Capítulo 3: Boiled Eggs
*Tick*
*Tock*
*Tick*
*Tock*
Eight in the morning and I'm already waiting to be let out. Fiddling with a leaf under my pine desk, I rest my head on the textured surface. Ignoring the ignoramuses around me, I tune out all the sounds around me. Even though I can't augment my hearing yet, I can focus on my concentration. Coating the leaf in my palm, I gently guide it up through my sleeve and into the other. Pushing it gently into the palm of my other hand, I smile as the leaf tickles my palm. Let's try something harder! Creating an anchor at one end of the leaf, I create another at the beginning. An anchor is simply the point at which my attention and chakra are focused. Easily creating a string between both anchors, I start bending the leaf. Using a combination of pulling both halves of the leaf and adhesion, I fold it flat on itself.
Chuckling, I let the leaf fall. It's not much, but it is a milestone for my chakra control. Hearing the teacher call my neighbors name, I set my left hand on the table. Pushing chakra into the table, I glance at where his pen is. Starting my usual operation, I create four anchor points. First on the table where my index finger meets the table. The second is a point where the table touches the pen and the third is the same point but on the pen instead. The last anchor is a point at the end of the table away from my neighbor.
Seeing his hand go up as the teacher calls his name, I pull. From the anchor at the edge of the table to the anchor on the pen. Watching him glare at his pen, I quickly launch it off the table. Suppressing my grin as he tries to grab it, I wait for my daily entertainment. Missing the pen, my neighbor watches as it smacks a boy directly in front of him. Tuning out the ensuing argument, I lay back down and relax. The teacher always mentally finishes roll calls after something like this. That's at least three hours without needing to pay attention.
Laying my head back down, I focus on where I should have dropped the leaf. left from my right sandal, towards my heel. Why do I throw my neighbor's pen off the table? Simple, he had the gall to throw mine off and laugh it off. Like I want to get up and say excuse me five times just to get a pen. I do it at least twice a day, but it's normally whenever I don't feel like going next. Just launch it at a different person or the teacher himself and I'm set for a few hours.
Focusing back on my chakra, I try figuring out how I could see the leaf without actually seeing it. It would be easier if there was something like a programmable code to use chakra, but the closest thing is fuinjutsu and that's at least a year away for me. Once I get the basics down, I should be able to work out how to incorporate programming knowledge, but for now, all I have is myself. Don't count me off, but I am simply and utterly unable to do complex analysis in my head right now.
Laying my head down I start to meditate. Ninja history isn't even close to useful and I have no intention of entering politics. Ignoring the teacher trying to get everyone to listen to his lecture, I focus on my chakra and tune everyone else out. Feeling the flow of my chakra, I push it to spread throughout my body and then back. Trying to keep total control of it every step of the way, I pull ambient chakra in slowly and continue maintaining the flow. Every time I lose control, I let some chakra go and continue. Just a few weeks ago I discovered chakra is everywhere, just in lower concentrations. Holding a frog, I pushed my chakra into it and fortified its physical state. Keeping it still, I observed it for hours until I noticed tiny traces of chakra had appeared below its heart. Living things also generate chakra.
The question is where does ambient chakra come from? Living things could never emit enough chakra to fill the world, so what does? No matter how I've tried, inanimate objects have nothing to do with chakra. They don't interact or produce it. Continuing to meditate while getting lost in my musings, I ignore the lecture as I do every day.
==++==
"Aster!"
Slowly stopping my meditation cycle, I open my eyes and find the instructor glaring at me. Trailing my pinky around the cartilage in my ear, I ask, "How can I help you today?"
Grinding his teeth, he points at the door, "Sparing starts in 3 minutes. Go before I give you a detention."
Waving at him, I slowly get up and exit the class. It's not that he doesn't like me, I do average on the quizzes and never talk back. I also never pay attention or show any enthusiasm in any of his lectures. Just like the past instructors, his lessons are so full of propaganda and bias that it's suffocating. Yes, we are one of the strongest villages, but I wouldn't say we are strong enough to keep the others in check. Hence the wars that broke out. That is not keeping the ninja world in check. That is doing our best to stay on top. Even with all of the best resources, all we do is stay on top. What a waste.
