Kurogami Backyard
Kurogami POV
Sometimes, I wonder if Chris genuinely hates me, or if my suffering just racks up views on whatever divine streaming service exists for the gods. Because right now? I'm in pain.
"Kuro! Eyes up! Focus!"
That's Mom shouting while I'm currently learning taijutsu—specifically, the Strong Fist Style, known for its raw, bone-crushing power. We had already warmed up with stretches, sprinted laps around the backyard, and now we were in the thick of it: fists flying, feet sweeping, sweat pouring.
I ducked a high kick and went for a counter-punch to her gut, but she twirled away with graceful speed, spun on her heel, and slammed a kick straight into my shoulder. I tried to catch her foot, but she poured so much force into it that I went flying—again—right into the pond.
SPLASH.
"Get up! The enemy won't let you lay there and count fish!"
Groaning, I dragged myself out of the water. I took a deep breath and charged again. This time, I aimed a jab at her chest—not because I thought it'd land, but to bait her movement. As expected, she leaned to the side to dodge. That's when I flung a rock I'd scooped up during my last tumble.
Her eyes widened slightly. But then… she smiled.
The rock never made it. She caught it mid-air and crushed it with one hand like it was a stale rice cracker.
Crap.
I tried to tackle her, hoping to capitalize on her moment of distraction. She danced back with ease but left her leg out for a trip. I jumped over it, pulled another stone from my pocket, and threw again. This time, she caught it and—without missing a beat—flicked it back at me.
"OW!" I yelped, rubbing my shoulder where it nailed me.
Mom didn't follow up with another attack. Instead, she watched me carefully.
"Good use of your surroundings," she praised. "But remember—throwing rocks only works against thugs and cocky genin. Try that on a jonin and you might end up dead just for the disrespect."
"Noted, Mom," I muttered, rotating my sore shoulder.
She grinned. "You'll heal. Your father's medicine has excellent regenerative properties."
And so it continued. Three hours of intense combat drills: dodging, blocking, striking, feinting. Mom didn't hold back. She pushed my reaction time, stamina, and pain tolerance to the limit. I fought with everything I had—climbing trees, using terrain for ambushes, dodging low kicks and elbow strikes. We even worked in some low-level genjutsu to simulate real-world distractions.
By the end, I was lying in the grass, drenched in sweat and half-dead.
"Kuro, fifteen-minute break," Mom said sweetly.
"Thanks," I gasped. "How long till our shopping trip with Aunt Mikoto?"
She checked a pocket watch. "It's 10 a.m. We've got three hours."
I nodded, catching my breath. Thinking to myself about I really envy the Senju and Uzumaki vitality right now.
"Ah, man," I mused aloud. "That medicine Dad made really works."
I turn my head to mom.
"What's it called?" I asked.
Mom laughed. "He never gave it a name. Just called it 'medicine.' Why?"
"I might name it once I figure out what's in it. I swear it makes me feel alive."
"Oh, you still feel alive?" she teased. "Guess I didn't hit hard enough."
"Whatever you say, Amazing Prize."
Her brow twitched. "Just because I'm not wearing slippers doesn't mean I won't spank you, child."
I snickered. "Come on, I'm training with you and going shopping with Aunt Mikoto later. I'm already suffering. There's nothing left for you to break."
She smiled wickedly. "Oh, sweet Kuku… There's always more to break. But I'll go easy. For now."
"Gee, thanks."
"Now grab your ninja tools. We're switching to target training."
I groaned but obeyed, heading to the training dummies. I went through the motions, throwing shuriken and kunai with practiced rhythm. Ten of each—every one hit dead center.
"Nice," Mom said, inspecting my work. "If you were in the Academy, you'd ace the test."
"So I don't need to practice as often?"
"Once every two weeks should keep you sharp. Two days at a time."
I nodded, then tilted my head. "Mom… did you use ninja tools a lot?"
"When I was a genin, yes. They gave me reach and versatility. But as my chakra reserves grew, I leaned more into taijutsu and ninjutsu."
That gave me the perfect segue. "Is the Fireball Jutsu your favorite?"
She laughed. "That old thing? It's flashy, sure, and our clan's signature move. But no—my favorite is something far more personal. I created it myself: Katon: Homura no Jutsu."
"What's it do?"
She gazed skyward. "It cloaks my body in blue flames. Anyone who touches me burns. It boosts my attack power while acting as armor. Perfect for close-range combat."
"Can you teach me!?"
She smiled and pinched my cheek. "When you're older."
"Why do you love fire so much?"
"It's part of our clan's soul. But for me, fire represents beauty through destruction. It purifies. It creates. It reminds me that even in chaos, something meaningful can be born."
