Chapter 130:- Second session

Akane shifted closer, her arms wrapping around Kenshin as she rested her head on his chest. The steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath her ear brought a soft smile to her lips.

"So… did you like it?" she asked teasingly, though there was a hint of genuine curiosity in her tone.

Kenshin sighed softly, his hand lightly resting on her hip as he pulled her closer. "I do," he admitted, his voice calm but firm. "But you're overdoing it, Akane. You need to have some restraint."

Akane tilted her head slightly to look up at him, her pout returning. "Restraint?"

"Yes," Kenshin said, his tone slightly exasperated but still gentle. "Think about it—if we're somewhere we can't do this, you won't be able to sleep. You're making yourself too reliant on it."

Akane's pout deepened, but she didn't argue. Instead, she nuzzled closer, her voice muffled against his chest. "It just feels so good. And that's saying something, considering what I went through in the other life."

"I know," Kenshin said, his fingers brushing through her hair soothingly. "But we also need to be careful."

Akane chuckled softly, her breath warm against his skin. "You're worried about what people will think?"

Kenshin shook his head. "Not about that. It's about avoiding unnecessary complications. The fewer people who know, the easier it is for us to keep things… peaceful."

Akane sighed but didn't push back further. Instead, she tightened her hold on him, her tone turning softer. "Alright, kid. I'll try to be more mindful."

Kenshin smiled faintly, pressing another gentle kiss to her forehead. "That's all I'm asking."

He slowly sat up, stretching before glancing at Akane. "Alright, get up. You have training with Kakashi, and Aunt Yukari's probably awake by now."

Akane groaned lightly but nodded, sliding out of bed and pulling off her pajamas without hesitation. Kenshin let out a soft sigh, fixing his pants and muttering, "I'll see you downstairs." He stepped out of her room, heading to his own to change.

Once dressed, Kenshin went downstairs to freshen up before heading to the kitchen. There, Yukari was gracefully preparing breakfast.

"Good morning, Aunt Yukari," Kenshin greeted.

"Good morning, Kenshin-sama," Yukari replied, her tone as polite and respectful as always. "Please, take a seat at the table."

Kenshin complied, sitting down as Yukari turned to him with a small smile. "Would you mind waking your sister? Breakfast is almost ready."

Kenshin nodded and was about to leave when he saw Akane walking toward the bathroom, muttering something under her breath.

"My mouth's all sticky…" she grumbled, her tone half-amused and half-annoyed.

Kenshin raised an eyebrow. "Be quick. Breakfast's almost ready."

Akane shot him a teasing look over her shoulder. "You unloaded a lot today, so my mouth is all sticky. I need a moment to clean up properly. Otherwise everything is gonna taste like your sperm. Not that I hate it, but it's gonna feel really weird." With that, she disappeared into the bathroom.

Shaking his head, Kenshin returned to the kitchen to help Yukari. By the time Akane joined them, the food was already on the table, and they all ate together.

After breakfast, Kenshin and Akane stepped out of the house together, Yukari standing by the door to see them off.

"Take care, Kenshin-sama, Akane-sama," Yukari said warmly as they walked away. Once they were out of sight, she closed the door, looking around the pristine home.

"This house is always so tidy," Yukari mused aloud. "Not much work to do… Oh, but Kenshin-sama's bed was really wet and smelly yesterday." She sighed, remembering the snowfall that had prevented her from drying the sheets.

Her cheeks turned slightly pink as she thought about the reason, as the smell was something she was familiar with. But she quickly pushed the thought aside, as it'd be crossing a line she shouldn't cross.

"Maybe I'll put them out under the sun today. But first…" She yawned softly. "I need a nap." Deciding to rest before starting her chores, Yukari made her way to her room.

Meanwhile, Kenshin and Akane strolled through the quiet Uchiha compound.

"So, what's your plan for today?" Akane asked, glancing at her brother.

Kenshin hesitated for a moment before lying smoothly. "I'm thinking of working on something. Something to complement my Wind Chakra Mode."

Akane raised an eyebrow. "You're really leaning into wind release, aren't you? The way you're cooking up jutsu, you're gonna make Kakashi-sensei look lame."

"It's my strongest affinity," Kenshin replied nonchalantly. "Of course, I'm going to build around it. But that doesn't mean I'm ignoring the others. I'll use fire and earth when the situation calls for it."

Akane stretched her arms above her head, a playful smirk on her lips. "You should do that. And work on your taijutsu, too. Maybe practice with Kaede. You can go at her with lethal intent, and she won't even care. If anything, she might enjoy it."

Kenshin nodded thoughtfully. "That's a good idea."

Akane stretched her arms again, a confident glint in her eyes. "You should do that. I'll keep doing my best too. Hopefully, I can surprise you during the exams."

Kenshin gave her a small smile. "Looking forward to it."

As they reached the entrance of the Uchiha compound and stepped into the bustling streets of the village, Akane turned to him. "Well, this is where we part ways for now. I've got things to work on, and I don't want you peeking at my new jutsu." She smirked, clearly excited about the element of surprise.

Kenshin nodded, watching as she headed off. "As you wish, nee-san. Good luck," he called after her before turning in the opposite direction.

While Akane made her way to Kakashi's apartment to drag him to the training grounds, Kenshin headed toward a quieter training ground near the Yamanaka residence.

He had no intention of sharing his struggles with Akane. His PTSD and therapy were things she didn't need to know.

Once Kenshin arrived at the secluded training ground, he took a deep breath and centered himself. His mind wandered to an idea he'd been contemplating: creating wind clones.

Recalling what he knew from the show and what he's learned in this life, he understood that water and earth-based clones were more stable and easier to create due to the nature of their chakra.

Water, being liquid, and earth, being solid or semi-solid, allowed for easier molding into a tangible form. This is why they were common in villages that focus on those two natures.

In contrast, natures like lightning, fire, and wind were far more volatile and intangible, making them challenging to work with.

Still, he knew it wasn't impossible—Kakashi's lightning clones were proof of that. Although Kakashi was a prodigy, and developed it himself.

Kenshin began by forming the hand seals for the standard water clone technique, switching the seals associated with water for seals associated with wind intending to replicate the process but with wind chakra.

He let his chakra flow steadily, focusing on shaping the volatile wind into a stable form. The first few attempts resulted in nothing but a sharp gust dispersing in all directions.

"Alright," Kenshin muttered to himself. "So, that did something. Maybe add a few more seals and tweak the sequence."

He tried again, this time adding some more seals for better control and visualizing the wind chakra solidifying as he molded it into a clone. After a few dozen more tries, a faint outline began to appear—a hazy, unstable figure that quickly dissipated.

Kenshin frowned but wasn't discouraged. "It's a start," he murmured, already strategizing how to refine the process further.

"At this rate, I should be able to figure out a basic idea in a few hours. Maybe if I make a few hundred clones it'll be easier." Kenshin thought, forming the hand seal for the shadow clone jutsu and making a few hundred clones.

The clones all got to work, attempting to create a wind clone and sharing whatever discovery they made, being sure to relay it quickly and one by one so that the main Kenshin doesn't get overwhelmed by the inflow of information.

Despite their efforts, after a couple of hours, the most he could produce was a faint, unstable figure that flickered before dissipating within seconds.

Frustrated but unwilling to push himself too hard, Kenshin lay down to rest. He had therapy with Suu later and couldn't afford to arrive completely spent. After about half an hour, he stood, feeling a bit more refreshed, and created a single shadow clone.

"Keep practicing," he instructed. "And keep the info to yourself for now. I'll check up on you after the therapy."

The clone nodded and returned to the task as Kenshin headed toward the Yamanaka residence. Entering the flower shop, he spotted Ino tending to the vibrant blossoms.

"Ino," he greeted, stepping closer, "is Suu-san home?"

Ino turned to him with a bright smile. "Kenshin! Yeah, she's upstairs in the office. She's been waiting for you all morning."

"Thanks," Kenshin replied with a small nod before making his way upstairs.

As he opened the door to Suu's office, he found her seated at her desk, dark circles under her eyes and an air of exhaustion surrounding her. Kenshin's gaze softened slightly as he stepped inside, closing the door behind him.

Kenshin raised an eyebrow, surprised by Suu's exhausted state. "What happened?" he asked, concern lacing his tone.

Suu let out a tired sigh, running a hand through her hair. "After I came home from your place last night, I stayed up preparing for today's therapy session. I worked on some simulations that will serve as the foundation for the primary stage of your treatment. It took forever because these things are meticulous. And since you're young, I want to get a proper diagnosis as soon as possible."

She yawned and stood up, calling downstairs, "Ino! Be a dear and make your mom a quick cup of coffee. And add a bit of extra caffeine too." Then she turned to Kenshin, gesturing toward the couch. "Go on, sit down."

Kenshin complied, but as soon as he settled, Suu's expression shifted into a mischievous grin. "So," she began, her tone teasing, "what were you doing with Akane for so long upstairs last night? All alone, just the two of you, in her room."

Kenshin's face instantly turned bright red, and he let out a groan of frustration. "Can you not bring that up? What I do with Akane is entirely my business."

Suu chuckled, patting his back lightly. "Relax, kid. You can be open about that stuff with a therapist. Believe it or not, it's all part of the treatment."

His face grew even redder. "I-I can't. Don't bring it up again. Please."

Suu shrugged playfully. "Your choice." She shifted topics, sitting down across from him. "What did you do this morning? And do you have a training plan for the Chunin exams yet?"

Kenshin exhaled, glad for the change in subject. "I was working on a new technique. A wind based clone. As for the details, I'm still figuring it out but I'll let you know."

Suu nodded thoughtfully. "Well, you should know, the new academy class will graduate right after the Rinne Festival, in late January. It's likely you'll get a chance to participate in the exams alongside your juniors."

She paused. "The Leaf's having two general graduations this year due to the losses we suffered during the invasion two years ago, when the Third Hokage passed away. The next graduation is in the summer, the usual time."

Kenshin perked up slightly at the information, but Suu wasn't done. "Also, if your mom does well on her evaluation mission, she'll probably be assigned a team. Depending on how she performs, of course. She might not get assigned a team right now and instead get one during the second graduation."

Kenshin's flustered expression brightened, a genuine smile tugging at his lips as he imagined Kana's reaction when she told him she'd become a sensei. "She'd be so proud," he said softly, almost to himself.

Ino came upstairs, balancing a tray with a steaming cup of coffee and a large mug of hot chocolate. The coffee had an extra kick of caffeine for Suu, while the hot chocolate was specially prepared for Kenshin, extra chocolaty and topped with whipped cream—no sprinkles, as Ino knew he disliked them. She handed the drinks over with a warm smile.

"Here you go. And don't forget," she said cheerfully, "you're having lunch with us today, Kenshin." With that, she turned and headed back downstairs, leaving the two to their session.

Suu took a careful sip of her coffee, feeling the caffeine jolt her awake almost instantly. "Ah, that hits the spot," she said with a relieved sigh. Kenshin chuckled softly as he savored his hot chocolate, enjoying the richness of the flavor.

The two chatted casually for a while, Suu subtly steering the conversation toward Kenshin's family, daily life, and any small details he was willing to share. Once they finished their drinks, Suu leaned forward, setting her mug aside. "Alright, Kenshin. Let's get started for real now. Sit down on the floor with me."

Kenshin set his mug down and crossed his legs as Suu instructed. She reached out, taking his hands in hers. Her gaze turned serious yet reassuring. "Same as before," she said softly.

The familiar sensation washed over Kenshin as the world around them dissolved, replaced by the serene cherry blossom garden of Suu's mindscape. Pink petals floated lazily in the air, and the tranquil atmosphere belied the difficult task ahead.

"Let's begin," Suu said, her voice steady. She conjured a scene in the mindscape, carefully piecing it together from fragments of Akane's memories.

