Chapter 5: Emotions. Good?? Bad??

Chapter 5 - Emotions. Good?? Bad?? Ren started, "I plan to postpone ninjutsu training for now since I won't be able to use any useful ones anyway. Instead, I'll focus on training my body and chakra control first. What do you think?" Juichi hummed in approval, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Not a bad plan. A strong body and good chakra control are the foundation of any good shinobi. If you rush into ninjutsu without those, you'll just burn through chakra inefficiently." He gave Ren a nod of approval. "Smart choice. But how do you plan to train them?" "I'll be training my body first since that would be better," Ren explained. "Building a strong foundation will help with everything else. After I make some progress and rest properly, I'll begin chakra control training." Juichi nodded slowly, seeming to approve of the plan. "Solid approach. If your body's weak, your chakra won't flow properly either. A lot of Academy students ignore that." Ren hesitated for a moment before asking, "Since you have more experience, do you have any special training methods? Something that could help me improve faster?" Juichi smirked, his eyes glinting with something between amusement and challenge. "Oh, I might have a few tricks up my sleeve... but the real question is, can you do it?" Ren grinned despite himself. "You know I can." Juichi chuckled. "Alright then, listen up" Juichi smirked at Ren's eagerness and leaned back slightly, crossing his arms. "Alright, kid. Since you asked, I'll teach you the Takahashi family training method." Ren blinked, his curiosity immediately piqued. "Wait... we have a family training method?" Juichi chuckled at his reaction. "Don't get too excited. It's not some secret bloodline technique or anything flashy. We're not a big-shot clan like the Uchiha or Hyūga." He tapped his temple. "It's just a training regimen that shinobi in our family have passed down to their kids. Over time, it's been refined and improved, but at its core, it's just smart training. Nothing unique—just effective." Ren narrowed his eyes, processing the information. "So it's basically a structured training program designed by generations of experience?" Juichi grinned. "That's one way to put it. Most skilled shinobi train their kids this way—it's just that our family has had time to perfect what works best." Ren nodded slowly. It wasn't as exciting as discovering some legendary technique, but in a way, this was even better. A tried-and-tested training method developed by actual shinobi over generations. That meant it worked. "So what does it involve?" Ren asked, now fully invested. Juichi's grin widened. "Simple. It focuses on three key areas—stamina, body conditioning, and practical agility. If you can handle it, you'll have a stronger foundation than most Genin before you even graduate." Ren smirked. "I like the sound of that." Juichi chuckled. "Good. Because it's not going to be easy." Juichi stretched his one remaining arm before cracking his neck slightly. "Alright, listen up, kid. The first part of the Takahashi training regimen is simple—but brutal. We start with stamina and endurance." Ren nodded, fully attentive. "Makes sense. A shinobi needs to last in a fight." Juichi smirked. "Exactly. Doesn't matter how strong or fast you are if you gas out after a few minutes. So before you even think about ninjutsu or fancy tricks, you need to build a body that won't quit on you." Ren felt a surge of excitement. "So what's step one?" Juichi raised a single finger. "Running." Ren blinked. "Running?" Juichi nodded. "Every morning, before the sun even rises, you're going to run. At first, it'll just be distance running—getting your lungs and legs used to working for long periods. But over time, we'll start adding weights, obstacle running, and sprint endurance." Ren processed the information. "So... no shortcuts, huh?" Juichi chuckled. "Nope. A shinobi's stamina is built through blood, sweat, and discipline. If you're serious about getting stronger, this is where it starts." Ren smirked. "Alright then. When do I start?" Juichi's grin widened. "The moment you get out of this hospital bed." "I don't think I have any problems right now, but it would be better if I wait for the doctors to give me the go-ahead, just in case," Ren said. Juichi nodded approvingly. "Smart choice. Ren paused for a moment before continuing. "What about chakra training? Do I just go with what you told me before—leaf training, tree walking, and water walking?" Juichi smirked. "Glad you remember. Yeah, that's the standard method, and it works. The goal is to build fine control over your chakra so you're not wasting energy on every little thing." He tapped the bed frame lightly with his fingers. "Start with the leaf exercise—it's simple, but it builds control at the base level. Once you can keep a leaf stuck to your forehead or hand without losing focus, move on to tree climbing. And when that feels easy, you push yourself to water walking." Ren nodded, already forming a plan in his head. His Improved Chakra Control talent from the system meant he would likely progress faster than normal, but he still needed to put in the work. "Got it. I'll start with the leaf exercise first and build from there." Juichi gave him a satisfied nod. "Good. Mastering chakra control early will put you ahead of most Academy students. Even some Genin struggle with it." Ren smirked. "Then I'll make sure I don't struggle." Juichi chuckled. "That's the spirit." After locking his training plan in his mind, Ren shifted gears. "What about the Academy? When am I supposed to start? And what should I expect?" Juichi let out a sigh, leaning back slightly. "Honestly? With everything that just