The Mizukage's council chamber was in turmoil. The dim lights illuminated the faces of the advisors, many of whom displayed visible signs of frustration.
"The construction of the bridge is taking longer than expected," said Tanaka, his voice laden with irritation. "Our resources are dwindling, and the constant bandit attacks are undermining our credibility."
"Perhaps we should reconsider the entire project," interjected Himura. "The village cannot afford..."
"No." Yagura's voice, though youthful, resonated authoritatively throughout the room. "Nothing is achieved without risks. If we're afraid of mere bandits, we might as well cease to exist as a village." He rose slowly, scrutinizing each advisor present. "This is exactly what we must change."
"Mizukage-sama, but our finances..." Tanaka tried to interject.
"If we don't improve our trade routes, we will always have financial problems," Yagura interrupted firmly. "This is precisely why we must end our isolation. Change always requires sacrifices."
"Yes, Mizukage-sama," said Himura. "But the current patrols are not enough to cover the entire area."
At that moment, Fujino stood up. His eyes, for an instant, seemed vacant, devoid of life. "Mizukage-sama, perhaps I have a solution that could resolve our financial issues." He paused briefly, as if listening to a distant voice. "We could request contributions from the major clans of the village. After all, Kirigakure's prosperity is in everyone's interest."
A heavy silence fell over the room.
"We cannot ask this of the clans. What will happen to our credibility?" Himura objected. "They are the foundation of the village, and it's not as if they are faring much better."
Some advisors, however, nodded in approval of the idea. Yagura observed Fujino for a few moments, almost deciphering his words, then shook his head. "Himura is right. We will resolve this bandit problem once and for all." Fujino, though he tried to hide it, appeared visibly displeased.
Later, in his office, Yagura remained alone, standing before the large window overlooking the mist-shrouded village. "Bring in Ao," he ordered without turning around.
The veteran ninja entered shortly after, escorted by an ANBU who silently withdrew.
"Mizukage-sama," Ao said respectfully.
"I have a task for you, Ao," Yagura said, finally turning to face him. "The bandits are hindering the construction of the bridge. Select a group of skilled ninja and send them to patrol the area. I want every threat eliminated."
Ao nodded slowly. "As you wish. I will personally oversee the selection of the team."
"Good," Yagura replied, turning back to the window. "You may go."
As the door closed behind Ao, Yagura remained by the window, gazing at the village enshrouded in mist. The weight of his ambitions pressed heavily on his shoulders. Kirigakure needed more ninja—strong, capable ones—to bring about the changes he envisioned. Yet, the current number of shinobi was insufficient to patrol the expanding territories and maintain the village's stability.
"Perhaps," Yagura murmured to himself, "it is time to accelerate the students' preparation at the Academy." His gaze hardened, the faint glow of determination flickering in his eyes as he began to consider the drastic measures required to ensure Kirigakure's future.
-
In the Academy courtyard, the sound of splashing water and the voices of students filled the air. Under the watchful eye of Fujimoto-sensei, the young ninja practiced combination techniques: Mizubunshin, water barriers, and attack-defense sequences.
"Hōzuki, maintain focus on the clone while raising the barrier!" Fujimoto's authoritative voice echoed through the courtyard. He observed approvingly the progress of the young student, noting how his failure in the first-year exam had made him more determined.
In one corner of the courtyard, Aoi was locked in intense training with Yuki Sora, Yukiko's composed and precise cousin. Their movements were sharp and deliberate, each step calculated. Yuki Sora sidestepped a strike effortlessly, countering with a swift feint. "Aoi, your defense lacks flexibility," he remarked, his tone calm yet instructive.
"I'm working on it," Aoi replied with a hint of dry humor, deflecting the counterattack. "Precision is my strong suit, you'll see it." Despite his remark, Aoi's focus was unwavering. His movements, though precise, carried a calculated effort, as if he were dissecting each step to integrate what he learned. Parrying a follow-up attack, he added, "You know, this is technically improving my medical skills. After all, I'll be the first to patch myself up if I mess this up."
