Awakening

After a week of defensive training, Sasuke was ready to advance to full sparring with Kakashi. Yugao would return to review his progress in one week and return with a final assessment a few days before the exams. Kakashii had set the challenge that Sasuke could only spar with him after he dispersed three of his shadow clones.

A plan that Sasuke was sure was devised to have Kakashi do less work. Sasuke had become proficient and managed to disperse two of Kakashi's shadow clones and was working on the final one. He found the principles of striking much easier to grasp than the defensive techniques, as most of it came naturally to him.

Kakashi's ears picked up the sound of people approaching. He focused in on the noise to see what he could identify. He picked up three distinct footsteps from what he could gather. Two of them were larger men, most likely guards, revealed by the noise of their armor, and the last was someone of a small frame.

"Escort detail," Kakashi mumbled to himself.

Kakashi turned his gaze toward the woods.

"It looks like we have guests,"

Sasuke turned to see two soldiers dressed in the gear of the Daimyo's guard. His eyes focused on the figure trailing behind them; it was Chino. She appeared much more presentable than the last time he had seen her. He had been wondering if she would show up.

"What do we owe this visit?" Kakashi asked as he casually threw the training sword up in the air behind him, which landed perfectly in the rack.

One of the soldiers, suppressing his awe at the display, stepped forward and stated

"Young Chino here has been insisting on seeing Lord Uchiha since her rescue from the forest,"

Chino darted forward, struggling to contain her excitement at seeing Sasuke again; she bowed slightly toward them both.

"Sorry if I'm interrupting your training; I just wanted to thank Sasuke again for saving me."

Kakashi's eye smiled. "It's no problem; Sasuke and I were about to end training anyway."

Sasuke gave Kakashi a confused look.

"Are you sure, Kakashi? We have at least another couple of hours."

Kakashi shrugged.

"Not training for two hours isn't going to kill you. This young lady went through the trouble to come out here to see you. Go ahead and take the rest of the day to catch up with her."

"What?! But—"

Sasuke started to protest, but Kakashi held up a hand to cut him off.

"You've been going nonstop every day without a break. Part of training is reflecting on what you've learned. Taking a step back can help you move forward. Besides, I should check in with your teammates."

Sasuke scowled. "That doesn't mean—"

Kakashi casually turned away, already preparing to leave. "Oh, and I hear Sakura is making strides," he added, his voice laced with amusement.

"Wait, Kakashi—"

But before Sasuke could finish, Kakashi's eye curved into a smile. In the next instant, he vanished in a swirl of leaves, leaving Sasuke standing there, clearly unimpressed.

A brief silence followed before Chino took a step forward.

"Hey," she said awkwardly.

Sasuke glanced at her, his expression unreadable. "Hey."

"I just wanted to thank you again for saving me."

Sasuke had, in truth, been keeping his distance. It wasn't that he disliked Chino—if anything, he respected her resilience—but he didn't want her to grow attached. The forces deciding her fate were beyond his control, and he knew better than anyone how powerless that could feel. Maybe, though, it wasn't just for her sake. Keeping his distance also meant keeping himself from getting involved in something he couldn't change.

"It's no problem," he replied, shifting his gaze toward her. "How have you been since the exams?"

Chino hesitated before answering. "It's been… good. I have a place to stay, and the Daimyo is nice, but they've been asking me a bunch of questions.

She sighed, crossing her arms. "Now the village leaders are arguing over which village I should go to."

"You don't get a say?" Sasuke asked, frowning.

The both of them began to sit down on the ground.

"I mean, technically, I do. But they're talking about me like I'm some prize to be claimed. It's stupid—I should be the one who decides where I want to go."

"Why's that?" Sasuke asked, already knowing some of the details from her situation,

"My clan, the Chinoke clan, apparently we used to come from the Land of Lightning, so the cloud village wants to claim that since my ancestor's homeland was there, I should become a part of their village."

