Danzo sat with his usual calm, his body language devoid of tension or urgency. He gestured subtly towards a group of boys playing with a ball in the academy courtyard. "Look at the boy with the birthmark near his neck," he said.
Satoru followed Danzo's gaze and spotted the boy. He seemed young, around nine years old, and was laughing as he kicked the ball to his friends.
"His name is Renji Shimura," Danzo continued.
Satoru glanced at Danzo, curiosity clear in his expression. "Is he your son?"
Danzo shook his head. "No. He is my nephew—my late sister's son. After she passed away, I've taken responsibility for him."
Satoru turned back to the boy, watching as Renji chased the ball with boundless energy. "Is he... 'like that'?"
Danzo's lips curled slightly, a trace of bitterness hidden beneath his composed demeanor. "No, Renji wasn't born in blood."
"Born in blood?" Satoru echoed, frowning.
Danzo explained, his voice low. "It's a term we use in Root, people like you."
As Danzo spoke, his words were interrupted by a sudden, violent cough. His hand came away stained red with blood.
Alarmed, Satoru leaned forward. "How long have you known about this?"
Danzo wiped his hand casually, as if it were nothing more than a nuisance. "Five to six years, if I'm fortunate."
Satoru's concern deepened. "And if you're not fortunate?"
Danzo's gaze didn't waver. "Then I will retire as a shinobi sooner. Spend my remaining days training the next generation, boys like you."
The casualness in his tone struck Satoru harder than he expected. But before he could reply, Danzo's voice hardened slightly. "Eventually, I'll be bedridden, unable to lead the Root. I've already chosen my right-hand man to oversee it temporarily. But in time, that role will fall to you."
Satoru froze. "To me? Are you certain about that?"
Danzo turned to him, his piercing gaze devoid of doubt. "I've never been more certain. You'll need time to grow, but you have the patience, intellect, and resolve for it. I see it in you, Satoru."
Satoru wanted to protest, to ask why Danzo thought so highly of him for such a monumental task.
---
Reiko woke up to the gentle tug of bandages being wrapped around her hand. She blinked, her vision adjusting to the room. Dai stood beside her, carefully securing the bandage.
"You were standing outside the house, injured," Dai explained when he noticed her confusion. "Satoru brought you in."
Hearing Satoru's name immediately brightened her expression. "Where is he?" she asked, sitting up slightly.
Dai shook his head. "I don't know where he went, but he'll be back by lunchtime." He gestured to the wall clock, and Reiko's gaze followed. It was nearly time for lunch.
Dai left shortly after to train, leaving Reiko alone with her thoughts.
---
Flashback
Reiko sat in the cafeteria, the hum of voices around her fading into the background. Keiko's abrupt departure replayed in her mind, and her words echoed back to her. She had accidentally let it slip: "Satoru is kinda cute."
She leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table, and whispered to herself, "Satoru is kinda cute…" Her cheeks turned crimson as she realized what she'd said.
Trying to distract herself, she glanced at her hand, noticing a wound from the recent mission. Right next to it were faint scars, remnants of her father's belt. Her smile faltered as memories of her father surfaced—his anger, his cruelty. She hated him for the way he treated her, for making her feel powerless.
Her thoughts shifted to Satoru. He was the opposite of her father. With Satoru, she felt safe. He treated her with respect and never made her feel weak or insignificant.
'If I ever choose someone,' she thought, 'it'll be someone who makes me feel happy, secure, and cared for.'
As the image of her ideal partner formed in her mind, only one face came to mind: Satoru's.
She rested her chin on her hands, her lips curving into a soft smile. Though the thought embarrassed her, it also gave her a glimmer of hope—hope for something better, for someone better.
---
Back in the present, Reiko sat quietly, her cheeks still faintly flushed from the memory. She glanced at the clock again. Satoru would be back soon.
---
Satoru came home and washed up, tying the apron around his waist to help Tatsuo cook since it was his turn today. Tatsuo brought out the ingredients, and as they prepared, he asked casually, "So, what's your plan for the exams?"
Satoru paused, confused. "What exams are you talking about?"
Tatsuo gave him an incredulous look. "The chunin exams, obviously. You didn't forget, did you?"
Satoru smirked, brushing off the question. "That's three months away. No need to stress about it now. We should take it easy and gradually amp up our training."
