Chakra Refinement Technique

At dinner, only Keiko and Hanfu sat at the table. Hanfu's Cheap Dad, Gekko Hoshino, had been summoned by the Third Hokage and still hadn't returned.

It was probably bad news.

Hanfu felt a pang of sympathy for himself. Had he really just crossed into this world, only to suffer the pain of losing his father?

The more Hanfu thought about it, the more grief-stricken he became. Just as he was about to lose himself in sorrow, Gekko Hoshino strolled into view.

"Hanfu, you're still awake?"

"...Yeah." Hanfu's face was blank. I just wasted all that emotion for nothing.

"Hoshino, Lord Hokage..."

Keiko saw Gekko Hoshino return and hurried to ask about Sunagakure. But when she noticed Hanfu standing nearby, she quickly scooped him up, tossed him onto the Tatami in the bedroom, and said, "Feng-chan, go to bed early tonight. Mommy won't read you a story."

Hanfu looked utterly unimpressed. She clearly thought he was too young, and wanted to get him out of the way so she and her husband could secretly discuss something important. Hanfu deeply disapproved of the way adults convinced themselves they were doing what was best for children by keeping things from them!

But Keiko was a forceful woman, and Hanfu didn't dare tempt fate. Besides, he had no interest in hearing a fairy tale, so he could only resign himself to an early night.

In his previous life, Hanfu could lie in bed with his phone and keep himself entertained until one in the morning. There were no phones in this world, so he'd expected to lie awake. But not long after he lay down, a wave of drowsiness swept over him and carried him off.

Meanwhile.

In the couple's bedroom, Gekko Hoshino and Keiko were discussing something important!

"Sunagakure hasn't declared war on us yet, but they've already invaded our country. The invasion is a fact. Lord Hokage has decided to go to war with Sunagakure, and the Advisors have all agreed!" Gekko Hoshino said, his face grave.

Keiko asked nervously, "Are you going to the battlefield?"

Gekko Hoshino nodded. "Of course. And it won't just be me. Every member of the Gekko Clan who's a Chunin or higher will take part. We leave in three days!"

"This was Lord Hokage's demand, wasn't it?" Keiko looked unhappy.

After the Second Shinobi World War, the Gekko Clan had finally been able to recover and slowly grow stronger. But now war had come again, mercilessly.

The children of Hanfu's generation hadn't grown up yet. If too many people of Gekko Hoshino's generation died or were injured in the war, it could stunt the younger generation's growth and leave the Gekko Clan without enough people to carry on. The Gekko Clan was already a small clan. If it suffered another blow like this, it could very well fall into decline for good!

As the two talked, the night grew darker.

The next morning, Hanfu was woken by a string of dull thuds.

"Why's it so noisy this early?"

Hanfu opened his eyes, still half asleep.

"Feng-chan, get up!" Keiko called when she heard the noise from his room.

"Got it."

Hanfu yawned and was just about to get up when he realized he'd been sealed to the Tatami and couldn't move!

"What's going on?!"

Hanfu was horrified. He struggled for a long while but couldn't break the seal. He stared at the ceiling, helpless. I guess you really do have to accept your lot in life!

There was nothing for it. He'd just have to lie on the Tatami and doze some more.

Click!

Keiko slid the door open and saw that Hanfu had fallen asleep again. Her pretty face showed a hint of helplessness, and then she simply picked him up off the Tatami.

The sudden sensation of weightlessness woke Hanfu right up.

"Huh? The seal's gone! Impressive!"

"Feng-chan, what nonsense are you talking about? Hurry up and wash up. Your little brother's been training with your father since early this morning. If you keep sleeping in like this, you'll never keep up with him."

Hanfu's mouth twitched. Well, now my little brother Hayate's become someone else's kid!

Hanfu hurried through washing up in the bathroom, then dashed out to the backyard.

