Kenshin kept flying steadily, with Tenten now fully relaxed in his arms, her gaze fixed on the scenery below. He chuckled, breaking the comfortable silence. "You know, you're going to have one heck of a story to brag to the others about."
Tenten grinned, turning her attention back to him. "No kidding. I didn't expect to be this high up. It's surreal."
But then her brow furrowed, and she tilted her head. "Wait a minute—why aren't we freezing? We're so high up, and it's winter!"
Kenshin smiled knowingly. "It's the wind chakra. It's not just pushing us through the air; it's also enveloping us. Since my chakra is mixed into it, it keeps us warm."
Tenten blinked in surprise, turning her head to glance at the faint shimmer of chakra trailing behind them. "That's... impressive. You've really mastered this, haven't you?"
Kenshin gave her a soft smile. "I had to. I couldn't afford to fail with everything that was on the line back then."
Before Tenten could press further, her eyes widened as the capital of the Land of Fire came into view. The sprawling city stretched out before them, its sheer size making Konoha look like a quaint village in comparison. And in the center of it all was the towering daimyo's palace, glittering under the morning sun.
"That's incredible," Tenten whispered in awe, her gaze fixed on the massive city below.
Kenshin nodded. "We're going to land near the gates and head in normally. Don't want to attract unnecessary attention."
Tenten nodded, still taking in the view as Kenshin descended. Just before they landed, Kenshin added a deliberate rocky motion to their descent, making Tenten yelp and cling to him tightly.
When they finally touched down, and Tenten got out of his arms, she huffed in frustration. "What was that for?!"
Kenshin burst out laughing. "Your expression was priceless!"
Tenten crossed her arms, glaring at him. "You shouldn't tease someone you barely know. It can leave a bad impression, you know."
Kenshin sobered up, rubbing the back of his neck apologetically. "You're right. I'm sorry. I just like to have a bit of fun during moments like this. Didn't really get to have much fun as a kid." His voice softened, a hint of vulnerability showing. "It was either training to perfect my jutsu or taking care of my mom."
Tenten's expression softened. "I get that. But there are boundaries, Kenshin. I'll let it slide this time since you went out of your way for me, but don't make teasing a habit. Not everything needs to be a joke."
Kenshin nodded earnestly. "Understood. No more unnecessary teasing."
Tenten gave him a small smile. "Good. Now, let's go."
The scene shifted to a luxurious hotel near the center of the capital, where the group had arrived just half an hour earlier. In one of the large suites, Kana, Akane, Hinata, Ino, and Maki were gathered in the living room, enjoying the snacks provided by the hotel. Suu, being one of the owners, had ensured they received the best hospitality.
As they chatted, Kana suddenly perked up, her gaze turning toward the window.
Akane, noticing her mother's shift in demeanor, asked, "What's wrong, Mom?"
Kana turned to her with a warm smile. "Nothing's wrong. Your brother is here. He's just arrived in the city."
Everyone in the room stared at Kana in shock.
"How is that possible?" Ino asked, her brow furrowed. "And how do you even know that?"
Kana smirked, leaning back against the sofa. "I'm the best sensor in the Leaf, dear. I can sense someone from miles away. And Kenshin's chakra? It's so strong that I could sense him the moment he got near the city. It's hard to miss, especially since I know his chakra so well."
Akane stood up, her eyes lighting up with excitement. Kana turned to her with a knowing look. "Go on and pick him up, Akane-chan. He's probably at the gates."
"I'm coming too!" Maki said, quickly getting to her feet.
"Same here," Ino added, not wanting to be left out.
Hinata nodded shyly, following suit.
Akane glanced at them and then nodded, leading the way out as they prepared to meet Kenshin.
Akane and the other girls made their way to the city gates, chatting excitedly as they approached. Soon enough, they spotted Kenshin and Tenten, who had just entered the gates. Akane waved enthusiastically, calling out to them. "Kenshin! Over here!" She broke into a run, followed by the others.
Kenshin smiled, raising a hand in a small wave. Tenten, smiling politely, did the same as the group of girls reached them.
"When did you two leave?" Akane asked as she stopped in front of them.
Kenshin glanced at her with a grin. "About four hours ago."
Maki blinked in shock. "Four hours?! You mean you crossed 200 kilometers in that time? It took us 12 hours to get here!"
Kenshin shrugged casually. "It would've been faster if I didn't have to carry someone."
Tenten rolled her eyes playfully, but before she could say anything, Akane laughed and threw an arm around Kenshin's neck, pulling him down slightly. "Alright, alright, no need to flex your fancy jutsu on us, kid."
"I wasn't flexing," Kenshin replied with a small smile as he straightened up when Akane finally let him go.
Ino stepped forward, clapping her hands lightly. "Well, we just got here about half an hour ago, so we're planning to have lunch soon. You two can join too."
