After handing Kenshin the seals, Ashina continued leading him through the restrictive seals section, pausing now and then to show him other notable techniques.
Some were designed to suppress chakra entirely, while others immobilized targets or created barriers stronger than any natural material. Kenshin absorbed it all, quietly filing the knowledge away for future use.
After what felt like hours of exploration, the family and Yukari all reconvened in the center of the library, the same spot where they had first appeared upon entering. Each of them had something of interest in their hands, save for Yukari, who stood quietly with a serene smile, her eyes scanning the shelves.
"I never imagined I would see this place," Yukari said softly, her voice carrying a quiet reverence. "This library is more than enough. I don't wish to take anything away. I'd rather remain here to study and learn as much as I can."
Ashina nodded approvingly, his expression kind. "A wise choice, Yukari. You are always welcome here for as long as you like."
Kana, however, could barely contain her excitement. In her hands, she held two curved, single-edged blades, their handles white and slightly curved to match the arc of the blade.
She practically beamed as she turned to Ashina. "Grandfather! I've always wanted to use these! You never let me touch them when I was a child."
Ashina chuckled warmly, his gaze fond. "And for good reason, Kana. You were far too small to wield them safely." He reached out to touch one of the blades, running his hand along the polished edge. "These swords are special, as they can seal away the soul of whoever they cut, although it is extremely draining, even for me. If you wish, I can keep them here for safekeeping. You can take them out when you go on missions, and I'll ensure they're maintained."
Kana's face lit up, and without a word, she threw her arms around her grandfather in a grateful hug. "Thank you, Grandfather," she said, her voice full of emotion. "I'll use them well."
Meanwhile, Akane held up a scroll she had chosen, a sly smile on her face. "This is incredible," she said, unrolling it slightly to reveal the intricate seal inside. "It can store ninjutsu! If someone throws a jutsu at me, I can just absorb it into this and not have to worry."
Ashina smiled at her perceptiveness. "Exactly. This scroll was designed for countering long-range attacks. If the Raikage hadn't ambushed me and made my right arm useless, I could've used it to seal away the Kazekage and Tsuchikage's attacks during that fateful battle."
Akane's eyes widened, impressed by its utility. "This will come in handy," she said, tucking the scroll into her pouch.
After everyone had examined their chosen treasures from the library, Ashina's voice broke the quiet reverie. "It seems you've each found something worthwhile, but we've been here for quite a while."
"Hasn't it been hours?" Kenshin mused, turning to the others. "But… I don't feel tired, or even hungry."
Ashina smiled knowingly. "That's one of the unique properties of this place. Time here functions differently. You will not feel hunger, thirst, or fatigue while within the library. This allows for uninterrupted focus on study and practice. However…"
His tone grew serious. "Once you leave, your body will feel the fatigue and hunger of all the time you've spent here. Be prepared for that."
The revelation caused a mix of reactions. Kana looked curious, Yukari simply nodded as if unsurprised, and Akane muttered something about making sure not to spend too long on her next visit.
Kenshin nodded, already planning how he could use this place for learning sealing, something he'd always wanted to do. Ashina reached into a shelf and pulled out four identical scrolls, each marked with the Uzumaki clan emblem.
"These," Ashina explained, holding them up, "are entrance scrolls. They allow access to the Uzumaki library and respond only to the chakra of an Uzumaki. I shall give one to each of you."
He handed them out, starting with Kana and Yukari, then moving to Akane and Kenshin. As he gave the scrolls to the siblings, Ashina paused. "You two are only half Uzumaki, so I need to confirm that the scrolls respond to your chakra. Flow a little of your chakra into them, and I'll ensure they work."
Kenshin and Akane exchanged glances before nodding. They each channeled a small amount of chakra into their scrolls, the seals glowing faintly as they imprinted.
Ashina observed with a satisfied smile. "Good, they've accepted you both. Keep these safe. They are your keys to our clan's legacy."
Kenshin turned his scroll over in his hands, marveling at the craftsmanship. Akane smiled as she slipped hers into her pouch, clearly pleased. Kana clutched her scroll tightly, as though it were a cherished relic, while Yukari simply held hers with quiet reverence.
Ashina stepped forward, his gaze lingering on Kana. "Kana," he said softly, "do visit often. It has been a joy seeing you again."
Kana didn't hesitate. She threw her arms around him in a tight embrace, her voice muffled against his shoulder. "Thank you for everything, Grandfather. I'll visit. I promise."
