Chapter 112:- Ice vs wind

As noon approached, Akane stirred awake, the sunlight filtering through the curtains warming her face. Her first coherent thought was an annoyed realization: she was late.

Her eyes snapped open, and she sat up abruptly, the motion sending a cascade of disheveled black hair over her shoulders. She groaned softly, rubbing her temples. 'Kakashi-sensei is going to hold this over me forever.'

Sliding out of bed, Akane pulled on a loose t-shirt and shorts and made her way downstairs. She could hear soft voices coming from the living room, and as she entered, she spotted Yuki and Kana chatting casually. Yuki glanced up at her almost immediately, a teasing smile spreading across her face.

"Well, good morning, Akane," Yuki said, her tone dripping with amusement as she kept her eyes deliberately away from Akane. "I thought I told your brother not to keep you up all night? It's bad for your health."

Akane's cheeks turned an impressive shade of red, her flustered expression making Kana stifle a laugh. A pillow conveniently lay within reach on the couch beside her, and Akane didn't hesitate. She grabbed it and hurled it at Yuki with surprising speed and force.

"Shut up, sensei! You meet your student after five days and this is the first thing you're saying ?!"she snapped, her embarrassment only fueling her frustration.

"Is this some single-person thing? Teasing couples for doing something completely normal?"

Yuki caught the pillow effortlessly, her grin widening. "Normal, huh? Well, you're certainly making it obvious."

Akane's face burned as red as Kana's hair. Her irritation only deepened when Yukari called out from the kitchen, her tone light and motherly.

"Akane-sama, perhaps you should freshen up before coming downstairs," Yukari said, the sound of chopping vegetables punctuating her words. "If you don't look so disheveled, perhaps they shall tease you less. Besides, it is normal for new couples to face light teasing from friends and family. It will die down after a few months."

Akane buried her face in her hands with a groan, mumbling something incoherent as she turned on her heel and marched toward the bathroom. She could still hear Yuki and Kana laughing softly behind her as she shut the door.

In the bathroom, Akane splashed cold water on her face, willing her embarrassment to fade. 'Why do they always gang up on me?' she thought with a sigh, running her fingers through her hair to tame it.

Despite her irritation, she couldn't suppress a small smile. This teasing, as infuriating as it could be, was also a reminder of how far they had come—how close they had all grown.

By the time she emerged from the bathroom, her hair neatly combed and her expression calm, Yuki and Kana had moved to the kitchen, where Yukari was plating breakfast. Akane grabbed a slice of toast and mumbled a quick thanks before heading for the door.

"Kakashi-sensei's not going to let me live this down," she muttered, slipping on her shoes.

Yuki's voice followed her as she stepped outside. "Tell him it's Kenshin's fault! You'll probably get away with it!"

Akane rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress a small laugh as she jogged toward the training grounds. At least things were finally properly returning to normal.

Akane approached the training ground, her strides purposeful as she spotted Kakashi resting lazily against a tree.

His head was tilted back, his book closed in his lap, and his mask-covered face turned slightly to the side as if he were pretending to be deep in thought. She frowned, knowing full well he was just napping.

"Kakashi-sensei," Akane called sharply, stopping a few feet away from him. When he didn't stir, she leaned down and gave him a nudge on the shoulder. "Wake up!"

Kakashi stirred, letting out a soft tongue-click of annoyance. He opened his one visible eye and sighed. "I was almost hoping you wouldn't show up today," he muttered, his tone light but carrying an edge of genuine disappointment.

Akane crossed her arms, her frown deepening. "What kind of sensei hopes their student skips practice? You're supposed to be helping me improve, not slacking off!"

Kakashi let out a half-hearted chuckle, stretching as he stood up. "Fine, fine. Let's get this over with."

Grabbing his arm, Akane dragged him to the center of the training grounds, her determination unshaken by his reluctance. She had been mulling over several ideas for improving her techniques and was eager to put them into practice.

"I've been thinking about Raikiri," Akane began as she took a position, lightning crackling faintly around her hands. "I want to see if I can shape it into something longer, like a sword."

Kakashi tilted his head, curious despite himself. "That's ambitious. Shape manipulation with lightning chakra isn't easy, especially when it comes to extending it."

"I know, but it's worth trying." Akane formed the hand seals, channeling lightning chakra into her palm. The familiar crackling sphere of Chidori appeared, before focusing into Raikiri, illuminating her determined expression.

Concentrating hard, she tried to mold the energy into a blade, but the technique destabilized almost immediately, sparking violently before dissipating.

