How are children in the Ninja World different from us?
It is quite simple. Although everyone looks similar on the outside, they are not even the same species.
The Ninja World is a supernatural world. Every living being here possesses a supernatural energy called Chakra. Since the Otsutsuki clan planted a God Tree a millennium ago, the entire world has been infected and assimilated by Chakra—not just cells, but even souls are no exception.
To be specific, the human body in the Ninja World has up to 130 trillion cells, while the human body on Earth, where we come from, has only about 30 to 60 trillion cells.
The difference is a full two to four times.
As for the differences during childhood, Li Sen has a lot to say about this. After all, he has been reborn here and now has a new name: Higashino Makoto.
Through Higashino Makoto's observations, he found that children in the Ninja World are similar to those in his previous world before the age of two. However, after that, it is as if they enter a fast lane.
After the age of two, their physical fitness and intelligence experience a small explosion, as if they are rushing to grow up, ripened by an invisible force.
This is particularly obvious in large and small ninja clans, or families that have produced ninjas for two or three consecutive generations.
Higashino Makoto felt that Chakra was like a super-fertilizer.
Perhaps this is the result of natural selection over a thousand years of war in the Ninja World. In that chaotic era, ninjas had to go to the battlefield to kill enemies at a very young age. Those whose mental awareness and physical fitness did not meet the standards were likely eliminated.
Even after the establishment of the One Country, One Village system, and despite the Five Great Nations enjoying periods of peace outside of the few Great Ninja Wars, precocious children are still common.
Here, a small child acting as deep and profound as an adult does not arouse suspicion. At most, people think you have good talent, matured early, and will have a capacity surpassing others in the future.
The little white-haired Sakata Gintoki... oh no, it was Hatake Kakashi, who had a premature dead-fish face from a young age. He graduated from the Ninja Academy at age 5 and became a Chunin at age 6, going out to cut people down. He caused a sensation and was known as the representative genius of Konoha, a role model for all children.
Later, the "filial son" Uchiha Itachi took his first kill on the battlefield at age 4, and by age 6, he was thinking about the clan, the village, and world peace. Did anyone say anything?
Not only did his father fail to guide him correctly, but he was also proud of it. The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, even praised him for possessing the mindset of a Hokage.
Now, Higashino Makoto has become a precocious child just like them. The difference is that his maturity is due to rebirth, carrying the memories of his past life.
However, compared to the previous two examples of early maturity, Higashino Makoto is only steady in his behavior. He is not as jumpy and childish as his peers, but he absolutely will not ponder grand social issues or go to consult strange uncles.
He does not want to be noticed by people with ulterior motives. The world of Naruto is not just about hot-blooded passion; behind that passion lies mostly darkness.
Higashino Makoto does not care about peace in the Ninja World. Reborn into this life, he only wants to live for himself and live a wonderful life.
As for dying in the chaos of war someday? That would only prove he was not strong enough, and that his wisdom and efforts were insufficient.
In that case, if he dies, he dies. It is not like he hasn't died before.
Compared to death, he is more afraid of being as ordinary as an ant and having a life as cheap as dust, just like in his previous life.
Land of Fire, Konoha Village.
The sun had not yet risen, and the east was turning white.
Aside from the bustling commercial and administrative districts in the center of the village, the surrounding areas were densely covered with forests, scattered buildings, and numerous training grounds.
To the northwest, in a small training ground closest to a residential area, a small figure was sweating profusely, performing the most basic physical training.
It was a young boy with short dark brown hair, red lips, white teeth, and delicate, cute features. He looked to be about three or four years old.
He was Li Sen. Of course, the name Li Sen was in the past tense; now he is called Higashino Makoto.
At this moment, Higashino Makoto was running laps around the training ground.
The training grounds set up within the village were not large, so running a lap did not take much time.
Higashino Makoto maintained a relatively fast speed, keeping his breathing even and rhythmic while counting the laps in his mind.
After the predetermined goal was reached, he switched to frog leaps, and then switched to running laps while walking on his hands.
