control, the finer the detail.
Ren's heart raced. So this is my cheat…
He focused again, letting chakra pool in his palms. Instead of simply forming raw energy, he imagined a small, shimmering kunai. The glow took shape — crude, flickering and somewhat ethereal.
It dissolved after a few seconds, leaving him breathing hard but grinning like a madman.
"Interesting," Arisan muttered. "You have good control for a beginner."
Ren only nodded. If only you knew…
That night, Ren returned home, still buzzing from his discovery. He barely sat down before Guy and Rui burst through the door, drenched in sweat.
"YOUTH!" Guy shouted, pumping his fist.
"Mom! Ren! I broke my push-up record today!" Rui beamed.
"Good job Rui!" Yuki pinched his cheeks as she smiled at him.
Ren smiled. "Congratulations. Now go shower before you smell up the whole house."
"I hope you dont mind my intrusion Taro-san" Duy said as he also came in.
"Ah Duy, not at all, you are practicly family at this point, wash up your face and hands with these 2 trouble makers and let's eat." Taro said, he and Duy were getting really close lately, as close as brothers.
Dinner was lively. Guy, Rui, and Duy shared exaggerated training stories, complete with mid-meal shouts of "YOUTH!" Yuri laughed softly while Taro shook his head but smiled all the same.
At one point, Duy's voice softened. "My wife would have loved to see all this energy at the table…" He paused, eyes briefly clouding over. "But I'm glad Yuri's been looking out for Guy."
Ren quietly took note. He'd always thought Guy's optimism was boundless, but now he saw the steel beneath it.
After the plates were cleared away and the last "YOUTH!" from Guy echoed through the house, Ren was about to head upstairs when a firm hand clapped his shoulder.
"Ren-kun," a deep, rumbling voice said. Ren turned to see Might Duy standing in the doorway, smiling warmly. "Would you care to join our evening training? Guy and Rui have been making such great progress. I think you might enjoy it too."
Ren hesitated. "Evening training? After dinner?"
"YOUTH knows no schedule!" Guy chimed in, grinning ear to ear.
Rui pumped his fist. "Come on, Ren! You can't just train alone all the time!"
Ren exhaled slowly. He could already tell "no" wasn't going to be accepted as an answer. "…Fine."
"Goodluck Ren! hahaha" Yuki laughed as she saw Duy practicle dragging Ren with him. Taro also laughed at their antics. After they left Taro could not help but exclaim.
"We really are lucky Yuki. 2 wonderfull children" Taro hugged his Wife as he looked at the now empty spot the others were. Yuri smiled as she hugged him back. "Say... how about we try for a daughter? They will probably take sometime in their training." Yuri however just giggled and pulled away.
"Maybe if you clean up the kitchen while i clean up the house, then lets see how much time we have." She said, to which Taro practicly ran to the kitchen.
Meanwhile, Ren and the YOUTH Gang gathered near the entrance of the forest at the outskirts of Konoha, Duy didn't waste time.
"Warm-up first — 500 push-ups, then 500 squats. Move!"
Ren blinked. "Five hundred—?"
"GO!"
Oh this was a bad idea! Ren thought but decided to do the training anyway.
The next hour blurred into a nightmare of calisthenics. After push-ups and squats came planks until their arms shook, frog jumps up a hill, and a long round of tree striking. They stood in front of thick trunks, fists raised, striking in rapid succession until their knuckles burned. Duy's instructions were merciless.
"Strike from the hip, not the shoulder! Let the power travel from your toes!"
Ren's hands throbbed with each hit. This is insane… he thought, glancing at Rui and Guy, who both wore huge grins despite the pain. My brother is a masochist!
And that was just the beginning.
"Now we run!" Duy announced, as if they hadn't already burned through every ounce of energy. "Five laps around Konoha!"
Ren stared. "You're kidding."
"Do I look like I'm kidding?" Duy smiled cheerfully.
By the time they stumbled back to the training ground, Ren's legs felt like lead, and his lungs burned with each breath. Duy, on the other hand, didn't seem winded at all.
"Good work! Tomorrow, we double the distance."
Ren nearly passed out on the spot.
After being practicly dragged back home by Rui and a painfully slow shower, Ren collapsed onto his futon. But his mind refused to rest. His chakra still stirred from the day's earlier exercises. I might as well try the Weaver again…
He closed his eyes, forming the hand sign that helped him focus. Chakra swirled within him, warm and heavy. He pictured a perfect shuriken — sharp edges, balanced weight, deadly precision.
A faint shimmer appeared in his palm. The outline of a chakra-forged shuriken took shape, translucent and humming faintly.
"Yes…" Ren whispered — but seconds later, it dissolved into wisps of blue.
"Tch… still unstable."
He sat back, thinking. The concept works, but the Weaver burns through chakra fast. It's not just control; it's volume. Without enough chakra, my constructs will never hold for long.
Ren frowned. Most kids probably don't push for more chakra because they think it'll grow naturally as they age… and they're not wrong. But if I train to boost my reserves now, even small gains will stack over time.
He mentally calculated. Six years at the Academy… if I can increase my chakra output little by little every day, by graduation I could have at least 50% more chakra than I would without the training. That's a massive difference.
Resolved, he lay back down. Tomorrow would be another long day — and now he had two goals: survive Duy's insane training, and grow his Weaver into something truly dangerous.