Ashina returned the embrace warmly, his expression tender.
Yukari was next, offering Ashina a respectful bow. "Ashina-sama, thank you for allowing me this privilege. I will make good use of it."
Akane followed, giving a quick bow before smiling cheekily. "I'll try not to fill the scroll with too many enemy jutsu."
Ashina chuckled, shaking his head. "Use it wisely, Akane."
Finally, Kenshin stepped forward, his scroll tucked into his belt. He met Ashina's gaze, his voice steady. "Thank you, Great-Grandfather. For everything."
Ashina nodded, his eyes filled with a quiet pride. "Go, Kenshin. The future of our clan lies with you and your sister. Take good care of your family. Make me proud."
With that, the group departed the library, each stepping through the glowing doorway one by one. As they left, Ashina stood alone in the vast, glowing space, watching them go with a contented smile, his form illuminated by the soft golden light of the library.
As the four emerged from the library and reappeared in the living room, the fatigue and hunger hit them all at once.
Despite their Uzumaki stamina, the accumulated exhaustion from hours of exploration left them disoriented. Stomachs growled in unison, the loudest from Kana, who collapsed dramatically onto the floor with a groan.
Kaede and Kira, who had been dozing off while leaning against each other, immediately perked up. Spotting Kenshin, they dashed toward him.
"Master!" Kira exclaimed, wrapping her arms around his waist. "Next time, take us along! We almost died of boredom!"
Kaede followed suit, hugging Kenshin from the side, her tail swishing in exaggerated indignation. "Yes, Master. Hours without you is a cruel punishment."
Kenshin tried to respond but slumped slightly as hunger sapped his strength. Kaede was quick to steady him, her strong hands easily supporting his weight. "Master," she said softly, her bright red eyes shining with concern, "you shouldn't push yourself too hard."
Kira glanced toward Yukari, who, being the frailest of the group, looked like she might collapse at any moment. Without hesitation, Kira stepped over and gently supported her, her strength belying her petite frame. "Please, let me help you."
Yukari nodded weakly, managing a small smile of gratitude as Kira guided her to a chair.
Kana, sprawled out on the floor, groaned. "I'm dying… someone bring me food before I wither away." Her stomach growled loudly again, eliciting an amused snort from Akane, though she looked just as drained.
Noticing the situation, Kira straightened and clapped her hands together. "I'll head to the kitchen and cook something up for everyone."
Kenshin's eyes lit up with gratitude. "Thanks, Kira—" He froze mid-sentence, his expression shifting from relief to horror. A terrible realization dawned on him: Kira had never cooked in the human world.
Before she could leave the room, Kenshin raised a hand, his voice strained. "Kaede. Heal me. Now."
Kaede's eyes gleamed with excitement as she eagerly moved closer. "As you wish, Master." She cupped his face, her cheeks flushing deeply as she leaned in.
Her lips met his, and a warm, invigorating energy coursed through Kenshin's body. Her regenerative powers began restoring his strength immediately, but the kiss lingered—longer than necessary. Kaede pressed herself closer, her eyes fluttering shut in bliss.
Akane, watching the scene unfold, felt a pang of jealousy stab through her chest like a kunai.
Her fists clenched at her sides, and she opened her mouth to speak, but before she could say anything, Kaede finally pulled back. A thin, glistening trail of saliva connected their lips for a moment before Kaede grinned ecstatically.
"Master," she said, her voice breathy, "you taste divine."
Kenshin's face turned red, though whether from embarrassment or irritation was unclear. "Kaede," he said, pinching the bridge of her nose, "you overdid it. Apologize to my sister."
Kaede glanced at Akane, noticing the daggers his sister was shooting from her eyes, and her expression became sheepish. "I'm sorry, Akane-sama. I got… carried away."
Akane huffed, crossing her arms. "You don't look sorry."
Ignoring the tension in the room, Kenshin stood, now fully recovered. He turned toward the kitchen, muttering under his breath. "I can't let Kira destroy the kitchen."
He hurried to stop her, leaving the others to rest as he began preparing a meal himself. Kira, already surrounded by a chaotic array of ingredients, pouted as Kenshin ushered her out of the way. "But Master, I wanted to help!"
"You can help by not helping," Kenshin replied, taking over with a determined look. "Just let me handle this."
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Once again, thank you everyone for your continued support and power stones. And as always, please give me your power stones and comment your opinions. They make a big difference and motivate me to write more.