Naruto: A Shinobi Lifestyle

The morning air felt good, carrying the faint scent of damp earth and the lingering aroma of grilled meat from last night's dinner. The village was beginning to stir, merchants setting up their stalls, shinobi heading out for early missions, and civilians starting their daily routines.

Asasu Shozen stood in the small backyard behind his house, arms crossed, hair still messy from sleep, and sandals already collecting dirt. He wasn't a morning person, but Rentaro had woken him up before the sun had fully risen, saying something about "real shinobi training before breakfast."

He was starting to regret everything.

Rentaro stood across from him, completely at ease, arms still tucked into his sleeves like this was just another lazy morning.

"You look half-dead," Rentaro observed.

Asasu rubbed his eyes. "Dad that's just my face."

Rentaro snorted, then stretched. "Alright, let's get started. First, show me what you know."

Asasu frowned. "I don't know anything."

"Exactly. So, what do you think the first thing a shinobi needs to learn is?"

Asasu shrugged. "Jutsu?"

Rentaro shook his head. "Nope. Before that."

Asasu thought for a second. "Taijutsu?"

"Wrong again."

He sighed. "Just tell me."

"Chakra control." Rentaro tapped his own chest. "It doesn't matter how strong you are or how good you are with weapons. If you don't know how to control your chakra, you're basically a civilian who can throw a punch."

Asasu didn't really know how to argue with that.

Rentaro gestured for him to sit. "Alright, close your eyes."

Asasu hesitated but did as he was told, sitting cross-legged on the ground.

"Now, take a deep breath. Focus on your body, not your surroundings."

Asasu inhaled slowly, exhaling through his nose.

"You can't see chakra, but you can feel it. It's the energy inside you, mixed with your physical and spiritual strength. Shinobi mold it to perform jutsu. But if you don't even know what your chakra feels like, you'll never control it properly."

Asasu tried to focus, but all he felt was the slight chill of the morning air and the itch of grass against his legs.

"I don't feel anything," he muttered.

"That's because you're not trying," Rentaro said. "Stop thinking so hard. Just breathe."

Asasu took another breath, trying to clear his mind.

At first, there was nothing.

But then… a faint warmth, deep inside. A small, flickering presence. It wasn't like an organ or a heartbeat, but something else entirely like a current running beneath the surface of his skin.

It was weak and unfocused, but it was there.

"I think I feel it," he murmured.

Rentaro nodded. "Good. That's your chakra. Now, we're going to learn how to control it."

Asasu opened his eyes. "How?"

Rentaro smirked. "Tree walking."

Asasu blinked. "What?"

Rentaro walked over to a nearby tree, placing one foot against the bark. Then, without using his hands, he stepped onto it, walking straight up like it was nothing.

He stopped about five steps up, then turned to look down at Asasu. "Like this."

Asasu stared.

"That doesn't make sense," he said.

"It does if you control your chakra properly," Rentaro said, hopping down effortlessly. "You need to focus chakra into the soles of your feet. Too much, and you'll push yourself off. Too little, and you won't stick. The goal is to find the balance."

Asasu frowned. "That sounds… frustrating."

Rentaro grinned. "It is."

It was worse than frustrating.

It was humiliating.

Asasu stood in front of the tree, taking a deep breath. He focused, feeling the flicker of chakra inside him, pushing it down to his feet. Then, he took a step forward..

And his foot slipped immediately, sending him falling backward into the dirt.

Rentaro didn't even try to hide his laugh.

Asasu groaned, rubbing his back. "I hate this already."

"You'll get used to it," Rentaro said, still grinning. "Again."

Asasu muttered curses under his breath but tried again.

He took another breath, focused his chakra, and stepped forward.

This time, he lasted half a second before his foot lost grip and he stumbled back down.

Rentaro nodded approvingly. "Better."

Asasu gave him a flat look. "I fell."

"Yeah, but you fell slower."

Asasu scowled. "That's the dumbest encouragement I've ever heard."

Rentaro smirked. "And yet, you're going to keep trying."

As much as Asasu hated to admit it, he wasn't going to quit.

Hours passed.

By mid-afternoon, Asasu was covered in dirt, sweat sticking to his long sleeves, his hair messier than usual. His legs ached, his chakra felt drained, and his pride had taken serious damage.

But he was improving.

He could make it a few steps up the tree now before slipping, though keeping his chakra steady was still difficult.

Rentaro sat on the porch, watching. "Alright, that's enough for today."

Asasu almost collapsed in relief.

He wiped the sweat from his forehead. "I barely made it anywhere."

Rentaro shrugged. "You made progress. That's what matters."

Asasu exhaled, sitting down on the ground. "So, how long until I can actually use jutsu?"

His father gave him a look. "You want to run before you can walk?"

"I want to not fall on my face every five minutes," Asasu muttered.

Rentaro smirked. "That's fair. You'll learn the basics in the Academy. But if you want to get ahead… I can show you some things early."

Asasu's interest piqued. "Like what?"

Rentaro tapped his chin. "Simple stuff. Chakra control exercises, some basic stances, maybe a little theory on elemental affinity."

Asasu sat up straighter. "You'd really teach me before the Academy?"

Rentaro grinned. "If you're willing to put in the effort, yeah."

Asasu exhaled, glancing at the tree he had spent half the day falling off of.

This was going to be a long few months.

But if it meant not being left behind…

"I'm in," he said.

Rentaro nodded, satisfied. "Good. Then we start at sunrise tomorrow."

Asasu already regretted this decision.