=Ashira's POV=
"And this here is the cafeteria. There are usually three to five options that you can choose from in case you forgot your lunch or can't make your own," I said as I pointed down toward the numbers below the pictures of each set meal. "As you can see, most of the prices are pretty reasonable, ranging from 100 to 400 ryos depending on the option."
"That's so cheap. How do they stay in business? All the options have meat in them. Is the portion that small?" asked a curious Kushina, who, with hours of exposure, had opened up to me a little.
Shaking my head, I said, "Most of the cafeteria's operations here are run by the Leaf itself. From the cooks' wages to the ingredients, it's all paid for by the village with funds approved by the council. It's mostly to help orphans or those less fortunate financially to keep themselves fed—and fed properly. Being shinobi or kunoichi in training requires a lot of calories, after all."
Nodding in understanding, Kushina pointed toward another larger signboard next to the other meal sets and asked, "Then what is that?"
I looked to where she was pointing—at a sign with a picture of a rectangular bar and words underneath that read Modified Ninja Ration Bar. Nodding in recognition, I said, "That's the new and more kid-friendly ration bar developed by Lady Tsunade and her team, I think. Supposedly it tastes better while having all the same nutritional value as a standard ration bar. Or at least that's the rumor. Lady Tsunade does that a lot—making new stuff, I mean. She's either the sponsor or the developer in many different projects, usually related to the medical field. She just doesn't like putting her name on them as advertisements. I heard it's because she prefers to let her products speak for themselves."
Now that I think about it, the Tsunade I heard of from the Konoha rumor mill is completely different from her canon self. The canon Tsunade would use everything in her power to make more money to feed her gambling addiction—including taking sponsorships in her name. All this could be the Leaf's propaganda though, so you never know.
"Tsunade? That name sounds familiar," Kushina said before scrunching up her nose in contemplation, which I found adorable. Kinda like when I ask Mr. Buttercup about the details of his technique.
"Ah, I know her! She's Grandma Mito's granddaughter. She was very nice when we met. Even promised to train me later," she said with a proud expression on her face, like remembering something from weeks ago was some great feat.
Smiling slightly at the sight, I said, "I'm surprised you don't know her. Yes, she's the granddaughter of Mito Uzumaki and Hashirama Senju. She's also the only female candidate for the Hokage position."
I must have dropped a bombshell because Kushina's smug expression soon turned into one of shock. "EHHHH!!! Really? She looked so normal though…" she said, before her face started paling. "Neh, what should I do, Ashira? I even said I'd beat her in no time if she started training me."
Laughing at her troubled yet mildly cute expression, I said, "Then you just have to train even harder to keep your word. Plus, being Hokage is your dream, right?" I asked gently. She nodded, so I continued, "Then that's all the more reason for you to get stronger and kick Lady Tsunade's butt.
Being the Hokage means more than just being loved by the village, Kushina. It's about being the protector—a guardian to the village. It's about inspiring hope. That, at the end of the day, when everything seems lost, when every last shinobi and kunoichi has lost the will to fight, just you—their Hokage—being on the battlefield can reignite that light in them. Help them hold their kunai a bit tighter. Help them form their hand signs a bit faster. And help them fight just a bit longer. Because deep down, they know that as long as you're still standing, the flame of the Leaf is not yet vanquished, and hope still remains.
And to become all of that, the first thing you'll need is strength."
My long-winded tirade must have seemed amazing to a kid like her because Kushina's eyes started sparkling. "That's so cool!!! Umu, you're right. To be all of that, first I need to be strong…" she said before cutting herself off and looking up at me with doubt and hesitation marring her face.
Sighing, I asked gently, "What's troubling you, Kushina? I might not have known you for more than half a day, but know that I consider you a friend. You can always confide in me if you need to."
Nodding her head and steeling herself, Kushina asked in a timid voice, "You really believe it? You really think I can be Hokage?"
Those kids' words really got to her, huh? Even a precocious kid like Kushina can be made insecure with just a few snide remarks. Truly, a sword may nick your flesh, but it's words that can cut your soul.
Shaking my head gently, I said, "I don't believe it—I know it. You have the capacity for greatness within you, Kushina Uzumaki. All you have to do is tap into it."
Kushina's face turned the same shade as her hair as she squealed out a small "Thank you," before running off to line up for lunch. How praise-starved is this poor girl? I thought. Shaking my head at her shyness, I jogged after her to help guide her through the ordering process.
