After finishing their sushi lunch, Shin, Akio, and Minato made their way back to the academy, the late afternoon sun casting a warm glow over the tiled rooftops. The quiet halls of the library greeted them with a sense of calm and mystery. Polished wooden shelves stretched high, and the scent of aged parchment lingered in the air. At the front desk sat an elderly woman, her silver hair tied in a neat bun, small spectacles perched on her nose as she read an old leather-bound tome.
"Excuse me," Minato said politely, stepping forward. "We're from Class 1A. Our instructor said we're allowed access to Sections D and E."
The old woman looked up slowly, her sharp eyes scanning the trio. After a pause, she gave a slow nod.
"Hmm… Class 1A, is it? Very well. Follow the right corridor, second left. Sections D and E are marked clearly. No loud talking. No damaging the scrolls. And if you don't understand something… don't try to copy it without guidance."
"Understood," Shin replied with a respectful bow.
They walked deeper into the library, their footsteps muffled by thick rugs. When they reached the designated sections, the sight made all three pause. Towering bookshelves lined the room, filled with scrolls, bound manuals, and chakra-imbued instruction records. Section D had tomes on chakra theory, hand seals, basic formations, and battle history. Section E held elemental principles, beginner-level jutsu scrolls, clan studies, and foundational tactics.
Akio's eyes widened. "This… this is way more than I expected."
Minato grinned, already reaching for a scroll titled The Five Elemental Chakra Natures – A Primer.
"Looks like we'll be spending a lot of time here."
Shin, meanwhile, gravitated toward a scroll labeled Yin-Yang Balance in Chakra Manipulation. He ran a hand across its faded cover, a familiar curiosity lighting up in his gaze.
"Let's split up and each grab something interesting," he said. "Then we share what we learn."
"Agreed," Akio said, nodding.
And with that, the three of them scattered quietly through the aisles, unaware that the knowledge they were about to uncover would shape more than just their training—it would begin to shape their paths as shinobi.
---
Shin stood in the middle of Section E, surrounded by shelves stacked high with scrolls and aged tomes. His eyes drifted from one label to another—chakra flow, taijutsu theory, elemental principles. Yet his mind wasn't just scanning titles.
I can't afford to copy someone else's path, he thought, clenching his fists slightly. I need something of my own… a system that fits how I think, how I move, how I fight.
He walked over to a section dedicated to Fire Release, fingers brushing along the spines of a few scrolls.
Fire is the nature I understand best. It's aggressive, relentless, but it needs control to be truly deadly.
He pulled a few scrolls free, setting them under one arm.
If I start here, I can build outward—shaping my style from the inside out.
Nearby, he noticed a few basic manuals stacked neatly—covering core shinobi principles and essential chakra applications. He picked up two without hesitation.
Foundations first. No shortcuts.
His gaze hardened with quiet resolve.
I'm not here to just keep up. I'm here to rise above.
---
After finishing his reading on the basics of Fire nature, Shin felt a quiet clarity settling over him.
I need jutsu that suit my pace… things that can be used practically in real fights, he thought, stepping back into the Fire Release section with renewed purpose.
The scrolls were neatly arranged, though many were clearly impractical or overly flashy. He sifted through them patiently, his eyes narrowing with focus.
Eventually, he settled on three techniques. The first was Fire Ring, a D-rank jutsu that could trap or delay opponents with a sudden burst of flames in a circular formation—useful for both offense and battlefield control. The second was Fire Lance, a concentrated, mid-range piercing technique with good speed and power. Lastly, he picked up Fire Shuriken, a flexible jutsu that allowed him to coat thrown weapons in flames, increasing their lethality.
With those secured, he glanced over at the Wind section, remembering his recent affinity test.
I won't go deep into Wind just yet… but one technique will help me get a feel for it.
He chose Wind Projection, a technique focused on extending force and reach using compressed wind chakra—a simple, clean move that could be adapted over time.
Before leaving, he also stopped by the basics section. Despite being simple, the three standard academy techniques—Transformation, Clone, and Substitution—were crucial foundations.
Even the strongest shinobi mastered these first… no skipping steps, he reminded himself.
With seven scrolls in hand and a faint spark of excitement in his chest, Shin made his way toward the reading area, ready to begin the next phase of his growth.
---
As Shin moved through the rows of scrolls, he found himself drawn toward the lesser-explored Genjutsu section.
I can't rely on brute force alone… throwing an opponent off with illusions could turn the tide in close fights, he thought, scanning through the titles.
After careful consideration, he picked two scrolls. The first was Phantom Sound, a genjutsu that created illusory footsteps or whispers around the target, distracting and confusing them mid-combat. The second was Veil Flicker, a low-level visual genjutsu that caused a brief delay or blur in the opponent's perception—perfect for creating an opening or escaping tight spots.
Nearby, tucked between elemental scrolls and chakra theory tomes, Shin noticed a worn, thin manual titled Foundations of Yin and Yang Release. Curious, he picked it up and skimmed through the first few pages. It was a beginner's manual explaining the philosophy and chakra principles behind Yin (spiritual) and Yang (physical) chakra manipulation—crucial knowledge for anyone aiming to balance ninjutsu with genjutsu or support techniques.
Understanding this could help me refine my overall control… even if I can't use Yin or Yang Release yet, he thought, sliding the manual under his arm.
With all his chosen scrolls gathered—seven ninjutsu, two genjutsu, and the basic Yin-Yang manual—he walked back toward the front desk where the elderly librarian sat quietly.
"Excuse me," Shin said politely, placing the scrolls on the wooden counter, "Could I get copies of these made for home study?"
The old woman glanced over the collection, her sharp eyes surprisingly alert. She gave a small nod.
"It'll be ready in an hour. Come before closing."
Shin thanked her with a slight bow, feeling more grounded than before as he stepped out of the library. A plan was beginning to take shape.
---
An hour later, Shin saw Minato and Akio return, both carrying their own bundles of scrolls. Akio looked especially satisfied, waving his set in the air.
"Got a few genjutsu techniques that looked cool," he said. "Also picked up a lightning-style one—thought I'd test it out tomorrow. Might need a volunteer." He grinned at Shin, who raised an eyebrow.
Minato, as usual, was calmer. "I stuck with fuinjutsu," he said, adjusting the small scroll case on his back. "There's a sealing technique that can store weapons. If I get it right, I won't have to lug around a blade all the time."
As they made their way home, the boys chatted casually, comparing the techniques they'd chosen.
"That Fire Ring jutsu better be as good as it sounds," Shin muttered, half to himself.
Akio snorted. "As long as it doesn't set your eyebrows on fire, I'd call that a win."
Minato shook his head, a small smile on his face. "We'll see who's still standing after tomorrow's training."
The quiet street ahead felt full of promise, the scrolls in their hands holding more than just words—there was a lot of training to be done.