Naruto - Azure Awakening

It had been a month since Maki and the other Takime shinobi had returned from their mission, and in that time, Suiren had barely slept.

She sat at her cluttered desk, papers and scrolls scattered across the surface, each one more disturbing than the last. The documents retrieved from the rogue ninjas' hideout detailed deals with various groups, all involving the sale of orphaned children.

Suiren's eyes scanned the documents, her brows furrowed with a mix of exhaustion and disgust. She knew that the Land of Water's situation had been terrible for years, but this…

This was worse than she had ever imagined.

These weren't just foreign groups trafficking children. These were people from their own homeland selling their own to survive or seek favor with corrupt factions.

The thought made Suiren's stomach churn.

Across the room, Maki stood with her arms crossed, watching her grandmother silently. She had grown impatient over the past month. The young shinobi wanted the Takime Clan to take action—to stop hiding and fight for their people.

And Suiren had refused, time and time again.

"You've been staring at those papers for weeks, Grandma." Maki's voice broke the silence. "You know what they mean. We can't keep pretending we're safe in this little outpost."

Suiren didn't respond immediately. She simply gathered the documents into a neat pile, her hands trembling ever so slightly.

"I know." Her voice was quiet, but there was a weight to it. "I've been trying to protect the clan… trying to keep us from being wiped out. If I make a wrong decision, even once… that could be the end for all of us… that could be the end for you, for Kaoru"

Maki took a step closer, her face had softened. "You know how much I love Ru, you know how much I love everyone in our clan, but we are making a mistake by being inactive. We're barely surviving. We need to act, Grandma. We need to help these people."

Suiren's tired eyes met Maki's, and for a moment, the older woman looked fragile, as if the burden of leadership had finally become too much to bear.

"I've been hesitant because I didn't want you—or anyone else—to end up like your parents." She wanted to say more but instead, she let out a sigh. "But you're right. We can't stay hidden forever."

Maki's eyes sparkled with determination. She could see that Suiren was still hesitant, but she was close to achieving her goal. It was time to push harder.

"Grandma, I've been looking for reliable allies every time I go out on missions." Maki took a step closer, her tone confident and measured. "And I actually found one. They're just like us—an old, weakened clan with the potential to make a comeback thanks to the new generation."

Suiren's eyebrows arched, curiosity showing in her eyes.

Maki continued, grinning slightly. "The successor candidate is my age. I think I could talk with her if you send me as an official representative."

Suiren's eyes widened in surprise.

"How do you know where their settlement is? If they're like us, they must be hiding from the Mizukage."

Maki shrugged casually, but there was something playful in her expression. "I have a friend in their clan."

Her voice lingered on the word "friend" in a way that made Suiren narrow her eyes suspiciously.

"A friend?" Suiren crossed her arms, her tone turning sharper. "What kind of friend?"

Maki grinned mischievously but said nothing more.

Suiren sighed, shaking her head. "I'll accept that it's time for the Takime Clan to become more active—to start helping people. But I'm not sending anyone on a delegation. Especially not you."

Maki's smile faltered, but she held her ground. She was going to say something but Suiren was faster.

"If they want to meet, they'll come here." Suiren's voice softened slightly. "If they can become our allies, I'm even willing to let them relocate here. This settlement is safe. The Mizukage won't dare attack this place."

Maki nodded slowly, a small glimmer of disappointment in her eyes.

"Alright," she said. "Write the letter you want to send, and I'll ask my friend to deliver it."

Her tone was casual, but she still placed odd emphasis on the word "friend", making Suiren pause and narrow her eyes again.

"Maki… what kind of friend are we talking about?"

Maki smirked but gave no further explanation.

"You'll find out eventually."

She said and strolled out of the room leaving Suiren with many questions unanswered. For the very first time it was Maki avoiding answers instead of her and she did not enjoy her new role.

<<<>>>

"Makiii, when are you going to teach me a new technique?" Kaoru whined, pouting as he stood in front of his sister with his hands on his hips.

Maki sighed, rubbing her temples. She had too many things to do—between her own training with Akura and constantly nagging Suiren to change the clan's status, her days were packed.

And yet, Kaoru wouldn't let up.

She'd only managed to teach him one technique in the past month, but that was enough to unleash a monster. Kaoru had become relentless. His ability to learn new techniques—especially water-based ones—was exceptional, and Maki was struggling to keep up with his demand for more.

"I just taught you Water Prison! Isn't that enough for now?" she asked with a tired grin, hoping to buy herself some time.

Kaoru shook his head vigorously. "That was three weeks ago! And you owe me one more technique, a promise is a promise! Besides, I've already mastered it! Look—"

He was about to start forming hand signs, but Maki held up a hand to stop him.

"Not today, Ru. I'm on an errand, again."

Kaoru's eyes sparkled with excitement. "But you said if I could make it work without constant contact, it would be amazing. And guess what? I did it!"

Maki's eyes widened slightly in surprise, but she quickly masked it.

[Of course he did.]

Water techniques came so naturally to Kaoru that it was almost unfair. He had refined Water Prison to the point where even seasoned shinobi would find it difficult to break out of it. And if he combined it with Water Clones, it could become a devastating trap.