Before long, Kushina got herself a pork ramen set, and I had my mom's packed lunch, and we both ate in comfortable silence. The day passed like that, in a more subdued tone, as I occasionally guided Kushina through her new lessons, and she nodded along shyly.
Seriously, what sort of environment was this girl raised in that just one compliment made her this shy? I asked myself. And before long, I was waving at her and a Senju attendant goodbye as they left the academy.
"Okay, you three can come out now…" I said seemingly to no one, after I could no longer see the bright red mane of Kushina.
Shuffled noises were heard, and before long, a group of three fell out of one of the large bushes lining the academy wall, gasping for breath. That earned a few odd looks from surrounding parents and students—which is odd, considering we're ninja in training and stealth missions are as common as wild grass, but I digress.
Soon, a large open space formed as people steered clear of my three stooges' shenanigans.
"So… wanna tell me why y'all have been avoiding me and our new classmate all afternoon?" I asked with a hint of amusement in my tone.
"Told you he knew."
"Shut it, Shika. You only need so much sleep a day. Anyway, how long have you known we were hiding?" asked Inoichi, looking resigned—which I found very amusing.
"Oh, that? Since lunchtime when y'all hid behind that very convincing fake wall you made. And that's not me being sarcastic, by the way. Seriously, where the hell did you get that?" I asked in genuine curiosity.
"Heh, I made it. Even had to ask one of the faculty where they got the paint for the wall so I could copy it," said Inoichi with a smug grin from the praise—which turned into an annoyed frown when Shika said, "Still didn't stop him from knowing where we were, though."
"Okay, you wanna go, you lazy ass?" said Inoichi, his annoyance rising.
Shika gave a dismissive wave and a "No, too troublesome."
This only incensed the Yamanaka further as Inoichi lunged toward Shika, starting a cartoonish brawl with Looney Tunes-type smoke surrounding the two.
"Hey, no biting!"
"Then you shouldn't have started this in the firs—wait, no nut shot, you bastard."
"Then you shouldn't have bit me in the first place."
"…"
Words flew back and forth as the two used every dirty trick in the book to gain the upper hand.
Looking to my right with amusement in my eyes, I saw an exasperated Choza and said, "Give them like five minutes before they tire out. You can then break them up like usual."
Nodding his head, Choza said, "Haizz, yeah, I know, Ashira."
Turning toward Tsume, I asked what had been bothering me all day. "You good, Tsume? 'Cause you've been really quiet since the duel this morning."
Fists clenched, Tsume gathered her courage before asking, "How did you get so strong, Ashira? I mean, I knew you were strong, but I didn't know how strong. At least not until today…"
"I'm strong because I train a lot. Well, partly, anyway. You know I'm not a full-blooded Nara, right?" I asked. She nodded, and I continued, "Well, I'm part Uzumaki, the perk of being half-Uzumaki is that I have a lot of chakra. That's partly why you saw me use the Water Bullet Jutsu and the exploding water clones I told you about at this age."
"Uzumaki…" Tsume mumbled before she asked, "Is that why you befriended her? 'Cause she can also be as strong as you?"
So she's insecure about her strength, I thought. Shaking my head gently, I said, "I didn't befriend her because of her strength—just like I didn't befriend you for any material gain."
Smiling forlornly, I said, "No, I befriended her because I know what it's like to be thrown into a brand-new environment. To be alone, without friends or family to support you. It's always daunting at first."
At least I had my parents to help me adjust. Kushina had no one.
Shaking my head, I continued, "And that's why I admire her even more. To announce your dream to be the Hokage to a room full of judgmental strangers? That takes some real guts."
"What about me? What made you befriend me?" Tsume asked in a small, hopeful voice.
Smiling fondly, I said, "Remember when I took first place in the entrance exam's first test—what did you say to me?"
"I asked you what you ate to run for so long?" Tsume replied, uncertain.
"Aye. When most kids were too intimidated to even approach me, you asked me bluntly without hesitation. Heck, I even saw a hint of challenge in your eyes. That's why I befriended you, Tsume—because you have an unyielding spirit and aren't afraid to show it. Which is why I'm even more confused now that you're insecure about your strength. The Tsume I know would simply ask me to train her so she could catch up with me."
I reminisced about our past before Tsume launched herself at me in a tight hug, which I reciprocated with head pats on her wild, spiky mane.
"Will you really train me?" Tsume's meek voice rang out.
I responded with more head pats and said, "Always. Just name the time and place."
Pulling away, Tsume looked into my face and said with determination, "How about right now?"
