The morning fog clung to the village rooftops as I led my team toward the outer loop of Konoha. The sky was tinged with early purple, the air crisp and cool. Perfect for what I had in mind.
"We're starting the day with a run," I said casually as we stopped just outside the training grounds. "Two full laps around the village walls."
Guy beamed. "A test of spirit! Of vitality! Of youth!"
"YES!" echoed his father. "We'll burn the sunrise away with the flames of our determination!"
Asuma groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "This is a punishment, right? Did I forget to clean the weapons rack again?"
Kurenai looked tired already but gave a quiet nod. "Understood."
"Let's move."
It started simple enough. Duy and Guy bolted forward like racehorses, shouting encouragements to each other and occasionally bursting into spontaneous exercises mid-run. Somewhere around the first turn, they picked up boulders, actual boulders, and carried them like trophies, declaring them "training partners."
Kurenai fell behind quickly, breath growing shallow and shoulders tensing with every step. Her form was clean, but her endurance was clearly not on par with the boys. I kept pace with her, not slowing, but not leaving her behind either.
Asuma lasted longer, pacing himself decently through the first lap. By the second, though, he was dragging his feet and muttering curses under his breath. When we finally completed the loop, Duy and Guy were lifting their rocks overhead like medals of honor.
"I think I'm going to die," Asuma groaned, collapsing onto the ground, arms spread wide.
Kurenai leaned against the nearby fence, cheeks flushed, chest rising and falling with rapid breaths. "That… was awful…"
"You did better than you think," I said. "But endurance training is going to be a regular thing. We're only getting started. It can save you more often than a flashy jutsu."
She gave me a tired but respectful nod.
Then I turned toward Duy, who was still casually doing squats with a boulder on his back. "Duy-san. Spar with me."
He froze, halfway through a rep. "You want to spar… with me?"
"Yeo, and you're allowed to use up to the Third Gate."
Asuma sat up straighter. "Wait, what?"
Even Guy blinked. "But sensei! The Third Gate is serious power!"
Kurenai squinted at me, having a limited understanding of the technique from working with Guy. "You're going to fight Duy… and let him use that? Are you out of your mind?"
I grinned, rolled my neck, and walked to the center of the scarred training field. Without a word, I drew my fist back and punched a large boulder near the edge of the clearing. The stone exploded inwards, split cleanly through the center, shards scattering like shrapnel. Seeing the dumbfounded look on both Asuma's and Kurenai's faces made me chuckle with a smirk then gave a nod to Duy.
"Don't forget, Tsunade-sama is my sensei."
Duy adjusted the bandages wrapping on his forearms and stood tall, sandals planted firmly in the packed earth of the training field. His eyes burned with excitement, and the morning sun cast a golden sheen across his bowl-cut hair.
"Ready when you are, Akari-sama!" he said, bowing deeply.
I gave him a smirk and rolled my shoulders. "This isn't just for us. I want Asuma to see what the Eight Gates can really do. And Kurenai," I glanced back at her, "pay close attention; I'll be using the technique I want to teach you next; it will help with your physical body as well. I'll show you what my Yang Chakra Enhanced Strength really looks like."
Kurenai, still catching her breath from the morning run, blinked but nodded seriously.
I turned back to Duy. "No gates to start, so that they can see what a typical fight is like."
He nodded again, eyes focused. "Understood."
We clashed in the center of the field. Duy came in fast, fists flying with admirable speed and tight form, but I could tell he was holding back his full weight. His movements were good but not overwhelming as he did not have the experience to take advantage of his superior physique. I sidestepped, pivoting around his strikes, and sent short, sharp counters into his guard. My blows knocked him back with enough force to dig shallow trenches in the dirt with his sandals.
He grunted with each impact but kept coming. I deflected a spinning kick and caught his arm on the return swing as I spun then I hurled him across the field. He landed on his feet with a dusty slide but winced slightly from the impact.
"You're strong," I said calmly, circling. "But without the Gates, you're not keeping up."
He chuckled, nodding, then stepped back and lowered into a wide stance. "Then I'll show you the power of my youth! The Gate of Opening… Open!"
His body tensed, then pulsed with chakra as the first gate unlocked. A ripple of wind burst from around him, and in the next instant, he moved at over double the speed that he had been using before. He rushed at my flank, and I barely got my arms up to guard. His punch landed solidly, forcing me to dig my heels into the dirt as I skidded back.