Maki let out a long sigh, feeling both proud and overwhelmed.

"Why don't you work on reducing hand signs that you need to activate it, Ru. Eventually, you need to do that for every single technique in your arsenal. Start researching that and ill help you tomorrow, I promise." She patted his head, ruffling his dark blue hair.

Kaoru grinned, clearly pleased with the answer.

"And I'll teach you a technique that's so amazing, it'll be worth the wait." Maki winked, knowing she'd bought herself some time.

Before Kaoru could press her further, Maki flickered away, disappearing into the distance.

Kaoru stared at the empty spot where she had stood, his grin turning into a pout.

"She's definitely just trying to dodge me…" he muttered.

With renewed excitement, Kaoru clapped his hands together.

"So techniques can be used with fewer hand signs, huh?" he muttered to himself, his eyes gleaming with curiosity. "I'll go to the library and research that… or maybe I could ask Grandma directly?"

He paused, his enthusiasm fading as he remembered Suiren's stern glare.

"No. She's still angry about me sneaking out last time." Kaoru scratched his head in frustration. "I knew that dumb pie story would get me caught."

The embarrassment still made him cringe. It didn't help that everyone in the clan knew about it now—and boy, did they love to remind him.

People actually believed that Kaoru made up the whole story just because he wanted a strawberry pie.

"Of course, Siba had to be the worst." Kaoru puffed his cheeks at the thought of his neighbor, who found the whole situation hilarious. "That guy teases me every time he sees me. He doesn't even care that I impersonated him! He's too busy laughing."

Kaoru groaned. "[Why did it have to be a pie? I couldn't think of anything cooler?]"

Despite his embarrassment, his mind drifted back to the waterfall. There was something about that place. Something that made him feel at peace, as if the water itself was calling to him.

"I'll wait a few more weeks and sneak out again." said Kaoru with a wide smile. "My training will be way more effective near that waterfall. I just know it."

If it weren't for his fear of getting caught, Kaoru might have already dived into the water to see what was drawing him there.

But for now, he had another plan.

"Anyway, let's head to the library and research hand signs." He sighed. "Unfortunately, I lost access to the C-rank scrolls as punishment…"

His shoulders slumped at the memory.

<<<>>>

Kaoru pushed open the library door with a soft creak, his eyes lighting up at the sight of rows of scrolls neatly organized on the shelves. Everyone in the clan already knew that Kaoru was obsessed with scrolls, jutsus, and the ninja stuff in general.

"Alright… hand signs, hand signs… where are you?" he muttered, walking through the shelves.

Kaoru finally found a section dedicated to chakra theory and basic jutsu mechanics. He grabbed a few scrolls that seemed relevant and sat down at one of the low wooden tables, eager to dig in.

As he unrolled the first scroll, he scanned through the introductory paragraphs.

"Hand signs are a vital part of chakra control. They serve as a focus to help mold chakra precisely, making sure it's shaped and released in the right way to activate the jutsu…"

Kaoru's brows furrowed as he re-read that part.

"So, hand signs help mold chakra? That makes sense. But… if they're just a tool to focus chakra, does that mean…?" Kaoru trailed off, a spark of realization dawning on him.

He flipped to another scroll titled "The Evolution of Hand Signs in Shinobi History."

"The original shinobi of the ancient clans often performed jutsu without hand signs. Over time, hand signs were developed as a teaching tool to help mold chakra more efficiently, allowing even those with less natural talent to perform complex jutsu."

Kaoru's eyes widened in excitement.

"So it's possible to do jutsu without hand signs… but it requires a crazy amount of control."

He continued reading.

"Highly skilled shinobi were known to reduce hand signs to one or two for techniques that normally required dozens. This was achieved through precise chakra molding and familiarity with the jutsu."

Kaoru leaned back, grinning ear to ear.

"I knew it!" he whispered to himself. "It's possible to skip hand signs entirely or at least reduce it to one or two. It's all about chakra control and understanding the jutsu's essence."

He grabbed another scroll labeled "Advanced Chakra Molding Techniques."

"Performing jutsu without hand signs is not recommended for beginners, as improper chakra molding can result in failed jutsu or dangerous backfire. However, with diligent practice, it is possible to reduce or even eliminate hand signs for most jutsu."

Kaoru sat thinking.

"So... the key is control. If I can improve my chakra control, I can eliminate the need for hand signs with water-based techniques and reduce them for those I lack a strong affinity for!"

He pulled out a piece of parchment and began taking notes.

Kaoru grinned to himself, the excitement bubbling inside him.

"Let's start with Water Prison. I bet I can reduce the hand signs for that. If I master it without any signs, I'll be unstoppable."

Feeling energized, Kaoru grabbed a few more scrolls for later reading, tucked his notes into his pocket, and made his way out of the library.

As he stepped outside, he glanced toward the direction of the waterfall, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"Just a little more practice… and I'll surprise Maki with something she never expected. Let's see how she will avoid me then. Hehe"

<<<>>>

"You're late today, Maki." Said Akura, without looking at Maki who just entered the room.

Maki grinned as she leaned against the doorframe. "I was talking with Grandma… and then Ru caught me."

Akura smiled at the mention of Kaoru. "What did he want this time?"

Maki chuckled, recalling Kaoru's excited face as he bragged about his progress. "He was showing off. He mastered Water Prison in just three weeks… and he even modified it. He doesn't need to maintain contact anymore."

Akura's eyes widened, his calm demeanor cracking for a moment. He set the papers aside and leaned forward, giving Maki his full attention.

"He did what?"

Maki grinned proudly. "Yeah. I haven't seen it myself, but he wouldn't lie about it."

"Your brother might be a genius." Akura's brows furrowed in thought. "And frankly, we desperately need one in the Takime Clan. How strong is he right now?"

Maki shrugged.

"I'm not sure. I haven't sparred with him since I got back, but he's definitely above genin in some ways. His is incredible, especially with water techniques. But… he still lacks a lot of basic combat techniques. He's nowhere near ready for a real fight."

Akura nodded. "He's still young. It makes sense. What are you planning to teach him next?"

Maki's eyes gleamed with excitement. "Body Flicker. He's been bugging me about learning something flashy, so I figured it's time."

Akura smirked. "A solid choice. It's practical and versatile. And?" He could tell Maki wasn't finished.

Maki grinned again. "I'm also going to ask Grandma to give him the Water Clone technique."

Akura's eyebrows raised slightly. "Water Clone? That's a bit advanced, isn't it?"

Maki nodded. "Yeah, but Ru learns fast. Honestly, I think he's ready. Actually… he asked me for the Shadow Clone Jutsu."

Akura blinked in surprise. "Shadow Clone? How does he even know about that technique? That's a Konoha secret."

Maki sighed, shaking her head with a mix of amusement and frustration. "I have no idea where he heard about it, but he literally begged me to get it for him. I'm trying to make it his birthday gift, but so far, no luck."

Akura leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "It's no wonder he wants it. Shadow Clones are incredibly useful for training. But… that jutsu is dangerous for someone with low chakra reserves. It splits your chakra evenly between the clones. If he overuses it, he could collapse from exhaustion not to mention brain damage."

Maki nodded in agreement. "That's why I haven't told him about the risks. But… if he keeps progressing like this, we'll need to find a way to get it for him. He'll figure out a way on his own eventually, and it's better if we're there to guide him."

Akura sighed, running a hand through his hair. "You're right. He's too curious for his own good. We need to keep an eye on him."

Maki grinned, her tone turning teasing. "He's just like me when I was his age, you know. You managed to survive training me, so you'll be fine with Ru."

Akura snorted, a rare hint of humor crossing his face. "Let's hope he's not as reckless as you were. I don't think I can handle another Maki."

Maki laughed, but her expression soon grew serious again.

"We need him to grow stronger, Akura. He's our future."

Akura nodded slowly. He was about to speak, but Maki cut in before he could.

"We both know how strong our Kekkei Genkai truly is… and Ru's been showing signs that he can unlock its full potential." Her voice softened, a mixture of hope in her tone. "I've failed to do it, but… he might be able to. Will you train him?"

Akura looked at her for a moment.

"Not yet." He crossed his arms. "He's progressing well on his own, without anyone interfering. If I step in now, I might actually slow him down instead of helping."

Maki's brows furrowed slightly, but she said nothing.

Akura continued. "Keep providing him with the resources he needs. If he hits a wall or gets stuck, then I'll step in. Until then, let him keep finding his own way. He's doing well."

Maki nodded, her mind already racing with ideas on what else she could teach her brother.

Akura stood up, his serious expression giving way to a playful smirk. "Now… enough talk. Let's spar. You need to improve too, you know. Especially since you still haven't landed a single hit on me. And I'm just an old man."

Maki snorted, a mix of annoyance and amusement flashing across her face.

"Old? Please. You're not that old, Akura. You're just impossible to hit."

"Excuses, excuses." Akura grinned as he walked outside, motioning for her to follow. "Come on. Maybe today you'll finally manage it. Or maybe I'll start feeling bad and let you hit me."

Maki rolled her eyes, but she couldn't help the smile that tugged at her lips. As she followed Akura to the sparring field, her thoughts drifted back to Kaoru.

[He really might be the one to unlock our clan's true potential.]

The thought made her smile even brighter.

**

A/N - 

After a few action-heavy chapters, I decided to take it easy and focus on showing the closeness of the Takime Clan. I wanted to highlight the bonds between the characters.

I'm also planning to speed up the plot progression soon. Kaoru needs to grow up and get out of the outpost, but first, we've got some important character development to tackle. 

Oh, and I've been thinking about Kaoru's secondary element. I'm not saying he's going to start learning it right away (we're not rushing things), but I like to plan ahead. Any suggestions? Drop them in the comments!

Character notes:

Kaoru - Tired of pies – "I swear, if I hear one more pie joke, I'm leaving the clan."

Maki - Proud sister mode – "What should I teach Ru next?"

Akura - Hidden wisdom – "Maki doesn't realize how much potential she has. Someone should tell her… nah, not yet."

Suiren - Feeling left out – "Why is my screen time so limited? I'm literally the clan head!"

**