06

=3rd Person POV=

Within the chamber of the Nara small council meeting room sat Shikano, Yasuka, and her husband Hashira. A sound of wood scraping stone was heard, as all three turned toward the visage of an elderly person entering. A balding man with a scarred left eye, and horrific burn scars underneath his Yukata walked in. Hanabei Nara is a survivor of countless battles, a veteran shinobi, the 1st elder of the prestigious Nara clan, 

"Uncle!", "Greeting uncle!", and the maternal uncle to the Nara siblings.

Grunting in acknowledgment, Hanabei turned his head toward the third person in the room, Hashira Uzumaki, with a contemplating look. He asked

"Considering that he's in here, and the fact that you called me in at this kami-cursed hour, the day right after the boy's 4th birthday. I take it that this involves Ashira?"

Nodding in agreement, Shikano explained 

"Yesterday night, Ashira revealed to us the existence of a never seen before kekkei genkai, that can summon creatures out of liquid shadow. We believe that this is a mutation between his two lineages. So far he has only summoned a pair of twin black and white wolves. He admitted that he can summon more when we pressed him for details this morning. The process is called a *ritual*, which involved, in his own words, beating the summoned monster by himself, and his own tamed summon, without outside interference, to gain the defeated summon" Shikano took a deep breath, hesitation on his face, before steeling himself and continued

"Further testing this afternoon has shown that each of the wolves have the physical parameter of high Genins specialized in taijutsu, while possessing the ability to turn into liquid shadow to nullify physical damage like that of the Hozuki's signature jutsu. Both fire, and lightning release have been tested to being able to damage them in this state." Eye widened, and humming in interest, Hanabei mused to himself

"Fascinating, Genin level ninken at the age of 4, can the summons be strengthened? What about its range? Genjutsu? Chakra aspects? What if it was *killed*?" before dismissing it entirely "No, too risky, we can't risk chakra exhaustion on a boy so young." Turning toward the trio Hnabei asked

"And you have brought this to me and not the entire elder council because?" This time it was Yasuka who answered 

"Ashira is a smart, and thoughtful boy, but he's a cautious child uncle. He fears the ramification of this new kekkai genakai, and what it meant for his and our safety." She paused before smiling, and continuing "And he's afraid that we will shun him for being different, a silly thought for me and my husband will love him no matter what. Nevertheless, being the owner of a new kekkai genkai will bring attention on his person, with it comes scrutiny, and dangers. Dangers and scrutiny we believe you can better prepare him for." Nodding in approval, Hanabei replied

"A good mindset even for a shinobi to have, let alone a child so young. And since i'm the only one you trust without missions to take, and a clan to run, I take it that you would want me to train him in the shinobi art?" Shikano nodded before being interrupted by the elder Nara

"And what of the other elders? Know that i do not approve of hiding him away from the rest of the clan" Hashira, who so far has remained silent in this conversation spoke up

"We understand, Honored Elder, we merely wish to ease Ashira into this before his status is revealed to the clans, and eventually, to the world at large." Face marred with hidden fury, Hanabei scoffed

"I did not ask for your opinion, child of the whirlpool. But very well, i accept your request, bring him to my manor on monday next week at midday, i'll need time to prepare." Before standing up abruptly, and left. Seeing tensions leaving the air, Hashira sighed and slumped forward in his seat.

"Your uncle does not like me dear." Smiling mischievously, Yasuka reasoned "He's old fashioned Hashira, he believed i should have married a Nara." Grinning slightly at his brother's in law suffering Shikano said 

"As much as i like watching Hashra squirm in his seat, i have works to do. If this is all sister, you both may go," Nodding as Shikano watched them leave. He let out a long suffering at the amount of increased work his troublesome nephew is going to bring him before soldiering on.

~4 days later~

=Ashira POV=

I'm excited, like genuinely excited. I didn't know what to feel after my parents told me that no, Ashira. We can't just drop everything and start training you. Oh I knew they weren't gonna train me. Mom is one of Konoha chief medic nin, on top of being a special jonin, while dad is a jonin of the leaf. Both are valuable resources even for a major village. Plus there is the matter of discretion. Questions will be asked when either of them stop coming into work, questions that might expose my bloodline limit. Though it was a bit odd, that dad was so shivering when I asked him to accompany me to my new teacher.

Stopping myself at a crossroad, I turned left according to the map I was given. Should be any moment now, I thought, as i arrived at a modest manor, with distinct purple roof, and a wooden deer head carving hanging outside the door, just like what the description said. Walking toward the front door, i gently knocked, and waited. Sensing no one coming, and my senses aren't big enough to cover the entire manor, i knocked again and started yelling, and announcing my presence, to no avail.

