2 Chapter 2 : Young Boi (1/2)

4 years later...

The sky was carefully lowering the sun beneath its horizon. The warm sent of salt water stung his nose with the crisp air stinging his hands and feet, signalling the start of winter. Kenji disregarded these feelings. He had a bigger task at hand. Crouching beneath a tree several feet from his home, Kenji remained attentive and focused on his task. He crunched his tongue between his developing teeth as he attempted to hold a leave to his finger with chakra.

Ever since Kenji found an old book explaining chakra, he begged Aya over and over and over again to teach him the foundation of ninja. Chakra. That one word sounded beautiful to Kenji. Eventually his mother gave in and sat him on her lap as she read and explained concepts to him. Page after page. Kenji learned that Aya was a veteran jonin of the Hidden Mist Village. Upon this fact, more respect for his mother sunk into his heart as well as love. After learning the history of shinobi and what chakra is, Kenji wanted to learn as fast as possible. Aya helped unlock his chakra, but now, sticking a leaf to his finger was the only thing Kenji could think about.

After a few hours of trying to connect to a leaf, it stuck.

Kenji wailed a giant ”WAAAAAHOOOOOOO!”

In the kitchen, a sarcastic grin appeared on Aya's face. That didn't take long.

”HEY! MOM! I just learned how to stick a leaf to my finger with chakra!” screamed Kenji as he barged through the door into Aya's legs.

Aya turned towards her son with a bit of worry flowing down her spine. She didn't want him to attract too much attention given who he is. Especially being in the Hidden Mist.

”That's great honey!” She grasped him. ”But make sure you don't show off too much. You understand me? Her eyes screamed seriousness.

After all, he was admitted to the Hidden Mist Academy for the coming year. Someone discovering his lineage was the last thing she wanted.Relations with opposing villages were dwindling. The Fourth Mizukage, Yagura, was driving the Hidden Mist into the ground and no one knew why. Aya was especially grateful for the isolation from the majority of affairs given the location of her house, but both her and her child were citizens of the village which made her all the more involved.

”Ok” He looked sadly at his feet until a sharp pain reached the depths of his eyes prompting a wince and tiny hand to act. Aya studied his behavior with a slight fear until she reached realization. She crouched down to eye level quickly.

”Stop rubbing! Let me see!” Aya frowned with worry painted on her face. This boy would be the death of her.

Kenji was suprised. He knew his mother could be scary when she wanted to, especially when he played in the water behind their house. He had no recollection of Aya like this.

”How long have they been hurting.” Aya demanded.