Aiko wasn't one to enjoy the peace of silence which was normal for a kid her age so as she went on beside him, Murakami had his mind already drifting elsewhere.
Back to his training.
Chakra, Ninjutsu, Genjutsu…then there was Taijutsu.
If chakra served as the foundation of Ninjutsu, Genjutsu, and Fūinjutsu, then it was just as vital in the physical arts.
But where Genjutsu relied on spiritual energy at its core, Taijutsu drew from the physical, "vital energy," as he preferred to call it.
Taijutsu wasn't simply a method of strengthening his body, It was the excavation of physical potential.
(A/N: Taijutsu means Physical Arts as you all know, but there is no training for it. It's just a series of techniques performed using the body. I'm looking at it differently. The more it is repeated, the more the body is strengthened…keep reading to understand more.)
As his chakra improved, so too did his body and vice versa.
The same was applicable to his chakra control and mind.
Where one improved, the other followed along.
Chakra is originally the energy that forms when the mental/spiritual and physical/vital energy combines.
Which is why Murakami doesn't miss a single day of mental and physical exercises; meditation and taijutsu…sometimes including bukijutsu on weekends when there is more time.
All these may be similar to throwing a pebble into a river, but when you throw in enough pebbles, you could force the river to overflow.
With every repetition, his chakra capacity increased, not explosively, but incrementally.
Each increase reinforced the body and refined the mind.
Muscle fibers adapted to higher loads. Stamina deepened. Reflexes sharpened.
At the same time, mental clarity stabilized under stress, perception sharpened, and the efficiency of chakra molding improved.
Even the kids at the orphanage had unknowingly become his test subjects after the training dummy he commissioned failed to satisfy him.
They sparred, they lost, and Murakami refined his form further.
They all did see improvements too. Murakami wasn't selfish to not use them without giving them some benefit.
Speaking of the dummy…it had been a Wing Chun dummy.
Murakami recognized it at a glance since he was a martial arts enthusiast at one point in his past life.
Reading martial art manhwa had a way of doing that to you.
As for how a tool from a foreign martial art ended up in Konoha… that was beyond him, but it was a pleasant surprise.
It was a sturdy wooden post with three angled arms and a single wooden leg, each positioned to mimic an opponent's limbs.
When struck, the arms moved unpredictably, forcing him to refine his posture in blocking, redirecting, or slipping past attacks, building the reflexes and adaptability necessary for close-quarters combat.
In short, it punished sloppy technique and rewarded clean execution.
Murakami wasn't a Taijutsu enthusiast to the point of Gai or Lee. But he didn't need to be.
All he needed was enough power, speed and precision to not lose in close combat.
That was where his real danger lay.
"You're smiling to yourself again, Mura-chi. Should I be concerned?" Aiko shot him a knowing look.
Murakami smirked. "Only if you plan on fighting me."
"Humph, I'll pass." She huffed, kicking a loose pebble across the path. "You get too scary when you start thinking about combat."
He didn't deny it. His combat style wasn't designed for drawn-out battles, his chakra reserves weren't built for that either.
Being allrounded had its merits as well as its demerits.
So instead, he refined his 27 katas with the dummy till it broke and was left with just conjuring up imaginary opponents.
He still sparred with the kids every once in a while but that was to train his control rather than perfect his technique. They were kids, he couldn't be too heavy handed on them unless they proved to be quite sturdy.
He glanced down at his hand, flexing his fingers as he felt the weight of the gravity seal restrict his movements.
Right now, he could barely keep up with a seasoned Genin in actual experience…not that he has ever bothered to go up against one, but if he did, he was sure not to lose.
His smirk widened.
"Seriously, stop looking like you're plotting world domination," Aiko sighed as they stepped into the class 6 hallway.
"Just planning ahead," Murakami replied, his expression relaxing slightly. "You know what they say about making plans, he who-"
"He who fails to plan, plans to fail." Aiko interrupted him and gave him a flat look. "You've said that like…a million times already."
"Haha." Murakami let out a short laugh. "Good that you understand."
They soon reached the classroom door, and Aiko slid it open.
