"Are you sure that this is actually doing something, Nagato? I can already feel my chakra moving just fine.“

  "Yes, Yahiko. I‘m sure. Trust me. This training is necessary. You need to learn how to walk before you can run…It is the same for me. Feeling your chakra was the first step. Now you have to learn how to take control of it too.“

  The ginger-haired boy breathed out a long-suffering sigh as he slumped down on the rocky surface of the cave we had climbed atop of. He seemed to take my advice to heart, because he straightened his back, closed his eyes, and went back to meditating.

  After we took some time to prepare something to eat from our food storage, I took the two orphans with me first thing in the morning to start our training. While I had received some grumbling complaints from them at first, they both followed behind me without hesitation once I told them that I would simply go by myself if they would rather keep on sleeping.

  After all, we did not have any time to waste. I had no idea at what stage of the war we were really at, nor did I know how much longer it would take until the Sannin did battle with Hanzo. However, what I did know beyond doubt, was that preparing and teaching them as much as I could before that time came could only be beneficial.

  My attention turned outward as I cast a glance at my companions. They were clothed in their own sets of protective attire, while I still wore the black cloak I had pilfered some time ago.

  The rain poured down on us relentlessly from the cloudy sky above. The sun fought to pierce through the thick barrier of clouds, but only managed to reach far enough to illuminate our surroundings in a dull grey light.

  If we were still just the simple civilian children we were mere few weeks ago, the cold of the early morning air would have undoubtedly proven too distracting for our current activity. Fortunately for us, we now had chakra on our side. And as such, all the hostile environment managed to amount to was an additional obstacle for us to overcome.

  I could admit freely that my first attempts at chakra control were a shot in the dark. The only real chakra control practice that I knew of were the wall and water walking exercises.

  Despite their simplicity, those really were a lot harder than they looked. They were techniques even Genin with years of experience using chakra struggled with.

  For beginners like us, they were currently still too advanced. I held little doubt that I could easily overcome said difficulty with the Rinnegan. If I really wanted it, these eyes of mine would tell me exactly what I was doing wrong.

  I didn’t want that.

  I wanted this to be difficult. I wanted to struggle. If I used the Rinnegan as a crutch for every single problem I faced and never learned to do things on my own, where would that leave me once I inevitably encountered a situation that they could not help me with?

  No, what I would do instead, was use them to analyze the very principles of chakra in a way that only I could. Then, I would use that knowledge to build up my own understanding and way of utilizing the mystical energy.

  The Rinnegan and the Mind's Eye both allowed me a unique perspective that not even the most studious of researchers could match. And so, if there was one thing that I was certain of, then it was that chakra really was just energy. Energy that could be used within the body and be projected outward to achieve effects that were so close to magic that they were nearly indistinguishable from each other.

  The conclusions I had arrived to after days of tireless observation, were that to achieve those effects, three main steps were required.

  Chakra needed to be circulated, it needed to be transformed, and it needed to be shaped.

  All three of those steps were necessary for the creation of Jutsu.

  My train of thought broke off as I once again lost control over my chakra flow. My subconscious had taken control of my chakra circulation the very moment my attention waned.

  A deep sigh escaped me as I stared up into the dreary sky.

  Since I did not wish to disturb my companions, who were both still absorbed in their own training, I reined myself back in and assigned a permanent part of my mind to constantly pay attention to my chakra flow.

  Accomplishing the three steps involved in Jutsu creation through pure skill alone was difficult. More than just difficult, it was impossible for the average shinobi to handle. It required either an enormous amount of talent or training that most people either did not possess or were unwilling to put themselves through.

  That was likely the reason why hand seals were as common as they were and often seen as the be-all and end-all of chakra use.

  With them, shinobi could train themselves to have a specific template already prepared. Instead of manually taking control of their chakra, transforming, and then shaping it each time, all they had to do was practice hand seals.

  They were created in a way that they served as a translation tool between intent and chakra. Doing the hand seals for a fireball told chakra exactly what it had to do next.

  Hand seals were indeed an ingenious invention. Only truly matched in their brilliance by Fuinjutsu. I could scarcely comprehend the mind it would require to create a system like that with no prior instruction. Indra did not stand on the shoulders of giants; he was the giant.

  I was torn out of my musings once again, when a small hand placed itself on my knee. I looked up and was met with a pair of concerned amber eyes.

  Understanding her intent, I took the girls hand into my own and conveyed my feelings over to her. Her lips curved up as she sent her own back to me.

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  Ninshū really was incredible. I truly believed that sharing my feelings with them that day and allowing them to catch a glimpse into the very depths of my mind had done more to win their trust and loyalty than any speech of the Sage and the great destiny that came with it ever could have.

  I released my companions hand and straightened my posture. My eyes alternated between her and Yahiko.

  It was important to me that they actually understood why I was making them do this. The last thing I wanted was for them to think that I was wasting their time with something redundant.

  "When it comes to Chakra, being a master of the basics is often better than having some flashy, specialized techniques. You can practice for years and learn one high-tier jutsu, or you can spend that time perfecting your chakra control and then use it to achieve effects that would make that one jutsu look like a parlor trick."

  Yahiko opened his closed eyes and met my gaze hesitantly. The rain made his spiky ginger hair fall down and cling to his face.

  "What does meditation have to do with mastering the basics?“

  Before I could answer his question with my own thoughts on the topic, Konan spoke up.

  "I think this exercise is to make us get familiar with our chakra…So that we can learn how it moves through our pathways and then be able to take control of it.“ She inclined her head. "Is that right?“

  I nodded. That was indeed what I was going for.

