Seals part3

As he left the main building, night had already taken over the sky over the Valley, the stars shining faintly behind a thin mist and the remnants of mineral vapors that hung over the rocks. The air was dense but fresh, and the silence of the valley was broken only by distant voices... and laughter.

Riki stopped.

Ahead, down a side path between the rock formations, three children were walking towards the village, accompanied by adults.

"Ah, Riki!" exclaimed one of the voices. It was Satoru, a boy with dark red hair and green eyes, grandson of the elder Junpei, famous for manipulating elemental seals with only one hand.

"Are you still here?"

"I was training..." Riki replied dryly.

"Always, right?" said a soft voice. It was Akari, scarlet hair and gray eyes that shone in the light of the torches. She was a Chinoike on her mother's side, and the daughter of an Uzumaki medical ninja. She could manipulate the Ketsuryūgan with precision. The third was Kaede, older, with an upright posture and a serious look. He was known to be a sensory genius and had already mastered mid-level sealing techniques. He simply nodded. The three were accompanied by their tutors. Elder Junpei smiled slightly when he saw Riki. "Young prince." He greeted the elder with respect. "I hope your training was fruitful." "Not so much." Riki murmured, looking at his colleagues. Satoru moved a little closer. "They say you're training with Takeshi personally. Is that true?" Riki nodded. "Wow... I'd give anything to see that." Akari said, smiling. — Or to train with you.

There was admiration in her eyes, while Kaede showed something closer to calculated curiosity.

"They see me as something beyond myself...", Riki thought. "As a symbol. But they don't see the flaws, or the doubts..."

He smiled slightly, hiding his frustration under his usual mask.

— Maybe one day! Riki replied.

The children continued on their way with their families, and Riki stood there for a few seconds, standing at the fork between the clan building and the path to his home. He looked at the stars hidden by the mist, took a deep breath and began walking.

"If I want to be more than a symbol... I need to master this seal, add the Uchiha Kenjutsu, not for them. For myself, because in the end... No matter what, any place respects the strong. And despises the weak."

His steps became firmer as he approached home. Tomorrow I will finish the damn seal.

Hell Valley — Trail back to the village

The thin mist snaked around the four's feet as they descended a stone path lit by torches fixed to the slope. The group continued unhurriedly, chatting. The adults had gone ahead, leaving the younger ones to fend for themselves.

"So, Riki..." Satoru began, kicking a pebble on the path. "What exactly are you training with Elder Takeshi?"

"Advanced seals, from containment seals to barriers. The basics for those who want to... keep something in, or someone out." Riki said, looking at the ground, still thoughtful.

"Sounds boring." Satoru commented, giving a short laugh. "I prefer it when things explode."

"That's why you're always getting scolded." Akari replied, smiling. — I started training healing with my mother, yesterday I managed to close a cut in less than a minute. She almost cried with joy.

— Congratulations! Riki said, in a soft tone, without mockery.

Akari smiled, and her face blushed briefly.

Kaede walked in silence, as usual, until she spoke, directly.

— I heard you fainted trying the Seal of the Tower of Chains.

Riki stopped, arched an eyebrow and sighed. — And they let you leave the library today? Or did they just read that in the training report?

Satoru laughed out loud, and even Akari hid her smile behind her hand.

Kaede shrugged, as if accepting the provocation.

— It wasn't a fainting spell. Riki explained, resuming his pace.

— It was a control failure... A rupture in the seal's internal cycle, the chakra collapses if you get the angular proportion wrong, and the pain comes as if someone were ripping your skin off while you're awake.

— It sounds horrible. Akari commented.

— It is. But it goes away. Riki paused. — What doesn't go away is the feeling of being below what you should be.

Everyone was silent for a while, then Satoru lightly pushed him with his shoulder.

— You're the strongest of us, Riki, if you make a mistake... then we can justify ourselves for making a mistake too.

— Or maybe we should try even harder. Kaede added.

The group remained silent, until Akari, with a small smile, asked:

— And... have you ever thought about dating?

Satoru almost tripped over a rock. Riki raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

— That came out of nowhere.

— It's just... Yui's sister said that you refused a letter from Hana, I thought it was just to focus on training, but...

— I didn't even know that was a real letter. Riki said, confused.

— I only found a letter saying "Riki, you are so handsome!" I thought it was a joke from the elder.

— Oh, Riki... Akari rolled her eyes, laughing. — You really are a lost cause.

Satoru made a heart with his hands and whispered: — "Prince of the valley, the heartbreaker."

Kaede just shook her head, resigned...

After a few more minutes of conversation, the group separated and each went to their respective homes.