Rat (Ne), Ox (Ushi), Tiger (Tora), Hare (U), Dragon (Tatsu), Snake (Mi), Horse (Uma), Ram (Hitsuji), Monkey (Saru), Bird (Tori), Dog (Inu), and Boar (I).
Chiriku watched Carl effortlessly perform all twelve basic hand seals after being shown only once. His expression was filled with awe and disbelief.
"You really are a natural-born ninja..."
While mastering chakra extraction overnight was already a sign of talent—something Chiriku had seen before in children with kekkei genkai or unique physiques—being able to memorize and flawlessly execute all twelve hand seals after a single demonstration? That was something truly rare.
For the first time, Chiriku's attitude toward Carl shifted.
At first, he thought Carl—being a noble prince—had come to the Temple of Fire on a whim. A brief desire to chase dreams before returning to the comfort of the palace once training got hard.
Even after Carl sent his attendants away and showed discipline in his early days at the temple, Chiriku still doubted how far he could go, given his age and lack of prior training.
But now, witnessing this level of raw talent and aptitude, Chiriku began to reconsider.
Perhaps... if Carl could endure the trials ahead, there really was hope for him to catch up—or even surpass—others who had been training since childhood.
With this realization, Chiriku's teaching became more focused and sincere.
"Since you've learned the hand seals so quickly," Chiriku said with a nod of approval, "I'll teach you your first ninjutsu—Transformation Technique."
"Transformation only requires a single seal," he explained, "but executing it is more than just forming the sign correctly. You must also guide chakra through your meridians with precision. The flow, the amount, and the balance all matter."
Carl nodded, forming the seal under Chiriku's watchful eye.
He began circulating chakra through his body, trying to shift his form. His figure shimmered for a brief moment, blurring at the edges—but then quickly snapped back to normal.
Chiriku, who had been watching closely, actually let out a small breath of relief.
"It's alright," he said with a calm smile. "It's normal to fail the first time. Ninjutsu takes repetition and control. Keep practicing, and you'll succeed."
If Carl had performed the Transformation Technique flawlessly on his first try, Chiriku might have begun to suspect he'd already learned ninjutsu in secret before arriving at the temple.
Carl, meanwhile, remained calm. He understood his situation well.
He wasn't some once-in-a-millennium prodigy.
The reason he had progressed so quickly in chakra extraction and hand seals was because of his years of martial arts experience. He had spent most of his life training, refining his physical body, mastering breathing, and developing iron discipline. He could control every muscle fiber with ease.
But chakra was different.
Ninjutsu relied on mastering internal energy—chakra control—something entirely foreign to a martial artist like Carl. There were no flashy ki blasts or inner strength in the martial arts he trained in—just power, precision, and movement.
So in this, he was a true beginner.
If he had any real advantage, it was his unwavering patience and mental fortitude—qualities forged through harsh training and countless battles.
And he was ready to start from the bottom, one step at a time.
At the same time, Carl already possessed a wealth of combat experience, so he could dedicate more time and focus to learning ninjutsu.
One month later, inside a training hall at the Fire Temple, the results of his dedication became clear.
"Transformation Jutsu!"
Carl formed the necessary hand seal and in a puff of smoke, his appearance shifted instantly—he now looked exactly like Chiriku.
After dispelling the transformation, he quickly formed the next set of hand seals.
"Clone Jutsu!"
A perfect copy of himself appeared beside him, mimicking his stance and expression with no delay.
"Substitution Jutsu!"
In the blink of an eye, Carl disappeared in a puff of smoke, reappearing several meters away. In his original spot, a wooden log dropped with a thud.
Carl had officially mastered the Three Basic Academy Jutsu taught in every Hidden Leaf Ninja Academy: Transformation (Henge no Jutsu), Clone (Bunshin no Jutsu), and Substitution (Kawarimi no Jutsu).
Though these were foundational techniques every genin learned, they felt incredible to Carl. Turning into another person, creating identical illusions, vanishing and reappearing—all of it felt like true magic compared to the hard limits of the martial arts he once knew.
This sensation stirred something in his heart—something that had been quiet for a long time.
