Naruto - Azure Awakening

It had been three months since the Takime Clan sent the letter, inviting a potential ally to visit and discuss a friendly relationship. Suiren had even suggested they bring a few youngsters to spar, which carried two hidden meanings. First, showing their fighting style would help build trust and strengthen their bond. Second, it would allow the Takime Clan to assess their strength compared to other clans—a rare opportunity since both groups had been isolated from the world for years.

And now, after all the waiting, the day had finally come.

Suiren, Maki, Kaoru, and practically everyone who wasn't busy stood near the outpost entrance, waiting for the delegation's arrival. The air buzzed with excitement and curiosity. Everyone was eager to see who this mysterious clan was, but only Suiren, Maki, and a few higher-ups knew the truth.

Kaoru, on the other hand, wasn't particularly interested.

"It's just another clan, right? Nothing special." He yawned quietly, trying not to look bored as he stood by Maki.

But that changed the moment he saw her.

A girl around Maki's age was leading the group of twenty to twenty-five individuals. Her distinct red hair gleamed under the sunlight, and her bright blue eyes sparkled like the clear sky.

Kaoru's eyes widened in shock.

[Is that… Mei?] he thought, his mind racing.

He knew that face. He couldn't mistake her for anyone else.

[Mei Terumi.] The future Mizukage, and one of the strongest women in the entire Naruto universe. Her appearance alone screamed power and charisma, even at such a young age.

Kaoru glanced at Maki and chuckled quietly to himself.

[Maki caught a big fish.] He thought with a smile on his face.

Kaoru kept his gaze on Mei, observing her every move.

He knew she wouldn't be anywhere near as strong as she was in the series. After all, she was still young, but that didn't diminish her potential. Mei Terumi was destined to become a powerhouse, wielding two Kekkei Genkai, and Kaoru couldn't help but feel excited at the thought of seeing her in action.

[I wonder if she already knows how to use Lava Release or Boil Release.] His eyes sparkled with curiosity. [Maybe I can ask her for guidance.]

Initially, Kaoru had no plans to participate in the friendly sparring tournament. But now?

[I need to get in. If I get the chance to spar with her, or at least catch her attention, I'll learn something.]

Kaoru's thoughts were interrupted as Suiren stepped forward, her smile radiating calm authority.

"Welcome, Clan Head Meruem." Her tone was respectful, yet warm.

The gray-haired man with a long, flowing beard stepped away from his group. His piercing eyes scanned the gathered Takime members, but his gaze softened when it landed on Suiren.

"I'm glad to see you healthy and strong, Clan Head Suiren." His voice was deep and steady, carrying the weight of years of leadership.

Suiren nodded, her smile never wavering.

"We've been waiting for you. The feast is ready, so let's head inside. I'm sure everyone is tired and hungry. We can talk as we eat."

With a gracious gesture, Suiren turned to lead the group toward the Takime Clan's main hall.

The Terumi Clan members followed behind their leader, their eyes filled with unhidden curiosity. For many of them, this was their first time outside their own settlement, and the sight of another hidden outpost piqued their interest.

Meanwhile, the Takime Clan members stood watching, their expressions equally curious. No outsider had ever visited their new home before. For the younger generation, this was the first time they'd seen anyone outside their clan.

Whispers began to spread through the Takime crowd as they observed the newcomers.

"They look strong."

"Did you see that red-haired body? He was so handsome."

"I wonder if they'll spar with us."

Kaoru kept quiet, his focus still locked on Mei. He wasn't just curious—he was determined.

[This could be the start of something big. If the Takime and Terumi Clans form an alliance, we'll be stronger than ever.] He smiled to himself, already planning how he could take advantage of this opportunity. [This means I'll have tons of new scrolls to study, hehe] chuckled Kaoru, he was definitely obsessed with scrolls.

Kaoru had spent the last three months obsessively studying the methods to reduce the number of hand signs needed for the techniques he had already learned.

And he'd made great progress.