Tatsuo narrowed his eyes. "So, in other words, you don't actually have a plan."
Caught, Satoru laughed sheepishly, and Tatsuo joined in. The lighthearted moment carried on as they prepared lunch together, their teamwork in the kitchen reflecting their bond.
Over the meal, Tatsuo leaned forward. "Hey, will you be my training partner when you're free?"
Satoru raised a brow. "What happened to sparring with your jonin sensei? Isn't that what you usually do?"
Tatsuo sighed. "He's busy with some clan duties back at the Hyuga compound. I don't want to disturb him."
Satoru nodded. "Alright, I'll help out. Let me know when you're ready."
A grin spread across Tatsuo's face. "Thanks, Satoru. Just don't hold back."
Satoru smirked in return. "Wouldn't dream of it."
At the training ground, Tatsuo stretched his arms and took a deep breath, getting into his stance. Satoru stood across from him, casually observing.
"So," Satoru asked, "what have you learned since you became a genin?"
Tatsuo adjusted his footing, a small smirk forming on his face. "I've only learned two strong ninjutsu so far."
Satoru raised an eyebrow. "Only two? I guess it's quality over quantity. Let me guess—it's probably nin-taijutsu-focused, right?"
Tatsuo nodded. "Exactly. My sensei says it fits my style."
Satoru smirked. "Good. Let's see how well you've mastered them." He shifted into his own stance, his body relaxed but his eyes sharp.
Without another word, Tatsuo charged, and their spar began.
The training ground was silent as Satoru and Tatsuo squared off, the tension palpable. Tatsuo formed hand seals swiftly, igniting his body with an intense, crackling aura. "Fire Style: Fire Coat!" he announced, the flames wrapping around him like a second skin.
Satoru adjusted his stance, focusing chakra into his limbs, enhancing his physical capabilities. his gaze steady on Tatsuo.
Tatsuo moved first, dashing forward with a fiery punch aimed straight at Satoru's chest. Satoru sidestepped the attack, the heat brushing past him as he countered with a swift kick toward Tatsuo's legs. Tatsuo jumped, avoiding the strike, and retaliated with a flaming roundhouse kick.
Satoru blocked with his forearm, chakra reinforcing his muscles against the impact. The force pushed him back a step, but he recovered quickly, closing the distance to deliver a palm strike to Tatsuo's midsection. Tatsuo twisted his body, redirecting the blow with the flames surging around him.
They exchanged a rapid series of blows—Tatsuo's strikes accompanied by bursts of fire, while Satoru's chakra-enhanced movements allowed him to keep up. Neither gave an inch, their attacks meeting in a flurry of heat and force.
Tatsuo spun low, aiming a fiery sweep kick at Satoru's legs. Satoru jumped over it and brought his fist down in a powerful strike. Tatsuo blocked with both arms, the flames absorbing part of the impact as he was forced to take a step back.
Without pause, Tatsuo charged again, his flaming fists driving Satoru into a defensive stance. The ground beneath them bore scorch marks from Tatsuo's movements as the heat of his jutsu intensified.
Satoru ducked under a flaming punch, sliding to the side and delivering a quick elbow strike to Tatsuo's ribs. Tatsuo grunted, the flames flaring around him as he lashed out with a fiery backhand. Satoru leaned back, narrowly avoiding it, and used the momentum to land a spinning kick to Tatsuo's shoulder.
Tatsuo stumbled, but the fire around him surged in response. He slammed his hands together, causing a burst of flames to radiate outward. Satoru leapt back, landing a few feet away as Tatsuo pressed his advantage.
Tatsuo launched into another series of attacks, the flames around him burning brighter as he pushed himself harder. Satoru met him head-on, their movements a blur as they traded blows.
Finally, Tatsuo delivered a powerful kick, the fire around his leg erupting in a small explosion. Satoru raised his arms to block, the force pushing him back several steps. Tatsuo pressed forward, his strikes becoming more forceful, but his movements started to slow.
Seizing the opening, Satoru stepped inside Tatsuo's guard and delivered a precise punch to his stomach, sending him stumbling backward. Tatsuo attempted to reignite his flames, but they flickered weakly before vanishing.
Panting, Tatsuo dropped to one knee, his body drenched in sweat. Satoru stood a few feet away, his breathing steady as he relaxed his stance.
