(Akari's POV)
I stood alone within a more... hidden section of Konoha, awaiting the arrival of someone.
The dark hood of my long sleeved hoodie covered my face, with the only thing that was clear being Kōmyō no Kurayami–my Zanpakuto that had rested on my back in its sheath. The same outfit I had worn that night. The only reason it was out of my inventory was because he knew I had a weapon on me that night.
It had been 1 month. 1 full month since I mastered Water Walking and because of that I see no reason not to teach Shiina, Naruto and Hinata the Tree Walking Exercise, but first I had to get Naruto and Shiina to master the Leaf Sticking Exercise to focus their Chakra. Hinata would have done this.
But of course, I can't do this in broad daylight without the eyes of Anbu potentially being on us.
And so, I was going to make sure that didn't happen.
"Why did you want to meet me here, Inori?" The voice of the aged Hokage came.
I didn't turn, keeping my gaze fixed on the tree in front of me. The air hung still, carrying the faint scent of tree leaves, oak wood and damp earth. "Because, ," I said, my voice deliberately even, "this conversation requires a degree of... discretion."
He stepped closer, his silhouette materializing in the gloom. "Discretion? Regarding what, exactly? Your continued... impressive progress at the Academy?" There was a hint of amusement in his tone, but I sensed a layer of caution beneath it. He was always observant, always calculating.
"Partially," I conceded. "But more specifically, this is something to get your permission on the next stage of my training. Sort of extracurricular to what I'm already doing, you could say."
A beat of silence. "Extracurricular? And why does this require a clandestine meeting?"
"Because," I finally turned, letting the edge of my hood fall back just enough for him to see the steady gaze of my mismatched eyes, "I intend to accelerate their development significantly. I want to teach them Jutsu, but before that I'm going to be training them in Chakra Control. Master Tree Walking at least on the weekend, and start them on Water Walking if they do so soon enough. After that I'm going to figure out their Chakra Nature Affinities. But doing that in broad daylight would attract unwanted attention."
"I see. And you are telling me this because?"
He must have been curious, normally I kept my plans hidden within the depths of my own mind.
"It's simple. I need a few trusted members of the Anbu to "patrol the area" as I train them. Far enough away where it would deter "potential dangers" to them." A few of the important areas had me do a small gesture to show it was important. A slight shift in my arms was enough.
The more proactive Sarutobi would realise why.
Hiruzen's gaze sharpened, stroking his beard, thoughtful. "Accelerated development… and you believe this requires Anbu oversight?"
"Consider it a… safeguard," I elaborated, my tone carefully neutral. "Their progress will undoubtedly attract attention. Unwanted attention. Given Danzo, it would be prudent to ensure their training remains undisturbed. Especially if their growth becomes… noticeable. In fact, I am already certain that the growth of Naruto is already on their list. And even if I can hide it well, one ally of them spotting us? this is done."
Danzo's machinations were a constant undercurrent in Konoha's politics. Case in point, the fact that Torune was in my class over Shino, meant that the kidnapped Aburame was now Shino who was more than likely now a member of Root.
He agreed with me too. Naruto was always on his list. But not because of his potential... for what was contained within him.
Hiruzen's gaze remained fixed on mine, his expression unreadable for a long moment. The silence stretched, punctuated only by the rustling of leaves in the gentle breeze. Finally, he let out a soft sigh, the weight of his years seeming to settle upon his shoulders.
"Your… foresight continues to be unsettling, Akari," he said, his voice low. "You speak of threats I have yet to fully perceive, yet your understanding of them is… palpable." He paused, considering. "Very well. I will allocate a small, discreet Anbu team to patrol the western training grounds during your… extracurricular activities. They will maintain a distance, as you requested, but they will be there. Consider it a silent shield."
A flicker of something akin to gratitude, though carefully masked, crossed my features. "Thank you, Hokage-sama. Your understanding is… appreciated."
He studied me, his eyes sharp. "Understanding, or cautious acceptance? You move in ways that are… unorthodox, Akari. Your concern for Naruto, Hinata, and even Shiina… it is genuine, I believe. Yet, there is always a layer beneath, a calculation. Do not mistake my cooperation for blind faith."
My gaze remained steady. "Blind faith is bad faith, Hokage-sama. I understand that perfectly."
The Hokage nodded slowly, his gaze lingering on me for a moment longer before he turned to leave, his form dissolving back into the shadows as silently as he had arrived. The weight of his unspoken questions hung in the air, a reminder of the delicate balance I walked. He trusted me enough to grant my request, but his trust was clearly tempered with a healthy dose of suspicion. And rightly so.
To him, I was still the girl who killed a Kumo Jonin, and helped prevent a political fallout, whilst making the Uchiha more well liked. To him, I might have stopped a potential bad move.