Not far away, Jun'ko was training with Kaori. Their style was more impulsive but no less effective. "Jun'ko, you're losing balance!" Kaori exclaimed, blocking an attack with a satisfied smile. "If you don't learn control, it will be too easy to exploit."
"Control? That's part of my style!" Jun'ko retorted, increasing the speed of her strikes. "Let's see if you can keep up with this!"
A short distance away, Ren moved in sync with Kaguya Shin, but his mind wandered elsewhere. 'This combination has potential, but the seal execution timing makes it impractical in combat. Unless...'
A punch from Shin grazed his face, forcing him back to the present. "What's wrong, Mizutani? Do you find this training boring too?" the Kaguya asked with a smirk. "We could switch to something more traditional."
'Traditional? Knowing the Kaguya, he probably means something involving bones and blood,' Ren thought, suppressing a shiver. "There will be time for that," he replied diplomatically.
Their dynamic had changed significantly since the incident at the Academy when Ren had stood up for Shin. Now, the Kaguya seemed to respect him, almost considering him a worthy rival, if not a friend.
Later, after Jun'ko and Aoi had taken different paths home, Ren and Kurara walked together through the misty streets of Kirigakure. Since Kurara had started living with the Mizutani family, their journey home had become a shared routine.
"Any news from your grandfather?" Ren asked, breaking the silence.
"He says there have been delays in the bridge construction," Kurara replied, twirling a kunai with habitual ease. "So I'll be staying with you longer." Her tone was detached, as if reporting a mere fact.
Ren nodded, but a familiar sensation struck him suddenly. 'It can't be Ganryu,' he thought. 'I would have been informed of his return. And yet...'
"Do you sense anything?" he asked Kurara, seeking confirmation.
She raised an eyebrow, her expression mildly curious. "What should I sense?"
'Strange,' Ren reflected. 'Perhaps her lack of chakra refinement prevents her from perceiving these shifts.' "Nothing," he replied, deciding to drop the matter.
"Your mother made nikujaga," Kurara said, changing the subject with her usual detachment. The kunai continued to spin between her fingers, a precision Ren had learned to recognize as a sign of thought.
"Are you getting used to my mother's cooking?"
"Food is food," she replied, but Ren noticed the kunai's movement had become slightly faster—a small sign of appreciation.
Back at home, Kurara headed to the shop to help Yuki. "We'll train after dinner," she said, her tone leaving no room for discussion, before disappearing behind the counter.
Ren nodded, heading to his laboratory. 'Finally, I can focus on my research,' he thought, closing the door behind him.
Seated at his desk, he pulled out his latest notes on synthetic adrenaline. The compound had worked, but ending up in the hospital after the Utakata incident meant he remembered nothing of its precise effects. 'I need to find a way to test it safely,' he reflected, jotting down a series of detailed notes.
His eyes shifted to the notes from his evening training sessions with Kurara. Each night, under the guise of practicing healing chakra, Ren had been analyzing Kurara's chakra. Since beginning his work on stimulating her chakra, he had noticed something peculiar. The chakra flowed, but there were moments when it seemed to reverse its course, following a logic different from
Days passed in Kirigakure, and Ren had resumed a rigorous training routine. In addition to his research, he had returned to practicing with training swords, particularly the weighted one that required considerable effort just to lift. The combination of the weapon's weight and chakra control was paying off, improving both his endurance and the precision of his movements.
That afternoon, sitting at a village food stall with a steaming bowl of ramen, Ren contemplated the progress he had made over the past few days. The warm aroma of the broth filled the air, grounding him in a rare moment of reflection. But just as he lifted his chopsticks, a hand rested on his shoulder.
This presence... Ren froze, instantly recognizing the aura that had been shadowing him for weeks.
[ Hi there! Ito-kun here ^.^
Thanks everyone specially Jayroy_63, ao2_6309, Ian_Clark_6978, Baguspardana, Diegoa, Desert_Dust0 , DaoistDW5XU4, Malar, AKIB19 and Miguel_024!
This time i was a bit late, sorry, meanwhile I was thinking which time could be the best for all of you to release chapters, can you help me by writing dow in the comment?
Sincerely Thanks and remember about the Power Stones, these are the motivation for my work :)]