Chapter 16- Are You Coming In?...
Over the next week, Shanan's progress had been nothing short of remarkable. With Kakashi's guidance, she had mastered her lightning-type chakra, effortlessly wielding it without the pain that had once kept her from even trying. The key to her success was simply having a mentor who not only explained the techniques, but also demonstrated them. Kakashi's versatility as a user of multiple chakra types made him an ideal teacher, and she was truly grateful for his help.
As her confidence in her abilities grew, their training sessions evolved into unprecedented experiments. They began pushing the boundaries of their chakra, combining their energies in innovative ways. The results were breathtaking - and terrifying.
One such experiment had yielded an epic Chidori by simply joining their hands and focusing their chakras together. The blast had completely obliterated the tree, leaving nothing but ash and ember in the gaping crater where the tree once stood.
Standing side by side at the edge of the crater, Shanan and Kakashi gazed wide-eyed down at the destruction, their silence speaking volumes of their awe.
"We might wanna look into finding a new training spot…" Kakashi said, hands firmly in his pockets.
Shanan nodded slowly, still reeling from the sheer power they had unleashed. She rubbed the back of her neck sheepishly, turning to Kakashi. "So…" She gestured behind her with her thumb. "I'll go this way, you go that way?" she suggested, now pointing in the opposite direction.
Kakashi's gaze remained fixed on a smoldering pile of wood shards at the bottom of the crater, his expression unreadable. "Yep."
Without another word, they promptly ended their session, hastily parting ways to avoid drawing attention to themselves.
A few days later, as they sat at their usual restaurant, waiting for their food to arrive, Shanan was dying to share her idea for a new jutsu with Kakashi.
The moment the waitress walked away, Kakashi's gaze fell on Shanan, his eyes sparkling with amusement.
"Alright," he said, his voice low and inviting.
Shanan's excitement was barely contained, but before she could speak, Kakashi raised a finger, signaling her to wait. He took a sip of his water, his eyes never leaving hers. Shanan watched him eagerly, her anticipation growing with each passing moment.
However, he seemed determined to draw out the suspense, taking his time drinking the entire contents of his glass in one go. Finally, he set his glass down, a teasing glint in his eye.
"Oh, right," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Shanan's eyes narrowed in mock frustration.
He chuckled, thoroughly enjoying her reaction. "I can tell you've been bursting to tell me about something all day. So, what's it gonna be?"
Shanan's glare lingered momentarily, but her excitement soon got the better of her and she brightened again. "Okay, so it's a bit complex, but I'll try to break it down," she said, her words tumbling out in a single breath. "I wanna transform myself into water and then evaporate up into the sky, gathering more water from the surrounding air to create a massive cloud. Then, I'd turn myself back into solid form, but be kneeling on top of the cloud. And then… I'd use my lightning to charge the cloud and unleash a powerful storm!" She spread her hands dramatically for emphasis.
She continued, "And then I'd poke my head through the cloud and I'd look at the enemy like this," she said, narrowing her eyes and shaking her head scornfully. Her expression was a perfect imitation of indignation, and Kakashi couldn't help but stifle his laughter as he struggled to maintain a straight face.
"And I'd say, 'you can't hide from me…'" she growled, her voice low and menacing. "And then boom!" She slammed her hand onto the table, making Kakashi jump slightly, his eyes widening as she went on. "I'd strike them with a bolt of lightning!" she exclaimed, her eyes shining with intensity. "And then I'd pop back up onto my cloud and go, 'hehehehe,'" she said, covering her mouth with both hands, a mischievous look on her face.
Kakashi's surprised gaze lingered on Shanan's, his brow furrowing as he struggled to process both her idea and her absurd delivery. A breathy chuckle escaped his lips, and he shook his head, an intrigued smile spreading across his face. "That's definitely an idea, Shanan," he finally said.
Her face fell, misinterpreting his reaction. "You think it's stupid?" she pouted, her eyes round and pleading.
