Before we started moving, Genta asked, "Who are your friends here?"
I tilted my head, confused. "What friends?" Then I looked back at my shadow clones and snorted. "Oh, those? They're just clones."
They both dropped their boxes and before they could flash me, I dispelled the clones in a puff of smoke. Genta jumped back so fast he almost fell over.
"What happened? Did you kill them or something?" he squeaked.
Takemaru dropped a judgmental knuckle right onto Genta's head, making him hop around clutching it. Then Takemaru's sharp gaze shifted to me. "Those were shadow clones?"
I nodded. His eyes narrowed. "Tomorrow, before we start training, I want to see the full extent of your chakra."
I didn't have any reason to refuse. He was giving me free training and a place to stay, and if I wanted him to teach me properly, I had to be honest. The thought stung a bit as I remembered my promise to Daiken. My voice dropped when I spoke.
"You know, Daiken-sensei asked me the same thing since he was going to train me before…" I trailed off, not wanting to complete the sentence. Takemaru patted my shoulder and said with a sad smile, "Don't worry, I will keep his promise for him." I looked up, eyes burning a little, as I said in a genuine tone, "Thank you."
Takemaru just nodded and patted my back before grabbing a box. "Let's go," he said, and Genta and I carried the rest.
Takemaru led the way through the Senju compound while Genta walked beside me, talking nonstop about every house we passed. He pointed out which old people would yell at you for walking too loud and which ones would wave and invite you in for tea. Even though the compound was mostly empty now, most of the few people left were polite and friendly when they saw us. A few old men just grumbled under their breath, but that was old people for you.
After a short walk, Takemaru stopped at the end of a narrow stone path, then stepped aside so I could get a proper look. "Here. This is your new place."
I stared for a few seconds, trying to believe what I was seeing.
The house was big. Not huge like a mansion, but compared to my old, crumbling flat, it looked like something passed down by nobles for generations. The old wooden walls were polished so clean they almost glowed in the late afternoon light, and the tiled roof curved neatly, ending in carved edges that probably meant something important once.
A wide wooden porch wrapped around the front, leading to sliding doors that opened onto a neat traditional courtyard. The courtyard was laid out with carefully raked white gravel, stepping stones, and a single pine tree standing beside an old stone lantern. Along one edge, a narrow garden added life, with herbs and flowers growing in tidy rows, their scent mixing with the crisp air.
It wasn't just a house. It felt alive. Like it had seen generations come and go but stayed warm anyway. I stepped closer and caught the scent of fresh wood and clean air.
I turned to Takemaru, blinking. "Are you sure? This place probably costs more than my entire street back in that shady part of Konoha. Is it really okay for me to stay here?"
Takemaru's eyebrow twitched like I'd just insulted his ancestors. "What are you trying to say? That we should shove you in a broom closet instead?"
Genta barked out a laugh next to me while Takemaru crossed his arms. "This compound used to be filled with families. Now whole wings stand empty. We have houses twice this size gathering dust. Spoiling you a little won't hurt the Senju."
I looked at the courtyard again, the wide doors, the stone lantern that probably weighed more than me. It all felt too big.
"Alright then," I said quietly. "I'll take good care of it."
Takemaru just made a small grunt like he was trying not to smile. Genta elbowed me lightly. "Wait until you see the inside."
Takemaru slid the door open, and I stepped inside with Genta behind me.
It smelled faintly of old wood and herbs drifting in from the back garden. The floor creaked a little but felt solid under my feet. The main room had a low table, a few floor cushions, and a wide window that let the light spill in. The tatami mats were worn but clean.
Against one wall was a simple shelf with a couple of neatly rolled futons and space for my own things, though I didn't have much. Genta plopped my bag down with a grin. "See? Not bad, right?"
I slid open another door and peeked out back. A narrow training courtyard sat behind the house. A small patch of packed earth, an old wooden fence, and sturdy training posts stood lined up like they were waiting for someone to use them again. It wasn't much, but it felt private, like a corner meant just for me.
Takemaru's voice came from behind me. "Keep the place tidy. Respect it."
I nodded, running my hand along the doorframe. Simple, but solid. Compared to the cracked walls and decaying floors of my old flat, this felt like a real fresh start.
"I will," I said, letting myself breathe for a moment.
Takemaru nodded once. "Alright. I'll leave you to unpack and settle in."
But Genta flopped right onto the floor like a stray cat. "Dad, I'm staying with Noa to help him!"
Takemaru looked at him, sighed, then gave me a half-smile. "Don't let him bother you too much. Noa, be ready by dawn. We start at first light."
I gave him a quick nod. "I'm looking forward to it."
Takemaru chuckled as he stepped outside. "We'll see about that," he called back. The way he said it made my stomach twist a little, but I'd manage.
I glanced around the main room. I didn't own much, but I still wanted to poke around every corner and clean a bit. Even if the house was spotless, my habit said I should make it feel like mine.
Genta just rolled over with a groan. "I'd save your energy if I were you. Tomorrow's training is going to be hell."
I raised an eyebrow. "We've trained before. How bad could it be?"
Genta actually laughed at me. "Before was just the warm-up. Now that you live here, he'll make sure to only leave you with enough energy to crawl back to this house. He'll push every bit of energy and stamina out of you until you think you're dead. But that's how you get stronger."
I didn't even argue. I just sighed, then remembered the envelope Hirotaka gave me. I opened it up and read the note about my kenjutsu training which apparently will start in two weeks. Great. More pain.
I made a quick hand sign and two shadow clones popped up beside me. Genta's eyes went wide. "By the way how come your clones can carry stuff?"
I smirked. "Those are shadow clones. Totally different from regular clones. Way more useful."
Genta looked like he was about to beg as he asked, "Can you teach me that?"
I shook my head. "Sorry. I'm not allowed to. It's not forbidden exactly, but it takes a lot of chakra and can mess you up if you don't know what you're doing. Might even get you killed in battle."
Genta stared at me, then slowly nodded. "On second thought, maybe it's not for me."
I chuckled as my clones started to bicker with each other like idiots, giving each other fake salutes. Genta laughed so hard he nearly fell over. I just watched, feeling the warmth of the house around me, and let myself think maybe this would be alright after all.