Chereads / Naruto: Seiryu's Aether / Chapter 4 - Chapter 4. What a time to be alive!

Chapter 4 - Chapter 4. What a time to be alive!

As the sun hung high in the sky, Madara and Hashirama crouched by the riverbank, their eyes fixated on a lifeless body drifting along the water's edge. The horror of the situation settled over them like a heavy cloud.

"This guy's dead," Madara observed, his voice low and serious.

Hashirama's gaze flicked to Madara, sensing the weight of the moment.

"Hn..." Madara grunted, pondering the implications of the scene before them. His mind raced with many questions, but he kept them to himself.

Suddenly, a voice broke through their silent contemplation.

"Welp… this guy's dead."

The two boys whipped around, surprise etched on their faces as they noticed a third figure standing a few meters away from Hashirama—a stranger they hadn't seen or sensed approach.

Madara instinctively tensed, his instincts sharpening as he glared at the newcomer. "Who are you?" he demanded cautiously.

The boy smirked, crossing his arms. "Isn't it kind of a rule to introduce yourself before asking someone's name?" His tone was playful, almost mocking.

Madara narrowed his eyes. "I'm Madara."

"Hashirama," came the other boy's reply, still trying to process the sudden appearance of this stranger.

The newcomer grinned, his demeanor oddly relaxed. "I'm Kūga. Nice to meet you."

Hashirama shook his head, trying to shake off the surprise. "We should try to help him!" he insisted, pointing at the body.

Kūga shook his head, a look of solemn understanding in his eyes. "No. He no longer has any life within him. There's nothing you can do."

Madara's interest piqued, a hint of suspicion creeping into his expression. "Hn, how would you know that? And what are you doing out here? This place is desolate. No one comes here."

"Well, my reasons aren't the same as yours," Kūga replied, his gaze steady. "I plan to live and explore life. The universe brought me here for some reason. You two, on the other hand, are just running away from your clans to keep your minds off things, aren't you?"

The atmosphere shifted, tension thickening in the air as Madara and Hashirama exchanged wary glances. They instinctively stepped back, feeling exposed under Kūga's penetrating gaze.

"Relax," Kūga said, his tone lightening as he raised his hands in mock surrender. But before they could respond, Madara sprang into action, leaping across the river with fierce determination.

"Let's see what you can do!" he called out, charging toward Kūga, his fists poised for combat.

Kūga's expression shifted, excitement igniting in his eyes. "Alright, but don't say I didn't warn you."

Madara struck first, his taijutsu swift and precise, aiming to land a solid blow. But Kūga moved with an almost otherworldly grace, sidestepping the attack with ease. Madara's fist met nothing but air, and Kūga countered with a quick jab that sent Madara stumbling back.

"You're quick, but not quick enough," Kūga taunted, his grin widening as he maintained a relaxed stance.

Hashirama called out, trying to defuse the situation. "Wait! We shouldn't be fighting!"

But Kūga had other plans. "This is so boring," he announced, a spark of mischief in his eyes. He quickly manipulated a stone below Hashirama, flicking his wrist and launching it upwards as Hashirama jumped to the side to dodge.

"Let's make this interesting! How about the two of you versus me?" he challenged, his voice filled with playful bravado.

Madara and Hashirama exchanged a glance, a silent agreement passing between them as they nodded. Determination set in as they prepared to take on the newcomer.

Hashirama charged first, his movements fluid. "Water Style: Water Wave Jutsu!" He summoned swirling waves that crashed toward Kūga.

Madara darted to the side, throwing kunai. "Fire Style: Grand Fireball Jutsu!" A massive fireball erupted from his mouth, shooting toward Kūga with ferocious intent.

But Kūga stood there, unfazed by their combined attacks. He dodged the water waves with an effortless leap, and the fire jutsu melted away harmlessly against an invisible barrier surrounding him. "Is that all you've got?" he mocked, laughter dancing in his eyes.

Hashirama launched a burst of Earth Style: Earth Wall Jutsu, creating a barrier of rocks aimed at trapping Kūga. Yet, he simply maneuvered around it, his movements fluid and graceful.

"Come on, boys! I expected more!" he teased, his confidence radiating as he danced around their attacks.

Madara felt frustration building, his pride stinging. "You're not as strong as you think!" he shot back, determination fueling his next move as he charged again, launching a barrage of kunai.

Kūga deflected them with ease, his control over his Aether defense allowing him to brush aside their efforts. "Honestly, this is just too easy. Are you really trying?" he said, laughter echoing in his voice.

As the dust settled from their initial exchanges, Kūga faced Madara and Hashirama with an unwavering smile. "Ready for round two?" he teased, his stance relaxed despite the energy crackling around them.

Madara narrowed his eyes, a competitive fire igniting within him. "Don't underestimate us!" he shouted, launching himself at Kūga with renewed vigor. His fists flew in a flurry of taijutsu strikes, each punch aimed with precision. Hashirama quickly joined in, focusing on keeping the rhythm of their attacks coordinated.

"Water Style: Water Wall Jutsu!" Hashirama called, summoning a protective barrier of water to block Kūga's incoming strikes. But Kūga simply sidestepped, his movements almost too fluid to follow.

With a flick of his wrist, he sent a barrage of small elemental orbs spiraling toward them, each glowing with a different hue signifying different types of elements. "Try to keep up!" he challenged, a hint of amusement lacing his voice.

Madara was quick on his feet, dodging the first few orbs. "Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!" he shouted, unleashing a fierce fireball that exploded against one of the orbs colored blue, creating a burst of steam that clouded the area momentarily.

