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Chapter 15

we all have a weakness, but some of ours are easier to identify

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64年7月19日

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It occurred to him, at some point, that Kiri probably doesn't know, a, how to stick leaves to his forehead, and, b, how to control his chakra. Which is a massive hindrance in his endeavour to become a doctor— medical-nin, whatever.

Akuto sighs, running a hand through his hair. He's got too much of a bleeding heart to let Kiri struggle through all of it on his own, which is why he's on his way to rectify his mistake.

Akuto struggles through the winding, twisting streets of Saigawa, looking for landmarks to find his way back to Kiri's home. The people of Saigawa are less wary of him this time, though they still don't exactly welcome him, and a few even give him directions when he ended up at the same junction for the fourth time.

Ten more confusing minutes later, he finally arrives.

He knocks on the door. "Yo, you home?"

Loud footsteps thud against the floor. They'll have to rectify that, too. The door creaks open, and Kiri's small face appears in the crack, his eyes lighting up the moment he sees Akuto. "Nii-san!" Kiri half-shouts, half-says. "You're back!"

Akuto smiles softly. "What, you think I'd pull a 'gone for milk' move on you? Please."

Kiri frowns, scrunching up his nose in confusion. "You're weird, you know that?" Then, remembering his manners, he steps back and invites Akuto in.

"Nope," Akuto says, his smile growing into a grin. "We're goin' on a little field trip."

Kiri's eyes widen. He bounces on the balls of his feet. "Where? Where?"

"Somewhere quieter." Akuto tugs his hands in the pockets of his shorts and tilts his head toward the street. "C'mon, we don't have all day."

Kiri doesn't need to be told twice. He rushes back into the house. A moment later, he reappears, clutching a pair of old, rusty keys in his hands. He slams the door shut behind him with an loudthunk, locks it, then runs back to Akuto, grabbing the hem of his shirt like it's a lifeline. His smile is as bright as the spring sun.

"What are we doing?" Kiri asks, craning his neck to look up at Akuto with wide, curious eyes.

Akuto pretends to think, tapping a finger against his chin. "A surprise."

"Nii-san," he whines, dragging out the title like it's a weapon. "Tell me,please?"

Akuto snorts, then flicks him lightly on the forehead. "That's kinda the point of a surprise, Kiri-cchi. My not tellin' you."

Kiri pouts and Akuto leads him through Saigawa and Sotogawa, through some empty quarters to the training grounds. Kiri holds his shirt the entire time. Technically, you're supposed to book a training ground before using it— he's sure there's some paper-nin relaxing in an office and getting paid to do nothing— but, as is common here, most go by a first-come-first-served system. A few training grounds are off-limits to some, reserved to specific groups, but as long as you don't get caught, no one gives a shit.

They find an empty ground in the far back. A few trees stand on the far end of it— it's one of the last training ground before the forest ones that are used for hunting simulations and the likes— but most of it is plains. It's not a favoured sort. Not really. Unless you're working on area of effect jutsu, violent jutsu, or tree walking, he supposes.

But it'll serve their purpose well.

He sits down in the shade by the trees and pats on the ground next to him, motioning for Kiri to join him. Kiri bounces over like an overexcited puppy, all floppy limbs and wide, gleaming eyes. He flings himself down with zero grace.

"Are you finally gonna tell me?" he says, whinging.

Akuto huffs a laugh. "Maybe we'll just sit in silence," he says, making sure the boy hears the sarcasm in his voice. "Teach you a bit of patience. Important skill for a shinobi, you know— especially assassins andmedics."

"I've been patient!" Kiri pouts. "I waited all this time. That's super patient!"

He can't help himself, he laughs. "Alright, alright," he says. "Let's start simple. What do you know about chakra?"

"Chatura?"

"Chakra. Cha-kra."

Kiri only shakes his head. Right. Of course. He's had no one to teach him yet. At least, Akuto hasn't seen anyone who does. The majority of Kiri's people live in Saigawa, and even there, knowledge is being hoarded like crazy.

From the very beginning, then.

"Chakra's your life energy," he says, remembering the words his Okan used when she told him. "It flows through you, kinda like blood—head to toe. It's what lets us do all the shinobi tricks: walk on water, spit fire, heal wounds—" Kiri grins at him. "—or smash boulders. But it's not just in us—it's in everything. Animals, plants, even the dirt under your feet."

"But they can't use it?"

"Nope. Just the special ones: ninneko, ninken, and summons. They're not like regular animals. Smarter. Stronger. Most live in their own realm, like how we've got the Impure World and the Pure Lands."

Kiri jolts up, eyes wide with excitement. "Say, say, can I have summons?"

"If you find a contract," he says softly. No need to disappoint him before he even started or tell him about reverse summoning. He could get himself killed that way. "Or if a summon clan likes you."

Kiri nods happily."How do I make them like me? Is it hard?"

Akuto smirks. "They don't follow just anyone. You'd have to earn their trust. Prove you're worth their time. They're proud like that."

Kiri's eyes are wide with wonder. "So, it's like making friends?"

Akuto ruffles Kiri's stubbled head. "Yeah, but don't get too excited. These 'friends' aren't freebies. They'll drop you the second you slack off."

