章節 6: Daily Life

Should I include romance? I wasn't planning on it originally but I'm not sure.

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(2 Years Later)

It's been three years since that night—since my parents were taken from me. Today is my birthday, but it feels like any other day. Nothing's changed. The weight of their absence is always there but I've grown used to it.

The morning starts like it always does. I wake up 7 am sharp, the quiet of my apartment echoing around me. I sit on the edge of my bed for a moment, staring out the window as the first light of day breaks over the village. The scars on my hands remind me of the training I did last night. They're faint now—healed over time—but I remember each cut I've made.

I get dressed quickly, pulling on my usual clothes, and after a quick breakfast, I head out into the streets. The village is already awake, merchants setting up their stalls, people going about their lives. As I walk, I feel the usual calm settle over me. The Academy isn't far, and I get there early like always. There's no reason to waste time. When I arrive, the courtyard is still mostly empty.

I head inside, taking my usual seat in the back of the classroom. The other students trickle in, talking and laughing among themselves. I watch them, but I don't feel like joining. I don't really talk to anyone, but there are a few I acknowledge. Shikamaru and Sasuke, mostly.

The teacher, Iruka, starts the lesson. It's a review of basic history, something I've already memorized. My thoughts drift as I look out the window, remembering my personal training last night. I've been getting stronger—much stronger. The Ketsuryūgan has become an extension of myself. Manipulating blood is second nature now.

The day drags on, but I don't mind. It's routine now. After classes end, I head back to the training grounds on the outskirts of the village. I stand in the clearing, watching the sun dip below the horizon, the air is thick with silence.

I wanted to experiment more.

So I started with animals.

It started small. In the forest, I would track down rabbits, birds, or stray dogs, observing them from a distance before making my move. The first time, I stood in the shade of a tree, watching a small rabbit nibble on the grass. Its heart beat rapidly, unaware of my presence. I closed my eyes, focusing my chakra, feeling the flow of iron within its blood.

With a deep breath, I activated my eyes, stretched out my hand, and reached for control.

The rabbit froze, mid-chew. Its body stiffened as if an invisible force had gripped it. I could feel it—its blood, responding to my chakra. I clenched my fist, and the rabbit jerked unnaturally, its limbs moving as I commanded. I didn't need to use too much force; it wasn't difficult. The animal's blood was light, easy to control.

I released it after a few moments, and the rabbit collapsed, its body trembling. It tried to hop away, but I wasn't done yet. This time, I focused on its heart, feeling the rapid beat. I slowed it down, just enough to weaken the creature further. I could kill it if I wanted to—just a little more pressure, and its heart would stop. But I wasn't here to kill, not yet. This was practice, an experiment.

I let the rabbit go, watching it flee into the underbrush. The next time, it would be easier.

A couple weeks passed as I continued these experiments, moving from small animals to larger ones. I tracked wild boars and deer, practicing controlling their blood flow, making their bodies move against their will. It wasn't just about bending their limbs—I could control their entire circulatory system if I focused hard enough. I could make them stop in place, slow their movements, or speed them up.

The more I practiced, the more control I gained.

Then one day, I decided to push myself further. I found a stray dog near the outskirts of the village. It was thin, its fur matted, scavenging through trash for food. I approached it slowly, my hand raised. It growled, baring its teeth, but I ignored it. I wasn't here to fight.

I reached out with my chakra, connecting with the dog's blood. This time, I didn't just stop at controlling its movements—I pushed deeper. I focused on its mind, on the way blood flowed to its brain, how its heart pumped life into every part of its body. Slowly, I bent that flow to my will, forcing it to stop.

The growling stopped and it's body collapsed to the ground. It was dead. But I wasn't done, I focused on it's body, made the corpse stand up, then walk forward, away from the trash and toward me. Its eyes were vacant, empty.

It was a strange feeling, controlling another living thing so completely, well...previously living thing. The power wasn't just physical—it was total. I could make the dog do anything I wanted, walk anywhere, act as I commanded. But there was no life in it anymore.

After a few minutes, I let go, and the dog collapsed to the ground.

I stood over the dog, watching it, feeling a dark satisfaction building inside me. If I could do this to animals, then in theory, I could do it to people. Not just make them bleed or form weapons from their blood—but control them even after I killed them, forcing them to fight for me in their death. The thought was intoxicating, dangerous.

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A couple of months later, it was another typical day at the Academy, but today's class had a bit more excitement to it. Iruka-sensei had announced that we'd be doing mock fights, focusing on Taijutsu—no ninjutsu, no weapons, just hand-to-hand combat.

The students buzzed with anticipation, and I watched from my usual spot at the back of the class. Most of them were excited, eager to prove themselves, Iruka had been pairing up students all morning, watching closely as they sparred.

Eventually, he called my name. "Chihara, you're up. You'll be facing… Sasuke."