"Not at all," he swiftly assured her. "Though, honestly… it is pretty ambitious and… there's a lot that could go wrong. We'd have to consider the safety aspect of it all – especially when it comes to the science and intricacies of evaporation. And— not to mention, the fact that even attempting cloud formation could lead to disaster…" he said, a nervous chuckle accompanying his words.
Shanan stared at him, disappointment and frustration evident in her scrunched-up face and folded arms.
"However," he added, "as shinobi, we're no strangers to risk. If we put our minds together, I'm sure we can find a way to make it work without putting you in harm's way."
Her face lit up once more, her excitement renewed. She straightened, confidence sparkling in her eyes. "I knew it was a good idea!" she exclaimed. "If we can perfect it, it'll be a powerful weapon, and we can use it for travel purposes. No more walking for days on end! And just imagine if I used it during the Chunin exams!"
Kakashi's expression remained calm, but a hint of a smile played on his lips. "Ah, even if you were to master this jutsu by then, it's not very likely you'd use it during the exams. But if you did find a use for it, you'd likely be promoted to Chunin on the spot," he said.
Their food arrived, and as they began eating, Kakashi's mind was already racing with ideas to bring Shanan's jutsu to fruition. He created a mental checklist of steps he'd explore in depth when he went home.
Their conversation flowed naturally from her jutsu, to chakra natures, the boys, and Kekkei Genkai.
When the subject landed on the Sharingan, Shanan giggled. "The Copy Ninja?" she asked, a hint of teasing in her voice.
Kakashi nodded. "That's right," he said, raising an eyebrow playfully. "Why's that so funny to you?"
"Just coz," she said, shrugging, a nonchalant expression on her face. "You won't be copying any of my jutsus," she added smugly.
He chuckled, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Ah, your signature no-handed jutsu," he said. He hadn't forgotten about it and was genuinely impressed when he saw Naruto and Sasuke perform jutsu without hand signals. "How do you know I haven't figured out a way around that?" he asked, his eyes locked onto hers. "I am Sensei to the only other two people who can do it, after all."
Shanan's eyes widened, her bite frozen mid-air as a hint of worry flashed across her face. "Have you?"
Kakashi paused briefly before responding, "No," he admitted. "I don't think any Sharingan user could counteract no-handed jutsus. So… you're safe. Besides, neither of the boys would share the technique with me; and trust me, I asked."
Shanan's face lit up with pride. "Well, we all swore to keep it secret," she said. "And I worked way too hard to make it to just hand it out."
"I'm sure," he said, nodding. "Lots of research and practice. Must've taken months at the very least." He smiled softly, his eyes taking on a faraway look. "I myself have spent months at a time studying the Sharingan's capabilities. But really, mine will never be as strong as someone who possesses the Kekkei Genkai, or… Sasuke and Itachi – their bloodline makes their Sharingan inherently stronger than mine."
As he spoke, Shanan's expression turned thoughtful, her brow furrowing in concern. Sasuke and Itachi… The only two Uchiha's left in the world – the rest gone. A pang of guilt struck her heart. Had it been insensitive of her to spend months developing and perfecting a counter-technique against the Sharingan? While it certainly had other uses beyond keeping her moves a secret, she couldn't shake the feeling that she had inadvertently hurt Sasuke's feelings by creating something that specifically and callously targeted his clan's legacy.
She sat up straight, staring down at her food as remorse flooded through her.
"Shanan?" Kakashi leaned forward, concern etched on his face as he got her attention.
She looked up at him, meeting his gaze. "Excuse me," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I think I should go and talk to Sasuke."
Moments later, Shanan stood outside Sasuke's apartment door, her chest heaving from her frantic dash. Her mind was a jumble of thoughts as she replayed her conversation with Kakashi. She was supposed to be the embodiment of compassion and empathy – qualities she'd always admired about herself. Yet, she'd still managed to overlook the feelings of someone close to her – someone she loved and adored. And though she knew he'd forgive her easily, the idea that she'd made him feel bad even for one second was overwhelming to her.
