Capítulo 94: Chapter 94: Change of fate?
Ren slowly approached the front door, the sound of firm knocking still echoing in his mind. Before reaching for the handle, he closed his eyes to focus, activating his senses to detect the chakra signature beyond the threshold. A familiar presence emerged clearly: Takeshi.
Interesting… Ren thought, a faint smile forming on his lips. Maybe it's time to return the "welcome" he gave me at the forge. A small wooden beam would be perfect to test his reflexes.
He stood motionless for a moment, imagining the scene in his mind, but then shook his head. No, I don't have time for such nonsense. Sighing, he let the idea go and grabbed the handle.
Ren opened the door slowly, revealing the imposing figure of Takeshi standing under the pouring rain. He was carrying an enormous duffel bag on his shoulders, so large it seemed disproportionate even for his robust frame. Rain streamed down his tired face, and a bandage wrapped around his left hand. Despite it all, he appeared to be in decent shape.
Takeshi met Ren's gaze, raising an eyebrow. "Well, Mizutani, were you planning to leave me out here in the rain to admire the view, or can I come in?"
Ren crossed his arms, trying to suppress a grin. "Admire the view? I didn't know you'd become a poet. Do you need a chair to enjoy it better?"
Takeshi let out a gruff grunt of mock exasperation, shaking some water off his shoulders. "I've been walking for hours in this rain, kid…" He didn't finish the sentence, as Ren interrupted him with a mischievous smile. "First, I need to check if your reflexes are up to Mizutani household standards."
Takeshi raised an eyebrow, confused. "What?"
In that moment, Ren pretended to quickly close the door. Taken by surprise, Takeshi instinctively wedged his foot between the doorframe and the threshold, slightly losing his balance under the weight of the duffel bag.
"Kid, if I weren't so tired, I'd show you my reflexes… with a good hammer!" Takeshi grumbled, trying to regain his composure.
Ren chuckled, finally opening the door fully. "Welcome to the house, Takeshi-san. You passed the test, for this time."
As Takeshi entered, shaking off some of the rain, the voices at the door reached the kitchen. Kurara, who was helping Yuki put away dishes, paused for a moment, immediately recognizing her grandfather's gruff tone.
"Grandpa?" she murmured, calmly setting the dish down and heading toward the entrance.
Yuki, meanwhile, quickly dried her hands and made her way to the door with a warm smile. "Takeshi-san! Welcome back! I hope your trip was smooth, though… you don't look exactly dry."
Takeshi, hearing Yuki's voice, turned to her with a tired smile. "Ah, Yuki-san. Smooth wouldn't be the word, but I made it back in one piece. Thanks for taking care of Kurara."
"No need to thank me," Yuki replied, stepping closer to help with the duffel bag. "Kurara has been a joy to have around."
At that moment, Kurara reached the entrance. "Welcome back, Grandpa," she said in her usual calm tone, though there was a slight warmth in her voice.
Takeshi turned to her, and despite his fatigue, his face lit up. "Ah, my little Kurara! How you've grown! Did you keep Mizutani in check while I was away?"
Kurara raised an eyebrow. "Of course. And for the record, I wasn't the one causing a mess with the duffel bag by the door."
Ren stifled a laugh as Takeshi scratched the back of his head in embarrassment. "Well… you know, the trip was long, the bag was heavy, and the floor was slippery…"
"I see," Kurara replied, tilting her head slightly. "You're getting too old for certain weights, Grandpa."
"Old?!" Takeshi retorted, feigning offense. "I'm in better shape than this Mizutani here!" he said, gesturing sharply toward Ren.
Ren raised his hands in mock surrender. "Yes, yes, of course. But before challenging me, why don't you warm up with a cup of tea? Kurara makes an excellent one."
Kurara turned calmly. "I'll make it, Grandpa. I wouldn't want you making more mistakes in front of Yuki," she said, disappearing into the next room.
Takeshi sat with a grunt in the chair by the table. When Kurara returned with a steaming cup of tea, he accepted it gratefully. "Ah, perfect," he said, taking a sip and visibly relaxing. "That bridge… it'll keep us busy for years."
"How did the construction go?" Yuki asked, sitting down next to him.
Takeshi ran a hand through his damp hair. "It was a challenge. That bridge connects one of the main islands to the trade routes. Now it'll be easier to transport goods and people. But we'll have to build more to connect the smaller nearby islands. The village aims to strengthen ties with those communities."
Ren, seated on the couch, nodded thoughtfully. An ambitious project. But if I recall correctly, the Naruto Bridge will be built in the future. This must be another strategic point.
Takeshi placed the cup on the table with a clink, his gaze serious. "We had problems with bandits and pirates. We were close to giving up, but the Mizukage sent a team of elite ninja to protect us. Thanks to them, we finished the work."
"Pirates?" Kurara asked, her tone neutral. "I thought they were just stories."
"Oh, they're very real," Takeshi replied, tilting his head slightly. "They're not like the ones in children's tales. No bandanas or parrots, but their swords are just as sharp."
Ren remained silent, his gaze lost in thought. So Yagura is genuinely trying to improve the Village of the Mist? If only I could interfere with his manipulation… but I'm still too weak for that.
After finishing his tea, Takeshi stretched his legs, groaning softly as he rose from the chair. But as he did, his foot nudged the duffel bag he had placed near the door. The contents shifted, and with a loud clang, a heavy hammer tumbled out onto the floor.
Ren's head snapped up at the sudden noise, his brow furrowing slightly. "What was that?" he asked, his gaze landing on the hammer lying on the ground.
Takeshi scratched the back of his head, clearly embarrassed. "Ah, well… I brought a few extra tools. You never know when they might come in handy." He tried to grin, but the sound had already drawn everyone's attention.
Kurara raised an eyebrow, glancing first at the hammer and then at her grandfather. "I don't think the Mizutani household floor was one of those cases," she said dryly.
Yuki chuckled softly, bending down to pick up the hammer. "Takeshi-san, it seems your strength might need a little break," she remarked, placing it back beside the bag with careful precision.
Takeshi muttered something under his breath, his face flushing slightly as he lowered himself back into the chair with a grunt. Hoping to shift focus, he turned to Kurara. "Anyway… it's about time we head home. Do you have everything packed?"
Kurara gave a small nod, moving at her usual deliberate pace. "Just a moment." She rose without a word and left to gather her belongings.
Takeshi, avoiding looking at the bag, turned to Yuki with a more serious expression. "Thanks again for looking after Kurara while I was gone.
Yuki smiled warmly, her demeanor as calm as ever. "There's no need to thank me, Takeshi-san. She's welcome back anytime."
Kurara returned shortly after, a small and neatly packed bag over her shoulder. Her face remained impassive as always, but there was a slight ease in her movements, as though she was more comfortable.
"I'm ready," she said simply.
Yuki approached her with a gentle smile. Before Kurara could react, Yuki pulled her into a brief hug. "Take care of yourself, and don't forget to come back and visit us," she said softly.
Kurara froze for a moment, clearly caught off guard by the gesture. A faint blush crept up her cheeks, but she nodded slowly. "I will."
Leaning against the doorway, Ren watched the scene unfold in silence. A faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he met Kurara's gaze.
Kurara lingered at the threshold for a moment, turning back with her usual calm demeanor. "Thank you, Yuki. Ren." Without another word, she followed her grandfather and closed the door behind her.
---
The day after Kurara's departure, the Mizutani household felt noticeably quieter. Ren stretched as he descended the stairs, the silence highlighting the absence of the subtle energy Kurara had brought to the home.
Strange… now that she's gone, I actually miss her presence. Am I softening up? he thought, sipping tea slowly as he looked toward the door leading to his secret laboratory. A faint smile crossed his face. At least now I don't have to worry about anyone discovering my lab.
At the Academy, the day seemed to be proceeding without incident. During the break, Ren sat under a tree in the courtyard with Aoi and Jun'ko. They were chatting casually when Yukiko approached with her usual composed stride.
"Hello," she greeted, her tone direct, before turning to Aoi. "How did your training with Ren go yesterday?"
Ren felt a chill run down his spine. Yukiko… why now? What did I ever do to you? he thought, throwing her a furtive but accusatory glance.
Jun'ko's interest was piqued. She turned toward Ren, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Training? What kind of training? And why didn't you tell me about it?"
Meanwhile Aoi with a puzzled face couldn't understand what they were talking about.
Before Ren could stammer out an excuse, a commotion on the other side of the courtyard caught his attention. A group of students had gathered in a circle, their malicious laughter and raised voices cutting through the otherwise calm day. Perfect. An excuse to escape this embarrassment, Ren thought, standing abruptly.
"I'm going to check what's going on," he said quickly, walking away without waiting for a response.
As Ren approached the group, his steps light and deliberate, he immediately recognized Zabuza in the center of the commotion. This time, the aggressors were more numerous, including some third-year students. Zabuza's fierce glare remained, but he was clearly struggling against the overwhelming numbers.
