Kinjo was finishing the last spoonful of his breakfast when his father entered the dining room. The man placed his hands on his son's shoulders and grinned, "Since your mom is staying at home and watching your brother and sister today, you're going to be with me in the shop."
His mother was in his parent's bedroom with Mika and Satoshi. She was teaching Mika how to read and write while Satoshi was napping soundlessly in his crib.
"Actually," Kinjo looked his father directly in the eye. "Can I go to the bookstore later? By myself?"
Makoto crossed his arms and stared at the boy. "We can go together after the shop closes. Besides, the folks love you! I think a few of them came back to our store to see you around since I'm not much of an attraction."
His mind was slowly settling in, and he was adjusting to his new life with only a few hiccups. He had been working with his father at the front of the store for almost a week, picking up a few business things here and there. Likewise, his relationship with his mother and his siblings was doing well.
However, he wasn't in this world to live an ordinary, civilian life.
The six-year-old boy frowned internally and forced a few tears to sprout out his eyes. "Today's the only day mom is home, and I finally have some free time for myself. So please, dad?"
Quivering as he watched his son's tearful eyes, the elder Takashi sighed. "Fine, just help me out for a few hours, and you can go to the bookstore by yourself."
"Thanks, dad!" Kinjo said with a broad smile. He stood up and hugged his father's legs awkwardly, earning a soft pat on his back.
"Now hurry up and head downstairs. Since you're only going to be here for a few hours, I'm going to make sure you get a lot of work in."
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"I'm heading out!"
As he was about to leave his family's store, his father stepped in front of him and held out a crisp bill. The Leaf symbol was stamped on the right side, and the number 100 was printed clearly onto the corners of the bill. Makoto grinned as his son accepted the money, "Since you've worked hard for the last week, think of this as a bonus to your allowance."
Kinjo blinked rapidly. "Thanks."
"Don't tell your mother, alright? She's been awfully angry that I've been stingy lately." The storekeeper sheepishly rubbed the back of his head as his eyes flickered to his room on the second floor.
After waving goodbye at his father, Kinjo strolled down the street with his hands in his pocket. His right hand fidgeted with the money his father had given him while his left hand brushed the allowance the previous Kinjo had been saving. "150 Ryo… Hopefully, it's enough to buy a few books that I need."
A fleeting image of him entering a used bookstore with his mother entered his mind. It was a long walk from his house, near the center of the village.
The library was too far from his house, as it was near the Academy. This meant that his cheapest source of books was the used bookstore in the center of the village.
He looked around the bustling street, jogging his memory to remember the directions to his destination. It was February, but the sun was shining brightly upon the village, and there was only a slight chill in the air. He was one of many people enjoying the beautiful Saturday outside.
"First, I need to go to the gate."
His short body purposefully strode towards the western gate, the closest village entrance to his home. His previous host had only been to the gate once: when his father had left the village for a trip to the Land of Rivers.
While he needed to visit the bookstore to acquire more information about his new surroundings, the western gate held the clue to his first step toward becoming a shinobi.
After walking for twenty minutes, he finally arrived at the western gate with sweat trickling down his forehead. He leaned on a wall for a few moments to catch his breath. As he rested, he spotted his target from the corner of his eyes.
Instantly, his exhaustion melted away, and determination ignited in his heart. He pushed off the wall and scurried towards his person of interest.
A chunin.
"Such an obvious, simple solution." Kinjo huffed as he approached the unsuspecting shinobi. "Who else to ask about chakra than a person who actually uses it daily?"
The western gate was large and several times taller than Kinjo. The thick, green doors were painted with the Hiragana for "A" and "N," which translated to the word "hermitage" in his mind. Dozens of people entered and exited through the wide-open entrance, with some chunin inspecting cargo and people.
One of the chunin was eating a bento on a nearby bench, his spiky black hair pointing out on both sides. His Konoha headband was fastened on his forehead, just above his narrow, squinty eyes. He was barely a teenager but sported a chunin flak jacket.
"If Brock from Pokemon existed in real life, he would look like this guy with more tame hair," Kinjo smirked. He strutted up to the shinobi with a smile, "Hi!"
The chunin looked down to see a small child waving at him. He leaned forward and patted Kinjo's head, "Hey, little guy, where are your parents?"
"I'm old enough to explore on my own."
"A big kid, amirite?"
"Yep," Kinjo answered. The shinobi was relaxed and in a good mood, which improved the child's spirits. "I'm Kinjo. What's your name?"
