Chapter 44: Clash of Clans
As night cloaked the Kura clan's estate in shadows, the tension from the day's events still hung heavily. I stood in the dimly lit chamber of the family home, my Grandfather had gotten what I needed.
Three death row inmates, brought by my grandfather at my behest, were bound within the chamber. Their fear-filled eyes darted around, understanding their fate but powerless to change it. These were former Ninja's and had seals placed on them to prevent them from using their Chakra.
"Thanks, Grandpa, you're the best," I said quietly, approaching the first inmate. My sharp canines reflected the moonlight that came in through a small window.
As I bit down, the chakra flowed from the inmate into me. As their muffled scream rang out and they kicked with their legs to try and get me off, with each suck I felt, pulsating force, filling the voids left by the injuries I had sustained earlier. Their cries died down until they lay there, a husk. With each inmate, I felt stronger, my chakra reserves swelling beyond their original capacity.
After the last inmate slumped, lifelessly, the two servants silently removed the bodies. I stretched, feeling rejuvenated, the physical and chakra wounds fully healed.
My grandfather had been watching silently from the shadows. As I turned to him, his aged face was stern but concerned. "Tell me everything," he demanded, the usual calm in his voice replaced by a steely urgency.
I recounted the ordeal in the Forest of Death, sparing no detail. As I spoke of the dangers and the close calls, I saw his fists clench tightly, blood beginning to drip from his clenched hands, I didn't know the reason why my Grandfather hated Orochimaru so much but I knew it was probable for a good reason.
"It's done now. for now, I need to focus on the next part of the chuunin exams," I said, trying to reassure him. But the darkness in his eyes told me his thoughts were far away. Clearly, he wasn't listening to what I just had said.
"I'll speak with the Hokage. You should get some rest, even if you don't feel you need it," he advised, already turning to leave, his mind set on protective measures.
I knew better than to argue. Rest might not be necessary, but it wouldn't hurt. As he departed, I had gone to my room, and I settled into the quiet of the night.
The crisp morning air was still tinged with the scent of dew when the sliding door to my room was forcefully opened. My grandfather's silhouette filled the frame, his features set in a deep scowl that indicated the poor outcome of his discussion with the Third Hokage.
"Get up. We train now," he commanded, his voice gruff with irritation.
As we made our way to the training grounds, the silence was thick, reflective of his stern mood. We began immediately, with no preamble. He demonstrated our family's advanced Taijutsu techniques, his movements a blur I couldn't keep up with his movements. To keep up, I activated my Sharingan, my eyes allowing me to mimic and learn his moves at an accelerated pace.
He noticed immediately, his expression tightening. "Izumi told me you'd taken to using that in training," he remarked, not slowing his assault but making each move distinct enough for me to capture. "Refrain from using it at the exam."
Each lapse in my execution was met with a swift reprimand. A sharp strike to my shoulder, a clipped command to focus. The pain was sharp, a clear message of the seriousness of this all.
As the morning sun climbed higher, so did the intensity of our session. "Again," he would snap whenever I faltered, pushing me to the limits of my endurance. My Sharingan whirled, capturing every nuance of his technique, committing it to memory where it was dissected and understood.
"You learn fast, but not fast enough. Tomorrow, we go again," he declared, turning on his heel and leaving me to reflect on the day's lessons. Until the next one tomorrow.
The morning air was cool and still as the second day of training began. My grandfather wasted no time in driving me through our family's rigorous Taijutsu drills.
"You're lagging," he said sharply, his voice cutting through the morning calm. "It's not your eyes; it's your body."
His words were a bitter truth. Even with the release I couldn't keep up. I figured as much when I had faced Orochimaru but still, it sucked.
"You need to understand, seeing isn't enough," he continued. "Your body needs to be conditioned to move and react to that speed. That's what we're here for."
As I struggled to match his pace, a familiar presence approached. Anko, my sensei, arrived at the training grounds, her eyes widening in shock as she took in the scene. Her surprise was evident, given the state I had been in the last time she saw me, broken bones and torn muscles had left me barely able to stand.
"What in the world?" Anko exclaimed, rushing over. "She shouldn't be training like this! When I brought her here, she was on the verge of collapse!"
I quickly deactivated my Sharingan, not wanting to draw more attention. Anko's concern deepened as she turned to my grandfather. "How can you push her so hard? Everyone knows you spoil her, yet here you are, driving her like this!"
My grandfather's expression was stern. "She heals quickly.," he replied firmly. "She needs to be ready for what's to come. In case she finds herself facing an opponent of orochimaru level again "
Anko's eyes blazed in annoyance. "this isn't the way to do it! She needs time to recover, not more punishment!"
Their argument escalated, He believed in pushing me to my limits, while she saw the danger in such relentless training.
"You don't understand the stakes," my grandfather growled. "This is about more than just her physical readiness. It's about her safety, in the Ninja world."
Anko shook her head, frustration evident. "And you think breaking her body down is the way to do that? She needs support, not this brutality!"
As they argued, I noticed a subtle movement in the distance. An ANBU operative with a cat mask, unmistakably Izumi, watched from afar. Our eyes met briefly, and a silent understanding passed between us before she vanished as quickly as she had appeared.
