The forest was quiet, the wind whispering through the leaves. Renzo ran lightly over the mossy ground, balancing on fallen logs and leaping across streams. His arms swung with precision, his legs landing carefully, muscles remembering motions that his body still struggled to master. He had been training alone for months now, pushing himself every day.
A voice called from behind him. "You move well for a kid your age."
Renzo froze and turned. A man stood at the edge of the clearing. His hair was silvered, tied back loosely, and his stance was calm but ready. He held a wooden staff across his shoulders, leaning on it lightly. His eyes were sharp, observing every twitch, every shift of Renzo's posture.
"I… I did not hear you," Renzo said cautiously.
The man smiled faintly. "That is because you were focused. Good focus. But focus alone is not enough. You need guidance. That is why I am here. My name is Jack. I have been watching you for some time. You are gifted, but raw."
Renzo tilted his head. "Watching me? Why?"
"Because you have potential," Jack said simply. "Potential wasted is potential lost. I can teach you. You want to be strong, do you not?"
Renzo hesitated. His instincts told him to run, to hide his skills. This was a stranger. Yet something about the calm authority in Jack's stance made him trust the offer. "I… want to be strong," he said quietly.
Jack nodded. "Very well. Then listen carefully. Shingen-ryu is not just martial arts. It is a philosophy. Strength of the body must be matched by strength of the mind. Discipline, gratitude, awareness. Those who forget these will never be masters of themselves."
Renzo took a step closer, his curiosity piqued. "Gratitude?"
"Gratitude," Jack repeated. "For every teacher, for every opponent, for every lesson the world gives you. You must never take your skills for granted. Only then will you grow. Do you understand?"
Renzo nodded. He had learned this already in small ways from Takehi, from the forest, from his own past life. "I think I understand."
Jack gestured toward the clearing. "Show me how you move. Slowly. I want to see your reflexes, balance, and coordination."
Renzo's stomach tightened. He had trained alone for so long that showing his full skill to another person was strange. Yet he moved, performing shadow movements, stepping lightly across roots and rocks, throwing imaginary punches with careful precision.
Jack's eyes never left him. "Good, good. You are agile, fast, and precise. But your movements lack fluidity. You fight in isolation. Shingen-ryu teaches flow, timing, and harmony. Not just power, but awareness of every step, every strike, every breath."
Renzo lowered his arms. "Flow… awareness…"
"Yes," Jack said. "I will teach you. But you must follow my rules. One, you practice hard but safely. Two, you respect the forest, the animals, and the island. Three, you will learn Nen, but do not attempt Hatsu. Not yet. Hatsu too early is dangerous. And four, do not teach Nen to anyone else. It could harm them."
Renzo blinked. Nen. The concept was familiar from his memories. He had watched, read, and studied it in his past life. Now he would learn it practically. He kept the excitement buried. "I understand," he said quietly.
Jack nodded approvingly. "Good. First, we focus on movement. Step with intent. Punch with intent. Feel your muscles, feel your energy. Control begins with control of yourself. Later, we will discuss Nen in more detail."
Renzo positioned himself, legs bent slightly, arms raised. Jack mirrored him across the clearing. The older man moved slowly at first, demonstrating a sequence of footwork and hand positions. Every motion had a rhythm, a reason, and an awareness of surrounding space.
"Follow me," Jack instructed. He moved forward, then back, stepping lightly, pivoting, dodging imaginary attacks. Renzo mimicked, trying to keep pace. His body felt clumsy compared to the perfection in his mind. He had the memory, but the body needed time to catch up.
"Do not rush," Jack said. "Rushing is the enemy of control. You have strength, but strength without control is meaningless. Understand each step before moving to the next."
Renzo took a deep breath, centering himself. He had always been strategic, planning ahead, predicting outcomes. Now he applied that thinking to every step, every movement. The forest around him became a teacher. Roots were obstacles, streams were tests, birds and small animals were distractions he learned to ignore.
"You move well," Jack said after several minutes. "But you are tense. Relax. Energy must flow naturally, not forced. Martial arts are as much about the mind as the body. Focus your mind, then your body will follow."
Renzo exhaled slowly. He felt his muscles loosen slightly. The tension melted from his shoulders. He nodded. "Like water."
