The forest air was crisp, filled with the sound of leaves brushing against one another as the wind passed through. Renzo stood still, sweat dripping down his cheek. He had been holding his stance for nearly an hour, his aura pulled tightly against his skin. Every muscle in his body trembled, but his concentration did not falter.
Jack sat cross-legged on a flat stone nearby, arms folded. His weathered face looked stern, but his eyes were watchful, calculating. The old man's gray hair was tied loosely at the back, and his broad shoulders carried a presence that never seemed to fade, even in silence.
Finally, Jack spoke. "Release it."
Renzo exhaled in relief, letting the pressure around his body dissipate. His knees nearly gave out, but he steadied himself with a deep breath.
"Not bad," Jack said. "You can keep Ten longer than most beginners. Your control is sloppy, but your endurance is there. That stubbornness of yours might actually amount to something."
Renzo smirked, brushing his messy black hair away from his eyes. "Guess being stubborn finally pays off."
Jack ignored the joke and stood, brushing dirt from his pants. "You've learned the first two principles. Ten and Zetsu. Now it is time you understand the rest."
Renzo's tired eyes sharpened. "The rest?"
Jack raised a finger, pointing at him. "Listen carefully. These are the Four Principles of the Flame. The foundation of all Nen. If you fail here, everything else will crumble."
Renzo straightened his back and nodded.
"Ten," Jack began, "is the act of holding your aura close, reinforcing your body. Without Ten, your life force leaks out like water from a broken jar. It protects you from fatigue, from harm, and extends your life. This is your shield."
Renzo recalled the warmth that wrapped around him whenever he kept Ten active. It was subtle, but it made his body feel alive, stronger, resilient.
"Zetsu," Jack continued, his voice low, "is silence. You close the faucet entirely. Aura stops flowing, and you become a shadow. Invisible to those who can sense life. But the danger," his eyes narrowed, "is that you are utterly vulnerable. Even a weakling could strike you down if you linger in Zetsu too long."
Renzo nodded slowly, remembering how exhausting it was to keep his aura suppressed. The emptiness felt wrong, like he was hollowed out.
Jack raised his hand, fingers curling slightly. His aura flared around him, a heavy pressure that weighed on the air itself. "Then comes Ren. The release. The floodgates open, and your aura surges. Strength, speed, intensity — all amplified. Ren is force. The flame that bursts upward."
Renzo clenched his fists, eyes wide. The sheer weight of Jack's aura pressed against him like a storm.
"Careful though," Jack said as he pulled the aura back into himself. "Overuse Ren, and you burn out. You are not infinite. Remember that."
Renzo let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. His heart was pounding from the brief taste of Jack's Ren.
"And finally," Jack's tone hardened, "Hatsu. The release of your individuality. It is how Nen becomes yours. Your personality, your creativity, your resolve — they manifest into an ability unique to you."
Renzo's pulse quickened. This was what he had been waiting for. His mind immediately began spinning with possibilities.
But Jack's sharp gaze stopped him cold.
"You are not ready," the old man said flatly. "Do not let your thoughts wander toward Hatsu. Not yet."
Renzo frowned. "Why not? Isn't it better to start early? To shape it while I'm still flexible?"
Jack stepped closer, his shadow falling over Renzo. His voice carried the weight of command. "If you force a Hatsu without a stable foundation, it will cripple you. A weak base leads to a weak structure. Worse — an unstable Hatsu will lock you in place, stunt your growth forever. Do you understand?"
Renzo swallowed hard. "Yeah… I get it."
Jack studied him for a long moment before nodding. "Good. You have patience, use it. Train your Ten until you can hold it in your sleep. Sharpen your Zetsu until no one can sense you. Expand your Ren until your aura can shake trees. Only then will you even think about Hatsu."
Renzo lowered his gaze, but a determined smile tugged at his lips. "Alright, old man. I'll wait. But when the time comes, I'll make something that even you won't expect."
Jack grunted, almost amused. "Hmph. Bold words. Just remember — Nen is both gift and curse. To use it without discipline is to invite ruin. Never forget that, Renzo."
The boy nodded firmly. "I won't."
The forest grew quiet again, broken only by the chirping of distant birds. Jack returned to his stone seat, eyes half-closed as if meditating. Renzo sat in the dirt, staring at his hands. His body was tired, but his spirit burned brighter than ever.
For the first time since arriving on Whale Island, he felt that his strength was no longer just his past life's legacy. It was becoming something greater.