Riya and Nobita closed the gate and followed the old man inside.
The furnishings were simple. Aside from electric lights, there were practically no modern appliances.
Settling his grandson sideways across his lap, the old man studied him closely.
"That's my flesh and blood!" Looking at the adorable, handsome child before him, he burst into laughter and pressed his forehead against Shinsei's in a show of affection.
Shinsei simply did his best to play the well-behaved grandson.
"I thought you weren't going to let me see him." The old man sighed.
Nobita and Riya looked embarrassed.
"You know the clan's situation. We really couldn't afford any more complications." Nobita bowed to the old man in apology.
"Hmph!" The old man shot him a cold, sidelong look. "A coward's choice!"
An awkward silence settled over the room. Shinsei had no idea how to talk to his newly acquired grandfather, either.
"Father!" Riya changed the subject. "Shinsei wants to become a ninja, and he's already extracted chakra. As you know, Nobita and I can't teach him."
When the old man picked Shinsei up earlier, he had already sensed the chakra inside his grandson. With his years of experience, extracting chakra at four years old was good, but hardly extraordinary, so he hadn't thought much of it.
Of course, if he knew the child before him had learned to extract chakra in a matter of minutes, that would have been another story.
"I can teach him for a few years before I die." The old man placed no hopes in the Ninja Academy's instruction. If they obediently waited for the child to graduate from the Ninja Academy, he would basically end up as cannon fodder on the battlefield.
Konoha's Ninja Academy mostly taught literacy and ninja fundamentals. In the original story, Naruto barely knew anything when he graduated. If he hadn't met Jiraiya, the savior would have been a lost cause. Sasuke Uchiha, meanwhile, had lacked his clan's instruction after its massacre. His brother had been able to wipe out the clan at just a year older than he was, yet all he could do was spit fireballs.
Ninja clans sent their children to the Ninja Academy more to foster bonds, make friends, and build relationships. It was also a form of submission to Konoha's rule. They didn't expect to learn anything substantial at school. Even Naruto only learned about his chakra nature from Kakashi after graduation.
Konoha's ninja clans, large and small, generally all had their own core inheritances. If civilian ninja didn't receive training from their team leaders after graduating and being assigned to teams, they would have practically no opportunities to learn advanced ninjutsu.
Nobita and Riya naturally understood all this, too. Having decided to support their son's wish to become a ninja, they had decided to put everything into training him. Since they couldn't teach him themselves, they could only seek outside help.
The first day was simply a visit to learn where he lived. After lunch at the old man's home, they went home. Proper instruction would only begin the next day.
A small river flowed quietly, with fish occasionally leaping from the water.
"To learn ninjutsu, you must start with hand seals. Watch closely." An old man in a white kimono stood beside the river. "There are twelve seals in total: rat, ox, tiger, hare, dragon, snake, horse, ram, monkey, bird, dog, and boar."
Shinsei watched his grandfather form the hand seals and copied him. Fortunately, the old man wasn't going fast.
A child's hands were relatively nimble, and Shinsei managed to complete the seals along with him.
"Each seal has its own uses. They help you mobilize chakra. Remember, circulating your chakra is the goal. Hand seals are only an aid."
Shinsei nodded in understanding. Two people might use different hand seals for the same ninjutsu, depending on their understanding of the technique and their control over chakra.
For the same Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique, Zabuza used forty-four seals, while the Second Hokage Tobirama Senju used only three.
"Watch my hand seals. Water Release: Wild Water Wave!" Shinsei watched confidently as his grandfather formed a dozen or so seals, then spat a stream of water from his mouth.
The stream rapidly grew larger and more forceful, raising the river's water level by a stretch.
Shinsei's blood surged at the sight. Suppressing his excitement, he listened carefully as his grandfather explained every detail of mobilizing chakra, working hard to memorize the various hand seals.
With a rapid series of slaps, Shinsei formed a dozen or so seals in one go, then opened his mouth and spat.
Water Release: Wild Water Wave!
Pfft! Spit sprayed a meter away.
Uh... this is a little embarrassing.
Fortunately, I barely used any chakra. I can keep going.
Water Release: Wild Water Wave!
Another mouthful of water sprayed out.
Shinsei carefully recalled the details of his grandfather's instruction and calmed himself, forming one seal per second. With each seal, the chakra inside his body shifted a little.
Now! Water Release: Wild Water Wave!
Water gushed from Shinsei's mouth, shooting a dozen or so meters before landing in the river.
It's so different from Grandpa's ninjutsu. His stream had at least a dozen times the volume.
The old man looked at the child before him with a strange expression. He truly hadn't expected his grandson to learn a ninjutsu in just three attempts, even if it was a basic C-rank technique. The boy's comprehension was enough to earn him the name of genius. But he wouldn't praise him, and he kept his expression ordinary. The Senju Clan no longer needed geniuses to prove its reputation, either. Being too much of a genius would always bring his grandson unnecessary trouble.
The old man's expression grew somber. There was no telling what had come to mind.
Shinsei sensed the chakra inside him and felt he could manage another shot, so he began forming hand seals again.
The old man caught his hand and shook his head.
"That's enough. You've learned it. Take your time practicing from now on. You're still too young. Keep some chakra in reserve."
Shinsei could only give up. He was a little reluctant. He simply had too little chakra. Two uses of this kind of ninjutsu would drain him. Although he could extract more, it would harm his body.
I really envy those people with chakra by the ton, throwing ninjutsu around like it costs nothing. When will I reach that level?
"Grandpa, do I have a lot of chakra for my age, or not much?"
"A lot." The old man carefully considered his grandson's age and confirmed, "You're doing quite well."
"Then can I have as much chakra as a Hokage someday?" Shinsei was full of confidence in his Senju bloodline.
The old man's mouth twitched. A Hokage wasn't from just any village, and was generally the strongest in the village. After thinking it over, he couldn't bear to lie to him.
"No. But becoming a Jonin should be within reach."
Shinsei was deeply disappointed. He hadn't expected the Senju bloodline to be so underwhelming. He didn't have Uchiha eyes he could upgrade. Without Kage-level chakra, it would be hard to have Kage-level fighting strength. But then he remembered that he wasn't from any direct line, either, just an ordinary Senju clan member, and his bloodline was probably diluted, too. The only thing he could be sure of was that his grandfather was a Senju. Being able to have Jonin-level chakra in the future was already a testament to the strength of the Senju bloodline. After all, there weren't that many Jonin in all of Konoha.
Grandfather and grandson headed back, their journey filled with Shinsei's unwilling questions.
"Will exercise increase my chakra?"
"A little, but not by much."
"Will eating more increase my chakra?"
"It will, but that won't improve it much, either."
"Are there any other ways to increase chakra?"
"I haven't really heard of any, but there are methods for storing chakra."
"Do you have one, Grandpa?"
"I don't know how, but Tsunade does."
"Could Lady Tsunade teach me?"
"I don't have that much pull."