I stood frozen for just a few heartbeats longer, eyes fixed on the steaming craters of my unintended Lava Release. Excitement pulsed in my chest. Lava Release. A Kekkei Genkai. Once I could get my mastery up, I should finally be able to convince the old man to let me go to the front lines even without having the Flying Thunder God, which had been my original plan.
For a moment, I was overwhelmed with the possibilities. If I could create one Kekkei Genkai, then I could create more like Boil Release, Ice Release, Scorch... and possibly Kekkei Tota and even a Kekkei Kokan or a Kekkei Goten. But, for now, I shook myself free of the thoughts since I had a team to look after.
I dismissed Earth Clone with a nod, then leapt into motion, scaling the gate and landing just behind my trio as they staggered a few feet away. They collapsed in a heap, Kurenai still clutching the dummy with both arms, Asuma wheezing, and Guy somehow still standing, though only just.
"Okay, okay, lay down all of you and breathe," I said, kneeling beside them. I unsealed a med-kit from my pouch and began treating their wounds carefully. First Kurenai's chakra exhaustion could be solved with a soldier pill, and then the cuts on Asuma's legs and arms and Guy's bruised torso, shoulder, and fractured arm were managed with the Mystic Palm Technique. "You passed... And I'm proud of you all."
Guy raised a shaky fist, smiling through cracked lips. "Youth… prevails…"
"Barely," Asuma groaned, flopping back onto the grass.
Kurenai blinked up at me, a smile tugging her lips even as she winced. "Did we… really?"
I nodded. "You completed the mission to save a fellow ninja, adapted to the battlefield, supported each other, and survived. You're tired, hurt, and drained, but you're alive. That's what matters."
They nodded, barely.
I stood and clapped my hands once. "So, hot springs or BBQ?"
"Hot springs," they murmured in near-perfect unison, faces buried in their arms.
I just chuckled and summoned two of my clones to carry Asuma and Guy on their backs while I carried Kurenai personally. They all mumbled their thanks and rested while my clones and I walked casually towards my favorite hot springs.
The private spring I rented was a little expensive, but worth every ryo as both a reward and a recovery tool. For a bit more, they added healing herbs to the water which helped with soothing muscles, accelerating bruise healing, and softening chakra strain. Nestled against the tree line, it was surrounded by high wooden privacy walls and smooth black stones, the steam rising in ghostly curls under the moonlight. Just inside the spring, a meal awaited, steamed rice, grilled fish, miso soup, and fresh-cut fruit. Light, restorative, and filling.
We were ushered into separate changing rooms, one for the boys and one for the girls. A simple curtain divided the interior hallway that led toward the spring's edge, giving us privacy but still letting conversation carry over.
From the boys' side came Guy's loud voice. "This training has only fueled the fires of youth!"
"I'm too tired to even roll my eyes at that," Asuma groaned.
I smirked to myself as I pulled open one of the wooden lockers and began changing out of my uniform. Kurenai stood quietly beside me, untying her sandals and tugging her hair loose. Her eyes strayed toward me more than once as I removed my shirt and undershirt, folding them with practiced movements. I was used to the stares, but something about Kurenai's felt... different. Not judgmental. Curious. Admiring.
My sports-bra-style top and shorts combo did not cover much, but it was functional, better than anything clingy or frilly, which was certainly not my style. The faint scars along my ribs and shoulders stood out under the lantern light, reminders of close calls and tough missions.
She quickly looked away as I caught her eye. I said nothing, simply offering her a folded towel with a quiet smile. She nodded and took it, a hint of color rising to her cheeks.
By the time we stepped outside, Guy had already claimed the far corner of the spring, arms spread like a victorious general in a battlefield of bubbles. The healing steam shimmered over his bruised shoulders. Every now and then, he would grab a piece of fish or sip on his bowl of soup.
"Join me, comrades! Let your youthful flames rise once more!"
Kurenai stepped in beside me with a sigh that was half exhaustion, half contentment. Asuma had already sunk into the water opposite us, groaning in bliss as he let the heat draw out every ache.
"Best idea you've had all week," he muttered, eyelids drooping.
I joined them last, sinking into the mineral warmth. My muscles sighed in relief, and even my chakra pathways seemed to untangle. I may not have been the one undergoing the test, but I rarely slept in order to keep an eye on them since I would never forgive myself if they had been truly hurt during this exercise.
Kurenai sat beside me, arms folded over her knees, the tip of her nose pink from the heat. Her one-piece suit was modest, functional, and clung to her slight frame as she let herself relax in the water.
