05

=3rd Person POV=

In a modest estate near the center of the Nara Clan compound, a party is taking place. Songs, and laughter can be heard, and celebration was in the air. The main show of this party, a child with raven hair and purple iris, surrounded by three children and a gaggle of adults, is our protagonist, Ashira Nara

=Ashira Nara POV=

Smiling as my parents and their friends finished singing the birthday song, I closed my eyes and wished for the safety of my family before blowing out the candles. Clapping sounds spread around the room as my father stood up and started speaking.

"Happy 4th birthday son, you grew up so fast. It was only so long ago that you were still cooing, and oohing at me."

Said father with tears in his eyes, as he smirked and continued.

"Now look at you, so big and handsome. You'll be the heartbreak of many young ladies soon, I'll wager."

A fist soon descended upon his head, as once again mother delivered another soul to the gate of pure land. Forehead scrunching, and a blood vessel popping, she said.

"Don't go giving our pure son any ideas!!!! And Ashira, NO GIRL until you are 16!!!"

Deadpanning with a shaky grin on my lips, i nodded, then turned to silently send out a prayer for my father. Whose eyes are still seeing stars from the impromptu lobotomy, that is my mother fist. Snickers can be heard in the background, as two men, one with a sumo wrestler build, and a lion-like wild orange mane, the other with a sleek but muscular build and pineapple shaped head started coughing from trying to reign in their laughter. Two more fists descended on their head from a third woman with beautiful platinum colored hair and blue iris. Those three are the members of the current generation of the infamous Ino-Shika-Cho team, and also the prospective clan head of their own clan, Shikano Nara, my uncle, and his teammates, Inoko Yamanaka, and Choso Akimichi.

"Stop acting like children, you two!!! And Ashira, happy birthday child. You are 4 now, but you should still listen to your mother ok? She knows what's best for you."

With mother nodding, the adults in the room started wishing me a happy birthday, before giving me and the kids room to play. A poke on my shoulder shows Choza Akimichi holding out his bag of chips.

"You look nervous Ashira, have some chips."

Opening his left eye before tilting upward to look at me, my cousin, Shikaku Nara sighed and said

"Troublesome, you are hiding something. Usually I can't be bothered, but you are family, so spill."

Sighing too, before grinning mischievously, i said "Wouldn't you like to know" Before turning serious and said

"I'll tell you later if I can, let's just leave it at that. Also thank you Choza, but i'm ok"

To his credit, Shikaku did well to contain his curiosity before nodding, and falling back to sleep. Though the resident gossip boy, on his left isn't as patient. Turning toward me with interest and said

"Now i'm seriously curious, what's going on that you can't even share with us."

"Clan business" I said before diverting the topic to our upcoming academy admission day.

"How are you all feeling about going to the academy next year though, personally i hope they can teach us something useful."

A snort rang out from Shikaku as he sagged further onto the table

"Hopefully they have someone good enough for you to spar with, just so you can stop dragging me into your exercises."

Snickering Inoichi said

"That's so on brand with you Shika, although i heard that the Senju heir is going to be the same class as us so that should be interesting."

I nodded, and thought about Nawaki Senju, the one kid that walked into a minefield and died without a body. Rich kid, heir to a declining clan, descended from the most famous bloodline in the world, with the formidable Orochimaru as his sensei, dude fit the main character's template to a Tee, shame he didn't have the luck of one. Choza, who was happily munching on his chips, shared his thoughts.

"Hope they have good food there" Smirking slightly, i said

"Never change Choza never change"

Seriously, Choza is a cute and chill kid. As long as you don't press his buttons, he's a certified bro. Conversations flowed, and before long night fell, as the last of the guests were leaving, i called out to uncle Shikano, and my parents

"Mom, dad, uncle Shika, can i tell you something, ALONE"

I emphasized, looking as serious as a 4 yr old kid could be. Turning toward my parents with a questioning look, my uncle received head shakes, but with a suspicious expression from mother. Sighing, Uncle Shika told his wife to look after my cousin, before moving into my backyard alongside my parents as I followed.

"Ok Ashira, this is as secure as it gets, you can tell us." Nodding my head i said

"It's better if i show you" Before forming the hand sign for divine dog. Reaching inward, i felt that same connection for two intertwined presences in the deep recess of my soul i called "Divine Dogs" Before shadows started pulling from beneath me and forming the same Dogs i felt this morning.

The sight before me was comical. Both father, and uncle have their jaws slacked looking as if they are about to fall to the ground, eye wide with disbelief expression. My mother on the hand had a resigned expression before walking toward me and petting my head.

"Creatures? No Chakra constructs? Must be, forming out of shadows?" Mumbled my uncle who lost his disbelief expression, and replacing it with a calculating look. Salt and Pepper, yes i have impeccable naming sense, moved forward and rubbing their heads on both sides of my arms. Smiling lightly and giving out head pats, i said

"I felt them this morning, when i was training in the forest, there are 8 others that i can summon… With some conditions, i don't know what they can do, but my dogs, Salt, and Pepper, can sprint 100 meters in under 4 seconds, with claws sharp enough that can make 3 inches claw marks on solid rocks. And oh they can also turn into liquid shadow to avoid physical injury."

I said nervously before looking into the faces of my family. Feeling relieved that both my parents still held the same loving gaze, albeit with a healthy dose of shock and wonder. Snapping out of her though, mother said

"Is that why i felt a sudden increase of at least 30% in your chakra reserve?" nodding i said

" I think my chakra doubled after my awakening, but summoning the dogs take half my chakra, so i was slowly replenishing it so i can show you this. I'm back down to 30% of my chakra now, and oh don't worry it doesn't take chakra to maintain them." nodding along with my parents, my uncle took a deep breath before saying

"This is something big you have shown us nephew, it's late now, but we will talk tomorrow, but I doubt i'll get any sleep after this." Looking toward my mother, he said

"I'll strengthen security around this area, in the meantime, rest sister, we'll discuss this comes morning." Nodding along and escorting his family out of the house, my parents ushered me into my room before father said

"This is a lot you have shown use Ashira, but know this no matter what happened you are still our child, and we love, kekkei genkai or no kekkei genkai." Surprise must have been on my face since mother nodded gently as she smiled, and said

"We knew you were nervous ,child. We have known you all whole life, and as your father said. We all love you regardless. Now sleep it's late" kissing me goodnight and tucking me into bed, my parents left the room as i fell slowly into slumber, feeling all the guilt, and shame washing away from the love they have shown me.