…
The ink flowed smoothly across the parchment from the tip of the brush, each character steady and clean. The heading sat at the top of the scroll in bold dark lines:
"On the Principles of Chakra: A Foundational Theory of Flow, Form, and Intent."
"Chakra is formed from the amalgamation of physical energy, produced by every cell in the body, and spiritual energy, derived from the mind and experiences. The molding of chakra is a deliberate act of balance, too much physical energy yields brute force without finesse, while excessive spiritual input creates instability and inefficiency. Control is not achieved through effort alone, but through understanding. Like water channeled through stone, chakra must flow where it is needed, not merely where it can."
I paused, blowing gently across the fresh ink to help it dry. My hand didn't tremble.
Less than two months ago, I could barely grip a brush and write steadily, but now, the brush moved the way I wanted it to.
I set it down beside my inkstone and leaned back into the chair with a slow exhale.
Two months. That's how long it had been. It felt longer. So much had changed, and yet I'd barely stepped outside this room.
The nurses took me on short strolls down the hall when they had time, and sometimes one of my friends would drop by and wheel me outside for a bit.
I appreciated the air, the noise of the village, and the feeling of sun on my face. But it always felt temporary. Like I was visiting a life I wasn't fully part of yet.
Most of the time, I stayed here. Thinking, planning and recovering.
Time moved strangely now.
A few weeks back, my hand wouldn't stop shaking. I had to hold a cup with both hands. Writing? Unthinkable. But once the worst passed, and the pain dulled, I'd started this project.
It wasn't meant to be directly published under my name. It would be a draft that'll be sent to Hiruzen to have vetted and incorporated into his own. I dare say that in the subject of chakra control, if I said I was second, none would dare claim to be first…
Nah, who am I kidding? There are probably others with Chakra control exercises more sophisticated than mine.
Of course, Konoha wasn't the only village developing advanced chakra applications.
Take Sunagakure for example. Those guys didn't have trees and water bodies to experiment with tree and water walking on, but they were still able to develop chakra thread exercise to the point where even Genin puppet masters could use them.
I have no idea how the third Kazekage did it but even his Sand Manipulation technique is definitely not as simple as Magnet Release.
It was mentioned that the Third Kazekage studied the Shukaku's jinchūriki and somehow recreated its sand-based techniques using his magnetic chakra. The theory was that he combined iron powder with Magnet Release to form Iron Sand.
This was definitely someone I'd like to exchange notes with, if only the world wasn't blinded by the war and the segregation it created.
Anyway, there's no way there aren't others with more sophisticated views on chakra and its inner workings.
But I digress.
Philosophy's nice and all, but if this sells, that's what really matters.
Who's going to bite me for it?
If anything, it just makes things easier. I could say the earnings from the book were invested in the Lotus Pavilion through Hina. A clean explanation.
No one, not even Hiruzen and his inner circle, could question that.
And that reminds me.
Sunagakure.
Maybe it's time to consider expanding in that direction.
Of all the villages, they have the longest history with Magnet Release. I hadn't forgotten that I had the two elemental affinities for it.
It's practically etched into the sand over there. Most of the known users belonged to the Kaze clan line.
Still, he wasn't the only one.
There was another… Toroi. From Kumogakure. Reanimated during the Fourth War.
He used Magnet Release too, but differently and strategically.
He'd magnetize his shuriken, and the moment they touched anything, be it clothing, weapons or flesh, it was over. That target would become a beacon, pulling other magnetic tools straight into it.
A trap, sealed the second you were marked.
Now that was magnetism in its rawest form.
Not like the Kazekage's chakra-infused sand. No, this was a true magnetic field. Invisible and Inevitable.
It wasn't flashy since it didn't need to be.
Two shinobi. Two kinds of Magnet Release. One born of bloodline and legacy. The other, shaped through tactics and simplicity.
Same name, different meanings.
It makes you wonder… How many other styles exist? How many techniques lie buried, or worse, forgotten in silence?
I let out a visible sigh. Those were thoughts for another time. There's no need to worry about that when I have yet to fully recover. Not to mention, I would soon have all the time to experiment and come up with my own variation.
Knock. Knock.
Hmm? I wasn't expecting anyone. "Come in," I said.
The door creaked open as a figure stepped in. If I didn't know better, I'd think it was the world working in my favour, but I did. The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Hokage-sama," I said with a slight nod.
