A few weeks later, my mother took me to the main mansion of the clan, located next to a complex where the Akimichi training center operated.
I was surprised because there was nothing like that in the anime or manga, at least as far as I could remember. Every three months, they accepted new students.
After going through an ID verification, a Kunoichi introduced me to the facilities.
It worked like this:
All descendants had the right to enroll for classes and training between the ages of 4 and 12, although it wasn't mandatory during peacetime. If you couldn't graduate from the village academy at that age, you were expelled from the center.
If you did graduate, in addition to financial remuneration, you also earned points for each completed mission. The village rewarded clans based on their members' performance, which served both to keep them active and foster a sense of competition among them.
You could also earn points by performing specific tasks for the clan or senior members, ranging from special missions to production services. The Akimichis held the status of nobles precisely because of their skills in producing pills with special effects for the village, so it was normal for this to be encouraged and rewarded.
These points could be exchanged for things you wouldn't normally be able to buy with money, such as access to skills, special pills, and even training with masters in specific areas.
But what caught my attention the most was the library.
I knew there was one in the village, but children were not allowed in unless they were already enrolled in the academy.
This one, however, was specifically for the clan's use. The Kunoichi, Sonia, explained the rules of the place to me.
The 1st floor was open to all students, while the second floor was exclusively for the ninjas. The third and final floor was controlled by the main family, requiring authorization or, in the case, points, to access or request the loan of any material.
The system reminded me a lot of the wuxia novels I used to read in my previous life. It was a simple system that centralized power in the hands of the main family, but at the same time provided opportunities for young individuals to grow.
"So, can I stay here for as long as I want?" I asked Sonia.
"Well, not exactly. Children your age have a mandatory curriculum. You'll need to attend those classes, but outside of that schedule, the library is open anytime," she replied.
Interesting.
"I see. Could you tell me a bit about the classes?" I asked as we headed towards the outdoor courtyard.
"Of course. At the beginning, the classes focus on chakra manipulation and some basic katas. Once you reach an adequate level in both disciplines, you start learning our clan's special ability, Calorie Control," she proudly replied.
"So, there's no age requirement then?"
"No, as long as a teacher deems you skilled enough to advance."
Very interesting...
The ability to control calories was something I would struggle with. Despite my appearance clearly resembling that of a clan member, with dark spiky brown hair, black eyes, and small white circles on the sides of my face, I was well defined.
At least for a 4-year-old child.
I made it a point to train and exercise almost religiously during the past two years. Even though I had never been a regular at a gym in my previous life, knowing that my life would depend on my physical abilities had a surprisingly motivating effect...
I didn't worry about my appearance, but I would need to adapt since opening even a single inner gate would require exemplary physical condition.
As if reading my thoughts, Sonia stopped and stared at me before saying:
"Well, in your case, it seems we'll need to adjust your diet as well. You don't need to be significantly overweight to use the techniques, but a larger amount of fat will certainly facilitate their use."
"Do I really need to gain weight? I do love exercising and running. I don't want this to hinder me," I defended.
"As I said, you don't need to gain a lot of weight. Our bodies seem to adapt in a certain way. You'll end up having higher body density but a bit more difficulty with advanced skills," she finished, then as if just now realizing she was speaking to a child, awkwardly motioned for us to continue walking.
The main courtyard was still relatively empty, as the academy had just ended and only the younger children had arrived. In the left corner, there was a small lake supplied by a canal connected to the stream that separated the clan area. There were several training dummies and a small arsenal guarded by an elderly man.
In the central area, there was only what appeared to be a stage, but without seats or markings that made its function obvious. To our right were some trees and the tall walls of the main mansion. Overall, it gave the impression of an organized and well-maintained place.
I asked Sonia what I should do until the class started.
"Make some friends," was her response, and then she disappeared in a puff of smoke.
Deciding to make the most of my time, I went to visit the small arsenal and talked to the old man who took care of the place. He informed me that any of the weapons could be used for training at no cost, but children under 6 years old required special permission.
Twice a week, a master taught a special class on one of the weapons, with a schedule hanging on the wall. There was a significant frequency of staff-related classes, but the others generally happened once or twice a month. Nevertheless, it was clear that the clan tried to accommodate different preferences and combat styles.
When there were around 60 children in the courtyard, a ninja in green armor and red hair appeared on the stage. With a single strong clap of his hands, he demanded attention. I couldn't remember his name, but he was definitely Choji's father, the leader of the clan.
--------- POV -----------
Chouza spent a few minutes observing the children without revealing his presence. Normally, he wouldn't come to greet a new class of apprentices, but this trimester was special. Among the newcomers was the presence of young Akio, a boy who would undoubtedly become a new prodigy.
The first news reached him about a year ago when a highly respected medical-nin, known for her work in the war, came to him and requested an audience. To his surprise, she asked for his help in protecting a child of his clan.
The boy was attracting dangerous attention with his talent, and she feared he might disappear. Chouza was familiar with the dark side of the village, and although he never agreed with the existence of a certain organization, he knew that the Hokage tolerated it.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
Had it not been for Dr. Yana's background, he would never have taken the story seriously. After all, who would believe that such a young child could be intelligent enough to cause a chakra imbalance and still reach Genin-level proficiency in manipulation despite it? And on top of that, an Akimichi?
Even the children of the Nara clan rarely exhibited a similar condition, the last one being his friend Shikaku. Still, a Yin-Yang imbalance in a child from his own family was simply too absurd.