Ren paused for a moment, watching the scene. If what he'll do in the exams is influenced by these constant attacks, maybe I can do something to stop it. Taking a deep breath, he stepped into the fray.
One of the aggressors swung a punch at Zabuza, forcing him to stumble back. "I'll make you pay for this!" Zabuza roared, his voice thick with anger. But before he could retaliate, Ren intervened.
"It's easy to act like this when you're in a group," Ren said, his voice steady but not aggressive.
The students turned to face him, some laughing nervously, others irritated by the interruption.
"What do you want, Mizutani? This has nothing to do with you," one of the third-years snapped, taking a step forward.
These brats, they caught me in a very bad mood
"If you think it doesn't concern me, then you don't know me at all," Ren retorted, his gaze unwavering. "If you're so confident, why don't you try without the advantage of numbers?"
The implicit challenge in his words riled them up. One of the bullies lunged at him, but Ren sidestepped effortlessly, using a simple maneuver to send him sprawling to the ground. Zabuza, seizing the opportunity, struck another student, forcing the group to retreat further.
"We're at a disadvantage now," one of the bullies muttered, helping his friend to his feet. "But this isn't over, Mizutani!" he shouted as the group dispersed.
Zabuza glared at Ren for a moment, saying nothing. His fierce gaze held a glimmer of acknowledgment, perhaps even gratitude, though he would never say it aloud. Ren simply nodded slightly before turning and heading back to class.
Back in class, Fujimoto-sensei's lecture continued as usual, but Ren found it hard to focus. Images of Zabuza surrounded by the bullies played in his mind. I don't justify what he might do in the future, but… I understand him, Ren thought, his expression serious as he stared out the window.
Later, during a break, Shin Kaguya and Shinji Karatachi approached him.
"You did the right thing, Ren," Shinji said in his usual relaxed tone, though there was an edge of seriousness to his voice. "We noticed what was happening too late and couldn't step in."
Shin, known for his combative nature, nodded firmly. "Next time, it won't happen. But today, you handled it well."
Ren studied them, slightly surprised by Shin's reaction. Even he seems to be influenced by me, Ren reflected. Maybe this is the path I should take.
As classes ended and students began to leave, Ren headed home. But a group of students was waiting for him in the courtyard. Among them, Zabuza was immobilized, his fury palpable.
"We knew you'd pass through here," one of the bullies said with a smug grin. "Now it's your turn."
Ren sighed, his frustration clear. Don't you have anything better to do? he thought, resigned. Without a word, he created a water clone and prepared for the fight.
The younger students were quickly dispatched, but the third-years proved to be more challenging opponents. Despite this, Ren, bolstered by his rigorous training, managed to hold them off without much effort. However, as the tide turned against them, one of the bullies shouted, "Call Ameryu!!!"
From the group emerged Ameryu Ringo, a student renowned for her talent with swords and her fiery personality. Ren froze momentarily, taken aback by her commanding presence. Her aura of confidence was undeniable, and the wooden swords she carried hinted at her exceptional skill.
Ameryu Ringo… one of the future Seven Swordsmen of the Mist? Ren thought, his surprise evident.
"What's going on here?" Ameryu demanded, her sharp gaze landing on Ren.
Before he could respond, one of the bullies spoke up. "It's him, Ameryu! Mizutani was bullying us!"
Ren's eyes widened in disbelief. The audacity of these idiots is astonishing. He quickly composed himself, locking eyes with Ameryu. "That's not true. They're the ones who started it, and now they're lying to cover it up."
Ameryu shrugged nonchalantly. "Doesn't matter. If you're strong, that's reason enough for a challenge." She raised her real swords, their polished surfaces gleaming in the fading light, and took a stance that exuded experience.
Ren sighed, pulling his weighted training sword from his scroll. He didn't want to underestimate Ameryu, but neither did he want to hurt her. Assuming a defensive stance, he prepared for the duel.
[ Hi there! Ito-kun here ^.^
Thanks everyone specially Jayroy_63, ao2_6309, Red7o3, Nuswa, DaoistZxKiQq , Braden_T, Cordell_Clinton, Ian_Clark_6978, BagusPardana, DarkGambit,Diegoa, Desert_Dust0 , DaoistDW5XU4, Daoist9Qy0Nv, Kay_smiles101,DaoistAZmi17, Malar, AKIB19, Overlord_Of_KARMA GeorgiusKARA and Miguel_024!
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