As the group walked back from the training grounds, the weight of the day's events still hung heavily in the air. Sasuke, ever observant and analytical, couldn't shake off what he had seen during the bell test. He turned to Ryuga, his eyes narrowed in curiosity.
"Ryuga," Sasuke began, his tone serious, "what was that jutsu you used during the fight?"
Ryuga's steps faltered slightly, a wave of realisation washing over him. In the heat of the battle, he had forgotten to hide his unique chakra nature. He glanced at Sakura, who looked equally curious.
"It's nothing special," Ryuga tried to deflect, but he could see the determined look in Sasuke's eyes. He sighed, knowing he couldn't keep this a secret any longer. "It's... my Ice Release."
"Ice Release?" Sasuke repeated, his interest piqued. "That's not something you see every day. Where did you learn it?"
Ryuga hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. "I didn't learn it from anyone. It's just something I can do. My chakra nature is different."
Naruto, who already knew about Ryuga's abilities, gave him an encouraging nod. "Yeah, Ryuga's got some pretty cool powers. He's been practising with them for a while."
Sakura's eyes widened. "So, you can control ice? That's amazing!"
Ryuga rubbed the back of his neck, feeling a bit flustered by the attention. "It's not as cool as it sounds. I don't have full control over it yet, and it's not exactly common around here."
Sasuke's interest only grew. "Where does it come from? Do you know anything about its origins?"
Ryuga shook his head. "Not really. My parents found me in the forest when I was a baby. They think my abilities might be related to my origins, but we don't know much more than that."
Naruto gave Ryuga a reassuring pat on the back. "Well, it doesn't matter where it comes from. You're still my brother, and that's what counts."
Ryuga smiled, grateful for Naruto's unwavering support. "Thanks, Naruto. I just hope I can learn to control it better."
Sasuke, ever competitive, smirked. "You better. I want to see just how strong you can get with that power."
The conversation lightened as they continued their walk, the bond between them growing stronger with each shared secret and aspiration. Ryuga felt a weight lift off his shoulders, knowing that his friends accepted him for who he was, strange powers and all.
Ryuga sat in his room, deep in thought. The day's events had stirred a lot of emotions within him. His dream about the dragons, the revelation of his ice release to his teammates, and the memories of the intense bell test all swirled in his mind.
He closed his eyes, trying to recall the dream more clearly. The image of the beautiful dragon and the fierce black dragon battling was still vivid. The gentle eyes of the dragon had felt familiar, comforting even. But what did it all mean? And why did he feel such deep sadness when he woke up?
A soft knock on his door interrupted his thoughts. "Ryuga? Can I come in?" It was his mother, Kushina.
"Yeah, Mom. Come in," Ryuga replied.
Kushina entered the room and sat beside him on the bed. "You seemed distracted at dinner. Is everything okay?"
Ryuga sighed. "It's just... a lot happened today. I told my teammates about my Ice Release. They took it well, but it got me thinking about where it comes from. And I had this weird dream last night."
Kushina's expression softened. "Do you want to talk about the dream?"
Ryuga nodded and recounted the details of the dragons and the battle. "It felt so real, like it was more than just a dream. And when I woke up, I felt this deep sadness."
Kushina hugged him gently. "Dreams can be mysterious, especially for someone with your unique abilities. Your father and I have always wondered about the origins of your powers. Maybe this dream is a clue."
"Do you think it means something?" Ryuga asked, looking up at his mother.
"I do," Kushina said thoughtfully. "And I believe that as you grow and train, you'll start to understand more about your powers and where they come from. Just remember, no matter what, you're our son, and we love you."
Ryuga felt a surge of warmth and comfort from her words. "Thanks, Mom. I'll keep training hard."
Kushina smiled. "That's my boy. Now get some rest. Tomorrow's another big day."
As Kushina left the room, Ryuga lay back on his bed, feeling a renewed sense of determination. He would continue to train, to uncover the mysteries of his powers, and to protect his loved ones. And with that thought, he drifted off to sleep, ready to face whatever came next.