She let out a frustrated sigh, shaking her hand to rid it of the residual numbness. "It's harder than I thought."

Kakashi stepped closer, observing her technique carefully. "Your control is good, but you're spreading the chakra too thin. Focus on maintaining the core before you extend it. And increase your input. You don't have to worry about wasting it like me. Just dump everything you have."

Nodding, Akane tried again, each attempt ending in a similar failure. She also briefly imagined another idea: a large-scale technique that could release a powerful surge of lightning across the ground.

The mental image was vivid—slamming her Chidori into the earth and unleashing a wave of destruction that could incapacitate a multitude of enemies at once.

'Not yet,' she thought, shaking off the fantasy. 'One step at a time.'

The training session continued, with Akane failing repeatedly but refusing to give up.

[Back at the house]

Kenshin woke up groggily, the sunlight streaming through the window telling him it was already late in the day.

He stretched, his body still tired from the previous night, but the warmth of the morning's memories brought a small smile to his lips. After freshening up in the bathroom, he headed downstairs.

As he entered the living room, he noticed Yuki sitting on the couch, her hands folded neatly in her lap. She looked up at him, and though she twitched slightly at his presence, her expression softened. Her ice clone's memories from the previous night had helped her come to terms with her lingering fears.

Yuki offered him a small smile. "Good afternoon, Kenshin. I thought I might spend some time with you today. Maybe we could train a little?"

Kenshin nodded, his tone warm. "That sounds good. Give me a moment to grab something to eat first."

Heading toward the dining table, he found a covered plate waiting for him, the food underneath long since gone cold. He sighed softly, lifting the lid to reveal breakfast that must have been made hours ago. 'It's already midday… It'll be lunchtime soon.'

Still, he sat down, appreciating the gesture nonetheless, and began eating quietly. Yuki remained in the living room, occasionally glancing toward him with an air of cautious optimism, her resolve to mend their bond growing stronger with each passing moment.

After finishing his cold breakfast, Kenshin headed upstairs to put on his jacket. Once ready, he came back down to find Kaede and Kira waiting for him in the living room. Both had emerged after hearing his voice.

Kaede crossed her arms, her golden eyes gleaming with faint amusement. "Master, you're heading out, right? Can we come with you? There's nothing else to do."

Kira nodded, a bright smile on her face. "We'll stay in our cat forms, of course, Master. We wouldn't want to attract too much attention."

Kenshin considered for a moment before nodding. "Alright, but behave yourselves."

Without hesitation, the two transformed into their smaller feline forms. Kenshin crouched down, picking them up gently before placing one on each shoulder. "Comfortable?"

"Very, Master," Kira telepathically purred softly, her tail curling slightly.

Kaede said nothing, but her tail flicked contentedly as she settled onto his other shoulder.

As Kenshin stood, Yuki entered the room, adjusting her jacket. "Ready, Kenshin?" she asked with a smile.

He nodded. "Let's head out."

The front door had barely closed when Kana finally tiptoed out of her room, peeking into the living room to ensure Yuki was gone. Relieved, she let out a soft breath and began stretching lazily, thinking she had dodged another morning of grueling studying.

However, just as she turned to go to the kitchen, an all-too-familiar voice called out.

"Where do you think you're going, Kana?"

Kana let out a loud yelp, spinning around to see Yuki's ice clone poking its head in from the open window. It gave her a knowing look, and Kana's expression turned into one of pure terror. "Yuki, I—uh—I wasn't hiding! I just—needed to rest!"

The ice clone gave her a sharp smile, perfectly mimicking Yuki's teasing tone. "Yukari-san ratted you out, Kana. So get ready. You're not getting out of studying today."

Kana groaned, slumping onto the couch dramatically. "Do we really have to? It's the Rinne Festival soon! Shouldn't I be relaxing?"

The ice clone's smile softened. "We'll relax after the Rinne Festival—when you've been promoted to Jonin. That's what this is all about, Kana."

Kana's pout deepened, but she didn't argue further. She knew Yuki was right, even if it made her miserable.

The ice clone added, "My job is to polish you up to Jonin level before the festival. Your ninjutsu and taijutsu are solid, but you won't be able to lead any random team. You were lucky that you led our team 19, otherwise team 10 is one of the leaf's best teams in terms of teamwork. If you can handle leading any team, you'll be promoted without any issues. After all, you'll have my recommendation."

Kana grumbled, muttering under her breath, "Why does 'polishing me up' feel like torture?"

