ã€ŠNaruto: Azure Awakeningã€‹


 The New Beginning

    [What¡¯s this feeling? Why does this hurt so much?] No matter how many times he tried to open his eyes, his body just wouldn¡¯t listen. All he could feel was this immense pain pounding in his head and a disturbing sound he couldn¡¯t even recognize.

    He had no idea how long he¡¯d been stuck in this pain... heck, he wasn¡¯t even sure if he was lying down. All he understood was the relentless ache and that awful sound, like thousands of mosquitoes buzzing right next to his brain.

    Finally, the pain started to ease up, and his thoughts became clearer. But then came a shocking realization: he couldn¡¯t remember anything¡ªno name, no family, nothing. [Wait, what¡¯s my name? Who am I¡­?]

    Before he could make sense of it, another wave of pain crashed over him. This time, though, it brought something else with it¡ªmemories. His name was Kaoru. Kaoru Takime. He was seven years old, and somehow, he was in the world of Naruto.

    [WTF... this isn¡¯t my life. I remember the Naruto series. I remember the fight between Sasuke and Naruto at the end, and how Naruto finally became Hokage. So this can¡¯t be my life. But why the hell can¡¯t I remember anything else¡­?]

    The pain finally settled, and he managed to open his eyes. The room he found himself in was small but clean and well-furnished. He recognized everything in the room, and memories flooded his mind, familiar yet foreign. They weren¡¯t his.

    These were Kaoru¡¯s memories¡ªthe memories of the seven-year-old boy whose body he now occupied. Guilt and fear gripped him as the realization sank in. For a moment, he felt like he had stolen the child¡¯s life, maybe even killed him. But he quickly pushed those thoughts aside. Now wasn¡¯t the time to dwell on that. He needed to figure out what was going on.

    Even though he understood he wasn¡¯t the original Kaoru, the strange part was he had no memories of his past life either. Nothing. No name, no details, just a vague sense of being. For now, his priority had to be acting natural. If he slipped up, Kaoru¡¯s family might get suspicious¡ªand that wouldn¡¯t end well. Especially not with his sister. That girl, if she caught on, would absolutely lose it.

    ** From this point onward, I¡¯ll refer to the main character as Kaoru. **

    Kaoru glanced out the window, noting that the sun was starting to rise. It was clearly early morning, the kind of peaceful start to a day that felt almost surreal after everything he¡¯d just been through. He stood up, his thoughts focused on one thing: finding a mirror. He needed to see his reflection. If his memories were correct, there was a huge surprise waiting for him.

    Climbing down from the bed was its own little challenge. Unlike what you¡¯d typically expect in Japanese culture, his bed was surprisingly tall, and the furniture in the room was of relatively good quality. For a moment, Kaoru couldn¡¯t help but notice how fancy it all felt for a child¡¯s room.

    His steps were unsteady, each movement feeling slightly off. The lingering effects of the immense pain he¡¯d experienced just hours ago left his body in a state of shock. Still, he pressed on, determined. After a bit of effort, he finally found the mirror. Taking a deep breath, he leaned in and looked at his reflection.

    Kaoru stared at his reflection, taking in the details of his appearance. His dark blue hair was slicked back, giving him a neat yet distinctive look. His face was a bit long, still round with plenty of baby fat¡ªas you¡¯d expect from a five-year-old. Even so, anyone could tell that Kaoru was a cute and handsome kid.

    But what truly caught his attention, what absolutely stunned him, were his eyes. In Kaoru¡¯s memories, he knew this child had inherited his clan¡¯s Kekkei Genkai¡ªa rare ability that supposedly granted near-absolute control over the water element. Because of this, Kaoru¡¯s eyes were a striking cyan. Even more mesmerizing, when the Kekkei Genkai was activated, his eyes would glow¡ªa sight that was both beautiful and awe-inspiring.

    Curious and eager to test this power, Kaoru decided to try activating the Kekkei Genkai. He focused, diving into the borrowed memories to recall the feeling that triggered its use. After a moment of intense concentration, his eyes began to glow.

    What he saw next left him speechless. He could perceive the flow of water in nearly everything around him¡ªexcept, strangely, his own body. For reasons he didn¡¯t yet understand, he couldn¡¯t see the water within himself. Still, he marveled at the sight of water coursing even inside a small plant in the room, as if he¡¯d unlocked a hidden layer of the world.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    But the amazement was short-lived. Kaoru quickly noticed his chakra draining at an alarming rate. At this pace, he realized he wouldn¡¯t be able to maintain the Kekkei Genkai for more than a couple of minutes. Reluctantly, he deactivated it¡ªand was immediately hit with a throbbing pain in his head.

    [Shit, I got too excited. I need to take it slow,] he thought, wincing. Rushing to master his powers wasn¡¯t the answer right now. First, he needed to plan his next steps. Was he permanently stuck in this body? If so, then there was only one clear path forward: he had to become stronger. Much stronger.

    This was a world where might made right, and unless he wanted to live in constant fear, he needed to build enough strength to ensure that picking a fight with him would be more trouble than it was worth.

    He returned to the bed and sat down, letting out a small sigh as he began analyzing his situation.

    [Not only do I have no idea how to return to my original body, but I don¡¯t even know where I lived, if I died in my previous body, or even who I was. For now, I have to assume I¡¯m stuck in this body. There¡¯s no point obsessing over things I can¡¯t control. I need to focus on what I can do.]

    He clenched his small fists, testing his grip. [This body is way too weak. Maybe it¡¯s just the lingering pain, but I can¡¯t ignore how fragile I feel. I need to start taking care of it. And then there¡¯s my chakra reserves¡ªthey¡¯re pitiful. If I don¡¯t work on increasing them, this Kekkei Genkai of mine will be completely useless. But I also need to take things slow. If I suddenly start training like a lunatic and stop acting like a normal kid, my sister and grandma are definitely going to get suspicious. I doubt the idea of someone possessing this kid¡¯s body would even cross their minds, but I¡¯d rather be safe than sorry.]

    Kaoru leaned back, resting against the headboard as he thought. [So, for starters, let¡¯s come up with a plan¡ªa way to justify training while keeping it subtle. And slowly, I¡¯ll stop spending time with the other kids. I need to make this transition look natural, like I''m slowly developing my interest in ninja stuff. I need to also find out which timeline is this. Ive never read manga and don¡¯t know the details, but if 4th great ninja war is close then I¡¯m kinda screwed. Well, lets first worry about things I can solve.]

    A faint smile crept onto his face. [One step at a time.]

    Kaoru began recalling everything he could remember about the Naruto world that might be useful at his current level. He started organizing his thoughts, focusing on what mattered most.

    [There are two exercises I can think of that won¡¯t attract too much attention but will still be a huge help for my chakra control. First is the Leaf Concentration Exercise, where you stick a leaf to your forehead using chakra for as long as possible. It¡¯s a basic technique taught in every hidden village, but I can make it more challenging over time. Eventually, I¡¯ll start placing multiple leaves on different parts of my body and focus on maintaining all of them simultaneously. The second exercise¡ªwhich I¡¯m way more excited about¡ªis the water droplet control exercise. This will be critical for me. Not only will it improve my chakra control, but it will also directly increase my chakra reserves, enhance my water affinity, and strengthen my mastery over my Kekkei Genkai. I can do this at home when no one is looking at me and considering my low chakra reserves, I won¡¯t even be able to train that long.]

    Kaoru couldn¡¯t help but feel a flicker of excitement at the thought of his plan. Training his chakra felt like the first real step toward achieving his goals. But he quickly realized that chakra control alone wouldn¡¯t cut it¡ªhis body needed training too.

    [This covers my chakra training, but I also need to work on this weak body, and that¡¯s going to be the real challenge. From what I remember, the only ¡°exercise¡± this kid ever did was chasing his friends around. He was just a normal seven-year-old. If I suddenly start working out like crazy, people are definitely going to get suspicious. I need to ease into it gradually. Plus, I need someone experienced to help me figure out a proper training regimen. I mean, apart from push-ups, squats, and running, I have no clue what to do. I¡¯ll approach my sister and see if I can trick her into training me.]

    Kaoru didn¡¯t even realize how he¡¯d started shifting from thinking in third person to first person when it came to his new family. [My sister,] he thought, the words feeling oddly natural now. He was beginning to settle into this new life, and the speed of that acceptance was... unsettling, to say the least.

    The satisfied smile still lingered on Kaoru¡¯s face as he realized the sun was now shining brightly. That could only mean one thing¡ªit was time for him to step outside and meet his new family and clan members.

    This would be his first interaction with others in this new world, and surprisingly, he felt more excited than nervous. Something about the prospect of starting fresh, of forging a new path in this unfamiliar life, filled him with anticipation he couldn¡¯t quite explain.

    **

    I¡¯ll leave a note at the end of every chapter to share my thoughts and ideas. This is my first novel, and I¡¯m hoping to improve as we move forward.

    Character notes:

    Kaoru Takime ¨C 7 y.o. ¨C hopes to become stronger than Uchiha Madara!

    **

 First Exercise

    Kaoru scanned the room, searching for something to wear. The Takime Clan wasn¡¯t wealthy, but they still took pride in their identity, evident in their emblem and traditional attire. The children¡¯s clothes were simple yet practical: a dark blue top and black pants, designed for both comfort and mobility.

    As Kaoru slipped on the top, he noticed the clan¡¯s symbol on the back¡ªa beautifully crafted wave forming a cyan eye, with the kanji "œöÄ¿" ( Takime ) at its center. The emblem spoke volumes of the Takime Clan''s legacy, a proud reminder of their Kekkei Genkai and their bond with water.

    In just a few minutes, Kaoru was dressed and ready to step outside. [ This feels really nice¡­ now let''s see outside.] As he opened the door, the scenery took his breath away. The Takime Clan¡¯s settlement was nestled in a secluded valley surrounded by towering, forested mountains. Mist clung to the air, carried by the gentle breeze from the nearby river and the majestic waterfall that thundered in the distance. The sound of rushing water was constant but soothing, a rhythm that seemed to echo the heartbeat of the clan.

    Despite the mist, none of the Takime Clan members disliked it; it felt like an extension of who they were. The moisture in the air was a reminder of their connection to water, and it invigorated them in a way Kaoru could now appreciate on a deeper level.

    The settlement itself was small but meticulously designed. The entire outpost was circular, with the clan head¡¯s building¡ªa sturdy, two-storied wooden structure¡ªstanding at the center. Four distinct paths radiated outward from the leader¡¯s house, dividing the settlement into quadrants.

    Three of these sections housed the clan¡¯s families, with modest yet well-kept homes that reflected the clan¡¯s resilience. Each house was elevated slightly off the ground on wooden stilts to protect against floods and had simple, sloped roofs to let the rain slide off. Flowering plants and small vegetable gardens lined the pathways, adding a touch of warmth to the otherwise utilitarian village.

    The fourth section served as the heart of the community¡¯s shared efforts. Here stood the training grounds, a modest dojo surrounded by a patch of open land marked with training dummies and wooden targets. Nearby, a storage building held supplies, tools, and harvested crops. There was also a small school where the clan¡¯s children learned basic skills and traditions, as well as a communal area for gatherings.

    Even though the Takime Clan had been forced to abandon their ancestral lands in Kirigakure, they had created a sanctuary here. Kaoru felt a sense of admiration for the effort it must have taken to build this small haven in the wilderness. The settlement wasn¡¯t grand or imposing, but it carried an unshakable strength¡ªa quiet defiance against the challenges they had endured.

    Kaoru took a deep breath, the cool, moist air filling his lungs. His lips curled into a faint smile. For the first time, he felt a small but genuine connection to this place. [For some reason I''m really loving this place¡­]

    Kaoru turned right and headed toward the nearby building. His house was right next to the clan head¡¯s, as they were family. Pushing the door open, he put on the brightest, most innocent smile he could manage and called out in a cheerful voice:

    ¡°Grannyyy! Where¡¯s Maki? I want to play with her!¡±

    Suiren Takime, the current head of the clan and Kaoru¡¯s grandmother, was sitting inside. Despite being in her sixties, she carried herself with a quiet strength that belied her years. Suiren was the first member of the clan in generations to awaken the Takime Clan¡¯s Kekkei Genkai, but her inability to fully harness its power due to her low chakra reserves had always weighed heavily on her. She often blamed herself for the tragedies that befell her son and daughter-in-law¡ªKaoru¡¯s parents. That guilt shaped her, making her deeply protective of her grandchildren, and she took every opportunity to dote on them.

    ¡°Come here, you little rascal,¡± Suiren chuckled, her voice warm and full of affection. She scooped Kaoru up with ease, pulling him into a tight hug. No matter what challenges surrounded their family, seeing Kaoru¡¯s bright, innocent smile always filled her with a sense of peace. Unlike his older sister, who was acutely aware of their clan¡¯s struggles and the constant threats from Mizukage¡¯s faction, Kaoru still radiated a childlike innocence, untouched by the heavy burdens of their world.

    For Suiren, those fleeting moments of innocence were a treasure, a reminder of what they were fighting to protect.

    Suiren pinched Kaoru¡¯s cheeks and smothered him with kisses to her heart¡¯s content, her laughter filling the room. Finally, she set him down and said, ¡°Maki should be at the training grounds, as usual. She always starts her morning by punching and kicking those poor wooden dummies. Go on, fetch her for breakfast.¡±

    Kaoru pouted dramatically, acting as though he was upset about all the pinching and kissing. But the moment he heard he was supposed to go get Maki, his face lit up with a big grin. Without hesitation, he dashed out of the room, his excitement palpable.

    As he ran, Kaoru couldn¡¯t help but reflect on the interaction. He felt a mix of surprise and relief. Suiren hadn¡¯t found anything odd about his behavior, which reassured him. But what truly caught him off guard was the unexpected warmth he felt when she held him. This woman, whom he was technically meeting for the first time, made him feel safe and cared for in a way he hadn¡¯t anticipated.

    [It seems like the original Kaoru¡¯s memories are influencing me more than I thought,] he realized. The emotions tied to those memories were stronger than he expected, and for once, he didn¡¯t mind it.

    The settlement was small, so it didn¡¯t take long for Kaoru to reach the dojo. The building wasn¡¯t large, but it was well-constructed, with a neat, sturdy design. Its two big wooden doors opened horizontally, giving it an interesting vibe. Inside the dojo was an open yard, complete with a handful of wooden training dummies lined up for practice.

    Even before stepping inside, Kaoru could hear the sharp, rhythmic sounds of the dummies being pounded relentlessly. A smile crept onto his face as memories surfaced, recalling Maki¡¯s fiery personality. His sister, who had endured the unimaginable loss of both their parents, had only one family member left to pour her love and protectiveness into¡ªhim. She was utterly obsessed with her little brother, and it showed in everything she did.

    Maki was impulsive by nature, her temper easy to ignite. But when it came to Kaoru, her protective instincts were unmatched. If anyone dared to harm him, she would flip out in an instant, regardless of the consequences. Yet, despite her temper, she was deeply kind and fiercely loyal to her clan. Maki cared for every single member of the Takime Clan like family, embodying the hope and strength they all clung to.

    Her dedication went beyond emotions. Maki had awakened the clan¡¯s Kekkei Genkai, a sign of her potential, but her water affinity was strangely average¡ªbarely better than the other clansmen. This limitation frustrated her, but she more than made up for it in other ways. Where Maki truly shone was in Taijutsu. She was a natural-born fighter, a prodigy in close combat, whose raw strength and skill surpassed most expectations.Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

    That was exactly why Kaoru wanted to see her. He had a plan¡ªto convince Maki to help him train his body. If there was anyone who could guide him in building a strong foundation, it was her.

    Kaoru knew there was absolutely no way Maki would suspect anything unless he did something outrageous. With that confidence, he stepped into the dojo and called out, ¡°Makiii, come play with me!¡±

    As he ran toward his sister, she suddenly disappeared from his sight. Before he could even process what happened, Kaoru found himself lifted off the ground, cradled in Maki¡¯s arms like a prized trophy. She beamed with happiness, holding her little brother as if he were the most precious thing in the world.

    ¡°Ru, you¡¯re up early today!¡± she said, using the nickname only she called him. Years ago, when Kaoru was too young to pronounce his full name, he¡¯d introduce himself to everyone as "Ru." The name had stuck with Maki ever since. ¡°I thought you¡¯d go play with your friends first.¡±

    She still hadn¡¯t set him down, holding him as though he might vanish if she let go.

    Kaoru smiled sheepishly, his mind already working to set the stage. ¡°Maki, I was gonna play with them, but their parents didn¡¯t let them out. They said it was too cold today. Would Mom also not let me play if she were here with us?¡±

    The words made his heart ache with guilt, but he pressed on. He needed this moment to work.

    Maki¡¯s cheerful expression faltered for just a second before she forced it back. ¡°Ru, Mom would definitely still let you play. You¡¯re so strong and healthy¡ªnothing could make you sick.¡±

    Even as she spoke, Kaoru saw a flicker of sadness in her eyes. The mention of their mother was like a fresh wound, but she masked it well, unwilling to show her vulnerability in front of him.

    Kaoru tilted his head and pouted slightly, feigning disappointment. ¡°But if I¡¯m so strong, how come every other kid always beats me in every exercise?¡±

    Maki froze, momentarily caught off guard. Kaoru had never cared about such things before. She struggled for an answer.

    ¡°If you want, I can train you, Ru,¡± she said finally. ¡°But it won¡¯t be easy. So you¡ª¡±

    ¡°Yes!¡± Kaoru interrupted, his eyes lighting up. ¡°I want that! I¡¯d like to train with you, Maki. Let¡¯s start right now!¡±

    Maki blinked, taken aback by his eagerness. She studied his face for a moment, seeing nothing but pure determination and joy. That alone was enough to melt her heart and convince her completely.

    ¡°Alright, Ru,¡± she said with a soft smile, hugging him a little tighter. ¡°We¡¯ll start tomorrow. Let¡¯s talk about it after breakfast, okay?¡±

    Kaoru nodded happily, wrapping his small arms around her in return. He felt a swell of relief at having convinced her, but more than that, he felt an undeniable warmth in his chest. The bond he shared with Maki was genuine, and for the first time, he realized just how much he truly cared for his new family.

    Kaoru didn¡¯t yet understand everything that was happening or why these emotions felt so strong, but one thing was clear: he genuinely loved his sister and grandmother. This wasn¡¯t just a part of the original Kaoru¡¯s memories¡ªit was his own truth.

    Maki and Kaoru left the dojo together, their steps unhurried as they made their way to the clan head¡¯s house. Although they didn¡¯t live there, it was a common practice to have breakfast with their grandmother, Suiren.

    ¡°Granny, I brought Maki as I promised!¡± Kaoru announced with a playful chuckle as they stepped inside. He ran straight toward Suiren, his small feet pattering across the wooden floor. ¡°Maki promised to train me every day and said I¡¯ll soon be the strongest in the clan!¡± he added, exaggerating with the kind of childish enthusiasm that even he felt a bit silly performing.

    Suiren laughed softly, clearly delighted by her grandson¡¯s energy. ¡°Did she now? Well, if Maki¡¯s training you, I¡¯m sure it won¡¯t be long before you¡¯re stronger than all of us!¡± she replied, playing along.

    The meal that followed was simple and uneventful. As usual, the adults avoided discussing anything serious in front of Kaoru. They worked hard to shield him from the harsh realities of their world, preserving the innocence they believed was his birthright. In many ways, Kaoru realized, they wanted him to remain the most untroubled child in the world.

    The rest of the day passed quickly. Kaoru spent some time playing with the other children in the settlement. When he wasn¡¯t with them, he walked through the settlement, carefully taking in every detail of his new home. The settlement wasn¡¯t large, and Kaoru wasn¡¯t allowed to leave its boundaries, so it didn¡¯t take long for him to cover every corner of the outpost.

    By late afternoon, Kaoru decided to sneak into Suiren¡¯s house in hopes of overhearing the adults¡¯ conversations. He needed answers¡ªinformation that could help him piece together where he was in the Naruto timeline. How close was the Fourth Great Ninja War? Where exactly was this settlement located? Which hidden villages were nearby?