"That was brutal," she murmured.
"You all needed it," I replied. "There is no telling when we will join the war. Missions like that are meant to sharpen you without breaking you and give you a taste of what might come."
"I know." Her voice softened. "Still… thank you. For taking the time. For pushing us. Even if I hate you for it right now."
I chuckled. "As long as you don't hate me tomorrow, it's fine."
Guy began snoring softly, head tilted back against the stone wall, his face angelically peaceful in a way that was almost comical. Asuma, too, drifted off not long after, arms floating lazily at his sides like a lazy log.
I watched them both with affection. They were exhausted. Sore and scarred, but stronger than when they had stepped into the Forest of Death. Kurenai leaned her head against my shoulder. I let her, resisting the urge to stroke her hair.
"You all did great," I said, my voice soft as the water lapped gently around us.
She smiled, eyes closing. "I am glad you think so, Akari-Sensei."
A few minutes later, both boys were completely asleep, and Kurenai was not far behind. I slipped out quietly and recreated two clones. One gently cradled Guy like a proud older brother while the other lifted Asuma like a grumbling sack of rice.
I carried Kurenai myself, wrapping a soft towel around her. She murmured something incomprehensible in her sleep, forehead resting against my collarbone. I looked down at her tenderly then sighed and shook my head; it was much too early to have those types of thoughts.
My clones and I split up after gathering everyone's gear and leaving the hot spring.
~~~~~
Guy's home was modest; an aging single-level house nestled near the training fields. Its wood siding was sun-bleached and patched in places with care and frugality. The tiny porch creaked as I stepped up, Guy's sleeping weight slung gently across my back. Lantern light flickered behind the rice-paper windows, casting a cozy glow despite the late hour.
I raised my hand to knock, but the door flew open before I could make contact.
"Akari-sama!" Might Duy's eyes were wide, his mustache bristling with alarm. He wore a faded green jumpsuit identical to Guy's, only looser and patched at the knees. His brow was already sweating. "What... did something happen?! Is he injured?!"
"He is fine, Duy-san," I said, lifting a calming hand as I shifted Guy's weight. "He just… overdid it. Pushed himself beyond his limit, as usual."
I eased Guy into a more upright position so his father could see his peaceful, snoring face.
"But he was incredible. Strong. Focused. Relentless. His youth burned brighter than anyone I've seen in years."
Duy's lips trembled. "You… you mean it?"
"I do. He even took down a full clone of mine. With one arm," I replied, though it was a bit of an exaggeration.
For a moment, there was only silence, then Duy's eyes shimmered and tears spilled freely down his cheeks. He reached out with trembling arms and took his son from me with all the reverence of a man receiving a sacred relic.
"My beautiful boy… The flames of youth live on!" he wept, rocking Guy gently in his arms as though he were still a child. "You are your father's pride!"
I could not help but smile. Loud, dramatic, and earnest to a fault; he and his son truly were cut from the same cloth. You could not find more reliable people in the entire Shinobi World.
I rubbed the back of my neck, my tone softening. "Actually, while I'm here… I wanted to ask you something, Duy-san."
He blinked up at me through his tears. "Anything, Akari-sama."
"Would you be interested in becoming a training assistant for our squad?"
He stared, blinking again as though I had spoken in another language.
"I am not the best taijutsu instructor," I admitted. "I do what I can, but Guy needs someone who really understands that path, someone who speaks his language. Honestly, Asuma, my little brother, could use it too, even if he pretends otherwise. I think you're exactly what the team needs."
Duy's eyes grew impossibly wider. He clutched his chest with a hand as if I had shot a lightning bolt through his heart. "You… you mean… me? On the team?!"
He dropped to his knees with a thud, still holding Guy in one arm as he raised the other dramatically to the sky then pounded his chest.
"I... I... I swear on the eternal power of my youth! I will do it! I shall support this next generation with every drop of spirit in my body!"
I bit my cheek to suppress a laugh.
"I will talk to the Hokage and request the mission be made official, a long-term C-Rank assignment. You'll be compensated, of course."
"I do not care about money!" he wailed. "Only that I may help them reach their full youthful potential!"
I smiled warmly. "Then welcome aboard, Duy-san."
"I will not fail you, Akari-sama! My fists, my knees, and my eyebrows are at your command!"
"…Right. See you at training tomorrow morning then."
