1 Prologue

"Alright Rei, let's try this again. Show me what you got!" Standing in an open training ground. The training ground was located behind the largest house in the village and had a traditional Japanese style.

The older man had one hand behind his back while the other was holding a wooden sword. "Old man, you know this isn't fair right?" Facing off against the older man was Rei, a boy who seemed to be no older than ten.

Rei's dad raised his eyebrow. "Oh, you're giving up then?" Rei smiled in response. "I never said that I just didn't want you to throw out your hip trying to keep up with me." With that Rei copied his father's stance holding his smaller wooden sword firmly.

This was the stance every member of the Kuro clan used and was the most basic style used. 'Alright enhance the right leg with Chakra and extend the right arm.'

Taking a deep breath Rei attacked. Following his training, he kicked off the ground with his right leg dashing towards his father. Extending his right arm in a piercing motion his father smiled as he parried.

"Nice try Rei but you're slow when it comes to applying Chakra to your limbs." Raising the wooden sword in his hand Rei's father attacked from above.

Dodging out the way with a roll Rei quickly got back onto his feet. "Hey, it's not my fault Chakra is so difficult to use." The two of them laughed as they heard a female voice yell over to them.

"Hey I know you two like verbally abusing one another but it's time for dinner." Looking over at the woman calling them from their houses back porch was Rei's mother.

On their way inside Rei and his dad began talking. "You know Rei, you're not at utilizing the Kuto Clan's stance and you might even be the best in the village for your age."

Listening to his dad Rei sighed as he finished the sentence for his dad. "I'm good but I still don't incorporate the clan's techniques into my fighting style right?"

"Hahaha. So you already know huh?" Rei shook his head as they entered the house from the back door. "Of course I do but I just can't."

The clan's techniques focused on the mastery of Chakra application and Chakra control to the absolute max. The idea was using these techniques one would be able to outperform ninja that relied on Jutsu.

For example, if someone used an A-Rank fire release Jutsu a member of the Kuro clan would be able to counter it by disabling the Jutsu with pure precision and chakra control.

But Rei simply couldn't do it no matter how hard he tried despite being physically strong and good at Chakra application he couldn't use any of the clan's techniques they simply felt wrong to him.

Putting his hand on Rei's shoulder Rei's dad smiled at him. "Hey don't worry too much you're my son, after all, I'm sure you'll get it eventually.

And besides until then, I can still brag to the elders every clan meeting about how my son can beat theirs without any techniques." Laughing out loud Rei's mom came out of the kitchen carrying three plates of food.

"Well, when you're done humiliating the elders maybe you can try learning how to do the dishes." But before Rei's mom could press his father he yelled at the top of his longs.

"Wow look at all this good food, honey! It looks so good that I can't even focus on anything else." Stuffing his mouth full of food Rei's mom gave him a sharp glare.

In the end, Rei could only laugh along with the rest of his family as they all enjoyed dinner. After eating Rei decided to take a walk.

Leaving through the front door he walked down the stone staircase leading to the rest of the village. The Kuro Clan's village was small and its inhabitants only reached the upper hundreds.

Due to it being late in the day barely anyone was out at this time. Following the dirt paths through the village, Rei found himself on the other side of the village.

'Guess I can stop by and say hi to grandma.' Following a branched off dirt path Rei made his way to a small house. Knocking on the door he waited for a response before the door opened. Appearing in the door's archway was an old lady.

"Hey, grandma." Seeing Rei had come to visit her Rei's grandma smiled as she spoke to him. "Oh, Rei paying grandma a visit so soon? Usually, you wouldn't come over to visit unless I asked you."

Hearing that Rei scratched the back of his head embarrassingly. Welcoming him inside Rei sat on the floor which had small mats. "So how was your training with your father?"

Pouring Rei a cup of tea Rei's grandma sat and listened to the whole story before chuckling. "Is that right? You know when your father was little he was just like you just a lot more stubborn about it.

He grew up so talented that he didn't think he needed to be taught anything." Rei looked surprised when he heard her say that. "Really my dad was like me?"

Rei couldn't believe it especially after how long he bugged him about learning the Clans techniques. Rei's Grandmother continued as she reminisced.

"Yes and sadly no one could prove him wrong. Everyone who fought always lost and it got to his head but it didn't last long.

When the tournament came around to decide the next Clan leader your father almost lost in the preliminary rounds and got lucky in the end."

Whispering in Rei's ear she told him a secret. "If it was not for your grandfather being there to teach him during his free time your father wouldn't even be the Clan leader today."

Hearing that Rei was in disbelief the thought of his father getting through the preliminary round through the skin of his teeth was such a strange thought.

"In any case, he did win eventually after lots of struggling and I was so proud of him. Your still young Rei and you aren't in a rush to become the Clan leader I know but always remember not to give up on something just because you can't do it in the first few tries."

Giving Rei a warm smile the grandma suddenly clapped her hands together remembering something.

"Oh, right I was making cookies do you want any?" Looking at Rei's grandma was disappointed when he declined. "Sorry, grandma but I have training tomorrow morning so it's best if I don't eat anything sweet right now."

Rei had to fight against his urges to take his grandma's offer when she showed him the piping hot cookies and managed to escape. After leaving his grandmother's house Rei made his way back home while thinking about what she said. 'Alright, tomorrow I'll try harder to practice.'

Making a resolution to himself Rei went home in a good mood before making his way upstairs to his room.

Changing into the nightclothes he hopped on his soft bed and was soon hit by all of the fatigue he got from training. 'I got to remember to… take a… bath… tomorrow.'

Falling asleep his thoughts drifted off and a peaceful night fell over the village. It was only when the moon had reached its peak in the starry night sky that disaster finally struck.