It was the same spark he felt when he first began practicing martial arts back on Earth. But over time, that passion faded. As powerful as he became, he still couldn't overcome the reality of modern warfare. His body could dodge bullets, but it couldn't dodge a barrage from a Gatling gun—or stop a missile.
Eventually, he shifted focus to wealth and survival. He trained not to transcend limits, but to protect his loved ones and fund his master's medical treatments back home.
But now, everything was different.
In this world, only a month into his training, he had already achieved more than he ever imagined. With chakra enhancing his body, his strength, speed, and endurance had all seen visible improvement. And this was just the beginning.
Perhaps entering this world wasn't only about preparing for survival in the Marvel Universe. Perhaps, deep down, it was also about rediscovering that original desire—to become truly strong.
"Impressive," Chiriku said, watching Carl complete the final Substitution technique. "To master the Three Basic Jutsu in a month is no small feat. You've exceeded my expectations."
To be honest, in Chiriku's eyes, Carl was more of a natural at chakra control and physical training than ninjutsu. But even if his ninjutsu learning curve wasn't the steepest, Carl's unwavering persistence more than made up for it.
Ever since he began training, Carl devoted nearly every moment—aside from eating and sleeping—to refining chakra and practicing techniques. Day in and day out, without the slightest hint of boredom or complaint.
He wasn't like any noble or prodigy Chiriku had ever trained. This kind of focus didn't just require talent—it demanded willpower and the ability to endure intense physical and mental fatigue.
It was because of this that Chiriku's view of Carl began to change.
Initially, he had accepted Carl as a student because of his status as a prince and the substantial donation of five million ryo. But now, he truly recognized Carl's potential—and more importantly, his heart.
He no longer saw Carl as a noble playing ninja. He saw him as a true disciple—one who deserved everything the Fire Temple could offer.
"All thanks to your guidance, Master," Carl replied with a respectful bow.
Though Chiriku was younger than him in appearance, Carl understood the weight of the bond between master and student. To Carl, Chiriku was worthy of the same respect as the martial masters who shaped him in his previous life.
Chiriku nodded again, satisfied. Despite his noble background, Carl had never once acted above others. He had treated Chiriku with sincerity, always behaving like a disciple—not a prince.
And that, more than anything, made Chiriku proud.
CHAPTER 7
"Now that you've taken your first steps with ninjutsu," Chiriku said calmly, "I'll begin introducing new techniques gradually. But starting today, we shift focus to actual combat training."
He looked at Carl with a firm gaze.
"Ninjutsu, taijutsu, genjutsu—these are all tools. The real goal is to defeat your opponent in battle. Which means... learning how to fight is just as important as learning jutsu."
After confirming Carl had fully grasped the Three Basic Academy Techniques, Chiriku led him out to the training grounds of the Fire Temple.
Originally, Chiriku had no plans to teach real combat. Injuring a noble-born student like Carl could bring serious trouble to the temple. From the Temple of Fire's perspective, simply entertaining the prince with harmless ninjutsu would have been the safest route.
But his mindset had changed.
Carl wasn't just playing ninja—he was determined. And if Chiriku truly accepted him as a disciple, then real training—dangerous or not—was unavoidable.
On the training field, several young monk-nin were already undergoing their daily drills. Endurance sprints, heavy strikes, and precise body movements flowed seamlessly through the ranks. Thanks to their inherited Sage lineage, most monks at the Fire Temple had enhanced chakra that gave them strong physical prowess, especially those attuned to the Lightning Release, which amplified cellular activity.
Unlike Konoha, where a wide variety of ninjutsu were available for study, the Fire Temple focused on body conditioning and hand-to-hand combat. It was a reflection of their beliefs, their environment, and their limitations.
Chiriku led Carl to a quieter corner of the field.
"Carl," he asked, folding his arms, "have you learned any combat techniques before?"
Most nobles, even if they hadn't trained in ninjutsu, typically learned fencing, basic martial arts, or at least self-defense from an early age.
"I've trained quite a bit, actually," Carl replied with a humble smile. "I practiced regularly back home."
The calm confidence in his voice made Chiriku pause. It was subtle, but unmistakable.