As I walked off into the night, I could still hear Duy shouting inside the house, reciting some kind of poetic ode to the 'flames of springtime training.' I already knew that I was going to regret it, but I had to do what I could to save Duy's life. The man was a monster on the battlefield; he just needed a chance to prove it, and one that would not claim his life in the process.
~~~~~~
The Yuhi residence was quieter and more refined than the Might home. Nestled under the shade of two tall sakura trees, it had a dark wood frame with carved eaves and a paper lantern softly glowing beside the front step. I adjusted Kurenai in my arms; she had been silent since the hot springs, her breathing light and steady in sleep. Her damp hair clung to her cheek, and her arms curled against my chest like she was clinging to a dream.
I knocked gently.
The door opened with far more restraint than Duy's. Shinku Yūhi stood there, tall, sharp-eyed, and as intimidating as ever. He wore a crimson robe belted at the waist, but even in loungewear, he radiated the kind of presence that could make chunin stammer. His eyes fell on his daughter in my arms, and they immediately narrowed.
"What happened?" he asked, voice low and clipped.
"She is fine," I said calmly, not flinching under his scrutiny. "Just exhausted after a long training exercise."
He stepped forward, brushing Kurenai's bangs gently from her forehead, checking her breathing with a faint frown. "She looks pale. Her chakra is low."
"She overextended herself healing Asuma and Guy during a survival mission. I did not stop her because… she made the choice to take responsibility. She kept watch while they rested," I paused, then added, "I am proud of her."
His gaze flicked to mine. "You pushed them too hard."
I exhaled slowly. "Maybe. But I prepared them for what is coming. You know what this war could look like. There might come a day when neither of us can be there to protect her. I want to make sure she knows how to protect herself."
He stared at me for a moment longer, then stepped aside silently. I took that as reluctant agreement and stepped inside, padding softly down the hallway into Kurenai's room. It was simple but elegant; light walls, a futon with plum-patterned covers, and a few scrolls hanging on the wall with hand-painted kanji.
I knelt, lowering her onto the futon with care. She stirred only slightly, murmuring something before turning her face toward the wall as I tucked her in. I brushed a strand of hair from her eyes and smiled.
"You did well," I whispered. "You are stronger than you know."
I stood, sensing Shinku's presence behind me. He had not followed me in, but I knew he would be listening. Before I stepped out, I lingered for a moment more, watching Kurenai breathe. I slid the door closed behind me and gave Shinku a final look.
"She will make you proud. She has more potential than you know."
He did not reply, but a slow, nearly imperceptible nod was the closest thing to approval I was going to get.
~~~~~~
The Sarutobi compound glowed dimly in the night, lanterns flickering along the worn stone paths like sleepy fireflies. I walked quietly beneath their light with Asuma slumped across my back, his arm dangling, his weight heavy with spent chakra and exhaustion. The front door opened just as I stepped onto the wooden porch.
"Akari... Oh, heavens," Biwako Sarutobi's voice softened with concern as her eyes landed on her son. She stepped back to let me inside. "Is he hurt?"
"No, nothing serious," I said, easing my pace as I stepped into the house. "He pushed himself harder than I expected, but he made it to the end. I would not have let him keep going if it was too much."
Her expression relaxed as she moved closer, brushing sweat-matted hair from Asuma's brow. "Stubborn as your father. And you."
"I wonder where we got it from," I replied with a small grin.
Together, we carried him to his room. I carefully laid him down on the futon, and Biwako tucked the blanket over him with a practiced hand. He murmured once in his sleep but did not wake. His breathing slowed into the steady rhythm of deep rest. Biwako gently shut the bedroom door behind us, then turned and gave me a long look. She narrowed her eyes.
"You're not her, are you?"
I gave a little shrug and an apologetic smile. "Clone."
She sighed and crossed her arms, though her tone remained light. "Figures. You have that faint fuzz to your chakra. I would know my daughter even in the dark."
"Well, the original is fine," I replied. "Just tired. The kids completed five days in the Forest of Death. They did well… really well."
Biwako's stern expression melted a little, a quiet pride settling in its place. "I can tell. Thank you for taking care of him, even when it comes to pushing him so hard."
"He needs it," I said gently. "They all do. The war is growing larger every day, and if I cannot always protect him, then I need to make sure he can protect himself."
Biwako nodded solemnly. Then she tilted her head, curious. "So where is the real you now?"
"On her way to the Hokage Tower," I answered. "An ANBU stopped her on the way home. Apparently, Dad wants to talk about the training exercise."
Her brows arched. "Doesn't he realize that you need to rest too?"
