Naruto - Azure Awakening

Mornings in Takimura were always misty and cold. The dense moisture in the air meant the sun took longer to warm the valley, and winters were especially dark and frigid. Yet, despite the chill, even the Terumi clan loved their new home. For the first time in years, it provided what they had been missing most: safety.

Before the alliance, the Takime clan's limited manpower meant every task had to be carefully assigned. Even the academy had only one teacher, resulting in a generation of gennins who lagged behind their peers from other villages. Despite this, the children showed talent, and with the Terumi clan bolstering their numbers, things began to change.

The academy now had enough instructors to function properly, and a wave of new establishments opened in the village. Blacksmiths started crafting personalized weapons and armor, catering to the unique needs of individual shinobi. Herbalists set up shops offering healing salves, antidotes, and stamina-boosting potions. Even clothing makers began weaving chakra-enhanced garments, like flame-resistant cloaks and water-repellent boots, which quickly became popular.

Despite these advancements, there was still one issue they could not solve by themselves: Takimura had no fuinjutsu master. Sealing techniques were an essential part of any shinobi village, and without a specialist, the clans were at a disadvantage. This void needed to be filled as soon as possible.

Suiren and Meruem knew of only one seal master who wasn't tied to any existing faction, and they decided to send Mei to convince him to join Takimura. It wouldn't be an easy task, but both leaders had confidence in Mei's diplomacy.

Meanwhile, Maki and Akura were sent on a separate mission to approach a clan that had recently suffered an attack from Yagura's faction. Before the attack, they had around a hundred members but who knew how many survived. This clan was renowned for their blacksmithing, and their ancestors had crafted the legendary swords used by the Seven Swordsmen of Kirigakure. Though the original craftsmen were long gone, Suiren and Meruem believed their descendants must have inherited some of that talent. If Takimura could secure their cooperation, it could be a crucial step in strengthening the village. Besides, even if they were not talented blacksmiths, they'd be able to do something else and Takimura needed any sort of labor they could get.

Takimura was no longer just a refuge—it was transforming into a fully functional village. But with growth came the inevitable consequence: it wouldn't be long before Kirigakure deemed them a threat. That looming danger forced the leaders to act decisively. They needed to bolster their numbers, resources, and alliances quickly to stand a chance against what was coming.

The survival of Takimura depended on their ability to adapt and grow stronger before the storm reached their gates.

<<<>>> 

Just like the rest of Takimura, the team Shin was also having a busy few days. The new intense training had become part of their daily routine. Every morning, Shin handed them weight seals that would apply pressure and told them to run while wearing them. For Kaoru, the weight was 25 kilograms (about 55 pounds), for Akane it was 30 kilograms, and for Mizuki, 20 kilograms. The weight wasn't just for endurance—it was to help them build strength under pressure, and Shin believed it would test their limits.

The physical strain was intense, but the team was quickly learning how to push through it. Shin also pinpointed some of their weaknesses.

"Kaoru," he said, "your biggest problem is taijutsu. For someone with your speed, you're alarmingly bad at close combat. I believe the reason for this is your overreliance on your Suijingan. It gives you an edge, but it's also a crutch. During these two weeks, you're going to use only body flicker, taijutsu, and earth release in your sparring sessions. Nothing more. Understand?"

Kaoru nodded. After their first meeting, Kaoru had talked to Maki, who had expressed complete trust in Shin's abilities as a teacher. That trust convinced Kaoru to listen and push through his frustration without complaints.

"You won't need much chakra for that, Ru, so you should be able to keep that little water droplet of yours floating all the time," Akane teased.

Kaoru shot her a playful glare. "You think I'm just going to stand there all day with it hovering? Maybe I will, just to annoy you," he teased back.

"Focus, both of you," Shin interrupted his voice completely devoid of any emotion, as usual. "Akane, you'll also focus on taijutsu, but don't stop using your ninjutsu. Since you've picked swordsmanship as your weapon, I'll also teach you my sword style."