That was better. I returned fire with a high-speed strike, only for him to duck under it and nearly sweep my legs from beneath me. His enhanced speed and reaction time were finally closing the gap in experience. Jumping back, I cracked my knuckles and focused my chakra into my limbs. Golden lines of energy flickered across my arms and legs as I activated my Yang Chakra Enhanced Strength.
The moment I kicked off the ground, the stone and soil beneath me cracked like glass. My punch met his, and the shockwave knocked up a wave of dust and pebbles that even ruffled Asuma's, Guy's, and Kurenai's hair and clothes. I did not relent. Each motion shattered the earth and left deep gouges in the field. Duy tried to keep up, darting side to side, blocking and redirecting, but I could see him slipping again.
His voice was clear over the clash of fists and shockwaves. "Then I'll burn even brighter! The Gate of Healing… OPEN!"
Another surge of power hit like a wave. His muscles bulged, movements sharper and more fluid. I grinned through the sweat.
We clashed again. This time, he was faster. I was still edging him out in raw power and experience, but his movements came closer and closer to slipping through my defenses. I felt the strain in my legs and arms as I met each blow. Then came the real escalation.
"The Gate of Life… OPEN!"
The change was immediate. His skin flushed crimson, veins bulging across his arms, neck, and face. His hair stood on end, and the very air around him shimmered with heat and chakra pressure. He became a blur.
To Asuma and Kurenai, he was practically invisible now, just echoes of where he had been. Even Guy stood frozen with wide eyes. But to me… I saw just enough, thanks to sparring with Minato often in the past.
He came in like a storm, fists flying with ferocity and speed that tested every ounce of my reflexes. My Yang-empowered limbs moved on instinct, parrying and dodging, redirecting just in time. I felt one blow graze my ribs and another scrap my shoulder, despite my dodge, and both attacks sent me stumbling back a few steps each time.
I struck back when I could, driving an elbow to counter a palm thrust, snapping my knee to block his kicks, but I was clearly on the defensive. When I finally saw an opening, I dropped low and kicked up a chunk of shattered rock towards his face. He dodged on reflex, and I surged forward, driving a punch toward his gut. He caught it mid-swing, barely and with his arm shaking from the strain, less than an inch in front of his stomach.
With a nod from me, we pushed apart, both panting, sweat pouring down our faces, and dismissed our techniques.
Duy grinned, red skin glowing with heat as he released the Eight Gates technique. "That was… amazing!"
I smirked, wiping dust from my face. "You weren't so bad yourself."
The training field was devastated. Craters marred the dirt, chunks of earth torn loose by our movements. The others stared in awe.
Asuma let out a breathless laugh. "That was the craziest thing I've ever seen…"
Kurenai looked over at me, a new level of respect in her eyes.
I turned toward her. "And that, Kurenai… was my Yang Chakra Enhanced Strength. Now that you've seen it in action, are you ready to learn?"
She swallowed, nodded once. "Yes, sensei."
"Asuma, your body isn't ready to start learning the Eight Gate techniques and, even if you do reach that level, you need to ask Duy properly for permission to learn it from him. You've only seen the beginning of that power, where the body can recover naturally, so do you understand why I want you to learn from him?" I asked, looking at my little brother.
"Yes, Onee-chan," Asuma agreed then walked over to Duy and knelt down formally. "Please, Duy-sama, I humbly request that you take me on as your student. I want to grow stronger and protect the village, my family, and friends like Guy."
For a moment, Duy was stunned to his core. He, the Eternal Genin, was being asked to become the teacher of one of the Hokage's sons, and at his own request. Years of ridicule and struggling to provide for himself and his son since he had been restricted to D Ranked mission as no one wanted to team up with him due to his... unique personality. Finally, finally, his potential had been seen by someone else. Tears welled up in his eyes, sparkling in the sunlight like twin waterfalls of youth.
"A-Asuma-sama! I, I...!" he stammered, voice cracking with emotion. He clenched his fists tightly, trembling not with fear, but the overwhelming flame of acceptance. I swear I could see the flames in his eyes, or perhaps I was just hallucinating from the backlash that I've only recently recovered from.
