In the quiet and sandy village of Sunagakure, nearly two months had passed since Ayumu first played kick the can. On a playground next to a moderate-sized boulder, three kids sat while two others stood in front of them, focusing intently on the seated group.
The standing kids were Ayumu and Maki, the girl who had first invited him to play. The other three kids were Taro, a chubby boy with messy black hair and bright green eyes, always wearing a red headband representing his minor clan; Hana, a young girl with wavy brown hair and freckles, always sporting a flower in her hair despite living in a desert; and Kenji, a child with curly blonde hair and round glasses. These were the friends Ayumu had made over the past two months.
Since that initial day he first played kick the can, Ayumu would often head to the park to play after spending time reading at the library or practicing his shurikenjutsu. Over the last two months, he not only made good friends with the four but also improved his shurikenjutsu to the point where he could sometimes hit the red circle in the middle, a feat that had seemed impossible just weeks ago. Although he wasn't catching up to his brother Shin, it was still an impressive accomplishment for someone his age.
From the initial clumsy throws, where he sometimes dropped it in the winding motion, to when he could get it to stick, to now where most of the kunai land in the outer ring and stick onto the board. It could bring tears to his eyes thinking about it.
"I can't wait to go to the academy," said Taro, his eyes sparkling with eagerness to become a ninja. The other kids shared in his excitement about joining early next spring. They all turned four this year, except for Taro, who turned five, making Ayumu the youngest at three.
As they talked about joining the academy, Ayumu's mind raced with thoughts. 'I wonder if I'll be able to join the academy next year? I should be able to. Shin joined around the age of five, with his birthday in May, so around a month before turning five. I'll be almost a year younger if I join at four, with my birthday in April,' he pondered, worried about the possibility.
"Are you planning on joining next year?" Maki asked, snapping Ayumu out of his thoughts. Everyone looked at him curiously, their faces eager to hear his response.
"I hope so. I would like to join with you guys. Is there any age requirement?" he asked, worry crossing his face, his eyes darting between his friends.
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"You usually have to be older than four," said Kenji, the tall kid with glasses, who was usually the more informed one.
Ayumu looked disappointed. "Does that mean I have to wait another entire year? That would be annoying. I was a whole adult, for god's sake," he thought, feeling a wave of frustration wash over him. "I don't turn four until after the start of school next year," he said, bringing dismayed expressions to everyone's faces. Their eyes reflected shared concern. Taking a second to calm down, he then asked, "Is there any special exam I can take?"
This caused everyone to shift from expressions of distress to those of deep contemplation, their minds churning with possibilities. Eventually, Taro said, "There might be a way if you can already use chakra. In my family, some members joined the academy early because they could demonstrate basic chakra control. It's not common, but it's possible."
Ayumu's eyes lit up with hope. "Really? So, if I can show I know how to use chakra, I might be able to join with you all next year?" he asked, his voice filled with newfound excitement.
Taro nodded. "Yeah, it might be," he replied with a reassuring smile.
The other kids listened intently, their faces reflecting a mix of concern and excitement. Ayumu felt a surge of determination. "That doesn't sound too difficult," he said with newfound resolve, feeling a sense of relief.
He had already planned to learn about chakra, and this made him more eager than ever. Maki, Hana, and Kenji cheered him on, boosting his confidence. They all soon began discussing various ways Ayumu could get started with chakra, despite not having much prior experience or information themselves. They shared stories they had heard from their families and speculated on the best methods to learn.
As the excitement of the conversation began to fade, Ayumu's friends exchanged glances, their expressions reflecting a sense they were ready to leave. The chill in the November air was becoming more noticeable, and they realized it was time to head home, their breaths visible in the cold night.
"Hey, it's getting colder," Hana said, rubbing her arms, her voice cutting through the quiet of the evening. "We should probably go home before our parents start worrying. " she added with a concerned frown.
"Yeah, you're right," Maki agreed. "We probably won't be able to meet up like we used to with it getting so much colder in the winter," she added. The thought of fewer gatherings cast a shadow over her face, a worry they all silently shared.
Ayumu felt a surge of warmth and gratitude for his friends' help today. "Thanks, everyone. I really appreciate the help," he said with a sincere smile.
With that, the group began to disperse reluctantly, each heading in their own direction under the dim streetlights. Ayumu waved goodbye to his friends, and started walking home, his mind buzzing with thoughts about what was discussed about the special entrance exam, planning to verify the information with his grandfather.
As he walked, he couldn't help but feel a renewed sense of determination. The first thing on his mind was finding a way to access or feel his chakra from his grandfather.