The argument eventually subsided, my grandfather's unyielding stance clashing with Anko's protective instincts. "We'll continue this discussion later," Anko finally said, her voice tight with unresolved tension. "For now, she needs rest."
My grandfather gave a curt nod, his eyes still hard. "Very well. But remember, this is for her own good."
As Anko led me away, she cast one last worried glance back at my grandfather. "You need to take care of yourself," she said softly to me. "Pushing too hard won't do you any favors."
Anko insisted on taking me out for some food. We made our way to a familiar ramen stand, the aroma of the broth and noodles comforting. As we approached, I saw Naruto slurping his ramen with his usual enthusiasm. A smile tugged at my lips.
"Hey, Naruto," I greeted, sliding onto the stool next to him.
"Hey Ayumi! Come join me," he replied with his mouth full, gesturing to the empty seats beside him.
Anko seemed to relax as she saw me eating and chatting with Naruto. The tension from the morning's training began to fade, replaced by the simple joy of sharing a meal with friends.
As I ate, I caught sight of Lee from the corner of my eye, running on his hands. The memory of his confession during the first exam flooded back, followed by the vivid recollection of him carrying me to the tower during the second exam. He had caught me off guard, and I still hadn't addressed his feelings.
Blushing slightly, I looked away and focused on my ramen, trying to push the thoughts aside. But Naruto and Anko noticed my distraction immediately.
"What's wrong? See something you like?" Naruto teased, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.
Anko joined in, her tone light and teasing. "Yeah, you seemed pretty focused on something over there."
I could feel my face heating up even more. "There are far more important things happening at the moment," I muttered, trying to steer the conversation away from Lee. "With the exams still underway, I need to get stronger to make sure I don't die."
Naruto and Anko exchanged amused glances but let the subject drop, understanding the seriousness in my voice. Anko sighed, her expression softening. "I remember when Lee carried you to the tower. I took you out of his arms and brought you to your grandfather's house to rest. I thought it was the best thing for you but seeing how quickly he put you back into training, I regret that decision."
I shrugged, trying to appear indifferent. "It's fine. There's no time to waste. I needed to do something besides being in bed."
Anko nodded, her concern still evident. "Just remember to take care of yourself, okay? We all want you to succeed, but not at the cost of your well-being."
I smiled faintly, appreciating her concern. "I will. Thanks, Anko."
After the comforting meal and light-hearted banter with Naruto and Anko, the evening sky began to darken, signaling the end of the day. As we parted ways, I felt better than I had in a while.
Despite the day's rigorous training, there was no time to waste. I needed to make the most of every moment Since Anko had come to inform me that the last teams had finished the Forest of Death and that tomorrow would be the final Part of the exam.
I created several shadow clones, dividing the tasks among them. A few clones would train in the techniques my grandfather had drilled into me that morning, perfecting each movement and ingraining it into muscle memory. Others were stationed around the house, keeping vigilant watch over the estate to ensure our safety. Just in case something happened. The last two clones joined me in my room, their purpose to help offset the tiredness I might experience in the morning when they dispelled.
As I lay down, the presence of the clones provided a strange sense of comfort. Closing my eyes, I allowed myself to drift into sleep, knowing that my training would continue even in my sleep.
By the time the first light of dawn crept into the room, the clones had completed their tasks. As they dispelled, a rush of memories and fatigue hit me, but the resting clones mitigated the worst of it. I stretched and rose from my bed, feeling the accumulated knowledge and practice from the night before.
The arena was abuzz with excitement as spectators filled the stands, the air electric with anticipation for the final part of the Chunin exams. The remaining contestants gathered, each wearing expressions of determination and nerves. I stood among them, trying to stay focused amidst the whispers and sideways glances from my peers. My mind replayed every moment of training, every lesson learned in the grueling days leading up to this moment.
A large screen flickered to life, and the proctor, a seasoned jonin with a stern demeanor, stepped forward. "The matches will be selected at random," he announced, his voice booming over the crowd. Tension mounted as the first names appeared on the screen. My heart raced, and then there it was my name, followed by the one I really wanted to face, Neji Hyuga.
A murmur ran through the crowd as I made my way to the center of the arena, Neji already waiting, his expression unreadable but his eyes cold.
As we faced each other, Neji's disdain was palpable. "I only helped you in the Forest of Death because we are from the same village," he said, his voice low but carrying. "Do not think it means I respect you or your so-called abilities."
I clenched my fists, my emotions stirring, but I kept my voice steady. "Talk all you want. It's the fight that will prove who's better," I replied, resisting the urge to activate my Sharingan. Instead, I focused on my clan's kekkei genkai, the Kure Release. I could push it to 60 percent without risking severe damage to my body, though in the back of my mind, I knew I might have to risk more.
The proctor raised his hand, signaling for silence. "This is a one-on-one combat. The first to yield or become incapacitated will lose. You are to cease immediately upon my order or face disqualification." He paused, surveying us both with a critical eye.
As Neji adopted his gentle fist stance, a ripple of excitement passed through the crowd. I steadied my breathing, As I took the Kure demon-fighting stance.
The proctor's hand dropped. "Begin!"
Weekly Power Status
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