"Y-You honor me beyond words! A youthful soul such as yours choosing me, ME, to guide you on your path... I-I accept!!"
He sprang to his feet, dramatic tears still streaming down his cheeks, striking a heroic pose with one arm flexed toward the sky.
"From this moment on, we shall walk the burning road of perseverance together! We will train until the sweat of our youth becomes a river of improvement! I, Might Duy, promise to give you every ounce of my power, every fiber of my passion, and every tip I've mastered on the path of hard work!"
Then he paused, straightened his posture, and looked down at Asuma with sincerity glowing in his eyes.
"But I must warn you, Asuma-kun… my training will not be easy. There will be no shortcuts; only sweat, scars, and the fire of effort... This technique is dangerous! If your body is not strong, it will cripple you and, to use the ultimate level of this technique, it will consume your life to achieve an incredible level of strength," he said with a rare serious tone.
Asuma glanced over at Kurenai then nodded his head and replied, "I understand, Duy-Sensei!"
"Ahahaha!" Duy laughed excitedly. "Then rise! You and Guy shall be like brothers and eternal rivals, pushing yourself forward and drawing out the power of your youths! Come, let us celebrate with another ten laps around Konoha."
Before Asuma could realize exactly what he had just asked for, Duy dragged him off to start running around the village's walls with Guy jogging behind, crying in happiness just like his father. Kurenai watched them disappear into the distance with confusion and concern on her face then glanced at me.
I was snickering to the side, having easily baited Asuma into asking for humane torture by way of Duy's training, but it was for the best even if he would hate me for years to come. Throughout the manga and anime, Asuma never did anything special other than dying which inspired Shikamaru to get serious, since the Twelve Guardians were more of a joke to me compared to the true powerhouses in this world.
"Will... will Asuma be okay?" Kurenai could not help but ask.
"Meh, he'll be fine... mostly... maybe I should talk to my father about him using the clan's medical baths more often," I replied then thought about how excited Duy seemed.
Kurenai gave me a judgmental look, but I changed the subject by summoning my Yang Clone.
"Your chakra control and proficiency with medical ninjutsu has advanced enough for you to start learning my technique. Tsunade-sama worked with me for months to perfect this technique, so don't expect to pick this up quickly, but even an incomplete version of it will help you improve your taijutsu and stamina," I explained. "For now, my clone will help you understand the basics of it."
"What are you doing then, Akari-sensei?" she asked.
"I'm working on a surprise that will be very helpful whenever we are deployed to the front," I replied.
"Do you want to go to the front?" she questioned with a hint of hesitation.
"Honestly, no... but my gut tells me that it is going to happen one way or another. The Cloud and Stone managed to put their personal grudge aside to attack us, so it's only a question of when the Sand and Mist will join too. We may be the strongest village, but fighting on four fronts will thin our numbers out and drag out every ounce of potential that the village has left," I sighed, knowing full well that Konoha would eventually be facing that exact situation.
Kurenai could not hide the concern and fear from her face, so I placed a hand on her shoulder and gave her an encouraging smile.
"Don't worry so much. Even if we do get sent to a front, you, Asuma, and Guy will stay near the main camp, likely restricted to tasks within it. Only I might be sent out on real missions, but even that is unlikely with my dad around," I added.
"I will try Akari-sensei, but for now, I will work on my training," she said.
I nodded then flickered away and headed for my training ground. Since I was still recovering, I only summoned my Earth and Fire Clone to practice the same low level jutsus over and over, heavily grinding out the ranks in hopes that it would help me develop my Lava Release faster. I took the center of the training grounds for once and started grinding away while also trying to understand how hand signs truly worked.
To my system, if my clones or I molded elemental chakra and released it, that counted as a jutsu, no matter how weak it might be. The way to use my system was obvious, yet it had eluded me for years. I wanted to blame my ADHD brain and wanting to advance quickly to be ready for this war once I realized when I was, but I felt beyond stupid for taking this long to figure it out... and it was only a part of me who had.
The rest of the week passed in much the same fashion, though I did remember to send a clone to talk to my father about Asuma's training. If he was going to survive Duy's training, he really would need medicinal bath to ease the strain and help him recover faster. It seemed that he had been watching my sparring match with Duy, so not only did he agree to help with the cost, but he even allowed Guy to join Asuma since he realized the potential of the technique cared for properly from a young age. Kurenai was also beginning to understand the principles on my Yang Chakra Enhanced Strength, which healed as it destroyed unlike the Eight Gates.
