Scarlet Justice - ep. 27
"Ascend"

As time passes, I feel my speed rising.

I can string together seals a bit faster for all of my jutsu. My ability in dealing with illusions has improved. And of course, I have better movement speed. These all happen to be areas affected by the chakra mode that I'm training for, so my regular training is especially fruitful recently. There's less time spent resting and I can leave Hinata to her own work at least some of the time. Because of that, I can work a bit harder on the new technique. It's working out well.

Some more downtime, and I decide to pay someone I know a visit. It's been a long while...

I reach the Academy complex and walk towards the schoolhouse. Like a trip through my memories, almost.

"I guess you wanted to relive those old days, then."

"I might have," I say to the man in front of me. "It's good to see you again, Iruka-sensei."

"Same to you."

"Can you spare a moment for a former student?"

"Always," he says with a smile. "Drinks are on me."

"Appreciated."

We sit together in the cafeteria. He has his coffee, and I have a cool bottle of milk. There's nobody else in at the moment, which makes for a relaxing sort of atmosphere.

"Sorry that I wasn't there when you got back from your first mission."

"It's alright," I say to him from across the table.

"How have you been doing otherwise?"

"Very well. Hina and Shino are great teammates, and Kurenai has been taking very good care of us. A proper schedule and everything, enough time for us to train and rest. She's taking her work seriously, while not being as uptight as expected."

"Asuma has been showing her the ropes, I think. They've been good friends for a while. And we used to talk about promotions and possibly becoming instructors. Kurenai has always been good about work, level-headed, and really steady when push comes to shove. Of course," he says with a smile, "having a genius on her team would be relaxing, you know?"

"I see."

We sit in silence for a few moments. It's possible we're thinking of the same thing, so...I should get on with it.

"I...you're probably aware of the reports from my first outing," I say.

"I had a read, yeah."

"You must have wanted better for me, Iruka-sensei."

"I don't know if that's-"

"It wasn't something noble. We should get that out of the way quickly. It wasn't...just a simple response to danger. It wasn't something good. I accept all of that, and the person I am." I look into his eyes. "I really did enjoy myself."

He nods. "We have different ways of dealing with life on the battlefield. Lord Hokage must have said as much to you."

"He did."

"We all want the ideal for our students. To be strong and skilled, yet at the same time friendly and compassionate. Beacons of light for the village. The Fourth was like that. A person you could firmly call good, who was also firmly on our side. Beloved by all. That's why his death hit so hard, and why so much fury was turned towards Naruto, who became the Nine-Tails' container. One of those things that isn't anyone's fault to start, but spirals out of control. As a community, we should have done better by him from the start. And...the same goes for me."

"You lost...people."

"My parents. They died protecting me in the attack."

Those are heavy scars. It explains a lot...and it explains why I feel this way about him. Naruto became someone he was willing to give his life for. That ideal warrior. He doesn't seem to realize that he's one of them. Perhaps because he's not as strong in battle, but he has the resilience part down, at the least.

"I know the truth, Iruka-sensei."

"The truth?" He blinks.

"Is your back okay? From the Fuma shuriken."

"..." He takes a sip of coffee and sighs. "My back is perfectly fine by now. He told you everything that happened."

"He told me everything that happened. And he told me what he was."

"You accepted him."

"Yes. All of him."

He chuckles lightly. "As you would, Lilith. Without a second thought."

"And you accept me, don't you?"

"I do. I talked to the Hokage, and he...made mention of your attitude towards the whole thing. I was looking for things...detachment, indifference...little sorts of indicators that pop up through the years as an educator. Things that might say this or that person isn't coping well with the stress. I didn't get any of that, so...I left it in Kurenai's hands. Seeing you now just confirms all of it. It's uh..." He smiles nervously. "A little bit scary, though. One of those sorts of, uh, apex predators, in the form of a little girl. I'm guessing your sister and Miss Daidouji...I mean, Luna. They're okay with this?"

"They are."

"Hm. That makes sense, too. The world of the elites has that sort of...animal kingdom thing going on. You know, with the flashy colours and signalling and all that."

