Obsidian
Chapter One: The Return


Asami had immersed herself in the chapters of the Second Shinobi World War during her days at the Academy. Each battle tactic and maneuver became etched in her memory as she prepared for the inevitable return of war. Whenever her father shared his war stories, she hung on to his every word, absorbing his warning: war is inevitable.

And then it came. The history books could never capture the horrors she witnessed—the iron-rich scent of blood, the lifeless bodies of comrades. Those images and smells were engraved in her mind, haunting reminders of her lost childhood. Each memory replayed in a relentless loop, whispering the echoes of her failures. If she concentrated hard enough, she could hear the villagers' murmurs when she returned from the frontlines.

The child prodigy... her teammate was killed... and she did nothing.

Her time in ANBU only deepened her despair. No longer Asami Soma, the gifted child; now she was Fox, a ruthless squad leader, devoid of emotion and consumed by her singular focus: the mission. This was the dark path she was destined to walk until death. In truth, she longed for death, yearning to reunite with her friends and family, yet the mission always came first.

When Lady Tsunade's scroll arrived, urging her to return to Konoha, surprise and bitterness flooded her. The A-Rank mission to guard the Fire Daimyō was uneventful, marred only by a few petty disputes among the Daimyōs. Once she ensured the Daimyō reached home safely, she began her journey back to the Hidden Leaf.


Asami paused on a tree branch, then dropped to the familiar path below. Phasing through the invisible barrier, she inhaled deeply at the sight of the wooden gates. Approaching the check-in post, she spotted Genma and Raido chatting with Might Gai.

"The Power of Youth has returned Asami to the Hidden Leaf!" Gai exclaimed, attempting to pull her into a hug. In a swift move, Asami ducked and signed her name in the large leather-bound logbook.

"Hello," she greeted, her voice flat as Gai recovered, giving her a thumbs-up.

"Hey, isn't that Bushy Brow Sensei?"

"My eternal rival, Kakashi!" Gai declared, spinning around with gusto. "The Power of Youth is abundant today!"

Asami turned slightly to acknowledge Kakashi with a curt nod, instantly noticing the blonde and pink-haired genin at his side.

"Kakashi-sensei, who is that?" the blonde asked, stopping in front of the check-in post.

"You idiot," the pink-haired genin shot back. "Didn't you study anything at the Academy?"

"Was I supposed to?"

Before their spat could escalate, Gai pointed at Kakashi. "Kakashi! My eternal rival! Are you prepared to finally be defeated?"

"I'm Asami Soma," she interjected, cutting off Gai's exuberant proclamation, much to his dismay.

"I'm Sakura," the girl introduced herself, gesturing toward the blonde. "And this idiot is Naruto."

"Naruto," Asami repeated, noting the boy's powerful chakra. "Pleasure to meet you both." She shoved her hands into her pockets, nodding curtly. Sakura quickly flipped through a small leather-bound book, pointing to a page with "Soma" boldly written.

"The Soma Clan possesses the Baizōgan," Sakura read aloud. "They are easily identifiable by their amethyst eyes void of sclera."

Naruto leaned forward, peering curiously into Asami's eyes. "What's that do?"

Sakura continued, "Their eyes grant them the ability to see, absorb, and manipulate their opponents' chakra."

Asami nodded, impressed by Sakura's knowledge.

"You're standing before Konoha royalty," Genma joked, shifting his senbon from side to side.

"Well, you're standing before the future Hokage," Naruto proclaimed.

"Future Hokage, huh?" Asami echoed, a hint of amusement breaking through her somberness. Perhaps it was Kushina's tenacity she recognized in Naruto.

"That's right!" Naruto affirmed, determination shining in his eyes.

"Well, we have some training to get to," Kakashi announced, stepping forward.

"So, you concede you have lost to my Power of Youth?" Gai challenged, crossing his arms victoriously.

"It's not a loss if I never agreed to the battle," Kakashi countered, walking toward the village gates.


Asami arrived at the Hokage's office just as the sun dipped below the horizon. She had taken her time navigating the maze of street vendors and villagers, savoring the scents she hadn't realized she missed.

Lady Tsunade skimmed through Asami's detailed mission report, stamping it with the Hokage's seal before handing it to Shizune. "I'm sure the Daimyō was sad to see you go," she remarked, folding her arms over her chest.

Asami simply nodded, trying to resist the pull of daydreams.

"Why don't you go and rest? Come back in two days, and I'll assign your next mission then."

