Naruto - Azure Awakening

Both Takime and Terumi clans gathered eagerly around the specially built dueling platform. The air was filled with chatter and anticipation as everyone looked forward to the sparring matches. There was particular buzz when it was announced that Mei Terumi would be participating. Despite the original agreement limiting participants to those 12 years old or younger, both clan heads and, most importantly, Kaoru had approved her inclusion. No one voiced any objections—in fact, the Takime teen boys welcomed the chance to see Mei's beauty and skill in action.

The first match was between two of the most promising young talents from each clan. Sugeru Takime, a confident 12-year-old with a reputation for being above most Genin-level shinobi, stood at one end of the platform. On the other side was Yuji Terumi, a boy of similar age, equally talented, and gifted with the Lava Release Kekkei Genkai.

Both boys stepped onto the stage. As they took their spots opposite each other the crowd leaned forward, anticipation showing on everyone's faces. On the dueling stand, Sugeru Takime and Yuji Terumi stood facing each other, their expressions a mix of excitement and determination. Both boys bowed with respect, though their eyes never left each other.

Gumi, standing at the edge of the platform with his arms crossed, nodded firmly.

"Begin!"

Sugeru wasted no time. He charged forward, his feet kicking up dust as he closed the distance between them. His fists were clenched, ready to deliver a decisive punch.

Yuji, however, didn't flinch. He waited until Sugeru was almost upon him before slamming his hands together in a quick hand sign.

"Earth Release: Stone Wall Jutsu!"

A small wall of rock erupted from the ground between them. Sugeru barely had time to react, his feet nearly colliding with the barrier.

"Tch! A defensive type, huh?" Sugeru muttered, quickly weaving a hand sign of his own.

"Water Release: Water Shot!"

A small stream of water shot from his mouth, blasting the stone wall into chunks of rubble. Yuji quickly stepped back, already forming another hand sign.

But Sugeru was faster. He leapt over the crumbling wall and landed right in front of Yuji, his fist aimed at Yuji's chest.

Yuji barely dodged, twisting his body to the side, but Sugeru's fist grazed his shoulder.

"That was close. Too close." Yuji smirked as he landed a few feet away. "But it's my turn now."

He brought his hands together in a sequence of hand signs. The air around him seemed to shimmer with heat.

"Fire Release: Flame Ball Jutsu!"

A small fireball shot toward Sugeru, crackling with intensity. The crowd gasped. Even though the flame wasn't huge, for a twelve-year-old, it was impressive.

Sugeru's eyes narrowed. He quickly formed a hand sign.

"Water Release: Water Wall!"

The fireball collided with the wall of water, sending up a cloud of steam that obscured the stage.

For a moment, everything went silent.

Then, out of the mist, Sugeru charged through, soaking wet but grinning.

"Gotcha!" he yelled, swinging a kick toward Yuji's legs.

Yuji jumped back, avoiding the kick, but Sugeru didn't let up. He pushed forward with a series of punches and kicks, each one forcing Yuji to retreat further toward the edge of the platform.

"You're good at running away!" Sugeru teased, his grin widening.

Yuji smirked. "And you're good at talking."

Then, without warning, Yuji stomped the ground, releasing another jutsu.

"Lava Release: Scorching Floor!"

The surface beneath Sugeru's feet suddenly began to sizzle, turning into a hot, sticky mess. Sugeru yelped and jumped to avoid getting burned.

"What the—?! You've got Lava Release?!" Sugeru's eyes widened in shock.

The crowd murmured excitedly. Even the older shinobi were impressed. Lava Release was a rare and powerful Kekkei Genkai, and seeing a twelve-year-old wield it, even in a weakened form, was no small feat.

"Yeah, but it's still hard to control," Yuji admitted with a shrug. "I can't melt anyone just yet. But I can definitely make you dance."

Sugeru gritted his teeth, circling around the scorched patch of ground. He was clearly at a disadvantage, but he wasn't ready to give up.

