As dusk settled over the Temple of Fire, Carl Hudson returned to his quarters after a modest meal. Determined to embark on his journey of chakra refinement, he had sent his attendants back to the Prince's Mansion. This was not a place for royal indulgence but a sanctuary for spiritual and physical discipline.
Carl's decision to forgo the comforts of nobility and embrace the austere life of a monk did not go unnoticed. Chiriku, the abbot of the Temple of Fire and one of the former Twelve Guardian Ninja, gave a subtle nod of approval. Despite knowing that starting chakra training at Carl's age—twenty—meant a very slim chance of becoming a powerful ninja, Chiriku still respected Carl's determination and sincerity.
Naturally, as a prince, Carl's accommodations were better than those of ordinary disciples. He was given a private room rather than the communal sleeping arrangements shared by the monks.
"Hm, it's easier than I thought," Carl murmured.
For his first attempt at refining chakra—specifically the variant used by the Temple of Fire's monks, known as the "Sennin Clan Chakra"—Carl found the process unexpectedly smooth. Despite Chiriku's warnings that it could take weeks just to get started, Carl managed to harmonize his physical, spiritual, and a trace of natural energy, successfully forming the Sennin Chakra.
Upon reflection, he understood why.
Chakra refinement hinges on three factors: physical strength, mental fortitude, and chakra control. The monks of the Temple of Fire added a fourth variable—infinitesimal amounts of natural energy—to form their unique Sennin Chakra.
While this would be difficult for a typical seven-year-old, it was simple for Carl.
As a martial artist, Carl's physical body had already been developed near the limits of ordinary human potential. His internal organs were reinforced through rigorous training, breathing techniques, and powerful stances. Even without chakra, his raw strength likely surpassed that of many genin, possibly rivaling some chunin.
His mental resilience was forged through countless life-and-death battles. With the combined willpower of two lifetimes, his focus and memory were unparalleled—he could recall information with near photographic precision.
As for control, years of martial arts had given him near-perfect command over his muscles, breathing, and reflexes.
With that foundation, Carl refined Sennin Chakra faster than most monks. The strength of one's body directly influences chakra output—one reason why members of the Uzumaki clan, known for their vitality, had such deep chakra reserves.
Of course, chakra alone doesn't determine strength. Experience, skill, and technique matter. Naruto Uzumaki had more chakra than Kakashi Hatake as a genin, yet Kakashi could have easily defeated him back then.
Still, large reserves meant greater potential—especially for powerful jutsu.
The next morning, Carl returned to the training hall.
"Carl," Chiriku began as he unfurled a scroll. "Refining the Sennin Chakra is harder than standard chakra. If you encountered any trouble last night, don't be discouraged. For most, it takes weeks just to sense the energy. We'll take our time."
"Master Chiriku, I've already refined it," Carl said with a calm smile.
Chiriku blinked. "What? Carl, there's no need to exaggerate. It's normal to take several weeks—months even."
Rather than argue, Carl focused his chakra into his palm. A faint golden glow shimmered to life—the unmistakable sign of Sennin Chakra.
Chiriku's eyes widened in stunned silence. He was certain that Carl had no chakra just the day before. And yet, here he was, successfully manifesting the golden light of the Temple's unique chakra.
Astonishment gave way to regret. If only this young man had trained earlier—his talent could have rivaled the most gifted shinobi.
Chiriku composed himself and nodded approvingly. "Very good. You are indeed talented. Since you've refined chakra, we'll begin with the basics of ninjutsu."
He stepped closer, raising his hands. "Most ninjutsu require hand seals. There are twelve basic seals, each named after the Chinese zodiac. You must learn them precisely. A flawed seal can cause a jutsu to fail—or worse."
"First, the Rat seal. Watch closely."
Chiriku demonstrated.
Carl observed, then mirrored the hand sign perfectly.
Thanks to his muscle control and sharp memory, forming the seal was effortless. Chiriku, initially prepared to correct mistakes, found none.
"Excellent. Rat is simple. Next, Ox."
And so began Carl's path—not as a prince, but as a monk-ninja in the Temple of Fire, bearing both noble blood and the spark of a true warrior monk.