5 Chapter 5 : Power Within Reach

Shirou was currently at a playground. While others were having fun with friends and family, Shirou was alone on a swing. He wasn't sad, he was actually glad he didn't have any parents in this life. It's not that he hated family, he's just different.

Most of the time Shirou could be seen thinking. Despite being only three years old, people did not find this strange. He was childish but also mature. The reason it was not that strange is that some children also develop similar behaviors. Compared to some of the Nara clan children Shirou was on the normal side.

Shirou speculates that it has something to do with chakra and genetics.

Looking at the parents who were with their children, Shirou became curious.

'What is the identity of my ex-family in this world.'

'Am I an Uzumaki? Low chance for that, after all, Shirou Emiya simply has natural red hair.'

'Come to think of it, I never asked the wardens about it. Should I try asking next time? Not that I care, I am just curious.'

'Actually, this can wait. Right now I need to sense my inner energy.'

As an otaku Shirou in his past life has scoured the internet on how to meditate and sense ki. He never managed to achieve it. He can only hope since this is a supernatural world things will be different.

'Ok. Relax. Take deep breaths. Let go of all thoughts and focus on my breath. Breath in... Breath out... sense the flow as the air from your lungs....'

[ 5 minutes later ]

'.....'

'Am I doing this right?'

There were no otherworldly sensations or anything.

'Well, it's only been a few minutes. I am sure in a few hours something will happen. Yeah, I shouldn't give up so early.'

[ An hour later ]

'Why isn't this working.'

He tried every mediation technique he remembered from his past life. Nothing was giving him any results. Shirou was starting to get frustrated. He knew that it had only been a few hours since he started, but he did not know if he was on the right track.

Suddenly.

"Hey Shirou, it's almost time to eat. Get back here." Says Ishida.

'Oh, a wild Ishida appeared.' Shirou chuckles and heads off.

As they were walking back.

"Brat, were you thinking something rude just now." Asks Ishida with a tick on his face.

"What? H.. No I wasn't thinking anything." Shirou quickly replies.

"Sigh... I might not look like it kid but I was once a top Sensor ninja. I am particularly sensitive."

"Oh... It was not anything rude, it was a simple joke. Don't be mad."

"... Forget it. So, what were you doing all this time."

"Thinking."

"About?"

"How cool it would be to shoot fireballs out of my mouth."

"HaHa... I remember those days. So, any luck."

"No, I can't even figure out how to use or sense chakra. Even if I could I don't know the hand seals for doing the jutsu."

"Of Course you couldn't figure it out. If it was that easy, then why would we need a ninja academy."

"I know... It's just... I thought I could do it."

Yes, deep down Shirou wanted to be the special one. When he reincarnated, part of him was excited at the thought of becoming an overpowered powerhouse. He wanted to be the golden child who was talented and save damsels in distress.

'I want power. Not just for my freedom, but also because it's cool as hell.' Shirou thought.

"I get you kid,... I really do." Says Ishida with a nostalgic expression.

An idea lights up within Shirou's mind. This was an opportunity. He had to capitalize on it.

"Ishida-san, tea..." Shirou begins but is interrupted.

"No kid." - Ishida.

"..Huh.." - Shirou.

"I know what you are going to ask. So no." - Ishida.

"But why?" - Shirou.

"Because it can be dangerous for someone your age to use chakra." - Ishida.

"Well... maybe I can handle it." - Shirou.

Ishida looks at Shirou with a serious face.

"Listen, kid. As smart as you may be you are still only 3 years old. Chakra is your life energy kid. I have seen many cases where children whose chakra were awakened early, die due to their ignorance. Just wait until you are 5 to 6 years old. Even among the most talented kids, the earliest some managed to awaken chakra was at 4 and they were members of big ninja clans who had the resources, connections and techniques to make sure nothing went wrong." - Ishida.

Hearing this Shirou felt guilty.

'I am sorry Ishida-san but even if you tell me it's dangerous, I will still try. I don't want to wait. This is my second life so my mental age is already more than an adult's. I will only try to feel and circulate the chakra within my body. I won't try any Jutsu until I have higher reserves and control.' - Shirou.

'Also I feel that each day I waste is increasing my chances of dying. I know the future of this world. The level of threats is only going to increase in the coming years.' - Shirou.

'There are also other issues. Can I even use chakra? Does this world have mana? If I can't use Jutsu or Magecraft then I am totally screwed. I need to know.' - Shirou.

"Then can you at least check if I have talent or something." - Shirou.

It's ok if Ishida cannot teach him. But he at least needed to know he wasn't trash.

"Sigh... Ok fine. Let's head back to the orphanage first. Then I will check." - Ishida.

"YES. Even if this was not what I originally wanted, it's still good to know." - Shirou raised his hands excitedly.

Ishida smiles while looking at Shirou. Even though he seems mature, deep down he is still just a kid.

"Look we are almost home." - Ishida.

In fact, Shirou can be called a child even when considering his mental age and past life. Because in his past life, he was never able to let go of his childish self as he grew up. He was scolded and bullied due to this. To cope with this he had concealed his true thoughts and self. Over time he unknowingly created a mature persona as a mask to hide his true thoughts. When someone interacted with him, everything appeared normal. But in reality, all the expressions on his face were fake. Every word and sentence he used was designed to end the conversation as quickly as possible without appearing unsocial.