Back at the academy, while browsing through the library, Shinra came across a scroll titled Sensory Training for Beginners.
Until now, he had no way of knowing if he was being watched or followed. If this training could give him that ability, it would bring him some peace of mind.
He unfurled the scroll and scanned its contents. It covered concepts Shinra hadn't encountered before, especially regarding how chakra could be sensed.
"Sensing chakra signatures can be achieved through the five senses.
Some people can detect chakra by touch—feeling vibrations through the earth.
Others can smell chakra, like members of the Inuzuka clan.
Some see chakra directly, such as those with the Byakugan.
The same applies to taste and hearing.
When you succeed in sensory training and can sense chakra signature, you will instinctively feel a zone around you in which your senses extends to.
When searching for a chakra signature your body unconsciously releases a special type of chakra called sensory chakra, which can be used by your enemies to locate you.
There's a theory that if you hone all five senses to their peak, you may awaken a 'sixth sense'—a passive ability to sense chakra—but this remains unproven.
To determine which sense you're most attuned to, try 'locking' the others and searching for chakra signatures with the one in focus."
Shinra raised an eyebrow as he finished reading.
"Lock out my other senses? Is that even possible?" he muttered, skeptical.
"Nonetheless this information is very valuable to me right now, I wonder who has written such concise information?"
Shinra didn't have to wait long to find out, because at the bottom of the scroll a name was written in small writing.
'Senju Tobirama.'
'No wonder, it was the father of forbidden ninjutsu himself.' Shinra thought as he headed back home to dispel himself.
…
The main body in the forest stopped in his tracks as a sudden wave of information flowed into his mind.
He clutched his head tightly, 'This felt a lot worse than memorising a few pages, is it because the clone was actually paying attention in the lessons taught today.'
The pain only lasted for a few seconds, before a small smile made its way into Shinra's face.
'Sensory training will be very useful to me.'
Shinra sat down on the grass and calmed his breathing, as soon as his breathing stabilised he closed his eyes and placed his hand on the ground.
'The meaning of locking your senses, isn't to be taken word for word. It just means to filter everything received from your other senses and focus only one.'
Soon enough the sound of the chirping birds in the forest started to fade, the smell of the grass and wild life disappeared, everything started to fade except for his connection to the earth.
He could feel the ground better than he ever could, the length and number of grass under his hands. The vibrations of the earth everything was starting to flow into his mind.
Then, everything clicked.
A rush of clarity slammed into him, nearly knocking him over. His heartbeat quickened.
'There's a creature… 150 meters to the west. A lifeform. Breathing. Moving. From the shape it should be a boar'
'And another… smaller chakra signature. Perched in a tree 200 meters in the opposite direction.'
Just when the connection felt to be improving, his eyes snapped open.
For a moment—just a moment—it felt like he could feel everything.
'I… I can feel everything within a kilometer radius. Is this what it's like to be omnipresent?'
The connection vanished instantly—gone like a puff of smoke.
Shinra gasped, disoriented, as if a limb had just been torn away. His body wobbled from exhaustion.
The sky above had changed from orange to a pale blue. The forest around him was washed in early morning light.
"…Wait. It's already morning?"
His stomach growled, and as he shifted to stand up, his hand bumped into something solid.
He turned.
"…A bento box?"
Sitting neatly beside him was a wooden lunch box with a note tucked beneath the lid.
"Don't overtrain yourself."
Shinra blinked. "Did she sneak up on me… while I was filtering out my senses?"
He sat back down with a sigh.
He had always tried to keep his distance from the old woman. It didn't feel right—pretending to be her grandson. Not after hijacking the real boy's body.
But he wasn't stupid enough to confess something like that. That secret… he'd carry to the grave.
He returned home quietly. The house was still. His grandmother was asleep in her room. He collapsed into bed the moment his head hit the pillow.
…
Shinra woke up late. Thankfully, it was a weekend. Had he missed class, Reigen would've definitely shown up at his door—he knew that from experience.
He had lunch with his grandmother. The silence between them was suffocating.
Shinra laid down his chopsticks and gave a soft smile. "Thanks for the food. And for the bento."
She nodded. "You've changed a lot this past year. Ever since the entrance exam, you've been training yourself to exhaustion every day."
Shinra said nothing. He didn't deny it.
"You used to be such a rowdy kid… always playing outside. Now, you're quieter. More driven."
Silence.
After what felt like an eternity, Shinra stood and headed toward the door.
"Shinra," she called softly.
He turned. Her eyes were gentle.
"What is your dream?"
The old Shinra never had grand ambitions. He just lived in the moment, chasing what he wanted to do for the day.
But the new Shinra… this was a question he'd asked himself for a whole year.
"To be the strongest," he said quietly.
She tilted her head. "Why?"
He met her gaze for the first time with his vivid green eyes.
"Because… why not?"
A smile bloomed on her wrinkled face. "Do your best. Your efforts won't betray you."
Shinra held her gaze for a moment, then turned away—smiling. This one wasn't fake. Just light. Like a burden had been lifted.
"I'm heading out," he said, stepping into the sun.
…
Back in the forest, Shinra went through his usual physical training. Then chakra control.
His tree-walking was perfected. He could maintain chakra output unconsciously now. Soon, he'd transition to water walking.
Next up—sensory training.
He closed his eyes. In less than a minute, he entered the sensory state again.
He pushed his perception outward, testing its edge.
'Still no progress beyond the zone. Expected. Tobirama said to hone the senses—repetition's the only way. I can't rush this.'
Just as he prepared to exit the state, he felt another zone—foreign—overlapping his own.
A chakra signature surged toward him.
'Should I use Shadow Clone to escape? No… too fast. He'd catch both of us.'
He made his decision in an instant.
Shinra stayed put.
He turned toward the incoming chakra and waited.
"Oh, you actually didn't try to run away. What a bummer, I was feeling up for hide and seek today." A deep voice said from behind Shinra.
'Behind me?! Did he teleport? Or is he that fast I couldn't sense him?'
Shinra remained still, his expression calm.
"Hey kid, are you mute or something?"
the voice asked casually, as a hand landed on his shoulder. Smoke drifted from the man's mouth.
"Who are you?" Shinra asked, voice low.
"Oh, so not only did you rudely peek at me while I was taking a wee, you even have the balls to ask for my name before apologising."
Shinra blinked and said, "I don't know what you are talking about."
The man paused. Then let out a long exhale. "You just started learning sensory techniques, huh?"
"…Yes"
"I see. If it was by accident, no big deal."
He removed his hand and patted Shinra's back with unexpected friendliness.
Shinra turned to face him. 'Gray hair, wrinkled face, jacked body. Who the hell is this guy?'
"I'll be going now," Shinra said, turning.
"Wait." The old man's voice stopped him mid-step.
"Aren't you forgetting something important?" he asked, eyes narrowed.
"…What?"
"Apologize for peeping on me."
—
A/N:
What are your thoughts on strong Oc characters?