He turned his head and called out, "Kūkai! Come here."
A young monk in training robes, around seventeen or eighteen, jogged over and bowed respectfully.
"This is Kūkai. He's Genin-level, and solid in hand-to-hand combat. You'll spar with him."
Then, Chiriku leaned in and added quietly to Kūkai, "No chakra. No ninjutsu. Just hand-to-hand. Be cautious."
He wasn't looking for a full-out match—this was just to gauge Carl's current level and plan accordingly. If Kūkai went all out, Carl might not even land a hit, which could be a crushing blow to someone just starting their ninja journey.
Kūkai pressed his palms together in a respectful Buddhist salute toward Chiriku.
"Understood, Abbot."
Even with all the courage in the world, he wouldn't dare injure the Prince of the Land of Fire. Still… if he managed to outmatch the prince in a fair fight, even just a spar, it'd be something to brag about later.
All the ninja monks at the Fire Temple were aware of Isamu's identity. But because of his noble background—and the fact that he usually trained in seclusion—most kept their distance and said little.
Deep down, though, many of them shared the same assumption Chiriku once held: that the prince was here for novelty, not serious training.
The older monks were more reserved in their opinions, but younger ones like Kūkai couldn't help feeling a twinge of envy. The Abbot himself had taken Carl under his wing—something that hadn't happened since Chiriku mentored the prodigy Sora years ago.
Now, seeing that Kūkai had been chosen to spar with him, the other young monks paused their training and circled around, watching with curiosity and poorly hidden amusement.
Chiriku didn't intervene, only gesturing for them to make space.
He had warned Kūkai not to go full force, but a little pressure was necessary. Real growth came when a student was tested—not crushed, but challenged.
In the center of the training field, Carl smiled lightly and took a step forward, slowly raising his fists.
His eyes sharpened with anticipation.
"Brother Kūkai, please guide me."
Kūkai gave a small nod and a grin. "Don't hold back, Junior Brother. I'm coming ."
He slid into a ready stance, then dashed forward, his fist whipping toward Carl's abdomen.
To the gathered monks, it looked like Carl froze. But Chiriku noticed something in his eyes—something sharp and calculating.
He's not stunned… he's measuring him.
Indeed, as Kūkai closed in, Carl's expression flickered with realization.
So this is a Genin? Even without chakra, he's much slower than I expected. This isn't Konoha, after all. Compared to Naruto and Sasuke at the same age, there's a clear gap.
In that split second, Carl's feet shifted, his weight flowing into motion like water. He vanished from Kūkai's line of sight.
"Substitution?" Kūkai muttered in shock, his fist hitting nothing but air. But when he glanced back, there was no log—just emptiness.
Then, Carl's calm voice sounded behind him.
"Brother Kūkai, if you don't use chakra, you won't be able to land a hit."
When Kūkai turned, startled, a whip-like kick was already arcing toward him—but it missed by a hair's breadth as Carl pulled back with effortless grace.
In truth, Carl had evaded Kūkai's strike with pure movement—his body light as a bird, his feet barely touching the ground. It was a technique honed through years of martial arts discipline in his previous life.
Kūkai's pride flared. No way. I've trained for seven years. There's no way I'm being outmatched by a prince who's been here for one month!
He launched into a barrage of punches and kicks, striking fast and hard—but no matter how aggressive he became, Carl danced just outside the reach of every attack.
To the watching monks, it was mesmerizing. Kūkai was attacking like a storm, yet Carl weaved through it like falling leaves on the wind—dodging with movements that defied logic, speed, and gravity.
Soon, Kūkai was panting, his brow slick with sweat. Meanwhile, Carl remained calm, not even winded—his posture elegant, his breathing steady.
"Use your full strength, Kūkai!" Chiriku finally called out, eyes gleaming with something between shock and pride.
He hadn't expected this.
Was Kūkai weak? No. He was one of the top young monks in the temple. And yet, he hadn't even grazed Carl's robes.
And neither of them had used chakra.
Incredible… His fighting skill alone is already beyond Genin-level. It's not just talent. It's training—relentless training from another world.