Chapter 4: Chapter III
Upon returning to my desk, I found myself still despondent and preoccupied with the recent accident. I couldn't shake the feeling of wanting to escape, to dig a hole and disappear into the darkness. Meanwhile, my classmates were socializing and forming tight-knit groups, a bright and shining representation of youth that I felt excluded from.
In a moment of prayer to Gautama Buddha, I wished for enlightenment to release myself from the grip of worldly attachments.
But my attention was soon diverted to my books, a source of impartial knowledge that offered solace and comfort. Along with practicing basic chakra control, I had learned how to make a simple chakra bomb out of paper. It wasn't much, just enough to match a firecracker, but it was a start.
With a plan to return my borrowed books and find a secluded place to train, I skipped the upcoming history class, confident that no one would notice my absence. I had a few ideas for training spots, but the goal was to find a place where I could train without fear of causing collateral damage or being seen.
After leaving the classroom, I made my way to the library, feeling a bit more focused after reading my books.
As I returned the borrowed books and borrowed a new set, my mind was already contemplating where to go for my training.
The bustling district in Konoha was too noisy for my taste, and the training grounds were off-limits to non-active ninja even more so the Academy students since technically we're still civilians.
The Park was out of the question, too, as it was always full of civilians.
After walking for about fifteen minutes, I found myself at the edge of the village, where the imposing woods loomed ahead.
The filtered sunlight that penetrated the treetops gave the woods an eerie and ominous atmosphere. The walls that cordoned the village and the death forest acted as a clear barrier, warning anyone of the potential danger.
As I gazed at the forest, I saw some chuunin patrolling the area, which further confirmed my suspicions.
I decided that it would be unwise to venture there, knowing that I had no means of defending myself against the lurking dangers in the woods. It was best to turn back and find another spot for my training.
After racking my brain for a while, I suddenly remembered a route that I usually walked when heading back to my apartment.
It involved bypassing the bustling market and walking alongside man-made canals. I decided to search around the area for a good hour until I finally stumbled upon the spot I was looking for.
It was an isolated location that I was certain nobody had ever visited before. The garbage dumpster was always empty, and I had never seen it being filled or emptied out before.
I opened the dumpster, and the smell that hit me was so pungent that I immediately coughed in disgust. It was the worst smell that had ever graced my nose. Despite the stench, there was nothing unusual about the dumpster itself. It was as ordinary as it could be.
However, the ground around it was dirty and littered with trash, which caught my attention. I shifted the trash around with my feet, and eventually found what I was looking for – a sewer grate.
My heart racing with excitement, I bent down to inspect the grate more closely. I could feel my adrenaline pumping as I realized that this could be the lead I had been looking for. With shaking hands, I attempted to lift the grate, but it was too heavy. I took a deep breath and tried again, this time putting all my strength into it. Slowly but surely, the grate began to budge, and with a final heave, I managed to lift it up.
The dark, murky depths of the sewer lay before me, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of dread as I looked down into it. But I knew that I had to investigate further, so I took a deep breath and lowered myself down into the sewer. The stench was overpowering, and I could barely see anything in the darkness. But I pressed on, my heart racing as I searched for any clues that might help me finding that promised place.
Soon after, I grew accustomed to the foul stench emanating from the sewers, and resolved to endure it without covering my nose.
After all, in the pursuit of becoming the ultimate ninja, this was a minor inconvenience.
I came across several decrepit doors, but none led me to my desired location. Turning right, I endeavored to commit the route to memory and soon stumbled upon another door.
Upon opening it, I surmised that it was an abandoned boiler room. At first glance, nothing seemed amiss, except for one small detail.
One section of the wall appeared unnaturally clean compared to the rest. Although it could have been an oversight, I decided to investigate further.
However, my initial examination did not reveal anything unusual, such as a secret button or a command to open the door. Open sesame! or so I thought. That would be too convenient.
As a potential solution, I recalled a genjutsu dispelling technique that involves jumpstarting the body with a surge of chakra and a bit of self-hypnotism.
With this in mind, I attempted to use my chakra control to split a leaf and direct the sensation towards the wall.
To my satisfaction, the wall revealed itself, and a metal door became visible. Although it was not entirely clean, it was not as rusted as the other doors I had seen.
Gathering my courage, I opened the door slowly and braced myself to what was on the other side.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone