Naruto - Azure Awakening

Kaoru sat on the carriage loaded with tents and supplies, his eyes drifting toward the trees lining the dirt road. The trip to the Terumi Clan would take days, with stops at merchant outposts to stock up on food and essentials. The fresh air, mixed with the scent of pine and damp soil, was a welcome break from the stale atmosphere of the outpost.

He enjoyed the journey, even if his Earth Wall technique wasn't improving much. It was clear by now—earth just wasn't his secondary element. It felt stiff and rigid, nothing like the natural flow of water that came so easily to him.

Still, traveling outside the outpost felt like freedom. But if Kaoru was quietly enjoying the change, Sugeru was having the time of his life.

From the moment they left, Sugeru had been buzzing with energy. He kept pestering both Kaoru and Gumi until they gave in and he got what he wanted - sparrings with Kaoru.

Sugeru was competitive, but not stupid. He knew Kaoru was stronger than him. It bugged him that an eight-year-old could beat him, but that didn't stop him. He kept coming back for more.

Their primary element was the same—water. And Sugeru couldn't ignore how naturally Kaoru controlled it.

When Kaoru used water, it wasn't just a jutsu. It looked like part of him, moving with ease, as if it was alive. Sugeru wouldn't say it out loud, but he respected that skill.

The trip had been peaceful, though a bit boring. The only real fun came from Mei teasing Kaoru. She clearly enjoyed seeing him squirm under her playful taunts, and her new favorite hobby was calling him "Ru."

Kaoru did not like it one bit.

That name was special. It was something only Maki called him. Hearing Mei use it felt wrong, like she was stepping into something personal.

"Seriously, stop calling me that," Kaoru grumbled more than once.

But Mei just smirked. "Why? It suits you, Ru."

Despite the teasing, Kaoru liked her, and He respected her even more. Mei was confident and skilled, and she carried herself like someone who knew what they were doing.

Like Sugeru, Kaoru often asked her to spar with him.

"I'll spar with you when we arrive, I like to be in the best shape when I'm out" Mei would say, her tone serious. Then, with a playful smirk, she'd add, "Not that you'd ever land a hit on me, Ru."

Things stayed calm—until that day.

Mei suddenly tensed, her eyes scanning the road ahead.

The forest had gone quiet. Too quiet.

One of the Terumi sensors frowned and scanned the area for chakra. "Nothing," they muttered. "It's clear."

Mei wasn't convinced. "Stay alert," she said softly.

Kaoru watched them closely. He trusted Mei's instincts.

Pretending to be bored, Kaoru glanced around before quietly activating his Kekkei Genkai.

His cyan eyes glowed faintly as the world sharpened. Unlike the sensors, Kaoru could see people - as long as they had water in them.

There.

[Ten shinobi, crouched in the trees ahead. Waiting.]

Kaoru's face stayed calm. He didn't want to tip them off that they'd been spotted. He hopped off the carriage and walked over to Mei.

"There are about ten shinobi ahead," he whispered with a fake smile. "Hiding in the trees."

Mei's eyes narrowed. "You're sure?"

Kaoru nodded. "Yes. About twenty meters ahead."

Mei glanced at the sensor, who still hadn't found anything. Her jaw tightened. "I see."

Without a word, she signaled to the group to prepare for battle.

As they kept walking, Mei suddenly vanished. In an instant, she reappeared behind the ambushers, her hands moving in a blur of practiced hand signs.

"Lava Release: Melting Dome Jutsu!"

A massive dome of molten lava erupted above the hidden shinobi, closing in on them fast.

"Shit, they found us!" one of the ambushers yelled in panic.

"Disperse!" barked a man in black, long hair flowing behind him. Twin swords were strapped across his back, and his commanding tone left no room for argument.

Eight of the ambushers scattered, vanishing into the trees. But three weren't fast enough. The lava engulfed them, their screams echoing through the forest until they were silenced by the searing heat.

Kaoru stared, wide-eyed. He knew Mei was strong, but seeing it firsthand was something else. Her speed was incredible—her use of the Body Flicker Technique flawless. And the sheer lethality and range of her attack...