Akane's eyes sparkled with excitement, she was always eager to learn anything new.

Shin turned his attention to Mizuki, who had been silently observing the exchange. "Mizuki, I think what you've been doing is already fine. I won't force you to train in taijutsu if you don't want to, but in that case, you need to learn techniques that will help you escape or at least hide. Otherwise, any ninja with decent speed will easily take you down. You're good at maintaining distance, but you need to be able to slip away when needed, or the pressure will get to you."

Mizuki nodded, however, she did not know which techniques to learn, [ill ask sensei later] she thought. 

Mizuki was a specialist at long-range attacks and preferred to keep her enemies at a distance. But Shin's words about vulnerability stung, and she knew it was right, especially after repeatedly failing to stop Kaorus's charges every single time.

Shin continued, his gaze sweeping over all three of them. "During these two weeks, you'll also be training your body flicker. Keep in mind that we won't be leaving the village unless all of you can perform it without hand signs."

Kaoru's eyes narrowed at that. He knew body flicker was an essential skill for any shinobi, but the idea of needing to perform it without hand signs was a whole new level of difficulty. He glanced at Akane and Mizuki.

[Will they manage to master it in two weeks?] Kaoru was not convinced.

Shin's voice grew serious. "A shinobi who can't use body flicker without hand signs is aan easy target on the battlefield. Not only that, but they could end up causing the deaths of their teammates if they can't get away fast enough. It's not a skill you can afford to fail at. It could mean the difference between life and death."

Shin's gaze softened slightly. "I know it's difficult. But we're doing this for you. You need to become faster, smarter, and more resourceful. That's the only way we'll survive the battles ahead."

Kaoru, Akane, and Mizuki stood silently. Kaoru had already experienced the real fight and understood why shin was so serious about body flicker. Kaoru was sure that it was his mastery of body flicker that made the difference in that fight. 

So, team Shin had their work cut out for them, and they were going to have to train harder than ever before if they were to succeed.

"Alright, let's get to work," Shin said, walking toward the training area.

<<<>>>

It had been a week since Shin began training his team, and the difference was already evident. Kaoru's taijutsu skills had improved significantly—he no longer hesitated to engage in close combat, and his movements were becoming sharper and more precise. Akane had gained a confidence she desperately needed and had finally started thinking strategically before throwing punches. The biggest surprise, however, was Mizuki. In just one week, she had not only mastered body flicker but had also begun learning the Dust Spiral Technique, a move perfect for creating escape opportunities. Shin himself had provided her with the technique, impressed by her hard work.

[God, everything hurts,] Kaoru thought, his entire body aching as he walked toward the village clothes shop. [I thought adding just five kilograms to the weights wouldn't make much of a difference—but it did.]

Maki had given him money to buy new gear for their upcoming mission. He had placed the order last week, and now it was time to pick it up.

"Hello, I'm here to pick up my new gear," Kaoru said as he approached the shopkeeper.

The shopkeeper, a woman in her fifties with a kind demeanor, greeted him warmly. "Hello, Kaoru. I'll bring it right away," she said before disappearing behind a curtain of beads that covered a back room.

Moments later, she returned with a younger man, likely her son or grandson, who carried a large box. Kaoru's eyes widened in surprise. He had only ordered two sets of clothes. Why was the box so big?

"I know you ordered armor and shinobi accessories as well, so I had everything brought here for your convenience," the woman said with a smile.

[She clearly knows how to gain a customer's goodwill,] Kaoru thought, chuckling to himself as he took the box.

Kaoru carefully opened the large box. Inside, he found his new shinobi gear, and for a moment, he was taken aback by the quality and attention to detail. The clothes were dark and fitted—designed for agility and stealth. The sleeveless tunic and pants were made of a durable yet lightweight material, perfect for the rigorous movement his missions would demand. The tunic had the Takime symbol on the back and beneath it, there was a long-sleeved undershirt, ensuring he stayed warm during Takimura's cold, misty mornings.