The ice clone chuckled lightly. "It's called training, Kana. Now, come on. Let's get started."

Kana sighed in defeat, grabbing her gear and heading toward the training area with the clone. As she walked out the door, she muttered under her breath, "I swear, Yuki enjoys this way too much."

Inside the kitchen, Yukari smiled faintly as she listened to Kana's complaints. She murmured softly to herself, "It's for her own good."

Meanwhile.....

Kenshin and Yuki arrived at a training ground on the outskirts of the village, surrounded by tall, frost-covered trees and the stillness of winter. The isolated area ensured they wouldn't be disturbed, perfect for the intense training Yuki had planned.

Kenshin gently set Kaede and Kira down on a nearby boulder, their small feline forms settling comfortably as they watched with anticipation.

Kaede's ears twitched, her golden eyes gleaming with excitement. Her tail swayed as she muttered telepathically to Kira, "I wonder how that woman will fare against master. She is his sensei after all."

Kira smirked. "Since she's master's sensei I think she's super strong too. But let's see for now."

The already frigid air grew colder as Yuki stepped forward, her expression calm and focused. Her chakra flared, and dozens of glistening ice daggers materialized, floating around her like an army of crystal blades.

"Kenshin," Yuki began, her voice firm but even. "Your task is simple: evade these daggers and fight back using your jutsu. But remember, no lethal techniques—so leave Gust Bullet and anything similar out of this."

Kenshin nodded, already on edge. He couldn't help but notice the transformation in Yuki's demeanor.

The usual expression in her eyes was replaced by a steely determination, as if she were a different person entirely during combat. Oddly, it reassured him, giving him the sense that this was the Yuki he could trust completely in a fight.

Without warning, Yuki shouted, "Begin!"

The ice daggers shot forward with deadly precision. Kenshin immediately dove to the side, narrowly dodging the first wave. The next came faster, one of them grazing his cheek and leaving a shallow cut. He winced but didn't stop moving.

"I need more," he muttered, activating his Sharingan.

The daggers sparkled in his vision, their trajectories clear now, though still difficult to avoid entirely. Kenshin quickly formed the seals for Wind Burst, sending out a blast of wind chakra from his palms. The force propelled him far from the immediate threat, giving him a moment to prepare.

He landed smoothly and slammed his hands together, calling out, "Earth Release: Dirt Wall!"

The ground around him shifted, forming thick walls of compacted dirt. One leaned over at an angle, creating a protective canopy. Kenshin exhaled, wiping the blood from his cheek. "Dirt's easier to manipulate than stone you know, although it does take more chakra," he explained. "Not that it matters to me."

Yuki, standing calmly amidst her floating arsenal, tilted her head. "Dirt also turns into mud," she said, smirking slightly.

She focused her chakra, shrinking the ice daggers into smaller, flatter projectiles. They shot toward the walls with incredible force, slamming into them and softening the dirt with moisture. Kenshin felt the vibrations through the ground and began gathering wind chakra around his body.

As Yuki continued her assault, the dirt walls began to sag and weaken. She formed larger, thicker daggers and launched them in rapid succession. With each hit, the defenses crumbled further.

Inside, Kenshin activated his Wind Chakra Mode, a dense layer of flowing wind enveloping his body. The chakra made him feel weightless, amplifying his speed and agility. Just as the final dagger pierced the walls, Kenshin burst out in a whirlwind of motion.

He propelled himself into the air, shooting a steady stream of wind chakra from his feet to maintain altitude. Short bursts from his palms allowed him to stabilize and maneuver. Kenshin moved like a blur, weaving through the barrage of ice daggers Yuki sent his way.

Yuki's eyes followed Kenshin's movements with precision. Her hands moved fluidly, controlling the ice daggers like an extension of herself. Though she maintained her calm demeanor, she was inwardly pleased by Kenshin's progress.

Kenshin, meanwhile, focused on evasion, pushing his chakra mode further than he ever had before. The cold air bit at his skin, but the adrenaline coursing through him drowned out the discomfort.

He wanted to see how far he could go, how much this chakra mode could be used against. The battle with Kaede only showcased one specific application, its speed and strength buff in close combat, but he needed to figure out what else it'd be useful against.

As the daggers came faster and closer, Kenshin began to devise his next move. For now, though, he kept dodging, determined to tire Yuki out—or at least force her to escalate the fight.

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Once again, thank you everyone for your continued support and power stones. And as always, please give me your power stones and comment your opinions. They make a big difference and motivate me to write more.