She raised her hand to knock, but before she could, the door swung open, and Sasuke stood before her, a hint of a smirk on his face. "Are you coming in, or are you just gonna stand out here?" he teased, his eyes sparkling with amusement.
Shanan tried to laugh, but her emotions got the better of her, and she burst into tears, her body shaking with sobs.
Sasuke's expression changed in an instant, his features softening as he took in her trembling lips and the despair in her eyes. His breath caught, and he stepped closer, his arms opening, driven by his protective instinct. "Hey… what's wrong?" he whispered as he enveloped her in a warm embrace.
She clung to him for a moment, finding comfort in his arms. When she finally pulled away, Sasuke kept his hands on her arms, his eyes locked on hers. Though she wanted to explain, the words caught in her throat. Sasuke's gentle gaze encouraged her to open up, but she struggled to find the right words as he waited patiently.
"Is your training going alright?" he asked.
Her voice was barely audible as she replied, "Yeah…" She looked down, her hands fidgeting. "Sasuke… I'm sorry…" she whispered, tears welling up in her eyes.
"You're sorry…?" he asked, his voice gentle. "For what?"
Her fidgeting intensified as she struggled to express herself. "When I came up with the no-handed jutsu…" she said. "I didn't even think about how that could've hurt your feelings." Her voice cracked as tears streamed down her face. She wiped her cheeks, determined to continue. "Coming up with something to keep my moves a secret from your clan, that…" Her words trailed off, unable to finish her sentence.
As she apologized, Sasuke's expression softened. He gently brushed her hair out of her face, shaking his head to stop her. "That's what you're upset about?" he asked, his voice soft and affectionate. "Shanan, I've never been anything but proud of you for that."
He pulled her into a tight embrace, his eyes closing as he breathed her in. "You were so determined, pouring through books and writing down notes, combining techniques. You came up with something amazing, all on your own." His voice was filled with admiration and love.
"Please don't cry, and don't worry about upsetting me, ever," he whispered softly. "I love you… so much."
In this tender moment, Shanan's misunderstanding of Sasuke's feelings dissolved, and his sincerity enveloped her, dispelling her doubts. Her hands found their way to his waist, holding him close.
Their chakras harmonized, swirling between them in a gentle dance. She could feel a part of Sasuke merging with her, his life force infusing with hers. With her heart full, she whispered, "I love you too, Sasuke."
His arms tightened around her, deepening their embrace. Their love and chakras intertwined, like a magnetic force drawing them closer together.
As they slowly pulled back from their embrace, Sasuke's fingers brushed against Shanan's cheek, tracing the curve of her jaw. His eyes lingered, taking in the transformation from tears to tranquility. He gently wiped away her remaining tears, his touch tender. "You know," he whispered. "I could never be mad at you, Shanan…" His voice was filled with conviction as his soft gaze held hers.
Tears pricked at the corners of Shanan's eyes as she nodded, her gaze locked onto his. She bit the inside of her lip, emotions still swirling. "Can we sit outside for a while?" she asked softly.
Sasuke smiled and nodded. "Of course." He took her hand, and they sat down together between their apartment doors, the quiet evening air enveloping them.
As they sat in comfortable silence, hand in hand, Sasuke's thoughts turned to the depth of their connection. He cherished her presence, her radiant energy, and her unwavering love for him. And though it had been completely unnecessary – her apology had touched his heart, and he was once again grateful for her courage and vulnerability.
Shanan leaned her head on his shoulder, and he slid his arm around her waist, holding her close. He was certain she could hear his heart beating steadily through his chest as he gazed down at her, his love for her shining brightly in his eyes.
A profound sense of peace washed over him, a feeling he only experienced when they were together. And he knew now, more than ever, that he would never let her go or push her away. Even if her feelings for him one day dissipated, his wasted heart would remain faithful to her.
Always.