"Murakami." His gaze swept the room, then settled on me. "I trust your recovery is progressing."
"Well enough."
He stepped inside without invitation, as only someone in his position could. "I didn't come to talk about your health."
"I figured," I replied evenly. "You already gave your answer the last time we spoke."
"You're referring to your request to retire from shinobi service."
I nodded. His silence to my request was basically an acknowledgement in my book.
He studied me for a moment. "I didn't reject it outright. I simply asked you to consider other paths. You've now had time to reflect."
"I have." I stood up and walked to the nearby cabinet, retrieving a small envelope. "And my position hasn't changed. I still intend to step away from active duty."
His expression didn't shift. "I also recall offering you a promotion to Special Jōnin and permission to select a single technique of your choosing from our archive."
I held the envelope out toward him. "I'll accept that offer. Just the technique."
In the envelope were the techniques I needed in exchange for the promotion.
He took it, weighing it in his palm. "You understand the purpose of that reward, yes? It was meant to support your growth as a shinobi, not fund your exit."
I met his gaze. "That was never a condition."
"No," he admitted. "It wasn't."
A moment of silence passed. Then he asked, "May I ask what you intend to do with it?"
"Learn it," I said plainly.
"For what purpose, if you're stepping away from the field?"
I didn't answer immediately. "If a time comes when I'm truly needed, I'll be more useful with it than without."
He didn't argue that point. "You still intend to live in the village?"
"I was born here."
"That wasn't an answer."
"I'll remain. I'm not disappearing, Hokage-sama. I just won't be part of the day-to-day machinery. No missions, no summons, unless it's an emergency."
His brow lowered slightly. "You speak as though that's a simple arrangement."
"It can be," I said. "I'm not requesting secrecy. Just distance."
"Very well." He slid the envelope into his robe. "But understand that stepping back doesn't mean severing ties. You'll still be classified as a shinobi of the Hidden Leaf, with responsibilities to match."
"I accept that."
He seemed to consider me one last time. "You've caused quite a stir, Murakami-kun. Not many Genin receive battlefield commendations, let alone field promotions. But if this is the path you insist on…"
"It is."
"Then I'll have your request reviewed. You'll be notified once a scroll is assigned."
I gave a small nod. "Thank you."
He turned toward the door.
"Wait."
He paused mid-step, glancing over his shoulder. I walked to the desk and retrieved a small bundle of neatly bound scrolls from the drawer as well as the recently written one containing my careful inkwork, margin notes, and theory diagrams.
"I almost forgot," I said. "These are drafts I've been working on."
Hiruzen turned back fully. "Drafts?"
"Chakra theory. Control efficiency. Flow manipulation. Things we're all told to master but rarely taught properly." I held the bundle out. "It's incomplete. But I thought someone like you would appreciate it."
He accepted the scrolls with a slight crease of his brow, opening the first one carefully. His eyes moved down the page slowly. Then faster. Then they stopped entirely for a moment.
"This is… detailed," he murmured. "Not just observations. You've created entire models. These charts on neural feedback… where did you learn this?"
"I didn't," I said. "I watched and I experimented. Then I wrote."
His gaze didn't leave the scroll. "This could become standard reference material. Is this part of what you showed the other time?"
I nodded. "It could. With refinement."
Now he looked at me again. "You want the village to publish it."
"Not exactly. I want you to look through it, fill in what I missed, tighten the theory. When it's ready, you can publish it through the Academy or wherever else you see fit."
Hiruzen narrowed his eyes slightly. "And what do you want in return?"
"Credit," I said plainly. "Not fame or title. Just a share of the profits if it's distributed or sold. Thirty percent."
His mouth twitched as if holding back a comment. He looked down at the scroll again, then closed it.
"You're quite the unusual Genin, Murakami-kun."
"I get that a lot."
He tucked the scrolls into his sleeve, adjusting his robe without ceremony. "I'll read these more thoroughly. If the material is as useful as I think it is, I'll see to it that they're published through proper channels. We'll discuss the terms again after that."
I gave a short nod. "Fair enough."
This time, he turned without pause. But before he stepped out, he said, "Your scrolls may outlast your service in the field. That's not a bad kind of legacy."
"I'm not interested in legacy," I replied. "Just progress."
The door shut behind him and silence returned. That's one hurdle passed.