Before the end of the week, I succeeded and advanced my Lava Release to the D Rank, allowing me to form a clone. I set her quickly on grinding while I turned my focus onto making it into something useful... But, by the end of the day and a half I had left, I had nothing more than a squirt of molten earth under someone's foot a few tens of meters away or a lava ball that moved at a jogging pace.
The morning after my weeklong training, I stood at the center of the private training ground tucked deep inside the Sarutobi compound, surrounded by familiar stone walls and trees. My father stood a few meters away, hands folded behind his back, watching like always. No Hokage robes today, just him, my father.
I breathed in slowly, feeling the heat coil in my lungs and down through my arms. My chakra flared, just enough to curl the grass beneath my sandals. With a few hand signs, I placed my hands on the ground and exclaimed.
"Lava Release: Molten Geyser Technique."
The mixture of Fire and Earth chakra twisted in my core and surged into the ground. I stepped back, letting it go. The chakra sputtered out in a hiss, landing in front of me with a dull splat. A blob of molten stone. That was it. It sizzled in the dirt, steaming gently. No explosion. No eruption. Just… a hot puddle.
My shoulders sagged. "That's all I can do," I muttered.
My father did not say anything right away... as usual. He just stood there, all serene and composed, like a statue carved from patience itself. Even when he was not acting as the Hokage, he could not shake off his sagely act.
"It's pathetic," I said, louder now, angry at the silence. "It's not even a proper jutsu. It doesn't pierce, doesn't explode, doesn't trap. I've thrown spicy ramen with more impact."
Shaking his he with a light smirk, he stepped forward slowly and crouched beside the bubbling patch of earth, gazing at it with the kind of focus that made me want to punch a tree. "You created this yourself, Akari. Not an accident, but a true Lava Release jutsu."
I snorted and crossed my arms. "A worthless Lava Release jutsu."
"No," he said firmly. "Do you know how rare it is for a shinobi to manifest a kekkei genkai outside of a bloodline? Or to develop a new technique without a master or scroll guiding the way? Most who try either fail completely or blow themselves up trying."
"Then maybe I'm just really good at failing safely."
He stood and brushed his hands off. "You're doing what even most geniuses won't attempt. Most just tweak existing jutsu to fit their needs or desire. You're laying new groundwork. That puddle," he pointed to it, "is the beginning of something powerful."
I looked at it again, feeling more irritation than hope. "It doesn't feel powerful."
"Because it's the seed, not the tree."
I sighed, long and tired, silently pleading for him to not go into a speech about the 'Will of Fire' bullshit. "So what? I just keep melting dirt until it starts throwing hands?"
He chuckled softly. "Not exactly. Use what you know. Analyze jutsu like Great Fireball or Earth Flow Spears, things with strong base structure and similar delivery methods. Break them down, understand the chakra shaping behind them. Then rebuild that logic with your Lava chakra."
I frowned, but it made sense. It always made sense when he explained it. I guess that was why they called him the 'Professor'.
"Treat them like training wheels; a bit of structure until I'm ready to break out on my own," I said aloud, nodding slowly.
"Exactly."
I could not help the dry smirk that tugged at my lips. "You know… if I'd gotten this down on the first try, you'd be panicking. Probably dragging me off to the sensor corps to see if I'm Hashirama reincarnated or something."
"You're doing well, Akari. Truly."
I did not say anything for a moment. I looked down at the little molten crater and then back at him. "I just… wanted it to be something impressive," I admitted. "Something that proved I'm more than just your daughter. That I'm doing something worthwhile."
He stepped closer and placed a hand on my shoulder. "You already are."
I breathed in, steadier this time.
"Alright," I said, squaring my shoulders again. "Back to the drawing board. I'll start comparing the chakra movement and structure of the Earth and Fire jutsus that I know. Maybe Lava Bullet will be easier than Lava Wave."
He gave a satisfied nod. "You'll figure it out. Just don't forget to rest."
"Sure, sure," I said. "Right after I break through the fundamental limits of hybrid nature transformation."
His chuckle followed me as I turned back and headed toward the village. One puddle down. A volcano to go.