As I grew older, nudging towards nine years old, the invisible leash connecting me to the house gradually lengthened. Our community, nestled in a quiet part of what I was beginning to understand was a larger island, felt remarkably safe. Serious crime seemed rare, neighbors looked out for each other, and the surrounding woods and coastline, while holding their own natural hazards, weren't considered overtly dangerous for a knowledgeable local. Hana and Kenji began granting me more independence – letting me explore the familiar woods alone, run errands to the nearby cluster of houses that served as our village, or spend afternoons down by the rocky shore, always with the caveat to be back before dusk and to stay aware of my surroundings.
Sometimes, during quiet evenings after dinner, Kenji would unroll an old map he used for his carpentry work, usually tracing trade routes or pointing out different types of wood sources. One evening, perhaps noticing my increasing curiosity about the world beyond our immediate shores, he spread it out fully. He pointed to the large landmass labeled 'Jappon'. Then he pointed to our smaller island, nestled south of the mainland archipelago. "This is where we live, Kess. Ryujinshima. It's part of Jappon, but separate, you see?" Learning the name, seeing our island distinct from the mainland on the map, solidified my sense of place. Ryujinshima. Dragon God Island. It certainly sounded like a location that could exist in the HxH world, adding another layer to my quiet conviction.
This growing freedom and understanding of my location only fueled my secret activities. It allowed me more time for my 'training' and observation, away from potentially watchful eyes. I pushed my physical limits, explored further, and spent longer periods meditating, usually finding a secluded spot among the trees or overlooking the crashing waves. My focus remained trying to sense something beyond the physical, that 'aura' the HxH world revolved around. I had no guide, no framework other than remembered descriptions. Mostly, it felt like focusing intensely on my own heartbeat and breathing, searching for a deeper current.
Until one afternoon. Sitting cross-legged beneath a large banyan tree, I fell into that now-familiar state of deep focus, quieting my thoughts, attuning to my body. But this time, something was different. A faint, almost imperceptible warmth began to pool in my stomach, unrelated to digestion or exertion. It felt like... potential energy? A slow, subtle current distinct from blood flow. Holding my focus, I felt this warmth slowly, tentatively, begin to emanate outwards, like steam rising from hot water. It wasn't powerful, just a faint presence extending barely an inch from my skin. Was this...? Could this be...?
Before I could analyze further, a twig snapped nearby. My eyes flew open. Kenji stood there, a bundle of firewood tied on his back. He wasn't looking at the firewood, though. His dark eyes were wide, fixed on me, his usual calm composure completely shattered. He looked utterly poleaxed, frozen mid-step.
The strange warmth I'd felt instantly vanished, retracting as if startled. Kenji's gaze remained locked on me, disbelief warring with intense scrutiny. He slowly lowered the firewood, his movements stiff. He walked over, kneeling in front of me, his expression unreadable but radiating tension.
"Kess," he said, his voice strained, low. "What... what did you just do?"
My heart pounded. Did he see it? Feel it? "I... I was meditating, Otousan. Focusing. Like you taught me."
"Focusing," he repeated, his eyes searching mine. "Show me."
Hesitantly, I closed my eyes again, trying to recapture that state, to feel that warmth. It took longer this time, my nerves jangling under his intense stare, but eventually, I felt it – that faint, inner current. I tried to let it seep outwards again, concentrating.
Kenji let out a sharp breath. He reached out, his hand hovering just above my skin, not touching. His expression was a mixture of awe and profound concern. "Your nodes... they're open. All of them." He sounded almost winded. "How?"
"Nodes?" I feigned ignorance, though the term clicked perfectly with HxH lore. "I just... focused really hard. For a long time now. Trying to feel... energy?"
Kenji stared at me for a long moment, then seemed to make a decision. He sat down properly, his face grim, confirming what I now suspected. "Kess, we need to talk about something important. Something dangerous. What you've done... you've awakened your Nen."
And so began my real education. His explanation was cautious, methodical, stripped of flashy techniques. He confirmed my accidental 'aura leak' was uncontrolled Nen escaping because my nodes were open but I lacked the skill to manage it. His shock, he explained, came from the fact that I'd done it alone, so young, without initiation or guidance – something incredibly rare and potentially dangerous.
His training started immediately, and it was exactly as I might have predicted based on his personality. "Forget everything you think you know," he warned, perhaps guessing I had gleaned something from stories or observation. "Nen is not a toy. It requires discipline. Foundation first, always."
He focused entirely on the basics. First, he guided me back into meditation, teaching me how to consciously contain the leaking aura, to keep it flowing around my body like a shroud. "This is Ten," he explained. "Maintain it. Always. It protects you, strengthens you, stops you from wasting energy." It felt like holding water in cupped hands. Next, he taught me Zetsu, the technique to consciously stop the flow and mask my presence entirely. "Use Zetsu to hide, to rest, to recover. Know when to be unseen," he instructed. It felt like closing a tap, an unnerving quietness descending. He then demonstrated Ren briefly, letting his own aura flare – not aggressively, but palpably, a sudden pressure and intensity in the air around him that made my breath catch. This confirmed my suspicions – Kenji was a Nen user. "This is Ren," he said, quickly retracting the aura. "Expanding your power. Dangerous if uncontrolled. We will work on control much later. For now, just understand it exists." Regarding Hatsu, he simply explained, "Hatsu is how an individual expresses their unique Nen. Your personal skill. It comes only after mastering the basics. Do not even think about it yet." Finally, he introduced Gyo, teaching me to focus aura into my eyes. "This is Gyo. It lets you see Nen, hidden or otherwise. Essential for awareness." He had me practice, focusing aura until the faint shroud of his own Ten became visible to me – a shimmering, almost invisible layer around him.
He drilled Ten relentlessly. Maintain the shroud. Feel the flow. Containment. Discipline. His approach was pure carpentry – build the frame perfectly before even thinking of the roof. He was clearly worried by my early awakening but seemed resolved to guide me safely.
My world had cracked open. I could feel my own Nen, see my father's. I lived on Ryujinshima, Jappon, in the Hunter x Hunter world - facts I now knew for certain. And my father, the quiet carpenter, was now my Nen teacher. The foundations were truly being laid now, not just of wood, but of aura.