    Unfortunately, despite his best efforts, Kaoru came away empty-handed. The adults were careful, their voices hushed whenever sensitive topics came up, and Kaoru couldn¡¯t gather anything of value.

    As the sun dipped below the horizon, Kaoru entered his room and sat down to meditate. He wanted to sense his chakra and get a feel for its reserves before starting his training.

    [As I thought, sensing chakra is really difficult. Maybe it''s because my chakra reserves are terribly low?! Well, I¡¯m still just seven years old, so I guess it¡¯s fine. Not everyone¡¯s blessed with Senju-level chakra reserves,] Kaoru sighed to himself, a wry smile tugging at his lips.

    Closing his eyes, he activated his Kekkei Genkai, his cyan eyes beginning to glow faintly in the dim room. A small droplet of water formed in the air before him, shimmering in the fading light. Focusing intently, Kaoru worked on levitating the droplet, holding it steady for as long as he could. His goal was simple: exhaust his chakra reserves using water manipulation so he could drift off to sleep completely spent. Tomorrow would mark his first training session with Maki, and he wanted to be well-rested.

    As he concentrated, Kaoru noticed something interesting. His chakra seemed to deplete more slowly than when he used the visual abilities of his Kekkei Genkai. [So the droplet control uses less chakra than the visual powers. That¡¯s good to know,] he thought, analyzing the difference. Even so, his reserves were pitifully small, and it only took five minutes of continuous effort to completely drain them.

    [For my first day in this world, I¡¯d say it went pretty well. It¡¯s still too early to feel hopeful, but... I have a feeling I can become pretty strong. At least reaching Kakashi¡¯s level without the Sharingan seems doable,] Kaoru mused as a faint smile lingered on his face.

    Satisfied with his progress, he lay down, letting his mind wander as sleep overtook him. Tomorrow was another day, another step toward his goal.

    **

    A/N - I¡¯ll gradually amp up the pacing until Kaoru becomes strong enough to leave the outpost. I¡¯m also considering adding more exercises to his routine as he gets stronger and as people in the settlement grow accustomed to his interest in ninja training.

    I haven¡¯t fully decided which path Kaoru will take or what type of ninja he¡¯ll become, but one thing is certain: his main element will be water, and his fighting style will heavily revolve around it.

    ? if you have any recommendations or feedback, feel free to let me know in the comments. I¡¯m always open to ideas and suggestions!

    Kaoru - MC - Cringes internally every time he has to act like a child.

    Maki - MC¡¯s Sister - [Since when was Ru interested in training?!]

    Siuren - MC¡¯s grandma - [I need to maintain peace!]

    **

 SHE IS A DEMON

    Kaoru¡¯s eyes glowed crimson, the three droplets of his Sharingan spinning slowly in each pupil as he hovered above the battlefield. Below him, shinobi from various villages stared up with expressions of fear and anxiety etched into their faces. Their hands trembled as they gripped their weapons, their nervous whispers carried by the wind.

    Kaoru felt a surge of excitement rising within him, mingled with a pleasant, almost intoxicating heaviness in his chest. Power radiated through him, and it felt like he could move mountains with the flick of his fingers. The sensation was overwhelming, and he relished it.

    ¡°I won¡¯t forgive you for attacking my clan. For I am the Ghost of Uchiha,¡± Kaoru declared, his voice reverberating across the battlefield.

    As he spoke, his Sharingan morphed. The three droplets twisted and reshaped, forming an intricate pattern resembling three overlapping tidal waves crashing inward, their arcs connecting at the center like a whirlpool. This was his Mangekyou Sharingan.

    Kaoru marveled at the power coursing through him. The battlefield blurred as he prepared to unleash Susanoo, feeling the immense chakra surge through his body, filling him with pride and exhilaration.

    But before he could summon the legendary construct, an icy, wet sensation jolted him awake. He gasped, leaping out of bed in shock, his heart pounding as reality crashed down on him.

    Standing by his bed, Maki grinned down at him, a bucket in hand and mischief dancing in her eyes.

    ¡°Your training starts in the early morning, not in the afternoon, Ru. Meet me outside in five minutes,¡± she said, her tone cheerful but firm.

    Before Kaoru could respond, Maki turned on her heel and left the room, her grin growing wider as she pictured her brother¡¯s shocked expression.

    It took Kaoru a few moments to process what had just happened. His mind was still muddled from sleep, and for a fleeting second, he had expected to wake up in his old world¡ªwherever and whatever that had been.

    [Shit! Why couldn¡¯t I have been born with Sharingan or Rinnegan? Or at least some Senju-level chakra reserves? Why couldn¡¯t the thing that brought me here give me some OP powers?!] Kaoru scowled, feeling momentarily dejected.

    But with a resigned sigh, he got up and changed into dry clothes, selecting something comfortable for training. As he stepped outside into the cool morning air, he reminded himself that dreams of power wouldn¡¯t make him stronger¡ªhard work would.

    As Kaoru stepped outside, he immediately felt the moisture in the air clinging to his skin. Strangely, it didn¡¯t feel uncomfortable. On the contrary, the sensation was refreshing, almost invigorating. It was as if the water particles in the air were gently soothing and revitalizing him.

    Kaoru was about to start analyzing the phenomenon when a sudden slap on his back jolted him out of his thoughts.

    ¡°The first exercise is running, Ru. Follow me. No breaks until I say so,¡± Maki said, her voice firm and focused.

    Gone was her playful, doting tone. This was Maki the trainer, and there was no room for excuses.

    She started jogging at a steady pace, her long strides smooth and effortless. Kaoru, however, had to push himself to the limit just to keep up, his short legs working overtime to match her pace. As they headed toward the outpost¡¯s entrance, Kaoru felt a surge of hope that they might be going outside the settlement. But instead, Maki turned the corner and began running alongside the perimeter fence.

    Kaoru¡¯s heart sank a little. It seemed they would be running inside the outpost instead. While the settlement wasn¡¯t particularly large, it felt massive to his untrained body. The thought of running laps around it made his legs ache preemptively.

    [For a seven-year-old, I¡¯m running pretty well. Is this normal? Or am I exceptionally strong?] he thought, surprised at his own endurance. [Honestly, I expected to collapse after a few steps.]

    Despite his self-praise, his steps were becoming increasingly sloppy. His breathing was ragged, his mouth wide open as he desperately gulped down air.

    Soon, Kaoru noticed Maki glancing at him out of the corner of her eye, but she said nothing. Her expression remained unreadable.

    Finally, they reached the dojo, and Kaoru couldn¡¯t hide his relief. He was barely holding himself together by the time they crossed the threshold.

    ¡°Rest for fifteen minutes,¡± Maki said, her gaze steady as she watched him. There was no visible emotion on her face¡ªno joy, no surprise, just calm observation.

    Kaoru didn¡¯t need to be told twice. The moment he heard her words, he collapsed to the floor, gasping for breath. Even if Maki hadn¡¯t given him permission, he would¡¯ve fallen over from exhaustion.

    As he sat there catching his breath, he watched Maki retrieve some strange seals from a small closet inside the dojo. She began placing the seals on various parts of her body with practiced ease. Kaoru barely paid attention, assuming they weren¡¯t meant for him. His focus was solely on recovering from the brutal run.

    The fifteen minutes passed far quicker than Kaoru would¡¯ve liked. He groaned internally when he heard Maki¡¯s voice again.

    ¡°It¡¯s time to meditate now,¡± she said. ¡°I want you to feel your chakra. Sit down, close your eyes, and focus on your breathing.¡±

    Kaoru nodded, sitting upright and crossing his legs. He tried to focus, but Maki continued explaining.

    ¡°Feeling your chakra is about connecting with the energy inside you,¡± Maki said, her tone still completely neutral but Kaoru could feel her gaze. ¡°Imagine it like a current flowing through your body. Start by focusing on your heartbeat. Listen to it. Feel the way your blood moves through your veins.¡±

    Kaoru closed his eyes and did as she instructed, his breathing slowing as he concentrated on the steady rhythm of his heart.

    ¡°Now, as you breathe in and out, picture a river inside you. Your chakra is that river, flowing through your body. It¡¯s everywhere¡ªyour head, your chest, your arms, your legs. Try to follow the flow.¡±

    Kaoru took a deep breath, visualizing the river inside him. At first, he felt nothing. Just the sound of his own breathing and the lingering exhaustion from the run. But as he kept focusing, something faint stirred within him¡ªa gentle pulse, like ripples in a pond.

    ¡°There it is¡­¡± he murmured softly, almost in disbelief.

    ¡°That¡¯s your chakra,¡± Maki said, her voice softer now. ¡°It¡¯s always there. The more you practice, the easier it¡¯ll be to feel it¡ªand control it.¡±

    Kaoru continued to sit in silence, his mind fully focused on that subtle pulse. It felt warm, steady, and oddly calming, like a quiet reassurance that he had power within him, waiting to be harnessed.

    The thirty minutes passed quickly. As Kaoru opened his eyes, he realized he wasn¡¯t as tired anymore. Something about connecting with his chakra had helped him recover, at least mentally.

    Maki stood nearby, her arms crossed. ¡°Good. Now let¡¯s continue.¡±

    They stepped outside into the fresh morning air. Maki strode confidently toward the huge tree standing in the yard, her expression serious.

    ¡°Now that you¡¯ve rested, it¡¯s time to work on your chakra control,¡± she said without turning around. ¡°If you can¡¯t learn how to stand on water, my entire training regimen will be useless. So, we¡¯re skipping a few steps and focusing on that first.¡±

    Kaoru blinked, surprised. Water walking? His mind raced with images of shinobi casually running across lakes and walking up sheer cliffs. He¡¯d seen it in the anime, but it had always seemed like an advanced technique. The thought of learning it now sent a thrill of excitement through him.

    ¡°Before you can walk on water, you need to master tree climbing,¡± Maki continued, stopping in front of the towering tree. ¡°It¡¯s much easier than water walking but shares the same principle. Once you¡¯ve got this down, you¡¯ll be ready for the next step.¡±

    Kaoru¡¯s eyes widened as he took in the challenge. [Finally, something interesting,] he thought, excitement flashing in his gaze. This was real shinobi training¡ªnot just running laps or basic chakra exercises. He couldn¡¯t wait to start.

    Maki crouched down to his level and began explaining the concept.

    ¡°Here¡¯s how it works: You¡¯ll need to focus your chakra into the soles of your feet. Too little, and you¡¯ll lose your grip and fall off. Too much, and you¡¯ll push yourself away from the tree¡± she said. ¡°The trick is to find the perfect balance. Keep your chakra flow steady, not in bursts. It¡¯s all about control.¡±

    Kaoru nodded, absorbing her words. The idea of balancing chakra while moving sounded simple enough in theory, but he knew it would be harder in practice.

    ¡°You¡¯ll climb the tree repeatedly until your chakra drops below twenty percent,¡± Maki said, standing up straight again. ¡°Once you hit that point, you¡¯ll feel exhausted¡ªlike your whole body is about to shut down. When that happens, you¡¯ll meditate for thirty minutes to recover and then start again. You¡¯re doing this for two hours.¡±

    Kaoru gawked at her. Two hours of non-stop training?! He¡¯d barely managed to keep up with the running earlier, and now she was throwing this at him?

    Maki didn¡¯t seem to notice his expression¡ªor if she did, she didn¡¯t care. Her face remained serious, focused.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be back in exactly two hours,¡± she said before turning and walking off, leaving Kaoru standing there by the tree.

    As he watched her leave, Kaoru couldn¡¯t help but feel surprised at this side of his sister. In his memories, Maki had always been warm, bright, and playful¡ªthe type to spoil him endlessly. But when it came to training, she transformed into someone else entirely.

    [She¡¯s a complete demon when it comes to training,] Kaoru thought, shaking his head. His doting sister was, apparently, a training lunatic.

    Still, a grin crept onto his face. Despite the intense regimen, he couldn¡¯t deny that he was excited to take on the challenge.

    The two hours passed faster than Kaoru expected, but to his shame, he had made zero progress. The only thing he¡¯d improved on was meditating¡ªhe was slowly becoming more adept at sensing his chakra and pinpointing his chakra core. But when it came to tree climbing, he hadn¡¯t managed even a single step.

    Kaoru sat at the base of the tree, staring up at the bark with frustration gnawing at him. [Am I just... untalented at this?] The thought made his chest tighten. He couldn¡¯t help but feel dejected, like he was falling short compared to what he¡¯d imagined for himself.

    But then, a spark of resolve lit up inside him. [There¡¯s nothing hard work can¡¯t fix. If I have no talent, then I¡¯ll put in twice the effort. I¡¯ll outwork everyone¡ªand overcome them.]The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    With a determined look in his eyes, Kaoru stood up and prepared to make another attempt at tree climbing. But before he could place his foot on the bark, he spotted Maki walking toward him from across the yard.

    His eyes widened in shock.

    [What the hell did she do? Where did all those bruises come from?!]

    Maki was drenched in sweat, her training clothes clinging to her like a second skin. Her arms and legs were covered in bruises and scrapes, yet she moved with the same unwavering energy as before. Despite her battered appearance, she exuded strength and confidence that made Kaoru feel both proud and envious at the same time.

    In that moment, he realized something¡ªhis sister was strong. Much stronger than he had given her credit for.

    Maki stopped in front of him, her sharp gaze cutting through his lingering frustration. Without even asking how his tree-climbing practice had gone, she barked out new orders.

    ¡°Fifty push-ups. Fifty squats. Then start running. I¡¯ll tell you when to stop.¡±

    Kaoru¡¯s jaw dropped slightly, caught off guard by the sudden demand. He opened his mouth to protest, but before he could get a word out, Maki¡¯s eyebrow twitched¡ªa silent warning that she wasn¡¯t in the mood for excuses.

    That was all it took.

    ¡°Yes, sister!¡± Kaoru blurted, dropping to the ground without hesitation. He started his push-ups with an enthusiasm fueled partly by fear.

    As he pushed his small body up and down, his arms trembling under the strain, Kaoru couldn¡¯t help but feel a flicker of pride. He still had a long way to go, but seeing Maki¡¯s strength and resilience reignited his determination.

    [I¡¯ll catch up to her one day. I¡¯ll become strong too. Just wait.]

    As Kaoru finished his push-ups, he glanced at Maki and saw her sitting cross-legged, meditating with a serene expression. For a moment, the temptation to sneak in a five-minute break crept into his mind.

    [Just a little rest wouldn¡¯t hurt, right?]

    But he quickly squashed the idea. He didn¡¯t want to risk angering Maki, who was clearly a lunatic when it came to training. [Even Might Guy would seem normal compared to her], Kaoru thought with a sigh.

    With a resigned groan, he moved on to squats, his legs already trembling from exhaustion. As he continued the exercise, he couldn¡¯t help but keep his gaze on Maki. Suddenly, an idea sparked in his mind.

    [What if I activate my eyes and see what¡¯s going on inside her?]

    Intrigued by the thought, Kaoru activated his Kekkei Genkai. His cyan eyes glowed faintly as he focused on Maki¡¯s form. What he saw left him stunned.

    He could see not only the flow of water within her body but also the flow of chakra. And it was beautiful. The chakra and water were intertwined in perfect harmony, flowing together in a way that seemed both natural and refined. The sight was mesmerizing, like watching a perfectly choreographed dance.

    Kaoru furrowed his brow in thought. [Wait¡­ Could it be that her chakra is visible because of her affinity with water?] He realized that since Maki¡¯s primary element was water, his eyes could detect her chakra as if it were part of the water flowing inside her. The chakra was calm and steady, barely perceptible at first glance. In fact, it was so controlled that Kaoru initially thought it was standing still.

    [Her chakra control is¡­ insane.]

    The realization hit him hard. His sister wasn¡¯t just strong¡ªshe was a genius. Her ability to maintain such a steady, harmonious flow of chakra was nothing short of inhuman. It made Kaoru¡¯s struggles with tree climbing seem even more pathetic in comparison.

    A newfound respect bloomed in Kaoru¡¯s chest. He admired Maki¡¯s strength and discipline in a way he hadn¡¯t before. [She¡¯s on a completely different level.]

    That respect, however, didn¡¯t last long.

    As soon as he finished his squats, Kaoru remembered the next part of the routine: running.

    [Yeah, respect gone, this is torture!], he thought bitterly.

    Kaoru had no idea how long he had been running, but it felt like hours. The small yard he was circling might as well have been the longest marathon course in human history. His legs burned, his chest ached, and his breaths came in ragged gasps.

    Each lap felt harder than the last, but he kept going, occasionally shooting desperate glances at Maki, hoping¡ªpraying¡ªthat she would stand up and tell him to stop. But there she sat, still meditating, her expression calm and peaceful, as if she had all the time in the world.

    Kaoru clenched his teeth, frustration bubbling inside him. [She¡¯s just sitting there, looking all zen, while I¡¯m dying over here!]

    He wanted to yell at her. He would have yelled at her a dozen times already¡ªif he weren¡¯t terrified of what she might do in response. The image of Maki¡¯s twitching eyebrow flashed through his mind, and he shuddered. He was certain that if he dared to complain, she would punish him by making him run even more.

    No, he couldn¡¯t risk it.

    Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Maki stood up and dusted herself off. Kaoru nearly stumbled in relief when he heard her speak.

    ¡°Meditate for ten minutes, then go freshen up. Meet me at Grandma¡¯s when you¡¯re done,¡± she said calmly, as if this brutal session was just a warm-up.

    Kaoru didn¡¯t need to be told twice. He dropped to the ground¡ªliterally dropped¡ªand barely managed to cross his legs into a sitting position. His body was screaming in protest, his muscles trembling with exhaustion.

    For the first few minutes, he couldn¡¯t even think about chakra control. All he could focus on was breathing. His gasps were uneven, his chest rising and falling rapidly as he struggled to steady himself.

    It took him a full five minutes just to catch his breath and clear his mind enough to focus on his chakra flow.

    [This is brutal¡­ but I¡¯ll keep going].

    <<<<<<>>>>>>

    In the center of the outpost, inside the Clan Head¡¯s building, Maki sat across from Suiren, her posture relaxed but her expression thoughtful.

    ¡°So, how was he?¡± Suiren asked, her voice calm but curious.

    ¡°It¡¯s still early to say,¡± Maki replied, leaning back slightly. ¡°But he¡¯s determined. I worked him really hard today¡ªran him into the ground, made him do push-ups, squats, and even gave him tree climbing as his first exercise. He failed, of course, but he took it better than I expected. No whining, no giving up. He¡¯s serious about this.¡±

    Suiren smiled softly. ¡°You¡¯re enjoying this, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    Maki couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, a playful grin spreading across her face. ¡°Yes, I am. You should¡¯ve seen him by the end of the training. He was genuinely angry but too scared to say anything. His puffed-up cheeks made him look so cute.¡± She giggled at the memory, her grin widening. ¡°I¡¯m giving him a week. If he sticks with it and proves he¡¯s serious, I¡¯ll dedicate my time to training him.¡±

    Suiren nodded in approval but then noticed Maki¡¯s expression shift slightly. The grin faded as her tone turned more serious.

    ¡°By the way,¡± Maki continued, ¡°at one point, he activated his Kekkei Genkai and kept watching me. I could feel his gaze. I don¡¯t know what he was doing, but he was definitely observing me closely. I didn¡¯t even know he could activate his powers so freely.¡±

    Suiren¡¯s eyes widened slightly. ¡°He activated it?¡± she asked, surprised.

    Maki nodded, her brows furrowing. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen him activate his Kekkei Genkai since that day¡­¡± Her voice softened, and a shadow of sadness crossed her face.

    Suiren placed a comforting hand on Maki¡¯s shoulder, squeezing gently. ¡°He might¡¯ve done it accidentally, but it¡¯s a good sign. It means he¡¯s getting better at using it.¡±

    There was a moment of silence between them before Suiren spoke again, her tone steady but carrying a hint of sadness.