Kenshin nodded. "Sounds good. Lead the way."
With that, the group made their way through the bustling streets of the capital toward the hotel. The sheer size and activity of the city were enough to keep Tenten and some of the others in quiet awe, though Kenshin seemed indifferent, as if this were just another day for him.
When they reached the hotel, Kenshin was shown to the boys' suite, which was conveniently located right next to the girls'. Before he entered, Akane nudged him. "Don't forget to come over later. Mom and Aunt Yukari want to see you."
Kenshin nodded, giving her a quick "Got it" before stepping into the boys' suite.
"Yo, everyone," he greeted casually.
The boys, who had been lounging around, immediately sat up straight in surprise. Shikamaru was the first to speak, narrowing his eyes slightly. "When did you get here?"
"Just now," Kenshin replied as he set his things down and took a seat. "I worked through the night helping Tenten finish up her orders, and then flew here. Took about four hours."
The room fell silent as everyone stared at him in disbelief. Finally, Lee broke the silence with his signature enthusiasm. "That's incredible, Kenshin!"
Kenshin nodded slightly, leaning back. "Yeah, yeah. I'm going to need some rest in a bit, though."
After settling his things and resting for a bit, Kenshin decided it was time to check in with the others. He left the boys' suite and headed over to the girls' suite, knocking on the door. It was Suu who opened it, greeting him with a warm smile.
"Kenshin! Come in," she said, stepping aside to let him in.
Kenshin stepped inside and looked around, his gaze landing on the group in the living room. Kana perked up immediately when she saw him, her face lighting up with joy.
Kenshin stepped closer, waving casually at Kana, who welcomed him with a bright smile. "Did you do well in the forge, Ken-chan?" she asked, her voice warm.
Kenshin nodded. "I did, though I had to work all night. But it was fun."
Kana grinned, leaning her head back on the couch. "We walked all night too, so I guess it's been a tiring night for all of us." She glanced at Kenshin, and from the look in her eyes, he knew exactly what she wanted. Without hesitation, he asked, "Do you need a massage, mom?"
Kana nodded eagerly, already shifting to lie down on the couch. Kenshin sat down beside her and began to knead her back gently. The other girls looked on with a mix of curiosity and amusement.
Akane, arms crossed, smirked. "I'm next."
Kenshin glanced at her, raising an eyebrow. "Jealous of mom, are we?"
Akane scoffed, a playful glint in her eye. "I'm not jealous, brat. But if you're giving mom a massage, you should give me one too. I am your sister, after all."
Kenshin sighed dramatically, shooting a glance at the others. "My mom and sister are already putting me to work, and I've only been here for five minutes."
Suu burst into laughter at his theatrics, while Hinata chuckled softly. Ino laughed normally, and Tenten joined in with Suu, clearly entertained.
Kenshin ignored the teasing and focused on his work, pressing his hands into Kana's back with precision. "Sit up for a moment," he told her after a few minutes. "Your shoulders are stiff—I'll take care of those too."
Kana complied, sitting up straight and letting Kenshin work on her shoulders. "For some reason, my shoulders have been bothering me these past couple of weeks," she admitted.
Kenshin frowned slightly, his hands pausing for a moment. "Why do you think that is?"
Kana shrugged before glancing down at her chest, a thoughtful expression on her face. "Maybe it's because my breasts have grown. They've gotten much firmer and heavier lately."
The room went silent for a moment, and while Kenshin kept massaging without reacting, the girls all exchanged looks. Akane gave him a pointed glance, one that clearly said, "Say something, brat."
Realizing the silent demand, Kenshin cleared his throat. "Mom, you shouldn't talk about things like this so casually. There are others around."
Kana tilted her head, genuinely confused. "Why not? You're never bothered by it."
Finishing up the massage, Kenshin stepped back and sighed. "It's not about whether I'm bothered or not. You remember what I told you when we first moved to the Leaf, right? You need to be more careful about what you say in front of other people. You can't just blurt out whatever's on your mind."
Kana furrowed her brows slightly, clearly trying to process his words. "But I thought you liked it?"
Kenshin smiled softly, nodding. "Of course I do, but that doesn't mean others will. It's better to be a bit more mindful around people." He glanced at the others, noting their expressions, before looking back at Akane, who gave him an approving nod.
Kana sighed and nodded as well. "Alright, I'll try to be more careful. But if I do something wrong, Ken-chan, you have to let me know."
"Deal," Kenshin replied with a small smile, patting her shoulder gently.
Akane crossed her arms and called out to Kenshin, "Alright, brat, get over here and give me a massage now."
Kenshin sighed, muttering something under his breath, but complied, walking over and starting to massage her shoulders. As his hands worked, Akane rolled her neck slightly. "My shoulders have been feeling stiff too," she admitted.