"Alright, let's see how you handle this!"

Sugeru performed a quick series of hand signs.

"Wind Release: Gale Palm!"

A burst of wind shot from his hands, blowing the steam away and forcing Yuji to brace himself. The powerful gust also cooled the hot ground, neutralizing Yuji's advantage.

Yuji's smirk faltered.

"Not bad."

"Thanks." Sugeru cracked his knuckles. "But I'm not done."

The two boys charged at each other, their fists colliding in midair. The impact sent both of them skidding back.

Both were panting hard, but neither was ready to give up.

Finally, Gumi raised his hand.

"Enough!" he called out. "This match is a draw. Both of you fought well."

The crowd erupted into cheers and applause. It wasn't the decisive victory anyone had expected, but it was clear that both boys were exceptionally skilled.

Sugeru and Yuji bowed to each other before stepping off the stage, each one grinning from ear to ear.

"That was fun," Yuji said, extending a hand toward Sugeru.

"Yeah, it was." Sugeru shook his hand. "But next time, I'm winning."

"You wish."

Kaoru, watching from the sidelines, couldn't help but grin with his eyes sparkling. "So cool… but I bet I could beat them both."

<<<>>>

After the explosive start of the friendly sparrings, it became clear the clans had miscalculated by letting Sugeru and Yuji go first. Both were far ahead of their peers, making the following matches feel lackluster in comparison.

Still, there were a few notable surprises.

An eight-year-old girl with purple eyes—one of the orphans rescued by Maki—showed a Kekkei Genkai of Scorch Release, a rare ability in the Land of Water. Her display of raw power left both clans stunned.

Then there was the overconfident boy from the Terumi Clan, who attempted a summoning jutsu. The crowd watched in suspense as the boy's chakra flared dramatically—only for nothing to happen.

"Thank the gods he failed," Gumi muttered, shaking his head. A failed summoning was embarrassing, but a successful one without a contract? That could have been disastrous.

Meruem, meanwhile, sat stone-faced. It was clear that the boy would soon be on the receiving end of a stern TALK.

Finally, it was time for the most anticipated match of the day.

The crowd shifted in excitement, whispers rippling through the gathered clans as Mei Terumi took her place on the dueling platform.

Her graceful movements and confident demeanor didn't go unnoticed by the Takime boys, who could barely contain their smitten expressions. Mei clearly enjoyed the attention, letting her red hair flow freely as she climbed the platform with slow, deliberate steps.

Meanwhile, Kaoru couldn't stand still. His fists clenched in excitement, his eyes sparkled with anticipation. For months, he'd only sparred with Maki—and always ended up on the receiving end of a beating. Now, he was finally going to fight someone new, and not just anyone—someone strong.

"She looks amazing, doesn't she?" whispered one of the Takime boys.

Kaoru, standing nearby, rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah… but I'm gonna win this."

Maki snorted. "Sure, Ru. Just don't cry when she beats you."

Kaoru grinned without missing a beat. "Only if she lands a hit."

"Alright, little Ru, don't embarrass us." Maki whispered from the sidelines with a teasing smirk, arms crossed as she watched her brother step up.

Kaoru shot her a quick glare before locking his eyes on Mei.

"I'm gonna win this." His voice was quiet but filled with determination.

Mei, standing on the opposite side, tilted her head and gave a playful smirk.

"You sure about that, kid?" Her voice was teasing, but her stance was completely serious. "I don't hold back."

Gumi stepped forward, "Ready?" His hand lifted into the air. "Begin!"

Kaoru dashed forward immediately, closing the distance with shocking speed, but instead of attacking head-on, he suddenly vanished mid-step.

The crowd gasped. "Did he just…?"

"Body Flicker!" Meruem muttered, his eyes narrowing. "Without hand signs… Impressive."

Mei's calm smirk faltered for just a moment, her eyes darting left and right. [Where did he—?]