I chuckled faintly. "You are the only person in the whole village that can talk some sense into him, so I'll leave that to you, Mom. I'll swing by tomorrow night and have dinner with you and Asuma."
"I'll make your favorite tempura then," she replied with a smile.
"Thanks!" I said with a big grin and then, with a shimmer of chakra, I dispelled myself, leaving only the echo of my footsteps and the soft creak of wood in the night.
~~~~~~
The Hokage Tower loomed tall and still under the starlit sky, the stone walls glowing faintly under the lanterns that lined the village paths. I walked through the main entrance with purposeful steps, flashing my identification band at the Chūnin on duty. An ANBU nodded and led me silently through the winding halls until we reached the uppermost level.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, my father, stood by the large window in his office, his pipe tucked into the corner of his mouth, smoke curling upward like whispers of thought. His hands were clasped behind his back, but he turned as I entered. I had seen it countless times since I became a ninja, but the fleeting excitement of my nerdy heart was still stirred when seeing him like that, just like in the anime.
With a casual wave of his hand, he dismissed the ANBU silently stationed at the corners of the room. They hesitated for only a second before vanishing with a whisper of chakra and a flicker of movement. The room fell into a deeper hush, heavy with the smell of tobacco and old wood.
I raised an eyebrow. "Dismissing your shadows? This must be serious. Or... are you worried they'll overhear how often you use the Telescope Technique to spy on the bathhouses?"
He coughed abruptly, looking away just a bit too quickly. "Akari…"
I smirked. "You are not denying it."
He grumbled and took a puff from his pipe. "I called you here to discuss your… new development. I saw your final battle in the Forest of Death during your training exercise. You have awakened a kekkei genkai. Lava Release."
Ah. So that's it.
Not surprising that he saw it, but I had hoped to have a little more time to practice. I nodded and leaned casually against the edge of his desk. "It happened by accident. My Earth Clone and I both launched jutsu at the same location; Fire Release: Great Fireball and Earth Release: Earth Flow Spears. They overlapped and, somehow, merged into Lava Release. I'm not exactly sure how it worked, but my clones aren't exactly normal."
He squinted at me. "So, it was not something you planned."
"Nope. Total accident. Beautiful, dangerous accident," I grinned, but there was a gleam of excitement I could not suppress. "I need a few days to test it properly and develop a couple of jutsus around it before I can really show you anything. Right now, I barely have any control."
He paced slowly back toward his desk, thoughtful. "You already have mastery over five elements… and now a kekkei genkai. With your chakra capacity and tactical insight as well… It is impressive, Akari."
"Do not sound too proud or I might start expecting weekly praise."
That earned me a brief smile from him, though it faded quickly as he exhaled another puff of smoke. "You want time to train it. I can grant that. Do you need anything to assist you?"
"Actually, yes," I crossed my arms. "I want to officially assign Might Duy as a taijutsu assistant to Team Akari. His guidance has been helping Guy tremendously, and I think he can be a big help to Asuma too."
He raised one eyebrow, skeptical. "Might Duy? The Eternal Genin? He is… dedicated, but unconventional. And not known for his tactical brilliance."
I did not waver. "He is humble, loyal, and incredibly hard-working. More importantly, he speaks Guy's language. You saw what Guy did during the forest mission, right? That is Duy's influence. I want that energy shaping my team. I will handle tactics while he just needs to guide their bodies. You have seen how fast Guy is progressing."
Hiruzen leaned back in his chair, pipe tapping gently against the edge of his armrest. "You are serious about this."
"As serious as I was about requesting this team in the first place," I said, tone firm. "Let me build them into something incredible. Besides, Duy is already doing the work; this is just making it official and helps Asuma at the same time."
He sighed, then gave me a slow nod. "Very well. I will classify it as a long-term C-Rank assignment and issue him a provisional field assistant status. You are responsible for his oversight."
"Of course, and when I'm not around, Kurenai will be in charge," I said, smirking.
He glanced at the closed door, the empty corners where his ANBU once stood, then fixed his eyes on me again. "Lava Release, Akari. That is not a minor thing. If word gets out…"
"I know. It stays between us until I am ready."
"Good. Now go get some sleep. You look like you fought the forest itself."
"I practically did."
He chuckled, and I turned toward the door.
"Oh, and Akari?"
I paused, glancing over my shoulder.
"You've done a good job, and not with just your Lava Release; your students are lucky to have you."
I blinked, then gave a small smile over my shoulder and said as I walked out, "They aren't the only lucky ones, old man."