Without hesitation, Kenshin replied, "That's probably because you've been overdoing it with your Chidori variation training. It's taking a toll on your muscles—that's what it feels like to me."
Akane raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk on her lips. "Why does it have to be that? Why couldn't it be something else?"
Before Kenshin could answer, Maki cut in with a teasing grin. "It's probably because you're flat."
The room fell silent for a moment, everyone staring at Maki as the weight of her words hung in the air. Akane's face turned bright red, and without a word, she stood up abruptly. She marched over to Maki, who suddenly realized her mistake.
Before Maki could react, Akane grabbed her shoulders and channeled lightning chakra through her hands, giving Maki a sharp and powerful jolt. Maki let out a yelp of surprise, trembling slightly as the shock subsided.
Akane released her, crossing her arms again. "Don't joke about stuff like that," she said firmly, her tone carrying an edge. "Not in front of a guy. And for the record, I'm not flat."
Maki, still shaken, held up her hands apologetically. "Alright, alright, I'm sorry! I won't do it again."
Akane nodded, her expression softening. "Good."
Kenshin, who had watched the exchange quietly, walked up behind Akane. Wrapping his arms around her in a comforting hug, he rested his chin on her shoulder. "You're perfect the way you are," he said softly, looking at everyone else in the room. "No need to feel insecure, right?"
The girls all nodded in agreement, murmuring their support.
Suu clapped her hands, breaking the tension. "Alright, everyone. Let's get moving—we should probably go and have lunch now."
She turned to Kenshin. "Can you go fetch the boys and tell them it's time to eat?"
Kenshin let out an exaggerated sigh, slumping his shoulders dramatically. "After flying for four hours and working sixteen hours straight, I don't even get to rest. Of course, send me to do more work."
He walked toward the door, his expression exaggeratedly tired, but the moment he stepped out, he straightened up, his usual composed demeanor returning.
At the boys' suite, Kenshin knocked on the door before opening it. "Alright, everyone, get up and get ready—we're heading down for lunch."
The boys quickly got up and followed Kenshin downstairs. Everyone gathered in the hotel's restaurant, where they shared a hearty meal together, laughter and chatter filling the air.
Once lunch was over, the group stepped out into the bustling city streets, and as the group wandered through them, stopping at various stalls and shops, they eventually came across a dart game with a large sign that read, "Ninjutsu Not Allowed!"
Kenshin glanced at the sign with mild amusement, while Akane crossed her arms, smirking at the challenge. Maki was already eagerly sizing up the game, claiming she'd win the biggest prize there.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the city, a young five-year-old girl, Hana, walked through the streets holding her adoptive mother Amaya's hand. They had just snuck out of the palace to get some fresh air, on their own, without dozens of guards around them.
Hana's expression was blank, her cheer absent. Amaya, glancing down at her, tried to cheer her up, but nothing seemed to work. Ever since they had come here, after the first night, Hana hadn't smiled even once.
That was, until Hana's eyes caught sight of something—or someone. Her blank expression immediately transformed into a wide smile as she tugged on Amaya's hand. "Mama, look! Onii-chan is here!" she exclaimed, pointing toward a familiar redhead in the crowd.
Amaya's expression softened as she finally saw her daughter smile, her heart lifting at the sight. Following Hana's finger, she spotted Kenshin, standing near the dart stall with his group. Amaya smiled and knelt beside Hana. "Alright, sweetie. Let's sneak up on him, okay? Quietly now."
Hana giggled, trying to stifle her laughter as they weaved through the crowd, stealthily approaching Kenshin and the group.
Amaya was the first to make her move, stepping out from the crowd and suddenly appearing before Kenshin with her fist outstretched.
Kenshin blinked in apparent confusion, though the gleam in his eye betrayed that he recognized her immediately. "Do i know you?" he hummed, tilting his head.
Amaya smirked. "You told me to give you a fist bump when I found you, didn't you?"
Feigning realization, Kenshin chuckled, finally bumping her fist. "I guess you found me, princess. I didn't expect to see you so soon."
The two shared a smile, while the rest of the group watched in complete confusion.
Akane, eyebrows furrowed, opened her mouth to ask how Kenshin knew this woman, but before she could, a little voice piped up from behind Amaya.
Hana stepped out, pouting exaggeratedly. "It wasn't Mama that found onii-chan—it was Hana!"
Kenshin's face lit up as his smile widened. Without hesitation, he crouched down and scooped the little girl into his arms. "Hana-chan!" he exclaimed.
Hana giggled as she wrapped her small arms around him, her smile brighter than ever. "Hana would never forget onii-chan's red hair!"