"...hm." Thinking about it, it does put a spin on my stepmother's style of dress. Asserting dominance, perhaps? Interesting. She seems to get more complex by the day, that woman. "A compelling argument, sensei."

"Right? But...well, listen. I don't think any less of you, or see you as any...no, that's not entirely true. You are different now."

"How so?" I ask.

"Well...I would say you're very much a woman now. Not legally, of course. But you're all grown up, Lilith. That much is visible."

"That's quite a thing to say, sensei. A woman, now. What does that mean for us?" I ask playfully.

"Nothing that extreme, to be clear."

"Hmph." I pout at him. "So much for that."

"I don't want to know what 'that' is either," he mumbles, taking another sip of coffee. "Though, if you want the mature experience...I guess we can start small."

"What do you propose?"

"Adults call each other by name, right? I wouldn't say we're equals, what with you being so much stronger than me...but it's a good way to start off."

"That means you'll call me Lili from now on."

He smiles. "Right. Lili it is."

"I might still call you sensei from time to time...but Iruka sounds good as well. And since we've reached the moment where we're no longer master and student...where we're just two people, together in the world..."

I place my hands on the table and look up at him.

"This is something entirely serious, Iruka."

He nods and gives me his attention. "Please, go ahead."

"Thank you for everything you've given me. Your guidance, and your kindness. The understanding and gentle nature you showed me, over and over. And for seeing me as a woman, here and now. I will surely protect this village, and all of your dreams."

I smile for him. I hope it's as beautiful as he has been to me.

"Thank you, Iruka. I love you."

Time continues to move.

Kurenai and I work in one of the village's many weight rooms, all tended to properly with the amount of people that pass through them. It's the same as the mansion back home - the help did work out regularly, for some reason. Perhaps Emi had something to do with it...

"I guess this was a good thing in the end," Kurenai says from beside me. She's spotting as I use the leg press this time.

"What was?" I ask.

"Getting out-hustled by a twelve year old girl. Keeps you humble," she laughs. "Not often I feel like going all out, especially on off days." She wipes at her face with a towel.

"I see. There's never been a sense of competition in these things," I say to her. "Just focus on completing any objectives set."

"A marathon instead of a race."

"Not even that. A light evening run to clear my head."

"A little haughty, no?"

"A little. But it is my way."

"It's no wonder you're this strong."

I grunt before settling into the last set of my repetitions. "You're not a believer in being born talented and rising from there, as many greats did?"

"From one girl to another? Bullshit. That's never the whole story. I can name plenty of people who were born in the so called lower clans, or just clanless outright that rose up the ranks. Faster than people who have been groomed their whole lives, even. Only thing genetics determine is how high your ceiling is, and even that's not something conclusive."

"Lifting your limits, then?"

"Asuma and I were talking about it the other day. It's possible, at least I think so. But you can start off talented and then just squander it, pretty easily too. Then there are kids like you, who come from outside of every shinobi circle and blow all the boys and girls steeped in tradition away. You have to wonder. How many people with even half the stuff you have are out there, just tilling fields or making soup, something like that?"

"I assume you try not to think about it too much." I stop and Kurenai locks the machine in place while I exit. After catching my breath, I find the rack with clean towels and a provided spray bottle.

"Yeah, I don't. It's a little overwhelming at times. For me, at least."

I nod as I disinfect the work area. "We are not designed to worry about everything under heaven and earth."

"Yeah. But a few things here and there, at least."

"We change our worlds, and then our world together."

Kurenai ruminates on that as I wipe my face with a clean towel.

"There's a little cafe nearby, out of the way. The chicken is good," I say to her.

"Feeling like steak today." She rubs her stomach.

"I see. The usual place, then. After our showers."

"Good. See you out front when you're done."

I nod and rest on one of the benches nearby, sipping on water. Today was good.

Still much to do, but it will be done in time.

"It's been about a month since I gave you the scroll. Any progress?"