Kiri scrunches up his nose. "I won't slack off! I swear, Nii-san!"

"Good," Akuto says. "But before you start dreaming about giant toads and slugs, you've got to master the basics first."

Kiri blinks. "Basics? Like what?"

"Right. Summons are way down the line. First, you've got to get a grip on chakra— what it is and how it works." He straightens reflexively. "Chakra's the core of everything we do. Ninjutsu, genjutsu, even some taijutsu. You can push it into your muscles, release it into the world, or use it to manipulate things around you. But control's key."

Akuto leans back against the tree. Kiri's eyes practically sparkle as he soaks up every word, and Akuto doesn't have it in him to fight the smile tugging at his lips.

"So," Kiri says, shifting excitedly where he sits, "if I learn chakra, can I spit water and shoot lightning too?"

"Not so fast," Akuto says. "Chakra control's one thing; ninjutsu's a whole other beast. You're not waking up one day and tossing lightning bolts like Raijin-sama." He flicks Kiri's forehead gently. "First, you've got to find your chakra."

Kiri rubs his forehead. "Find it? Where'd it go?"

Akuto snorts. "It's in you already. You just don't know how tofeelit yet." He waves a hand dismissively, sitting up straighter and crossing his legs. "C'mere. Sit like this. Cross your legs, hands on your knees. Relax."

Kiri copies him, though he fidgets so much that Akuto wonders if the kid has eversat stillin his life.

"Close enough," Akuto mutters. "Now close your eyes."

Kiri squeezes his eyes shut, like he's afraid Akuto might bop him on the head if he doesn't comply fast enough.

"Not so hard you're gonna pop a vein," Akuto says, rolling his eyes. "Breathe— deep, all the way to your stomach. Hold it a second, then let it out. Slow. Steady."

Kiri follows his instructions, the rise and fall of his little shoulders slowly evening out.

"Good," Akuto says, softer now. "Keep breathing like that. Now focus. Picture a river running through you. Starts at your chest, spreads out like tree roots— fingers, toes, everywhere."

Kiri's face scrunches up. "A river? Like a real one?"

"A river, a glow, a buzz. Whatever works. Just focus on what's happening inside you."

Kiri's frown deepens, his hands clenching on his knees. For a few moments, there's nothing but the sound of the breeze rustling through the trees. Akuto sighs, rubbing the back of his neck. "It might take a while—"

"Wait!" Kiri shouts, excited. His eyes stay closed, but his hands twitch slightly, like he's trying to grab something invisible. "I think I feel it! It's… kinda warm, like…" He pauses. Hesitates. "Like a blanket, but on theinside?"

Akuto blinks, a bit surprised. Kiri might have an affinity for it, after all. "That's… yeah, that's your chakra." He leans forward slightly, studying Kiri's face. "It's flowing, right? Moving around, not just sitting still?"

Kiri nods enthusiastically, his whole body practically vibrating with excitement. "Yeah! It's like a little river, just like you said!"

A small smile tugs at Akuto's lips. "Good. That's your chakra network. Keep breathing with it. Feel how it moves."

He stills, and Akuto watches as his breathing slows into a steady rhythm.

"Alright," Akuto says after a minute or two, his voice low so he doesn't break the moment. "Take a tiny bit— just a drop— and guide it to your palm. Like a stream flowing downriver."

Kiri's brows furrow, and his lips press together in concentration. A few seconds later, Akuto feels the faintest flicker of chakra radiating from the kid's hand. It's unsteady, weak, but it's there.

"That's it," Akuto says quietly, warmth spreads in his chest. It really does look like Kiri's got an affinity for this. "Hold it there. Not too tight, not too loose. Think of it like…" He pauses, searching for the right analogy. "Like holding a bubble. Too loose, and it floats away. Too tight, and it pops."

Kiri nods, his little hands trembling slightly as he concentrates. The chakra wavers but doesn't disappear completely.

"Not bad," Akuto says, leaning back against the tree again. "Better than I thought you'd be."

Kiri opens his eyes, grinning from ear to ear. "I did it, Nii-san! I felt it! Ireallyfelt it!"

"Yeah, yeah," Akuto says, waving him off. "Don't let it go to your head. You've still got a long way to go before you can do anything cool." He picks up the discarded leaf and tosses it at Kiri's lap. "Now stick that to your palm. Same drill— focus your chakra there and hold it."

Kiri grabs the leaf eagerly. "Okay, okay! I got this!"

Akuto watches for a moment, then shrugs and grabs a leaf for himself. "Alright. Watch and learn."

He presses the leaf to his palm, closing his eyes and reaching for his own chakra. It's second nature, like calling an old friend. His chakra feels like cool water flowing steady and calm, with sharp sparks of lightning crackling through it. It's familiar, grounding. His chakra flows effortlessly to his palm, and the leaf sticks like it's glued there.

"See?" he says, holding up his hand for Kiri to see. "Easy."

Kiri stares at him, wide-eyed. "Whoa… Nii-san, that's so cool! How'd you do it so fast?"

"Practice," Akuto says simply. "And knowing your chakra. Water's smooth, like a stream. Lightning's sharp, like a zap. You've got to feel it out."