Slightly surprised by the sudden request, I shrugged and said, "Why not, huh? We've got plenty of time till sunset."
"Ahem." A cough rang out, drawing both our attention to a grinning Inoichi, an exhausted Shikaku, and a hungry Choza.
"And we'd love to join you two. Right, guys?" said Inoichi.
"Not really," Shikaku muttered.
"I'm hungry, and I ran out of chips thirty minutes ago," Choza added.
Inoichi's grin turned crooked as he whispered, "Choza, I'm treating you to Yakiniku Q later. And Shika, you're going either way. I'll drag you there if I have to."
That got Choza stone-cold serious as he nodded, while Shikaku's resigned expression made Tsume and me laugh.
"Then let's get going, I guess. I know a place near the Nara Forest where we can train without any distractions," I said before I started walking, with Tsume joining beside me and the trio trailing behind.
~Scene Skip~
=3rd Person POV=
In a large open area, a group of four humanoid figures is seen ganging up on one person. Said person is expertly weaving and dodging out of the way of all the four figures, before kicking, and sending two of the two figures back. Said person is Ashira, and the four figures he's fighting are his friends
"Why the hell are we doing this again?" said an annoyed Shikaku, as he watched Ashira weave out of the relentless kicks and strikes from Tsume, while sneaking in some punches of his own at the burly figure of Choza.
"For the tenth time, Shikaku, we're doing this because there is no way in hell I'm missing Ashira wooing the Inuzuka clan's heiress," bit back an annoyed Inoichi.
Sighing in defeat, Shikaku replied, "Well, this doesn't seem very roman—Watch out!!" before being interrupted by the flying silhouette of a person.
"Can you two stop talking and help us take down Ashira!?!" The silhouette turned out to be Tsume, who rolled with the fall to stop her momentum and yelled at the two clan heirs.
"We can't take him down without a plan. We need to regroup and make one," said a frustrated Shikaku, who had snapped out of his lazy mood after being tossed around repeatedly by his troublesome cousin.
"You think we don't kno—Shit!!!" yelled Tsume as a loud thump echoed. Choza, who had been serving as a tank to soak up damage for Tsume and the group, finally collapsed from one well-placed punch by Ashira.
"Wait, hold on!!" said Shikaku right after Tsume rushed in to re-engage with Ashira, who looked at them with a condescending grin.
"Shit!! Inoichi, you go and help Choza. I'll find a way to drag Tsume back. We really need to regroup and come up with a plan," said Shikaku, only to be questioned by a confused Inoichi.
"That's great and all, but who's left to stall Ashira if we all regroup and plan?"
That got a smirking grin from Shikaku as he replied, "That's the beauty of it. We don't need to. Trust me," before rushing off and joining Tsume's relentless assault on Ashira, who had strangely moved back, away from the fainted Choza, and further from the group.
While the conversation between Inoichi and Shikaku took place, Tsume—with her lengthened, chakra-reinforced claws, a kekkei genkai-ish clan trait that manifested whenever an Inuzuka with a sufficiently developed chakra network channeled enough chakra into their fingernails—was going all in. She clawed and kicked at Ashira using her nimble Inuzuka-style taijutsu with reckless abandon. Each claw swipe was either deflected or grabbed by Ashira, while each kick was either blocked or countered.
Eventually, Tsume's patience ran thin. She took a direct gut punch without blocking, in favor of attempting to claw Ashira's neck open. Perhaps realizing too late, Tsume's eyes widened in horror at her impending impalement of Ashira's neck—only to be unnaturally stopped by seemingly nothing.
Confusion filled her face as she looked up at Ashira, only to be met with a smug grin and a finger pointing down at her stomach. Looking down, Tsume saw a black thin strip snaking out from Ashira's baggy sleeve. Half frustrated and half relieved, Tsume was about to speak, only to be met with a kick to her chest that pushed her back.
Enraged at the interruption, Tsume was about to rush in before she felt the same sensation—but this time from her own teammate.
"Enough, Tsume. Back off. We need to regroup," said Shikaku, holding up a rat sign as his shadow snaked out, holding Tsume from charging again.
"He's just going to rush us if we all back off. You three stay back and plan. I'll stall him," said a frustrated Tsume, wanting to continue where she left off.
"No, he won't!!! Don't you see? Ashira hasn't taken a single step forward since the start of this battle. Not when he threw us back, not when he threw you back, and certainly not when he knocked down Choza," Shikaku yelled. That seemed to have an effect on Tsume as she stopped and looked back at him.