Before she could finish her thought, Kaoru reappeared behind her, launching a Water Bullet straight at her back.

But Mei was no amateur. She spun around, lava forming at her palms as she threw a quick stream of molten rock to intercept the bullet. The two attacks collided, hissing and steaming as water met lava.

"Not bad." Mei's grin returned as she wiped a stray droplet from her cheek. "But you'll have to do better than that."

Kaoru didn't respond. Instead, he formed a water shuriken in his hand and hurled it at her with deadly precision. Mei ducked under the first one, but Kaoru quickly followed up with three more, forcing her to dodge again.

"Where did he learn that?!" Maki muttered to herself, genuinely surprised. "That's new."

Realizing Kaoru was faster than expected, Mei changed her approach. She stomped the platform, sending a wave of lava across the stage to limit his movement. Kaoru, now cornered, prepared to dodge when Mei suddenly appeared in front of him, her kunai aimed at his chest.

"Got you!" Mei grinned.

"Nope." Kaoru's form disappeared in a puff of smoke—a substitution jutsu.

From above, Kaoru launched another Water Bullet, this time shaped like a spiral drill. Mei barely had time to react, leaping backward to avoid the devastating strike as it pierced the ground where she had been standing.

The platform shook from the impact, leaving a crater.

"Okay, this kid's dangerous," Tenma muttered from the sidelines, glancing at Meruem.

"He's good." Mei's expression turned more serious. "But let's see how he handles this."

She quickly performed hand signs, and lava globs formed in her hands. With a quick flick of her wrist, she sent them flying toward Kaoru.

Kaoru dodged nimbly, his Body Flicker making it look easy, but the globs weren't random—they were cutting off his escape routes.

"You're fast, but I've got you now!" Mei smirked as she closed the distance.

Kaoru tried to dodge again, but this time, Mei anticipated his move, appearing right in front of him with a lava-coated punch.

Kaoru had no choice but to block with a Water Clone. The clone took the hit, dissolving instantly, but it gave Kaoru enough time to jump back.

"You're holding back, Mei!" Kaoru yelled, grinning through his exhaustion. "Don't insult me!"

"Alright, then." Mei's grin widened as her eyes sparkled with amusement. "You asked for it."

Both fighters charged at each other, Kaoru spinning water shurikens in both hands, while Mei prepared to finish things with a lava-coated kick.

Just as they were about to collide, Kaoru disappeared again.

"Body Flicker!" someone yelled from the crowd.

Mei was ready. She spun around, expecting him to reappear behind her—but Kaoru appeared above her instead, a final water bullet with a spiraling edge forming in his mouth.

"Take this!" Kaoru yelled as he fired the enhanced Water Bullet down at Mei.

Mei's eyes widened in surprise, but she wasn't one to panic. She kicked off the ground, using her lava release to propel herself sideways, dodging the attack.

The Water Bullet crashed into the platform, exploding with force, sending steam and debris flying everywhere.

When the smoke cleared, both fighters were standing at opposite ends of the platform.

"That's enough!" Gumi called out, stepping between them. "The match is over!"

Kaoru looked disappointed at first but then grinned proudly.

"I almost got you," said Kaoru while breathing heavily.

Mei laughed softly, walking over to ruffle his hair. "Almost. But not quite."

The crowd erupted in cheers, the beautiful display of technique and power had captivated everyone, even though it was clear that Mei hadn't been fighting seriously. But no one expected her to—it was an eight-year-old against a fifteen-year-old, after all.

Most of the spectators initially saw the sparring as a mismatch, something done more for Kaoru's benefit than anything else. But now, everyone saw Kaoru in a completely different light. His speed, chakra control, and sheer determination left no room for doubt—he wasn't just some talented kid; he was already strong. And considering his age and rapid growth, the realization dawned on many: if Kaoru kept training at this intensity, he'd be a monster as an adult.