Tatsuo looked up at him, a faint smile on his face. "You got me."
Satoru extended a hand, helping Tatsuo to his feet. "Good fight. Your jutsu is strong, but you need to pace yourself better."
Tatsuo chuckled weakly. "Next time, I'll take you down."
"We'll see," Satoru replied, a smirk crossing his face as they headed back to rest.
Satoru wiped the sweat from his brow, turning to Tatsuo with a thoughtful expression. "If your sensei is busy with clan matters, why not train under Shinichi-sensei for a while? He's tough but fair, and you'll definitely learn something new."
Tatsuo tilted his head, considering the offer. "That doesn't sound bad. Why not? Let's go."
The two set off toward Shinichi-sensei's house. Satoru knocked firmly on the door, waiting for a response. Moments passed, but no sound came from within. Frowning, Satoru knocked again, this time louder. Still, silence greeted them.
"He's probably busy," Satoru concluded, stepping back. "Let's try Mitsuki-sensei's place instead."
Tatsuo raised an eyebrow. "Why her? I'm not exactly interested in medical ninjutsu."
"She's great at teaching chakra control," Satoru replied. "That'll help with your fire coat technique. Trust me, it's worth it."
Tatsuo agreed, and they made their way to Mitsuki-sensei's house. Upon arrival, Satoru paused at the doorway, noticing something unusual. The door wasn't locked, and Shinichi-sensei's sandals were by the entrance. His brow furrowed.
"That's strange," Satoru muttered. "Why would his sandals be here?"
He cautiously pushed the door open and stepped inside. Tatsuo followed casually, but Satoru stopped him with a raised hand. "Wait," he whispered. "Something's off."
Satoru moved stealthily through the hallway, his senses sharp. Suddenly, a soft moan of pleasure echoed from one of the rooms, freezing him in his tracks. He turned to Tatsuo, his expression serious. "Don't move."
Carefully, Satoru edged closer to the source of the sound. He peeked through the slightly ajar door, his eyes widening in shock at what he saw. He quickly pulled back, his heartbeat thundering in his ears.
He turned to Tatsuo, his voice low and urgent. "We shouldn't be here. Let's go."
Tatsuo, clearly confused, nodded and followed Satoru as they quietly exited the house.
Satoru led Tatsuo away from the house, keeping his pace brisk. Tatsuo followed, clearly puzzled. "What happened back there? And where are we going now?"
Satoru stopped and turned to him, his expression unreadable. "Tatsuo," he began, "do you know what the phrase 'birds and the bees' means?"
Tatsuo blinked, then nodded slowly, realization dawning. "Uh… yeah."
"Well, that's what's happening inside," Satoru said bluntly, crossing his arms.
Tatsuo's eyes widened slightly, but he quickly recovered, shaking his head with a faint laugh. "Okay, didn't need that image, but fair enough. So, where to now?"
Satoru smirked slightly and replied, "Chosuke's sister, Chomi, specializes in nin-taijutsu, and I know she's open to teaching. She's our best bet."
Tatsuo's face lit up with excitement. "Seriously? That sounds great! Where is she?"
Satoru led Tatsuo toward the Akimichi clan compound, weaving through the bustling streets. Upon arrival, they asked a few clan members for Chomi's whereabouts, eventually finding her at a secluded training area.
There, Chosuke was practicing a clan jutsu, his movements deliberate and powerful. Chomi stood nearby, observing her brother's form.
Satoru and Tatsuo approached her, bowing respectfully. "Chomi-san," Satoru greeted. "We're here to ask for your help."
She turned to them, smiling warmly. "Satoru, Tatsuo, what brings you here?"
Tatsuo wasted no time, his eagerness shining through. "We'd like you to train us, if you're available."
Chomi raised an eyebrow, glancing at Chosuke, who gave a slight nod before returning to his training. "Hmm… I just finished a mission and don't have a shift at the restaurant today, so I have some free time. What do you want to work on?"
Satoru answered first. "I want to master the first stage of chakra augmentation as quickly as possible."
Tatsuo followed, his excitement barely contained. "I want to make my fire cloak more efficient."
Chomi considered their requests for a moment before nodding decisively. "Alright, I'll help. But be warned—my training isn't easy."