But I knew better.
Danzo wanted the Uchiha dead, and he would get that.
With the Hokage's tacit approval secured, a small piece of the puzzle slid into place. The Anbu's presence would be a deterrent, a silent promise that our training wouldn't be interrupted by prying eyes, especially those belonging to Danzo's Root.
Yet in truth, that was not my goal. My true goal would be done by the gang my Henged Kage Bunshin is running. Well not true goal, in fact there's 3 main goals this achieves.
I mean, a bunch of Anbu near one spot would actually attract unwarranted attention. I was surprised at how easily Hiruzen fell for the ploy, I had thought it would take more convincing to do so. I assume he learned to trust in my plans at this point.
Which was fine.
It worked out in my favour.
(Time skip: June 6th, Saturday)
I held Shiina's hand as we rested under a tree waiting for the other 2 to get to the spot. Her head on my shoulder.
The sunlight dappled through the leaves, painting shifting patterns on the forest floor. The air hummed with the lazy buzz of insects. Shiina's soft breaths ghosted against my neck, a comforting weight that anchored me to the present. Even in the quiet anticipation, a part of my mind was already dissecting the training regimen for the day, calculating the most efficient way to get them started.
A rustle of leaves announced Naruto's arrival. He had a small grin on his face. "Hey, sorry we're late Akari, Shiina."
Hinata followed a moment later, her cheeks slightly flushed, a small, intricately braided section visible in her otherwise neatly kept hair. She offered a polite apology, her gaze meeting mine.
"It's of no consequence," I stated, my tone matter-of-fact, though warmth flickered within me at their presence. Shiina shifted slightly, her eyes twinkling with amusement.
"Alright, listen up," I said, my voice shifting to a more instructional tone . This was something that drew their attention because of the... teacher voice or mode I guess. "Naruto and Shiina, I will be explaining and showing an exercise to learn to better focus your Chakra. Hinata, I assume you have done the Leaf Sticking Exercise with your clan already?"
"Yes, Akari," Hinata replied softly, her gaze steady. "We practice it for the precise control required for our Juken to work."
"Excellent," I nodded. "Then you will begin with the Tree Walking Exercise. Focus your chakra to the soles of your feet, just enough to adhere to the tree's surface. Maintain a constant, even flow. It requires precision, not brute force. Too much and you will destroy the bark pushing you off, too little you will slip. Start slowly, and ascend at your own pace." I gestured to a tall, sturdy oak nearby. "You may begin at any time."
Hinata nodded, her expression focused. She approached the tree, closed her eyes for a moment, and then placed her foot against the trunk. A faint blue aura flickered around her foot, and she slowly began to walk upwards, her movements deliberate and controlled.
Turning my attention to the other two, I picked a small, vibrant green leaf from the ground. "Naruto, Shiina, this is the Leaf Sticking Exercise. The goal is simple: focus a minimal amount of chakra to your forehead and make this leaf stick without it being blown away by a breeze or falling off on its own. It requires minute control, a steady and consistent output of your internal energy. Think of it as a pinpoint of chakra, just enough to create adhesion. The idea is learning how to focus Chakra."
I demonstrated, focusing a tiny amount of chakra to my forehead. The leaf fluttered for a moment, then remained firmly in place, even when I lightly shook my head.
"Alright, your turn," I said, handing a leaf to both Naruto and Shiina. "Don't overthink it. Imagine it as a gentle pressure, enough to hold the leaf without crushing it."
Naruto, ever eager, immediately pressed the leaf to his forehead, his brow furrowed in concentration. A visible pulse of yellowish chakra flared briefly around him, causing the leaf to flutter wildly before being blown away by a gentle breeze. "Whoa! Too much, huh?" he exclaimed, grinning sheepishly.
"Yeah, normally Chakra shouldn't be made visible during the process. Although few possess such dense levels of Chakra to make it visible like that." I say calmly.
My girlfriend, in contrast, closed her eyes, her expression serene. The leaf on her forehead remained still, seemingly glued in place. She opened her eyes after a moment, a small smile playing on her lips. "Like this?"
"Precisely, Shiina," I nodded.
Naruto let out a slow breath and tried again, pressing the leaf to his forehead with a more focused look in his eye. His chakra flared again—less violently this time—but the leaf still trembled before slipping off. He caught it before it hit the ground, frustration flickering across his features.
"You're getting closer," I said, stepping beside him. "There should be less ramming through a door, more slipping in through a crack.
"Right," he murmured, this time his voice quieter, more inward.
Shiina, meanwhile, had already begun walking slow circles around the area, her leaf still affixed perfectly. I could tell she was channelling chakra continuously to keep it there while moving. An instinctive multitasker. I caught her eye briefly and gave her the smallest nod.