In frustration, Chino tightened her fist in her lap. "It's so stupid. I don't even know if I want to be a ninja."

Chino's thoughts poured out of her, and it was clear she had been waiting for someone to listen. Sasuke was the only one she trusted.

After a moment, Sasuke's curiosity got the better of him. "I've never heard of the Chinoike before. Are you really that prominent of a clan for the villages to be fighting over you?"

"I only know what En told me," Chino admitted. "But our main trait is our dōjutsu, the Ketsuryūgan. It lets us manipulate liquids with a high iron content… especially blood."

Sasuke narrowed his eyes. "Then how did you not know En was your father before?"

Chino hesitated. "He told me about my clan a few times. Before we came here, I even went to where they were wiped out. He said there was a civil war—two factions fighting—and that I was the only survivor he found in the wreckage. But apparently, he was a survivor too… and my father."

She exhaled sharply, her fingers curling into fists. "Why would he hide that from me?"

Sasuke remained silent, watching as Chino struggled with the weight of her own words.

"All this time, I thought I was the last of my clan, and En took me to turn a profit. But I had a clan. A history. A family that I never even knew about." Her voice wavered slightly before she steadied herself. "And now that people finally know who I am, they're trying to decide my future for me."

Sasuke stared in slight awe at her words, as he saw a younger version of himself.

She looked down at her hands, staring at her fingers as if willing them to give her answers. "I don't want to be what other people want me to. I want to figure out who I am… on my own."

Then, as if something clicked inside her, she stood up straight, her expression shifting from frustration to resolve.

"I come from a clan of shinobi. It would be a waste if I didn't at least try to see if I have talent." She turned to Sasuke, determination in her gaze. "Can you help me?"

Sasuke studied her for a moment before speaking. "You want to train?"

"I just… want to see if I even like it," she admitted. "En was always hesitant to start my training compared to the others he picked up. I guess I understand why now."

Sasuke sighed but eventually relented. "Fine. Do you at least know how to unlock your chakra?"

Chino nodded eagerly. "Yeah, I learned a year ago. But outside of that, I don't know much."

Sasuke nodded, "Good, that should make this easier."

Sasuke reached into his pouch, pulled out a kunai, and handed it to her. "Try holding this however it feels natural to you."

Chino took the kunai and began to get used to the feel of it in her hands. Tentatively, she looked up and asked Sasuke a question.

"Could I have another one?"

Sasuke raised his eyebrows, confused.

"Why?"

Chino grinned. "Because I think it would look cool."

Sasuke rolled his eyes; he was about to outright refuse the request, but as he looked at the anticipation in her eyes, he sighed and gave in, giving her another one of his kunai.

"Fine, just be careful; try to find a position with both of them that's comfortable, and then we'll begin."

"Yes! Thank you," Chino eagerly grabbed the kunai and placed it in her other hand.

Chino fumbled with them for a moment before settling into a stance, both kunai angled backward in her grip.

"Ready?"

Chino nodded firmly.

The guards near the treeline watched the display in amusement, though both were worried about such a young girl handling weapons.

"Alright, take a few swings," Sasuke instructed.

She followed his command, slashing at the air in front of her, alternating swings. After the fourth swing, she lost her balance and almost fell, but Sasuke managed to catch her by the back of her collar and straighten her. Sasuke narrowed his eyes as he critiqued her form.

"You're gripping them too tight," he noted. "Tension makes your strikes slower."

Chino nodded, loosened her grip slightly, and attempted to swing again. However, on her next swing, the kunai in her right hand slipped from her fingers and went flying, landing in the dirt fifteen feet away.

Chino bemoaned, slight tears forming at the corner of her eyes, "Man, I suck."

Sasuke let out a small chuckle.

She shot him a glare. "What's so funny?"

"Of course you suck. It's your first time trying."

Chino pouted. "Did you suck when you first started learning how to fight?"

Sasuke smirked. "No. I excelled at everything I did."

She huffed. "Ugh, I feel like you're bragging."