"Took you a bit longer than I thought, but you got there. Wouldn't be much of a lesson if I just went in and beat you all black and blue, right?" said Ashira with that same assured grin that had infuriated Tsume for the past 30 minutes. Sighing to herself, Tsume nodded at Shikaku as she felt the restraint from the Hiden fade, then walked backward slowly and carefully, her eyes never leaving Ashira's stock-still figure.
"Yo, you guys are back. So he's really letting us plan?" asked Inoichi as he spotted Tsume and Shikaku walking toward them, while Ashira stood stock-still in the background.
"Uhm, I think he's trying to teach us to use teamwork to defeat an opponent above our weight class," nodded the perpetually annoyed Shikaku, before continuing, "Quite troublesome. Anyway, how are you doing, Choza? Still up for another round?"
"Umu. I'm up and ready to go. Besides, Inoichi promised me a second trip to Yakiniku Q if we win," said an excited Choza with newfound determination.
"Good. Then here's the plan," said Shikaku, as he ignited the competitive spirit of his teammates with each word.
=Ashira's POV=
Credit where credit's due—they've got guts. I've put each of them down at least four times, yet somehow they keep getting back up. Especially Tsume. That girl's got fire. Needs to work on her impulse control, though. Could've carved out my throat with that last claw strike. That said, each of them is like an unpolished gem—untrained and lacking discipline—but they all have potential.
Choza is still young and can't really use his clan's Hiden without risking his life, but his solid understanding of taijutsu plus the will to keep taking hits and remain standing is admirable. Tsume's reckless yet nimble taijutsu would work better with fast, deadly ninken supporting her, which she has yet to bond with. Inoichi and Shikaku can use their Hiden, but that's also their weakness—they lack diversity.
The problem with being part of famous clans is that everyone already knows part of what you can do. Unless you innovate or create something new, you'll eventually run out of tricks. Of course, that only applies to the average shinobi. Some are so good that knowing what they can do doesn't really help at all.
Snapping out of my thoughts, I saw the group of four standing up, as Tsume and Choza rushed me like before. Narrowing my eyes in suspicion, I expanded my sensing range to its max—30 meters—while engaging in taijutsu with the two frontliners.
Just like last time, I weaved out of Choza's heavy but slow palm strikes and used him as a makeshift wall between me and Tsume, further hindering her aggression. But instead of getting frustrated, Tsume stayed behind Choza, blocking hits for him and striking when I moved to the side. Good, she's adapting—but it's not enough, I thought.
This exchange went on for a minute before I felt Shikaku's chakra signature enter my range and stop ten meters away. Scrunching my nose in confusion, I suddenly jumped away, feeling the familiar chakra buildup of our clan's signature Hiden. Shadows snaked toward the spot I had just left, but instead of following me, they attached to Choza. Suddenly, Choza moved faster and shifted his weight in impossible angles as he re-engaged me.
Shadow puppet!! Shika was using our Hiden and its limited telekinesis ability to aid and guide Choza. Like a puppet with strings—except the puppet was a chakra-fueled 150 lbs kid who hit like a truck. Choza ignored gravity as he shifted left, dodging one of my kicks. I attempted a side sweep, only to be intercepted by a claw strike from Tsume.
With Choza faster, Tsume was able to better utilize her style, turning him from an obstacle into a "ninken." The disjointed duo became a force of nature, forcing me on the defensive until I poured more chakra into my reinforcement.
Too risky to overcommit without knowing where Inoichi was, I resigned myself to using "that", as I stalled the trio until the right opportunity came.
That opportunity came quicker than expected—just three minutes in. I heard a ping from "him." Smiling inwardly, I shifted away from a palm strike, only to be rushed by Tsume—at the same time a shadow snake latched onto hers. Grabbing the frozen Tsume and rotating her to my right, I tanked a palm strike to the back of my left shoulder, launching both of us 4–5 meters forward—right as a blond silhouette rose from the shrubbery 40 meters away to my right, and used his Hiden.
"Now!!!!" yelled Tsume—or more precisely, Inoichi in Tsume's body—before freezing in surprise.
"Thought you got me, didn't you?" I said smugly, before sucker-punching "Inoichi," knocking both him out of Tsume's body and her out.
I turned with what must have been a wicked grin and said, "Now which of you is next?"
What followed was a brutal beatdown as I dismantled both Shika and Choza and sent Inoichi packing with a C-rank Wild Water Wave jutsu from a distance.
