[Four years later…]
On a rocky peak high above the village, two figures clashed. The sound of metal against metal echoed through the mountains, Killer Bee and Z, training in kenjutsu.
Bee, ever the unorthodox swordsman, grinned as he deflected Z's strike with ease. Then, with a flourish, he spun his blades and stepped back.
"Yo, Z, your skill is tight, your swings are clean, But one sword alone? That's too routine! More blades, more flow, more tricks to try, you gotta go wild, reach for the sky!"
I shook my head, planting my feet firmly on the rocky ground.
"I don't need more swords brother."
Bee chuckled, flipping one of his swords in his hand.
"Stubborn, huh? That's kinda cool, long as you ain't some half-skilled fool! One sword or ten, the choice is yours, just make it shine and break down doors!"
And just like that, he lunged at me again.
Bee had been training me like this for about two more hours before we finally called it a day.
Both of us sat down on the rocky peak. My arms burned from the effort, but the exhaustion felt good.
Just as I was about to relax, Bee reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, square piece of paper.
With his usual grin, he handed it to me.
"Yo, take this paper, don't be shy, pour in your chakra, give it a try."
'Finally… I'll know my chakra nature.'
I had been waiting for this moment. Everyone in the shinobi world had an affinity, a natural element their chakra was attuned to.
I focused and channeled my chakra into the paper.
Immediately, the reaction happened.
The paper split perfectly in half, and then, both halves wrinkled up.
'Hmm… So I have two chakra natures. Wind… and, obviously, Lightning.'
Bee let out a whistle.
"Ayy, look at that, you got a pair, Wind and Lightning, it's rare."
I nodded.
A deadly combination. I could already imagine the possibilities…
Bee stretched his arms, then patted his stomach with a grin.
"Yo, let's head down, I need a bite. Bet you're hungry too, am I right?"
He wasn't wrong. Training for hours had drained me, and now that the adrenaline was wearing off, I could feel the hunger creeping in.
I got up and dusted myself off before following Bee down the rocky path back toward the village.
As we walked through the streets, I noticed how the villagers reacted.
Some people greeted me with small nods or hesitant waves.
But when their eyes drifted toward Bee… their expressions changed.
Their shoulders tensed. Their gazes darted away, as if avoiding eye contact would somehow make him disappear.
They weren't hostile, not openly. But they weren't comfortable either.
It was subtle, but I could feel it.
And it pissed me off.
I just couldn't get it, these were people who had known Bee. Before he became a Jinchūriki.
And now?
Now, they acted like he was something to fear. Like the person he used to be had just… vanished the moment he got the Eight-Tails inside him.
Bee, as always, didn't let it show. He just kept walking, humming his usual carefree tune.
But I wasn't stupid.
I knew he felt it too.
As we made our way toward the Raikage's residence, which, technically, was my home too, I could already smell the food being prepared inside. My stomach grumbled a little, and I was just about to speed up when—
"You're just in time" a familiar voice called out.
Standing, arms crossed, was my older brother, A. "Father has something to tell you. Both of you. Come."
Without waiting for a response, he turned and started walking ahead.
Bee and I exchanged glances.
Then, Bee leaned over slightly and whispered.
"Yo, bro, you got a clue?" He was talking to A, hoping for some kind of hint. But my brother didn't even look back as he answered.
"Just move Bee. You'll hear it from him directly."
We walked through the halls of the Raikage's residence.
We reached my father's office, and as soon as we stepped inside, he stood up from behind his desk, his sharp gaze immediately landing on Bee.
"Killer Bee, did you give the chakra paper to Z like I instructed?"
Bee grinned, unfazed by my father, and gave a casual salute.
"Yessir."
My father barely reacted, his gaze already shifting toward me.
"The result, Z?"
I stepped forward, straightening my posture.
"I have two chakra natures, Father. Wind and Lightning."
"Wind and Lightning…" he finally said, his deep voice thoughtful.
My father remained silent for a moment after hearing my chakra natures, his gaze analyzing me as if measuring my potential. Then, with a slow nod, he finally spoke.
"Good. We'll begin adding new techniques to your arsenal. Some will be perfect for your kenjutsu."
But then, my father's expression hardened, and I knew the real conversation was about to begin.
"However, that is not the most important matter I wanted to discuss."
I straightened my back instinctively, giving him my full attention.
"I have decided who your permanent duo partner will be, Z."
A duo partner. That meant someone I would train, fight, and grow alongside for the rest of my shinobi career. In Kumo, duos were chosen with great care, they had to complement each other perfectly.
"It will be Yugito Nii."
My eyes widened slightly. Yugito?
I knew of her.
A second later, my father added something that made my head snap toward Bee.
"And Bee, you will be their sensei."
I turned fully to face Bee, half-expecting a reaction.
Bee was silent for a second, then smirked.
"Trainin' a duo, teachin' Let's dive right in!"
A duo with Yugito Nii, a fellow prodigy and a Jinchūriki.
And Killer Bee as our sensei.
I couldn't have imagined a better setup for myself.
It was easy to understand why my father had made this decision. Bee was a Jinchūriki, just like Yugito. He knew what it meant to carry that burden, to control immense power, and to be viewed differently because of it.
On top of that, Bee was also an incredible swordsman, someone whose unique kenjutsu style had already inspired me.
The logic was clear, with Bee training us, Yugito and I wouldn't just develop as individuals.
We'd be forced to grow together.
Sparring, strategizing, pushing each other's limits, it would forge a level of teamwork that couldn't be faked.
A true duo. And from the Raikage's point of view, it's a way to bind Yugito to the village, by weaving bonds.