Actually a fun fact is that in my old world, Multitasking is a myth. Research has shown that our brains are not meant for simultaneous tasks at once. Instead we switch between tasks rapidly, which can hinder performance greatly, rather than help it. This is alongside the increased stres one gets from multitasking. But, in context of this world, then based on what I've seen, it seems that with a decent enough pool of Chakra it is possible to focus on more than 1 task at once.
This is possible because Chakra is in part spiritual energy, which comes from experiences, knowledge and meditation allowing the brain to focus on 2 tasks at once.
And Kage Bunshin isn't or aren't included in that because it's a cheat code.
Naruto sat cross-legged beneath the tree, the leaf once again fluttering to the grass beside him. He stared at the small green thing as if it had personally wronged him.
But I could see the gears turning in his mind.
His chakra control just hadn't caught up to his chakra volume. His reserves were vast—dense enough to be visible with minimal effort—but they sloshed around like water in an overfilled jug. Too much, too fast, too imprecise.
Meanwhile, Hinata had already begun her quiet ascent up the tree trunk. Each step was carefully measured. Her chakra control, as expected from a Hyuuga, was excellent. Although, halfway up the tree, she slipped once. The 2nd attempt got further but she ended up using too much, almost getting pushed off, but quickly adjusted, stopping the bark from exploding, and kept going. When she finally reached a branch and perched, she looked down and gave a modest nod.
I felt my lips curl upwards at that.
When Naruto finally made progress, a flicker of pride spread through me.
The leaf on his head fluttered, before finally stilling. He didn't blink, simply took slow measured breaths.
"That's it," I said, not quite smiling but letting approval touch my voice.
He glanced up at me. "Still feels weird," he murmured. "Like… trying to hold water in a strainer. But I think I'm getting the hang of it."
"You are." I nodded. "Now do it ten more times."
His expression flattened. "Of course."
Beside him, Shiina was already pacing, the leaf still perched on her forehead like a badge of honour. She'd gotten it in under five minutes, of course. Her reserves were average, but not for her age. The truth was that the training I had given her had worked, she had the reserves of a Genin in the body of a 7 year old.
She glanced over at Naruto with a small smirk. "You'll get there. Just imagine it like balancing a coin on your head… but the coin is made of energy and hates you."
"Yeah, that's about how it feels," Naruto muttered.
Naruto and Shiina join Hinata soon.
Shiina reached the tree first, her steps light as she approached the trunk. She gave it a quick glance, placed her palm against the bark as if greeting an old friend, then began walking upward. Her movement was fluid, balanced—confident without arrogance. Then she slipped off.
Naruto was second, his foot pressed against the tree and he slowly ascended, until the bark exploded, pushing him off.
Both hit the floor at the same time.
"Pft." A soft, almost imperceptible chuckle escaped my lips as I looked at them. But I hid it quickly.
This was why I didn't tell them how I mastered it, to see them fail at first.
Shiina groaned softly, lying sprawled on the ground with her arms out like a starfish. "So… turns out it's not as easy as it looks."
Naruto sat up with an exaggerated sigh, brushing dirt from his sleeves. "I told you it was like trying to wrestle a cloud. It just doesn't wanna stay."
I walked over to them calmly, hands in my jackets pockets, and stood just close enough that my shadow fell over both of them.
"Congratulations," I said, dryly. "You've both proven you are not spiders. Shocking. But now that you've experienced the common failure states I didn't have to deal with as I got it first try, we can move on to real progress."
Naruto glanced up at me. "Do you enjoy being this smug?"
"No." I lied as naturally as I breathed.
Shiina chimed in without missing a beat, "As her girlfriend, yes, yes she does."
I let them sit with that for a moment—the bruised egos, the brush with gravity, the sting of pride. Letting a little silence settle after a failure is important. It gives the brain time to think, process, adapt. Filling every moment with words ruins that.
But, of course, Naruto couldn't hold his tongue for long.
"So how did you get it first try?" he asked, voice somewhere between frustration and curiosity.
"... If I felt myself slipping, I increased the amount, if I found myself being pushed of, I decreased, mesmerising how much I was using each time as I adapted. It was a theory I had after reading the downsides, and it worked."
Naruto blinked at me, absorbing the explanation like someone trying to read ancient scrolls by moonlight.
"…You figured that out… before trying it?"
"Yes," I said.
"Of course you did," he muttered, looking away in defeat. "You're terrifying."
"You'll get used to it," Shiina said, climbing to her feet and brushing dirt off her shorts. "Or at least you'll think you have, until she pulls something worse."
"Like what?"
"Who knows?" Shiina said with a smirk.
"Ugh, you're both impossible."
Shiina snorted, brushing a stubborn leaf from her shoulder. "You say that like it's a surprise. You've known us for how long now?"