=3rd Person POV=
Feeling his mortal enemy that is sunlight returning, Shikaku groaned, opening his eyes to find his teammates slowly waking up around him—Inoichi looking particularly soaked.
"Troublesome," he muttered, sitting up and yawning.
"At least you didn't get hit by a tsunami," replied an irritated Inoichi, his clothes still dripping from the C rank water jutsu.
"Ugh, my nose hurts," groaned Tsume, holding her swollen nose. "What happened? Did we win? I kinda blacked out mid-battle."
"No, we didn't. Ashira somehow knew where Inoichi was, used you as a shield to block his Hiden, knocked you out, and then proceeded to destroy the rest of us," grumbled Shikaku, looking toward Choza. "You good, Choza? You haven't said anything."
"Foodddd, meattt, hungryyy," groaned Choza. The group—Ashira included—in turn gave him pitying looks and silently promised to feed him later.
"Ok, that's enough, guys," said Ashira, drawing their attention. "First of all, well done. You realized you were outmatched, so you all teamed up and made a plan. That's admirable. Choza, your fundamentals are solid, and your pain tolerance is indeed something, but without your Hiden, your taijutsu style just won't work. So do work on deflecting hits instead of just tanking them."
He turned to Tsume, and said "You're rough and reckless, but you adjusted, restrained yourself and worked with Choza later. That's good. Just spend more time to think, before making the mistake of overcommitting to feints, and fake openings" Which got a determined nod, and umu in return.
He then frowned at Inoichi. "Inoichi, you obviously worked on your Hiden for it to work that far out of my sensor's range, but that's all you got and that makes you rigid. Try working on your reaction speed a bit more since you kinda freezed when you body switched the wrong target. Also expand your repertoire with things like genjutsus, and such since those are pretty useful, and can work well with your Hiden."
"And finally Shika…" He said, taking a dramatic pause, as he watched his cousin squirm a little. God Hanabei is infecting me isn't he? Ashira thought before snapping out of his thoughts, and continued. "You are lazy, and it shows. You are more reactive than you're active, like when you shadow puppeted Choza, not once did you use his shadow as an anchor to attack me, and while you made and followed the plan, know that not all plans are foolproof, and sometimes you just gotta improvise." Ashira said before finishing it with a clap. "And that's about it!! Everyone is free to leave, oh and Choza, do you need help getting back home? I also have some snacks in our clan's compound you can take some to sate your hunger a bit."
"It's ok, just give me those snacks, and I'll be on my way." Said a tired Choza, as before long only Ashira, and his cousin, Shikaku are left at the clan's compound, waving the last of their friend away
"You cheated and used that didn't you?" Shikaku said, breaking the comfortable silence between the two as they were watching the sunset.
"You know me so well cousin." Replied Ashira, as rustling sound is heard beneath his baggy hoodie. Out came a snow white rabbit with red eyes. More rustling noises are heard as 10s of rabbits, mayhaps a hundred slowly came out of the surrounding foliage.
"Thank you Mr Buttercup, you are dismissed now." Said Ashira in a gentle tone as all the surrounding rabbits including the one inside his hoodie melted into the shadow, and disappeared. Turning toward his cousin, Ashira continued. "Before you accuse me of being a sore loser, I was being cautious."
That answer got a raised eyebrow from a confused Shikaku as he asked. "Why?"
"Do you know what a jinchuriki is?" Asked a serious Ashira to which Shikaku nodded, before opening his eyes wide in understanding. "You mean Inoichi using the mind body transmission jutsu on you could have resulted in what countless other Yamanaka clansmen have suffered when using their own Hiden on past jinchurikies?"
"I'm not sure to be honest, and until I'm certain, I'm not risking the life, or sanity of my friends." Said Ashira, before suddenly changing the topic. "Anyway, I better get home, sun's about to set, and I don't want my mother thinking I'm out doing something nefarious with you guys."
Narrowing his eyes in suspicion, Shikaku nodded and closed his eyes. Only to open them when Ashira is out of earshot. "What else are you hiding, oh troublesome cousin of mine?" Asked Shikaku, as he stood up and looked toward the back of the slowly fading figure of Ashira, before shaking his head, and walking home.
A/N: Currently 1 am where I'm at rn so do forgive me if there are mistakes that I missed, or didn't edit out. But I'm too tired to care. Also like one of the reader suggested, I'm trying to write more conversations scenes so Ashira can feel intergrated into the story. Anyway I'm tired, and sleep deprived, so byeee