The room was already half-filled when they stepped inside. A few students turned their attention to the duo before ultimately disregarding them.
Murakami's eyes flicked across the students unbothered by their reactions, scanning familiar faces and new ones alike.
A few he recognized from his previous classes, some completely forgettable, others mildly interesting.
Akashi, the smug idiot who always acted like he was leagues ahead in Taijutsu, caught his attention.
The boy had skill, and Murakami had to give him that. He only disliked him because he was too loud unlike his basketball counterpart.
Then there was Isamu, a quiet kid who stayed out of trouble, looked dull and had no friends but moved with an unexpectedly sharp precision during spars.
He didn't have many friends because of his intense gaze and Murakami could never get a read on him so he avoided him.
Something about seeing a version of himself in him.
Among the unfamiliar faces was one boy giving off a twitchy vibe, his fingers drumming against the desk as though he couldn't sit still.
'Someone to avoid.' Murakami immediately made a note to himself as he turned his gaze to a boy with silver streaks running through his otherwise dark hair.
His eyes narrowed as though assessing the room and its occupants.
'Now that's the protagonist's style right there.' Murakami thought as he locked gaze with him for a while before the boy looked away. 'Probably from the Hatake clan.'
'Clearly, it wasn't just Sakumo and Kakashi, as the anime would have you believe. Tsk.' He thought as he clicked his tongue in annoyance.
Animation exaggerations aside, it was interesting, but ultimately irrelevant to even bother with these people.
Brainwashing aside, most of these kids would probably be dead before Sakumo even made a name for himself and he wasn't interested in experiencing the joy and sadness that came with making friends only to watch them die.
This world was far too fantastical to just die for someone's cause. Greedy or otherwise.
He wasn't sent here to become someone else's pawn, and till he figured out why he was here, he would live and die on his own terms.
With these thoughts in mind, he made his way to the back of the class and took a seat, his attention shifting away from the classroom and back to his newest, nascent project.
The Heavenly Demon Technique.
The name might have been influenced by certain factors, but it was still a concept still waiting to be refined, but the direction was clear.
If chakra was the fusion of spiritual and vital energy, then separating and enhancing both simultaneously should yield exponential growth.
The idea came to him when he was contemplating combining Fuinjutsu and Genjutsu.
If two arts could be combined to create something superior, why not take an energy formed from two sources and refine each component?
Most techniques focused on only one aspect, Taijutsu on physical vitality, Genjutsu on the spiritual, and Ninjutsu as a bridge between the two.
The question then was: what if he could amplify both at once?
No, not just amplify, refine.
The Heavenly Demon Technique wasn't about raw strength; it was about perfecting the synergy of mind and body.
Mind as Heaven. Body as Demon.
The mind had to remain pristine, clear, ordered, and absolute.
Like the heavens, it governed from above, maintaining control, perception, and intent.
Any turbulence there, fear, hesitation, emotional bleed would destabilize the entire system.
Heaven did not waver. It observed, calculated, and commanded.
The body, by contrast, was demonic by nature.
It was violent, instinctive, and hungry for motion.
Muscle tore and rebuilt. Nerves screamed under strain. Vital energy surged recklessly when unrestrained, always seeking to exceed its limits.
Left unchecked, it would consume itself.
The technique would not suppress either.
It refined both.
Heaven did not weaken the Demon, it chained it.
The Demon did not rebel against Heaven, it obeyed.
Perfect clarity guided overwhelming physical force, allowing the body to be pushed to its brink without crossing into collapse.
Only when the mind ruled flawlessly could the body be allowed to act like a demon.
That balance was the foundation of the Heavenly Demon Technique.
'Well, that is the conceptual idea behind the technique.' Murakami mused.
But bringing it down to this world's logic, when Vital Energy and chakra moved in perfect harmony, the body could be driven beyond its natural limits.
And when Spiritual Energy aligned with that same refined chakra, the mind was pushed to its sharpest edge; clear, controlled, and capable of guiding a body operating at its peak.
Only when both body and mind ascended together could a shinobi surpass the limits of what should have been impossible.
At its peak, Murakami theorised that it could grant a three to fivefold increase in overall physical combat ability.
