Deep in the night, Konoha was completely still.
Moonlight poured down like water over the Uchiha training ground, illuminating a tall, lean figure.
Chiya stood at the center, his palm facing upward. Chakra spun wildly in his hand, letting out a sharp humming sound.
Boom. Boom. Boom.
Thirty shadow clones dispersed one after another, and memories and experience flooded back into the original like a tide.
Chiya's eyes sharpened. The chakra gathered in his palm suddenly compressed.
The chakra sphere forming in his palm finally stabilized into shape, its deep blue glow standing out brilliantly against the night.
"The Rasengan... it is finally done."
He let out a quiet breath, a satisfied smile crossing his lips.
In the original story, it had taken Minato and Jiraiya three full years to create it.
As long as one understood the underlying principle of this jutsu, learning and practicing it would not take anywhere near that long.
Either way, the key principles of the Rasengan were now grasped, and the critical balance point had been found.
Just as he was about to test its power, however, he suddenly sensed a gentle gaze watching him.
He turned to look. At the edge of the training ground, beneath a cherry blossom tree, a slender figure stood quietly.
Mikoto wore a thin, light-colored haori draped over her shoulders. The night breeze passed through the tips of her hair, lifting a few strands in a soft drift.
Her hands were folded in front of her, the knuckles faintly red from the chill of the night air.
When her gaze met Chiya's, those eyes, clear and still as water, immediately filled with joy, only to soften quickly into an expression of quiet worry.
"Mikoto?"
The chakra in Chiya's hand faded. He appeared before her in an instant, his broad hand gently resting against her cold cheek.
"Why are you out this late? The night air is cold."
Mikoto did not answer right away. She just tilted her face up and looked at him.
Moonlight fell soft shadows across her refined features, and her long lashes cast a small fan-shaped shade beneath her eyes.
Her gaze traced slowly over Chiya's face. When it settled on the faint shadows beneath his eyes, her brows drew together without her realizing it.
"I..."
Her voice was so quiet it seemed afraid of disturbing the stillness of the night.
"You had not come back for so long..."
Only then did Chiya notice that her shoulders had gathered a faint trace of night dew. She had clearly been standing here for quite some time.
A warmth rose in his chest. He took off his outer jacket and draped it over her shoulders, then drew her into his arms.
"Silly. When I left the Military Police Force this afternoon, did I not say there was no need to wait for me?"
Nestled in the warm embrace, Mikoto finally let herself relax.
She quietly tightened her grip on the front of Chiya's shirt, breathing in the familiar scent.
"But..."
Her voice was muffled against his chest.
"Without you at home, I could not sleep..."
Those words sent a quiet tremor through Chiya's heart.
He tightened his arms around her, resting his chin gently on the top of her head.
The figure in his arms felt too slight, enough to ache.
"I'm sorry. I made you worry."
Mikoto shook her head. Her hair brushed against Chiya's chin, leaving a faint, pleasant tingle.
She stepped back slightly and reached inside her haori, drawing out a small bento box wrapped carefully in a cloth.
"You must be hungry. I made rice balls..."
She opened the box. Inside, five or six small rice balls were neatly arranged, each pressed into a neat triangle shape, decorated with pickled plum and seaweed.
The most special one was a rice ball deliberately shaped into a heart, with slightly uneven edges, clearly the result of many attempts before it held its form.
Chiya reached out and picked up the heart-shaped one.
"This is..."
Mikoto's face flushed crimson in an instant. Her fingers unconsciously twisted the hem of her clothes.
"It was my first time trying that shape. It did not turn out very well..."
"It is adorable."
Chiya smiled and took a bite.
"Just like you."
Mikoto turned red all the way to the tips of her ears, but could not hide the sweet curve at the corner of her mouth.
Chiya led her to a bench along the street just outside the training ground and sat down beside her.
The dim yellow glow of a street lamp fell over them both, casting two leaning shadows on the ground.
Chiya ate the rice balls one by one, feeling the warmth radiating from the person beside him.