"What do the other ones feel like? Are they different?" Kiri asks, his eyes practically sparkling.

Akuto thinks for a moment. "Fire's hot, wild but contained. Earth's solid, heavy. Wind's light, always moving. They've all got their own vibe— you just have to figure out yours."

Kiri nods eagerly, holding his leaf up again. "What do you think mine feels like?"

"Dunno," Akuto says, leaning back. "That's for you to work out. No one else can tell you. Well, unless they're a sensor-nin. But I'm not."

Kiri's grin widens, and he presses the leaf to his palm again, his tongue poking out as he concentrates. Akuto watches him for a moment before closing his eyes again, letting his own chakra flow through him as he focuses on his leaf.

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The kitchen feels cramped but it's comforting. The old, wobbly table is crowded with plates, bowls, and chopsticks, and it smells wonderfully of grilled fish, rice, and miso soup. Fuguki, taking up half the table, sits in the corner of the table, unbothered, eyes closed, clearly enjoying his food. Hiyu sits beside him, her back straight. Nanami lounges across from her, legs sprawled out like she owns the place.

Akuto sits beside Hiyu, shoulders stiff, staring at his untouched food.

"Eat," she says simply, leaving no room for argument. He needs to eat well to grow strong.

Akuto mumbles something that might be a "yeah" and shoves a bite of fish into his mouth.

Nanami snorts. "What's up with you? Usually, you eat like someone's gonna steal it right off your plate."

"I'm fine," Akuto says, not looking up.

"Liar," Nanami says, crossing her arms. "You've been acting weird for weeks, and it's freaking me out."

"Nanami," Hiyu warns sharply. "If Akuto doesn't want to talk, let it go."

"Alright, alright," Nanami says, rolling her eyes. She picks up another piece of fish and pops it into her mouth, chewing a few times before a grin spreads across her face. She swallows hastily. "Anyway, you'll never guess what I found on my last mission."

Fuguki raises a single eyebrow.

Nanami bounces in her seat. "We were scouting near Lake Kinjō— y'know, where the floods wrecked the old trade route last year? Total ghost town now. But we found these old storage caves carved into the cliffs.."

Hiyu stills, her chopsticks pausing mid-air. She glances at Fuguki, who keeps his expression carefully neutral. She can see it in the way his muscles twitch and his jaw grinds slightly.

"Most of them were empty," Nanami continues, "but one of them? Still packed. Like, untouched. Rations, weapons, even maps—"

"Maps?" Fuguki asks, tense.

Nanami nods, oblivious to the way his eyes narrow slightly. "Yeah, maps. Old ones. Pre-Founding, maybe older. One of them even showed a route through the Frost Mountains that could shave days off a trip north. Crazy, right?"

Hiyu keeps her face impassive, though her mind races. Those caves... Were they the ones Ao talked about? But they couldn't be. She frowns inwardly. Ao's supply network was supposed to be invisible, the crates and caches hidden in places no one would think to look. They were also not meant to stay in places for long. A flooding is certainly not enough of a struggle for shinobi to sneak in, seal the goods away, and hurry to the next spot. But if Nanami stumbled across one so casually... she hopes the rest are still in their places.

"What did you do with them?" Hiyu asks.

"Nothing. We were ordered to leave everything and report back," Nanami says with a shrug. "Guess someone higher up wants first dibs."

Fuguki nods once. "Smart," he says. To anyone else this might sound casual, but Hiyu can hear the tension in his voice. "If they're that old, moving them without checking their condition could've been dangerous."

Nanami tilts her head, frowning. "You think they're that fragile?"

"Could be," Fuguki says simply, though his eyes flick to Hiyu for the briefest moment.We need to talk about this later,he tells her.

Nanami doesn't notice. She continues, undeterred. "You should've seen Mei. I thought she was gonna lose it. She wanted those maps so bad— said they'd be worth a fortune to the right buyer. I had to talk her down. No way I'm getting chewed out for breaking protocol."

"Good," Hiyu says firmly. The idea of those maps ending up on the black market makes her stomach churn.

"Still," Nanami says, her grin returning, "it's kinda cool, right? Makes you wonder how much stuff like that's still out there…"

"Not as much as you're hoping," a faint smirk curving her lips as she glances at Nanami. "Most of the good stuff's been found already."

Nanami groans, slumping back in her chair. "You're no fun, Okan."

With that, the conversation quickly shifts, dear Nanami launching into a story about a stray dog they found on their way back and Mei's attempts to adopt it. Hiyu finds herself relaxing. She exchanges a brief look with Fuguki, one neither of her children notice. They'll have to discuss this right after dinner— and Ao'll need to be informed. If they are lucky, they can salvage and move the goods before Hijiki Isui gets them. But they need to be careful.

They can't afford any mistakes, not now.

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A/N

I'm not super happy with this chapter, but Uni's currently kicking my sorry arse and finals week is just around the corner, so it'll have to do. On that note, there'll be a minor schedule change: next week will be a double upload to wrap up Part I. After that, I'll be taking a two-week hiatus to focus on my finals. This story will return on February 16th.