Although ninjas hold great power and influence, they are ultimately treated as tools of the military—vital, but not sovereign. Ninja villages, despite their strength, still operate under the jurisdiction of feudal lords. And when it comes to true societal status, most shinobi stand beneath the nobility.
In most countries, nobles rarely bother learning ninjutsu. Why would they? With enough wealth, they can commission missions, hire skilled jonin, and solve their problems without ever lifting a finger. For them, life is about indulgence—comfort, prestige, and the preservation of lineage.
Isamu (Carl), the prince of the Land of Fire—the political center of the Five Great Nations—was a man of status but no real power. Even so, Chiriku, abbot of the Temple of Fire, couldn't understand why someone of such pedigree would seek out the arduous path of a shinobi monk.
"Abbot Chiriku, I'm not speaking in jest," Carl said earnestly, meeting his eyes. "I truly wish to train under you. My heart is set on learning ninjutsu."
Chiriku's fingers tightened slightly around his prayer beads. Though calm on the surface, he was conflicted.
It wasn't that he doubted the prince's sincerity. Rather, he doubted the feasibility. The boy—no, man—before him was already twenty. Well past the age when most ninja begin their training. By that age, most elite shinobi had already completed dozens of missions. To start now, from nothing?
And it wasn't just about effort. It took talent, time, and a will of iron. Even prodigies like kakashi Hataka had trained from early childhood. Was it even possible for someone starting so late to reach anything beyond the basics?
But then… refusing him outright would be a diplomatic mistake. The Temple of Fire still operated under the patronage of the Land of Fire, and the prince's support—even in name—could not be dismissed so lightly.
"Your Highness," Chiriku said carefully, "learning ninjutsu isn't just difficult. It's a lifetime of discipline, sacrifice, and hardship. Most begin as children. You would be taking on a path that even seasoned warriors struggle with."
Carl smiled calmly and responded without hesitation.
"I'm prepared. As long as you're willing to teach me, I'm ready to dedicate myself to this path. And as a gesture of sincerity—if the Temple of Fire accepts me—I am willing to donate five million ryo as incense money to support the temple."
Chiriku blinked.
He hadn't expected that. Though not the kind of man swayed by money, he couldn't ignore the implications. The temple had been struggling ever since the incident with Sora a few years ago. During that chakra outburst, several monks had been gravely injured, and the temple's defensive seal—once considered impenetrable—had been shattered.
Repairs had drained much of the temple's resources, and their usual donations had dwindled. Many lay followers were too afraid to return after witnessing the aftermath of Sora's rampage.
Five million ryo… it would be enough to rebuild the broken eastern wing and restore the defensive barrier.
After a pause, Chiriku pressed his hands together and gave a small, respectful bow.
"Since Your Highness is so sincere—and clearly understands what he is offering—then this humble monk has no reason to refuse. I will accept you as a lay disciple of the Temple of Fire."
Carl nodded, his eyes calm and resolute.
He knew this was only the beginning.
In recent years, the Temple of Fire had been financially strained. Reconstructing the Sealed Iron Wall—a sacred defensive barrier—and tending to the injured monks after Sora's chakra rampage had nearly drained the temple's accumulated resources. As the abbot, Chiriku bore much of the responsibility, especially since it was he who had once brought the boy into the temple.
Accepting Carl as a disciple—and receiving a donation of five million ryo in the process—was no longer just a symbolic gesture. It was a lifeline.
"Very well. Then I'll formally begin my apprenticeship tomorrow," Carl said with calm certainty. "Along with the donation."
He had three months in this world—at least, in this cycle. Every day counted. The sooner he began training, the better his chances of gaining real strength.
—
Early the next morning, Carl returned to the Temple of Fire with the agreed five million ryo. The initiation ceremony was simple, in keeping with the temple's customs. With that, he officially began his training as a monk and shinobi of the temple.
Inside the training hall in the secluded backyard, Chiriku unrolled a chakra scroll. Before he could begin the lesson, Carl raised his hand.
"Master, since I'm now your disciple, there's no need to call me 'Prince.' Just Carl is fine."
The Temple of Fire had no strict rules about dharma names, and Carl opted to keep it simple by retaining his original name. Chiriku nodded with a faint smile.