The class murmured. Sasuke was well-known—top of the class in nearly everything. Except for me. We were always neck and neck, but I had consistently outperformed him.

I stood up quietly, making my way to the sparring circle with calm, measured steps. Sasuke was already there, eyes sharp, his usual confidence radiating from him. We faced each other, a silent tension building between us.

"You ready?" Iruka asked, stepping back as the other students gathered around to watch.

Sasuke didn't say anything, but his stance shifted slightly, his body coiled and ready. I mirrored him, raising my hands in a guard position, but my mind was already analyzing. Sasuke was fast, precise—he'd come at me quickly, try to overwhelm me with speed.

Iruka gave the signal, and Sasuke moved in an instant.

He was fast, just as I expected. His fist flew toward me, aiming for my ribs, but I blocked it easily, redirecting the blow. He spun, throwing a kick toward my head, but I ducked beneath it, my movements smooth, practiced. I could feel his frustration growing, but he was too focused to let it show.

I countered with a quick jab to his stomach, forcing him back a step. He gritted his teeth, narrowing his eyes at me, but I didn't react. My expression remained blank, my body calm. I wasn't interested in showing off or proving anything—I was just here to win.

Sasuke came at me again, faster this time, but I matched his movements, blocking and dodging each strike with precision. Our fists and feet clashed in a rapid exchange of blows, each of us testing the other's defenses. I could tell he was holding back—so was I—but even so, I was beginning to see the gaps in his technique.

His next punch left his side exposed, and I took the opening, stepping in and landing a solid strike to his ribs. Sasuke grunted, staggering back, but he recovered quickly, his eyes blazing with determination. He was good—better than most—but he still wasn't enough.

I could see the frustration building in him now, his movements growing sharper, more desperate. He wanted to win, to prove that he was stronger, but I wasn't going to let him. I stayed calm, deflecting his attacks with minimal effort, waiting for the right moment.

Finally, it came.

Sasuke lunged at me, aiming for a powerful blow, but I sidestepped him at the last second. Before he could recover, I slipped behind him, locking his arm and sweeping his leg out from under him. He hit the ground hard, and I stood over him, my hand raised to strike again.

But Iruka called the fight. "That's enough!"

I let go of Sasuke's arm, stepping back as he stood up, wiping the dirt from his clothes. His eyes were cold, calculating, but there was a flicker of something else—respect, maybe, or at least recognition of my skill. He didn't say anything as he walked past me, returning to his spot in the crowd.

The other students were whispering, watching me closely, but I ignored them. I didn't care what they thought. I turned and walked back to my place, my mind already drifting to my next training session, thinking about how I could improve.

Iruka-sensei smiled at me as I passed, his eyes showing approval. "Well done, Chihara," he said quietly. I just nodded back.

After class, as the students were gathering their things and heading out, I could feel Sasuke's eyes on me. The match earlier had left him unsatisfied—I could tell. He hadn't said a word after the fight, but his silence was sharper than any insult. I had seen it in his face, the way he clenched his fists when Iruka had called the fight. He hated losing.

I was putting my things in my bag when I heard footsteps approaching. I didn't need to turn around to know who it was.

"Chihara," Sasuke's voice cut through the low hum of conversation around us. I glanced over my shoulder, and there he was, standing with his arms crossed, his eyes narrowed and focused.

I faced him fully, my expression as neutral as always.

"I want to spar," he said, his voice steady but laced with an edge of frustration. "A real fight. No interruptions, no Iruka-sensei stopping us early. Just you and me."

I blinked, considering his words. The other students were still filing out of the classroom, but some of them had paused, sensing the tension between us. Shikamaru raised an eyebrow as he walked past, but kept his distance.

I could tell Sasuke wasn't asking because of pride, though that was part of it. He wanted something more—to prove to himself that he could beat me, or at least push me further than he had in our earlier match.

I nodded slightly, my face calm. "Alright."

Sasuke's eyes flickered, surprised that I accepted so easily, but he quickly composed himself. "After school, at the training grounds," he said, his tone sharp, decisive. Without waiting for my response, he turned and walked toward the door, leaving the challenge hanging in the air.

I slung my bag over my shoulder, watching him go. I didn't mind the challenge. In fact, part of me was curious. Sasuke had improved since we'd started at the Academy, and there was no denying that he was strong. But I was stronger, and he knew it. That's why he needed this.

I stayed behind for a few moments as the classroom emptied, thinking about how this would go. I didn't hate Sasuke. In a way, I respected his drive, his determination to get stronger. By the time I left the building, the sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows over the village. The training grounds weren't far, and when I arrived, Sasuke was already there, standing in the middle of the clearing with his arms crossed, waiting for me.

We didn't need to say anything. The tension was clear enough.

Sasuke uncrossed his arms, his stance shifting as he prepared himself. I dropped my bag at the edge of the clearing, stepping forward to meet him in the center.

This time, it wouldn't just be Taijutsu. Neither of us would hold back.