    ¡°If we want to survive, we have to become stronger,¡± Suiren said, her voice firm. ¡°As much as I wish I could be strong enough to protect everyone myself, the truth is¡­ I¡¯m utterly useless outside of this settlement. But at least here, I can guarantee everyone¡¯s safety.¡±

    Her eyes hardened with determination, but Maki caught the faint glint of sadness behind them.

    ¡°Even the Mizukage won¡¯t dare to attack us here,¡± Suiren continued, though her voice wavered slightly. ¡°But I know it¡¯s only a matter of time before things change. And when they do, we must be ready.¡±

    Maki nodded, her expression serious once more. ¡°We¡¯ll make sure we are.¡±

    <<<<<<>>>>>>

    Maki put Kaoru through another grueling training session in the evening before finally telling him to go to bed. Exhausted and sore, Kaoru trudged back to his room, collapsing onto his mat with a heavy sigh. He knew he shouldn¡¯t have expected any drastic improvements in a single day, but the fact that he still couldn¡¯t make even a single step on the tree trunk left him feeling dejected.

    [No point in sulking,] he thought. [I need to put more time into my chakra control.]

    Determined to make progress, Kaoru decided to add a nightly routine to his training. He would do water droplet manipulation exercises for at least an hour before going to sleep. He noticed that every time he completely drained his chakra, he felt his core subtly strengthen during recovery. If exhausting his reserves was the key to growth, then he would push himself to his limits every day.

    As he sat cross-legged, focusing on the shimmering droplet hovering in front of him, Kaoru¡¯s thoughts drifted toward his new life¡ªand his new family. He didn¡¯t remember anything about his past life, but even so, he couldn¡¯t imagine it being much better than what he had now.

    Yes, this world was brutal and filled with people who saw human lives as disposable, but¡­ he had people who loved him. Truly loved him, with all their hearts. Maki and Suiren had shown him nothing but care and devotion, and Kaoru was beginning to realize that he loved them back¡ªdeeply and involuntarily.

    The memories he had weren¡¯t truly his, but they were there, woven into the fabric of his mind. He hadn¡¯t simply taken over Kaoru¡¯s body. He was Kaoru now, in every way that mattered. The more he thought about it, the more he accepted it.

    [It¡¯s not bad at all,] he thought, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

    He liked the feeling of being loved. He liked knowing he had reliable people he could trust. But with that trust came responsibility. Kaoru needed to become stronger¡ªmuch, much stronger¡ªto protect them.

    His thoughts darkened as he remembered something Maki had mentioned earlier during Breakfast: news had reached the settlement that Konoha¡¯s Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, had recently died.

    That piece of information hit Kaoru hard. It meant he was seven years older than Naruto. And more importantly, it meant he had roughly sixteen years before the Fourth Great Ninja War would erupt.

    Sixteen years to prepare.

    Sixteen years to become strong enough to survive¡ªand to make sure the people he loved survived with him.

    Kaoru clenched his fists, the droplet of water wavering in front of him before dropping on the floor.

    [I have time¡­ but not much. I need to become strong enough to make a difference.]

    With that thought, Kaoru resumed his exercise, steadily pushing his chakra to its limit before finally allowing himself to rest. Tonight, he drifted off with a clearer mind than the night before. He had a goal now¡ªa timeline to work with and a reason to grow stronger.

    There was still much to figure out. He needed a plan, but he knew he was far too weak to start thinking about grand strategies just yet. For now, his focus had to be simple: reach at least Chunin level as fast as possible.

    His shinobi journey was just beginning, a path full of uncertainty and danger. How far he¡¯d go, what he¡¯d become¡­ no one could say. Not even Kaoru himself.

    But one thing was certain¡ªthere was no turning back now.

    **

    A/N - This chapter ended up really long, lol. Most chapters will be around 2000 words, but I might change that and write longer ones depending on what the plot needs. I wanted to explain how Kaoru¡¯s ninja journey started, and splitting it into separate chapters didn¡¯t feel right. Plus, I wanted to show more of Maki and Suiren¡¯s personalities to give them more depth.

    I¡¯ve finally decided on the timeline! The story starts shortly after Minato¡¯s death, meaning Kaoru is 7 years older than Naruto. I¡¯ll definitely be including canon characters, and I¡¯ll do my best to keep their personalities true to the original. That said¡­ if I find any characters to be too flawed (:cough: Kishimoto¡¯s female characters! :cough:), I¡¯ll give them more depth and nuance.

    Now, about the training arcs: I won¡¯t spend too much time on them, but I can¡¯t skip them either. Kaoru¡¯s development and understanding of chakra (The concepts will mostly be invented by me) are important to the story, and it¡¯ll help explain how he makes progress and comes up with new techniques (because he has to, right?). Without these explanations, it¡¯d be hard to justify his growth.

    That¡¯s all I wanted to share for now! Thanks for reading! ??

    ? if you have any recommendations or feedback, feel free to let me know in the comments. I¡¯m always open to ideas and suggestions!

    Character Notes:

    <ul>

    <li style="font-weight: 400">Kaoru - Sleeping MC - [No, Maki¡­ please let me rest for five more minutes¡­]</li>

    </ul>

    <ul>

    <li style="font-weight: 400">Maki - Proud Sister - Thinking about increasing the intensity of Kaoru¡¯s training.</li>

    </ul>

    <ul>

    <li style="font-weight: 400">Suiren - Clan Head - [I need to get my hands on more scrolls. Without them, the new generation won¡¯t be able to learn new techniques.]</li>

    </ul>

    <ul>

    <li style="font-weight: 400">Naruto - Canon MC, a few months old - Pooped himself.</li>

    </ul>

    **

 First Jutsu

    In the yard of the dojo, Kaoru stood drenched in sweat, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath. It had been a week since he¡¯d started training under Maki, and although he still couldn¡¯t climb the tree, there was no denying that his body was beginning to adapt.

    At first, each session had felt like pure torture. His muscles screamed, his lungs burned, and his legs felt like they¡¯d collapse at any moment. But over time, something changed. He grew accustomed to the pain¡ªand, strangely enough, he even started to enjoy it.

    Anyone who¡¯s worked out knows the feeling. The pain that once seemed unbearable soon becomes a badge of progress, a sign that you¡¯re growing stronger. And when that ache isn¡¯t there, you start to feel guilty, like you¡¯ve cheated yourself out of improvement.

    Kaoru was starting to experience that shift. His body no longer rebelled against the intense workouts, and he found himself pushing harder without needing Maki¡¯s constant ¡°encouragement¡±¡ª threats. But even as his physical endurance improved, he couldn¡¯t help but feel dejected.

    Despite his relentless efforts, his chakra control still wasn¡¯t where he wanted it to be. He practiced beyond the sessions Maki arranged for him, focusing on droplet manipulation exercises every night before bed. Yet, progress was slow, frustratingly so.

    [Why does it feel like I¡¯m stuck?] Kaoru thought, clenching his fists.

    <<<<>>>>

    During the week maki slowly started to add more physical and chakra control exercises and now Kaoru sat cross-legged in the dojo yard, the morning sun casting long shadows across the ground. A single leaf rested on his forehead, its edges trembling slightly in the breeze. His brow furrowed in concentration as he focused his chakra on the leaf, channeling it toward the small point of contact between the leaf and his skin.

    [Steady,] Kaoru told himself. [No bursts. Keep it flowing.]

    The exercise seemed deceptively simple: direct his chakra into the leaf and maintain a steady flow. But in practice, it was maddening. Too little chakra, and the leaf would slip off. Too much, and it would fly away like it had been hit by a gust of wind. Finding the balance felt like trying to walk a tightrope blindfolded.

    Beads of sweat dripped down his temples as he fought to maintain control. His chakra flickered, uneven and unstable, making the leaf wobble slightly. Frustration bubbled within him, threatening to break his focus.

    [Why can¡¯t I get this right? It¡¯s just a leaf!]

    The thought only made his chakra flow tremble, and the leaf teetered dangerously close to falling. Kaoru grit his teeth, forcing himself to take a deep breath. He closed his eyes, shutting out the distractions around him.

    [Breathe. Focus.]

    He visualized the flow of chakra within him, a quiet stream running through his body. Slowly, he imagined guiding that stream upward, toward his forehead. The leaf felt cool against his skin, a small anchor point for his focus. This time, instead of forcing the chakra, he let it flow naturally, like water finding its path. For a moment, the leaf stopped trembling. Kaoru¡¯s lips curled into a faint smile.

    [That¡¯s it... steady.]

    He maintained the flow for several seconds, and for the first time, the chakra felt smooth¡ªlike a gentle current rather than a turbulent wave. Then, something clicked. It was subtle, like the moment when a puzzle piece falls perfectly into place. The stream of chakra stabilized, and the leaf stayed perfectly still.

    Kaoru opened his eyes, his heart pounding with excitement. The leaf was balanced effortlessly, held by his chakra alone. He couldn¡¯t help but grin.

    ¡°I did it!¡± he exclaimed, the sound of his voice startling even himself.

    The leaf remained steady, as if rewarding his newfound control. For the first time, he felt like he had a real connection with his chakra¡ªan understanding of its rhythm and flow. It wasn¡¯t just raw energy anymore; it was something he could guide and shape.

    ¡°Maki, I did it! I finally controlled my chakra!¡± Kaoru shouted, his voice ringing with excitement as he sprinted toward his sister. Maki, who was busy beating the crap out of a wooden dummy, paused mid-strike. She turned to see her baby brother¡¯s beaming face and couldn¡¯t help but grin herself.

    Ruffling his sweaty hair playfully, she said, ¡°Good job, Ru. You did it.¡±

    Her expression grew more serious as she stepped back and crossed her arms. ¡°Now that a week has passed, it¡¯s time we talk about your training,¡± she began. ¡°Ru, I¡¯ve been slowly increasing the intensity of your sessions. I even set you up to fail a few times, just to see if you truly wanted to stick with this.¡±

    Kaoru blinked, surprised, but stayed quiet, listening intently.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be honest,¡± Maki continued. ¡°It¡¯s going to get much more painful and difficult from here on out. So I¡¯m giving you a way out. If you¡¯re not sure you¡¯re ready, you can take your time. You¡¯ve still got a year before the clan starts formal training. But if you really want to do this¡ªif you¡¯re serious¡ªthen I¡¯ll personally become your sensei.¡±

    She crouched slightly to meet his eyes, ¡°But during our sessions, I won¡¯t be your sister. I¡¯ll be stricter than I¡¯d be with anyone else, because slacking in training isn¡¯t just being lazy¡ªit¡¯s putting your safety and defense at risk. And that¡¯s something I won¡¯t tolerate.¡±

    Kaoru stared at her, taking in the fire in her eyes. Over the past week, he¡¯d come to understand just how dedicated Maki was to training. She wasn¡¯t just obsessed¡ªshe was exceptional. Clan members showed her deep respect, and he¡¯d even seen some come to her for guidance. That kind of recognition wasn¡¯t small, especially for someone who was only fifteen years old.

    ¡°I want to train, Maki,¡± Kaoru said without hesitation, his voice steady. Then he added with a bright smile on his face ¡°I¡¯m already dedicating most of my day to it, and I¡¯m not going to stop. So please teach me. Teach me those awesome jutsus!¡±

    Maki¡¯s brows lifted slightly in surprise. Her serious demeanor softened as she smiled at his enthusiasm. Soon curiosity flickered in her eyes. ¡°Alright, Ru, I¡¯ll teach you. But why the sudden interest? You never even did a single push-up before, and now you¡¯re ready to suffer through this kind of pain.¡±

    Kaoru paused for a moment, choosing his words carefully. He puffed his cheeks and did his best to sound like a true seven-year-old. ¡°I want to be able to protect you and Grandma. Actually, I want to protect everyone in the clan. I¡¯m not a kid anymore.¡±

    Maki¡¯s eyes sparkled at his words, and her grin returned, wide and full of pride. Kaoru saw the joy in her expression and knew he¡¯d said exactly the right thing. A small smile spread across his face.

    ¡°All right, Ru,¡± Maki said, ruffling his hair again. ¡°Let¡¯s get to work.¡±This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    Maki wasted no time and designed a full training regimen for Kaoru. His days would start early¡ªvery early¡ªwith a morning run around the settlement. After the run, he would do a grueling set of squats and push-ups to strengthen his body. Once that was done, he¡¯d meditate for thirty minutes to recover his stamina and focus his mind.

    The real training began after meditation.

    Kaoru would spend time practicing tree climbing, a critical chakra control exercise he still sucked at. Once he was done with that, he¡¯d move on to the leaf concentration exercise, where he had to keep a leaf stuck to his forehead using nothing but his chakra. After that, he¡¯d shift to droplet manipulation, an exercise unique to the Takime Clan¡¯s Kekkei Genkai that honed his ability to control water with precision.

    The sessions didn¡¯t stop there.

    Every day ended with shuriken practice, followed by a sparring match with Maki. Of course, sparring with his sister usually meant getting beaten to a pulp. Maki never held back, and Kaoru often found himself on the ground, bruised and gasping for breath by the time they finished.

    Thankfully, the clan had several skilled medical ninjas, so minor or even moderately serious injuries were never a big issue. Kaoru quickly learned to endure the pain, knowing he¡¯d be patched up and ready for the next session.

    The training regimen was brutal, but Kaoru didn¡¯t complain. He trained twice a day, with a break in between for meals and rest.

    Even after Maki¡¯s sessions were done, Kaoru pushed himself further with personal training in the evenings. His self-imposed routine focused heavily on chakra control exercises: leaf concentration, droplet manipulation, and meditation to strengthen his chakra and water control.

    The days blurred together, filled with sweat, bruises, and exhaustion. Just like that, a month had passed.

    With each grueling day, Kaoru could feel himself getting stronger. His body, once frail and soft, was beginning to develop lean muscle. The training that once felt unbearable was now manageable, and though Maki kept increasing the intensity and he still ached after each session, the pain no longer discouraged him¡ªit fueled him.

    His chakra control had also improved significantly. He could now make about fifteen steps on the tree before losing his grip, and he felt that it wouldn¡¯t be long before he could walk up the tree effortlessly.

    However, the biggest and most exciting news was his chakra core that had doubled in size since he began training.

    [In just a month?] he thought, grinning from ear to ear. He knew his reserves were still small compared to other seven-year-olds, but this progress gave him hope.

    Kaoru also learned something crucial during his training¡ªthe Takime Clan¡¯s chakra capacity was naturally small. It was likely one of the main reasons why the clan had declined over the generations. Their powerful Kekkei Genkai was extremely chakra-hungry so without a big chakra core it was impossible to fully utilize its potential.

    Maki was the exception. Her chakra reserves were enormous, far surpassing the norm for the clan. However, she had struggled to use her Kekkei Genkai effectively. After years of frustration and wasted time trying to fix that, she had eventually given up and focused her energy on taijutsu and ninjutsu, where her natural talent shone.

    That morning, Kaoru was in the yard of the dojo, practicing shuriken throwing. He narrowed his eyes, focusing on the target ahead. Each throw was more precise than the last as he hurled the small projectiles with all his strength. His form had improved, but his concentration was suddenly broken by the sound of familiar footsteps approaching.

    Kaoru turned to see Maki walking toward him, her usual confident stride carrying a hint of concern.

    ¡°Ru,¡± she called out, her tone calm but serious. ¡°I¡¯m going on a mission today. I¡¯ll be gone for about two months.¡±

    Kaoru froze, the shuriken slipping from his fingers. His face fell slightly.

    ¡°This will be a kind of challenge for you,¡± Maki continued. ¡°Show me that you won¡¯t slack off or become lazy without me around.¡±

    Kaoru¡¯s frown deepened. He didn¡¯t like the thought of her leaving, but the glint in her eyes told him she wasn¡¯t finished.

    ¡°When I come back,¡± she said with a smirk, ¡°I want to see you comfortable with tree climbing. If you can master it by then¡­¡± She leaned in, lowering her voice as if sharing a secret. ¡°I¡¯ll teach you an awesome jutsu.¡±

    Kaoru¡¯s disappointment vanished in an instant. His face lit up with excitement, his eyes sparkling with joy. The sudden brightness made Maki laugh as she shielded her eyes with her hand.

    ¡°Ru, your face is so bright I might go blind,¡± she teased.

    Kaoru didn¡¯t even register her words. His mind was already racing with thoughts of the cool jutsu he would learn. His lips parted, ready to ask what kind of jutsu it would be, but by the time he raised his head, Maki was already gone.

    His excitement didn¡¯t waver.

    [Alright, Maki¡­ I¡¯ll prove that I¡¯m serious,] Kaoru thought, a determined smirk creeping across his face. [I¡¯ll master tree climbing, and I¡¯ll perfect the technique I¡¯ve been working on. I¡¯ll make sure you¡¯re impressed enough to teach me more than just one jutsu.]

    With renewed resolve, Kaoru turned back to his training. The thought of Maki getting into trouble on her mission never even crossed his mind¡ªthat¡¯s how much he trusted her. In his eyes, Maki was invincible, a force of nature who could handle anything the world threw at her.

    As the days passed, Kaoru found himself blending more and more with his new identity. The idea of his past life felt distant now, like a fading dream. At times, he even questioned whether he was truly a transmigrator at all.

    [What if I¡¯m not someone who took over Kaoru¡¯s body?] he wondered. [What if I¡¯ve always been Kaoru, and these memories were just planted in my mind?]

    The thought lingered, but Kaoru didn¡¯t dwell on it for too long. Regardless of where he came from, he had a purpose now¡ªto protect his family and grow stronger. That was what mattered most.

    Still, he couldn¡¯t afford to let his memories slip away. Late at night, after his evening training sessions, Kaoru would sit in silence and try to recall as many important details from Naruto anime as he could. He treated those memories like precious fragments of a lost book, carefully piecing them together and committing them to memory.

    He knew that if he didn¡¯t actively reinforce them, they would eventually fade. The Naruto world was vast, and Kaoru hadn¡¯t been a hardcore fan in his past life. He remembered the major characters and key events, but many smaller details were already slipping through the cracks.

    [Unfortunately, I wasn¡¯t one of those fans who memorized every hand sign or every jutsu detail,] Kaoru thought with a sigh. I know a few techniques in theory, but I have no idea how to recreate them.

    Still, what he did remember was more than enough to give him an advantage.

    Kaoru was particularly focused on creating this simple water bullet technique using his clan¡¯s water manipulation Kekkei Genkai. Over the past few weeks, he had been experimenting with controlling water droplets, refining his ability to shape and move them. He felt that he was close¡ªso close¡ªto a breakthrough.

    Sitting cross-legged in the yard one evening, he stared at a floating droplet of water, his cyan eyes glowing faintly as he concentrated. The droplet trembled slightly as he shifted its shape, willing it to change form. It stretched into a thin thread, then snapped back into a sphere.

    Control. I need more control.

    Kaoru knew that raw chakra wouldn¡¯t be enough. The key was precision¡ªrefining his chakra flow to manipulate the water with finesse, not brute force.

    [If I can get this right¡­ I¡¯ll have my first technique,] he thought, his heart racing with excitement. [And when Maki comes back, I¡¯ll beg her to teach me one more technique, hehe].

    Kaoru grinned, determination burning in his eyes.

    **

    A/N - We¡¯ve finally reached the point where I can focus on more than just training! The story will start expanding beyond Kaoru¡¯s perspective. I won¡¯t be writing entirely from the MC¡¯s POV; instead, sometimes, we¡¯ll also see things from other characters¡¯ perspectives. I believe this will add more depth to both the story and the characters.

    That said, don¡¯t worry¡ªI won¡¯t dedicate several chapters to anyone but Kaoru. He¡¯s still the heart of the story. But to keep things fresh, I¡¯ll occasionally switch POVs when it makes sense for the plot.

    I¡¯ll be testing out POV switching with Maki. We¡¯ll follow her on her mission and see what she¡¯s up to while Kaoru continues his training back at the settlement. Hopefully, this change will give more insight into her character and what she¡¯s dealing with outside the outpost.

    ? if you have any recommendations or feedback, feel free to let me know in the comments. I¡¯m always open to ideas and suggestions!