"Not bragging. Just facts."

Chino rolled her eyes but tried again, this time more focused. "Should I just use one this time?"

"It'll probably be for the best."

Chino nodded and began to swing her kunai; her movements were sloppy and uncoordinated, but she managed to keep her balance. Around twenty swings in, she began to tire and stop.

She then looked up at Sasuke expectedly. "How was that?"

"Your technique is unrefined, but I just wanted to see if you felt comfortable with a weapon. Let's try something else."

He reached into his pouch, pulled out three shuriken, and held them up. "Throwing weapons are just as important in battle. Precision matters more than brute strength."

Sasuke then had a realization wash over him—the exact phrase Itachi used when he was teaching him. His breathing quickened slightly as he began to lose himself in his memories, but Chino's voice brought him back to reality.

"Hey, are you okay? You seem mad."

Sasuke blinked rapidly and shook his head.

"It's nothing, just some old memories," Sasuke steeled himself. He wasn't going to let that man affect him any longer.

"But I'm going to show you how to throw shurikens."

Chino's eyes lit up with curiosity. "You mean like how ninjas always throw a million of these at once?"

Sasuke smirked. "Not a million. But speed and accuracy together can make them lethal."

Turning to a nearby tree, he flicked his wrist. The three shuriken cut through the air, embedding themselves in the bark in a perfect triangle.

Chino's eyes widened as a look of amazement came across her face. "Wow"

He handed her a single shuriken. "Try hitting the tree."

Chino turned the small, sharp star over in her hand, pulled her arm back, and threw. The shuriken spun—wobbling unsteadily—before dropping into the grass halfway to the tree.

She groaned. "That was awful."

Sasuke crossed his arms. "Your wrist is too stiff. It's not about force—it's about technique."

Stepping beside her, he adjusted her grip, guiding her fingers along the edges of the shuriken. "Hold it like this. Put your thumb on the flat part and your fingers along the ridges. And when you release, flick your wrist—don't just throw."

Chino focused on his words; she readjusted the shuriken again in her hand to make sure she had the technique down. Then she took a deep breath and threw again.

This time, the shuriken reached the tree, though it barely stuck before falling off.

Her eyes widened. "I did it!"

Sasuke nodded unimpressed. "Barely. Again."

Chino huffed but grabbed another shuriken, narrowing her eyes in concentration. She exhaled and threw.

The weapon struck the tree—not deep, not fast, but it stayed.

Sasuke gave a slight nod of approval. "Better."

Chino grinned. "Told you I'd get it!"

"Don't get ahead of yourself; we're just getting started."

Meanwhile, three figures lurked in the shadows, watching.

Dosu's gaze remained locked on the pair. This was his chance. Ever since their original plan to infiltrate the exams had failed, he had been devastated—he thought it had been his only opportunity to prove himself to Lord Orochimaru.

But then Kabuto had approached him with a new mission.

Capture the Chinoike girl and deliver her to Orochimaru.

It had seemed nearly impossible at first. She had been constantly surrounded by high-level shinobi and guards. But now? Now she was alone with just one strong genin and two guards—isolated, away from the city.

This was their moment.

Dosu's voice was barely above a whisper. "We need to strike now. Kakashi is gone."

Zaku tensed beside him. "Are you insane?"

"No, only logical; this will be our best opportunity to take the girl."

Kin spoke up, "I agree with Dosu; I think the faster we get this assignment over with, the better."

"Fine, do you even have a plan, or are we just going to charge right in?"

"Well, since you asked, I do have one." Dosu, said as he smiled underneath his bandages.

The forest was eerily quiet, the only sounds being the faint rustling of leaves and the occasional chirp of birds. Sasuke and Chino were still practicing shuriken throws when Sasuke's Sharingan suddenly flared to life. His sharp eyes darted toward the treeline, sensing the faint but unmistakable presence of chakra. He glanced over to see the two guards slumped against a tree, unconscious—likely victims of a genjutsu.