The first simulation materialized: Akane, training in the woods. Her right bicep was bandaged, and the faint red stain on it hinted at an earlier injury. Kenshin's body tensed slightly as his gaze fell on the bandage. He flinched but remained composed, his face neutral.

Suu observed his reaction closely, noting the subtle signs of discomfort. She continued to build similar scenarios—Akane fighting with another shinobi, her hand gripping a kunai with faint traces of blood, or her face smeared with dirt and sweat, implying a grueling fight.

Kenshin's reactions were consistent. He flinched now and then, but the intensity of his unease never escalated. Suu worked meticulously for hours, gradually increasing the realism while ensuring the blood remained implied rather than shown.

By the time Suu deactivated the jutsu, she felt satisfied with their progress. The cherry blossom garden faded away, replaced by the quiet ambiance of her office.

Suu stretched her arms and flopped onto the floor, sighing as she extended her legs. "That went well. You did better than I expected."

Kenshin stood up, stretching his arms above his head. "It didn't feel like much, honestly. Just... weird. I wanted to step in, but I knew that she was strong enough to handle it."

Suu smiled faintly. "That's a good sign. You're not reacting strongly to indirect exposure. But I don't want to push too far, too fast. Tomorrow, I'll have something more advanced prepared. Baby steps, alright?"

Kenshin nodded. "Alright. Thanks, Suu-san."

Suu waved a hand dismissively, though her expression softened. "It's my job, kid. Now go take a breather before Ino hauls you into the kitchen to help with lunch."

Kenshin walked down the stairs, spotting Ino tending to the flowers with an intense focus. Her hands moved delicately, as if each petal deserved the utmost care. The sight was calming, and for a moment, he simply watched her work.

Sensing his presence, Ino glanced up with a smile. "Therapy's done?" she asked, her tone casual but warm.

Kenshin nodded, stepping closer. "Yeah, she wants to take it slow." He hesitated briefly before adding, "Ino... do you know why I'm doing this?"

Ino's expression softened, her usual brightness tempered with a quiet understanding. "I have a rough idea," she said gently. "You've got some things—serious things—you're dealing with. That's why you're here. But honestly, I don't need to know the specifics. That's between you and Mom. Therapy's private, you know?"

Kenshin felt a flicker of gratitude. "Thanks."

Ino grinned, breaking the serious moment as she gestured to the flowers around her. "Check these out—aren't they gorgeous?"

Kenshin crouched down beside her, watching as she pointed out various blooms. She explained each one with enthusiasm, detailing their names, origins, and meanings.

Kenshin listened attentively, finding a surprising peace in her voice and the vibrant display of colors.

After a while, Ino turned to him, brushing her hands on her apron. "What about you? Got a favorite flower?"

Kenshin thought for a moment, realizing he'd never really considered it. The Hidden Rain wasn't exactly known for its flora. "I... don't know," he admitted. "Flowers weren't really a thing where I grew up. Maybe... white lilies? Akane likes them." He paused, his brow furrowing thoughtfully.

"Or maybe blue roses. They're... different. Not something you find in nature. They're a product of ingenuity, something people had to create. It's... unique, I guess."

Ino's eyes lit up. "Blue roses, huh? Good choice. Did you know they've only been genetically engineered pretty recently? Just a few years ago. Before that, people used to dye regular roses blue to mimic them."

She leaned forward slightly, her voice dropping to a softer tone. "Do you know what they symbolize?"

Kenshin shook his head.

"Blue roses symbolize mystery, the unattainable, and the extraordinary," Ino explained. "They're often seen as a sign of achieving the impossible or longing for something that's just out of reach. Kind of poetic, don't you think?"

Kenshin stared at the delicate petals of a nearby bloom, his thoughts swirling. "Yeah," he murmured. "Poetic."

Ino smiled, brushing her hair back. "Well, if you ever want to know more about flowers, you know where to find me. Or if you "forget" about your sister's flowers and need to get them for her."

Kenshin nodded, feeling a strange sense of calm settle over him. "I'll keep that in mind. Thanks, Ino."

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