    Character notes:

    Kaoru - Excited - [I¡¯ll soon have three techniques!]

    Maki - On the mission - I wonder how Ru is doing¡­

    **

 More Than Big Sister

    Somewhere in the land of water, Maki moved swiftly and silently through the dense forest, her shinobi outfit blending seamlessly with the shadows cast by the towering trees. She wore a fitted, sleeveless tunic in midnight blue, the fabric subtly shimmering like rippling water under the moonlight. The tunic was reinforced with light armor panels at the shoulders and sides, providing protection without hindering her agility. Tight black leggings and knee-high, reinforced sandals allowed for silent movement through rough terrain. A thin black cloak draped over her shoulders, the fabric rippling gently in the breeze.

    On the back of her tunic was the Takime Clan¡¯s symbol¡ªa stylized wave forming a cyan eye, with the kanji ¡°œöÄ¿¡± (Takime) embroidered at its center. Unlike most shinobi, Maki and her comrades no longer wore headbands. After the Takime Clan¡¯s persecution by Kirigakure, the traditional symbol of allegiance had become meaningless to them. They had no village to call home, only their clan and the people they vowed to protect.

    Maki crept closer to a small encampment, her movements fluid and precise. She was accompanied by three other Takime shinobi, each of them blending into the forest with practiced ease.

    Maki took the lead, her sensory abilities making her invaluable in missions like this. With her immense chakra reserves, she could sense chakra signatures up to seven kilometers away. Her heightened awareness allowed her to navigate the forest and avoid unnecessary confrontations, ensuring the mission''s success.

    She raised her hand, signaling her team to stop. Her gaze locked onto the encampment ahead.

    There were five enemy shinobi in the camp, four of them lounging carelessly while one was on guard. Nearby, ten civilian children huddled together, their small bodies trembling with fear. Their sobbing and quiet cries for mercy were met with indifference from their captors.

    Maki¡¯s jaw tightened, and her eyes narrowed. Her heart ached for the children, but her rage simmered just beneath the surface.

    Since the Mizukage¡¯s reign of terror began, kidnapping children and selling them had become a horrifyingly common practice. The weaker villages and clans had no way to fight back, and many were forced into silence out of fear.

    But the Takime Clan had decided to abandon their passive stance. They would no longer stand idly by while innocents suffered. Their primary goal now was to rescue children¡ªto bring them back to the outpost, keep them safe, and raise them to become capable and loyal shinobi.

    Maki¡¯s eyes flickered with determination as she analyzed the situation. The enemy shinobi were careless, napping. The lookout, the only one keeping watch, stood at the edge of the camp, occasionally glancing around with disinterest.

    With a deep breath, Maki signaled to her team to hold their positions. This part was hers to handle.

    She moved forward, her steps light and soundless. Her target was clear¡ªthe lookout shinobi.

    As Maki crept closer, her mind remained focused, her emotions cold and detached.

    [They don''t deserve mercy] she thought, her grip tightening around the kunai in her right hand.

    Her target stood just a few steps away, oblivious to the predator stalking him in the shadows. One leap would have been enough to close the distance, but Maki didn¡¯t want to risk making any unnecessary noise. Instead, she advanced slowly, her movements precise and controlled, like a tiger closing in on its prey.

    When she was close enough that the man¡¯s neck was just a swift slash away, Maki struck.

    Her left hand shot forward, clamping down over the shinobi¡¯s mouth before he could make a sound. His eyes widened in shock as her kunai flashed in the dim light, slicing cleanly across his throat. Blood sprayed from the wound, dark crimson staining the forest floor in messy spurts.

    Maki held him in place as his body went limp, lowering him quietly to the ground. Her gaze remained cold and steady, unmoved by the sight of the man¡¯s life draining away. She neither felt sorrow nor regret.

    [Scum like this deserve worse than a swift death] thought Maki.

    Her actions had been silent, efficient¡ªexactly as planned. She glanced toward the camp, ready to signal her team to move in.

    But suddenly Maki¡¯s head snapped toward the children. The terrified kids, who had already been trembling with fear, couldn¡¯t hold back their cries any longer after witnessing such a bloody scene. Their sobs echoed through the trees, a sound of panic and despair.

    [Damn it¡­]

    The remaining enemy shinobi bolted upright, their groggy expressions quickly turning to alarm as they registered the sound of the children crying. The camp erupted into chaos.

    Maki knew stealth was no longer an option.

    ¡°All in!¡± she signaled to her team with a swift hand gesture.

    Without hesitation, all four Takime shinobi charged into the camp, moving like shadows in the twilight. Their mission was clear: eliminate the kidnappers before they had a chance to use the children as hostages.

    Maki flickered and appeared behind the nearest enemy shinobi. The man''s hand reached for a weapon, but he was far too slow. Maki¡¯s kunai plunged into his back before he could even draw his blade.

    Behind her, the other Takime shinobi engaged the remaining kidnappers with swift, brutal efficiency. Blades clashed, and the air filled with the sounds of desperate cries and the dull thuds of bodies hitting the ground.

    The enemy shinobi were disoriented and caught off guard¡ªjust as planned. The Takime team couldn¡¯t afford a single mistake. Even though they outclassed their opponents any misstep could still cost the children their lives.

    The battle was over quickly.

    Soon, every kidnapper but one lay on the ground, cold as stone, their bodies sprawled across the blood-streaked camp. Only one remained standing¡ªa battered, desperate man with several deep wounds. None of his injuries were immediately fatal, but he was barely holding himself together. Blood dripped from his side, and his grip on the kunai in his hand was weak, trembling.

    Facing him was Akura Takime, the leader of their four-person team. Akura was one of the strongest and most experienced shinobi in the Takime Clan, a man who had survived countless battles and outlived many comrades. His presence alone carried an air of authority that made even hardened warriors hesitate.

    Akura¡¯s sharp eyes studied the remaining kidnapper, unblinking and cold.

    The enemy shinobi panted heavily, his gaze darting around for an escape route, but it was useless. He was outmatched and injured. He was barely able to even hold a kunai.

    With a resigned sigh, the man dropped his kunai and raised his hands in surrender.

    ¡°I''ll surrender but please don''t kill me,¡± he said.

    Akura didn¡¯t move for a moment, looking at the kidnapper with nothing but disgust in his eyes. Then, he gave his orders.

    ¡°Maki, tie this bastard up¡ªas tightly as possible. I don¡¯t want him getting any ideas.¡±

    Maki gave a curt nod, already pulling a length of wire from her pouch. She approached the kidnapper without hesitation, her expression cold and focused. There was no pity in her eyes, only hatred.

    ¡°Remi,¡± Akura continued, turning to the team¡¯s medical shinobi. ¡°Check on the children. Heal them if they need it. From now on, you¡¯re in charge of them until we¡¯re back. Make sure they¡¯re safe.¡±

    ¡°Understood¡± Remi replied, already moving toward the terrified children huddled in the corner of the camp. His voice softened as he spoke to them, trying to ease their fear. ¡°It¡¯s okay now. You¡¯re safe. We¡¯ll take you somewhere safe.¡±

    The children, still trembling from the ordeal, hesitated at first, but a few of the older ones nodded cautiously.

    Akura¡¯s gaze shifted to the final member of their team. ¡°Gumi, search the camp. See if there¡¯s anything valuable¡ªscrolls, supplies, anything we can use.¡±

    ¡°On it,¡± Gumi replied, disappearing into one of the tents.

    With the orders given, Akura turned his attention back to Maki. She had already tied the kidnapper¡¯s hands behind his back and was now binding his legs, ensuring he wouldn¡¯t be able to move even if he tried.

    As she finished securing the last knot, Akura followed her, standing over the restrained man.

    ¡°I¡¯ll handle the interrogation,¡± Akura said quietly. His tone was steady, but there was a coldness in it that made the kidnapper¡¯s eyes widen with fear.

    Maki glanced up at Akura, her expression firm. ¡°I want to be there.¡±

    Akura gave her a long look before nodding once. ¡°Fine. But stay quiet unless I ask you to speak.¡±The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    Maki¡¯s expression remained the same and she gave a slight nod.

    Akura crouched in front of the tied kidnapper, his gaze cold and devoid of mercy. His voice was calm, but there was an edge to it that made the air feel heavier.

    ¡°What were you going to do with these kids?¡± he asked, his tone chilling.

    The kidnapper swallowed hard. He knew there was almost no hope for him, but desperation drove him to try.

    ¡°We were ordered by the boss to bring these kids to the client,¡± he stammered. ¡°I don¡¯t know who the client is, but I can give you the location of the rendezvous¡­ if you promise to let me live.¡±

    As he finished speaking, a suffocating murderous intent filled the air, but it wasn¡¯t coming from Akura. It was coming from behind.

    Maki stood silently, her fists trembling with rage, her entire body tense. Her eyes burned with barely contained fury, her hatred for those who preyed on children boiling.

    The kidnapper flinched under her gaze, but Akura didn¡¯t react to her anger. He kept his focus on the captive, his expression unreadable.

    ¡°You¡¯re in no position to bargain,¡± Akura said coldly. ¡°But¡­ I¡¯ll consider it, depending on the information you give me. Start talking. I want the location of your group¡¯s hideout. How many people are there? How strong are they? Who¡¯s your boss?¡±

    The kidnapper hesitated, but one glance at Akura¡¯s unforgiving eyes told him there was no way out. Slowly, he began to spill everything he knew.

    By the time he finished, Akura had the full picture: the hideout¡¯s location, the number of shinobi stationed there, and details about their leader. But the most shocking revelation was the identity of their backer.

    ¡°One of the daimyo¡¯s relatives is sponsoring and protecting us,¡± the kidnapper confessed, his voice trembling. ¡°That¡¯s how we¡¯ve been able to grow¡­ and why no one dares to touch us.¡±

    Akura¡¯s eyes narrowed.

    A relative of the daimyo.

    This wasn¡¯t just a small group of criminals¡ªthey were operating with political protection.

    Akura stood slowly, his gaze still locked on the captive. ¡°Good. That¡¯s all I needed to know.¡±

    Seeing that the captive shinobi had told them everything he knew, Akura gave Maki a silent nod.

    Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, Maki¡¯s kunai flashed, slicing cleanly across the man¡¯s throat. He gasped, choking on his own blood, his wide eyes filled with terror. His body convulsed as he struggled for air, each desperate breath drawing him closer to death.

    For the first time in his life, he felt the despair he had inflicted on others. Pain, regret, and the bitter taste of injustice filled his final moments. If only he had known the Takime Clan would find them.

    His body gave one final spasm before going limp, his eyes remaining open and lifeless. No burial, no rites¡ªjust a cold, unforgiving death, left to rot where he fell.

    Maki wiped her kunai clean with slow, deliberate motions as she fell into step beside Akura.

    ¡°Let¡¯s not waste any time,¡± she hissed, her voice cold with fury. ¡°We¡¯ll take the kids back to our camp, then hit their hideout with full force. I want these bastards destroyed as soon as possible.¡±

    Akura glanced at her, concern flickering in his eyes. Maki¡¯s rage and thirst for revenge had grown more intense with each mission. He could see it in her tightened grip and burning gaze.

    Her hatred was consuming her.

    And her growing strength only made it harder to keep her in check.

    [She¡¯s already strong enough to defeat Chunin-level shinobi with ease. That power, combined with her rage, is dangerous,] Akura thought grimly.

    ¡°I understand your feelings,¡± he said carefully. ¡°But we¡¯ll prioritize the safety of our shinobi. We need to plan this attack thoroughly before making a move.¡±

    Maki shot him a glare, her frustration clear. ¡°But they¡¯re weak! They don¡¯t pose a threat to any of us. I could take ten, maybe fifteen of them on my own.¡±

    Akura stopped in his tracks, turning to face her fully. His voice was calm but firm.

    ¡°Maki¡­ we are Takime. Never forget that.¡±

    Maki¡¯s jaw clenched, her eyes narrowing. ¡°And what¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡±

    ¡°It means we must remain calm, like water. We adapt, we flow, we wait for the right moment to strike. Recklessness will destroy us. Safety and survival come first.¡±

    Maki¡¯s hands trembled slightly as she tightened her fists.

    ¡°That ideology is what destroyed our clan,¡± she snapped. ¡°We became weak and soft, so much so that we had to run from our own village. I don¡¯t want to¡ª¡±

    ¡°Enough.¡± Akura¡¯s voice cut through the tension, his tone sharp and commanding.

    ¡°I¡¯m the leader of this mission, and you will follow my orders.¡± He softened slightly, his gaze steady but not unkind. [She¡¯s still a kid,] he thought. [Her blood is still boiling. It hasn¡¯t yet attained the calm and peaceful flow of true Takime.]

    Maki stood still for a moment, her anger simmering beneath the surface. She hated feeling powerless, hated being told to hold back. But despite her frustration, she couldn¡¯t deny her respect for Akura.

    With a curt nod, she turned away and strode toward the children, her pace quick and deliberate.

    Akura watched her go, his expression thoughtful.

    ¡°She¡¯ll learn,¡± he murmured to himself. ¡°In time.¡±

    Maki approached the frightened children, her steps slowing as her gaze softened. Her heart clenched, and before she realized it, her eyes grew watery. She couldn¡¯t help but think about Kaoru.

    Her baby brother could have easily been one of these kids¡ªlost, terrified, and alone¡ªif not for their father¡¯s sacrifice.

    The thought sent a shiver down her spine.

    Their father, the only S-rank shinobi the Takime Clan had seen in generations, had given his life to ensure the clan¡¯s survival. He¡¯d faced overwhelming odds against the Mizukage¡¯s forces, buying time for his family and the clan to escape. His death wasn¡¯t just a tragic loss¡ªit was a symbol of their resilience, a reminder of the price they¡¯d paid to endure.

    Maki¡¯s mind spiraled into chaos, her thoughts racing between the traumatized children, Kaoru, her parents, grandmother, and the burden of their clan¡¯s survival.

    A deep sigh escaped her lips. It was overwhelming. Too much.

    But in moments like this, Kaoru was her anchor. Thinking about him brought a warmth to her heart, a light in the darkness that chased away her despair.

    Maki took a breath, composing herself. Her face brightened, and with renewed resolve, she knelt in front of the children, greeting them with a gentle smile.

    ¡°Kids, don¡¯t worry,¡± she said softly. ¡°From now on, you¡¯re safe. The Takime Clan will take care of you.¡±

    Her voice was steady and soothing, like a lullaby to their frightened ears.

    ¡°There are many other kids in the clan. You¡¯ll make lots of friends,¡± she continued, her smile widening. ¡°Actually, my baby brother is about your age. He¡¯s going to be so happy when he sees you.¡±

    The children stared at her with wide, uncertain eyes. Some clung to each other, their faces pale from exhaustion and fear. These kids had been living in a nightmare for far too long¡ªmonths of captivity, cruelty, and hopelessness.

    Maki knew it would take time for them to feel safe again. Time to warm up, to smile without fear of punishment.

    But¡­ she noticed a few of them casting curious glances her way.

    They weren¡¯t crying anymore. They weren¡¯t trembling.

    It was a good start.

    The sun began to rise, casting a soft orange glow over the horizon as the four Takime shinobi and their ten rescued children finally arrived back at the camp.

    A large tent had been prepared for the children, complete with bedding and supplies to help them recover. Remi and the other medical shinobi immediately began tending to the kids, offering water, food, and comfort.

    As the others settled in, Akura turned to Maki.

    ¡°Maki, bring my second-in-command. Meet me in my tent,¡± he ordered. ¡°We need to plan our next steps.¡±

    Maki gave a quick nod, watching as Akura disappeared into his tent.

    The mission wasn¡¯t over yet. There was much to discuss, and Maki knew this would be a long night.

    But for now, she allowed herself a small smile as she glanced toward the children, who were finally beginning to relax in the safety of the Takime camp.

    [Kaoru will be happy to see them,] she thought, her heart warming at the thought of her brother¡¯s bright smile.

    But her gaze hardened as she turned back toward Akura¡¯s tent.

    There were still monsters out there. And Maki had no intention of letting them go unpunished.

    <<<>>>

    Three weeks had passed since Maki left on her mission, and Kaoru had been making steady progress with his training.

    He could now freely climb the tree without even thinking about it. What had once been a grueling challenge was now second nature, his body moving instinctively as he scaled the trunk with ease.

    His water manipulation had improved as well. He could shape and control droplets with more precision, and he was starting to feel more connected to his Kekkei Genkai. But despite his progress, recreating the Water Bullet technique remained out of reach.

    Kaoru wasn¡¯t frustrated, though.

    In fact, he had no intention of asking anyone for guidance. He had realized something important during his solo training sessions: each time he made progress on his own, his understanding deepened.

    There was a difference between copying a method and truly mastering it. Kaoru believed that if he relied on others to teach him, he would miss the essence of his powers.

    This was the path he had chosen¡ªa path to complete mastery of the water element.

    Besides, Kaoru loved training. He had discovered that improving himself was fun. Every small success, every breakthrough, brought him joy and excitement. Nothing felt better than realizing he had grown stronger.

    That afternoon, Kaoru stood on the branch of a tall tree, hanging upside down. His bright smile shone like the sun filtering through the leaves.

    ¡°Now, all I have to do is recreate the Water Bullet technique and shock Maki when she gets back,¡± Kaoru said to himself, grinning mischievously. ¡°Hehe.¡±

    He had a cheeky expression as he pictured his sister¡¯s surprised face. He could already imagine her wide eyes and the stunned look she¡¯d have when she saw just how much progress he had made on his own.

    Kaoru chuckled to himself, still hanging upside down.

    ¡°And maybe¡­ if I impress her enough, I can trick her into teaching me two jutsus instead of one.¡±

    The thought made him even more excited. He couldn¡¯t wait for Maki to return so he could show her that he wasn¡¯t a helpless little brother anymore.

    He was a shinobi now.

    **

    A/N - This was my first time writing a fight scene! I know it was brief, but I wanted to emphasize the gap in skill between those small-time kidnappers and the talented Takime shinobi.

    That said, expect more complex and challenging fights in the future. As Kaoru grows stronger, so will his enemies, and I¡¯ll work on making those battles more detailed and intense. Hopefully, I¡¯ll improve at writing them as the story progresses.

    I also hope you enjoyed seeing things from Maki¡¯s POV. There¡¯s more to her story than just being Kaoru¡¯s protective sister, and we¡¯ll explore that in the coming chapters.

    ? if you have any recommendations or feedback, feel free to let me know in the comments. I¡¯m always open to ideas and suggestions!

    Maki - Plans to eradicate kidnappers - [I won¡¯t let them harm any more kids.]

    Kaoru - Carefree MC - ¡°I wonder if I can make the Water Bullet stronger than it usually is.¡±

    Akura - Experienced shinobi - [Maki needs to become more mature soon. She is the future of Takime, after all.]

    **

 Rogue Ninja Hideout part 1

    The wooden dummy in front of Kaoru was in bad shape¡ªriddled with holes and cracks, each mark a testament to his relentless training.

    Kaoru stood panting, his chest heaving as sweat dripped from his chin, but his eyes gleamed with excitement. At the end of the sixth week since Maki¡¯s departure, he had finally managed to master the Water Bullet technique¡ªbut with his own twist.

    Unlike the standard version, Kaoru¡¯s Water Bullet was deadlier and far more efficient.

    In the Naruto world, shinobi typically use their chakra to create water from nothing, shaping it into offensive techniques. However, Kaoru¡¯s Kekkei Genkai worked differently. He could influence water particles in the air, in plants, or even in his own body, commanding them to move and shape themselves according to his will.

    This difference in method made Kaoru¡¯s version far more chakra-efficient.

    Rather than conjuring water from pure chakra, Kaoru had refined his technique by using his own saliva as a medium. With just a minuscule amount of chakra, he could shape the water in his mouth and then fire it as a deadly projectile.

    He took a step back, wiping the sweat from his face, his mind already working on the next step.