  "Yes. Chakra is not something your body did not have before. We were all born with it." I turned away from the girl and held Yahiko‘s focused stare.

  "However, like Konan said, it was passive. Your chakra circulated through your pathways without any conscious input from you. Now that you have started to approach it actively, you will have likely noticed that it already showed some effects." I lifted my arms and directed them at the surrounding space.

  "Perhaps the rain doesn’t bother you as much anymore? The cold is more bearable? Or you simply feel healthier? Those are all needs that you have imposed onto your chakra.“ My arms lowered back down and came to a rest on my lap.

  "What I want you to achieve with this training is to be in control of your chakra at all times. That way you will not only always be in your most optimal state, but it will naturally make you more connected to your internal energy, which in turn will make using it in the future much easier…I know that it is difficult right now. It might even feel impossible, but believe me when I say that it will be just as beneficial later on."

  Yahiko exhaled deeply, his sharp brown eyes closing again. "No need to explain anymore. You’re the expert here. If you think that this will work…then I believe you. That doesn’t mean I have to like it though! My father always used to pester me about the benefits of meditation…before. I didn’t like it then either.“

  There really wasn’t much I could say to that, so I simply leaned forward and gave the boys knee a reassuring pat before going back to my own training.

  My eyes closed as I turned my attention back inwards.

  I patiently observed in silence as my chakra flowed through each of my individual tenketsu. Every time it passed through my eyes, a noticeable amount was siphoned off into the Rinnegan. An amount that was quickly replaced by newly generated chakra from my core.

  I also took note of where my chakra was continuously leaking off into the surrounding space.

  I did not know why, but I was unable to sense the world's chakra with the Mind's Eye, and neither was I capable of seeing it with the Rinnegan. By all rights, I should be able to do both, but for some inexplicable reason, nature chakra remained elusive.

  While the mysteries of chakra ran much deeper than I had initially expected, I was optimistic that I would eventually manage to unlock them all.

  After all, if not me, who else possibly could?

  —————

  The three of us ended up training out in the rain for the entire rest of the day. When we returned back to the cave in the evening, our muscles were sore from sitting motionlessly for so long.

  The mental strain from hours-long concentration had similarly taken its toll.

  Thankfully, the protective attire we had worn at least kept the majority of our clothes beneath dry. As it was, the most bothersome thing we had to deal with was wet hair.

  Truth be told, I was surprised at the discipline the two of them had displayed. Yahiko especially threw himself fully into the exercise with enthusiasm after the initial hesitation had faded.

  I was proud of them.

  It was one thing to say that they were willing to do anything to get stronger; it was another to then actually do it, especially when the boredom set in.

  While I had put in my own fair share of work, I did not think that my effort and theirs were in any way comparable.

  I could quite literally see the progress I was making in real time. And there were few things more motivating and rewarding than witnessing one's hard work bear fruit.

  Just a single day into my training, I was already able to maintain control over my chakra for hours at a time without slipping up. I wasn’t yet at the point where I could confidently say I would be able to maintain that control even while asleep, but I was getting there.

  The next step on the agenda would be to attempt the actual chakra control exercises I knew of.

  I was excited.

  Walking on water…just the idea of it was enough to make me giddy.

  Lost in thought, I observed in fond amusement as Konan played around with Inu in her own designated sleeping area of our spacious cave.

  The girl had folded a quartet of beautiful origami birds out of scraps of paper and was now waving one of them around in front of the excited dog’s face.

  Poor Inu must have been terribly bored, cooped up in here all day alone by himself as he was.

  On the other side of the room, Yahiko was sprawled out on the floor. One really couldn't underestimate how exhausting it was to use their mind ceaselessly for hours without pause. Still, the boy wore a satisfied expression on his face. A wide smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

  As I took them both in, an unfamiliar feeling of contentment surged through me. I lifted myself from my own seated position and stretched. My hair was finally dry again, and I couldn’t wait to lie down and truly rest.

  Unfortunately, there was one last thing that needed doing before all of us could completely retire for the night.

  "Yahiko, Konan…that was good work today. I'm happy you both trust me enough to follow my lead when it comes to your training. For now, we’ll keep doing the meditations daily until you can both maintain control over your chakra for at least an hour without slipping. After that comes the next step, which is to not only actively circulate your chakra but also not let any leak and escape your control. Is that alright with you?“

  They perked up from their previous positions, and even Inu had taken a momentary pause from running around. Yahiko responded with a thumbs up, while Konan simply nodded, smiling.

  After receiving their confirmation, I sat back down and considered my own future training.

  The Rinnegan, unlike my chakra, barely required any input from me at all to function properly. My previous uses of the Deva Path had proved that much.

  On the contrary, it was practically begging me to use it, to abandon any and all other paths to power and rely solely on its boundless potential.

  It constantly teased me with the knowledge that it alone was enough for me to utterly dominate even the most elite of shinobi. Still, I would not be tempted. I knew how relying exclusively on the Rinnegan had ended for the original Nagato.

  I wouldn’t make the same mistake.

  Even so, I couldn’t leave my greatest advantage on the back burner forever. I wou—

  I was torn from my thoughts when a barking dog ran up to me, a piece of paper clutched in his mouth and his tail waggling rapidly.

  I glanced over to Konan and raised my brows, only to see her pouting at what was clearly her loss in the game she had played with the clever dog.

  A smile grew on my face as I peered back down at Inu. He was grinning up at me proudly. With a quick shift of my hands, I scratched him behind his ears.

  I will continue thinking about more training tomorrow. For now…it is time to rest.

  I let myself fall backwards on the ground, and, for the first time since I’d woken up in the morning, my mind turned quiet.