My feet meeting the bark made satisfying clunk sounds with each step. I'd flown in airplanes in my past life, but that was nothing compared to the feeling of leaping through the air under your own power. I let out a whoop as I leapt from tree to tree. The crisp bite of the air. The sprinkles of dew that showered me whenever I brushed past a collection of leaves. It was all intoxicating.
I heard stamping sounds beneath me and looked down. I smiled wide as I saw a quartet of deer springing across the ground beneath me, easily keeping pace with me as I made my way through the forest. It appeared they wanted to run with me.
I laughed as I picked up the pace, trying my best to overtake them. But each time I sped up, the deer sped up to match my pace. It seemed to be little effort for them to keep up, but then I was a kid, they were fully matured chakra creatures. One day I would be faster than them, but today wasn't that day.
The deer left me once I cleared the forest and neared the compound, breaking off to graze among the trees. I hopped from roof to roof, only stepping foot on the ground when I was in front of my house.
"Mom! Dad! I'm home!" I called as I closed the door behind me.
"Kagen!"
My mother appeared from nowhere to wrap her arms around me, catching me off guard and knocking the wind out of me.
"How was training with Aiko-san?" She asked, picking me up and carrying me towards the kitchen.
I huffed at being picked up, but didn't resist because I was still her kid and wanted to humor her. "It went well. I can water walk now." I announced proudly, raising my chin a little higher.
"That's my boy!" Mom said, nuzzling me with her cheek. "You're going to be a Jonin earlier than mom and dad both! Isn't that right, dear?"
"Yes, honey." Dad said. He was in the kitchen cooking a pot of rice. A small smile on his face that grew when he saw mom and I. "I heard you're becoming a proper ninja. I'm proud of you, son."
I smiled wide at him. "Thanks, dad."
"Help your mom cook the fish, Kagen." Mom said cheerfully, not really giving me a choice as she literally carried me over to the stove.
The three of us cooked together and sat down to eat. I asked mom and dad about their missions, but they deflected and redirected towards how things were going at the Academy.
I took that to mean their missions were classified or gruesome and babbled about how I read the books Aiko gave me in class, trained with Misa in the evenings and worked with Aiko whenever I had free time.
Mom and Dad listened to me talk with happy smiles on their faces, their hands intertwined on the table as they watched me. It was a nice evening. They'd probably head out on another mission soon and I'd be focused on training, so it was nice to get a little time with them.
It was still hard to see them as my parents, but I could relate them to a fun aunt and uncle who traveled around the world all the time. Either way, it was nice to talk to them.
X
Aiko Nara stared into the forest in the direction Kagen had fled, an amused smile pulling at her lips. That boy was something else. Not only was he smart, but he was also unexpectedly mature, heeding her words and warnings with only minor grumbled complaints. If only all kids were like him, then she wouldn't hate kids so much.
"Water walking already, huh?"
Aiko looked to her side and smirked at the man now standing there, his shoulders slumped, hands in his pockets and a considering expression on his face. "I told you he was special."
Shikaku Nara grunted. "I wasn't expecting him to be this special. He might not be the best in Taijutsu yet but the same could not be said about the other departments. I thought he'd be best in his class, not best in the school by the end of his first semester. He's a few months in and already ahead of the class in front of him."
"The class in front of them too."
"You see the issue."
"It's not an issue, Shika. Kagen is a Nara. If anyone wants him to graduate early, they have to go through you to make it happen, and you won't let it happen, will you?"
Shikaku pursed his lips, turning his head to look at the elderly woman beside him. She was smiling serenely, her eyelids fluttering. There was a dangerous glint in her eyes that promised pain if she didn't like what he said next.
Shikaku clicked his tongue. "Troublesome woman." He sighed. "So long as you keep teaching him, I'll be able to keep him in the Academy, but he has to keep making marked progress. If his progress starts lagging, there won't be much I can do."
Aiko patted Shikaku on the cheek. "You just leave that to me, Shika-chan. I'll keep Kagen engaged, though I doubt I really need to. I don't think I've ever met anyone as enthusiastic to learn as he is and I am not just talking about the Naras."
"Have you started him on nature transformations yet?"
Aiko shook her head. "I want him to have good control before I teach him any jutsu."
Shikaku frowned at her. "You need to start soon. If you're right about his affinities, we need to know."
"I am right, Shika. We already know."
Shikaku huffed. "Have you told anyone else?"
"No. Just you. Kagen doesn't even know yet. I don't think he suspects either. He seemed to think it was completely natural. For as smart as that kid is, he sometimes misses the obvious."
"He is a child. A little naivete is to be expected." Shikaku stressed, then sighed, reaching up to rub his forehead. "Tell no one until I say otherwise. This is an order from your Clan Head."
Aiko placed a hand up to her lips dramatically, an amused shine in her eye. "So serious! How could I possibly refuse? Oh! I almost forgot to tell you. I'm making dumplings for dinner tomorrow. Bring Yoshino and little Shika by."
Shikaku frowned. "I won't–"
"I'll see you at seven!" Aiko interrupted him, already shuffling away.
Shikaku glared at her back, his eyebrows furrowed in irritation. "Troublesome cranky old aunt." he muttered under his breath as he followed her back towards the compound.
---------Author Notes--------
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