The cool evening air helped clear Hikaru's mind as he got ready to leave for the training ground. He carefully placed his sealing equipment on top of the storage seal he had made earlier—one with many ugly-looking marks that made him wince, but it still worked despite its rough appearance.
"Fūnyū no Jutsu," (Enclosing Technique)
He said quietly, making the hand seals with careful movements.
His eyes widened as all his equipment disappeared into the storage seal with a soft puff of smoke. The technique was his first real success with advanced ninja arts, proof that his book knowledge could actually work in real life. He rolled up the scroll and tucked it safely into his equipment pouch, patting the pocket twice to ensure it was secure.
The walk to the Third Training Ground gave him time to organize his thoughts about the challenge ahead. His fingers drummed against his leg as he considered the weight training seal—his best hope for getting stronger faster, but a technique that demanded far more skill than he currently possessed.
When he arrived at the training ground, Hikaru found an empty spot under a large oak tree where he could work undisturbed. He sat down on the grass and stretched his legs out in front of him, letting his shoulders drop as he took in the peaceful scenery.
What was supposed to be a short rest turned into a fifteen-minute nap. Hikaru woke with a start, blinking rapidly as he oriented himself. He rubbed his eyes and stretched his arms above his head, feeling his focus sharpen.
Before starting the sealing work, he decided to check his current chakra levels. Closing his eyes, he turned his attention inward to gauge how much energy he could safely use for the project.
When Hikaru examined his internal chakra reserves, he jerked backward so suddenly he nearly toppled over. "My chakra level is already two-thirds that of a genin rank!" he exclaimed, blinking rapidly in confusion.
His hand pressed against his chest, feeling for the expanded energy that somehow filled him more completely than before. Recovering from chakra exhaustion had somehow increased his total reserves significantly. The dangerous depletion seemed to have strengthened his capacity, like a muscle growing after intense exercise.
"This could work," Hikaru said, his voice rising with each word as possibilities raced through his mind. "Now I might have enough chakra to try something I couldn't do before."
He pulled out the scroll containing the Shadow Clone Technique, his hands trembling slightly with anticipation as he unrolled it. His eyes scanned the safety warnings multiple times, his lips moving silently as he read.
According to the scroll, successful execution required a minimum chakra threshold to prevent dangerous exhaustion. The technique had been beyond his reach before, but his expanded reserves might finally make it possible.
"Hopefully, my chakra will be enough to pass the threshold requirement," Hikaru muttered, chewing his lower lip as he weighed risks against benefits. His hands clenched and unclenched repeatedly as he tried to decide.
He laid the technique scroll on the ground and studied the hand seal sequence one final time. His breathing slowed and deepened as he prepared himself mentally for the B-rank technique.
Taking a long breath to center himself, Hikaru began molding his chakra with careful precision, feeling the energy build and swirl within his body according to the technique's requirements.
"Kage Bushin no Jutsu," (Shadow Clone Technique)
He said clearly, making the final hand seal with steady hands.
A puff of smoke appeared beside him, and when it cleared, an identical copy of himself stood nearby. Hikaru's mouth fell open as he stared at his successful creation. The clone had physical substance rather than being just an illusion, and it had copied his equipment perfectly.
His shoulders immediately sagged as exhaustion hit him like a physical weight. "This technique left me with only ten percent of my stamina remaining," he observed, his voice noticeably weaker. "I converted too much stamina into chakra - the technique only needed about seventy percent, but my poor control wasted an extra twenty percent that I can't get back."
The narrow margin made his stomach clench with worry, but he had succeeded. He pointed to a nearby spot and told his clone, "Find a position over there and practice the meditation exercises. Don't stop until I tell you to."
The clone nodded and moved to where it could perform Tai Chi forms without interfering with his sealing work.
"It's too dangerous to use this technique in combat," Hikaru noted, shaking his head as he considered his current limitations. "I'm still not skilled enough at it, and the stamina converted to chakra wasn't good enough. I'll need to be much more careful."
The narrow margin made his stomach clench with worry, but he had succeeded. He pointed to a nearby spot and told his clone, "Find a position over there and practice the meditation exercises. Don't stop until I tell you to."
The clone nodded and moved to where it could perform Tai Chi forms without interfering with his sealing work.
"It's too dangerous to use this technique in combat," Hikaru noted, shaking his head as he considered his current limitations. "I'm still not skilled enough at it, and the chakra distribution wasn't even. I'll need to be much more careful."
Despite the risks, his eyes brightened as he considered the training applications. Having a copy to handle repetitive exercises while he focused on complex tasks could accelerate his development significantly.
After several minutes of rest to stabilize his remaining chakra, Hikaru joined his clone in meditation practice. The Tai Chi forms helped restore his energy while focusing his mind for the advanced sealing work ahead.
When his chakra had recovered sufficiently, Hikaru took out a sealing scroll, laid it on the ground, formed his hand seal, and activated it by pressing his palm against the scroll.
"Kaifū no Jutsu," (Unsealing Technique)
Empty scrolls, brushes, and specially prepared ink appeared in neat piles around him.
"Now it's time to see if I can actually do this," Hikaru said, cracking his knuckles before arranging his workspace with methodical precision.
He unrolled a blank sealing scroll and positioned it carefully on the ground, then prepared his brush with chakra-infused ink. His tongue poked out slightly between his lips in concentration as he considered his first stroke.
The weight training seal required a complex pattern that worked from the inside outward. Every line and gap had to be calculated exactly to avoid chakra overflow that could render the seal dangerous or useless.
As time passed, a detailed design began forming on the scroll. Hikaru's brow furrowed with intense concentration, and he occasionally paused to flex his cramped fingers before continuing.