So much so that if it were true, it made perfect sense for the child to become a target.
"Why not take the case to the Hokage?" he asked that night.
"He wouldn't intervene; the child... would have his future destroyed. Besides, there's a chance he would see it as a threat to the village's stability. Despite not being from the main family, he is still part of one of the Four Greats."
That... seemed a bit exaggerated, showing her desperation. Still, to insinuate that a child could jeopardize the "stability" among the clans... It required an immense level of trust in the boy.
"And how did they find out about him?"
"Through my reports and his medical records at the hospital..."
Hmm, he grunted. There was also guilt... At least she was being honest.
And it was true too, as much as he respected the Hokage, he had never fully recovered after reassuming the position. It was as if he had lost hope in a prosperous future for the village. He saw everything as a matter of survival or death.
Desperate people take desperate actions.
He decided it was worth investigating and allocated resources for it. A Jounin was an extremely valuable asset, and there were very few left after the war and the Kyuubi. Still, if what the doctor feared was true, anything less would be useless.
Just another wasted life.
What followed were surprising reports. Indeed, the boy and his family were being followed by men from Danzo's faction. They didn't enter the clan, but they observed them almost constantly on the outside. There was even an attempted capture during one of their visits to the hospital, but it was foiled by his Jounin.
Two Root members died that day.
Furthermore, the other pieces of information also seemed true. Several astonishing reports reached him.
The boy seemed to heal at an incredible speed. Injuries that should have taken days to heal were gone in just one. Not to mention the rapid improvement in his skills.
The truth was, if you train 100 or 1000 punches a day without a technique foundation and proper instruction, you won't improve much beyond your physical fitness.
It wasn't the case here.
It was evident that he improved even with basic training, not to mention the way he developed his chakra manipulation abilities.
When one of the sentinels reported that the boy could already effortlessly climb trees and walls, Chouza decided for the first time to go and observe for himself.
He understood why Dr. Yana found it so important to ensure that Root didn't get their hands on him.
That same night, while playing with his son, he couldn't help but fell fear.
Chouji and Akio were around the same age. While Chouji was a beautiful and affectionate child, it was hard to imagine that the boy who struggled to land blows against his teachers could surpass what he had witnessed.
It was rare for an heir to be surpassed by another member of their generation. The difference in available resources was just too significant, making the feat nearly impossible.
Almost, but not impossible.
There were rumors that something similar was happening with the Hyuugas, but they had... ensured that such a blow wouldn't occur.
He had always despised them for that, and now, when his son's future could be at stake… he found himself understanding their situation a bit more...Still no. The Akimichis were not like that.
Above all, they were a family, and if something were to happen, so be it. Moreover, the village had never been so weak in its history. Children like Akio could be the key to ensuring not only the clan's survival but also the village as a whole.
It would also relieve Chouji of some of the responsibility on his shoulders, allowing him to grow more in tune with his own personality...
Determined that he had seen enough and having alread formed his opinion, Chouza, the leader of the Noble Akimichi Clan, stepped onto the stage and with a clap of his hands, captured the attention for what would be the first of his classes.
Character Sheet:
Name: Akimichi Akio
The young son of a merchant from the Akimichi clan.
Gender: Male
Age: 4 years and 2 months
Class: Child (+10% skill and technique gains)
Title: N/A
Level: 2 XP: 10 (30 to next level)
Attributes:
STR: 4 (+0.60) 4.6 (83.00%)
AGI: 3 (-0.6) 2.4 (92.00%)
CON: 4 (+2.60) 6.6 (70.00%)
INT: 14 (19.00%)
WIS: 10 (12.00%)
PER: 4 (58.00%)
LUC: 3 (05.00%)
Unspent Points: 2
Health: 10/10
Stamina: 27.2/27.2 (((STR+CON+AGI)*2))
Chakra: 12.6/12.6 ((STR+CON+INT)/2)
Chakra Nature: Yang (Bonus *2 to stamina. Cannot use elemental jutsu.)
Skills:
Gamer's Body: Max (custom) - Your body is treated as a character in a game. Allows for life regeneration while sleeping (3%), gaining buffs, and treating injuries and ailments as status effects - Cannot be removed.
Chakra manipulation lv 13: The art of chakra manipulation allows practitioners to mold and shape their chakra for various purposes, such as performing powerful jutsu techniques, enhancing physical abilities, and even healing injuries.
Skill Slot.
Skill Slot. Blocked (lv 10)
Skill Slot. Blocked (lv 20)
Skill Slot. Blocked (lv 30)
Traits
1- Akimichi Blood: +15% STR // +15% CON // -20% AGI // Taijutsu +15% // Access to Clan's Hidden Abilities // Chakra Nature: Yang - Cannot be removed.
The Akimichi clan possesses great physical strength and endurance. Their bodies are capable of causing significant damage through their special technique. Additionally, they are excellent users of Taijutsu.
2- Enhanced Chakra Circulation System: Due to the rigorous and challenging training during the formation of your chakra circulation system, it has become resistant to damage. This enhanced circulation system allows your chakra to flow throughout your body with ease, resulting in improved control and efficiency. +20% Chakra Manipulation. +2 CON
Trait Slot
Quests
Major:
Minor:
Techniques
Taijutsu – 3
Ninjutsu – 0
Genjutsu – 0
Medical-Nin - 1