NOVEL WEB Chapter 8: Family
A gentle breeze greeted him the moment he stepped out of the house.
Elric squinted slightly as the wind brushed against his cheeks, carrying with it the earthy scent of the village and the fading memory of last night's rain. Above, the sky stretched wide and endless—a soft blue canvas dotted with a few lazy clouds drifting across it. The morning sun peeked over the distant hills, casting a golden warmth across the rooftops of Uzumaki Village.
He stopped for a brief moment, eyes fixed upward.
Beautiful... he thought, the corners of his lips curling upward. His mood, already light, felt even brighter. But even as the scenery tried to pull his attention away, he didn't linger.
There was something far more important waiting for him today.
Without hesitation, Elric leaned forward and broke into a steady run. His sandals slapped against the dirt path as he darted through the narrow streets of the village, his bright eyes fixed ahead with a single purpose.
The sounds of early morning life faded behind him—vendors setting up stalls, children's laughter echoing faintly from behind wooden fences. None of it mattered right now.
He had something more exciting to chase.
In just two minutes of running, he arrived.
Standing tall in front of him was a large two-story wooden house. Despite its clear age, there was an undeniable grandeur to it—silent, but dignified. The brown timber that made up its structure was worn and stained in places, the passage of time visible in the darkened corners and patches where rot had begun to nibble.
Even so, it stood firm.
One of the oldest houses in Uzumaki Village... Elric mused with a quiet awe.
The house had history. It had been built nearly four hundred years ago by none other than the Senju clan patriarch of that time—a wedding gift to his beloved, crafted with his legendary Wood Style. That fact alone made it something of a sacred relic in the village. And yet, for all its age, the structure remained intact, cared for diligently through the generations.
Elric didn't hesitate.
Without knocking, he pushed the door open and stepped inside. A cool, moist smell drifted up to meet him, slipping into his nose and filling his lungs with the scent of damp wood and lingering rain. It reminded him of the storm that had battered the village just the day before.
If it had been a normal day... he thought, I'd be out in the field right now, kicking mud and wrestling with my friends.
But today wasn't normal.
Today was special.
Today... he was going to learn his very first ninjutsu.
"Dad! Where are you?!" Elric shouted, his voice brimming with excitement. It echoed through the quiet hall, bouncing off the old wooden walls.
From a nearby hallway, a gentle voice replied.
"Oh, little Elric. Your father and grandfather are in the study room."
An older woman appeared, wiping her hands on her apron as she stepped into view. Her hair was streaked with silver, tied back into a neat bun, and her face was lined with years of kindness. Her eyes glowed with warmth—so much love that it felt as if her gaze alone could wrap you in a hug.
"Thanks, Granny! I'll talk to you later!" Elric called over his shoulder, already halfway up the stairs.
The old woman watched him go with a soft chuckle. "Oh my... our Elric's all grown up now. He's even started ignoring me."
Her voice held a mock sadness, though her smile betrayed how proud she was.
Elric reached the second floor quickly and stopped in front of a room with a simple wooden door. Without pause, he opened it wide.
"Dad! Let's go!" he declared, storming in with the impatience only a child could muster. "Where'd you run off to this morning?! You promised you'd teach me ninjutsu today! Don't try to sneak off to your world again!"
His words were met with the soft clinking of ceramic cups.
Inside, two men were seated comfortably on tatami mats, sipping tea as sunlight poured through the shoji screens behind them. One of them was elderly, with a long red beard that flowed down to his chest and thick red hair streaked with strands of white. His eyes were wise, filled with decades of memories.
Beside him sat a man in his early thirties, with the same vibrant red hair—unruly and thick like fire dancing in the wind. His features were sharp but kind, and his lips curved into an easygoing smile.
"Alright, alright, I'm coming," the younger man said, setting down his teacup and rising to his feet with a stretch. "If I don't take Elric out to train today, I'll definitely get an earful tomorrow."
The older man chuckled deeply, also standing. "I wouldn't want to face Elric's wrath either, haaaa..."
He walked over to Elric and placed a large hand gently on the boy's head.
"So you're finally learning ninjutsu, huh?" he said with a warm voice. "Don't overdo it. You've got talent—real talent. You'll grow up to be a powerful shinobi one day. But there's no need to rush. You're still only ten, brat. Don't push yourself too hard."
"Yeah, yeah, okay okay," Elric replied, nodding half-heartedly.
He wasn't really listening.
Old people always said the same things. "Don't rush," "Don't overdo it," "You're still young..." It was always the same story. He figured most of it was just adults worrying too much.
Without another word, Elric grabbed his father's sleeve and tugged hard.
"Come on, Dad! Hurry up!"
"Alright, alright! You're really fired up today," his father laughed as Elric dragged him out of the room.
The two of them made their way out of the house and through the village streets. As they walked, the trees rustled in the wind, and the chirping of birds accompanied them on their way.
Eventually, they reached the eastern outskirts of Uzumaki Village.
There, beyond a row of tall trees and a narrow dirt path, lay a vast open field—an area used solely for training. Scattered across the space were wooden stakes, weathered dummies, and all sorts of training equipment lying haphazardly around.
To Elric, it was a land of dreams.
His eyes sparkled as he stood at the edge of the field, fists clenched in anticipation.
This is it.
Today... I take my first step toward becoming a ninja.