บท 4: Chapter 3 - Does Kunai Ninja want to make frogs?

The next morning, Shin woke up bursting with enthusiasm. He was excited about teaching Ayumu shurikenjutsu and couldn't wait to start their training. His eagerness surprised everyone in the family. After a quick breakfast, the two brothers set out for the training grounds, looking for a secluded spot to practice in peace.

They found a quiet area away from the main training fields, surrounded by large boulders. The place was so desolate that taking the wrong path could lead to falling into quicksand, something Hajime had taught Shin to avoid. It was the perfect place to focus without distractions. Shin set up a target board like the one used in competitions and handed Ayumu a set of kunai.

"Alright, Ayumu, let's start with the basics. Watch me carefully," Shin instructed, demonstrating the proper stance and throwing technique. Ayumu tried to mimic his brother's form, but his throws were inconsistent, and the kunai often missed the target or fell out of his hand before he could throw it.

Ayumu's frustration grew with each failed attempt. "I can't get it right, Shin. It's harder than it looks," he admitted, his voice tinged with frustration.

Shin placed a reassuring hand on Ayumu's shoulder. "Don't worry, little brother. It takes time and practice. You'll get the hang of it," he encouraged. "Just think and make changes as you go."

Despite his initial struggles, Ayumu took a deep breath and focused on the target. He raised his hand and threw a shuriken, managing to hit the outer ring out of pure luck before the shuriken fell to the ground. It wasn't perfect, but it was a step in the right direction.

Shin smiled proudly. "See? You're getting better already. Keep practicing, and soon you'll be a shuriken rookie."

Shin then started his own practice, holding multiple kunai at once to improve his skill. Ayumu occasionally glanced over, observing his progress.

As morning turned into afternoon, the brothers continued their practice. Each throw brought Ayumu closer to getting some to land and stick. With Shin's guidance and encouragement, Ayumu felt he was slightly improving.

As the afternoon wore on, the brothers were deeply engrossed in their practice. Suddenly, Ayumu's stomach let out a loud grumble, breaking their concentration.

Shin chuckled, "Sounds like someone's hungry."

Ayumu, rubbing his stomach and with arms tired from throwing shuriken all morning, responded, "Yeah, I guess it's time to head home and eat."

With a nod, Shin gathered their training gear. "Let's go then. We can continue practicing tomorrow morning."

They packed up their things and began the walk home, chatting about their progress and future practice plans.

As they walked, Ayumu reflected on the day's training. The experience was entirely new to him. He had seen Shin practice countless times, but actually holding the kunai and shuriken himself was different. The weight of the metal and the strain in his arms from repeated throws were more exhausting than he had imagined.

Despite the frustration and many missed targets, Ayumu found something satisfying about it. He was surprised he made it through the entire session without giving up. There were moments when he wanted to quit, especially when his throws didn't go as planned. But having his brother as a comrade in arms helped him stay committed. He wasn't the muscle-bound type in his past life, so the whole situation was unexpected. Given the lack of other major entertainment, this might not be surprising. Speaking of that, maybe he should find time to check out some books or even locate a library.

Shin's encouragement was a big help, and although it might sound cheesy coming from someone who's an adult in a child's body, Ayumu didn't want to let him down. By the end of their practice, Ayumu felt a sense of progress. He knew he had a long way to go, but for the first time, he felt like he could actually become proficient with shurikenjutsu.

It wasn't just about learning on the spot like some comic book prodigy; it was about persistence, focus, and learning from mistakes. Ayumu realized that he didn't have the best work ethic, but that's something he would strive to improve.

Arriving home, Ayumu walked into the house, trying to find something to eat. Looking through the pantry and fridge made him yearn for his past life, where there were tons of snacks. Although snacks existed in the ninja world, they were not only expensive but also scarce due to the climate of the sand village and the conflicts in the ninja world.

Eventually settling for some bread, Ayumu asked Shin about books on being a ninja while eating. He was curious and eager to learn more about the secretive and fascinating world of ninjas. He was in luck because Shin said he had a textbook from school that covered basic ninja history, techniques, and traditions. Shin promised to give it to him after they finished their meal, which made Ayumu even more excited. As they continued eating, Shin shared a few interesting facts about ninjas, further piquing Ayumu's interest and anticipation for the book.

After finishing his meal, Shin retrieved the well-worn book as promised and handed it to Ayumu, cautioning him not to mess it up. Ayumu eagerly accepted the heavy book with both hands as Shin comfortably settled onto the couch, ready to relax.

Opening the book, Ayumu delved into the so-called world he inhabited, trying to draw parallels to what he had seen on TV. The book began with the basic concepts of ninjutsu, focusing on the intricate hand seals and the methods for creating jutsu. This part wasn't too shocking to him, as he already knew people could expel air from their mouths thanks to his mother. The book also detailed some history about the major villages, their climates, and leaders. Among these were Sunagakure and its leader, the Kazekage. Ayumu learned that there had been three Kazekage so far, with two of them having been assassinated. The descriptions were vivid, painting a picture of a complex and dangerous world.

As Ayumu absorbed all this information, he tried to connect it to what he remembered from TV—like making clones that could move independently, large frogs wielding swords, sand monsters terrorizing villages, and a mysterious figure with red eyes who seemed to stab people while they were immobilized on a cross. Each piece of information opened up a new layer of understanding but also brought more questions.

Pondering to himself, Ayumu thought, 'The clone jutsu seems straightforward; it must be some form of ninjutsu. But what about all that other stuff? Where in this world can I find a giant frog wielding a sword or confront sand monsters? And who is that guy with the red eyes?' His curiosity grew with each passing moment, making him eager to uncover more secrets that the book didn't seem to answer.

Taking it all in was a lot, and Ayumu just couldn't seem to connect the dots no matter how hard he tried. It felt like his mind was a jigsaw puzzle with pieces that didn't quite fit together. Not wanting to overthink the situation, he decided it was best to take a step back and give his mind a break. Instead of stressing himself out further, he made the conscious decision to rest for the remainder of the day. He found a cozy spot to relax, patiently waiting for his mom and grandfather to return from whatever kept them busy. He hoped their return might bring some clarity or at least a sense of comfort in the midst of his confusion.

Eventually, they got home after a long and eventful day. As usual, his mom went straight to the kitchen to start cooking dinner, filling the house with the comforting aroma of a home-cooked meal. Meanwhile, he couldn't shake the question that had been puzzling him all day. So, he decided to seek wisdom from his grandfather, who was sitting comfortably in his favorite armchair. With a curious and slightly hesitant tone, he asked, "Grandpa, how can I create frogs?" His grandfather looked up, intrigued by the unusual question and confused about what he meant.

Instead of simply questioning back "from thin air" and getting a straightforward "yes" as a reply from Ayumu, he paused for a moment to read between the lines. After some deep thought and careful consideration, he finally managed to connect the dots. It gradually became clear that Ayumu must be referring to illusions, those deceptive tricks that easily fool the senses into perceiving something that isn't actually there.

With a confident tone, he responded, "Ah, you must be talking about illusions; I have some experience with them." As he stared at Ayumu, he noticed the child's eyes gleaming with admiration, looking at him as if he were a treasure of gold. This made him grow even more confused about what was truly going on.

Ayumu, sensing an opportunity, scooted closer to his grandfather, his eyes wide with innocent curiosity and excitement. "Grandpa, can you please teach me about these illusions? I really, really want to learn everything there is to know," he pleaded, his voice sweet and filled with childlike determination, hoping to melt his grandfather's heart.

Everyone stared on, confused about what got into his system.