    ¡°I¡¯ve got the basics down¡­ now to perfect the shape.¡±

    Kaoru aimed to refine the bullet¡¯s shape to maximize its penetration power, ensuring it could pierce through armor, wood, and even stone. Once he achieved that, he would move on to increasing the number of bullets he could fire in quick succession.

    Kaoru already had complete mastery over his method, so he did not even need hand signs. On top of that, unlike most jutsu, Kaoru¡¯s Water Bullet was completely silent and stealthy, making it perfect for surprise attacks. If he could improve its piercing power, the technique could make him a menace on the battlefield¡ªa threat that opponents wouldn¡¯t see coming until it was too late.

    Kaoru grinned as he examined the damage to the dummy.

    ¡°I can¡¯t wait to see Maki¡¯s face when she sees this,¡± he muttered to himself with a smirk. He glanced at his hands, feeling the flow of his chakra with a satisfied face.

    ¡°Even my chakra core has grown,¡± Kaoru analyzed. ¡°Compared to when I first started training, it should be at least triple the size now.¡± He crossed his arms, thinking. ¡°I think I¡¯ve figured out the speed at which it¡¯s growing. If it keeps increasing like this, it should double again in three months.¡±

    However, despite his excitement, a small problem lingered in his mind.

    ¡°Unfortunately, I don¡¯t know how my chakra compares to others. I have no frame of reference.¡± He sighed. ¡°If I had someone to compare with, I¡¯d know if I¡¯m improving fast¡­ or if this is normal.¡±

    Kaoru knew why his chakra core was growing¡ªhis intense training and exhausting his reserves daily at the cost of immense pain had forced his core to expand. But there was a ¡°downside¡±.

    The bigger the core became, the longer it took to refill.

    ¡°That¡¯s the issue¡­¡± he muttered. ¡°My recovery rate hasn¡¯t improved at all.¡± He frowned in frustration. No matter how much he trained, his chakra didn¡¯t regenerate any faster.

    ¡°And I have no idea how to fix that.¡±

    Still, Kaoru shook his head, refocusing his thoughts.

    ¡°One step at a time,¡± he told himself firmly. ¡°Don¡¯t get distracted, Kaoru.¡±

    With renewed focus, he shaped another Water Bullet in his mouth. This time, he tried something different¡ªadjusting the flow of the water inside the bullet. Instead of keeping it smooth and static, he made the edges spin backward, like a constantly rotating spiral blade.

    If the edges flow backward, it should make the bullet sharper¡­ like a rotating saw. It¡¯ll cut through targets much easier, Kaoru reasoned.

    He fired the new Water Bullet at the dummy, watching as it sliced more cleanly than before, leaving a deep, precise gouge in the wood.

    A satisfied grin spread across Kaoru¡¯s face.

    ¡°Perfect, let''s keep practicing¡­¡±

    <<<>>>

    Maki stood inside the camp, surrounded by a group of children, their small voices filling the air. There were fourteen kids in total, each one already bonded with her.

    To them, Maki was a protector and a friend. Despite her strength and skill, she was kind and playful, always making time to spend with them when she wasn¡¯t training or out chasing rogue ninjas. She made them feel safe, something they hadn¡¯t felt for a long time.

    A cute ginger-haired girl with black eyes tugged at Maki¡¯s sleeve, her cheeks turning pink as she asked shyly, ¡°Maki, when will we go to your clan? I want to see your brother. Is he really as cute as you say?¡±

    Maki couldn¡¯t help but laugh, crouching down to meet the girl¡¯s gaze.

    ¡°Soon, Paku,¡± she said with a grin. ¡°And yes, he¡¯s really cute. You should see the size of his cheeks when he¡¯s angry!¡±

    She puffed out her own cheeks as a demonstration, making the kids giggle.

    Maki¡¯s smile softened as she thought about Kaoru. It had been weeks since she left, and she couldn¡¯t wait to see his progress. She could already imagine him grinning proudly, eager to show off what he¡¯d learned.

    But before she could tell the kids more funny stories about her little brother, a voice called out from the other side of the camp.

    ¡°Maki!¡±

    It was Akura.

    Her expression shifted instantly from playful to serious as she stood and made her way toward his tent. The children watched her go, their eyes filled with admiration.

    <<<>>>

    Inside the tent, Akura stood over a map of the hideout, his expression focused.

    ¡°Any news?¡± Maki asked as soon as she entered.

    Akura didn¡¯t waste time.

    ¡°The scouts have returned. We¡¯ll strike tonight.¡± His tone was calm. ¡°They¡¯ve just started celebrating something, so it¡¯s the perfect time to hit.¡±

    Maki nodded, her jaw tightening. She¡¯d been waiting for this moment.

    For the past few weeks, the Takime scouts had been observing the rogue shinobi hideout, learning their habits, patrol routes, and defensive structures. The wait had been frustrating, but patience was key.

    ¡°What¡¯s the count?¡± Maki asked.

    Akura¡¯s eyes didn¡¯t waver from the map as he responded.

    ¡°There are three confirmed Jounin, fifteen Chunin, and eight Genin inside the hideout.¡±

    Maki¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°The Chunin and Genin won¡¯t be a problem.¡±

    Akura raised his hand, stopping her.

    ¡°That¡¯s the surface count.¡±

    Maki¡¯s eyes narrowed.

    ¡°If anyone is deliberately suppressing their chakra, we could be walking into a trap,¡± Akura said. ¡°We have to be prepared for unexpected threats. That¡¯s why we¡¯ve been waiting for the right opportunity.¡±

    He gestured toward the map. ¡°And tonight is that opportunity. Their guard will be down. They¡¯ll be distracted by the celebration. It¡¯s the best chance we¡¯ll get.¡±

    Maki¡¯s fist clenched.

    ¡°Finally,¡± she said softly, her eyes burning with resolve.

    Akura glanced at her, his expression softening slightly.

    ¡°Gather everyone. Get them ready.¡± His voice was steady, a calm authority in every word. ¡°We move tonight.¡±

    <<<>>>

    The man in black clothes staggered through the dark forest, barely able to maintain his balance. A half-empty bottle swung loosely in his hand as he muttered incoherently to himself. His steps were uneven, the alcohol clearly taking its toll.

    Above him, the moon hung high, but its light was muted by thin clouds, casting only faint shadows on the forest floor. The night was dark, but the atmosphere within the hideout remained cheerful. They had just received new provisions, and as usual, the rogue ninjas had blown through a month¡¯s worth of alcohol in a single day.

    Why wouldn¡¯t they be carefree? No one would dare attack them.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

    There were no strong shinobi groups nearby, and Kirigakure would never send a team to eliminate them as per the deal.

    The man took another swig from his bottle, humming a sloppy tune under his breath. He was in good spirits. In fact, he was just about to head back to join his friends when¡ª

    His eyes widened in shock.

    A cold, sharp blade pressed against his neck. He barely had time to gasp before the steel sliced through, severing his head clean from his body. His head hit the ground with a dull thud, rolling to the side as his body collapsed, lifeless.

    Standing over the corpse were four ninjas, Akura lowered his blade, the moonlight glinting off the dark steel. This mission was critical. They had only one chance to succeed.

    If the rogue ninjas became aware of their presence too soon, the Takime team would be overwhelmed. Fighting three Jounin and fifteen Chunin head-on was suicide. The Genin posed no threat, and the Chunin could be handled, but the Jounin-level shinobi were the real danger.

    Akura knew he and Maki could each take on a Jounin one-on-one, but there wasn¡¯t anyone else on their team capable of handling a Jounin alone. They had to whittle down the numbers before making their move.

    Akura glanced around, his keen eyes scanning the area for any other guards. Satisfied that they hadn¡¯t been detected, he gave a silent hand signal, directing his group to move forward.

    Behind him were three Takime shinobi, their movements silent and precise. Three others remained back at the camp, tasked with protecting the children.

    <hr>

    On the opposite side of the hideout, Maki and her two companions were making their approach.

    The trio moved with practiced stealth, their footsteps muffled by the damp forest floor. Ahead of them, four rogue shinobi passed out by a dying campfire, their bodies slumped in drunken stupor. Empty bottles littered the ground around them.

    Maki crouched low, her dark cloak blending seamlessly with the shadows.

    [All drunk and asleep,] she analyzed.

    ¡°Gumi, you take the one on the right. Myo, the one on the left.¡± Her voice was barely audible, but both shinobi nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll take the two in the middle.¡±

    With a flicker of movement, the three Takime shinobi vanished from their spots, appearing next to their targets with deadly precision.

    Maki¡¯s kunai flashed in the faint firelight as she silenced both targets before they even stirred. Gumi and Myo executed their own targets with equal efficiency.

    The four rogue shinobi lay dead, their final drinks unfinished.

    Maki straightened, wiping her kunai clean on one of the dead men¡¯s clothes. Everything was going smoothly so far. However this was just the beginning, they had taken down two Chunins and several Genins, but the real threats were still alive.

    Maki decided to target the Jounin next. She signaled to Gumi and Myo to continue eliminating the remaining Chunins and Genins.

    ¡°We¡¯ll regroup once I¡¯m done,¡± she whispered. Both ninjas nodded and disappeared into the shadows.

    Maki already knew which tent belonged to the Jounin. She had memorized the layout of the camp. The Jounin¡¯s tent stood near the center. It made sense¡ªthey were the big shots.

    She approached slowly, her steps silent on the forest floor. Her senses were sharp, but she didn¡¯t dare use chakra detection. At such close range, a Jounin would instantly sense her presence if she tried.

    Instead, she relied on her sharp hearing.

    The tent was quiet, save for the faint sound of snoring.

    [Good. He¡¯s alone.]

    Maki slipped inside, her kunai at the ready. The air smelled of alcohol, and the Jounin lay sprawled on the bedding, an empty bottle by his side.

    Maki marveled at the sight. A Jounin, one of the strongest enemies in the camp, was right in front of her, defenseless and unaware.

    Without a second thought, she moved swiftly. Her left hand pressed against his mouth, and her right hand drove the kunai across his throat in one clean slice.

    The Jounin¡¯s eyes shot open, wide with shock and terror, but no sound escaped. Blood gushed from his neck, spilling onto the bedding as he twitched and gasped.

    Within seconds, he was still.

    Maki wiped her kunai on the Jounin¡¯s cloak, her expression calm and focused.

    One down.

    But before she could leave the tent, a loud shout pierced the night.

    ¡°Intruders!¡±

    Her heart jumped.

    They¡¯d been discovered.

    Maki burst out of the tent, her heart pounding. The loud shouts echoed through the camp. The rogues had discovered them.

    ¡°Damn it!¡± she hissed, her eyes darting around the chaotic camp.

    Her hands clenched around her bloodstained kunai. At least she had already eliminated the Jounin she¡¯d targeted. If he had been alive, things would have spiraled out of control.

    But there were still two more Jounin left.

    Maki sprinted through the camp, her movements swift and precise. Her instincts screamed that something was wrong¡ªher comrades were in danger.

    When she finally found them, her stomach twisted.

    Gumi was on the defensive, his body covered in wounds as he barely defended against the vicious attacks of a Jounin-level rogue ninja. His movements were slowing, and his breathing was labored.

    Meanwhile, Myo was locked in combat against two Chunins, but it was clear that the rogue ninjas had the upper hand. Myo¡¯s blade wavered as she parried a powerful strike, her stance faltering.

    Maki didn¡¯t hesitate.

    With a flicker, she vanished, reappearing behind one of the Chunins attacking Myo.

    ¡°Body Flicker.¡± The word barely left his lips as Maki¡¯s lightning-infused kunai drove into the Chunin¡¯s spine, piercing through his heart before he could even react.

    The rogue¡¯s body jerked violently, a gurgled scream escaping his lips before he collapsed to the ground.

    Myo staggered, panting heavily.

    ¡°Maki¡­!¡± she gasped, wide-eyed.

    She gave Maki a brief nod. ¡°Help Gumi. I¡¯ve got this other one.¡±

    Maki¡¯s attention turned to the Jounin, who had paused for a moment to assess her. His eyes narrowed as he took in her calm stance and the lightning sparking from her kunai.

    ¡°Another kid?¡± he sneered. ¡°I¡¯ll kill you both.¡±

    Maki said nothing. Her eyes remained cold and focused.

    The Jounin charged without warning, his blade coming down in a powerful arc aimed to split her skull.

    But Maki sidestepped with ease. The ground cracked where his sword struck, sending dirt and debris flying.

    Before he could recover, Maki closed the distance, twisting her body as she delivered a vicious kick to his ribs. The impact sent the Jounin stumbling backward, his breath catching.

    Maki didn¡¯t let up.

    She closed the gap again, her lightning-infused kunai slashing toward his neck.

    The Jounin blocked at the last second, their blades sparking as they clashed. His face twisted in frustration as he realized how fast she was.

    ¡°Lightning style?¡± he growled, his eyes narrowing. ¡°You think you can beat me with cheap tricks?¡±

    Maki didn¡¯t respond. She pivoted, spinning low as her foot swept toward his legs.

    The Jounin jumped, avoiding the sweep, but Maki was already mid-air, spinning to deliver a brutal roundhouse kick to his temple.

    The force of the blow sent him crashing to the ground, but he rolled to his feet quickly, his expression now serious.

    ¡°You¡¯re good. I¡¯ll give you that.¡±

    The Jounin growled, his eyes narrowing as he analyzed the situation.

    He knew one thing for certain¡ªhe couldn¡¯t win in close combat. The girl was too fast, too precise.

    If he wanted to win, he needed to maintain distance.

    Without wasting a moment, the Jounin¡¯s hands flew through a series of hand signs, his voice echoing with confidence.

    ¡°Water Release: Water Dragon Jutsu¡±

    A big water dragon formed in front of him, rising like a beast, before crashing forward with devastating force, aiming to wipe out everything in its path.

    Maki¡¯s eyes narrowed as she watched the water approach.

    She didn¡¯t panic.

    Instead, a smirk tugged at the corner of her lips. Her reaction was quick, her movements precise as her hands formed her own set of seals.

    ¡°Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall Jutsu.¡±

    A thick earthen wall erupted from the ground, solid and unyielding, blocking the technique.

    The Jounin¡¯s smile widened as he watched the water smash into the wall, the collision sending debris flying and shrouding the area in mist and mud.

    He grinned, confident.

    [She¡¯s finished. That wall won¡¯t hold.]

    But the smile on his face quickly vanished.

    Before he could react, Maki appeared behind him, silent as a shadow, her body flickering through the mist with blinding speed.

    By the time the Jounin sensed her presence, her hand was already near his neck.

    His eyes widened in shock.

    ¡°Too slow,¡± Maki whispered, her voice cold and final.

    She drove her kunai into his throat, the lightning-enhanced blade piercing through his neck with ease.

    The Jounin¡¯s eyes widened in shock, his mouth opening to speak, but no sound came out. His body twitched violently before collapsing in a heap, blood pooling beneath him.

    Maki stood over the lifeless body, her chest heaving as she tried to steady her breath.

    ¡°It¡¯s ¡­¡± She was about to signal her comrades that her opponent was finished, but before the words could leave her mouth¡ª

    A sharp pain tore through her arm.

    Her eyes widened in shock as she looked down to see her upper arm pieced by a water bullet, blood dripping from the wound.

    [I didn¡¯t even sense the attack¡­]

    She snapped her gaze toward the source of the attack, her heart pounding.

    A man stepped out of the shadows, his expression calm and detached,

    ¡°It appears the Takime Clan¡¯s new generation isn¡¯t completely useless,¡± the man said, his tone flat and emotionless as he looked at his fellow rogue ninjas'' dead body.

    Maki¡¯s eyes narrowed. She could tell immediately¡ªthis man was different from the others. His presence was cold and oppressive.

    ¡°Who the hell are you?¡± Maki hissed, her hand tightening around her kunai, despite the throbbing pain in her arm.

    The man tilted his head slightly, as if bored by the question.

    ¡°Who I am doesn¡¯t matter,¡± he muttered. ¡°Unfortunately, I can¡¯t play with you.¡±

    Without any further warning, he raised one hand and formed a single hand sign.

    Maki¡¯s heart skipped a beat.

    He was fast¡ªfaster than anyone she¡¯d encountered before. She recognized the technique forming in front of her, and her blood ran cold.

    ¡°Water Release: Great Waterfall Jutsu.¡±

    An A-rank technique.

    Maki¡¯s mind raced as a towering wave of water was approaching. The sheer size of it was terrifying, and she knew she didn¡¯t have the time to counter it.

    Her thoughts became a chaotic mess.

    [I can¡¯t block that¡­ I don¡¯t have enough time!]

    She gritted her teeth, trying to think of a way out, but her mind drew blanks.

    [There¡¯s no way¡­ I can¡¯t stop it¡­]

    Maki took a step back, her eyes locked on the incoming torrent. Her body tensed, bracing for impact.

    [Is this it¡­?]

    As the wave bore down on her, a single thought echoed in her mind.

    Kaoru¡­

    **

    A/N - I really gave my all to this fight scene lol. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

    I know there¡¯s always room for improvement, so please let me know in the comments if you have any recommendations or think I should have done something differently. I¡¯m always open to constructive criticism!

    The next chapter will show the aftermath of this battle, so stay tuned.

    Character Notes:

    Maki - Despair - ¡°SHIT, I failed¡±

    Akura - Looking for Jounin - ¡°I need to find that Jounin. Time is running out.¡±

    Kaoru - Delighted with his progress - ¡°I did it! I actually created my own technique¡­ well, sort of.¡±

    **

 Rogue Ninja Hideout Part 2

    Maki stood with her eyes closed, her body frozen in place as the towering wave of water surged toward her. She had already given up, bracing for the inevitable impact.

    But it never came.

    Instead, a sharp swing of a blade cut through the oncoming wave, sending water crashing to the sides.

    Maki¡¯s eyes shot open, and she immediately recognized the figure before her.

    ¡°Akura¡­¡±

    ¡°Maki, disrupt your chakra. You¡¯re under a Genjutsu,¡± Akura said, his tone calm and steady.

    Maki blinked in shock.

    [I didn¡¯t feel anything,] she thought, her mind racing.

    Still, she followed his instruction, forcing her chakra to surge, breaking the illusion. The despair she had felt moments ago vanished like mist and her senses blurred returned to normal.

    She clenched her fists. [How did I fall for it?]

    ¡°This isn¡¯t your typical Genjutsu,¡± Akura explained, his voice measured. ¡°It¡¯s a sensory technique that dulls your awareness and plays on your emotions. It¡¯s weaker than standard illusions, but far more subtle¡ªmaking it much harder to detect.¡±

    Maki¡¯s jaw tightened. She hated how easily she had been manipulated.

    ¡°When did you become a rogue, Onari?¡± Akura asked without taking his eyes off the man even once.

    ¡°You¡¯re even faster than before, Akura-san.¡± Onari chuckled softly, his eyes briefly flicked to Maki before he continued. ¡°Honestly, I thought I could finish the kid before you arrived.¡±

    Onari sighed and then added with exaggerated disappointment:

    ¡°This changes things. Unfortunately, I don¡¯t think I am strong enough to overpower both of you together.¡±

    Without skipping a bit Onari raised his hand, making a single hand sign.

    ¡°Water Release: Water Wall Jutsu.¡±

    A thick barrier of water surged up in front of him, obscuring him from view.

    Maki tensed, her instinct screaming to give chase. She was already preparing to flicker forward when Akura¡¯s hand shot out, stopping her.

    ¡°Don¡¯t chase him.¡±

    Maki¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°But¡ª¡±

    ¡°If we catch him, it¡¯ll only be because he wants us to.¡± Akura¡¯s tone left no room for argument. ¡°He¡¯s setting a trap. We¡¯ve achieved our goal. That¡¯s enough.¡±

    Maki bit her lip, frustration boiling inside her. She hated letting an enemy get away, especially after coming so close. But after being saved from such a pathetic death, she felt she had no right to argue.

    With a sigh, she nodded.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Maki.¡± Akura¡¯s voice softened slightly. ¡°Onari¡¯s one of the best at sneak attacks. You weren¡¯t ready to face him, but when we get back, I¡¯ll train you to counter him. You won¡¯t fall for his tricks again.¡±

    Maki¡¯s shoulders relaxed slightly at that. Akura sheathed his blade and turned toward Gumi, who was slumped against a tree, his face pale from blood loss.