Strength, speed, reaction time, all sharpened to absurd levels.
And that was only the beginning.
If Sage Mode were mastered in the future and combined with this technique, the results would be terrifying.
A slow grin crept across Murakami's lips.
If perfected, there wouldn't be a single bloodline or natural talent capable of overshadowing him.
The predictive clarity of the Sharingan and the penetrating vision of the Byakugan? Irrelevant.
A mind refined to its absolute limit wouldn't need borrowed perception, it would read intent, track motion at its source, and react before movement even finished forming.
The Senju's famed vitality and stamina? Outpaced.
By refining Vital Energy itself instead of relying on inherited reserves, his body would regenerate, endure, and adapt without the inefficiencies of raw excess.
The Uzumaki's massive chakra pools? Meaningless.
The body's efficiency would replace chakra volume. Chakra used as a catalyst rather than fuel rendered brute reserves obsolete.
Even kekkei genkai built on elemental dominance like the Ice, Lava, Scorch, Magnet and others, would lose their edge.
Against a body operating beyond its physical limits and a mind sharp enough to dismantle techniques mid-execution, raw elemental superiority became a crutch, not an advantage.
Bloodlines granted shortcuts. True.
This technique rewrote the path entirely.
No borrowed eyes.
No inherited flesh.
No ancient lineage propping him up.
Just refinement taken to its logical extreme.
And if Sage Mode entered the equation…natural energy layered atop a perfected mind-body system…
Then even the idea of "limits" would become negotiable.
'Ah…who would've thought being a Murim lover in my past life would end up shaping my path here of all places?' He thought wistfully.
In the world of martial arts, power wasn't measured by flashy techniques or inherited bloodlines, but by states of being.
Third-rate. Second-rate. First-rate. Ultimate. Supreme.
Each stage wasn't just stronger, it represented a deeper harmony between mind, body, and energy.
The shinobi world wasn't so different. It just used different names.
'If Genin, Chunin, Jōnin, and Kage were equivalent to third-rate, second-rate, first-rate, and ultimate-stage martial artists,' Murakami thought, 'then the Heavenly Demon Technique would push me into the Supreme State…Theoretically.'
Not because it granted infinite power, but because it rewrote the conditions under which power was expressed.
And Sage Mode?
That would be the final catalyst.
Natural energy wasn't chakra, it was a higher environmental force, demanding perfect balance.
A body unrefined would shatter under it. A mind unfocused would lose itself.
But a system already operating in flawless harmony?
Murakami's lips curved slightly.
In Murim terms, that wasn't cultivation anymore.
That was ascension.
Whether the world was ready for something like that… was another matter entirely.
This was still the Naruto Universe and not a Martial arts Universe.
So while this was possible in theory, putting it to practical use was borderline impossible due to the fundamental principles of energy.
Theory meant nothing without compatibility. But the principle remained.
Chakra, unlike Ki, wasn't an abstract force that could be refined endlessly without consequence, it was bound to flesh, nerves, and an imperfect human body.
Ki is self-circulating, and with refinement, it strengthens Organs, Meridians, Bones and Lifespan. The body evolves alongside the energy
The more Ki you refine, the body adapts by default
Chakra on the other hand is manufactured by the combination of spiritual and physical energy.
It is expended when used, not circulated to create an effect and it travels through the nervous system analogs and physical tissues
The body does not automatically reinforce itself. And unlike with martial arts, having more chakra does not make bones denser, organs tougher or cells more resilient, instead, without proper control, it makes you weaker in battle.
That was why exhaustion in shinobi wasn't just fatigue. When chakra ran dry, the body followed. Muscles failed. Vision blurred. The mind dulled.
Push far enough and the system didn't recover at all.
Unless a separate technique compensates for it.
That's the key difference.
Overuse of chakra causes cellular damage, organ failure or Death
The Eight Gates exist because the body has limiters and breaking through those limits leads to death.
Sage Mode requires perfect balance or petrification
Even a Kage could die from overexertion of chakra.
But In Ki-based systems, the energy is the refinement
The vessel grows with the power. There is no need for gates, seals or artificial limiters. A Ki user doesn't need to "protect" their body from their Ki.
