Chapter 50 : Akira's Three Masters
Seals of the Uzumaki
One afternoon, Minato invited Kushina to observe Akira's training.
"He's… unusual," Minato admitted quietly, scratching the back of his head. "His chakra control is flawless, and his handwriting—it's as precise as calligraphy. I think he could master fūinjutsu."
Kushina, curious, rolled out a sealing scroll and handed Akira a brush. "Try this. Trace the formula for a basic storage seal."
Akira's hand didn't tremble once. His chakra flowed steady, smooth, and alive. The seal shone faintly.
Kushina's eyes widened. "Already reacting… Dattebane, this brat's a prodigy!"
From that day, Kushina began teaching him basic Uzumaki sealing arts—storage scrolls, suppression seals, even the first steps of the Four Symbols Seal. Akira kept his composure, but inside he felt an odd warmth. He had another teacher, another bond.
Still, he never spoke of his other place. The dimension was not for anyone else. Not even Kushina.
That night, Akira entered the hidden dimension with Kakashi. Only there did they meet Sakumo, whose presence was both comforting and painful.
"You both push too hard," Sakumo said as he parried Akira's strike. "But… if this is the path you've chosen, then I'll forge you with my blade."
The boys sparred until their lungs burned. Akira's golden Byakugan tracked every move, while Kakashi's growing precision with kenjutsu kept him from falling behind.
Outside the dimension, no one would ever know of these nights. The world only saw two students at the Academy. But here, they carried the secret of the White Fang's survival—and his legacy sharpened them like steel.
Balance of Masters
Akira's days became a cycle of hidden growth:
Morning: Minato drilled him in wind and lightning release, refining chakra flow until Akira could cut boulders with a single slice of wind.
Daytime: Kushina's lessons in sealing pushed his mind—ink, formulas, chakra precision. He learned to respect how dangerous even a single stroke could be.
Night: Inside the hidden dimension, Sakumo forged both boys in kenjutsu and battlefield instincts.
Akira never revealed the overlap. Minato thought he was simply a quick learner. Kushina thought he had natural talent. Only Kakashi knew how hard Akira worked in the shadows.
But still, Akira reminded himself: This place is dangerous. I can't use it lightly. Not for comfort. Only when necessary.
He would guard this secret until the time was right.
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