"Get behind me," Sasuke ordered, his voice low and urgent.

Chino blinked, confused. "What? Why?"

Before Sasuke could explain, Zaku burst from the shadows, his arms extended. "Decapitating Airwaves!" he shouted, unleashing a powerful blast of compressed air toward Sasuke and Chino.

Sasuke shoved Chino out of the way, but the force of the blast caught him mid-dodge, hurling him across the clearing. He skidded to a stop.

"Stay down!" Sasuke barked at Chino, urging her to stay out of the way of the upcoming skirmish. His eyes locked onto Zaku, his Sharingan spinning as he prepared for the fight.

Kin emerged from the shadows, her hands a blur as she launched a volley of senbon toward Sasuke. He dodged most of them, but one grazed his arm, drawing a thin line of blood.

"Tch," Sasuke hissed, his gaze flicking between Zaku and Kin. "What do you want?"

Zaku jeered, "We're not here for you, Uchiha. Hand over the girl, and we won't hurt you."

"Not happening," Sasuke growled, his voice cold and resolute.

Before he could engage, a sudden scream pierced the air. Sasuke's head snapped toward the sound to see Dosu scooping Chino off the ground, his grip firm as he began to retreat into the trees.

"Sasuke, help!" Chino yelled, her voice filled with panic as she struggled against Dosu's hold.

Anger flared within Sasuke, and he lunged toward them, but Zaku intercepted him with another blast of airwaves, forcing him to leap back. Kin followed up with another volley of senbon, pinning Sasuke down.

"You're not going anywhere," Zaku sneered, his arms crackling with energy.

Sasuke's jaw tightened. He couldn't afford to waste time—Chino was in danger. But with Zaku and Kin in his way, he needed to end this quickly.

Sasuke quickly ran through a series of hand seals, his chakra flaring. "Fire Release: Twin Great Dragon Fire Jutsu!"

He spat out an altered version of the Great Dragon Fire Jutsu, the flames splitting into two dragons that rushed toward Zaku from different directions. Zaku's eyes widened as he panicked, raising both arms to counter the powerful technique. He blasted airwaves from his arms to disperse the flames, but the force and heat of the dragons were too much. The explosion of fire and air sent him flying, his body slamming into a tree before he crumpled to the ground.

Kin, caught off guard by the display, hesitated for a moment. That moment was all Sasuke needed. He closed the distance between them in an instant, his Sharingan tracking her every move. Kin threw another volley of senbon, but her panic threw off her aim. Sasuke dodged the projectiles with ease, his movements fluid and precise.

Channeling lightning chakra into his hand, Sasuke struck Kin with a swift, precise blow to the side of her neck. Her eyes rolled back as she collapsed, unconscious.

Sasuke didn't waste a second. He turned toward where Dosu had taken Chino, his heart pounding. The entire encounter lasted only twelve seconds, but that was enough time for a skilled ninja to make significant distance.

Chino thrashed in Dosu's grip, her mind racing. She couldn't let him take her. She wouldn't. Her hand brushed against the kunai on her belt, and she grabbed it, stabbing it into Dosu's side with all her strength.

Dosu gasped, his grip loosening as blood seeped from the wound. "You…!" he snarled, his voice filled with rage.

Dosu activated his Melody Arm, sending a less powerful sound wave toward Chino's ears. She let out a scream of pain, her body trembling as the vibrations rattled her senses.

Despite the pain, Chino refused to give up. She continued to struggle, her determination unwavering. As she opened her eyes, something within her awakened. Her vision blurred, and then everything shifted. The world around her seemed to slow down, and she could see the blood dripping from Dosu's wound in vivid detail. It was as if the liquid was calling to her, begging to be controlled.

Dosu raised his Melody Arm again, preparing to disable her once more, but Chino's eyes glowed a deep crimson. The blood from his wound began to twist and writhe, forming into sharp, needle-like projectiles.

