"Tsk, tsk. Being a ninja isn't for me."
Nanaya stretched lazily, his thoughts drifting. All he wanted now was a good night's sleep.
The Frozen Fruit he'd acquired was full of untapped potential.
He recalled how Aokiji once froze an entire ocean for seven days, allowing refugees to cross from one island to another. The fruit's power didn't stop there—it could even freeze volcanic eruptions and magma, which explained Aokiji's ten-day battle with Akainu that turned an ordinary island into a fiery yet frozen wasteland.
Testing the fruit's abilities earlier, Nanaya discovered a significant detail: using the Frozen Fruit didn't consume his Chakra, only a bit of physical energy. This revelation was a game-changer.
"When I use this power," he thought, "others might mistake it for the Ice Release, a Kekkei Genkai combining Water and Wind Styles. But this power far surpasses Ice Release."
When Nanaya activated Ice Time, the temperature around him plummeted.
"Get a good night's sleep," he muttered to himself, "and tomorrow, I'll let Iruka know I won't be becoming a ninja."
At seventeen, still stuck in the ninja academy, most people thought he lacked talent. Iruka would likely understand if he decided to pursue life as a regular civilian in Konoha.
"Going back to school with kids half my age is just... tedious."
Suddenly, a melodious voice echoed through the forest.
"Nanaya? Nanaya-kun, are you here?"
A young woman with long, flowing purple hair and a graceful figure appeared, searching the area. She wore an Anbu vest and carried a long sword, though her mask was tucked away.
Nanaya recognized the voice instantly. It belonged to Uzuki Yugao, one of the few friends he'd made during his academy days.
"Yugao, I'm here!" Nanaya called out, waving in her direction.
Hearing his voice, Yugao turned toward him. Her pale cheeks flushed crimson at the sight.
Nanaya stood in the middle of the river, wearing only a pair of black shorts. The lingering cold from his Ice Time ability still hung in the air.
Yugao quickly covered her eyes with her hands.
"Nanaya! Put on some clothes!" she said, her voice tinged with embarrassment and irritation.
Though her hands shielded her face, a small gap between her fingers betrayed her. She peeked at Nanaya, her eyes lingering on his defined musculature and sharp features.
"I haven't seen this guy in so long," she thought. "I didn't realize he was... in such good shape."
Realizing her distraction, Yugao turned away, her lips twitching into a faint smile.
Nanaya looked down and immediately understood. "Ah, sorry, Yugao. I was just training," he said, scratching his head awkwardly.
He quickly grabbed his shirt and got dressed. Using the Body Flicker Technique, he appeared behind Yugao and gently wrapped his arms around her waist.
"Alright, Yugao," he murmured into her ear, "you can open your eyes now."
Startled by the sudden closeness, Yugao tensed and moved forward slightly. When she realized Nanaya wasn't doing anything inappropriate, she relaxed, though her face remained a vivid shade of red.
His cool touch sent shivers down her spine, but it wasn't unpleasant—it was soothing, like a gentle summer breeze. She felt her worries fade away.
Nanaya released her and spread his arms in a playful gesture.
"Yugao, I was just training," he said. "And I was wearing pants, wasn't I? You're the one who barged into my spot unannounced."
It was true. Yugao was the only person who knew about his secluded training area.
Yugao gave him a mock glare.
"Nanaya," she began, her tone softening, "if you're standing on water, it means you've mastered Chakra control. Maybe this year, you'll finally graduate and become a Genin."
Her cheerful expression made Nanaya hesitate. He didn't have the heart to tell her he wasn't planning to become a ninja anymore. Instead, he nodded and smiled faintly, letting her assume the best.
Yugao tapped her chin with her finger, her eyes narrowing in thought.
"Nanaya," she said, "when I arrived, the temperature suddenly dropped. It's summer—it shouldn't feel this cold."
Her sharp observation was unsurprising; as an Anbu operative, Yugao was trained to notice even the smallest details.
"The air is warming back up now," she continued, "but earlier, your body was ice-cold. What's going on?"
Nanaya chuckled. "It's just part of my training—a very advanced practice technique."
Yugao seemed satisfied with the explanation. She smiled, thinking to herself that the rumors about Nanaya being lazy and sleeping in class were clearly exaggerated.
Not wanting to delve further into his abilities, Nanaya changed the subject.
"Anyway, Yugao, was there a reason you were looking for me?"
Uzuki Yugao's expression turned serious.
"It's about last night's... Uchiha incident," she said hesitantly.
She paused for a moment, her voice lowering.
"I was on a mission when it happened. When I didn't find you afterward, I was... worried. Seeing you alive today through the Third Hokage's crystal ball, I had to come check on you."
Nanaya smirked slyly. "So... you were worried about me, huh?"
Yugao's face turned bright red, her embarrassment spreading down to her neck.
"I—I wasn't! I just... I mean, we're friends, right? It's normal to check on a friend!"
Her defensive tone only made Nanaya chuckle. In a world as harsh as theirs, having someone care about him was a rare and cherished blessing.
He leaned in and kissed Yugao lightly on the forehead.
Yugao froze, her body tingling as though a spark of electricity had passed through her. The coolness of his lips lingered, soothing and calming her.
Speechless, she quickly donned her Anbu mask to hide her flustered expression.
"Even his kiss is cold," she thought to herself.
Nanaya smiled knowingly but chose not to tease her further. Instead, he turned and said, "Yugao, it's getting late. Let's head back to the village."
Yugao nodded silently and followed close behind.