Chapter 19: Blooming

Laying down on his bed, Ren woke up to an unfamiliar place. Looking around he feels a weight on his arm, as he turns he saw a girl around his age holding onto his arm. It was Izumi, looking at Izumi Ren felt a warm and fuzzy feeling well up inside his chest while she suddenly woke up. Opening her eyes, Izumi looked up to see Ren awake, expressing her happiness she hugs Ren with her eyes turning moist.

"Do you know how worried I was for you when you ignored sensei's instructions? You Idiot!"

"I'm sorry," Ren said as he hugged her back.

But as they were hugging, the door suddenly opened. Standing there was Zoro who knew he had just interrupted them.

"Um, I'll let you two continue what you're doing!" Zoro said as he slowly backed away and closed the door.

Hearing Zoro both Izumi and Ren instantly let go of each other with red faces as they just stayed silent.

"Alright, you two lovebirds" Asuma came in while puffing his cigarette.

"L-Love birds?!" Izumi stuttered while she grew even redder.

"Whatever, I need to speak with Ren privately."

"Okay" Izumi responded while walking out of the door."

Looking down, Ren knew what Asuma wanted to speak about, "I'm sorry."

"Why didn't you listen to my instructions? You almost died!" Asuma said with a solemn tone.

"I-I just didn't want that lady to get away as she killed many people who we were escorting," Ren replied while clenching his fist.

Hearing Ren's response Asuma just sighed and handed him a sword. This sword was the Kiba that was left remaining after the battle.

"I know you've been looking for a weapon that you could infuse your lightning chakra in. This sword that Ameryuri left would be a perfect fit for you as it can be fused with lightning chakra and is very sharp."

Seeing this Ren's eyes started glowing with excitement "Thank You Asuma Sensei!"

"It's nothing, you're the reason we were able to secure the blade anyways." Saying so Asuma walked out of the room.

Looking at the blade, Ren started to infuse his chakra into the sword when the sword was completely coated in lightning as Izumi walked in.

Seeing Ren trying to train when he was still injured and in bed, Izumi furiously walked up and took the sword from Ren. "No training while you're injured!"

"I was just testing something out"

"It doesn't matter, anything that can cause you harm, I won't let you do," Izumi said as a matter of fact.

"But"

"No buts" Izumi interrupted.

Seeing as there was nothing he could do, Ren just silently nodded his head in defeat.

...

It had been a week and all of Ren's injuries had healed and currently, he was right outside the town infusing his chakra into his sword. Slicing a rock, Ren felt his arm go a little numb as he also felt was cutting butter with a knife. Looking at the cut with the charred marks, Ren was satisfied with the cutting power.