Odd, i thought before trying to open the door, and succeeded, only to catch an incoming arrow out of reflex. Blunted tip, i thought as i examined the caught arrow. Starting to realized why my dad was so afraid of my new teacher, i took a deep breath, and slowly stepping into the house.

A long hallway connected to multiple doors greeted me. Sighing and surrendering to my fate, i tried to be as cautious as possible, as i dismantled several string traps that were rigged to several kunai and shuriken traps, all blunted. Searching throughout the house i stumbled upon a trap door. Thinking for a moment, i opened the door, and summoned Salt and Pepper, since this was probably one of those anime cliche test, and nothing is really lethal. I sent them down the trap door before joining in and walking behind them.

Reaching a dimly lit open training ground, I stopped and looked around as a white blur launched toward my face. Fast, i thought, too fast for me to dodge, but slow enough for me to lean along the punch and soften the blow. Rolling along the floor, to kill the momentum, I ordered Salt and Pepper telepathically by sending chakra through the connection i have with them (a trick I learned two days ago), as they moved swiftly and launched themself toward the now visible humanoid attacker in a white dogi. Parrying Salt the man spinned, and used her own momentum to throw the 200 pounds wolf toward her twin. 

If it was any ordinary wolf, Pepper would have been thrown alongside his sister, but my good boy is a Shikigami of the Ten Shadows. Pivoting to the side almost instantly, Pepper continued onward toward the now visible bald, and scarred man. Claws were swiped, sound of punches, and kicks hitting hard flesh resounded. In less than 5 seconds, barely enough time for me to reorient myself, Pepper was thrown alongside his sibling right next to me. Calming my breath, and shaking slightly, i ordered both Pepper, and Salt to perform a pincer attack, one from my left, the other rushed straight at the bald man, as i used the large form of my shikigami to create a blind stop and ran straight toward my right side, the same side where his scarred left eye is.

My eye widened at the sound of lightning sparking, as the unknown attacker's hands turned into a blur catching both Salt and Pepper, before they too went down and started spasming. Too committed to the rush attack already, I gritted my teeth, and performed a jump kick toward his face, sending a tiny bit of chakra into my legs. Easily catching my foot, a loud impact resounded, as he threw me away from my wolves, and started running after me. Flipping mid air and catching myself, i landed on my feet, and raised both hands in a boxing stand for some classic CQC. 

What followed was a massacre, as the old man dismantled my impromptu boxing style taijutsu. Swiping my left jab, and catching my hand, he performed an Ippon Seoi Nage, throwing me over his shoulder on the ground. Gasping from the sudden impact, I felt a foot on my chest as my unnamed attacker stood over me with an emotionless gaze.

Suddenly, the air felt heavy, as all my senses yelled at me to run to no avail. Taking out a Kunai The bald man stabbed it toward my throat. Seconds slow by as my vision was consumed by darkness for what felt like an eternity, only to appear right next to Salt, right on his shadow. Shadow teleport, i realized as i teleported to Salt's shadow 9 feet way. A thud rang out as the kunai was embedded in the ground where i was. Immediately turning my gaze toward the man, i got into my stand, as both Salt and Pepper surrounded me protectively. I briefly considered summoning Mahoraga before dismissing it entirely. I'm in the middle of the Nara Clan, releasing such a monster might harm my families, and i don't even know if i'm capable of escaping the ritual. Moments passed as we both stood there in silence, only to be broken by a maniacal laughter. 

"HAHAHAHAHHAHA, the Nara finally has its own S ranker!!!!!" Realisation dawning on my face as a tick mark appeared. I yelled angrily at the old man

"All of this was for a fucking test?!?!?! I learned nothing!!!! Was taught nothing!!! Got thrown around like a ragdoll, I almost died, you bastard!!!" A smirk appeared on his lips, as he answered

"Yet you still live and breathe boy, this is but a taster for the shinobi's life. Pray you do be so lucky, that at the end of the tunnel, all you receive is a quick death." His ruthless tone struck a chord deep in me, as i realised how close to death I was and how right he had been. Letting out sigh in acceptance i asked

"What should I have done then? I'm new to this, and me and both of my dogs combined can't even touch you." Nodding in agreement, he said

"That was the point of the lesson child, that no matter how well you do, how great your plan is, there comes a point in your career where you are faced with overwhelming force, and the only thing left to do is RUN." Reeling back at the sudden reminder, i realized that i could have just ran, that there were multiple ways for me to escape, before committing to fighting an unknown opponent. 

"With that out of the way, introductions are in order, my name is Hanabei Nara, your granduncle, now rest up, keep your puppies summoned, and tell me when your stamina is recovered" Liftin my eyes at that interesting fact. I scrunched my eyebrow down in confusion, as i noticed the latter half of his speech, I asked why.

"For your ritual of course, you Arashi, are going to fight one of your chakra construct"

EHHH???