Aiko stood in a completely dark room, with no source of light. In the total darkness, there was no sound, no movement, no external stimuli to break the monotony. Only darkness, silence, and stillness. The experience would have driven any ordinary person mad, but for Aiko, who had undergone this training countless times, it was uncomfortable, yes, but not unbearable. He had learned to endure it and, beyond that, to use it to his advantage.

  His eyes were closed, his mind fully focused. His breathing was slow and deep, synchronized with the rhythm of his heartbeat. Then, a faint vibration interrupted the stillness. It wasn’t a sound but something more subtle—an alteration in the air. Without warning, Aiko opened his eyes, spun on his axis, and instinctively threw a kunai with pinpoint accuracy.

  The sound of metal cshing against metal echoed briefly, breaking the silence. A small needle fell to the ground, bouncing with a soft metallic chime. Aiko remained in position, body tense and alert, as his eyes searched for the source of the attack.

  —Good work —a voice murmured from the shadows.

  Suddenly, the lights turned on, flooding the room with an artificial glow that revealed its true appearance. The space was enormous, with dimensions that seemed almost unnatural—over a hundred meters in length. The walls, ceiling, and floor were covered in intricate inscriptions, lines, and fuinjutsu patterns, forming a complex formation that Aiko still couldn't fully comprehend.

  A silver-haired woman appeared beside Aiko, nodding in approval. It was clearly Miyuki.

  —Your senses have sharpened faster than I expected —Miyuki commented, stopping in front of him and pcing her hands on her hips—. At this rate, you might become the best sensory ninja of your generation.

  —It’s all thanks to your efforts, sensei. Your training, experience, and skills have helped me reach this point. If I had had another teacher, I doubt I would have reached this level —Aiko responded, bowing his head slightly in respect.

  The woman's lips curved into a faint smile.

  —Don't give me too much credit. Even without my help, with your talent, it would only be a matter of time before you got here —she said before returning to her serious expression—. We're not done with training yet. Tomorrow, we have ninjutsu practice, so let’s wrap this up now.

  —Understood —Aiko replied firmly.

  His sensei nodded, satisfied with the response. She extended a hand toward the nearest wall, activating the fuinjutsu seals that covered the room. Immediately, energy began to flow, creating luminous patterns that moved as if they were alive.

  —Today, we will work on your perception beyond the barriers of chakra. You need to sense more than what your eyes and ears can perceive. This fuinjutsu not only restricts your senses, but it is also designed to deceive you. If you can overcome this, you will be one step closer to the level we are aiming for.

  As soon as she finished speaking, the room was once again engulfed in total darkness. The presence of his sensei, which had felt so close just moments before, vanished completely.

  Aiko sighed, knowing this would be much more difficult than the previous training.

  —I wonder how the others' training is going —he murmured, refocusing his mind on the task.

  His senses, far sharper than those of the average ninja, began to guide him. Though his conventional senses were blocked, he could still feel the flow of chakra in the environment—a faint trail that served as his compass.

  Moving cautiously, he encountered an invisible wall. Running his hands over its surface, he felt a subtle resistance, but with concentration, he managed to push through. He had crossed the first chakra barrier.

  The difficulty increased exponentially with each barrier. The second took him three times longer than the first, but through perseverance, he succeeded. Finally, after considerable effort, he crossed the third and final barrier.

  Upon stepping out of the area enclosed by the barriers, Aiko felt the tension in his body ease slightly as his senses returned. Though the room remained dim, a faint glow appeared in a corner, revealing the figure of his sensei. She was casually leaning against the wall, gazing at Aiko with an approving look.

  —You did it —his sensei said, stepping forward—. You even completed the st barrier faster than I expected.

  —It's all thanks to your training, sensei —Aiko replied, inclining his head slightly.

  The woman nodded, crossing her arms over her chest.

  —That’s true, but it also proves your own potential. I always knew, from the moment I saw you, that you had great talent, but this surpasses my expectations. In fact, I think you're already ready to take the Chunin Exams.

  Aiko frowned slightly. He knew that the Chunin Exams were more about politics and dispys of power than an actual requirement for promotion. A simple approval from the vilge leader would be enough to grant him the rank.

  Normally, he wouldn’t mind rising in rank immediately. It would grant him access to better jutsu and training areas, but doing so would mean leaving Miyuki’s team and the others—something he wasn’t particurly interested in at the moment.

  —I don’t think I’m ready yet —he said firmly.

  His sensei smiled at her student's determined refusal.

  —That’s fine, Aiko. I know you care about those kids, and I don’t disapprove. After all, in this shinobi world, the most important thing is trust—both in yourself and in your comrades. I only mentioned it as an idea —she said, pcing a hand on Aiko’s head—. If you don’t want to do it now, we’ll simply wait until they catch up to you. It may not seem like it, but they have their own skills and potential.

  Aiko accepted her words with a slight nod.

  —Thank you, sensei.

  The woman offered a faint smile and turned toward the now-open door.

  —For now, get some rest. I’ll see you tomorrow.

  Aiko nodded and left the room with quick steps.