I meet Kakashi at the usual place, which is the training ground where he and his children work. Apparently their teamwork hasn't increased as expected after the Wave Country mission; they're cohesive when they need to be, but have reverted to some of their usual bickering and antics. Individually, they are all improving...some more than others.

Kakashi and I have been doing checks every so often to monitor my progress. Last week, we didn't get to meet. That was coincidentally the same week I made the biggest strides.

Well. I'm ready to show off a little. I roll my neck from side to side and let out a breath. "Shall I show you, Kakashi?"

"That would be nice, yes." He turns another page of his book.

"Oh, Lili! What's going on? How come you're talking with Kakashi-sensei?" Naruto asks as he enters my view.

"I thought you were going with Sasuke and Sakura to eat," Kakashi says.

"Eh...they both blew me off again. They're getting kind of close for some reason...it's weird, ya know? Normally Sasuke would tell her she's annoying and just walk off all surly-like. These days, they just...I dunno, whatever. Kakashi-sensei, you're supposed to be teaching me a technique, and I know you have time now! It's been more than a month!"

"You're not ready. Ask me later," he says while continuing to read.

"Aw! You always say that!"

"And there's a reason for it. Actually..." He closes his book and looks at me, lifting up his headband. The Sharingan in his left eye is already active. Or...ah, I see. It doesn't turn off, does it...

"Eh? Kakashi-sensei, what's-"

"You want to see a cool technique, right?"

"Uh, yeah! Yeah, I do!"

"Good. Then shut up for a moment and watch." He gestures towards me. "Let's see it, Lili."

"As you wish."

"Lili?"

"Be still, Naruto. Watch me work," I say gently to him. He nods and takes a spot beside Kakashi.

I hold my arms at my sides and clench my fists. The chakra flows through me, filling me with warmth. I can feel myself vibrating slightly. This is my control. I have it down...so there's no need to delay things.

And I shift.

A quick twitch of my muscles makes the chakra burst outwards from my body, surrounding it in a blue-white shroud that flows upwards. Arcs of lightning jump across my body and flare up from the chakra shroud itself. I feel...like I'm control of the world around me. I feel good.

"You managed to do it. That's...seriously impressive," Kakashi says.

"W-whoa." Naruto can't find his words.

"..." It wasn't enough to just reach this point. It would never be enough, anyways. "The daughter of heaven saw fit to love me, as someone closer to her than one born with the same blood. And so, I allow you to bear witness to the strength she has gifted to me."

"Lili...?"

I remember now, clearly. I was born Lilith.

But my mother called me...always called me...Lili.

"A flower of heaven." I can hear her voice, even now.

"Hold on," Kakashi says as my chakra builds. "You can't mean..."

I grit my teeth and focus further. I can feel my body being flooded with energy, making my weight shift and my vision blur for a moment. The hair on my skin is standing upright, the arcs of lightning are brightening and lengthening. Energy is rippling outwards to the point of pushing away the grass at my feet.

And then the excess energy explodes outwards, in a shower of lightning and sparks, before settling down around me. Another level...another step closer to the place where I belong.

Kakashi looks at me with awe before gathering himself. "Naruto. I want you to throw a few shuriken from where you're standing."

"Eh?"

"Aim high, too."

"What?! Kakashi-sensei, if I throw from that close, I'll-!"

"Listen. It's perfectly safe. Just do as I say, alright?"

Naruto looks to me, and I give him a reassuring nod. He nods back and takes three shuriken out of his pouch. This form is...actually a bit difficult to hold at the moment, but with time it won't be a problem.

"Here I...go!"

He throws the weapons at me...from this distance, I normally wouldn't be able to dodge, and blocking would be extremely difficult, even if I could react in time. Even if Naruto's throwing speed isn't the fastest, this is deadly territory for most shinobi.

And yet.

Everything is...so slow as I focus. I can dodge easily, and I watch as the shuriken fly by. I can count the points on them leisurely, even as my energy burns away. Letting them fly away would be a waste, though...

"Hm."

I focus further and swipe the shuriken out of the air. One, two, three. They're in my hand and I feel like I've had enough of the chakra mode for today. I have it shut off and the world returns to normal as I stop.

