The children crowded into the main hall of the orphanage, their voices bubbling with excitement. Hiro stood near the back, observing as Lady Hisako, an older kunoichi with sharp eyes and a kind smile, addressed the group. She wore a worn but well-maintained fk jacket, and her presence exuded authority. This was the moment they’d all been waiting for—the chakra awakening ceremony.
“Now, now, settle down,” Lady Hisako said, her tone gentle but firm. The chatter died down, and the children focused their attention on her. “I’m here to help unlock your chakra and test your affinities. Remember, every shinobi starts somewhere, and today, we’ll find out what makes each of you unique.”
The children cheered, their enthusiasm infectious. Hiro stayed quiet, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips as he watched their excitement. Kaya stood off to the side, her arms crossed and a watchful gaze on the proceedings.
Lady Hisako began with the first child, pcing her hands gently on their shoulders. She closed her eyes, her chakra flowing into them, activating the dormant pathways within their bodies. Each time, the child would let out a small gasp, their eyes widening as they felt the energy coursing through them for the first time.
“Next,” Lady Hisako called. One by one, the children stepped forward, their chakra awakened before moving on to the next stage—the affinity test. She handed each child a small piece of chakra paper and expined its purpose.
“Your chakra paper will react based on your primary affinity,” she said. “It might burn, wrinkle, split, soak, or crumble. These reactions will guide you on the path to understanding your strengths as a shinobi.”
The first child’s paper split cleanly in half. “Wind affinity,” Lady Hisako said with an approving nod. The next paper burned slightly at the edges. “Fire.” The children eagerly compared their results, marveling at the variations.
When Hiro’s turn came, he stepped forward, feeling the weight of the moment. Lady Hisako pced her hands on his shoulders, her chakra flowing into him. A strange warmth spread through his body, but nothing felt out of the ordinary. She handed him a piece of chakra paper and gestured for him to try.
Hiro held the paper between his fingers and focused, waiting for a reaction. Nothing happened. The paper remained unchanged. He frowned, turning it over in his hands.
Unbeknownst to anyone, including Hiro, a small circur piece of the paper under his thumb had vanished, leaving an almost perfect hole in the corner. Lady Hisako’s eyes softened as she noticed his uncertainty.
“It’s not uncommon for affinities to take time to show,” she said reassuringly. “Your chakra has only just awakened. Sometimes, it needs a little while to settle. Keep the paper with you, and if it reacts ter, have Kaya call me. We’ll make sure you’re ready for the academy when the time comes.”
Hiro nodded, tucking the paper into his pocket. “Thank you, Lady Hisako.”
She patted his shoulder. “You’ll find your path, young man. Trust me.”
After Lady Hisako left, the other children celebrated, ughing and sharing their results. They boasted about the ninjas they would become, their dreams filling the room with energy. Hiro lingered on the edge of the group, a small smile on his face as he listened.
“What about you, Hiro?” one of the boys asked. “Did your paper do anything?”
Hiro shook his head. “Not yet. Maybe ter.”
The boy nodded, then returned to his animated conversation with the others. Hiro quietly slipped away, heading toward the garden where Chūta waited.
The flying squirrel perched on a low branch, chittering happily as Hiro approached. Chūta leapt from the branch to Hiro’s shoulder, settling in comfortably. Hiro stroked the soft fur on the squirrel’s back, feeling a sense of calm return to him.
Kaya found him there a little while ter, sitting under the shade of the garden’s rgest tree. She approached slowly, her expression gentle.
“You okay?” she asked, sitting down beside him.
Hiro nodded. “It’s fine. Lady Hisako said it might take time for my affinity to show.”
Kaya smiled. “She’s right. It’s different for everyone. There’s no rush.”
As she spoke, her eyes fell on the paper sticking out of Hiro’s pocket. Her sharp gaze caught the precise, circur hole in the corner. She tilted her head, frowning slightly.
“Hiro, can I see your chakra paper?” she asked.
Hiro handed it to her without hesitation. Kaya examined the paper closely, her eyes briefly lingering on the missing piece before her expression returned to calm. “I’ll keep this safe for you until we’re ready to test it again,” she said. Sliding the paper carefully into her pocket, she gave Hiro a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry. It’ll show its secrets in time.”
That afternoon, life at the orphanage buzzed with activity. Hiro walked the grounds with Chūta now a permanent fixture on his shoulder, the squirrel’s lively presence bringing him comfort. Meanwhile, Kaya received a letter from the messenger. She opened it quickly, her eyes scanning the page. As she read, her expression grew dark, her fingers tightening around the paper. Without a word, she folded it and slipped it into her pocket, masking her unease as she returned to her duties.
Late that night, the orphanage was quiet. Hiro y in bed, Chūta curled up on a small cushion near the window. As Hiro stared at the ceiling, reflecting on the chakra ceremony and Kaya’s promise to keep the paper safe, a faint green glow caught his attention. He turned his head to see the stone tablet by his dresser, its surface emitting a soft, pulsing light.
Curiosity pulled him from his bed. He approached the tablet and reached out, his fingers brushing the smooth surface. The moment he made contact, his hands stuck to it as if drawn by an invisible force.
The glow intensified, flooding the room with brilliant green light. Hiro’s heart raced as he felt a surge of energy course through him, overwhelming and unexpinable. The world seemed to tilt, and the st thing he saw before the light consumed everything was the crest on the back of the tablet, glowing with an otherworldly brilliance.