After completing these, he continued with push-ups, pull-ups, and other items.
In addition to these, he would later practice throwing Kunai and Shuriken.
Among the large trees in the training ground, targets were tied to branches in various directions. From time to time, a "thud" sound could be heard—the sound of sharp weapons hitting wooden targets.
Of course, the volume of all training items was not large because Higashino Makoto had not yet learned to refine and use Chakra. Relying solely on the physical strength of a body less than four years old, he could not sustain such a large amount of exercise.
If he trained to the death like Might Dai and his son, or Rock Lee in the future, he would only cripple himself.
The ability to refine and use Chakra separated ordinary people from ninjas.
Higashino Makoto was working so hard now to prepare for refining Chakra later. After all, although everyone in the Ninja World has that stuff, it doesn't mean you can refine it just because you want to.
Unless you are naturally gifted, without hard training in the early stages to forge a strong body and focused spirit, you could sit there and strain until you die without refining any Chakra.
The reason ninjas can become ninjas is that they can endure hardships that ordinary people cannot persist in.
Even the simple-minded Obito and Prince Naruto, aside from their powerful bloodlines, also put in hard work privately from a young age.
Higashino Makoto would rest for a while after completing a round of cultivation. Following the method taught by his father, he carefully used his spirit to imagine and sense every corner of his body.
This was a very boring behavior, but it was a necessary step.
After persisting for about 5 minutes, he would continue to the next round of cultivation.
It wasn't until the sun rose and his physical strength was exhausted that he completed his daily set training goals.
At this time, several older people arrived at the training ground.
Judging by their appearance, they should be students of the Ninja Academy.
It was currently spring break, and these were people living near this small training ground; this place was prepared for them.
As for clan ninjas, they all had their own exclusive training grounds. Ninja is a profession that pays great attention to intelligence security, especially regarding family Ninjutsu and secret techniques.
One of the girls, about eight or nine years old, saw Higashino Makoto sitting aside drinking water, covered in sweat, and ran over curiously.
"Oh my, little brother, are you here so early?"
"Yes, big sister, I have already finished today's exercise," Higashino Makoto answered, looking up with a face full of innocence, shamelessly emphasizing the address "big sister" with extra volume.
The little girl smiled like a flower at being called "sister" and rubbed Higashino Makoto's head. "Starting to work hard at such a young age. Tell sister, do you have some amazing dream?"
Here it comes, here it comes. In the Ninja World, when you see a hardworking child, you have to ask about their dream. If you don't go through this process, you are embarrassed to go out and greet people.
"Of course I do. I want to become strong so I can protect the village and my companions."
Higashino Makoto casually gave a generic reason. Similar dreams, like becoming Hokage, were constantly on the lips of the children in the village.
Protecting companions, becoming Hokage—these are the most politically correct dreams in Konoha Village. Saying them out loud immediately embodies the pure Will of Fire.
"What a reliable junior!" The girl rubbed Higashino Makoto's hair again, then waved at him. "Seeing you so diligent, sister is going to work hard on her cultivation too!"
"Mn, do your best, big sister!"
The cultivation of these Ninja Academy students was much better to watch than Higashino Makoto's.
Whether it was Shuriken and Kunai practice or sparring training, the power and speed were not something Higashino Makoto could compare with. It felt like watching a kung fu blockbuster.
If just Ninja Academy students were already this impressive, then how spectacular would a fight between formal ninjas, especially Jonin-level individuals, be?
It certainly wouldn't be pots and pans thrown around randomly.
At the very least, it would be like a special effects movie. This was a completely different experience from watching anime in his previous life.
Sure enough, being able to refine and use Chakra is the important benchmark distinguishing ninjas from ordinary people.
Higashino Makoto watched for a while, then dragged his tired body toward home, admiring the busy morning scenery of Konoha along the way.
Looking up occasionally, he could still see the heads of the three Hokage on the Hokage Rock in the distance, appearing as if plated with a layer of gold under the sunlight.