Entering the outdoor field, I line up around the perimeter. Glancing at the instructor, I grin. I like this one, he picks the fairest matchups. Watching the fights as they progress, I make mental notes of how certain kids fight. It's not like I can replicate what they do, but given a similar situation, I should be able to emulate something similar. A few matches pass including a certain blonde prodigy's before the teacher calls me and another civilian boy up. Vaguely recognizing him, I sigh. He should be someone in my class. Mixing classes creates some variation in the matchups, but stronger taijutsu almost always wins. In most cases, the better class has better taijutsu fighters. Although each class has incompetent dreamers who think being ninja is a game, none of those students ever fight across classes. Seeing his heavier build, I bend down to tie my shoes. Ignoring his jeering, I grab a fist full of dirt. Clenching my hands into fists, I make the signs to start the spar. Instead of backing off as he did, I immediately dash in.
Seeing him frown, I throw a straight jab which he brings his hands up to guard. Stopping my hand just before it hits, I wait. Watching his guard open slightly in confusion, I flick my wrist, spraying dirt into his face. Dashing to his side, I duck a wide right hook and kick his knee in. Smacking the back of his head as he tries to stay standing, I nod to the instructor as I make the seal of reconciliation by myself. Hearing him call the match, I duck under a jab and a hastily thrown left hook. Backing out of the sparing field while watching him still struggle, I find a wall to lean against.
Watching the instructor hold the kid down and help him clear his eyes, I smirk. This time you picked someone who could take a few hits and outlast me huh? As long as I get a clear shot at his head it's over regardless of his stamina. Ignoring the other kids as some of them scream that I cheated, I close my eyes and go back over the spar. If the dirt hadn't worked, what could I have done? I could have targeted his armpits and knee after each of his punches. After a few hits, even he should be unable to tank that. On the other hand, If I tire out before he does, he could corner me in this limited space.
The only chance of winning would be a stranglehold or clean hit to the head. Not that this is indicative of a real fight, but for sparing purposes, I should beat him more times than not. Those daily runs do miracles for my speed and average stamina. Just when I thought today was smooth sailing, my understanding instructor decides to forget we are training to be ninjas.
"Get back in here Aster. This is a sparing class, with an emphasis on learning taijutsu. You can fight dirty later." he snaps. Groaning, I step back into the field. I guess I'll find out just how effective my taijutsu is. Looking across the field, I sneer at his grinning face. I'll still win. Showing the instructor my hands, I start with making the seal of confrontation to start the spar. Instead of dashing in, I hang back and wait. Immediately putting up a guard, he kicks the empty air in front of him. Staring at the buffoon, I ignore the laughter from my audience.
He may really suck at speed, but one hit and I'm in a world of pain. Slowly moving backward, I let him occupy the center of the field. I really need space to move around him. Seeing him reach the center mark, I push chakra to my feet and dash toward him. Instead of the frontal kick he did before, he greets me with a side sweep. Pitching forward over his leg, my hands meet the ground as I tumble onto my feet. Ducking under his grabbing hand, I give him a quick jab before snaking one of my hands under his chin and around his neck. Bringing my other hand around to finish the headlock, I start strangling him. Ignoring his meaty fingers trying to find purchase on my arm, I yank him backward. finding myself sitting with his head cradled to my chest, I continue to choke him out.
Watching the instructor silently stare back, I continue. If he won't call it, I'll continue until this boy passes out. Waiting for another minute, I let go when the kid finally passes out. Grabbing the kid's hand and making the seal of reconciliation with him, I tiredly let go. Glaring at the instructor, I walk off as he lays the kid down on a bench. Why would I fight like everyone else when it was clearly an inferior style of fighting. Just looking at today's results, the majority of the winners were kids who didn't use the academy taijutsu. Yea, I practice my punches and kicks. Yea, I know the academy taijutsu, but it's just too predictable. I plan to fight dirty and use weapons, when will I ever resort to the most straightforward fighting style?
Meandering off the field after the last matches finished, I made my way to the free lunches. It's not much, but the village does care for us aspiring cannon fodder. Taking a brown bag, I run toward the outdoor sink. Washing the dirt and grime off of my hands and underneath my nails, I shake my hands dry. Walking away in a hurry, I find my usual spot in the shade and start unpacking my lunch. A mushy shriveled orange, mystery meatloaf with oats, a bag of carrot chunks, and a boiled egg. Not bad. I may not try to make friends here, but I will once I graduate. No point in knowing civilians that I'll never see again. That being said, why is a certain blond walking towards me?
PENSAMENTOS DOS CRIADORES 
heavygreen
heavygreen A fight scene! Without fancy chakra tricks! Maybe I'll write one with more chakra in a few, but for now, this should be okay.
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