Naruto: Prodigy

I woke up feeling more rested than I had in days. The thin bedroll wasn't exactly luxurious, but it was better than sleeping on the streets, or a damn raft. I stretched my arms, feeling the faint buzz of energy still pulsing inside me. That strange force I'd been experimenting with, chakra, I was almost sure of it now, was becoming easier to sense.

I sat up, crossing my legs on the mat and closing my eyes. If this really was the ninja world, chakra would be key to survival. And if I was going to survive, I needed to master it. I slowed my breathing, focusing on the energy inside me, guiding it through my body like I had before. It was still rough, like forcing water through clogged pipes, but the more I pushed, the smoother it became.

I let the chakra gather in my legs this time, imagining it pooling there, strengthening my muscles and preparing me for what I was about to try. If chakra worked the way I thought it did, I should be able to manipulate my body's weight with it.

I opened my eyes and stood up, walking toward the wall. I took a deep breath and placed my foot against the wooden surface. Slowly, I shifted my weight, pressing the chakra into the sole of my foot to stick myself to the wall. It was a weird feeling, like my body was resisting gravity, but I took another step. Then another.

Before I knew it, I was walking straight up the wall like it was the most natural thing in the world.

"Yo…" I muttered to myself, a grin creeping onto my face. "I actually did it."

I took a few more steps, and soon I was walking on the ceiling, completely upside down. The chakra flowed easily now, keeping me anchored to the surface as I moved. I couldn't help but laugh. I'd seen enough of this in the shows and heard people talk about it online, but actually doing it? That was next-level.

Just as I was celebrating my success, the door to my room slid open. The innkeeper stood there, staring up at me with wide eyes.

"なに!?" he gasped, his face a mix of shock and confusion. I caught the word nani, what. Yeah, that was probably the reaction I'd have too if I walked in and saw someone defying gravity.

"Uh, it's not what it looks like…" I started, but my focus slipped, and before I knew it, the chakra in my feet gave out.

I fell headfirst from the ceiling with a loud thud, grunting as I hit the floor hard. "Shit!"

The innkeeper stared at me, still in shock, his mouth hanging open slightly. I could tell from his expression that he wasn't used to seeing stuff like this. Maybe ninja weren't common around here. It was a small town, after all.

I stood up, rubbing my head, and gave him a sheepish smile. "Sorry about that. I was just, uh… training."

He muttered something under his breath, clearly unsure of how to respond. I didn't understand everything he said, but the word ninja came up somewhere in there. That was a good sign, I was in the right kind of world.

"Yeah, ninja," I repeated, nodding.

He glanced at the wall, then back at me, still looking baffled. After a few more awkward moments, he turned and left, mumbling something to himself. I sighed, shaking my head.

"Guess I need to be more careful," I muttered.

....

After that little incident, I decided it was time to get out and explore more of the town. I grabbed a bit of rice the innkeeper had left for me and ate quickly before heading out the door.

The streets were already bustling with activity as I walked through the market. People were setting up stalls, selling everything from fish to strange herbs, and the air was filled with the chatter of the locals. I'd already started picking up some basic words, but the language was still a struggle. It felt like I was catching pieces of a puzzle without knowing what the full picture was.

I stopped by a small fruit stall, pointing at a piece of fruit that looked like an apple. "This… how much?" I asked the vendor, mixing English with what little Japanese I'd learned.

The woman behind the stall tilted her head, a confused look on her face. "何…?"

I furrowed my brow, trying to think. I pointed to the fruit again. "Price? Uh… money?"

Her eyes widened in realization. "お金?" she asked, repeating the word for money.

"Yeah, that," I said with a nod, glad I was starting to understand at least one word. She held up three fingers, and I figured that meant three coins or something like that.

I smiled and waved, not having any cash on me, and continued exploring the town. It was clear I was still a long way from fully understanding the language, but it was a start. The more I listened to people talk, the more certain words stood out, like ohayo for morning greetings or arigatou when someone thanked another. It would take time, but I'd figure it out.

By the time noon rolled around, I found myself near the outskirts of town, looking at the forested perimeter. It seemed like a good place to get some training in. I needed to do more than just chakra control, I had to build my physical strength too.

I dropped to the ground and began my routine. First, I started with push-ups, but not just any push-ups. I spaced my hands farther apart, working my chest and shoulders. After a few sets, I switched to close-grip push-ups to target my triceps. When I felt the burn in my muscles, I flipped over and started doing sit-ups, focusing on my core.

Next, I moved on to a plank. Holding my body straight, I tensed my entire core and shoulders, keeping myself steady. After a solid minute, I dropped and transitioned into burpees, each one testing my endurance as I jumped into the air, dropped to the ground, and jumped back up again.

Once my heart was pumping, I got up and started sprinting around the town's perimeter. This wasn't just about running, it was about building agility. I pushed my body, zigzagging through the trees and jumping over roots and rocks, imagining I was dodging enemies. I mixed it up by sprinting in short bursts, then switching to slower jogs to catch my breath before sprinting again. My lungs burned, but I wasn't stopping.

After that, I worked on my legs. I found a large rock and started doing box jumps, using chakra to boost myself a little higher each time. Then I shifted to lunges, alternating legs with each step as I moved along the edge of the forest. Lunges were perfect for building leg strength while also working on my balance.

My body screamed for a break, but I wasn't finished. I ended the routine with a series of pull-ups on a sturdy branch, focusing on my back and arms. I alternated between wide-grip and close-grip to target different muscles, feeling the strain in my shoulders and biceps.

By the time I was done, sweat was pouring down my face, and my muscles were on fire, but it felt good. I hadn't pushed myself like that in a while. Physical training was just as important as chakra control, and if I wanted to become someone in this world, I had to stay at my peak.

I leaned against a tree, catching my breath and wiping the sweat from my forehead. The sun was high in the sky now, and the town was bustling with activity. I still didn't know exactly where I was, but I was starting to get the hang of this place. Bit by bit, I was learning the language, getting stronger, and figuring out how things worked.

It was a start. I just had to keep pushing.

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