If the technique had been just a little faster, she could've taken out all eleven ninjas on her own.

Kaoru barely had time to process his thoughts before a lone ambusher broke from the trees, charging straight at him. The woman's eyes locked onto Kaoru, clearly viewing him as the weakest link. Her expression twisted into a sneer as she closed the distance, confident that a kid wouldn't put up a fight.

Big mistake.

Kaoru didn't move until the last moment. Then, with a flicker, he disappeared from sight.

The ambusher stumbled forward, confused. Her eyes darted around, searching frantically. "Wha—?"

Kaoru reappeared behind her in a flash, silent and deadly.

Before the woman could react, Kaoru formed a spinning compressed bullet in his mouth.

"Got you"

Said Kaoru with a calm expression as the bullet struck the ambusher in the back of the head with a sickening crack. The woman collapsed instantly, her body crumpling to the ground.

Kaoru straightened, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, his face unreadable.

The fight wasn't over.

A second figure leapt from the shadows—a Chunin. His movements were sharper, more controlled. His eyes narrowed as he studied Kaoru, recognizing the boy as a more serious threat than he'd first thought.

"You shouldn't be here, kid," the Chunin said, drawing a kunai. His voice was cold and steady. "I'll make this quick."

Kaoru didn't answer. He had nothing to say.

<<<>>>

Once the battle began, Kaoru wasn't the only one targeted.

Sugeru and two other Takime Genins—Rei and Akito—were attacked as well. Unlike Kaoru, however, their opponents weren't lone Genin. Two enemy Chunin had singled them out, closing the distance quickly with lethal intent.

Gumi was too far away to help. He was already locked in a fierce battle of his own, clashing blades with another enemy. The kids were on their own—until one of the Terumi Chunin broke away from his position and sprinted toward them.

"Hold your ground!" the Terumi Chunin barked as he skidded to a stop in front of the three Genin. His eyes were sharp, his body tense. "We'll stall them until someone comes to help."

The kids nodded, their nervous expressions showing their inexperience.

"Don't go for the kill," the Chunin added, his tone serious. "Focus on defending yourselves and covering each other. Work as a team."

The Chunin's primary element was earth. That gave him confidence. As long as they held their ground, he was certain he could protect the kids from anything these enemies threw at them.

The two enemy Chunin didn't hesitate.

One of them—a tall man with a scar running down his cheek—moved first. He formed quick hand signs, slamming his palm into the ground.

"Earth Release: Stone Spikes!"

Sharp spikes of rock shot up from the ground, aiming to skewer the Genin.

"Get behind me!" the Terumi Chunin ordered.

The kids moved fast, retreating behind him as he countered with his own jutsu.

"Earth Release: Stone Wall Jutsu!"

A solid wall of rock erupted from the ground, blocking the spikes just in time. The sharp cracks of stone meeting stone echoed through the forest.

The second enemy Chunin—a woman with short black hair—darted around the wall, closing the distance quickly. Her hands moved in a blur.

"Water Release: Water Whip!"

A long tendril of water lashed toward Rei, aiming for his neck.

Sugeru reacted instantly.

"Water Release: Water Shot!"

A water burst from his hand with a strong force, crashing with the whip before it could reach Rei. The tendrils splashed to the ground in harmless puddles.

The woman's eyes narrowed as she focused on Sugeru.

"You've got some skill," she said coldly. "Let's see how long you last."

Sugeru's breathing was steady, but inside, he knew he wasn't at full strength. He was already down to 60% of his chakra after sparring with Kaoru earlier. Still, he was far stronger than Rei and Akito, and he knew it was his responsibility to protect them.

"Stay close to me," Sugeru muttered to the others, his voice calm but firm. "I'll handle this."

The enemy woman charged, forming another set of hand signs.

"Water Release: Water Bomb Jutsu!"

A sphere of water launched toward the group, its force powerful enough to crush bones on impact.

"Scatter!" Sugeru yelled.

The kids leapt in different directions just as the water bomb hit the ground, exploding in a spray of water and mud.