A shinobi does need to protect their body from chakra. Certain techniques even come at a cost, some temporary, some permanent.
So instead of forcing chakra beyond its limits, Murakami turned his attention to its source.
Spiritual energy and Vital energy.
Two components fused into something volatile and temporary. If chakra itself was fuel, then the answer wasn't burning more of it into a Jutsu.
It was reversing the process, feeding chakra back into its origins, into vital energy and spiritual energy alike.
But pushing both mind and body beyond their natural limits at the same time wasn't just difficult; it was dangerous.
Because strengthening the body without sufficient spiritual reinforcement led to loss of coordination and delayed perception.
Enhancing the mind without reinforcing the body caused neural overload, sensory distortion, and mental collapse.
The Heavenly Demon Technique was designed to theoretically force both forward in parallel.
Not by amplifying output like the Eight Inner Gates Technique, but by refining internal circulation, using chakra as a catalyst rather than a consumable.
A closed-loop system that temporarily elevated the operating limits of both mind and body without relying on brute-force expenditure.
But the margin for error was microscopic.
Any imbalance in conversion rate, timing, or circulation would cause chakra feedback, tearing muscle fibers, frying neural pathways, or destabilizing the chakra network itself.
It wasn't just difficult.
It was inherently dangerous, leading the body to collapse.
Of course, the Eight Inner Gates remained a dangerous exception, a technique that could close gaps but at the cost of excruciating death.
'Still, it was worth studying as a reference.' Murakami thought to himself.
Theoretically speaking, even a mere Genin could use this technique to rival a Jonin. In that case, someone at the pinnacle of power would reach even monstrous heights.
A Kage, with already immense reserves, honed skill, and battle experience, could potentially triple or quintuple their combat abilities for even a few minutes.
The thought alone sent a shiver down his spine.
Shinobi like the Third Raikage, who could face an army alone, would become an unstoppable force.
And if someone like Madara or Hashirama had access to this?
Ridiculous.
They were already monsters; this technique wouldn't even be necessary.
But for Murakami, it was different. For him, this was the answer.
A true equalizer.
No more watching the Uchiha with their Sharingan or the Senju with their monstrous vitality and feeling like fate had dealt him a bad hand.
This technique would be exclusively his. His own bloodline.
Just him. His mind. And a technique he would perfect with his own hands.
Of course, it was all theoretical…for now.
Murakami leaned back in his seat, arms folding across his chest as a slow smirk tugged at his lips. 'I still have a long way to go though, but one day, this technique will rewrite the very definition of power.'
It was only a matter of time.
Lost in thought, he barely noticed Aiko approaching him.
"Oi, Mura-chi," she said. "What're you planning to do after graduation?"
He blinked, dragged out of his thoughts. "Huh?"
She rolled her eyes at his absentmindedness. "You know. Which department you want to serve in. The war's still going, and not everyone gets thrown straight onto the frontlines."
"Logistics, medical corps, intelligence, barrier teams… or are you just gonna let luck decide?"
A faint smirk returned to his face. "That doesn't sound like the worst plan."
Aiko scoffed. "You overthink everything, but when it comes to this, you want to wing it?"
"I'm keeping my options open," Murakami replied calmly.
"Weren't you the one just saying something about planning to fail if you fail to plan?"
"You misunderstand." Murakami sighed. "I don't get to decide where I will be deployed. The village does. So why bother worrying over that?"
"You can't know that." Aiko crossed her arm.
'As a matter of fact…I do.' Murakami thought to himself but stayed silent.
"Ugh. You're impossible. You're the one who advised me to take on medical jutsu as my main course."
"And I don't think there is anything wrong with that." Murakami replied.
"Exactly, so which do you want to join?" She asked again.
"I mean…wanting to join is a bit of an overstatement, isn't it?" Murakami asked. "The village doesn't care what you want…just what you're capable of doing."
'Which is why you need to show your skills in the medical class to be assigned to the medical corps.' He added mentally. 'You will be safer and more useful in the future.'
