Chapter 9 Part 2
"Well then — let's get started!" By the next day, Akashi could already move around a bit — and jumped straight back to her duties.
"Yes-yes-yes! What is it?!" Naruko was vibrating with excitement. "Some super-secret awesome training?! We do it and get super-strong right away?! AYAA?!"
"Maa... Not quite." Akashi cooled her pupil's enthusiasm the most direct way possible: whacking her across the backside with her crutch. "You won't get super-strong from this — but it'll help a lot down the road. So — what we'll be training is..... Control!"
"Aaaaaaaaaaah?!" Uzumaki wailed. The blonde couldn't hide her disappointment. Her teammates, for that matter, were staring at the sensei with the same bewilderment.
"Oh, don't make those faces! Chakra control is insanely important for a shinobi!" Akashi assured them. "We'll train it by..... Climbing trees!"
"Sensei!" Sakurai exclaimed — with an indignation Hatake found utterly baffling.
"..." Uchiha stayed grimly silent, but her eyes held barely concealed disappointment. Even contempt.
Akashi began to sense something was off.
"That's stupid! We already know how to do that!!!" Naruko declared, leaping onto the nearest tree and sticking there horizontally.
"Ara?.. When'd you learn that?" Akashi asked, genuinely surprised.
"Nagisa-san taught us. During training. Using YOUR notes, sensei!" Sakurai stated it like an accusation. The boy was fighting with everything he had not to show his disappointment — and losing. From Haruno's gaze, he deeply, deeply regretted getting stuck with such a useless, irresponsible commander.
"And THIS is a 'sensei'? What a joke... How can someone like her have the Sharingan?" Sasuko snorted contemptuously, eyes rolling — almost theatrically.
"Mmm... And you're all doing it well? Good! Well done, well done..." Hatake drawled, hiding her chagrin. She'd completely forgotten about that. Not like it mattered — she'd just dumped a pile of unsorted, unsystematized notes from her own genin days on the kid. Who could've known?.. And now she needed to wriggle out of this — fast. "And how're you doing with the next training stage?"
"Next stage? There's more?!"
"Sensei means water walking, Naruko." Sakurai folded his arms. "We're still training that."
"Oh?! Well, that's great!" Akashi eye-smiled. "Then — keep at it! Keep pushing! The main thing's chakra distribution. Distribution. We've got plenty of water here — so train hard! Best to start with running: run from the shore as far as you can. I'll watch your progress and mark the distance."
"Lame... Stupid training again," Uzumaki grumbled.
"Ara — what's this I hear? Uzumaki Naruko — don't tell me you're scared?" Hatake feigned shock. "Well, sure — with your control, you'll sink before you even leave the shore. Forget comparing yourself to Sakurai-kun and Sasuko-chan."
"Huh?! Me?! Sink?!" Naruko fired up instantly. Akashi definitely knew which buttons to press. "You'll see — I'm a hundred — no, TWO hundred times cooler than Stupid Hedgehog!!"
"Now, now — so far you're just shouting louder than everyone else," the jonin smirked. Uzumaki was, after all, ridiculously easy to manipulate.
"Arr! You'll see!" Bouncing in place, Uzumaki thrust an accusing finger at Uchiha. "Stupid Hedgehog! I'm gonna beat you!!"
"Pff... Idiot." Uchiha grimaced at the blonde. Once again — this loudmouth causing trouble. Someone needs to knock her down a peg. Hard.
"Well, that's settled," Hatake thought with satisfaction, watching her students. Now they'll really push themselves. But something kept bothering Akashi. A nagging feeling she'd missed something. And then it hit her: "Ara?.. Wait — where'd Kaoru-kun go?"
"Mm... The Land of Waves really is tiny, isn't it?" I asked myself, studying a map I'd copied from a nearly crumbling original back at the temple. Little islands — each one small enough to walk across in a day. "How annoying. Is there seriously nothing interesting here?"
Eh, what a bust. The Land of Waves looks like a genuinely boring place. Local attractions: water. Fog. And the unfinished bridge.
Pretty dismal.
Hm?!
Something tickled my senses.
Hm-hm-hmmm?..
"Looks like I jumped to conclusions?" I murmured, surprised. The moment I adjusted and focused, a faint, elusive sensation appeared at the edge of my perception. Trusting my gut — eyes nearly closed, so deep in concentration — I gave myself over to that feeling and let it guide me. "Oh?!"
Water. Hm — didn't even notice stepping into the river. My path clearly led further. Toward where, beyond the thin fog, the outline of a tiny island was barely visible. But now I could clearly feel what was pulling me.
Without a second thought, I stepped onto the water and moved forward. Had to go slow — I still hadn't fully nailed "Suimen Hokou." Still needed to monitor the process now and then. Gonna be a while before I can sprint across water like it's dry land.
The closer I got, the sharper it felt. A barely-there trail — like a wisp of incense — became almost physically tangible. And when my feet touched solid ground, I suddenly realized I was breathing easier. More than that — something was radiating from deep in my soul, and I vaguely recognized the feeling.