Kenshin laughed softly, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Hana-chan is incredible," he said warmly. He carried her back toward the group, setting her in his lap as he sat on a nearby bench. Hana clung to him, hugging him tightly, and Kenshin hugged her back just as warmly.
The group exchanged glances, their confusion only growing. Akane, in particular, stared at Kenshin and the two strangers, folding her arms and narrowing her eyes.
"Alright, brat," she said, her tone sharp but curious. "Mind telling us who they are?"
Kenshin looked up, smirking faintly. "This is Amaya, the daimyo of the Land of Grass." He gestured toward her. "And this little one here," he said, shifting Hana slightly so the others could see her better, "is her daughter, Hana."
Amaya stepped forward with a small wave, her smile friendly. "It's nice to meet all of you."
Hana peeked up shyly, waving at the group. "Hi!"
Akane blinked in surprise, her sharp expression softening. "The daimyo of Grass? And her daughter?" She glanced at Kenshin, her brow furrowing again. "How do you know them?"
Kenshin chuckled, meeting her eyes. "That's a long story," he said, smiling at Hana in his arms. "I'll tell you guys later."
The group stared at him, clearly wanting more details, but before anyone could press further, Hana tugged on Kenshin's sleeve. "Onii-chan, can we play the dart game?"
Kenshin smiled down at her. "Of course we can," he said, standing up and carrying her over to the stall.
As Kenshin and Hana enjoyed the dart game, laughter echoing from the two, Amaya turned her attention to the rest of the group, who bowed respectfully before straightening up.
Her gaze landed on Kana and Yukari, and she stepped closer, offering them a polite smile. "You two must be Kenshin's sisters," she said warmly. "I can see the resemblance."
Kana and Yukari blinked in confusion, exchanging a glance before turning back to Amaya. The rest of the group stifled chuckles, clearly amused by the mistake.
Kana eventually chuckled softly, shaking her head. "Amaya-sama, you're mistaken," she said kindly. "I'm Kenshin's mother, and Yukari here is his aunt."
Amaya blinked, her smile freezing as her eyes widened in surprise. "His… mother?" she repeated, her voice filled with disbelief.
Kana nodded, her smile widening slightly at Amaya's reaction. "That's right. I'm Kana Uzumaki, 37, and Yukari here is 45."
Yukari inclined her head gracefully. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Amaya-sama."
Amaya's jaw dropped slightly as she looked between Kana and Yukari, her eyes narrowing as if trying to find any sign of aging. "You… You look younger than I do!" she finally blurted out. "How is that even possible?"
Kana chuckled again, placing a hand on her hip. "Uzumaki genes," she said simply. "We age slower than most people."
Before Amaya could respond, Akane stepped forward with a smirk. "And I'm Kenshin's sister," she said casually, crossing her arms.
Amaya glanced at Akane, her expression a mix of surprise and curiosity. "Do I look that old?" she murmured, shaking her head in amazement.
Meanwhile, Kenshin and Hana finished their game, Hana giggling as she held a stuffed toy tightly in her arms—a prize they had won together. Kenshin walked back toward the group, his expression relaxed as he ruffled Hana's hair.
"Looks like someone's happy," he teased, glancing at the stuffed animal.
Hana nodded enthusiastically. "Hana loves it! Onii-chan is the best!"
Kenshin chuckled before his gaze shifted to Amaya. His smile faded slightly as he asked, "Why are you two out here alone? There's no way the daimyo would let you leave without protection."
Amaya shrugged nonchalantly, folding her arms. "We snuck out," she admitted. "All that protection is suffocating, you know? Dozens of guards crowding around us all the time. Besides…" She gestured at Kenshin with a smirk. "We have much better protection now. You."
Kenshin raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms. "So you're using me as an excuse?"
Amaya's smirk didn't waver. "Not an excuse—just a fact. You can handle anything that might happen, so why worry?"
Hana hugged her stuffed toy tighter, nodding in agreement. "Onii-chan is the strongest! No one will hurt Hana or Mama with onii-chan here!"
Kenshin sighed, shaking his head but smiling faintly. "I swear, you two are going get me in serious trouble," he muttered, though his tone was lighthearted.
The group watched the interaction, some amused, others slightly bewildered, but it was clear to everyone that Kenshin cared deeply for Amaya and Hana, even if their relationship was still a mystery to most of them.
Akane, however, narrowed her eyes slightly, her protective instincts flaring, but she said nothing for now.
Kana smiled warmly, stepping forward and placing a hand on Kenshin's shoulder. "Well, it seems like the day just got a little more lively," she said, glancing at Hana and Amaya. "Should we keep exploring? Or does someone need a break?"
Kenshin sighed again, adjusting his posture. "No breaks," he said, giving Hana a quick smile. "Let's keep going."
With that, the group resumed their exploration, now with two unexpected additions in tow.
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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.