They both held eye contact for a while before Aiko huffed but didn't press the issue, already turning to chat with another student nearby.
'That was Aiko for you, effortlessly social, drifting from one conversation to the next without missing a beat.' Murakami thought in admiration as his thoughts moved on.
'She wasn't wrong though.'
The anime had focused almost entirely on battles, but being here made the truth obvious.
War wasn't just fought on the battlefield.
The logistics team kept armies supplied.
The intelligence and analysis team supplied information and came up with strategies.
Barrier teams protected villages and choke points with Barrier Ninjutsu.
And then there was the Sealing Corps. Not much is generally known about this group so Murakami also had no idea, but he knew they existed.
If not as an official team currently, they should be in active duty around the Jinchuriki; Mito Uzumaki.
A cold chill ran up his spine as he thought of her causing him to shake his head and dispelled the thought, drawing it back to Fūinjutsu.
It was mostly overlooked as a specialisation, but the deeper Murakami studied, the clearer its value became.
Fūinjutsu weren't just for sealing, storage or traps, they formed the backbone of many advanced Jutsus.
Barrier ninjutsu and Transportation most especially.
The Hirashin no Jutsu relied on Fuinjutsu at its core.
The Barrier around villages and clans relied on it.
Another was the Caged Bird Seal of the Hyūga clan.
So if he wanted to grow more stealthily, he needed access to higher-level knowledge on Fūinjutsu.
Buying it outright wasn't realistic. Unlike ordinary ninjutsu scrolls, Fūinjutsu texts skyrocketed in price from C-rank upward and he only had three in his arsenal.
Three because he virtually upgraded them; The Storage Seal, Chakra Restraint Seal and Chakra Suppression Seal.
B-rank seals alone cost tens of millions of ryō.
Which was why, beyond the Academy basics, his experience remained limited to what he'd learned and refined himself.
All D-rank but upgraded to C-rank.
A B-rank chakra suppression seal was enough for Orochimaru and Jiraiya to restrain the Nine-Tails' chakra within Naruto.
Those required an in-depth knowledge on Fuinjutsu and chakra.
He was quite knowledgeable in chakra, but he was sure there was much to learn…not to mention in the area of Fūinjutsu.
There was a reason the Uzumaki clan was feared, and a reason they were the wealthiest clan in the world. Even the Senju, with all their land and influence, couldn't compete.
And when you realise that Konoha itself stood on Senju land…you begin to understand the level of wealth and power a small Uzumaki Clan held.
This meant Murakami was stuck at C-rank Fuinjutsu…for now.
Advancing beyond that wasn't just about memorization. It required absolute precision.
The ability to mold chakra directly into the seal was the line separating dabblers from true practitioners.
(A/N: What this means is that Fūinjutsu at its beginning stage needs it to be written so as to understand the principle or mathematics behind the seal. At higher stages, hand seals did it all and the seal just materialised.)
And Murakami had no intention of staying on the wrong side of it.
The idea of joining a department that specialized in Fuinjutsu or Barrier Ninjutsu lingered in his mind. Working under someone experienced could accelerate his growth dramatically.
The real question was whether he'd be assigned there at all.
No.
That wasn't the right way to think.
He'd just have to make sure of it.
Murakami glanced down at his hands, flexing his fingers slowly.
A small smirk returned to his face. 'I already have so much on my plate as it is…that is very greedy of…but I'd rather be greedy and acquire more knowledge and power than be nonchalant and be caught off guard.'
'Perhaps I should let fate decide where I end up at this point. Or maybe…should I start making my own luck?'
'Hmm. Thoughts for later.'
***
(A/N: Alright. That settles it for Murakami's arc. This chapter was rewritten over the course of two days and one night for obvious reasons. So forgive me if there are repetitions of already stated information.
The next few chapters will cover a wide range and will shed light on the current war situation. And if you think Murakami is stretching himself wide…Please don't.
If you've been reading in-between the lines, you'd realise that I am not writing a shinobi battle story, but a fanfic based on world building. I'm not gonna explain any further.
Enjoy and help with those stones. I haven't asked for it since but it is still necessary for this story to reach more audience. So do the needful.