Rei and Akito scrambled to their feet, panting.

"We can't keep dodging like this," Akito muttered. "We need a plan."

Sugeru's mind raced. They couldn't take the enemy down in a head-on fight. They had to be smarter.

He turned to the Terumi Chunin. "Can you hold off the guy with the Earth Release?"

The Chunin nodded. "I'll keep him busy. You three focus on the woman. She's faster, but you've got the numbers."

Sugeru gritted his teeth. "Rei, Akito—water clones. Now."

The two Genin formed quick hand signs, creating water clones that flanked them. The clones rushed toward the woman, forcing her to divide her attention.

She smirked. "Clones, huh? Let's see if they're more than just distractions."

Her hands blurred again.

"Water Release: Crushing Wave!"

A wall of water surged forward, crashing into the clones and dispersing them in an instant. But the attack left her momentarily exposed.

Sugeru seized the opening.

"Now!"

He charged forward closing the distance much faster than the woman aniticipated. His kunai slashed toward her shoulder, aiming to disable her.

The woman blocked with a kunai of her own, but the impact drove her back a step.

Before she could recover, Rei and Akito moved in from the sides, their water shuriken flying.

The woman twisted, dodging one and slashing the other with her kunai. But her movements were slowing. The kids' teamwork was starting to wear her down.

"Rei, Akito—circle her!" Sugeru shouted.

The two Genin moved quickly, forcing the woman to keep turning, unable to focus on a single target.

Meanwhile, the Terumi Chunin faced off against the other enemy Chunin. Their earth-based techniques clashed repeatedly, sending tremors through the ground.

The scarred man growled in frustration, his attacks becoming more reckless.

"You're wasting your time," the Terumi Chunin said calmly, blocking another barrage of stone spikes. "Help is coming."

But the man didn't seem to care. His eyes flicked toward the kids, narrowing when he saw the woman starting to falter.

"You're losing," he growled at her.

"I'm fine," she snapped.

"You're not."

The scarred man's hands blurred through a series of signs before he slammed both palms into the ground.

"Earth Release: Quake Strike!"

The earth trembled violently, cracks spreading through the ground as the kids stumbled, struggling to stay upright. The sudden shake threw them off balance—just as the woman seized her chance.

Her kunai flashed in the light as she lunged toward Sugeru, aiming for his chest.

Sugeru twisted at the last second, raising his arms to block. The blade bit deep into his hands, blood spraying across the forest floor. Pain shot through him, but he didn't flinch. He locked his grip around the woman's wrist, pinning her in place.

Blood dripped from his hands, staining the kunai. Despite the injury, Sugeru smirked.

"Got you!" he growled through clenched teeth.

Behind her, his water clone appeared, its hands already forming a seal. Water gathered in the clone's mouth, swirling into a concentrated shot.

"Water Release: Water Bullet!"

The attack struck the woman square in the back, sending her crashing to the ground with a gasp. She hit hard, groaning in pain as she lay motionless. Though still alive, she was badly injured.

Sugeru staggered, clutching his bleeding hands, but his eyes remained locked on the fallen woman.

"Stay down," he muttered.

Seeing his partner defeated, the scarred man's face twisted with rage. His chakra flared violently, kicking up dust and loose debris as it surged around him.

"You'll pay for that!" he bellowed, his voice echoing through the trees.

The man's hands moved rapidly, faster than before. His expression was wild, driven by fury and desperation.

Terumi Chunin's eyes narrowed as he recognized the jutsu forming.

"Wait—is he—?"

The scarred man's voice boomed across the battlefield.

"Earth Release: Sacrificial Tomb!"

The ground beneath him cracked and shifted, forming a wide circle around him and the children. Jagged stone pillars began to rise from the earth, encasing the area like the walls of a massive tomb. The air grew heavy with the overwhelming pressure of the man's chakra.

Terumi Chunin's eyes widened in realization. "He's going to take us all with him…"

Sugeru's heart pounded as he scanned the battlefield, his mind racing.

They were running out of time.

<<<>>>

The Chunin charged.

Kaoru stood his ground, eyes locked on his opponent. At the last second, he vanished in a blur.

