c8: Sakumo Hatake
A new day of training had begun. Chiba stood in the open field, grass brushing against his sandals, the sun blazing overhead. He closed his eyes, focusing inward as he directed chakra throughout his body. His hands moved fluidly through the seals of the Shadow Clone Technique.
What followed was no surprise failure. Again and again, he attempted the jutsu, facing over fifty unsuccessful tries.
But Chiba didn't frown, didn't sigh in frustration. Instead, he stood silently, reviewing the flaws in his execution.
Each mistake became a stepping stone. He analyzed his chakra control, the balance of energy output, the synchronization between seal and intention.
"Puff!"
On the 50th attempt, he finally succeeded. A clone formed beside him, but it slumped forward and collapsed, unable to even stand properly, let alone act independently.
Clearly, while he had managed to create a clone, it wasn't a perfect replication not yet.
"Still not quite right, but this is definitely progress," Chiba muttered, his gaze calm and unwavering as he looked at the flickering clone that soon dissipated into smoke.
After a brief rest, he resumed training without hesitation. He repeated the technique, refining it, correcting the subtle flaws in chakra flow and mental focus.
Ten more attempts later, the results were different.
A puff of smoke appeared and standing beside Chiba was a flawless replica. The posture, the facial expression, the aura everything was exactly the same. Even their movements were perfectly synchronized.
Anyone watching would struggle to tell which was the original.
"Haha! Two hours flat, and I nailed the Shadow Clone Technique! Even Kakashi took longer than that. I must be Konoha's top prodigy!" Chiba said, grinning proudly.
With the Clone and Substitution techniques under his belt, Chiba could've called it a day. But though his body was tired, his curiosity burned even brighter.
"It's time to refine my Mera Mera no Mi abilities," he said, stepping back into the center of the field.
As he spoke, flickers of flame emerged from his skin, dancing around his body. It looked as though fire spirits were swirling around him mesmerizing and deadly.
But Chiba didn't attack. He focused instead on transformation letting his body shift and meld into flame. The natural ability of the Mera Mera no Mi elementalization.
This Devil Fruit, belonging to the Logia class, granted the power to transform into and manipulate fire at will. Once fully mastered, it allowed the user to bypass most physical attacks entirely, as strikes would pass through their intangible form.
As Chiba observed his own body flames replacing flesh his excitement soared. He could feel it. The merging of chakra and Devil Fruit energy was real.
With this ability, his battle potential skyrocketed. Not only could he overwhelm enemies with fire, but he could phase through most physical blows dodging attacks without even moving.
Still, he remained grounded.
"Just because I can go intangible doesn't mean I'm invincible," Chiba reminded himself, his voice firm despite the thrill in his heart. "Stronger enemies will figure out counters. I need to stay sharp."
He was right. The Naruto world didn't know of Devil Fruits. If people discovered he could become flame itself, the consequences would be unpredictable. He might not just be hunted he could become a specimen for study, a target for every major village.
"I need to keep this power hidden. Power attracts attention and attention brings trouble. Best to move in the shadows… for now," he thought, clenching his flaming fist.
As he practiced, Chiba began refining his attack techniques ranged fire blasts, rapid ignition strikes, defensive flame shields. He didn't just rely on the Fruit's innate power; he adapted it to shinobi combat.
By the time the sun dipped toward the horizon, he finally stopped. Sweat clung to his skin, and the scent of scorched grass lingered in the air. Satisfied, he gathered his things.
But before returning home, he made a detour.
Just like the day before, Chiba visited Ichiraku Ramen and ordered a large pork miso ramen with extra meat. He devoured the bowl, savoring each bite before heading home with a full belly.
As he walked into the courtyard, he heard a familiar voice.
"Chiba, there you are! Dad's back from his mission!" Kakashi called out, clearly excited.
"Dad's home?" Chiba blinked, then broke into a wide grin.
"Come on, he's waiting for you in the main room. He said he wants to check your progress," Kakashi added, grabbing Chiba by the wrist and pulling him along.
In the living room, a tall man sat cross-legged on the tatami floor. His golden hair was faintly tousled, and his leaf headband glinted softly in the evening light. He wore a standard Konoha flak jacket over a faded blue shinobi outfit. Though his features were a little weathered, his eyes were gentle.
This was Sakumo Hatake—the legendary White Fang of the Leaf.
When Chiba entered, Sakumo's serious face softened into a warm smile, the kind only a father could give.
Due to his high-ranking missions, Sakumo was away most of the time. Ever since Chiba was born, his father had rarely been home, often taking A-rank or even S-rank assignments that took him to the edges of the Fire Country.
"Dad, you've been gone forever. You said last time it'd only be a few weeks!" Chiba pouted, crossing his arms.
"I know, I know. But some missions don't go as planned. I couldn't leave until the job was done," Sakumo replied, scratching his cheek with an apologetic smile.
"It's been a while, huh? You've both grown taller," he said, looking back and forth between Kakashi and Chiba, his eyes filled with quiet pride.
This rare reunion was a moment the family cherished. The three of them gathered in the living room, catching up on stories, daily life, and of course ninjutsu.
Though to the rest of the village, Sakumo Hatake was a legendary figure to be feared and revered, to his sons, he was simply Dad—warm, firm, and full of quiet wisdom.
They laughed, shared food, and spoke about training routines. Sakumo even offered a few corrections and sparring tips, helping both Kakashi and Chiba refine their techniques.
In that fleeting evening, under a warm roof and around the same table, they were not soldiers or legends. They were just a father and his sons sharing peace between storms.
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