His Water Prison Jutsu and Water Clone Jutsu now required just one hand sign each. The days of making complex sequences of hand signs were behind him—at least for those techniques. Now, Kaoru was focused on perfecting Body Flicker.

Maki had told him that true mastery of the technique meant using it without any hand signs at all. Kaoru felt like he was on the verge of achieving that, but for now, he still needed one hand sign to pull it off.

[I'm so close.] He thought with determined excitement, already imagining how fast and efficient his future battles would be once he perfected it.

[I want to be like Shisui. I'll take Body Flicker on a whole new level, hehe] thought Kaoru while setting himself a new goal.

But it wasn't just technique refinement that Kaoru had been working on.

He never slacked off on his physical training or chakra control exercises either. His body was stronger, and his chakra control had reached a point where he could walk on water effortlessly. His chakra core had also doubled in size, again. It had taken weeks of grueling practice, but now he could do it instinctively.

Maki had promised him a new training regimen after the Terumi Clan's visit, and Kaoru was eager to see what she had in mind.

So, yeah—Kaoru was improving. Rapidly. Faster than anyone anticipated. But there was one weakness he hadn't yet addressed:

He hadn't sparred with anyone but Maki.

And Maki never held back.

Each time they sparred, Kaoru ended up getting knocked around like a rag doll. He was always forced to seek help from the clan's medical ninjas afterward. It had been a humbling experience, and despite all his progress, his confidence in his combat skills wasn't that high.

However, would this friendly tournament with the Terumi Clan give him the chance to prove himself? Or would it just show him how far he still had to go?

Only time will tell.

<<<>>>

The clan heads sat in Suiren's office, their expressions composed. With them sat two key representatives from each clan—Maki and Akura on Suiren's side, and Mei and a stoic shinobi with red eyes and black lines across his face on Meruem's side. He had introduced himself briefly as Tenma and hadn't spoken since.

Suiren had insisted that Maki sit in on the meeting, continuing her efforts to groom her as the next clan head. Meruem, too, seemed to be preparing Mei for future leadership.

"Clan heads, the big picture is clear." Started Maki "We need each other to survive—and to protect our people. Kirigakure keeps oppressing and destroying clans. We must create an organization strong enough to oppose them."

Her gaze shifted to Mei, who nodded in silent agreement.

But Meruem simply shook his head, his expression calm but firm.

"Child… both Suiren and I understand the young ones' desire to act." His voice was steady and deep. "But we've seen what hasty decisions lead to. Alliances built on fear and desperation do not last. We need to discuss where our interests lie first—and slowly develop a relationship based on trust and understanding."

It was clear to everyone in the room that the real discussion wasn't just between the clan heads, but also between the heirs. Maki and Mei seemed to be on the same page, advocating for immediate action, while Suiren and Meruem shared a more passive, long-term approach.

Akura decided that it was time to chime in.

"I have to side with the clan heads on this. Even if we combine our forces, we wouldn't be nearly strong enough to challenge the Mizukage's faction. The Takime Clan's outpost survives thanks to Suiren's ability which makes her nearly undefeatable in this valley. But outside of it…" He paused, his expression grim. "Even one S-rank shinobi could wipe us out."

The room fell into silence for a moment.

Everyone knew that the Takime Clan had no S-rank shinobi, but Akura's words reinforced the harsh reality. It was a vulnerable truth, one that needed to be said out loud for the Terumi Clan to trust them and also open up.

Tenma, still silent, nodded in acknowledgment, his expression unreadable.

Maki glanced at Mei, her frustration starting to show. They both knew that if things continued like this, nothing would change. The older generation would continue their cautious approach, and their chance to unite against the Mizukage would slip away.

Mei suddenly stood.

"Let's continue this discussion after the tournament. Maybe seeing the fire in the youngsters' eyes will change your perspectives."

Meruem chuckled softly, while Suiren gave Mei a thoughtful look.

"Perhaps," Suiren said with a gentle nod. "The future does belong to them, after all."