"Nice try, but you'll need to do better than that!" Kūga laughed, easily firing another volley of orbs in their direction.

Hashirama focused, his determination unwavering. "Water Style: Water Wall Jutsu!" he shouted again, managing to block a few of the incoming projectiles. However, he didn't anticipate the fist-sized brownish orb that Kūga sent soaring straight at him.

"Look out!" Madara shouted, but it was too late. The orb struck Hashirama squarely on the forehead, staggering him back and causing him to blink in surprise.

"Ugh!" Hashirama grunted, rubbing his forehead. "That was unexpected…"

"Keeping you on your toes!" Kūga replied, grinning as he surveyed the two boys. They were clearly strong, but their inexperience was evident, and he felt a thrill at the challenge they presented.

Madara glared, unfazed by the setback. "You won't catch me off guard again!" he yelled, summoning his chakra and unleashing a powerful wave of flames. "Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"

The fireball surged toward Kūga, who merely chuckled in response. He raised a hand and concentrated, manipulating the air around him. A strong gust erupted toward the fireball, wrapping itself around it and dispersing it into harmless embers.

No oxygen, no fire.

Kūga's science class worked.

"Impressive, but not enough!" Kūga smirked, immediately firing a small water dragon that zipped toward Madara.

"What the—" Madara gasped, the water dragon slamming into his midsection, knocking the breath out of him. He doubled over, struggling to regain his composure as the cool water splashed against his skin, refreshing yet shocking.

"Looks like you could use some air!" Kūga taunted, his confidence soaring as he observed the two of them starting to show signs of fatigue.

Madara coughed, trying to catch his breath. Hashirama staggered back, realizing they were on the defensive against a foe who was seemingly toying with them. They exchanged glances, both boys out of breath, while Kūga remained slightly sweaty yet composed, his grin widening as he relished the intensity of the battle.

'What a time to be alive!' he exclaimed internally, chuckling to himself.

'Here I am, defeating two of the most prominent figures in the history of the shinobi world! His eyes sparkled with excitement, and he felt an exhilarating rush knowing he had the upper hand against future legends. Although they're not in their prime yet, considering they're still little kids.'

The atmosphere crackled with tension as they prepared for another round. Madara, pushing through the fatigue, shot Hashirama a determined glance. "We need to coordinate our attacks," he murmured, his voice low.

"Right," Hashirama replied, steadying himself. "Together, we can do this!"

Kūga watched, curious about their strategy and ready to respond. The energy between the three began to swell, the air thick with anticipation.

But before the next round could begin, a sudden realization washed over Kūga. They were just kids, after all, and the battle had grown more serious than intended. "You know what? Let's take a break!" he declared, raising his hands. "You guys are fun to spar with, but I didn't mean to push too hard!"

Madara and Hashirama blinked in surprise, caught off guard by the unexpected proposal. "Wait, what?" Madara sputtered, confusion flooding his voice.

"Yeah, we should chill for a bit. Training is important, but so is getting to know each other!" Kūga suggested, a playful smile still lingering on his face.

Hashirama nodded slowly, wiping the sweat from his brow. "I guess we could take a break," he said, his voice filled with tentative agreement. "But only if you promise to take us seriously next time!"

Kūga laughed, his expression lightening. "Deal. I promise to give it my all next time, but for now…"

The competitive tension slowly dissipated, replaced by the warmth of camaraderie. Laughter bubbled up, a joyful sound that mingled with the soft gurgle of the water flowing beside them.

Kūga, with his white hair glinting in the fading sunlight, leaned back against a smooth, sun-warmed rock, his eyes dancing with mischief. "So, what's the story behind you two running away? Planning to start a band or something?" He chuckled, his playful tone lightening the mood.

Hashirama smiled, his expressive brown eyes sparkling with the thrill of the moment. "Not exactly a band, but we wanted to get away from the clan for a bit. Things can get… tense back home."

He picked up a handful of pebbles and tossed them into the river, watching them skip across the surface before disappearing beneath the water. Each ripple echoed the distance they were starting to feel from their familial obligations.

Madara, resting on his elbows, joined in with a smirk. "Tense? That's an understatement. My family is always pushing me to be the best, to prove myself against everyone else." He shook his head, his dark hair falling into his eyes as he glanced over at Hashirama. "But I don't think I know what that even means yet."

The sun dipped lower in the sky, casting a warm golden hue across the landscape, and the boys leaned into the comfort of their newfound connection. In that moment, the shadows of their clans and their future rivalries faded, leaving only the joy of companionship.

"What about you, Kūga?" Hashirama asked, genuine curiosity glimmering in his eyes. "What's your story?"

Kūga paused, a contemplative look crossing his face. "Well, I guess you could say I've been on my own for a while now." He shifted, the grass beneath him rustling softly.

"I want to explore the world and learn about everything it has to offer. I feel like there's so much more than just fighting." His gaze drifted toward the horizon, where the sun was beginning to set, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink. "I want to see it all."

Madara studied him, intrigued. "You're a lot different than I expected." He chuckled again, shaking his head. "I thought you'd just be some wannabe who got lucky."

Kūga raised an eyebrow, a hint of challenge in his smirk. "And what if I am?"

"Then you'd better keep that luck going," Madara replied, his competitive spirit flaring again, but this time with a playful undertone.

The three of them sat there, their laughter mingling with the sounds of nature, the background ambiance of chirping crickets and rustling leaves. As they exchanged stories, they shared dreams of what the future might hold.

They spoke of their ambitions, the burdens of expectations, and the thrill of adventure that they want.