"So that's what it is." I smiled. There's my answer: a lone building in the middle of the little island. Overgrown with bushes and trees — invisible from a distance. I drew closer and carefully touched the weathered wall, feeling the roughness of boards already starting to crumble. "Amazing — with this humidity, the place hasn't rotted to dust. Actually... no. Not amazing."
No more doubts. This was a Sanctuary. The shrine looked abandoned — but divine power was still holding off total ruin. I'm sure of it now: this was once a sanctuary of some river god. People must've stopped coming... and it fell into decay.
"How sad." I sighed, carefully pulling the door aside. The wood groaned in protest at being disturbed — but the door opened. Barely. Only a third of the way. Enough to slip through. "Sorry for the intrusion."
A floorboard wailed under my foot. I made sure it'd hold, then stepped inside.
Oooh?!
I stumbled backward in surprise, tripped over my own feet, and landed on my butt.
What was that?..
I got up and stepped inside again. And again — that sensation! How do I describe it? Like pushing through a springy membrane for half a second. Marveling at it, I looked around. The sanctuary was a single room — classic Eastern style. Or rather — had been. Most of the furnishings were falling apart. Only the modest altar still held some semblance of integrity.
Yeah — time and the damp climate hadn't been kind.
But that doesn't matter. Doesn't matter. Right now, with my whole being, I felt what had drawn me here. This place still held Power. Just a little — comparing it to our Temple would be laughable — but still. Living so far from sacred places, I'd almost forgotten this feeling.
But the source of that power wasn't here.
Didn't I get it?
I could feel it — somewhere here, and not here, at the same time. So strange. I checked every corner. Nothing.
Only when I stepped back outside did an idea start glimmering in my head.
The Boundary!!!
After crossing the threshold a few more times — nearly falling through a hole in the floor — I decided to experiment.
I focused and let my spiritual power flow into my body. The world instantly felt slightly "off" — stranger, more whimsical. Holding that state, I reached out and touched the invisible barrier with my fingers.
I pushed forward. The barrier bent — stubbornly refusing to let the intruder through. I pushed harder. Poured on more spiritual power. And... broke through.
One step — and my senses were slammed by the sudden shift. Most of all: the spiritual side of the world felt razor-sharp, crystal-clear. The air seemed saturated with mystical power. The room around me changed: the poverty and ruin were still there — but the sanctuary was noticeably brighter. The scuffed walls were free of moss. The holes in the floor were gone — no, not gone. Boarded over.
Shrrr-shhhhhrrr-shhhrrr.
Smack!
"H-hah! Ha! I win!" a raspy voice crowed.
"Aaaaah?! How?! You cheated!!!" another voice screamed.
"Ke-ke — not your day, ke-keee!" a third gloated.
I tore my gaze from the changed room and looked toward the voices.
Ghm... So. What've we got? In the corner, right of the altar — three beings. Playing dice.
Left to right: an Azuki-arai — half-meter-tall hairy little guy, mustache, bald head ringed with black hair, worn kimono, stupid grin on a way-too-wide mouth. Next: a Bake-zori — a Tsukumogami that looked like a woven straw sandal with one eye and a tongued mouth. Last of the trio: an old-looking Kappa — little green humanoid with a shell and a bald dome. He was the one wailing about his loss. The little Azuki guy was celebrating his win. The sandal was laughing at the loser.
I shifted my weight.
A floorboard creaked.
The trio went dead silent. Jolted. Looked at me.
"Oh, hel—"
"HUMAAAAAN!!" The tsukumogami shrieked in panic. It shot up, howling, flailing its tiny arms — and bolted.
"Eeeeee!!!" The Azuki-arai joined in, eyes spinning wildly.
"EEEEEeeE!!" The Kappa squealed.
"Ano, ex—?"
"Humaaaan! Human-human-human-human-human-human! Humanhumanhumanhuman!!!!!!!!" The straw sandal screeched, tearing madly around the room. Tripped over the dice cup — tumbled straight through the wall, leaving a hole behind. Where the Azuki guy vanished to, I never saw. And the Kappa's brilliant idea was to crawl under the altar.
....
Mmmaa... Amaterasu-sama — what was that? Am I really that scary?
"Umm — excuse me, Kappa-san?" I address the only yokai still in the vicinity. Politely.
"E-eek!" Thump! He jerked — slammed his head on the altar. Rolled out, clutching his skull. Right — back of the head's a Kappa's weak spot. Where their power sits. And he just smacked it. Hope he doesn't croak?
"Need help?.."
"Eh?! Kh!! Eeeeyyaahh!!" The shelled one sprang up — nearly kicked me in the face — and leaped to the wall. "H-human!! You... FEAR me, human! For I, the Great and Terrifying Amari... kh!!"
The turtle-beak snapped shut as its owner bit his own tongue.
And... what?
I was completely bewildered. Fear. Panic. And now threats?!
"This is all pretty ridiculous..." I murmured.
"Khe-khe... Human!! Flee! Run! I shall cuuurse yooou!!!"
"Sorry — but are you okay?" I eye the deranged yokai warily. He looks old — senility maybe? And all this... I'm lost.