"Hayase. Did you need something from me, or are you going around meeting new people?"
"Both. Are you a shinobi?"
Hayase adjusted his headband with a grin, "Damn right; I'm a chunin. Which means I'm better than the average shinobi."
"Then you know how to unlock chakra!"
"You mean "finding" your chakra?"
Kinjo nodded, prompting Hayase to place his bento to the side and placing his hands on the boy's shoulders, "Are you trying to be a shinobi?"
"I am."
"Since you're asking me about how to find your chakra, I'm guessing you're from a civilian family, and you don't know any shinobi. Am I right?"
Another nod, which made the chunin sigh. "Listen, kid. Why do you want to be a shinobi?"
"My dad told me a shinobi saved his life once. I want to be a shinobi to protect my family and home," Kinjo lied smoothly. "Also, I want to do the cool things shinobi can do."
"That's a better answer than most kids your age, but still." Hayase dropped down to Kinjo's height, and his smile faded. "Listen, I'm from a civilian family like you. I also wanted to become a shinobi cause it seemed "cool." I had no idea what I was getting into when I entered the Academy, but it was challenging. And when I became a genin… I got thrown into a war."
"It's not a job for anyone, and you'll face danger daily. Many people drop out or get stuck as a genin, especially kids from civilian families. So, before you spend the rest of your life on this path, are you sure you want to become a shinobi?"
Kinjo almost flinched in surprise at Hayase's intense stare. He had never expected an active shinobi to try and talk him out of joining the Academy. If anything, he had half-expected the chunin to jump at the opportunity to help recruit a child for the shinobi forces, especially since the Leaf was at war.
Perhaps it was because both of them were from civilian families. Or maybe Hayase saw far too many kids fail or die during his tenure as a shinobi. Whatever his reasons were, he waited silently with a grave expression.
"I'm sure," Kinjo replied confidently, returning the intense stare. "I want to be a shinobi."
Hayase let go of the boy's shoulders with a tight-lipped smile, "Don't say I didn't warn you. Since you're insistent on it, I'll help you out."
The chunin patted an empty spot on the bench, and Kinjo sat on it excitedly. He turned to his temporary teacher with wide eyes. "I tried to find my chakra by focusing on it in my head, but I couldn't find it."
"Yeah, it's pretty stupid how easy and hard it is to find your chakra." Hayase shrugged. "Technically, you're supposed to learn this in your first year at the Academy, but I don't care. All those clan kids and kids with shinobi parents will already know how to control their chakra and even use jutsu. Two months of practice will help you, though you'll probably lag behind the kids I just mentioned."
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"Why two months?"
"Kid, you want to attend the Academy, but you don't even know when it starts? It starts in April."
"Oh, right."
"Do your parents know?" Hayase rubbed his temples and took another bite from his bento.
"I'm planning on telling them soon."
"Yeah, like today. This is a big decision, kid. It's life-changing. You need to let them know right away. The requirements for the Academy are pretty simple; almost anyone can get in. Make sure to get the Academy handbook, as it'll have all the information you need for enrolling."
"Do you know the title of the book?"
"Just ask for the Academy handbook at any bookstore. They'll know." Hayase clapped his hands and placed them in front of his stomach. "Enough of that; let's talk about chakra. So the way to find your chakra is quite simple. Place your hands in front of your stomach like this, and then concentrate on hardening your abs. Don't focus all your attention on your abs, though; try to "bring out" something within your stomach. Your stomach has the largest concentration of chakra, so focusing on that part will draw it out."
Kinjo placed his hands together in front of his stomach and tightened his stomach. He imagined his guts being pulled out from his body and urged his insides to push forward. For a moment, something stirred in his stomach, and he opened his eyes with a grin. However, instead of feeling the power of chakra, his belly growled.
The boy's cheeks reddened while Hayase clutched his stomach and laughed, "That's what happened to me the first time I tried it! You're on the right track, but let me explain it a bit better. What is chakra?"
"It's an energy you need to be a shinobi."
"That's somewhat right. You can still be a shinobi, even with minimal chakra. Anyways, chakra is a combination of physical and mental energies. Stuff like exercising, using jutsu daily, studying, and meditating can make your chakra more powerful. You can also train to increase the amount of chakra you have, kinda like a muscle. So don't think of chakra as just energy. Instead, think of it also as a physical extension of yourself."