"Do all Uchiha use fire style?"
"Most do. Some branch off into other affinities, and the rare ones master multiple. Like me."
She extended her hand—and lightning arced from her fingertips, obliterating a training dummy.
My jaw dropped. "HOLY SHIT. MOM. Teach me that!"
She smirked. "Maybe. If you have the lightning affinity. We'll find out with chakra paper later once I buy some from the shopping trip."
"But… you didn't use hand signs. How?"
Her smile turned... different. Not evil—but proud in a way that made my spine tingle.
"That's a forbidden technique of my own design. I call it Imperial Lightning Strike."
"Why is it forbidden?"
"Because it's lethal. To everyone."
I blinked.
She continued, her voice lower, more serious.
"I designed Imperial Lightning Strike after a near-death encounter with the Third Raikage during the war. He used his fingers to channel lightning into a deadly spear that pierced defenses like paper. I barely escaped with my life. But instead of fearing that power… I studied it. I learned from it. And then I made something worse."
She stepped into a stance. Her posture radiated tension and precision.
"This stance builds a unique chakra circuit within the body. Once the stance is done than it free movement after. The longer I maintain the charge, the more lightning charges build inside me. After one day? Strong enough to pierce iron. Two days? Steel. Three days? Anything. On top of that it generates a faint lightning cloak that enhances reflexes and add electric damage to any non lightning justu."
I swallowed. "What happens if you hold it too long?"
Her eyes met mine, unwavering.
"You explode."
"Wait, seriously?"
"Yes." she said. "The lightning overcharges your nervous system, your chakra coils rupture, and the energy erupts outward. I tested it with shadow clones. At full charge—three days—it can annihilate everything within three miles."
I froze.
"Mom…Did this move made you famous during the war?"
"No and there a reason for that."
She held up two fingers. "Two reasons it's forbidden and not well known justu associated with me. One: The Third Raikage overshadowed my work when it comes to lightning style during the second ninja war with his amazing lightning defense and his three fingers . Two: The jutsu was born after I nearly died to him, so it never saw wide usage. Three: When the Third Hokage found out what it could do and the output it can release once unleashed in any direction, he labeled it a village-level threat. I'm only allowed to use it on solo missions—never near civilians or teammates."
My mouth was dry. "That's… insane."
"Yeah," she said, smiling faintly. "Your father used to joke that if I ever got too emotional, the village would vanish overnight."
"You really need help, Mom."
She laughed. "Your dad used to say that too. That's why I need you, Kuro. You're the new man of the house, right?"
I stood tall and proud. "Damn right I am!"
She smiled softly, then hugged me and gave me a kiss on the cheek. "That's my boy. Now—less talking. I'll show a demonstration of the fireball jutsu and then you'll show me your Fireball Jutsu."
She backed away and formed the hand seals. A massive blue fireball erupted from her mouth and roared over the pond.
"Thank the sage we have sealing justu for the koi in the pond," I muttered.
She smirked. "Your father insisted. I just added chakra barriers to keep the training flames away from the fish."
I raised my hand and ask a question.
"Why's your fire blue?"
"A unique affinity, possibly genetic. Only one other person I've met had it. I'll tell you when you're older."
She tossed me a scroll. I read it, formed the seals slowly, feeling the chakra swirl in my core, and then—released it.
My fireball roared to life.
It was blue like Mom's… but with flickers of black—inky, deadly flames that reminded me of something… darker.
I lowered my hands, trying to act normal. Inside? I was freaking out.
"Mom?" I asked cautiously. "Was that... okay?"
She stared at me, arms folded, expression tight. Like an Asian mom just saw A minus on her child test.
"You did great," she said after a pause. "But those black flames… they remind me of your father."
"Is that a bad thing?"
"No," she said quietly. "It just means... his bloodline is waking up inside you."
She pulled me into a hug. I could feel her hiding her face—but I also felt her trembling whatever in excitement or sadness. I couldn't tell.
I said nothing. I just hugged her back.
She pulled away after a moment. "Keep practicing the Fireball Jutsu. One hour, then shower and meet me at the door. We're seeing Mikoto at the compound gate."
She walked back to the house, but I saw it.
Just for a second.
A single tear.
Behind that fierce warrior, behind the flames and lightning, was a woman missing a love that was probably never coming back.
I clenched my fists.
"I don't care who you are, old man. But if I ever meet you... your balls are the first thing I'm punching."
I turned back to my training. The flames roared once again.
And I swore, right then and there, to master all justu I wanted to learn without hand signs.
Not just for myself—but to fill the empty space he left in her heart and make her pride.