"Ahhh, Mujomizu-sama!!" The Kappa howled, clutching his head. "Forgive your worthless servant! He can't even drive a mere human from Your house anymore!!!.."
"Ah... Mmaa... Maybe I should just go?.."
"STOP!!!" He screamed even louder. "How did you get in here?! This sacred barrier was created by Mujomizu-sama — it's IMPENETRABLE!!!!"
"Well... I just kind of... walked in?"
"...Is that so..." The Kappa suddenly went quiet, sinking to the floor. "So... that's how it is... The barrier's already gone, then..."
"Sorry?" I leaned over the yokai warily — he seemed to be sliding into depression.
"Ah — you. What do you want from old Amarimaru?" The Kappa asked dully. "Ah... doesn't matter anyway..."
"You need help, maybe?" I asked. "What happened here?"
"'What happened'? You're asking 'WHAT'?!" The Kappa flared up. "YOU. Humans. HAPPENED!!! Nasty, ungrateful creatures! Oh, poor Mujomizu-sama!.."
"Oh boy. This is gonna take a while," I shook my head.
"And so — that's how it all happened!" Amarimaru concluded sadly, chewing his fifth cucumber. I'd had to share — part of calming him down and prying out the story.
The situation was ordinary — and no less tragic for it. Once, there'd been a cult here. Devoted to Mujomizu-sama — god of the misty waters. People prayed to him. Held a little festival every year — ritual offerings. In return, the local kami gave them his blessing. Called warm mists over the Land of Waves. Helped fishermen find their way through the white haze...
So people prayed. Believed. And then... stopped. Slowly, over centuries — fewer and fewer worshippers, until finally — none. The god of misty waters was simply forgotten. And for a Kami, that's the most terrible fate: without worship, they weaken. Lose their power. And then, at last — vanish without a trace. And so it happened.
Sad. And mundane, all at once. Gods are born and die — always have been, always will be.
After the god disappeared, his subjects started leaving too. Amarimaru — an old kappa — stayed. Last of Mujomizu-sama's servants. He was determined to live out his years at his master's dwelling. He maintained the shrine — repairing it as best he could, keeping it from crumbling entirely. He didn't even blame people anymore for forgetting their god. Just... didn't see the point.
Sad. I felt genuinely sorry for this old kappa — still faithful to a Kami long gone.
I really wanted to help him. Somehow.
Help?
Help...
Hm... maybe?..
"Thank you for teaching me so fiercely, Old Man," I whispered, genuinely grateful to my father. Among everything he'd taught me was something... curious. The shinobi world isn't torn apart by monotheism. There are SO many gods! Strong ones, not-so-strong ones — evil, kind, neutral, just plain weird and inscrutable — countless local Kami and mighty spirits!.. And they're not all enemies.
Afraid of losing the thought, I started tearing through my supplies. Where is it? Where, where, where?.. Thing is — I live by "Everything I own, I carry with me!" — and sealing jutsu's perfect for that. But for the exact same reason, finding one specific thing can be a real hunt.
"What're you rustling around for?" The kappa called irritably, finishing his cucumber. "You heard my story, human. Now get lost and let me get on with my business! What more do you want?!"
"What happened is tragic. Can't be undone. But—" My hands flew through scrolls. Not that one. Not that. Not that one either... AHA! "There's something I can do."
"What're you plotting?! I don't need anything! Just leave me be, you persistent brat!" Amarimaru snapped. "I want NOTHING from you humans!!"
"This is the only thing I can do." Ignoring his anger, I'd already unsealed the scroll I needed and was quickly sorting through the "props." Perfect — everything's here, plenty of it!
"What are you—?!.. Huh?! Y-you?!..." The kappa choked, eyes bulging. Looking at his stunned, lost expression — I could only smile. "How?!"
"Seems I forgot to introduce myself properly back there. Sorry about that?" I apologized, straightening the white fabric. Oh — guess I'm out of practice? I really do almost never wear the formal robes. But for this — formality is required. "Nevertheless. I believe Amaterasu-sama won't object to Mujomizu-sama. What do you think, Kappa-san?"
"Hey, Koru-chan! Where've you been all day?!" Naruko seems mad. Why? "Mouu — you ditched us with that stupid training and went off to have fun, didn't you?!"
"Mm... Naruko — I just went for a walk and, well... fell asleep?" I spread my hands, all innocence.
"You slept THAT long?! Did Shikaru bite you or something?" The blonde's eyes flew wide. She thought about it: "Only she could sleep through a whole day of Academy classes... I should be careful around her... don't wanna sleep that much... But STILL! It was SO boring, Koru-chan! I kept falling in the water! Stupid Hedgehog's only a tiny bit ahead and she's already got her nose stuck way higher than usual! And Akashi-sensei keeps laughing!.."
Is that right? So Akashi finally decided to actually teach? Clumsy — but hey, progress?..
So — listening to Naruko's complaints and outrage — I walked back toward Tazuna's house. Also decided that next time, maybe I shouldn't just vanish and come back after dark.
"But still..." I thought with a smile. Took me the whole rest of the day. But the results? Totally worth it."Good fortune to you, Mujomizu-sama."