Maki's eyes sparkled with hope, and Kaoru, who had been listening quietly from outside the door, couldn't help but grin. The friendly tournament was about to become a lot more interesting.

<<<>>>

"No way. You're not participating in this tournament." Maki's sharp glare pierced through Kaoru, her tone leaving no room for argument.

They were having dinner together as usual, with Suiren sitting at the head of the table. But tonight, Mei and Meruem were also present, making the atmosphere a bit more formal than usual.

Kaoru, however, wasn't backing down.

"Why not?" he pouted, his lower lip sticking out slightly. "I'm not saying I'll win, but it's a valuable experience! It's not like anyone's going to try to kill their opponent. I just want to have fun!"

Maki's expression didn't soften. If anything, her eyes narrowed even more.

"Ru, you know why." Her voice carried both sternness and pride. "I've been sparring with you, and you have no control. If you fight kids your age, they'll be heavily wounded—at best. The only reason I walk away unscathed is because I'm that much stronger than you. Why do you think I've forbidden you to spar with anyone else?"

The room fell into silence, everyone having different expressions.

Kaoru and Suiren were both shocked by her words, while Mei's eyes sparkled with curiosity. Meruem, on the other hand, looked slightly insulted.

The implication that an eight-year-old boy could easily overpower anyone close to his age from the Terumi Clan didn't sit well with him. He was about to speak, but Kaoru beat him to it.

"What if I fight someone much stronger than me?" Kaoru asked. "I don't mind getting beaten up. You know that." He chuckled. "I just want to experience different fighting styles." He leaned forward, his big cyan eyes locking onto Maki.

Then, with a mischievous grin, he added:

"Pleeease?"

But this time instead of Maki he was looking at Mei. This made everyone look at Kaoru differently, the kid was cunning.

Before Maki could respond, Mei chuckled softly, drawing everyone's attention.

"If the clan heads allow it, I don't mind sparring with him." Mei's gaze shifted toward Maki, but there was a hint of playfulness in her tone. It was clear she was asking for Maki's permission, not Suiren's.

Kaoru's eyes lit up with excitement. He barely stopped himself from jumping out of his seat.

"Really?!" His voice rose in pitch, his excitement barely contained.

Meruem gave Mei a side glance, but said nothing. He wasn't pleased with the idea, but he trusted Mei's judgment.

"Alright." Suiren finally spoke. "If Mei is willing to spar with you, then I won't stop it. But, Kaoru—" She gave him a pointed look. "You must behave. No tricks. No trying to show off."

Kaoru nodded eagerly, his face bright with joy.

"Yes, Grandma! I promise!"

Maki sighed again, rubbing her temples.

"You're too stubborn for your own good, Ru." But despite her frustration, she couldn't help but smile.

Mei chuckled again, her eyes twinkling with amusement.

"He's quite determined, isn't he?" she said, addressing Maki.

Maki nodded, grinning softly.

"You have no idea."

Kaoru was already gone. He muttered he was going to prepare for the spar and ran outside with a wide smile on his face. He'd gotten exactly what he wanted:

A sparring match with Mei Terumi.

**

A/N - I decided it was time for Kaoru to experience a proper beating from someone other than Maki. Let's face it—he was getting too comfortable. 😆

Also, I've always loved Mei's persona in the canon, but I felt like it wasn't explored deeply enough. She's a fascinating character with so much potential, and I plan to give her more depth and development here.

From this point on, Kaoru will start to step out of the shadows. He'll become more active, both in his training and outside of it. It's time for him to experience the world.

Character Notes:

Kaoru – Plotting mastermind – "I'm definitely not trying to manipulate everyone around me to learn cool jutsus. Nope. Not at all."

Maki – Overprotective sister – "I'll beat you up to keep you safe, Ru. That's what love is!"

Mei – Future Mizukage in the making – "I'm supposed to be here for diplomacy, but kicking this kid's butt sounds way more fun."

Tenma – Silent guardian – "I've said five words since arriving, and honestly, that's five too many."