    Akura called Myo who had already taken care of her opponent, ¡°Go get Remi. He¡¯s probably healing the others near the other entrance, but they only have minor injuries. Gumi needs help now. Hurry.¡±

    ¡°On it!¡± Myo nodded and took off.

    Akura crouched next to Gumi as he assessed the injuries.

    Gumi managed a weak grin, wincing as he shifted slightly. ¡°You¡­ almost missed all the fun.¡±

    Akura shook his head and said with a smirk. ¡°You definitely look like someone who just had fun.¡±

    Gumi chuckled softly, though the effort clearly pained him. ¡°What can I say? I¡¯m a party guy.¡±

    Akura placed a hand on Gumi¡¯s shoulder trying to comfort him. ¡°Hold on a little longer. Remi will be here soon.¡±

    Maki stood a few paces away. She felt terrible but the mission was complete, the Takime shinobi had achieved their primary objective¡ªthe camp was cleared and most of the rogue shinobis were eliminated. Now, all that remained was searching the hideout for any valuable information, resources, and captives.

    As they moved through the camp, Maki¡¯s mind kept circling back to one thought.

    [I need to be stronger.]

    <<<>>>

    Kaoru sat in the dojo, his face practically glowing with excitement. It had been two months since Maki left on her mission, and he knew she¡¯d be back any day now. He couldn¡¯t wait to show off his progress and see her shocked reaction.

    Not only had he mastered tree climbing and the Water Bullet Jutsu with his own twist, but he had also learned Clone Jutsu. While it was a basic technique, Kaoru thought of it as a useful stepping stone in his training. But he wasn¡¯t sure anymore.

    [This Clone Jutsu is utterly useless,] he mused with a disappointed frown. [Elemental clones are way better.]

    During his training, Kaoru had asked for permission to enter the clan library and now he was allowed to check out scrolls up to C-rank techniques. He had already finished learning the Clone Jutsu when he stumbled upon a scroll for the Water Clone Jutsu.

    The difference between the two was stark.

    [Clone Jutsu is just an E-rank technique. It makes fake clones with no physical form¡ªbasically an illusion. But Water Clones can actually fight and defend.] Kaoru¡¯s eyes sparkled as he recalled the scroll¡¯s details.

    [Even though Water Clones require slightly more chakra, they¡¯re way more useful.] He shook his head. [I totally wasted my time on the Clone Jutsu. Once I learn Water Clones¡ªand eventually Shadow Clones¡ªI won¡¯t need this weak technique at all.]

    He let out a sigh, his mind already drifting toward Shadow Clones.

    Shadow Clone Jutsu was one of the most overpowered techniques he could think of. It allowed perfect memory sharing between the user and their clones. So, once the clone is dispersed, its experiences and remaining chakra are transferred back to the user making it ideal for fast learning and multitasking.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

    But, sadly, It wasn¡¯t in the Takime Clan¡¯s scrolls.

    [Of course, it¡¯s a Konoha-exclusive technique...] Kaoru scratched his head, He remembered how it worked, but he had no idea what the specific hand signs were.

    [I¡¯ll have to ask Grandma and Maki to find it for me somehow.] His eyes narrowed in determination. [I need it to learn faster. That memory-sharing is the most broken thing in this world.]

    Shaking off his disappointment, Kaoru grinned. ¡°Alright, no time for sulking. Let¡¯s focus on this scroll.¡±

    He glanced down at the parchment in his hands, detailing the transformation Jutsu.

    ¡°I¡¯m not particularly interested in this,¡± Kaoru muttered to himself, flipping the scroll open, his eyes scanning the text. ¡°But it can be really useful at times¡ªand it¡¯s easy to master.¡±

    He paused, thinking for a moment.

    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ll learn all the basic techniques first,¡± he decided, his heartbeat quickening with excitement. ¡°Better to get a solid understanding of jutsus and chakra molding. Then I can start planning my fighting style and pick the techniques that suit me best.¡±

    Just the thought of creating his own unique style made him giddy with anticipation.

    Kaoru glanced down at the Transformation scroll again, his smile fading slightly as he focused.

    ¡°Let¡¯s see¡­¡±

    It took him a few hours of studying and experimenting, but eventually, Kaoru felt like he had a grasp of the technique¡¯s essence¡ªthe flow of chakra, the timing, and the specific hand signs required.

    He could feel his excitement building again.

    [Alright¡­ how do I practice this?] he wondered, tapping his chin thoughtfully.

    That¡¯s when an idea struck him.

    His eyes sparkled with mischief. ¡°I know!¡±

    He¡¯d transform into one of the Takime adults¡ªthe ones who had gone out into the forest to gather fruits and berries¡ªand sneak out of the outpost.

    Kaoru¡¯s curiosity had been eating at him for weeks. He was dying to see more of the world outside the settlement, especially the majestic waterfall he could only glimpse from afar.

    The thought of seeing it up close made his heart race.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be back before anyone even notices,¡± he whispered with a grin, already imagining the view from the waterfall.

    Without a second thought, Kaoru rolled up the scroll, tucked it away, and started forming the hand signs for Transformation Jutsu.

    ¡°Let¡¯s do this.¡±

    Kaoru transformed into a man in his forties¡ªSiba, his next-door neighbor. He knew that Siba was on gathering duty today, so it was the perfect disguise.

    With his appearance altered, Kaoru left the dojo and started walking toward the gate. His heart was pounding in his chest, a mix of nerves and excitement making his hands clammy.

    [Okay, just act natural. You¡¯ve got this.]

    But as he approached the gate, he noticed that one of the shinobi guards was watching him closely.

    Kaoru¡¯s heart skipped a beat.

    He tried to stay calm, but his mind raced with worst-case scenarios. [What if they find out? I won¡¯t get in serious trouble¡­ right?] Still, he couldn¡¯t shake the thought of Suiren grounding him and, worse, losing access to the library scrolls he¡¯d just gained permission to read.

    For a moment, Kaoru considered turning back, but his legs betrayed him and kept moving forward.

    Before he could stop himself, he was already face to face with the guard.

    ¡°Hey, Siba! When did you get back?¡± the guard asked with a friendly smile. ¡°I thought you were out gathering berries with your wife.¡±

    Kaoru¡¯s stomach twisted in knots.

    [Shit. I don¡¯t even know this guy¡¯s name.]

    He forced a grin, trying to keep his voice steady. ¡°Clan Head called me back,¡± Kaoru said quickly, scrambling for an excuse. ¡°Apparently Kaoru¡¯s birthday is coming up, and she wants to make him a strawberry pie. She asked me to pick fresh ones if I find them.¡±

    Kaoru cursed internally. His confidence and self-belief took a serious hit¡ªthat excuse sounded terrible.

    But the guard laughed, seemingly buying the story.

    ¡°A strawberry pie, huh?¡± the guard said with a chuckle. ¡°That sounds just like Suiren. I wonder if Maki will make it back in time for Kaoru¡¯s birthday. Do you remember how much she sulked when she was sent on a mission and missed it last year?¡±

    Kaoru nodded, laughing nervously to keep up the act. ¡°Yeah¡­ she was really upset about that.¡±

    The guard grinned. ¡°Well, give Kaoru my best wishes when you see him. He¡¯s a good kid.¡±

    Kaoru¡¯s smile stiffened, and he patted the guard¡¯s shoulder awkwardly. ¡°Will do. Anyway, gotta get back to work¡ªtime won¡¯t wait.¡±

    With that, he turned and walked away, trying to appear calm and collected.

    But his steps were awkward and stiff, and anyone watching would think something was definitely off.

    Once he was out of sight, Kaoru let out a heavy sigh of relief.

    ¡°That was way too close¡­¡± Kaoru whispered to himself, wiping his brow as he continued down the path. If he¡¯d known it would be this nerve-wracking, he would have stayed in the dojo.

    ¡°Let¡¯s see the waterfall and head back quickly.¡± His voice was barely a whisper now, tinged with guilt. ¡°Especially after making such a terrible lie¡­ Grandma¡¯s going to be really mad if I¡¯m caught.¡±

    Despite his worries, Kaoru¡¯s excitement soon took over. As he walked further down the forest path, the beauty of nature slowly melted away his anxiety.

    The Takime Clan had truly found a hidden gem for their new home. The dense trees, wildflowers, and moss-covered rocks were untouched by outsiders, and in the distance, he could hear the thunderous roar of the waterfall growing louder with each step.

    Kaoru¡¯s pace quickened, his childlike curiosity driving him forward.

    ¡°Almost there¡­¡± he murmured, a grin spreading across his face.

    <<<>>>

    Somewhere in the Land of Water, a man sat alone in an abandoned house, his dark eyes locked on a small hole in the wooden floorboards.

    But his thoughts were far away.

    Suddenly, the door creaked open, and a shinobi dressed in black entered the room, his movements silent. His face was hidden behind a white mask, painted with the red markings of a tiger.

    The sitting man didn¡¯t look up.

    ¡°Report,¡± he said, his commanding voice cutting through the silence.

    The masked shinobi knelt on one knee, his gaze lowered to the floor as he spoke.

    ¡°The children were not delivered to Point F.¡± His tone was calm and formal. ¡°We investigated the source. The hideout was destroyed. Signs of a brutal fight were found, but we couldn¡¯t identify the attacking party.¡±

    The sitting man¡¯s brow furrowed, but his expression remained impassive.

    ¡°And the alternative source?¡± he asked, tapping his chin thoughtfully.

    ¡°We¡¯re working on it,¡± the shinobi replied. ¡°We¡¯ll relocate Point F to a more secure location. Our men are scouting possible spots.¡±

    The sitting man was silent for a moment, then nodded.

    ¡°Good. Don¡¯t waste time investigating the attackers. There are too many groups it could have been. We can¡¯t afford to attract unnecessary attention.¡± He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. ¡°Secure the new source quickly. I need those children to grow my forces as soon as possible.¡±

    The masked shinobi bowed his head. ¡°Understood.¡±

    Without another word, he vanished, leaving no trace of his presence, as if he¡¯d never been there to begin with.

    The room fell into silence once more, save for the faint creak of the chair.

    The sitting man continued to stare at the hole in the floorboards, His eyes darkened.

    ¡°It¡¯s only a matter of time,¡± he muttered to himself and the room was once again filled with silence.

    **

    A/N - I¡¯ve made a slight change to the writing style in this chapter. I focused on being more direct and on point. I¡¯ve also cut down on atmosphere descriptions to let your imaginations fill in the blanks. I feel like this approach will keep the plot moving smoothly without getting bogged down in too many details.

    Let me know if you prefer this faster pacing, or if you¡¯d rather I bring back more of the scene-setting details from previous chapters!

    Character notes:

    Kaoru - Embarrassed - ¡°Why did I even lie about the pie? I could¡¯ve just said ¡®I came to take a shit¡¯ Ugh¡­ I feel stupid.¡±

    Gumi - Nearly Died - ¡°Hey, I almost had it under control. No need to send Remi running.¡±

    The Sitting Man ¨C NOT a new villain¨C ¡°Just sitting here, staring at this hole in the floor¡­ totally not plotting anything evil.¡±

    **

 True Power of Kekkei Genkai

    It had been a month since Maki and the other Takime shinobi had returned from their mission, and in that time, Suiren had barely slept.

    She sat at her cluttered desk, papers and scrolls scattered across the surface, each one more disturbing than the last. The documents retrieved from the rogue ninjas¡¯ hideout detailed deals with various groups, all involving the sale of orphaned children.

    Suiren¡¯s eyes scanned the documents, her brows furrowed with a mix of exhaustion and disgust. She knew that the Land of Water¡¯s situation had been terrible for years, but this¡­

    This was worse than she had ever imagined.

    These weren¡¯t just foreign groups trafficking children. These were people from their own homeland selling their own to survive or seek favor with corrupt factions.

    The thought made Suiren¡¯s stomach churn.

    Across the room, Maki stood with her arms crossed, watching her grandmother silently. She had grown impatient over the past month. The young shinobi wanted the Takime Clan to take action¡ªto stop hiding and fight for their people.

    And Suiren had refused, time and time again.

    ¡°You¡¯ve been staring at those papers for weeks, Grandma.¡± Maki¡¯s voice broke the silence. ¡°You know what they mean. We can¡¯t keep pretending we¡¯re safe in this little outpost.¡±

    Suiren didn¡¯t respond immediately. She simply gathered the documents into a neat pile, her hands trembling ever so slightly.

    ¡°I know.¡± Her voice was quiet, but there was a weight to it. ¡°I¡¯ve been trying to protect the clan¡­ trying to keep us from being wiped out. If I make a wrong decision, even once¡­ that could be the end for all of us¡­ that could be the end for you, for Kaoru¡±

    Maki took a step closer, her face had softened. ¡°You know how much I love Ru, you know how much I love everyone in our clan, but we are making a mistake by being inactive. We¡¯re barely surviving. We need to act, Grandma. We need to help these people.¡±

    Suiren¡¯s tired eyes met Maki¡¯s, and for a moment, the older woman looked fragile, as if the burden of leadership had finally become too much to bear.

    ¡°I¡¯ve been hesitant because I didn¡¯t want you¡ªor anyone else¡ªto end up like your parents.¡± She wanted to say more but instead, she let out a sigh. ¡°But you¡¯re right. We can¡¯t stay hidden forever.¡±

    Maki¡¯s eyes sparkled with determination. She could see that Suiren was still hesitant, but she was close to achieving her goal. It was time to push harder.

    ¡°Grandma, I¡¯ve been looking for reliable allies every time I go out on missions.¡± Maki took a step closer, her tone confident and measured. ¡°And I actually found one. They¡¯re just like us¡ªan old, weakened clan with the potential to make a comeback thanks to the new generation.¡±

    Suiren¡¯s eyebrows arched, curiosity showing in her eyes.

    Maki continued, grinning slightly. ¡°The successor candidate is my age. I think I could talk with her if you send me as an official representative.¡±

    Suiren¡¯s eyes widened in surprise.

    ¡°How do you know where their settlement is? If they¡¯re like us, they must be hiding from the Mizukage.¡±

    Maki shrugged casually, but there was something playful in her expression. ¡°I have a friend in their clan.¡±

    Her voice lingered on the word ¡°friend¡± in a way that made Suiren narrow her eyes suspiciously.

    ¡°A friend?¡± Suiren crossed her arms, her tone turning sharper. ¡°What kind of friend?¡±

    Maki grinned mischievously but said nothing more.

    Suiren sighed, shaking her head. ¡°I¡¯ll accept that it¡¯s time for the Takime Clan to become more active¡ªto start helping people. But I¡¯m not sending anyone on a delegation. Especially not you.¡±

    Maki¡¯s smile faltered, but she held her ground. She was going to say something but Suiren was faster.

    ¡°If they want to meet, they¡¯ll come here.¡± Suiren¡¯s voice softened slightly. ¡°If they can become our allies, I¡¯m even willing to let them relocate here. This settlement is safe. The Mizukage won¡¯t dare attack this place.¡±

    Maki nodded slowly, a small glimmer of disappointment in her eyes.

    ¡°Alright,¡± she said. ¡°Write the letter you want to send, and I¡¯ll ask my friend to deliver it.¡±

    Her tone was casual, but she still placed odd emphasis on the word ¡°friend¡±, making Suiren pause and narrow her eyes again.

    ¡°Maki¡­ what kind of friend are we talking about?¡±

    Maki smirked but gave no further explanation.

    ¡°You¡¯ll find out eventually.¡±

    She said and strolled out of the room leaving Suiren with many questions unanswered. For the very first time it was Maki avoiding answers instead of her and she did not enjoy her new role.

    <<<>>>

    ¡°Makiii, when are you going to teach me a new technique?¡± Kaoru whined, pouting as he stood in front of his sister with his hands on his hips.

    Maki sighed, rubbing her temples. She had too many things to do¡ªbetween her own training with Akura and constantly nagging Suiren to change the clan¡¯s status, her days were packed.

    And yet, Kaoru wouldn¡¯t let up.

    She¡¯d only managed to teach him one technique in the past month, but that was enough to unleash a monster. Kaoru had become relentless. His ability to learn new techniques¡ªespecially water-based ones¡ªwas exceptional, and Maki was struggling to keep up with his demand for more.

    ¡°I just taught you Water Prison! Isn¡¯t that enough for now?¡± she asked with a tired grin, hoping to buy herself some time.

    Kaoru shook his head vigorously. ¡°That was three weeks ago! And you owe me one more technique, a promise is a promise! Besides, I¡¯ve already mastered it! Look¡ª¡±

    He was about to start forming hand signs, but Maki held up a hand to stop him.

    ¡°Not today, Ru. I¡¯m on an errand, again.¡±

    Kaoru¡¯s eyes sparkled with excitement. ¡°But you said if I could make it work without constant contact, it would be amazing. And guess what? I did it!¡±

    Maki¡¯s eyes widened slightly in surprise, but she quickly masked it.

    [Of course he did.]

    Water techniques came so naturally to Kaoru that it was almost unfair. He had refined Water Prison to the point where even seasoned shinobi would find it difficult to break out of it. And if he combined it with Water Clones, it could become a devastating trap.

    Maki let out a long sigh, feeling both proud and overwhelmed.

    ¡°Why don''t you work on reducing hand signs that you need to activate it, Ru. Eventually, you need to do that for every single technique in your arsenal. Start researching that and ill help you tomorrow, I promise.¡± She patted his head, ruffling his dark blue hair.

    Kaoru grinned, clearly pleased with the answer.

    ¡°And I¡¯ll teach you a technique that¡¯s so amazing, it¡¯ll be worth the wait.¡± Maki winked, knowing she¡¯d bought herself some time.

    Before Kaoru could press her further, Maki flickered away, disappearing into the distance.

    Kaoru stared at the empty spot where she had stood, his grin turning into a pout.

    ¡°She¡¯s definitely just trying to dodge me¡­¡± he muttered.

    With renewed excitement, Kaoru clapped his hands together.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

    ¡°So techniques can be used with fewer hand signs, huh?¡± he muttered to himself, his eyes gleaming with curiosity. ¡°I¡¯ll go to the library and research that¡­ or maybe I could ask Grandma directly?¡±

    He paused, his enthusiasm fading as he remembered Suiren¡¯s stern glare.

    ¡°No. She¡¯s still angry about me sneaking out last time.¡± Kaoru scratched his head in frustration. ¡°I knew that dumb pie story would get me caught.¡±

    The embarrassment still made him cringe. It didn¡¯t help that everyone in the clan knew about it now¡ªand boy, did they love to remind him.

    People actually believed that Kaoru made up the whole story just because he wanted a strawberry pie.

    ¡°Of course, Siba had to be the worst.¡± Kaoru puffed his cheeks at the thought of his neighbor, who found the whole situation hilarious. ¡°That guy teases me every time he sees me. He doesn¡¯t even care that I impersonated him! He¡¯s too busy laughing.¡±

    Kaoru groaned. ¡°[Why did it have to be a pie? I couldn¡¯t think of anything cooler?]¡±

    Despite his embarrassment, his mind drifted back to the waterfall. There was something about that place. Something that made him feel at peace, as if the water itself was calling to him.

    ¡°I¡¯ll wait a few more weeks and sneak out again.¡± said Kaoru with a wide smile. ¡°My training will be way more effective near that waterfall. I just know it.¡±

    If it weren¡¯t for his fear of getting caught, Kaoru might have already dived into the water to see what was drawing him there.

    But for now, he had another plan.

    ¡°Anyway, let¡¯s head to the library and research hand signs.¡± He sighed. ¡°Unfortunately, I lost access to the C-rank scrolls as punishment¡­¡±

    His shoulders slumped at the memory.

    <<<>>>

    Kaoru pushed open the library door with a soft creak, his eyes lighting up at the sight of rows of scrolls neatly organized on the shelves. Everyone in the clan already knew that Kaoru was obsessed with scrolls, jutsus, and the ninja stuff in general.