"Got it," Kinjo answered with a frown, returning to his meditation. This time, he tried to draw out the chakra in his stomach while imagining it as an extra limb made of energy, a cumulation of his mental and physical self. He visualized it flexing and unflexing, recalling the sensations of adjusting to a new body.
After a few agonizing minutes, something within heeded his summons.
His insides burned hotly, a spark that quickly blazed into a firestorm. He shuddered as every part of his body heated up from the sensation. Each chakra point was a beacon of power, guiding chakra through every inch of his body.
A sudden shift shook his body as his senses enhanced. His vision noticed the movement of a small squirrel nearby while his limbs lost pounds of weight in an instant. He threw punches into the air, a small whoosh pronounced with every punch. His memory of his past life crystalized, and he could remember every memory in vivid detail. In his drunken state, Kinjo attempted to lift the bench before stopping with a sheepish smile.
"Pretty cool, huh?" Hayase asked with a knowing smirk. "That power-up feeling will die down in a few minutes, but you'll still feel a bit different than before."
"Thanks!" Kinjo exclaimed as he gripped his fists tighter. "I feel ready for the Academy already."
"Right, I almost forgot! Let me jot down a basic chakra exercise for you. It'll help you prepare for the Academy. If you master it, you'll be one step closer to graduating from the Academy."
The young boy gave the chunin a clumsy side hug as the shinobi jotted down the details of the exercise. It was a step-by-step instruction for the Leaf Concentration Practice.
"I'm heading to the bookstore after this. Is there anything I should buy to study for the Academy?"
"Just the handbook should do. For now, train your chakra daily and exercise more; you'll need it."
As Kinjo walked away, he waved cheerfully at the chunin, who was now returning to his post. "Thanks, Hayase-san! I won't forget your help!"
"If you ever become a genin, come find me, kid! I want to see how much you've grown by then!" Hayase shouted with an enthusiastic wave.
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The used bookstore was the only shop in a narrow, forgotten alley just three streets away from the heart of Konoha. The exterior was worn and run-down: the green paint cracked, and the windows were mismatched. 'New Tree,' the store's name, was on the slightly crooked sign on top of its white wooden doors. Yet despite its shabby appearance, it was brightly lit, and the interior was filled with comfortable chairs and cushions. It was an allure that drew a considerable number of people to look through the surprisingly spacious interior and vast book collection.
By the time Kinjo arrived at the bookstore, there were only a few hours before sunset. When he entered, his eyes scanned the numerous bookshelves that towered towards the ceiling. He spotted an elderly man sitting behind a desk near the entrance and ran up to him. "Hi. I'm looking for the Academy handbook, a world history book, and books regarding shinobi and chakra."
"Another Academy student, eh?" The older man guessed. He leaned forward and pointed to specific parts of the store. "For the handbook, it'll be in section eight. Quite a few kids dropped out this year, so there'll be plenty of copies there. History books are in section ten, everything from Konoha's history to the world's history. As for books about shinobi and chakra… Are you looking for anything specifically?"
Kinjo pondered upon the question for a few moments before replying. "Do you have books about physical training and taijutsu?"
"Sure do. It'll be near the handbooks in section eight. Just to warn you, all of the books about taijutsu will be about the basic forms and katas. You won't find any advanced styles here. If you need anything else, feel free to come back to me."
"Thank you."
Each area between the bookshelves was marked with a number, making Kinjo's search for the books straightforward. He looked through dozens of used Academy handbooks before discovering the most recent edition. The small, green book with the Leaf logo cost only 20 Ryo, which made him sigh in relief.
Just then, he saw a small child wandering around by themselves with short black hair and a dark green dress, staring at the books and pulling out a small picture book with numerous famous shinobi in them. Kinjo raised an eyebrow as she flipped through the pages and stared at a particular kunoichi with blond hair posing for the camera. The girl giggled and shouted, "So cool!"
"Uhh," Kinjo looked around but found no one else in their section. "Where are your parents?"
"Huh?" She put down her book and floundered around, looking high and low. "Where... mommy?"
He knew what was coming, so he sat beside her and smiled before she turned into a teary mess, "Let's go find your mom, ok?"
She sniffed as her eyes stopped tearing up, "I want book and mommy."
"I'll get you the book too." He checked the price tag on the book and noticed it was only 10 Ryo. "Come on; I'll take you to the front."
Three minutes later, the girl was walking away with her mother, who was firmly holding her hand. She waved at Kinjo as she walked away, to which he returned with a grin. "Come to think of it, I never got her name, huh."