"How...but...the...it's weapon...buh...fast." Naruto waves his arms in the air. "Fast! How! So fast, how did you move so fast?"

"Ah...alright." I hand Naruto his shuriken back and pat him on the shoulder. "So. How did it look, Kakashi?"

"Well..." He rubs his chin. "A bit more work on it would do the trick."

"Work?! More work?! What are you talking about! Kakashi-sensei, didn't you see the way she-"

"Naruto. Relax a moment," I say to him. "Kakashi is right...it does need some more work. I can go further and improve the second stage. And...if I increase my stamina more, that will make things even easier."

"You...can go faster? Than that?" he asks in awe.

"I can. That was just pure foot speed...if I were to use a body flicker in that state, then...mm. Things for later, I suppose. Thank you for supervising my progress, Kakashi. You've been a great help."

He lowers his headband and opens his book again. "I didn't do much of anything aside from give you the scroll. This was all your power, Lili. But see me again if you ever want to learn that other jutsu one day."

"I'll consider it. Perhaps with this in hand...mm. I'll see you boys in a while."

"Nice girl. I guess I understand why you have a crush on her, Naruto," Kakashi says as I leave.

"I...I mean she's...we're...ah, shaddap!"

Ino and I run into each other later in the week, after another routine D-Rank mission in the village. She has something on her mind, so we find a tree nearby and climb into it to sit.

"It's about Sakura. I'm sort of worried about her."

"Did something happen?" I wonder if it's about our meeting the other day.

"It's not about you, if you're wondering. Though...it kind of connects to how she handled it." Ino tilts her head back. "She and Sasuke are getting close."

"Jealousy?"

"You'd think. I mean, that's what I assumed myself off the bat." She pulls her head back into position. "But it's not. It's genuine worry, and I dunno where exactly it's coming from. I just have the feeling that they're...not in a good place, and are sort of pushing each other forward in an unhealthy way. You know what I mean?"

"Hina was theorizing on that the other day."

"Hinata? Huh. Well, she's no dummy, but...yeah, that's some insight from her. It was about...um, Sakura sort of trying to fill the gaps in Sasuke's heart, or something like that?"

"Yes. Using herself as a method of healing."

"Right. I'm...worried about things like that. Sasuke is a lot. I mean, he's handsome and junk, but the deeper I look, the more comes up. I don't want Sakura to hurt herself. As opposed to Sasuke hurting her, I mean. He cares a lot, but he's still just a...scared kid at the end of the day."

"So I've heard."

"It's hard to believe from your end...which is why I'm confused there, too. Why does he...go after you like that? You never spent that much time together at the Academy, you never hurt him from all we've seen, so...is it some kind of trigger, or a psychosis? I wish I knew. It's hard to do all of this analysis without making excuses over and over..."

"I suppose. Ino...I have my own bias, too."

"I know. I can't just make that pain go away. I just wish we could start, you know? Untangle all of those webs. Geez, I'm sorry. This is depressing."

"It's what friends are for. Though...it must be tough like this."

Ino laughs. "Two mutual friends who hate each other? That's easy mode, sweetie. You don't need to worry about me getting torn between loyalties...life finds a way, and so do I," she says with a wink.

"Shrewd, aren't we?"

"And that's what makes me so lovable."

"You would say that." I pause. "Ino..."

"If I do need anything, I'll let you know. Seriously. I just...wanted to vent. I hope things will be okay on their own."

"I understand."

"Well...I'm gonna meet up at the shop with my dad. Come by for some flowers one of these days, yeah?"

"I'll be sure to."

"Holding you to it," she says as she drops out of the tree gracefully, blowing me a kiss as soon as she lands. I watch her leave for a moment before turning my attention to the afternoon sky.

"..."

Time. It's supposed to be a great healer...but I realize some things will need more than just that.

Today is a splendid day though, and there's no need to work myself up.

Luna is making my favourite for a late lunch: grilled salmon, and spicy curly fries. I can't wait.