The Turning Tide

After we had gotten back from Yoko-sensei's house, I went to find out where my mom and dad were. Looking everywhere, I finally found them in the backyard playing around on the swing set that Dad had recently installed.

Instead of bringing everyone inside, I decided to bring Yoko to the backyard so they wouldn't have to move.

"Hey, everyone, I'm back for the day." Kushina, using the Flying Thunder God technique, appeared before me and threw her small arms around my body, wrapping me up in a suffocating hug for a three-year-old. Seriously, the series was not joking about the Uzumaki's special physique, at all. Nothing had to be said between the two of us as I accepted the hug that said 'I missed you.'

I chuckled softly and scooped her up into my arms, returning her hug with a gentle squeeze. "Hey there, little sis! Missed you too," I said, ruffling her hair affectionately. Kushina giggled gleefully, her laughter filling the air with warmth and joy.

Setting her back down on the ground, as she grabbed my hand to hold, I turned to my parents to give them the good news.

"I have been accepted as Yoko-sensei's student!" I said, letting the enthusiasm slip into my voice because it truly was a momentous thing. To be accepted by, whom I can put the context clues together, one of the best seal mistresses in the village.

My parents both looked at each other, then at me and Yoko standing side by side. Both had a look of pride in their eyes as they thought about me being accepted by Yoko.

"I also have a seal to prove it," I said, pulling out the containment seal I had spent four days preparing, learning the basics and improving my calligraphy, and one day drawing.

My dad took it and inspected it much like Yoko-sensei had when I first brought it to her to inspect.

"It looks good. For having done it in only five days after learning the basics, it is quite incredible, Shiran. Most of our genin struggle to get most of the basics done in five days to a week, so you should be proud of it. That being said, this isn't anywhere near perfect, and you still have a long way to go, so don't get cocky just because you got one D-Rank seal drawn and working."

I nodded my head, knowing what is out there in the world, I most certainly wouldn't be getting cocky, at least anytime soon. "I understand, Dad. I'll continue to work hard, and I won't let the chance that both you and Yoko-sensei have given me."

My dad gave me a warm smile, saying, "Good. I know you won't. You're too smart to do something as foolish as that."

Nodding, I turned back to Yoko, who somehow materialized a stack of books almost as tall as me from out of nowhere.

"Geez, sensei, what's up with the library you got there?" I asked while picking up a couple of books, looking at what the fronts were titled.

Sealing Techniques 101, Fuinjutsu Basics, Fuinjutsu for Dummies, Unlocking Fuinjutsu: The Beginner's Companion, etc.

"These are all the basic books for when you first enter the initiate rank of fuinjutsu. They will help you by explaining more complicated concepts in-depth, give you guides for a few beginner seals, explain the beginnings of seal matrixes, and much more. This is all to help you get from initiate up to adept, and with the talent I have seen from you, I don't think it should take you too long to learn the different things in here and start practicing the different seals that are inside the book."

I nodded, putting the books back on the human-sized stack of books.

"I'll complete all of it then. I won't disappoint you, sensei."

Yoko nodded at the young boy, more and more liking the spirit he had and the work ethic he's been putting on display.

"I expect that you don't disappoint me. Now if you all will excuse me, I have to return home." She gave a big smile to everyone and then turned her back and walked away.

As I watched her go, I felt my dad put his hand on my shoulder.

"We are glad that you ended up as her student, Shiran. She truly is a genius when it comes to fuinjutsu and the Uzumaki clan's sealing techniques. With that being said, I have something for you," my dad said in a lighter tone of voice than he was talking in just a sentence before.

I cocked my head to the side while looking at him and asked, "What do you have for me?"

He smiled as he pulled a scroll out of nowhere and handed it to me.

"These are a couple of the Uzumaki clan's water jutsus. There are three D-Rank jutsu in there and one C-Rank jutsu. You can do whatever you want with them, although I already have an idea of what you're going to do with them."

My eyes lit up a little as I snatched the scroll away from my dad, ready to see what jutsus he gave me and to get started on memorizing how to do each one.

"One more thing before you open up the scroll, Shiran. I am going to get you a taijutsu trainer who specializes in one of the taijutsu styles of our clan. I was thinking of getting you someone who specializes in the blitzchain style, but if you want to go a different direction, then I can do it for you."

I looked up from the scroll in my hands and thought for a second.

"Yeah, I agree with you. I really want to focus on getting my speed to be as fast as I can, and if I pick a taijutsu style that compliments that, then I think that'll be best," I expressed my opinion on the matter before turning my attention back to the scroll, completely missing my dad's nod as he told me he'll start looking for the best person.

'These are going to be the first elemental jutsus that I will have ever done. I wonder what it's going to feel like. I bet it feels so cool. I wonder what the limitations are to each of them.' The thoughts rolled through my head as I unfurled the scroll and looked at the contents.

- Water Release: Water Whip

Rank: D

Element: Water

Description: The user channels their chakra into a nearby water source, manipulating it to form a flexible whip. The whip can extend and retract quickly, allowing the user to strike or entangle an opponent at a short range.

- Water Release: Water Thorns

Rank: D

Element: Water

Description: The user condenses water chakra in their mouth and fires thorn-shaped water pellets at the target. These water thorns can leave deep gashes and cuts on the target that they hit. They can also be formed by infusing chakra into the surrounding water sources to fire at an opponent.

- Water Release: Water Shield

Rank: D

Element: Water

Description: The user forms a thin, yet sturdy, sheet of water in front of them either by spitting water chakra out or infusing nearby water sources with chakra. This water shield can deflect basic physical attacks and low-level ninjutsu.

- Water Release: Riptide Rush

Rank: C

Element: Water

Description: The user gathers water chakra and spews a large swift wave of water across the ground that sweeps away opponents. It can be used more effectively if there is a body of water nearby.

'Hmmm, this is quite the selection here. He seems to have picked two offensive, one defensive, and one support jutsu for me. It is quite a good selection honestly. You don't want to be too heavy in one area; you always have to be well-rounded to survive, especially in this world.'

"Alright bud, we'll leave you to it, and don't forget about dinner unless you want your mom to electrocute you," my dad said while turning to my mom and dodging a right hook being thrown his way.

I laughed as they left the backyard with Kushina in tow.

'I would give anything to keep my family alive and together,' I thought as I turned my attention back to the jutsus in my hand, determined to be able to perform all four of them by the time dinner was ready.