    ¡°Alright¡­ hand signs, hand signs¡­ where are you?¡± he muttered, walking through the shelves.

    Kaoru finally found a section dedicated to chakra theory and basic jutsu mechanics. He grabbed a few scrolls that seemed relevant and sat down at one of the low wooden tables, eager to dig in.

    As he unrolled the first scroll, he scanned through the introductory paragraphs.

    ¡°Hand signs are a vital part of chakra control. They serve as a focus to help mold chakra precisely, making sure it¡¯s shaped and released in the right way to activate the jutsu¡­¡±

    Kaoru¡¯s brows furrowed as he re-read that part.

    ¡°So, hand signs help mold chakra? That makes sense. But¡­ if they¡¯re just a tool to focus chakra, does that mean¡­?¡± Kaoru trailed off, a spark of realization dawning on him.

    He flipped to another scroll titled ¡°The Evolution of Hand Signs in Shinobi History.¡±

    ¡°The original shinobi of the ancient clans often performed jutsu without hand signs. Over time, hand signs were developed as a teaching tool to help mold chakra more efficiently, allowing even those with less natural talent to perform complex jutsu.¡±

    Kaoru¡¯s eyes widened in excitement.

    ¡°So it¡¯s possible to do jutsu without hand signs¡­ but it requires a crazy amount of control.¡±

    He continued reading.

    ¡°Highly skilled shinobi were known to reduce hand signs to one or two for techniques that normally required dozens. This was achieved through precise chakra molding and familiarity with the jutsu.¡±

    Kaoru leaned back, grinning ear to ear.

    ¡°I knew it!¡± he whispered to himself. ¡°It¡¯s possible to skip hand signs entirely or at least reduce it to one or two. It¡¯s all about chakra control and understanding the jutsu¡¯s essence.¡±

    He grabbed another scroll labeled ¡°Advanced Chakra Molding Techniques.¡±

    ¡°Performing jutsu without hand signs is not recommended for beginners, as improper chakra molding can result in failed jutsu or dangerous backfire. However, with diligent practice, it is possible to reduce or even eliminate hand signs for most jutsu.¡±

    Kaoru sat thinking.

    ¡°So... the key is control. If I can improve my chakra control, I can eliminate the need for hand signs with water-based techniques and reduce them for those I lack a strong affinity for!¡±

    He pulled out a piece of parchment and began taking notes.

    Kaoru grinned to himself, the excitement bubbling inside him.

    ¡°Let¡¯s start with Water Prison. I bet I can reduce the hand signs for that. If I master it without any signs, I¡¯ll be unstoppable.¡±

    Feeling energized, Kaoru grabbed a few more scrolls for later reading, tucked his notes into his pocket, and made his way out of the library.

    As he stepped outside, he glanced toward the direction of the waterfall, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

    ¡°Just a little more practice¡­ and I¡¯ll surprise Maki with something she never expected. Let''s see how she will avoid me then. Hehe¡±

    <<<>>>

    ¡°You¡¯re late today, Maki.¡± Said Akura, without looking at Maki who just entered the room.

    Maki grinned as she leaned against the doorframe. ¡°I was talking with Grandma¡­ and then Ru caught me.¡±

    Akura smiled at the mention of Kaoru. ¡°What did he want this time?¡±

    Maki chuckled, recalling Kaoru¡¯s excited face as he bragged about his progress. ¡°He was showing off. He mastered Water Prison in just three weeks¡­ and he even modified it. He doesn¡¯t need to maintain contact anymore.¡±

    Akura¡¯s eyes widened, his calm demeanor cracking for a moment. He set the papers aside and leaned forward, giving Maki his full attention.

    ¡°He did what?¡±

    Maki grinned proudly. ¡°Yeah. I haven¡¯t seen it myself, but he wouldn¡¯t lie about it.¡±

    ¡°Your brother might be a genius.¡± Akura¡¯s brows furrowed in thought. ¡°And frankly, we desperately need one in the Takime Clan. How strong is he right now?¡±

    Maki shrugged.

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure. I haven¡¯t sparred with him since I got back, but he¡¯s definitely above genin in some ways. His is incredible, especially with water techniques. But¡­ he still lacks a lot of basic combat techniques. He¡¯s nowhere near ready for a real fight.¡±

    Akura nodded. ¡°He¡¯s still young. It makes sense. What are you planning to teach him next?¡±

    Maki¡¯s eyes gleamed with excitement. ¡°Body Flicker. He¡¯s been bugging me about learning something flashy, so I figured it¡¯s time.¡±

    Akura smirked. ¡°A solid choice. It¡¯s practical and versatile. And?¡± He could tell Maki wasn¡¯t finished.

    Maki grinned again. ¡°I¡¯m also going to ask Grandma to give him the Water Clone technique.¡±

    Akura¡¯s eyebrows raised slightly. ¡°Water Clone? That¡¯s a bit advanced, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    Maki nodded. ¡°Yeah, but Ru learns fast. Honestly, I think he¡¯s ready. Actually¡­ he asked me for the Shadow Clone Jutsu.¡±

    Akura blinked in surprise. ¡°Shadow Clone? How does he even know about that technique? That¡¯s a Konoha secret.¡±

    Maki sighed, shaking her head with a mix of amusement and frustration. ¡°I have no idea where he heard about it, but he literally begged me to get it for him. I¡¯m trying to make it his birthday gift, but so far, no luck.¡±

    Akura leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. ¡°It¡¯s no wonder he wants it. Shadow Clones are incredibly useful for training. But¡­ that jutsu is dangerous for someone with low chakra reserves. It splits your chakra evenly between the clones. If he overuses it, he could collapse from exhaustion not to mention brain damage.¡±

    Maki nodded in agreement. ¡°That¡¯s why I haven¡¯t told him about the risks. But¡­ if he keeps progressing like this, we¡¯ll need to find a way to get it for him. He¡¯ll figure out a way on his own eventually, and it¡¯s better if we¡¯re there to guide him.¡±

    Akura sighed, running a hand through his hair. ¡°You¡¯re right. He¡¯s too curious for his own good. We need to keep an eye on him.¡±

    Maki grinned, her tone turning teasing. ¡°He¡¯s just like me when I was his age, you know. You managed to survive training me, so you¡¯ll be fine with Ru.¡±

    Akura snorted, a rare hint of humor crossing his face. ¡°Let¡¯s hope he¡¯s not as reckless as you were. I don¡¯t think I can handle another Maki.¡±

    Maki laughed, but her expression soon grew serious again.

    ¡°We need him to grow stronger, Akura. He¡¯s our future.¡±

    Akura nodded slowly. He was about to speak, but Maki cut in before he could.

    ¡°We both know how strong our Kekkei Genkai truly is¡­ and Ru¡¯s been showing signs that he can unlock its full potential.¡± Her voice softened, a mixture of hope in her tone. ¡°I¡¯ve failed to do it, but¡­ he might be able to. Will you train him?¡±

    Akura looked at her for a moment.

    ¡°Not yet.¡± He crossed his arms. ¡°He¡¯s progressing well on his own, without anyone interfering. If I step in now, I might actually slow him down instead of helping.¡±

    Maki¡¯s brows furrowed slightly, but she said nothing.

    Akura continued. ¡°Keep providing him with the resources he needs. If he hits a wall or gets stuck, then I¡¯ll step in. Until then, let him keep finding his own way. He¡¯s doing well.¡±

    Maki nodded, her mind already racing with ideas on what else she could teach her brother.

    Akura stood up, his serious expression giving way to a playful smirk. ¡°Now¡­ enough talk. Let¡¯s spar. You need to improve too, you know. Especially since you still haven¡¯t landed a single hit on me. And I¡¯m just an old man.¡±

    Maki snorted, a mix of annoyance and amusement flashing across her face.

    ¡°Old? Please. You¡¯re not that old, Akura. You¡¯re just impossible to hit.¡±

    ¡°Excuses, excuses.¡± Akura grinned as he walked outside, motioning for her to follow. ¡°Come on. Maybe today you¡¯ll finally manage it. Or maybe I¡¯ll start feeling bad and let you hit me.¡±

    Maki rolled her eyes, but she couldn¡¯t help the smile that tugged at her lips. As she followed Akura to the sparring field, her thoughts drifted back to Kaoru.

    [He really might be the one to unlock our clan¡¯s true potential.]

    The thought made her smile even brighter.

    **

    A/N -

    After a few action-heavy chapters, I decided to take it easy and focus on showing the closeness of the Takime Clan. I wanted to highlight the bonds between the characters.

    I¡¯m also planning to speed up the plot progression soon. Kaoru needs to grow up and get out of the outpost, but first, we¡¯ve got some important character development to tackle.

    Oh, and I¡¯ve been thinking about Kaoru¡¯s secondary element. I¡¯m not saying he¡¯s going to start learning it right away (we¡¯re not rushing things), but I like to plan ahead. Any suggestions? Drop them in the comments!

    Character notes:

    Kaoru - Tired of pies ¨C ¡°I swear, if I hear one more pie joke, I¡¯m leaving the clan.¡±

    Maki - Proud sister mode ¨C ¡°What should I teach Ru next?¡±

    Akura - Hidden wisdom ¨C ¡°Maki doesn¡¯t realize how much potential she has. Someone should tell her¡­ nah, not yet.¡±

    Suiren - Feeling left out ¨C ¡°Why is my screen time so limited? I¡¯m literally the clan head!¡±

    **

 Mizukages Visit

    It had been three months since the Takime Clan sent the letter, inviting a potential ally to visit and discuss a friendly relationship. Suiren had even suggested they bring a few youngsters to spar, which carried two hidden meanings. First, showing their fighting style would help build trust and strengthen their bond. Second, it would allow the Takime Clan to assess their strength compared to other clans¡ªa rare opportunity since both groups had been isolated from the world for years.

    And now, after all the waiting, the day had finally come.

    Suiren, Maki, Kaoru, and practically everyone who wasn¡¯t busy stood near the outpost entrance, waiting for the delegation¡¯s arrival. The air buzzed with excitement and curiosity. Everyone was eager to see who this mysterious clan was, but only Suiren, Maki, and a few higher-ups knew the truth.

    Kaoru, on the other hand, wasn¡¯t particularly interested.

    ¡°It¡¯s just another clan, right? Nothing special.¡± He yawned quietly, trying not to look bored as he stood by Maki.

    But that changed the moment he saw her.

    A girl around Maki¡¯s age was leading the group of twenty to twenty-five individuals. Her distinct red hair gleamed under the sunlight, and her bright blue eyes sparkled like the clear sky.

    Kaoru¡¯s eyes widened in shock.

    [Is that¡­ Mei?] he thought, his mind racing.

    He knew that face. He couldn¡¯t mistake her for anyone else.

    [Mei Terumi.] The future Mizukage, and one of the strongest women in the entire Naruto universe. Her appearance alone screamed power and charisma, even at such a young age.

    Kaoru glanced at Maki and chuckled quietly to himself.

    [Maki caught a big fish.] He thought with a smile on his face.

    Kaoru kept his gaze on Mei, observing her every move.

    He knew she wouldn¡¯t be anywhere near as strong as she was in the series. After all, she was still young, but that didn¡¯t diminish her potential. Mei Terumi was destined to become a powerhouse, wielding two Kekkei Genkai, and Kaoru couldn¡¯t help but feel excited at the thought of seeing her in action.

    [I wonder if she already knows how to use Lava Release or Boil Release.] His eyes sparkled with curiosity. [Maybe I can ask her for guidance.]

    Initially, Kaoru had no plans to participate in the friendly sparring tournament. But now?

    [I need to get in. If I get the chance to spar with her, or at least catch her attention, I¡¯ll learn something.]

    Kaoru¡¯s thoughts were interrupted as Suiren stepped forward, her smile radiating calm authority.

    ¡°Welcome, Clan Head Meruem.¡± Her tone was respectful, yet warm.

    The gray-haired man with a long, flowing beard stepped away from his group. His piercing eyes scanned the gathered Takime members, but his gaze softened when it landed on Suiren.

    ¡°I¡¯m glad to see you healthy and strong, Clan Head Suiren.¡± His voice was deep and steady, carrying the weight of years of leadership.

    Suiren nodded, her smile never wavering.

    ¡°We¡¯ve been waiting for you. The feast is ready, so let¡¯s head inside. I¡¯m sure everyone is tired and hungry. We can talk as we eat.¡±

    With a gracious gesture, Suiren turned to lead the group toward the Takime Clan¡¯s main hall.

    The Terumi Clan members followed behind their leader, their eyes filled with unhidden curiosity. For many of them, this was their first time outside their own settlement, and the sight of another hidden outpost piqued their interest.

    Meanwhile, the Takime Clan members stood watching, their expressions equally curious. No outsider had ever visited their new home before. For the younger generation, this was the first time they¡¯d seen anyone outside their clan.

    Whispers began to spread through the Takime crowd as they observed the newcomers.

    ¡°They look strong.¡±

    ¡°Did you see that red-haired body? He was so handsome.¡±

    ¡°I wonder if they¡¯ll spar with us.¡±

    Kaoru kept quiet, his focus still locked on Mei. He wasn¡¯t just curious¡ªhe was determined.

    [This could be the start of something big. If the Takime and Terumi Clans form an alliance, we¡¯ll be stronger than ever.] He smiled to himself, already planning how he could take advantage of this opportunity. [This means I¡¯ll have tons of new scrolls to study, hehe] chuckled Kaoru, he was definitely obsessed with scrolls.

    Kaoru had spent the last three months obsessively studying the methods to reduce the number of hand signs needed for the techniques he had already learned.

    And he¡¯d made great progress.

    His Water Prison Jutsu and Water Clone Jutsu now required just one hand sign each. The days of making complex sequences of hand signs were behind him¡ªat least for those techniques. Now, Kaoru was focused on perfecting Body Flicker.

    Maki had told him that true mastery of the technique meant using it without any hand signs at all. Kaoru felt like he was on the verge of achieving that, but for now, he still needed one hand sign to pull it off.

    [I¡¯m so close.] He thought with determined excitement, already imagining how fast and efficient his future battles would be once he perfected it.

    [I want to be like Shisui. I¡¯ll take Body Flicker on a whole new level, hehe] thought Kaoru while setting himself a new goal.

    But it wasn¡¯t just technique refinement that Kaoru had been working on.

    He never slacked off on his physical training or chakra control exercises either. His body was stronger, and his chakra control had reached a point where he could walk on water effortlessly. His chakra core had also doubled in size, again. It had taken weeks of grueling practice, but now he could do it instinctively.This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    Maki had promised him a new training regimen after the Terumi Clan¡¯s visit, and Kaoru was eager to see what she had in mind.

    So, yeah¡ªKaoru was improving. Rapidly. Faster than anyone anticipated. But there was one weakness he hadn¡¯t yet addressed:

    He hadn¡¯t sparred with anyone but Maki.

    And Maki never held back.

    Each time they sparred, Kaoru ended up getting knocked around like a rag doll. He was always forced to seek help from the clan¡¯s medical ninjas afterward. It had been a humbling experience, and despite all his progress, his confidence in his combat skills wasn¡¯t that high.

    However, would this friendly tournament with the Terumi Clan give him the chance to prove himself? Or would it just show him how far he still had to go?

    Only time will tell.

    <<<>>>

    The clan heads sat in Suiren¡¯s office, their expressions composed. With them sat two key representatives from each clan¡ªMaki and Akura on Suiren¡¯s side, and Mei and a stoic shinobi with red eyes and black lines across his face on Meruem¡¯s side. He had introduced himself briefly as Tenma and hadn¡¯t spoken since.

    Suiren had insisted that Maki sit in on the meeting, continuing her efforts to groom her as the next clan head. Meruem, too, seemed to be preparing Mei for future leadership.

    ¡°Clan heads, the big picture is clear.¡± Started Maki ¡°We need each other to survive¡ªand to protect our people. Kirigakure keeps oppressing and destroying clans. We must create an organization strong enough to oppose them.¡±

    Her gaze shifted to Mei, who nodded in silent agreement.

    But Meruem simply shook his head, his expression calm but firm.

    ¡°Child¡­ both Suiren and I understand the young ones¡¯ desire to act.¡± His voice was steady and deep. ¡°But we¡¯ve seen what hasty decisions lead to. Alliances built on fear and desperation do not last. We need to discuss where our interests lie first¡ªand slowly develop a relationship based on trust and understanding.¡±

    It was clear to everyone in the room that the real discussion wasn¡¯t just between the clan heads, but also between the heirs. Maki and Mei seemed to be on the same page, advocating for immediate action, while Suiren and Meruem shared a more passive, long-term approach.

    Akura decided that it was time to chime in.

    ¡°I have to side with the clan heads on this. Even if we combine our forces, we wouldn¡¯t be nearly strong enough to challenge the Mizukage¡¯s faction. The Takime Clan¡¯s outpost survives thanks to Suiren¡¯s ability which makes her nearly undefeatable in this valley. But outside of it¡­¡± He paused, his expression grim. ¡°Even one S-rank shinobi could wipe us out.¡±

    The room fell into silence for a moment.

    Everyone knew that the Takime Clan had no S-rank shinobi, but Akura¡¯s words reinforced the harsh reality. It was a vulnerable truth, one that needed to be said out loud for the Terumi Clan to trust them and also open up.

    Tenma, still silent, nodded in acknowledgment, his expression unreadable.

    Maki glanced at Mei, her frustration starting to show. They both knew that if things continued like this, nothing would change. The older generation would continue their cautious approach, and their chance to unite against the Mizukage would slip away.

    Mei suddenly stood.

    ¡°Let¡¯s continue this discussion after the tournament. Maybe seeing the fire in the youngsters¡¯ eyes will change your perspectives.¡±

    Meruem chuckled softly, while Suiren gave Mei a thoughtful look.

    ¡°Perhaps,¡± Suiren said with a gentle nod. ¡°The future does belong to them, after all.¡±

    Maki¡¯s eyes sparkled with hope, and Kaoru, who had been listening quietly from outside the door, couldn¡¯t help but grin. The friendly tournament was about to become a lot more interesting.

    <<<>>>

    ¡°No way. You¡¯re not participating in this tournament.¡± Maki¡¯s sharp glare pierced through Kaoru, her tone leaving no room for argument.

    They were having dinner together as usual, with Suiren sitting at the head of the table. But tonight, Mei and Meruem were also present, making the atmosphere a bit more formal than usual.

    Kaoru, however, wasn¡¯t backing down.

    ¡°Why not?¡± he pouted, his lower lip sticking out slightly. ¡°I¡¯m not saying I¡¯ll win, but it¡¯s a valuable experience! It¡¯s not like anyone¡¯s going to try to kill their opponent. I just want to have fun!¡±

    Maki¡¯s expression didn¡¯t soften. If anything, her eyes narrowed even more.

    ¡°Ru, you know why.¡± Her voice carried both sternness and pride. ¡°I¡¯ve been sparring with you, and you have no control. If you fight kids your age, they¡¯ll be heavily wounded¡ªat best. The only reason I walk away unscathed is because I¡¯m that much stronger than you. Why do you think I¡¯ve forbidden you to spar with anyone else?¡±

    The room fell into silence, everyone having different expressions.

    Kaoru and Suiren were both shocked by her words, while Mei¡¯s eyes sparkled with curiosity. Meruem, on the other hand, looked slightly insulted.

    The implication that an eight-year-old boy could easily overpower anyone close to his age from the Terumi Clan didn¡¯t sit well with him. He was about to speak, but Kaoru beat him to it.

    ¡°What if I fight someone much stronger than me?¡± Kaoru asked. ¡°I don¡¯t mind getting beaten up. You know that.¡± He chuckled. ¡±I just want to experience different fighting styles.¡± He leaned forward, his big cyan eyes locking onto Maki.

    Then, with a mischievous grin, he added:

    ¡°Pleeease?¡±

    But this time instead of Maki he was looking at Mei. This made everyone look at Kaoru differently, the kid was cunning.

    Before Maki could respond, Mei chuckled softly, drawing everyone¡¯s attention.