Asami nodded and bowed, exiting the office swiftly. The chilly autumn air was alive with activity, the village bustling more than it had in the afternoon. As she weaved through the crowd with practiced ease, she caught sight of her former classmates gathered in a bar.

Cursing under her breath, she attempted to slip by unnoticed, but Kurani's voice rang out, calling her name.

Asami resisted the urge to sigh, quickly formulating excuses to escape. I haven't even visited my family compound. I need to rest. I have a mission to prepare for. But before she could finalize her plan, Asuma thrust a large cup of sake into her hands, and Gai nudged her into a chair.

"Asami!" Asuma shouted, pulling Kurani close. "Welcome home!"

Asami took a sip of the potent sake, mildly entertained by Gai's boisterous stories. Before she knew it, she had finished the cup, and Asuma was pouring more. Just then, Genma and Kakashi settled into two empty seats at their table. The lively chatter and banter enveloped her, providing a welcome distraction from her internal turmoil. Perhaps she needed this—socializing, drinking, and allowing herself a moment to breathe.

Asami unzipped her flak jacket, revealing a cropped fishnet long-sleeve top and expertly bandaged torso. The liquor warmed her insides, flushing her cheeks as its effects set in.

"So, Asami," Genma's voice cut through the noise, "are you back for good?"

Asami shrugged, taking another long sip of her drink. "I'm not sure. I have an assignment in two days."


The group stumbled out of the bar, some more inebriated than others. Asami relished the cool breeze against her skin, her flak jacket billowing behind her like a cape. Reaching into her pocket, she retrieved a fresh pack of cigarettes and her father's lighter.

It was a bad habit she'd picked up during her ANBU days—not a regular smoker, but some nights demanded it. Nights like this, calm and inviting, only deepened her survivor's guilt. The anger, grief, and self-loathing surged within her.

Smoke curled from her lips as she approached her apartment building. After being recruited into ANBU, she had moved out of her clan's compound. While many of her relatives were shinobi, it was easier to live apart—to come and go without the scrutinizing gazes of her kin, to wash the blood from her hands without her mother's anxious knocks on the bathroom door. The nightmares would still haunt her, but at least her younger brother could rest undisturbed.

Entering her apartment, Asami discarded the cigarette butt in the ashtray on her coffee table. The space, beautifully furnished by her mother and maintained by her aunt's cleaning business, felt both familiar and distant.

Suddenly, a series of knocks on her balcony door pulled her from her thoughts. The long blue drapes concealed the glass doors, which she pushed aside before opening.

"Genma," she greeted, allowing him entry.

"Asami," he replied, reaching for the senbon in his mouth.


They had fallen into a familiar routine over the years, using each other to alleviate the frustrations of their shinobi lives.

Asami lay back in bed, pulling the soft sheets over her bare body as she watched Genma step into her bathroom. She could faintly hear the shower running, and after several minutes, a layer of warm mist seeped through the cracked door.

Their dynamic worked and even though Genma teased her in public, he never crossed the line into anything serious. It was an unspoken understanding, a way of acknowledging their bond without attachment.

Konoha royalty, Asami chuckled internally, recalling his earlier jab. Though he kept their arrangement discreet, it was his way of claiming victory in a game many desired to play.

This arrangement had sprouted from mutual convenience. Neither of them entertained the idea of commitment. When they began, Asami had just joined ANBU, and Genma had become part of Lord Fourth's elite bodyguard.

As the minutes passed, Asami heard the shower turn off, followed by Genma shuffling around. He emerged, towel-drying his hair and tying a bandana over his damp locks. He approached the bed, pressing a gentle kiss on her forehead.

"Welcome home, princess," he murmured, retrieving a senbon from his flak jacket.

Asami smiled, propping herself up on her elbows, the blanket still wrapped around her.

"Leaving so soon?" she teased, revealing her playful side.

"Not that I want to," he replied, opening her bedroom window. "But I do have to report to my post."

Asami merely hummed, watching as he leaped from the window and disappeared into the night sky. After several moments, Asami lazily wrapped the blanket around her frame, reaching for the cigarettes and lighter on her nightstand. Asami stood from her bed, standing by the windowsill.

She watched as clouds of smoke escaped her parted lips, wafting into the night sky like miniature clouds. As the cigarette burned, Asami felt that familiar intrusive sensation of being watched, of being studied. Her instincts flared as her amethyst eyes glowed and scanned the adjacent rooftop.

Asami detected the chakra signature almost instantly but within seconds, it was gone.