Chapter | XXVI |

They traveled through the muddy paths leading to somewhere only Kakashi knew. As they ventured further, the height of the short grasses increased, it rose and rose until it reached Kakashi's chin.

Naruto, after walking in silence for a few more minutes, chose to speak. His gaze flickered to Rumi's bow.

"Hey, Rumi... Where do your arrows come from?"

After going through some battles, they had grown close to being called as aquatints now. Hesitating for a second or two, she pointed at the ground.

"From the ground?"

Naruto asked in puzzlement, Rumi shook her head and pointed at the ground again. More specifically...

"From your shadow?"

She nodded her head, Naruto became more confused at that. He turned his head toward Kakashi, feeling a stare on his back, the Jōnin sighed.

"I know what you're thinking. No, the Nara are not the only ones with an affinity toward Shadows, it's just that their clansmen were lucky to have it. Shadow affinity is rare... Rarer than wind or lightning, Rumi here... Is more blessed and attuned with the Shadows than even the so-called Nara"

Naruto's eyes shimmered in enlightenment and glanced at Rumi.

"More than even the Nara clansmen, you say?"

"Yes, while the Nara are capable of controlling their own shadows and other's to a certain extent... Rumi can make them into solid shapes, and empower herself and detach her shadow from her as a scout, adding on the fact that she can even dive and become incorporeal, she's a menace to reckon with"

Naruto felt an arrow Peirce his ego, he had thought his power-up was a cheat, but this... This was fucking wild! Who in their wildest dreams would've imagined that such a person could even exist?

But a question rose in his heart.

"If she is that talented, why didn't the Nara try to recruit her?"

Kakashi looked at Naruto over his shoulders and smiled, and for the first time, his smile seemed to be loving and contained a bit of warmth.

"Because she is my daughter"

"..."

"What!?"

Naruto glanced at Kakashi, then at Rumi. What. The. Fuck?. His steps halted, Kakashi couldn't but laugh at his surprised figure.

"You didn't see that coming, did you? Haha!"

Naruto slowly realized it. The white hair, the mask... The puzzles slowly came together. But then, another question escaped his lips.

"Then, why is her last name Kozue?"

Kakashi shook his head, amused that Naruto still couldn't figure it out.

"That's her Mother's, you dumb child"

The blonde's face flushed in embarrassment, how did he turn stupid overnight? Of course, she has a mother! He was so used to strong kids being orphans that he just assumed she was one too.

Naruto sighed at his stupidity and gazed at Rumi in a new light. Just from the description, Naruto knew she was powerful, very powerful... Maybe even more powerful than him. He was rather curious about the extent of her abilities.

"But there's a drawback to her powers"

Kakashi neared Rumi and wrapped one hand around her shoulder pulling her slightly closer as they continued to walk.

"Her Jutsu's requires a chunk of Chakra, so she can only do so much despite her versatile arsenal"

Naruto raised his chin proudly at that statement, at least he topped her at the reserves part. Naruto once again realized how fortunate he was to receive such a vast amount of reserves, it was truly a god-like blessing.

Seeing Naruto's reaction, Kakashi smiled under his mask. 'So, he knows'. He thought as they exited from the tall grass, and was met with a village not too far ahead.

Kakashi retracted his hand to walk ahead again. Asashi seemed to be in a world of his own as they traveled, he was probably not even aware of the load of information they were just dumped with. They did not have to go far as they reached the outskirts of the village.

A/N: A stone or two, please? A review would be much appreciated :(