Chapter 5:
Yuri sat quietly at the rooftop of the academy, the afternoon sun casting long shadows across the tiles. In his hands was an old but detailed anatomy book he had borrowed from the academy's limited library. His lunch sat beside him—rice balls, dried fish, and a cup of miso soup. As he turned another page, his eyes scanned each word, absorbing the diagrams and details with intense focus.
He had a reason for choosing this book. Understanding the body wasn't just some hobby or a random whim—it was a necessity. As someone who believed in optimizing every opportunity, Yuri knew the importance of anatomy in combat. The knowledge of muscles, nerves, pressure points, and vital organs could very well be the difference between life and death for a ninja. Assassins like Illumi Zoldyck didn't just rely on strength or stealth—they used knowledge.
Though he was gifted with the physical capabilities of Illumi—the speed, the silence, the presence suppression—it didn't come with the man's depth of knowledge. It was like having a high-end processor with no installed software. Yuri had the hardware, but now he needed the programming. That meant endless hours of reading, understanding, and practicing.
Another reason was his growing interest in medical ninjutsu. He had seen too many people die due to lack of medical knowledge—both in his past life and even more evidently in this world. If he was going to survive, and help Naruto and others, then knowing how to mend wounds was essential. Anatomy was the first step.
The lunch bell rang, echoing through the academy grounds. Students began trickling out of the classrooms and into the yard, some chattering, others laughing loudly. Yuri closed the book slowly, slipping it into his black canvas bag. He stood up, dusted himself off, and walked toward the yard where the next lecture would be held.
As he walked through the hallway, his appearance drew some stares as usual. Clad in a fitted black shirt, cargo pants, and ninja sandals, he carried himself with an air of mystery. The thin, square-rimmed glasses he wore only added to his quiet, composed demeanor.
Reaching the yard, he spotted Itachi already there, sitting under a tree with an unreadable expression. Yuri's sharp eyes, however, noted a subtle change—a softness, a warmth in Itachi's normally stoic face. He smirked.
"I just saw that dude having a date with Izumi," Yuri thought, his smile growing wider.
He casually walked up to Itachi and said in a quite tone that mirrored Illumi's unsettling calm, "So, how was your date, Itachi-kun?"
Itachi visibly flinched, his cheeks faintly turning red. "Don't say nonsense, Yuri. We're just friends. For now," he added in a lower tone.
Yuri caught it. His smile widened slightly as he leaned closer and whispered, "For now?" The teasing in his voice was obvious.
Itachi sighed and looked away, trying to compose himself. He was still not used to being read like an open book by Yuri. Despite being a genius himself, Itachi had found it hard to predict or fully understand Yuri. He felt like Yuri was always two steps ahead, watching, waiting.
Before their banter could continue, their instructor arrived—an older chunin with an authoritative voice that silenced the class instantly.
"Today, we're going to learn about chakra control."
For most clan children, this was routine. They had already learned this at home. The Nara, Uchiha, Hyuga, and other noble families trained their children from as young as five. But for children without clan backgrounds, like Yuri, this was the foundation of their ninja journey.
"Everyone, find a spot under the trees or by the training dummies. You're going to try and feel your chakra today. Visualize a flow inside you and try to guide it to your hands."
Yuri calmly walked over and chose a spot underneath a tall oak tree. He sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath.
He could already feel something inside him—an energy, warm and flowing, dormant but waiting to be guided. Chakra. It was different from anything he'd felt in his past life. Mana wasn't real in his world. This energy, this force—it felt like it could shape reality.
The instructor walked from student to student, giving tips, guiding them to sense their chakra. When he reached Yuri, he paused.
There was a strange stillness in the air. Yuri's chakra was too calm, too natural. Most students struggled to control their flow, but Yuri? His chakra wasn't flaring wildly or resisting—it was controlled. Centered. Balanced.
"You," the instructor said, kneeling next to him. "Have you done chakra training before?"
Yuri opened one eye and looked at the instructor. "No. But I've done meditation and internal body control training before."
The instructor blinked, momentarily confused. "Internal what now?"
"It's something my mother taught me before," Yuri answered cryptically.
"Keep practicing. You're doing better than most."
As the instructor moved on, Yuri smirked to himself. He could feel the chakra moving through his tenketsu. It was subtle, but with enough meditation and control, he would master it. This was step one. His next goal: tree walking, water walking, and then medical ninjutsu.
The lecture ended an hour later. Most students were tired, sweaty, and mentally drained. Yuri, however, felt more invigorated.
He glanced at Itachi, who was finishing his own chakra exercise with perfect control.
As the students packed up, the girls once again whispered among themselves.
"Yuri and Itachi... they're so cool."
"So cool... but kind of scary especially Yuri."
"They're so serious all the time."
Yuri ignored them, slipping his book into his bag and walking calmly out of the academy grounds.
Back at the orphanage, the sun had already started to set. The orange hue bathed the village in a warm glow. As he reached the orphanage's steps, he saw Naruto sitting by the gates, waiting with a big grin on his face.
"Nii-chan! Welcome back!"
Yuri smiled gently, ruffled Naruto's messy blonde hair, and handed him a warm snack he had picked up on the way—a red bean bun.
"Let's go eat at the rooftop again," Yuri said.
As they climbed the stairs, Yuri's mind returned to chakra, anatomy, and the path ahead. There was so much to learn, so many dangers to prepare for.
But for now, Naruto's laughter and the calm breeze of the rooftop were enough.
Chapter End.