(Think of Carl as a nickname for Isamu)
"Very well, Carl. Let's begin. First, I'll teach you how chakra is refined. Then, I'll explain how the unique chakra of the Fire Temple differs from the chakra used by most shinobi."
Carl straightened his posture and listened intently.
"Chakra," Chiriku began, "is the foundation of ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu. It is formed by mixing the physical energy produced by every cell in your body with your spiritual energy. When balanced, it creates chakra."
Carl nodded. So far, it matched what he vaguely remembered from the anime.
"But the monks of our temple," Chiriku continued, "are born with a unique gift—the Sage Lineage, as it's sometimes called. Our chakra incorporates a trace amount of natural energy into its formation. Though the amount is minimal, it results in a type of chakra that strengthens the body over time and enhances the effectiveness of taijutsu."
Carl's eyes lit up.
So this was why monks from the Temple of Fire were known for their powerful close-combat techniques. Their chakra wasn't just stronger—it nourished the body and gradually refined it.
This 'Sage Chakra' was like a diluted, passive version of Sage Mode, which only a handful of elite ninja could access by fully mastering nature energy. In contrast, the monks' bodies had adapted to accept just a trickle of it.
"But…" Carl frowned slightly. "If this Sage Lineage chakra is so effective, why hasn't it been widely adopted—or taken by force? Surely, other powers would covet it."
Chiriku hesitated briefly before answering, his voice calm but honest.
"There is a trade-off. The infusion of even a small amount of nature energy slows the process of chakra extraction. In other words, while our chakra is more stable and powerful over time, it's slower to generate and use. In battle, that can be a dangerous disadvantage—especially for high-speed or chakra-intensive techniques."
Carl nodded in understanding.
So that was the limitation. A subtle but critical one. It explained why, despite its benefits, the Temple of Fire's Sage Chakra had not become widespread. In the fast-paced world of ninja combat, even a slight delay could be the difference between life and death.
But for someone like Carl, who was starting from scratch, a chakra that enhanced his body and deepened his foundation might be the perfect fit.
"I understand. I still want to learn," Carl said firmly.
Judging from the subtle hesitation on Chiriku's face, Carl could tell that the drawback wasn't just minor. If it were, the Temple of Fire wouldn't have gradually faded from the forefront of the shinobi world, and Chiriku himself—once one of the Twelve Guardian Ninja—might have been a jōnin in a major village by now, rather than quietly serving as abbot.
In the shinobi world, the vast majority of ninjas focused on ninjutsu. A select few specialized in taijutsu, like Might Guy and Rock Lee, but they were rare exceptions. Even then, the enhancement of the body was usually achieved through relentless physical training or chakra-enhanced techniques, not by altering the chakra system itself.
For most shinobi, the idea of slowing down chakra extraction—even slightly—was enough to discard the Fire Temple's method entirely. Combat was fast-paced. A moment of delay could be fatal. The small physical benefit simply wasn't worth the cost.
Only monks of the Temple of Fire, who rarely engaged in prolonged missions or deadly battles, saw the long-term value in this unique form of chakra. It made sense for their philosophy and their style of training—but to outsiders, it was impractical.
And yet… Carl wasn't deterred.
He leaned back slightly, his eyes thoughtful.
Despite the limitations, there was something about this chakra refinement method that intrigued him—something he couldn't shake.
'Sage chakra...' he thought. 'It's not Sage Mode, but it's a start. And if it already involves natural energy—even in trace amounts—then maybe… just maybe... it's a bridge.'
He recalled the terrifying yet fascinating Sage Mode used by Naruto and Jiraiya. Then his mind wandered to Orochimaru's curse seals, which also harnessed natural energy to boost the user's power.
If this method could give him an early connection to nature energy, even passively, then perhaps it could lay the groundwork for mastering Sage Mode—or at least adapting to the curse seal's effects more easily in the future.
Carl's eyes sharpened with resolve.
"I've decided," he said.
Chiriku looked up, curious.
"I want to learn your method," Carl said. "The Temple of Fire's chakra refinement. The Sage Lineage way."
The abbot studied him quietly for a few seconds, then gave a slow, approving nod.
"You've made a wise choice, Carl. It may be a harder road, and a slower one—but in time, you'll find its foundation stronger than most."
Carl gave a small smile.
"That's the idea."