Engineer of the Gansekigan: Rebirth in the Village Hidden in the Rain

The silence in the cave was absolute, interrupted only by the faint dripping of water seeping through the cracks in the rock. Kaito slowly woke up, feeling his body still heavy but noticeably more recovered. Two days had passed since the fierce battle and his escape, and although his chakra had not yet fully regenerated, at least he could move without every muscle protesting in agony.

He sat with his back against the rock wall and observed his family. His parents and Konan were still unconscious, but their skin had a healthier tone. That meant his sealing technique had worked, and their bodies remained stable. A slight sense of relief coursed through his chest, but he had no time to relax.

Hunger was becoming noticeable, and although he had provisions stored in a sealing scroll, he had to be careful with his resources. He didn't know how long it would take to find help. Additionally, if he wanted to grow stronger, he needed more than just rest—he had to train.

"I can't afford to be weak again."

Kaito clenched his fists, recalling the helplessness he had felt in that battle. Yes, he had won, but at too high a cost. If he didn't learn to control his power, his own body would be his worst enemy.

Before making any moves, Kaito had to ensure that his refuge was safe. The cave was hidden in the mountains, but if someone with sensory abilities tracked his chakra, they could find him.

Despite his exhaustion, he gathered his energy and began placing protective layers around the cave. He created a concealment seal, dissipating any trace of chakra inside, and reinforced the entrance with a mineral camouflage formation. Anyone who passed by would only see an ordinary rock wall.

—This should be enough… —he whispered, feeling sweat run down his forehead.

When he was sure the cave was undetectable to common eyes and chakra sensors, he took one last look at his family. He didn't want to leave them, but he had no choice. He needed answers and power.

He took a deep breath and stepped outside.

An Unknown Location

The fresh mountain air hit him hard. Kaito stood still for a moment, surveying the landscape. He had no idea where he was.

When he had used his teleportation during the battle, his only goal had been to escape to a distant place. Now, as he looked around, he realized he didn't recognize the geography. He couldn't see the Village of the Rain on the horizon or any familiar structures.

"How far did I go?"

It was possible he had ended up in a different country or an unknown region. Without a map or landmarks, he needed to find his bearings.

He looked up at the sky, trying to determine direction based on the sun's position. If his intuition was correct, he needed to descend the mountain and look for a river or a village. With luck, he would find information about his location.

"First, train. Then, find clues. Finally, decide what to do next."

With a vague plan in mind, he began his descent.

Training in the Unknown

After walking for hours, he found a small clearing among the trees, hidden enough for him to train without being seen.

The first thing he needed to improve was his Gansekigan endurance. His dōjutsu granted him formidable power, but the cost was high. He needed to strengthen his body to withstand it for longer without collapsing.

He started with basic physical exercises: push-ups, sit-ups, squats, and resistance training using his own body weight. Each repetition reminded him of how much his body had suffered in the last battle, but it also motivated him to keep going.

When he felt his body was sufficiently warmed up, he moved on to the most crucial part: chakra-mineral synchronization.

He knelt on the ground, placing both hands on the earth. Closing his eyes, he activated his Gansekigan. Immediately, he felt the vibrations of the minerals beneath the surface. He could perceive the iron deep within the mountain, scattered quartz veins, and tiny gold particles hidden in the rock.

"The secret isn't in extracting energy from the earth, but in harmonizing it with my chakra."

That was the true challenge. If he used his power too roughly, he would drain his vital energy too quickly. But if he managed to integrate it naturally, his body would withstand it better.

He started slowly, focusing his chakra in the palms of his hands and extending it in a small radius. He felt the stone respond, slightly molding under his influence. He took a deep breath and increased the intensity, trying to maintain control.

At first, the ground trembled erratically, but little by little, Kaito stabilized the chakra flow. When he opened his eyes, he saw that the ground around him had formed a spiral-like structure, a clear sign of his improved control.

A faint smile crossed his lips. He was making progress.

As he caught his breath, something unusual caught his attention. A faint gleam among the nearby rocks.

Frowning, he cautiously approached. Carefully removing the dirt, he uncovered a fragment of black stone, smooth and polished, with inscriptions that looked like ancient symbols.

He held it in his hands, feeling a faint vibration through his skin. This was no ordinary rock.

Kaito closed his eyes and focused his Gansekigan on the stone. Instantly, a flood of information surged through his mind. He saw blurred images of an ancient civilization, ninjas with abilities similar to his own, and a massive underground sanctuary buried deep within the earth.

—This… —he whispered, feeling that this discovery was no coincidence.

But there was a problem: he didn't know where this place was.

The vision had been vague, lacking a clear reference point. If the sanctuary truly existed, he needed to find clues about its location.

"This fragment could be the key."

A new goal formed in his mind. He had to find that sanctuary.

But first, he needed more information. And to do that, he had to find someone who could read those inscriptions.

The sun was beginning to set on the horizon. Kaito stood up and stored the fragment in his pouch. He gazed into the distance, feeling the weight of the unknown ahead of him.

He didn't know exactly where he was. He didn't know what dangers awaited him. He didn't know how long it would take to find answers.

But he knew one thing: he wouldn't stop.

Taking a deep breath, he started walking.

The path to strength lay ahead. And he had no intention of turning back.