CHAPTER 5

The academy felt different after Kushina's rescue. Aiko couldn't explain it, but there was a shift in how people looked at her—or avoided looking altogether. She had done something unexpected, something extraordinary, and the ripples of that decision were still spreading.

She sat quietly on a bench under the cherry blossoms, the scent of their flowers filling the air. Her grey eyes focused on her hands as they traced idle patterns in the dirt. The memory of the system's activation lingered in her mind like an echo. It had been powerful—far too powerful—but it hadn't erased her fear or exhaustion.

"You're brooding again," Minato's cheerful voice cut through her thoughts.

Aiko looked up, startled. Minato stood before her with his usual bright smile, though his eyes held a hint of worry.

"I'm not brooding," she replied, trying to sound casual.

"You're definitely brooding," Kushina chimed in, her red hair practically glowing in the sunlight as she plopped down beside Aiko. "It's written all over your face!"

Aiko sighed, her shoulders sinking. "I just… I don't know what to think. About everything. About the system, about what happened at the cliffs…"

"You were amazing," Minato said, sitting on the ground in front of them. "Seriously, Aiko. You saved us. Without you, I don't think we would've gotten Kushina out of there safely."

"Yeah, and those guys were really tough," Kushina added, though her tone softened. "But… you weren't a ninja when you did it. I don't know how you kept up with them."

Aiko hesitated, her hands clenching into fists. She glanced at the cherry blossoms, their petals drifting lazily in the breeze, before answering. "I had to. I couldn't let you or Minato get hurt. I couldn't just stand there and do nothing."

"But…" Kushina leaned closer, her voice dropping slightly. "What was that power? I saw how you moved, how you fought. You were like… someone completely different."

Aiko felt her chest tighten. They deserved an answer, but she couldn't tell them everything. Not yet. "I had some help," she said vaguely. "It's… complicated."

"Complicated is fine," Minato said gently. "We don't need to know everything. But if you ever feel like you're carrying too much on your own, you can tell us. That's what teammates are for, right?"

Aiko felt her lips curve into a small smile despite the weight in her heart. "Yeah. Teammates."

Kushina leaned back, crossing her arms. "Well, don't think you're off the hook. I'm going to figure out how you did all those crazy moves, even if it takes me years!"

Aiko chuckled, feeling a warmth she hadn't felt in a long time.

Later that day, during team practice, Mikoto approached her with a curious expression. "You've been quiet since the rescue," Mikoto said, her tone more thoughtful than probing.

"I've had a lot on my mind," Aiko admitted.

"You and Minato worked well together," Mikoto continued. "It was… inspiring, in a way. But you looked different out there, like something changed in you."

"Maybe something did," Aiko replied softly, meeting Mikoto's gaze. "Or maybe I'm just learning how to survive in this world."

Mikoto smiled faintly. "Survival isn't enough. You're stronger than you realize, Aiko. I think you showed all of us that."

That night, as Aiko lay on her tatami mat, the system's interface appeared again, glowing faintly.

Bond Strengthened: Mikoto Uchiha. Future Potential Unlocked.

New Skill Available: Leadership Tactics. Level 1.

Aiko stared at the words, her mind spinning. Her system didn't just grow when she fought—it grew when she connected with others.

She clenched her fists, determination sparking in her chest. Whatever this system was, she would master it. Not just for herself, but for the people she cared about—the people who believed in her.