Walking back from the park, Ayumu finally reached the door of his home. Walking in, he noticed his mother and grandfather chatting near the dining room area, something they often did while she cooked. From the pots on the stove and the many vegetables on the cutting board, she was most likely making some sort of soup.
They glanced at him as he walked in.
"How was your day?" his mom Rina asked gently, not too worried about him coming back late.
"Everything went as usual!" he replied, which received a nod from both his mother and grandfather.
Ayumu then started pondering how to discuss joining the academy early, afraid of being rejected. After a minute, breaking the silence created by the sound of a knife hitting vegetables on the cutting board, he decided to say, "Grandfather, can you teach me how to sense my chakra?"
This caused Hajime to turn his attention toward him, starting to scold him, "Are you that eager to start training? Like I explained last time when you asked about illusions, you won't be able to do much with the chakra..."
"It's not for that reason," Ayumu interrupted, causing Hajime to look at him, urging him to explain.
"You see, my friends plan to join the academy this upcoming spring, and I happen to be too young. But Taro mentioned that if I have some experience with chakra, I should be fine to join the same year as them."
This caused his mother and grandfather to exchange glances, as if sharing a secret. Then, instead of his grandfather, his mother spoke, "There's no need to rush these things, you know. Are you sure you want to join the academy early?" Her words surprised him since she rarely discussed anything about him becoming a shinobi.
"Yes, I'm sure," he responded quickly.
His mother asked again, this time with a piercing gaze, "Are you absolutely certain, Ayumu?"
Being asked the same question again made him think, 'Is she trying to scare me off?' He crossed his tiny arms and stared back at her, saying, "Absolutely sure." They stared at each other for a solid 15 seconds until a cough from his grandfather broke the tense standoff.
A sigh escaped from his mother's mouth. She couldn't help but feel a pang of worry. 'He's growing up so fast,' she thought. 'Too fast. Is he ready for this? Is he ready for the challenges and dangers of being a shinobi?' She wished she could protect him from all the hardships but knew she had to let him find his own path.
She then informed him of her reluctant decision, "Okay, you can enroll, but the training is up to your grandfather. He will teach you about chakra."
Ayumu thanked her, feeling a mix of excitement and gratitude. "Thank you, Mom," he said sincerely, his voice filled with determination. His mother responded with a warm smile, conveying her support and belief in him, making him even more determined to succeed.
He then turned his attention to his grandfather, who had an odd expression on his face. There was something in his grandfather's eyes, a mixture of pride, worry, and contemplation.
Hajime was lost in thought, awed by the idea that Rina would allow Ayumu to join the academy. He was relieved to guide his grandson but also deeply worried about Rina. Ever since his son had passed away, he knew she had been anxious about her sons becoming shinobi. The path of a shinobi was fraught with danger, and Hajime understood her fears. Yet, he also saw this as an opportunity to honor his son's legacy and prepare Ayumu for the challenges ahead.
Looking down at his grandson, he thought, 'All I can do now is train him to the best of my ability. Maybe that will ease her worries.'
He then said, "I can help you after dinner." Ayumu responded, "Okay," calming down now that his goal was achieved, though still a bit antsy wanting to start immediately.
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Naruto: Why a Illusion ninja in Sunagakure?
Hayran KurguReincarnated in Sunagakure, the Hidden Sand Village, with only a fragmented knowledge of Naruto gained from occasional late-night clips, how can our protagonist survive as a shinobi in this unforgiving environment? I created this novel mainly becaus...