As he turned around to find his next book, he bumped into someone and landed softly on his rear. He rubbed the aching area with a groan and looked up to see who he had run into.
"Are you ok?"
The girl holding out her hand looked vaguely familiar, though not from the previous Kinjo's life. She wore a high-collared indigo shirt with baggy navy blue shorts while her long brown hair was tied into a ponytail. A single mole stood out under her right eye, accenting her wide-open onyx eyes.
"I'm fine," Kinjo answered while squinting his eyes at her.
"Are you mad at me?" The young girl asked, looking away from his gaze.
He blinked and bowed his head."Sorry. I thought I'd seen you somewhere before. I'm Kinjo."
"I'm Izumi. Uchiha Izumi. I don't like staying at the Uchiha Compound a lot, so I like to explore the village. Maybe you saw me when I was exploring."
Kinjo's jaw slacked upon hearing the girl's name. "Oh, that's cool."
"Are you going to attend the Academy too?" Izumi pointed to the Academy handbook that had fallen out of the boy's hand.
"Yeah." He noticed that she was also holding onto an Academy handbook.
"Maybe we'll get put in the same class! How old are you?"
"Six."
"Then I'm older than you." She cocked her head. "I'm seven."
Silence hung over the two as the conversation sputtered out. It took several seconds for Kinjo to speak up, "Did you come here to get the handbook?"
"Yep! The new ones are only a bit more expensive, but my mom said we should save money whenever we can. Before living in the Uchiha Compound, I used to come to this bookstore a lot. So I always come here to get books that I want."
"Isn't the Uchiha Clan, you know, rich?"
Izumi folded her arms and made a face. "My mom and I only rejoined the clan recently, so we're kinda on our own. A lot of the other Uchiha still treat my mom as an outsider, especially since she never awakened her Sharingan and married my dad. They only treat me a bit nicely because I already have my Sharingan."
"You've already awoken your Sharingan?"
"Let's… let's not talk about it." The light in Izumi's onyx eyes faded as she looked at the ground and rotated her foot uncomfortably. "Anyways, what clan are you from?"
Kinjo winced at her reaction but responded calmly. "I'm not from any clan. My family runs a small store on the outskirts of Konoha, a bit south from the western gate."
"Can I come to visit you?"
"Why?"
Izumi looked up, and her eyes twinkled. "Cause I like to explore! I haven't been to your neighborhood before. Plus, we're already friends, and we might be classmates, right?"
"We're friends?"
"We are!"
"I guess we are then," Kinjo chuckled. "The store's name is 'Takashi General Store.' It's a bit small, so it might be hard for you to find it…."
"I'll just walk to your house with you then."
"Right now?"
"After we buy our books." Izumi smiled. "Are you getting any other books?"
"A few more. Do you know anything about physical training and taijutsu?"
"Yep! I'm pretty good at taijutsu. I spar with a few other Uchiha kids almost every day." She led to a nearby shelf and pulled out a few books. "How much money do you have?"
"Not a lot. I only have 150 Ryo."
"Then just these two will do." Izumi handed him the battered books titled 'Genin's Guide to Physical Conditioning' and 'Basic Taijutsu Forms and Katas.' "I have a lot of books about shinobi stuff back at home. Out of all the books I've read, these two are the best."
Kinjo had a sinking suspicion on why she had a lot of books relating to shinobi skills lying around in her house but avowed to side-step the obvious landmine. "Thanks. These two are pretty cheap. I should have just enough money for one more book I want."
"Which one?"
"Just a history book."
"I don't know anything about history, sorry. If you want, I can give you some of my money, and you can use them to buy more books."
"It's fine. Thanks for the offer, though," Kinjo shrugged. This time, he led her through the store to section ten and quickly discovered a thick book about the history of the world that was published two years ago. There was water damage on the cover and rips on the pages, but it was cheap. Altogether, the books came out to a grand total of 140 Ryo.
"You really are a smart kid," Izumi mentioned when she saw the size of the history book.
"You're a kid yourself."
As they left the bookstore after paying, all Kinjo could imagine was the dying face of the girl next to him. She was an innocent child who would be murdered due to the ego and paranoia of others. Even worse, she would die at the hands of her crush.
She was no longer a fictional character. She was a breathing, living being.
Izumi didn't deserve death. Neither did Itachi nor any of the other innocents that were involved in the Massacre.
Now he had the knowledge and a presence in this world. He could make changes; he just needed the power for them.
Izumi flashed a carefree smile, and he gripped his books a little tighter.