The Chunin was ready.

"Got you!" the man snarled, spinning around mid-charge, his kunai slicing through the air toward where he expected Kaoru to appear, but instead he felt the presence above. As he looked up Kaoru had already launched shurikens that looked like metal but were blue.

Chunnin had lots of experience, so he did not panic. He sidestepped, narrowly avoiding the attack.

As soon as Kaoru landed he made a hand sign,

"Water Clone Jutsu!"

Two identical Kaorus materialized beside him, each moving in perfect sync. The Chunin hesitated for a split second, eyes darting between the clones. That was all Kaoru needed.

A kunai flew toward the Chunin as three Kaorus charged in perfect sync.

"Tch. Annoying little brat," the Chunin muttered, dodging the kunai with ease.

Kaoru knew he was in a bad situation—though the Chunin hadn't realized it yet. His chakra reserves were dangerously low. He'd been practicing Earth Release earlier that morning and sparring with Sugeru before the ambush. By the time the fight began, he was already down to 50% of his chakra. Now, after using multiple jutsu, he was down to 25%. His body was starting to feel the strain. Soon, his speed would drop, and he couldn't afford that.

[This is going to be tough,] Kaoru thought grimly.

He decided to gamble.

His first clone lunged forward, engaging the Chunin in close combat. The Chunin blocked and countered, his movements fast and efficient, but Kaoru wasn't done. He and his second clone flickered out of sight, vanishing in two blurs of motion.

The clone reappeared behind the Chunin and launched a Water Bullet.

The Chunin was already moving, his hands forming quick signs even before the water shot through the air.

"Earth Release: Stone Wall Jutsu!"

A wall of solid rock erupted from the ground between him and Kaoru's clone. The Water Bullet splashed against the barrier, shrouding the area in mist. Using the cover, the Chunin turned and sliced through the clone engaged in close combat, dispersing it in a puff of water.

But Kaoru was already on him.

"Water Prison Jutsu!"

A sphere of water burst from Kaoru's outstretched hand, engulfing the Chunin in an instant. The man thrashed inside the prison, his kunai slipping from his grip as he struggled to break free.

Kaoru's heart pounded in his chest, relief flooding through him. He'd done it.

Or so he thought.

The Chunin inside the prison suddenly began to dissolve, his form crumbling into mud. The water turned a murky brown as it collapsed into a puddle at Kaoru's feet.

"Shit. An Earth Clone," Kaoru muttered, realization hitting him hard. He'd messed up—big time.

His chakra reserves were nearly depleted. He was down to 10%, and his remaining water clone held 5% of his total chakra. His body felt heavy, his muscles sluggish. He clenched his fists, forcing himself to focus.

[This isn't over yet.]

Kaoru scanned the area quickly. The real Chunin was three meters away, closing the distance fast. His sharp eyes locked onto Kaoru, sensing the boy's growing fatigue.

Kaoru's remaining clone leapt between them, engaging the Chunin head-on.

But Kaoru suddenly felt a shift in the air—a surge of chakra that sent a shiver down his spine. His eyes snapped to the right, catching the movement too late.

A wave of water came rushing toward him, surging across the ground with brutal force.

Kaoru's eyes narrowed as he spotted the Chunin behind the wave, a sly smile on his face.

The Chunin wasn't just an Earth Release user—he could use Water Release too.

** If you are enjoying the novel please give it a review, it will help me a lot.

I hope you enjoyed the chapter! This one took me longer to write than any of the previous ones—fight scenes always demand extra attention to detail, and I wanted to get it just right. 😅

If you have any thoughts, feel free to share them in the comments! Criticism, suggestions, and feedback are always welcome. After all, this story belongs to all of us, not just me. 

Character Notes:

Scarred Man – Desperate– "Plan A didn't work. Plan B? Blow everything up and take them with me."

Sugeru – Pumped – "I just killed Chunin, hehe"

Kaoru – Scared– "There is no way out, im screwed."

Terumi Chunin – Determined – "Protect the kids, hold the line, and wait for backup. Simple… until it's not."