happened, it's hard to say." Ren frowned. "Because of the attack?" Juichi nodded. "Yeah. The village took a serious hit. The Hokage is gone, a lot of shinobi were lost, and rebuilding is going to take time. That includes reorganizing the Academy." Ren tapped his fingers on the bedside, thinking. "So there's no exact start date yet?" "Not yet," Juichi confirmed. "Normally, kids your age would be enrolling soon, but with the attack throwing everything into chaos, the Academy is probably still sorting things out. Could be a few weeks, maybe longer." Ren processed this information. On one hand, it was annoying not having a set schedule, but on the other, it meant he had extra time to train before officially joining. "That means I should take advantage of the delay." Juichi smirked, seeing the look on Ren's face. "Thinking about squeezing in extra training before enrollment, huh?" Ren grinned. "Obviously." Juichi chuckled. "Good. Use the time wisely. When the Academy starts, you'll want to be ahead of the pack." Ren nodded, already planning how to maximize his training before his official enrollment. Juichi let out a tired sigh before glancing at Ren. "Alright, kid. You should head back and get some rest." Ren frowned slightly. "I'm fine, though—" "Doesn't matter." Juichi cut him off with a knowing smirk. "The hospital is overloaded, and they'll probably start discharging patients early to free up space. That includes you. So go rest while you can." Ren hesitated for a moment, but he could see the logic in his father's words. With so many injured shinobi and civilians, the hospital staff was overworked, and keeping patients longer than necessary wasn't an option. "Alright, alright. I'm going." He turned toward the door, pausing only briefly before looking back. "I'll see you later, Dad." Juichi smirked. "Yeah, yeah. Just don't slack off while I'm stuck here." Ren rolled his eyes before stepping out, making his way back through the crowded hallways. When he returned to his hospital room, he immediately noticed the difference—new people occupied the beds that were previously used by other patients. "They must have been discharged already..." Ren thought. The hospital really was moving quickly to clear out space. That meant his turn was coming soon. And when that happened, his real training would begin. As Ren sat down on his hospital bed, he let out a slow breath, his mind replaying his conversation with Juichi. His outburst. His frustration. The way his emotions had taken over before he even realized it. "I acted like a child..." he muttered to himself, rubbing his temples. It wasn't like him—or at least, it wasn't like who he used to be. Back in his past life, he had been an adult, someone who had long learned how to keep his emotions in check. But today, he had lost control. He clenched his fists, thinking back to how raw his emotions had felt. The mix of relief, anger, and helplessness had overwhelmed him, and he had snapped. And it wasn't just him. It was the original Ren Takahashi. The emotions of this six-year-old body were still there, still affecting him, blending with his own. As much as he had taken over this life, he wasn't completely free from the boy who had lived it before him. "I need to be more aware of this." He took a deep breath, letting the realization settle in. If he wanted to survive and get stronger, he couldn't let himself be ruled by emotions—not in battle, not in training, and especially not in front of Juichi again. Although his father was good and he was glad to have a loving father in this life it was still important that he does not let his emotions get the better of him. (P.S- You guys will like his past life story but it'll need some time cuz I have thought how I want to bring it out already) "Next time, I'll control myself better." This world wasn't a place where anger or frustration would get him anywhere. Feeling more collected after his reflection, Ren decided there was no point in pushing himself further right now. "I'll be discharged soon anyway... Might as well get some rest while I can." Lying back on the stiff hospital bed, he let his muscles relax. The hospital was still busy, with the faint sounds of footsteps, hushed conversations, and medical equipment beeping in the background. But Ren tuned it all out. His body was still sore, and even though he had already planned out his training so all he could do now was rest till he was allowed. Ren's rest was peaceful, but it didn't last long. A gentle shake on his shoulder stirred him from his sleep, and as his eyes fluttered open, he saw a nurse standing beside his bed, holding a clipboard. "Takahashi Ren?" she said in a professional but slightly tired tone. "You're being discharged." Ren blinked the sleep away, sitting up as his mind quickly adjusted. "That was fast," he muttered. The nurse nodded. "The hospital is still at full capacity. Since your injuries weren't severe and you've shown stable recovery, we need to clear space for more critical cases." Ren wasn't surprised. With the aftermath of the Nine-Tails Attack, the hospital was likely overflowing with injured shinobi and civilians. He stretched his arms, feeling much better than before. His body was still a bit sore, but it was nothing he couldn't handle. The nurse handed him a small paper. "This contains instructions for post-recovery care. Don't overexert yourself immediately, and if you experience dizziness or pain, report back to the hospital." Ren took the paper, but he already knew what his next steps were. "Yeah, yeah, I'll be fine." The nurse gave him a tired look before moving on to the next patient. Ren swung his legs over the side of the bed, planting his feet on the floor. "Finally... I can start training."