At the bottom of the box lay a long black cloak, its interior lined with waterproof material. The Takime symbol was embroidered in silver thread across the back, standing out just enough to be seen in the right light. It felt sturdy in his hands, and Kaoru knew it would be invaluable for shielding himself from the relentless mist and rain that was common in the land of water.

His pouches for kunai and shuriken were tied to straps meant to secure them around his legs, keeping the tools easily accessible without adding unnecessary bulk around his waist. 

"This is incredible," Kaoru said, looking up at the shopkeeper.

The woman's warm smile deepened. "You'll need it for what's ahead. Be careful out there, Kaoru, you and your sister are Takime's hope."

Kaoru gave a small bow, carefully closing the box and lifting it into his arms. "Thank you. I'll make sure this doesn't go to waste."

The weight of the gear in his hands was grounding in more ways than one. As Kaoru stepped out of the shop, he couldn't help groan in pain.

"I should have asked Sugeru to come with me" muttered Kaoru as he walked towards his home.

<<<>>>

Mei stood in front of a lone house near the beach. The house itself wasn't particularly remarkable—wooden, slightly weather-worn, and positioned to face the sea. Yet finding it had been a grueling task. Despite its plain appearance, the seals protecting it had been masterfully crafted. They cloaked the house in layers of misdirection and even caught Mei in genjutsu more than once.

[If this had been the work of a seal grandmaster instead of a regular master, I'd still be wandering around in circles,] Mei thought.

This was her first encounter with the elusive fuinjutsu master, and she wasn't sure how to approach the man, let alone convince him to come with her. Mei was known for her charm, but charm alone wasn't always enough. She could only hope that an opportunity to win him over would present itself during their discussion.

Mei knocked on the door, her ears straining for any sound from within. Silence greeted her. After a few moments, she pushed the door gently, and it creaked open with surprising ease.

"Hello?" Mei called out as she stepped inside cautiously, her eyes darting around the dimly lit interior. Her movements were slow and deliberate, she did not want to trigger any more seals.

The house was simple and old but tidy. A table and a chair sat in the center of the room, and a faint smell of sea salt lingered in the air. Mei saw that there was a letter on the table. She slowly approached. Something about the scene felt off. The letter was placed too neatly, too deliberately. Still, she reached for it, her instincts on high alert.

The letter said:

"If you are reading this, it means either I am dead or I need your help. There is a village in the south, not far from here. Run there as quickly as you can. If I'm still alive, you'll find me in the village chief's house. Please hurry."

Mei stared at the note, her mind racing.

[How the hell did he know someone would find this? Did he expect me to come, or is this a lucky shot? If it's the latter, there must be tons of people who'd be willing to help him in exchange for a favor. Why leave this letter?]

The situation was unsettling. The idea of walking into a trap wasn't lost on Mei, but the possibility of the fuinjutsu master being in danger outweighed her suspicions.

"Damn it," she muttered, gripping the letter tightly. "I'd rather run there and check than ignore it and let someone die."

Without another moment's hesitation, Mei flickered out of the house, heading south toward the village. The salty breeze from the beach whipped against her face, but her focus remained sharp. Whatever lay ahead, she'd face it head-on.

**

A/N -

I just adopted a kitten ^_^ I barely had time to write today. This morning's chapter came from my reserves, and I had to write this one while stealing glances at the little cutie sleeping next to me. My left eye was on the screen, and my right was on the fluffball.

Anyway, I'll be more focused and back in shape tomorrow. Time to start building a proper pile of chapters ahead of schedule! For now, though, I'm off to play with her. Thanks for reading, as always!

Character Notes:

Mei - Daredevil - "You better be dying, because if not im gonna kill you"

Kaoru - Exhausted - "God, my back is killing me. Is this Cinnabon I smell?"

**