The night breeze passed through, and Mikoto shifted closer to him without thinking.
"Cold?"
"Not cold..."
Mikoto shook her head, but gave a small, involuntary sneeze a moment later.
Chiya smiled helplessly and pulled her closer.
Mikoto leaned against his shoulder, the faint, delicate fragrance of her hair drifting near.
"The new jutsu... did it work out?"
She asked quietly.
"Yes. It went smoothly."
Chiya freed one hand and briefly showed her the small spinning Rasengan in his palm, then let it fade.
"But compared to that..."
He turned his head and pressed a light kiss to Mikoto's forehead.
"Getting to eat rice balls you made makes me happier."
Mikoto's eyes caught the moonlight and shimmered. She gathered her courage, quickly pressed a kiss to Chiya's cheek in return, then bowed her head like a startled deer.
"Should we... go home?"
She suggested softly, her fingers quietly hooking around the edge of Chiya's sleeve.
Chiya smiled and took her slightly cool hand, fingers lacing together with hers.
"Yes. Let's go home."
The night breeze drifted gently through. The two figures slowly became part of the moonlight.
On the training ground, a few cherry blossom petals drifted down, silent witness to the quiet warmth between them.
...
The following day, Chiya went to Uzumaki Kushina's home.
As the new Nine-Tails jinchuriki, the area around Kushina's residence was under tight security.
ANBU ninja were concealed in the treetops, on rooftops, and in the shadows. At least a dozen elite shinobi rotated through shifts to ensure her safety.
Chiya sensed them as he approached.
Their chakra signatures were all strong. It was clear the Third took this very seriously.
'Even so... it is still a little thin. A few Military Police Force members should be assigned here to provide covert protection as well.'
He thought to himself as he walked directly to the front door.
The ANBU recognized the Uchiha Clan Head and did not stop him.
Knock, knock.
Chiya rapped lightly on the door.
"Who is it?"
Kushina's clear voice came from inside, followed immediately by the sound of quick footsteps.
The door swung open. She saw the familiar face.
The red-haired figure launched herself forward.
"Chiya-nii!"
Kushina crashed into Chiya's arms, both her arms wrapping tightly around his waist, her cheek nuzzling against his chest.
"You finally came to see me!"
Chiya laughed and ruffled her hair.
"What, did you miss me?"
Kushina looked up, face red, and glared at him.
"It has been so long since the sealing ended and you are only coming now! Did you forget about me?"
"How could I?"
Chiya pinched her cheek.
"I have been developing a new jutsu recently, and teaching Shisui as well. It has been a little busy."
"Hmph!"
Kushina stuck out her lip, clearly not satisfied with that answer.
Seeing this, Chiya leaned toward her ear and said quietly.
"This jutsu was made specifically with you in mind."
"Mm?"
Kushina's ears perked up instantly. Her interest was immediate, her eyes bright and shining as she looked at him.
"What jutsu?"
Chiya smiled with a hint of mystery and opened his palm.
"Watch carefully."
Chakra gathered in his palm, spinning at high speed, and finally formed into a deep blue sphere of energy!
"That is..."
"The Rasengan."
Chiya explained.
"No hand seals required. It relies purely on chakra transformation, compressing energy to its limit."
Kushina's eyes went wide. She reached out as if wanting to touch it, then pulled back, afraid of hurting herself, and asked carefully.
"Can I learn it?"
"Of course."
Chiya nodded.
"This jutsu suits those with large chakra reserves the best. For you..."
He paused, then smiled.
"It is a perfect match!"
Kushina's excitement surged at once. She grabbed Chiya's arm with both hands.
"Teach me! Teach me right now!"
Chiya was nearly pulled off balance and said helplessly.
"Alright, alright. No need to rush. Though after walking all this way, I am a bit thirsty."
Kushina gave Chiya a little push.
"Fine, fine!"
She said it with a playful pout, then ran off laughing to pour some tea.
Chiya watched her retreating figure, a quiet softness passing through his eyes.
Kushina, no matter what happens.
From now on, I will always protect you.
---