Halfway through the writing process, his hand began to shake slightly. Each stroke was draining his chakra reserves, and maintaining the necessary precision became increasingly difficult as fatigue set in. Sweat beaded on his forehead despite the cool evening air.
"Now," Hikaru decided, dispelling his shadow clone without hesitation.
The surge of returned chakra made him gasp and sit up straighter. His eyes cleared, and the exhaustion lifted from his shoulders like a weight being removed. The technique's memory sharing meant he had also gained the benefits of an hour's worth of meditation practice.
"I can do this!" he said, his voice strong again as he returned to his sealing work with renewed vigor.
The sun began setting as Hikaru continued his careful inscription. More than an hour had passed since he began, but the complex seal demanded perfect precision that couldn't be rushed. His back ached from hunching over the scroll, and his writing hand had developed a cramp that he periodically shook out.
Finally, he set down his brush and leaned back to examine the completed result. The detailed pattern covered the entire scroll surface, with interconnected symbols that should theoretically create adjustable resistance effects.
But as he studied his work more carefully, his face fell. His shoulders slumped forward, and he pressed his palms against his eyes. Despite his best efforts and the help of the shadow clone technique, the seal had subtle flaws that would prevent it from working properly.
"I still failed," Hikaru sighed, rolling his shoulders to work out the tension from hours of focused effort. "I was so close to the finish line, but fell just short."
He stared at his remaining materials and counted them twice, his lips moving silently with each calculation.
"I only have two more chances before I need to restock," he said, wiping sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. "But once I solve this problem, I can focus on other parts of training with a clear mind."
The day's chakra use had drained him completely. He carefully packed his materials back into the storage seal, his movements slower and more deliberate than usual, and began the walk home.
When Hikaru stepped through his front door, the warm smell of Ayako's cooking made his stomach rumble loudly. He inhaled deeply, letting the familiar comfort wash over him after his challenging training session.
"Onee-chan, I'm home!" he called out, walking slowly toward the kitchen while trying to suppress a yawn.
"Welcome back," Ayako replied, glancing up from serving food onto plates. When she saw her brother's tired posture and the way he was rubbing his temples, her eyebrows drew together with concern. "Where were you this evening?"
"Don't tell me you went training again right after getting out of the hospital," she added, setting down her serving spoon and placing her hands on her hips.
Hikaru's hand moved automatically to rub the back of his neck as he replied weakly, "I didn't do any physical exercise, so it should be fine."
"Mental exhaustion can be just as dangerous as physical strain," Ayako said, shaking her head at his explanation. "You need to give your body time to recover properly."
As they began eating, she suddenly straightened as if remembering something important. "Oh, the circus show is tomorrow! Do you still want to go?"
Hikaru paused mid-chew, blinking in confusion as he tried to recall what she was referring to. His sister had bought tickets two weeks ago and invited him to attend with her. His first instinct was to decline so he could continue training, but seeing her hopeful expression and the way she leaned forward slightly, he swallowed and said, "I thought the circus was already over."
"No, it's starting tomorrow," Ayako explained, her eyes lighting up. "I heard there was a one-day delay due to some problems with their setup."
"What do you think? Are you still interested?"
Hikaru set down his chopsticks and considered the invitation. His training schedule was demanding, and every day counted toward his preparation for genin responsibilities. But looking at his sister's hopeful face and the way she was unconsciously fidgeting with her sleeves reminded him of what truly mattered.
"Yes, definitely," he said, offering her a genuine smile. "I'll go."
Ayako's face brightened immediately, and she clapped her hands together once in delight.
After finishing dinner and helping Ayako clean up, Hikaru found himself walking toward a part of the house he rarely visited—his father's old training room. He paused outside the door, his hand hovering over the handle for several seconds before sliding it open.
The small dojo had remained largely untouched since his parents' death. Moonlight streamed through the single window, casting gentle shadows across the tatami mats. Training equipment hung neatly on the walls—wooden practice swords, target boards, and meditation cushions arranged with military precision.
The air still carried a faint scent of incense and wood polish. Hikaru moved slowly to one of the meditation cushions and knelt in the same spot where his father had once taught him basic stances and breathing exercises.
"Otou-san," he whispered to the empty room, pressing his palms together and bowing his head. "I'm trying to become the kind of ninja you wanted me to be. I hope I'm making the right choices."
He remained kneeling in the silence, occasionally shifting his weight as his legs began to cramp. His father had been a modest man who believed in steady progress over flashy displays, in protecting others over personal glory. Would he really approve of the rapid advancement and dangerous techniques Hikaru was pursuing?
As he sat thinking, Hikaru's eyes widened as a memory surfaced. He'd been so focused on accelerating his training that he'd completely forgotten about Koji-sensei's promise to teach him a genjutsu technique. His instructor had agreed to show him a basic sleep-inducing illusion as a graduation gift.
"That's right," Hikaru said softly, rising from the meditation cushion with renewed energy. "Koji-sensei said he'd teach me once I recovered from the hospital."
His hands moved in an unconscious practice of the hand seals he already knew as he considered the tactical applications. A sleep-inducing technique could provide exactly the kind of advantage he needed.
Tomorrow morning, before the circus, he would visit Koji-sensei and claim that promised lesson. The timing would be perfect—he could learn the technique, enjoy the afternoon with Ayako, and return to his intensive training schedule refreshed and better equipped.
Standing in his father's dojo, surrounded by tools and memories, Hikaru straightened his shoulders and lifted his chin. He would honor his family's legacy while forging his own path forward.
"Thank you, Otou-san," he said quietly, bowing deeply to the empty room before sliding the door closed behind him with deliberate care.