After a night of growing, the grass in the backyard seemed even more lush, nearly filling the entire space. Clumps of grass swayed in the morning breeze, their blades cutting through the warm sunlight in every direction.

"Hayate, don't grip the sword too tightly, or your hand will sweat. But don't grip it too loosely either, or you'll drop it!"

Gekko Hoshino stood with his arms crossed, training Gekko Hayate with a serious expression.

Gekko Hayate stood before a wooden post taller than he was, holding a sword in both hands with its tip aimed at the post. He didn't move. Sunlight poured down, and a sheen of sweat glimmered on his forehead.

Gekko Hoshino heard Hanfu's footsteps and glanced back at him, then turned back to continue training Gekko Hayate.

A ninja's foundation was Chakra, but there were many ways to train. Tree Climbing and Water Surface Walking trained Chakra control. Getting up in the morning to do calisthenics strengthened the body. Staring into a mirror was for training Genjutsu. There were all sorts of methods.

According to the memories in his mind, Hanfu had often been trained by Gekko Hoshino this way over the past year. A year later, Gekko Hoshino had given up on him... His talent really was that bad.

Hanfu stood beneath the wooden veranda, watching Gekko Hayate with a spring in his step. It was time to collect the reward for all the effort he'd put in yesterday!

Collection!!!

In an instant, the Green Light Orb in Hanfu's mind churned and surged.

And then... Collection Failed!

Hanfu's mouth twitched. He felt terrible.

How could it fail?!

Hanfu was panicking. If this kept up, he really would have to go join Ichiraku Ramen!

Just then, eight teenagers emerged from the house and came into the backyard.

Hanfu looked up at them. They seemed vaguely familiar. They were all members of the Gekko Clan who had graduated from the Ninja Academy. In his memories, they often visited his home to ask Gekko Hoshino for advice on Konoha-Style Kenjutsu. So Hanfu recognized their faces, even if he couldn't remember their names.

"Please teach us again today, Hoshino!"

The eight clan members stepped onto the grass in the backyard and bowed respectfully.

Gekko Hoshino nodded. "Get ready to begin."

"Yes!"

All eight were Genin. Even for training, they used real weapons: sharp iron swords a meter long!

Gekko Hoshino then left Gekko Hayate and turned to train the eight clan members.

Hanfu looked at them, then at Gekko Hayate, who was still struggling to hold his stance in front of the wooden post. Suddenly, he realized something very important.

The Collection Technique collected ninjutsu, Genjutsu, Taijutsu, and things like that. But Gekko Hayate hadn't even started at the Ninja Academy yet. He probably hadn't learned the Three Body Technique, so how could Hanfu possibly collect anything from him?

Once he'd figured that out, Hanfu's spirits soared. His eyes shone as he scanned the eight Genin training under his father.

In the end, he picked the teenager on the far left. Judging by his looks, he seemed the most honest and steady!

Collection!!

The green light in Hanfu's mind surged. The next moment, a pale blue Light Spot, like a tiny star, burst out of the green glow.

Success?!

Hanfu was overjoyed and hurriedly wrapped his consciousness around the pale blue Light Spot.

Was this... the Chakra Refinement Technique?

Hanfu's eyes lit up. He'd collected the Chakra Refinement Technique from that steady-looking clan member!

As Hanfu's consciousness merged with the pale blue Light Spot, a wave of understanding surged through him!

Hanfu had spent a year at the Ninja Academy, where his Homeroom Teacher had already taught the Chakra Refinement Technique. But Hanfu had poor aptitude and was too playful, so his understanding of Chakra refinement had gone no further than knowing that Chakra was a combination of Spiritual Energy and Physical Energy. He had no foundation beyond that. Now, though, it was as if someone had poured knowledge into his head. He had thoroughly grasped the Chakra Refinement Technique and could refine Chakra right away!

Hanfu's expression relaxed. Then he slowly raised his Right Hand, pointing his index finger at the morning sun, and thought, Conquering the Shinobi World is just around the corner!