@ethan white it's kinda needed coz they have to explain how he hot the ring of fire but nothing major going on at this age around 12 he will have the real training and that's the start of the 1st arc. The novel is so long already and it's still ongoing. So they can't focus on him being a baby and toddler. Just some explanation for the ring of fire,that it takes a long time to form.
@ethan white to be fair i think other stories are stupid by progressing too fast like a child is able to endure pain an adult can't handle like get that deus ex machina sh** out of her