    ¡°If the clan heads allow it, I don¡¯t mind sparring with him.¡± Mei¡¯s gaze shifted toward Maki, but there was a hint of playfulness in her tone. It was clear she was asking for Maki¡¯s permission, not Suiren¡¯s.

    Kaoru¡¯s eyes lit up with excitement. He barely stopped himself from jumping out of his seat.

    ¡°Really?!¡± His voice rose in pitch, his excitement barely contained.

    Meruem gave Mei a side glance, but said nothing. He wasn¡¯t pleased with the idea, but he trusted Mei¡¯s judgment.

    ¡°Alright.¡± Suiren finally spoke. ¡°If Mei is willing to spar with you, then I won¡¯t stop it. But, Kaoru¡ª¡± She gave him a pointed look. ¡°You must behave. No tricks. No trying to show off.¡±

    Kaoru nodded eagerly, his face bright with joy.

    ¡°Yes, Grandma! I promise!¡±

    Maki sighed again, rubbing her temples.

    ¡°You¡¯re too stubborn for your own good, Ru.¡± But despite her frustration, she couldn¡¯t help but smile.

    Mei chuckled again, her eyes twinkling with amusement.

    ¡°He¡¯s quite determined, isn¡¯t he?¡± she said, addressing Maki.

    Maki nodded, grinning softly.

    ¡°You have no idea.¡±

    Kaoru was already gone. He muttered he was going to prepare for the spar and ran outside with a wide smile on his face. He¡¯d gotten exactly what he wanted:

    A sparring match with Mei Terumi.

    **

    A/N - I decided it was time for Kaoru to experience a proper beating from someone other than Maki. Let¡¯s face it¡ªhe was getting too comfortable. ??

    Also, I¡¯ve always loved Mei¡¯s persona in the canon, but I felt like it wasn¡¯t explored deeply enough. She¡¯s a fascinating character with so much potential, and I plan to give her more depth and development here.

    From this point on, Kaoru will start to step out of the shadows. He¡¯ll become more active, both in his training and outside of it. It¡¯s time for him to experience the world.

    Character Notes:

    Kaoru ¨C Plotting mastermind ¨C "I¡¯m definitely not trying to manipulate everyone around me to learn cool jutsus. Nope. Not at all."

    Maki ¨C Overprotective sister ¨C "I¡¯ll beat you up to keep you safe, Ru. That¡¯s what love is!"

    Mei ¨C Future Mizukage in the making ¨C "I¡¯m supposed to be here for diplomacy, but kicking this kid¡¯s butt sounds way more fun."

    Tenma ¨C Silent guardian ¨C "I¡¯ve said five words since arriving, and honestly, that¡¯s five too many."

    **

 Mei vs Kaoru

    Both Takime and Terumi clans gathered eagerly around the specially built dueling platform. The air was filled with chatter and anticipation as everyone looked forward to the sparring matches. There was particular buzz when it was announced that Mei Terumi would be participating. Despite the original agreement limiting participants to those 12 years old or younger, both clan heads and, most importantly, Kaoru had approved her inclusion. No one voiced any objections¡ªin fact, the Takime teen boys welcomed the chance to see Mei¡¯s beauty and skill in action.

    The first match was between two of the most promising young talents from each clan. Sugeru Takime, a confident 12-year-old with a reputation for being above most Genin-level shinobi, stood at one end of the platform. On the other side was Yuji Terumi, a boy of similar age, equally talented, and gifted with the Lava Release Kekkei Genkai.

    Both boys stepped onto the stage. As they took their spots opposite each other the crowd leaned forward, anticipation showing on everyone''s faces. On the dueling stand, Sugeru Takime and Yuji Terumi stood facing each other, their expressions a mix of excitement and determination. Both boys bowed with respect, though their eyes never left each other.

    Gumi, standing at the edge of the platform with his arms crossed, nodded firmly.

    ¡°Begin!¡±

    Sugeru wasted no time. He charged forward, his feet kicking up dust as he closed the distance between them. His fists were clenched, ready to deliver a decisive punch.

    Yuji, however, didn¡¯t flinch. He waited until Sugeru was almost upon him before slamming his hands together in a quick hand sign.

    ¡°Earth Release: Stone Wall Jutsu!¡±

    A small wall of rock erupted from the ground between them. Sugeru barely had time to react, his feet nearly colliding with the barrier.

    ¡°Tch! A defensive type, huh?¡± Sugeru muttered, quickly weaving a hand sign of his own.

    ¡°Water Release: Water Shot!¡±

    A small stream of water shot from his mouth, blasting the stone wall into chunks of rubble. Yuji quickly stepped back, already forming another hand sign.

    But Sugeru was faster. He leapt over the crumbling wall and landed right in front of Yuji, his fist aimed at Yuji¡¯s chest.

    Yuji barely dodged, twisting his body to the side, but Sugeru¡¯s fist grazed his shoulder.

    ¡°That was close. Too close.¡± Yuji smirked as he landed a few feet away. ¡°But it¡¯s my turn now.¡±

    He brought his hands together in a sequence of hand signs. The air around him seemed to shimmer with heat.

    ¡°Fire Release: Flame Ball Jutsu!¡±

    A small fireball shot toward Sugeru, crackling with intensity. The crowd gasped. Even though the flame wasn¡¯t huge, for a twelve-year-old, it was impressive.

    Sugeru¡¯s eyes narrowed. He quickly formed a hand sign.

    ¡°Water Release: Water Wall!¡±

    The fireball collided with the wall of water, sending up a cloud of steam that obscured the stage.

    For a moment, everything went silent.

    Then, out of the mist, Sugeru charged through, soaking wet but grinning.

    ¡°Gotcha!¡± he yelled, swinging a kick toward Yuji¡¯s legs.

    Yuji jumped back, avoiding the kick, but Sugeru didn¡¯t let up. He pushed forward with a series of punches and kicks, each one forcing Yuji to retreat further toward the edge of the platform.

    ¡°You¡¯re good at running away!¡± Sugeru teased, his grin widening.

    Yuji smirked. ¡°And you¡¯re good at talking.¡±

    Then, without warning, Yuji stomped the ground, releasing another jutsu.

    ¡°Lava Release: Scorching Floor!¡±

    The surface beneath Sugeru¡¯s feet suddenly began to sizzle, turning into a hot, sticky mess. Sugeru yelped and jumped to avoid getting burned.

    ¡°What the¡ª?! You¡¯ve got Lava Release?!¡± Sugeru¡¯s eyes widened in shock.

    The crowd murmured excitedly. Even the older shinobi were impressed. Lava Release was a rare and powerful Kekkei Genkai, and seeing a twelve-year-old wield it, even in a weakened form, was no small feat.

    ¡°Yeah, but it¡¯s still hard to control,¡± Yuji admitted with a shrug. ¡°I can¡¯t melt anyone just yet. But I can definitely make you dance.¡±

    Sugeru gritted his teeth, circling around the scorched patch of ground. He was clearly at a disadvantage, but he wasn¡¯t ready to give up.

    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s see how you handle this!¡±

    Sugeru performed a quick series of hand signs.

    ¡°Wind Release: Gale Palm!¡±

    A burst of wind shot from his hands, blowing the steam away and forcing Yuji to brace himself. The powerful gust also cooled the hot ground, neutralizing Yuji¡¯s advantage.

    Yuji¡¯s smirk faltered.

    ¡°Not bad.¡±

    ¡°Thanks.¡± Sugeru cracked his knuckles. ¡°But I¡¯m not done.¡±

    The two boys charged at each other, their fists colliding in midair. The impact sent both of them skidding back.

    Both were panting hard, but neither was ready to give up.

    Finally, Gumi raised his hand.

    ¡°Enough!¡± he called out. ¡°This match is a draw. Both of you fought well.¡±

    The crowd erupted into cheers and applause. It wasn¡¯t the decisive victory anyone had expected, but it was clear that both boys were exceptionally skilled.

    Sugeru and Yuji bowed to each other before stepping off the stage, each one grinning from ear to ear.

    ¡°That was fun,¡± Yuji said, extending a hand toward Sugeru.

    ¡°Yeah, it was.¡± Sugeru shook his hand. ¡°But next time, I¡¯m winning.¡±

    ¡°You wish.¡±

    Kaoru, watching from the sidelines, couldn¡¯t help but grin with his eyes sparkling. ¡°So cool¡­ but I bet I could beat them both.¡±

    <<<>>>

    After the explosive start of the friendly sparrings, it became clear the clans had miscalculated by letting Sugeru and Yuji go first. Both were far ahead of their peers, making the following matches feel lackluster in comparison.

    Still, there were a few notable surprises.

    An eight-year-old girl with purple eyes¡ªone of the orphans rescued by Maki¡ªshowed a Kekkei Genkai of Scorch Release, a rare ability in the Land of Water. Her display of raw power left both clans stunned.Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

    Then there was the overconfident boy from the Terumi Clan, who attempted a summoning jutsu. The crowd watched in suspense as the boy¡¯s chakra flared dramatically¡ªonly for nothing to happen.

    "Thank the gods he failed," Gumi muttered, shaking his head. A failed summoning was embarrassing, but a successful one without a contract? That could have been disastrous.

    Meruem, meanwhile, sat stone-faced. It was clear that the boy would soon be on the receiving end of a stern TALK.

    Finally, it was time for the most anticipated match of the day.

    The crowd shifted in excitement, whispers rippling through the gathered clans as Mei Terumi took her place on the dueling platform.

    Her graceful movements and confident demeanor didn¡¯t go unnoticed by the Takime boys, who could barely contain their smitten expressions. Mei clearly enjoyed the attention, letting her red hair flow freely as she climbed the platform with slow, deliberate steps.

    Meanwhile, Kaoru couldn¡¯t stand still. His fists clenched in excitement, his eyes sparkled with anticipation. For months, he¡¯d only sparred with Maki¡ªand always ended up on the receiving end of a beating. Now, he was finally going to fight someone new, and not just anyone¡ªsomeone strong.

    ¡°She looks amazing, doesn¡¯t she?¡± whispered one of the Takime boys.

    Kaoru, standing nearby, rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah¡­ but I¡¯m gonna win this.¡±

    Maki snorted. ¡°Sure, Ru. Just don¡¯t cry when she beats you.¡±

    Kaoru grinned without missing a beat. ¡°Only if she lands a hit.¡±

    ¡°Alright, little Ru, don¡¯t embarrass us.¡± Maki whispered from the sidelines with a teasing smirk, arms crossed as she watched her brother step up.

    Kaoru shot her a quick glare before locking his eyes on Mei.

    ¡°I¡¯m gonna win this.¡± His voice was quiet but filled with determination.

    Mei, standing on the opposite side, tilted her head and gave a playful smirk.

    ¡°You sure about that, kid?¡± Her voice was teasing, but her stance was completely serious. ¡°I don¡¯t hold back.¡±

    Gumi stepped forward, ¡°Ready?¡± His hand lifted into the air. ¡°Begin!¡±

    Kaoru dashed forward immediately, closing the distance with shocking speed, but instead of attacking head-on, he suddenly vanished mid-step.

    The crowd gasped. ¡°Did he just¡­?¡±

    ¡°Body Flicker!¡± Meruem muttered, his eyes narrowing. ¡°Without hand signs¡­ Impressive.¡±

    Mei¡¯s calm smirk faltered for just a moment, her eyes darting left and right. [Where did he¡ª?]

    Before she could finish her thought, Kaoru reappeared behind her, launching a Water Bullet straight at her back.

    But Mei was no amateur. She spun around, lava forming at her palms as she threw a quick stream of molten rock to intercept the bullet. The two attacks collided, hissing and steaming as water met lava.

    ¡°Not bad.¡± Mei¡¯s grin returned as she wiped a stray droplet from her cheek. ¡°But you¡¯ll have to do better than that.¡±

    Kaoru didn¡¯t respond. Instead, he formed a water shuriken in his hand and hurled it at her with deadly precision. Mei ducked under the first one, but Kaoru quickly followed up with three more, forcing her to dodge again.

    ¡°Where did he learn that?!¡± Maki muttered to herself, genuinely surprised. ¡°That¡¯s new.¡±

    Realizing Kaoru was faster than expected, Mei changed her approach. She stomped the platform, sending a wave of lava across the stage to limit his movement. Kaoru, now cornered, prepared to dodge when Mei suddenly appeared in front of him, her kunai aimed at his chest.

    ¡°Got you!¡± Mei grinned.

    ¡°Nope.¡± Kaoru¡¯s form disappeared in a puff of smoke¡ªa substitution jutsu.

    From above, Kaoru launched another Water Bullet, this time shaped like a spiral drill. Mei barely had time to react, leaping backward to avoid the devastating strike as it pierced the ground where she had been standing.

    The platform shook from the impact, leaving a crater.

    ¡°Okay, this kid¡¯s dangerous,¡± Tenma muttered from the sidelines, glancing at Meruem.

    ¡°He¡¯s good.¡± Mei¡¯s expression turned more serious. ¡°But let¡¯s see how he handles this.¡±

    She quickly performed hand signs, and lava globs formed in her hands. With a quick flick of her wrist, she sent them flying toward Kaoru.

    Kaoru dodged nimbly, his Body Flicker making it look easy, but the globs weren¡¯t random¡ªthey were cutting off his escape routes.

    ¡°You¡¯re fast, but I¡¯ve got you now!¡± Mei smirked as she closed the distance.

    Kaoru tried to dodge again, but this time, Mei anticipated his move, appearing right in front of him with a lava-coated punch.

    Kaoru had no choice but to block with a Water Clone. The clone took the hit, dissolving instantly, but it gave Kaoru enough time to jump back.

    ¡°You¡¯re holding back, Mei!¡± Kaoru yelled, grinning through his exhaustion. ¡°Don¡¯t insult me!¡±

    ¡°Alright, then.¡± Mei¡¯s grin widened as her eyes sparkled with amusement. ¡°You asked for it.¡±

    Both fighters charged at each other, Kaoru spinning water shurikens in both hands, while Mei prepared to finish things with a lava-coated kick.

    Just as they were about to collide, Kaoru disappeared again.

    ¡°Body Flicker!¡± someone yelled from the crowd.

    Mei was ready. She spun around, expecting him to reappear behind her¡ªbut Kaoru appeared above her instead, a final water bullet with a spiraling edge forming in his mouth.

    ¡°Take this!¡± Kaoru yelled as he fired the enhanced Water Bullet down at Mei.

    Mei¡¯s eyes widened in surprise, but she wasn¡¯t one to panic. She kicked off the ground, using her lava release to propel herself sideways, dodging the attack.

    The Water Bullet crashed into the platform, exploding with force, sending steam and debris flying everywhere.

    When the smoke cleared, both fighters were standing at opposite ends of the platform.

    ¡°That¡¯s enough!¡± Gumi called out, stepping between them. ¡°The match is over!¡±

    Kaoru looked disappointed at first but then grinned proudly.

    ¡°I almost got you,¡± said Kaoru while breathing heavily.

    Mei laughed softly, walking over to ruffle his hair. ¡°Almost. But not quite.¡±

    The crowd erupted in cheers, the beautiful display of technique and power had captivated everyone, even though it was clear that Mei hadn¡¯t been fighting seriously. But no one expected her to¡ªit was an eight-year-old against a fifteen-year-old, after all.

    Most of the spectators initially saw the sparring as a mismatch, something done more for Kaoru¡¯s benefit than anything else. But now, everyone saw Kaoru in a completely different light. His speed, chakra control, and sheer determination left no room for doubt¡ªhe wasn¡¯t just some talented kid; he was already strong. And considering his age and rapid growth, the realization dawned on many: if Kaoru kept training at this intensity, he¡¯d be a monster as an adult.

    Meruem¡¯s gaze lingered on Kaoru, his expression unreadable. Finally, he turned to Suiren, offering a polite smile that didn¡¯t quite reach his eyes.

    ¡°I think Maki undersold him.¡± He chuckled lightly. ¡°Your grandson is far stronger than I expected. I should apologize¡ªwhen Maki said none of the youngsters would stand a chance against him, I took it as an insult. But after seeing this¡­ I understand.¡± His tone remained cordial, but there was a glint of something cautious¡ªand calculating¡ªbeneath his words.

    ¡°Some of those attacks were lethal,¡± Meruem continued. ¡°Even I was surprised by his control over them at such a young age. Takime clan is nurturing something¡­ impressive.¡±

    Suiren chuckled softly, her eyes fixed on Kaoru as he was being praised by the crowd.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t know he was this strong either,¡± she admitted with a hint of pride. ¡°I think I might be even more surprised than you, Lord Meruem.¡±

    But unlike Meruem, her expression gave away nothing. Whether she had picked up on his veiled concerns or not, she didn¡¯t show it.

    Maki, meanwhile, was practically glowing with pride. Her eyes sparkled, and her cheeks were flushed with excitement as she watched her baby brother soak in the attention.

    ¡°That¡¯s my little Ru!¡± she muttered under her breath, her grin wide.

    But as her excitement faded, a nagging realization hit her. [Wait a second¡­ he¡¯s never gone all out against me.] Her excitement wavered, and a pout formed on her lips. She¡¯d always assumed Kaoru was giving his best during their sparring matches, but now it was painfully obvious that he¡¯d been holding back.

    ¡°That little brat!¡± she muttered, already planning to give him a stern talk later. But for now, she couldn¡¯t help but bask in her brother¡¯s success.

    Mei Terumi stood off to the side, her arms crossed and her expression thoughtful. Unlike the others, she wasn¡¯t just impressed with Kaoru¡¯s raw talent¡ªit was his demeanor that stood out to her.

    [He¡¯s too calm for his age,] she mused.

    Throughout the entire fight, Kaoru had been calculating every single move. Even when cornered, he never lost his composure. He fought with the cold logic of someone far more experienced, not a child.

    [If he¡¯s this composed at eight, what will he be like at eighteen?] Mei couldn¡¯t help but shiver at the thought. [He will be a menace as an enemy¡­ but as an ally? He would be priceless.]

    Her mind was already working on how to convince her clan head to strengthen their alliance with Takime.

    While the crowd dispersed, Kaoru stood quietly, his expression blank as he watched Mei walk away. His mind was a storm of thoughts, analyzing every mistake he made during the fight.

    [I really thought I could do better.] He sighed to himself. [But she didn¡¯t even try. I was naive to think I was not very far from Mei¡¯s strength¡­ I¡¯m still too far from the strength I need to protect my family.

    Despite the cheers and praise from his clan, Kaoru felt disappointed. He had been confident going into the fight, but now, he realized he had a long way to go. Kaoru made a mental note to review the fight in detail later and adjust his training accordingly.

    As the sun dipped lower in the sky, the excitement from the day¡¯s events began to fade. The crowd slowly scattered, returning to their homes to prepare for the night¡¯s feast.

    Kaoru glanced at Maki, who was grinning at him like a proud older sister, and then at Suiren, who nodded at him with approval.

    But deep down, Kaoru was already planning his next steps.

    **

    A/N - We''ve finally reached 10 chapters <3 If you are enjoying this novel please give it a review, it will help me a lot.

    I hope you enjoyed the fights! Writing Kaoru¡¯s match with Mei was a lot of fun, especially balancing it to be competitive while still showing the gap between their experience and skills.

    Once the Terumi clan leaves, Maki is going to design a new training regimen for Kaoru to push him even further. I¡¯ll be working on that now.

    Also, I haven¡¯t decided what kind of relationship the Takime and Terumi clans will have in the long term, but their alliance (or rivalry) will become more clear soon.

    Let me know what you think! Suggestions are always welcome.

    Character Notes:

    Maki - Big sister vibes ¨C ¡°Why didn¡¯t he go all out against me? He¡¯s in for a talk.¡±

    Kaoru - Relentless learner ¨C ¡°I almost had her. Also, will there be any pie tonight?¡±

    Mei - Impressed but cautious ¨C [This boy is going to be a problem in the future.]

    Meruem - Calculating ¨C [Takime has a monster brewing.]

    Gumi - Ever-present judge ¨C ¡°No more summoning attempts, please.¡±

    **