"Long enough to know I should've stayed in bed today," Naruto muttered as he walked back to the base of the tree, stretching his arms. His chakra reserves still felt like a firehose with no nozzle, but the frustration in his voice was mostly performative. He was learning. Slowly. Grittily. And most importantly—he wasn't giving up.
Hinata had descended the tree by now and watched the others quietly, offering occasional tips in a tone barely above a whisper. She pointed out subtle shifts in posture, overcorrections, slight tremors of instability that might make a person slide off. Her eyes, those gentle Byakugan, were a tactical asset even if they weren't activated. She'd seen her clan practice enough to recognize the signs of wasted energy.
Shiina absorbed the advice like a sponge. My previous training made her unusually methodical for someone her age. Though it wasn't to the extent of what happened to me and others in my past life within the White Room.
Naruto, even if smarter, learned more from doing rather than actual reading. Even if he could effectively learn from hearing theory, it was always better to let him put that knowledge into practise.
For the next few minutes Shiina and Naruto both kept at it. And I said minutes, because on her 25th try Shiina got it down. She had taken my words about how I mastered it literally and tried to do it herself. She failed several times. But of course, I knew she would do it in a day.
Where most would take a month to master this, my girlfriend, and friends would do it in a day. That was the pride I had in the ones I loved.
By the time Shiina reached the branch and stood on it confidently, a flicker of pride surged deep in my chest. She stood there, arms spread slightly like she was testing for balance, and then slowly turned to glance down at us. That look—half smug, half "please clap"—made my lips twitch upwards.
I gave a clap because why not? "Well done, babe."
Naruto groaned loudly from where he was lying flat on the forest floor, arms flung wide like he was preparing to be one with the dirt. "You're kidding me. She did it already?!"
Shiina grinned down at us from her perch in the tree like a victorious cat. "Twenty-five tries. Not bad, right?"
"Try ridiculous," Naruto grumbled. "I've been at this for, like, hours."
"Technically forty-three minutes," I corrected.
"Not helping, Akari," he muttered.
Hinata stepped beside him and crouched down, watching his fingers twitch slightly as he ran them through the grass.
"You'll get it, Naruto." She said softly her hair fluttering in the wind, as she showed the little butterfly pin the boy got her.
I couldn't help the small smile from forming on my lips.
Of course the NaruHina pair would be this way.
Meanwhile Shiina hopped down from the tree, landing with a light thud beside me. She brushed imaginary dust from her legs and gave me that smirk—the one that said "Yes, I know I'm awesome, and yes, I'm aware you adore me for it."
She wasn't wrong. At least not entirely.
Naruto was back at the base of the tree again. His arms were already smeared with dirt, his hair had a twig in it like it was trying to become a forest, and his forehead had a faint red spot from the last, particularly personal meeting with bark.
But obviously, giving up was not Naruto's nature.
For the next hour, Shiina, Hinata and I saw Naruto attempt it. Each attempt better than the last. Until finally... he did it.
Naruto's foot pressed firmly against the bark, chakra humming softly around his soles. His brow was set, sweat beading at his temple—but his focus never wavered. Inch by inch, he rose. The bark didn't explode. He didn't slip.
Not this time.
Shiina leaned forward just a little, almost reflexively, as if trying to will him up the tree through sheer determination alone. Hinata's hands were clasped quietly in front of her chest, her eyes wide, hopeful. I didn't say a word, just watched as he climbed—slow, shaky, but controlled.
Then, with a final push, Naruto planted both feet on the lowest branch. He wobbled slightly, arms flailing just a little, but stayed upright.
"...YES!" he shouted, pumping his fist in the air so hard he almost fell off the branch again. He flailed, regained his balance, and threw both arms up in triumph. "I did it! Did you see that?!"
Shiina whistled and clapped from below. "There he goes! Our little forest spider!"
Hinata smiled—an actual, bright, genuine smile—as she nodded up at him. "That was really good, Naruto."
I simply crossed my arms and let the faintest curve of a smirk touch my lips. "About time."
Naruto practically beamed. "Tch, like you weren't impressed."
"Naruto, I expected you to take 2 days for this. To say I'm not impressed is a lie, and an understatement."
Naruto grinned, chest heaving, eyes bright with something raw and real—pride earned, not given. Shiina nudged my shoulder, whispering, "You're proud of him too, huh?"
I didn't answer immediately. Just watched the idiot up there grinning like he won the war.
"…Yeah," I said softly. "I am."
This was just step one. But it was a step. And in a world that would try to break us ten different ways, any step forward was worth celebrating.
"Alright," I said, tone back to business. "I want you all to master this, then we might move onto Water Walking when all of you are ready. Which means buying swimming gear. Cause you will need it."
All three groaned in chorus, clearly rehearsed and entirely unserious.
I smiled.