"What the—?!" Dosu's eyes widened in shock as the blood needles shot toward him, piercing his arm and forcing him to drop Chino.

Chino landed in a heap in pain and confusion; she saw the approaching Dosu.

Quickly, she reached for her single shuriken and threw it at him. Her aim was true, but he easily knocked it away with his arm.

"Enough!" Dosu shouted, his Melody Arm vibrating with power, to strike out at Chino.

Lightning Release Bullet: Powerful Breath

A bolt of lightning struck Dosu, sending him flying into the woods.

The forest was eerily quiet now, the echoes of battle replaced by the soft rustling of leaves and Chino's muffled sobs. Sasuke stood stiffly, his Sharingan still active as he scanned the treeline for any sign of Dosu. When he was certain the threat had passed, he deactivated his dōjutsu and turned his attention to Chino.

She was kneeling on the ground, her hands trembling as she clutched her ears. Blood trickled from her eyes, the crimson streaks stark against her pale skin. Her Ketsuryūgan had faded, leaving her looking small and vulnerable.

"Chino," Sasuke said, his voice low but firm. "Are you hurt?"

She looked up at him, her eyes wide and filled with tears. "I… I don't know. My ears… they're ringing. And my eyes… they burn." Her voice cracked, and she wiped at her face with her sleeve, smearing the blood. "What… what happened to me?"

Sasuke hesitated, unsure of how much to say. He crouched down beside her, his expression unreadable but his tone softer than usual. "You unlocked your Ketsuryūgan. It's your clan's dōjutsu. You used it to defend yourself."

Chino stared at him, her breath hitching. "I… I did that? The blood… it moved because of me?" She looked down at her hands, still trembling. "I didn't even know what I was doing. It just… happened."

Sasuke nodded. "It's a powerful ability. But using it for the first time can be overwhelming. Your body isn't used to the strain."

She swallowed hard, her voice barely above a whisper. "It felt…terrifying. Like I wasn't in control. But at the same time, it was like I could see everything—every drop of blood, every heartbeat. It was too much."

Sasuke's gaze softened slightly. He understood what it was like to feel overwhelmed by power, to struggle with abilities that came with a heavy cost. "It'll get easier with time. But you need to rest now. Your body needs to recover."

Chino nodded weakly, but her tears kept falling. "I was so scared, Sasuke. I thought… I thought he was going to take me. And I didn't know if you'd…" She trailed off, unable to finish the sentence.

Sasuke's jaw tightened. He wasn't used to comforting people, but something about her vulnerability stirred a protective instinct in him. "You're safe now. I won't let anyone take you."

She looked up at him, her eyes searching his for reassurance. "Promise?"

For a moment, Sasuke was silent. Promises were dangerous—they carried weight, and he had learned the hard way how easily they could be broken. But as he met her gaze, he found himself nodding. "Yeah. I promise."

Chino's lips trembled into a small, grateful smile. "Thank you," she whispered. Then, without warning, she leaned forward and wrapped her arms around him, burying her face in his shoulder.

Sasuke stiffened, caught off guard by the sudden embrace. He wasn't used to physical affection, especially not from someone he barely knew. But as he felt her trembling against him, he slowly relaxed, his hands hovering awkwardly before settling on her back.

For a moment, they sat there in silence, the weight of what had just happened settling over them. The forest seemed quieter now, the tension of battle replaced by a fragile sense of calm.

Finally, Sasuke stood, offering her a hand. "Come on. We need to get you back to the city, see if the guards need medical attention, and report to Kakashi. Do you think you can stand?"

"I don't know," she murmured, her voice still shaky. "Could I… could I get on your back?"

A slight smile tugged at the corner of Sasuke's lips. "Certainly."

Chino climbed onto Sasuke's back, her arms wrapping around his shoulders as he secured her in place. Together, they made their way back to Center Spring, the forest gradually giving way to the familiar sights of the city.

When Sasuke returned with help, they found that everyone was accounted for—except for Dosu.