"Exactly," Jack said. "Flow like water. Do not fight the river. Move with it, around it, and through it. Only then will your strength be meaningful."
The afternoon passed in silence. Jack observed, corrected, and instructed. Renzo pushed himself, learning the smallest adjustments. When his legs began to ache, he forced himself to take note of the fatigue, to use it as feedback rather than weakness.
Finally, Jack lowered his staff. "Enough for today. You have done well, but this is only the beginning. Tomorrow we will begin mental exercises. You will learn how to sense your aura and control it. Remember, no Hatsu yet. Focus on the basics. Ten, Zetsu, and Ren come first. You understand?"
"I understand," Renzo said firmly.
Jack's eyes softened slightly. "Good. You are a rare student. Not everyone has the discipline or the awareness you possess. But even I am not a genius. Netero was exceptional. He was an unparalleled student, but not every great comes naturally. It is effort and focus that make a master. Never forget that."
Renzo nodded. He did not need to say anything. Inside, the weight of those words sank deep. A master's path was not instant. It would take time, discipline, and patience.
"Now rest," Jack said. "Eat, sleep, and reflect. Observe the forest. Observe yourself. We will continue at dawn."
Renzo turned to leave, and Jack called out. "Remember, your abilities are yours alone. Share them recklessly and someone may be hurt. Never teach Nen to outsiders. Only those ready and guided should be allowed to touch it. Do you hear me?"
"I hear you," Renzo said.
The next morning, Renzo awoke before dawn. The sky was still dark, but he could hear the soft rush of waves and the chirping of early birds. He moved quietly through the clearing. Jack was already waiting, stretching lightly, his staff balanced across his shoulders.
"Good. You came early. Discipline begins with punctuality," Jack said.
Renzo bowed slightly. "Yes, sir."
They moved through warm-up exercises. Footwork, stretching, balance. Jack demonstrated slowly, explaining each movement. Renzo followed, correcting himself with each motion, paying attention to every detail.
"You must learn to feel your body," Jack said. "To anticipate your own movements and those of an opponent. Your aura will follow your intent. Control your body, control your mind, control your energy. That is the first lesson of Nen."
Renzo's mind raced, connecting memories from his past life. He knew the theory. Now he would learn the practice. Every motion, every step, every stance was another link in the chain. He felt the beginnings of something unfamiliar yet familiar, a spark that reminded him of his old life but required patience to nurture in this one.
Jack stopped suddenly. "Observe. Do not act yet. Watch me."
Renzo froze, eyes fixed on the older man. Jack moved fluidly, shifting weight, adjusting stance, and projecting invisible energy outward. Renzo felt his own heartbeat quicken, his muscles tense in preparation, yet he did nothing. Just observation.
"Good," Jack said after a moment. "You saw everything, yes? Next, you replicate. Slowly. With awareness. Step by step. Do not rush."
Renzo nodded. The forest around him seemed to fade as he focused entirely on Jack's movements, on his own form, on the rhythm of energy in his body. For the first time, he felt that this new life, this body, could become something more.
Hours passed like minutes. Sweat poured, muscles burned, and Renzo's mind sharpened with every correction. Jack occasionally stopped him to explain theory, philosophy, and cautionary lessons. The rules were clear: Hatsu was forbidden, Nen was to be practiced cautiously, knowledge was not to be shared recklessly.
As the sun dipped low in the sky, Jack finally nodded. "Enough for today. Reflect on your motions and your mind. Understand your limits, but do not fear them. Tomorrow we continue."
Renzo's arms ached, legs trembled, but he felt exhilarated. For the first time in this new life, he felt purpose.
He glanced at Jack. "Thank you, sir. I will do my best."
Jack's lips curved slightly. "I know you will. But remember, strength without wisdom is nothing. Grow your mind, grow your body, and the aura will follow."
Renzo nodded silently. Inside, a spark of determination burned brighter than ever. This was only the beginning of his journey. The forest, the waves, the man named Jack, and the island itself were now the foundation of something far greater than he had imagined.
And somewhere deep inside, he promised himself to honor the lessons, to keep his past life a secret, and to follow the path laid before him, step by step, breath by breath, until he could become truly strong.