Meruem's gaze lingered on Kaoru, his expression unreadable. Finally, he turned to Suiren, offering a polite smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

"I think Maki undersold him." He chuckled lightly. "Your grandson is far stronger than I expected. I should apologize—when Maki said none of the youngsters would stand a chance against him, I took it as an insult. But after seeing this… I understand." His tone remained cordial, but there was a glint of something cautious—and calculating—beneath his words. 

"Some of those attacks were lethal," Meruem continued. "Even I was surprised by his control over them at such a young age. Takime clan is nurturing something… impressive."

Suiren chuckled softly, her eyes fixed on Kaoru as he was being praised by the crowd. 

"I didn't know he was this strong either," she admitted with a hint of pride. "I think I might be even more surprised than you, Lord Meruem."

But unlike Meruem, her expression gave away nothing. Whether she had picked up on his veiled concerns or not, she didn't show it.

Maki, meanwhile, was practically glowing with pride. Her eyes sparkled, and her cheeks were flushed with excitement as she watched her baby brother soak in the attention.

"That's my little Ru!" she muttered under her breath, her grin wide.

But as her excitement faded, a nagging realization hit her. [Wait a second… he's never gone all out against me.] Her excitement wavered, and a pout formed on her lips. She'd always assumed Kaoru was giving his best during their sparring matches, but now it was painfully obvious that he'd been holding back.

"That little brat!" she muttered, already planning to give him a stern talk later. But for now, she couldn't help but bask in her brother's success.

Mei Terumi stood off to the side, her arms crossed and her expression thoughtful. Unlike the others, she wasn't just impressed with Kaoru's raw talent—it was his demeanor that stood out to her.

[He's too calm for his age,] she mused. 

Throughout the entire fight, Kaoru had been calculating every single move. Even when cornered, he never lost his composure. He fought with the cold logic of someone far more experienced, not a child.

[If he's this composed at eight, what will he be like at eighteen?] Mei couldn't help but shiver at the thought. [He will be a menace as an enemy… but as an ally? He would be priceless.]

Her mind was already working on how to convince her clan head to strengthen their alliance with Takime.

While the crowd dispersed, Kaoru stood quietly, his expression blank as he watched Mei walk away. His mind was a storm of thoughts, analyzing every mistake he made during the fight.

[I really thought I could do better.] He sighed to himself. [But she didn't even try. I was naive to think I was not very far from Mei's strength… I'm still too far from the strength I need to protect my family.

Despite the cheers and praise from his clan, Kaoru felt disappointed. He had been confident going into the fight, but now, he realized he had a long way to go. Kaoru made a mental note to review the fight in detail later and adjust his training accordingly.

As the sun dipped lower in the sky, the excitement from the day's events began to fade. The crowd slowly scattered, returning to their homes to prepare for the night's feast.

Kaoru glanced at Maki, who was grinning at him like a proud older sister, and then at Suiren, who nodded at him with approval.

But deep down, Kaoru was already planning his next steps.

**

A/N - We've finally reached 10 chapters <3 If you are enjoying this novel please give it a review, it will help me a lot.

I hope you enjoyed the fights! Writing Kaoru's match with Mei was a lot of fun, especially balancing it to be competitive while still showing the gap between their experience and skills.

Once the Terumi clan leaves, Maki is going to design a new training regimen for Kaoru to push him even further. I'll be working on that now.

Also, I haven't decided what kind of relationship the Takime and Terumi clans will have in the long term, but their alliance (or rivalry) will become more clear soon.

Let me know what you think! Suggestions are always welcome.

Character Notes:

Maki - Big sister vibes – "Why didn't he go all out against me? He's in for a talk."

Kaoru - Relentless learner – "I almost had her. Also, will there be any pie tonight?"

Mei - Impressed but cautious – [This boy is going to be a problem in the future.]

Meruem - Calculating – [Takime has a monster brewing.]

Gumi - Ever-present judge – "No more summoning attempts, please."

**