Chapter 9

"Fire Release: Great fireball technique!"

Asahi spits flames that turn into a ball of fire around his size as it falls toward his opponent and as it hits the ground, smoke rises into the air.

The smoke grew big, far too big to be caused by a C-rank jutsu as Asahi raised his guard while observing the situation from above. Earning him praise from Yokokage himself which emerges from the smoke, charging toward him with fast speed.

"Nice little plan, child" 

Even though his opponent was fast, Asahi still managed to reach as he quickly used another ninjutsu in his arsenal.

"Fire Release: Fire Explosion!" (A/N: This jutsu is actually a canon jutsu used in Boruto called 'Flame Attack', I just opted to change the name.) 

This is a Jutsu 'Asahi' developed to complement his already proficient skill in taijutsu as he infused his fist with fire nature chakra which makes his strike erupt with flames like an explosion as the Yokokage takes a direct hit from the technique.

"Marvelous!" 

Asahi heard the enthusiastic voice of Keiki behind him as his eyes widened watching the 'Yokokage' hit by his ninjutsu turn into smoke and vanish.

"Smoke Release: Hand Slap!" Mamushiki Keiki performed his kekkei genkai, conjuring a big hand made out of smoke which was connected to his mouth using a few smoke strands.

Asahi didn't have enough time to reach as the smoke hand slapped him, and he slammed to the ground causing dust and dirt to rise into the air as the ground was destroyed by the impact.

"Cough, fuck" A light voice can be heard cursing as the smoke dissipate but Asahi was missing.

Instead, Asahi popped out right below the Yokokage who had just descended to the ground. This is the famous Earth release jutsu, 'hiding like a mole technique'.

"Fire Release: Fire Explosion!"

Asahi punched creating an explosion as the flame engulfed the Yokokage.

*Clap* *Clap* *Clap*

As the fire in Asahi's jutsu disappears, a huge ball of smoke can be seen in the place where the Yokokage stands. Keiki smiles as he walks leisurely, leaving inside the ball while clapping. 

"Fantastic effort monsieur, I guess what my child said was not an exaggeration." He complimented easing the unhappiness in Asahi's face a little as he came out of his attack unscathed. 

"How about we call it a night, gentleman, our fight doesn't seem to be ending soon and the people down the village are already sleeping, surely we don't want to wake them, no?" 

It was a lie, Asahi was exhausted and wouldn't take long before getting defeated but it was precisely because of Asahi's sure defeat that Keiki chose to end the match because he didn't want to embarrass the kid in front of his two friends who were watching.

"Thanks for Lord Yokokage's guidance" Although dissatisfied, Asahi keeps his composure as he bows with his hands raised in front of him with a closed fist covered by an open palm.

His whole body is exhausted as he falls to the ground because of a lack of strength. This prompted Osamu and Reiki to rush to his side to help him stand.

Mamushiki Keiki walks toward them with a smile as he watches the two tease Asahi.

"Dude you got destroyed" -Osamu

"HAHAHAHAHA you got beaten like a baby" -Reiki

"Shut up! you two won't do any better than I did!" -Asahi

This is what he's been protecting all his life, the reason he fights is to protect the peace of his people. And now, it looks like the time to pass the torch is coming soon. 

'Not yet, a few more years, they are still too young.'

These children are the future of the village, but it wasn't their time yet to carry the burden he's carrying. A few more years, he noted as he stared at the black-haired child in front of him.

This boy is the future of the Yokogakure, he was sure of it.

"Mr. Asahi, I have a mission for you, I wonder if you are up for the task?" Second Yokokage asked out of nowhere, surprising the three kids as Asahi nodded excitedly.

"Me me me! Dad, I want to come!" -Reiki

"Assign me too Lord Yokokage" -Osamu

The two are also eager to go because it is time to prove themselves as a ninja.

Because of the village's lack of ninja personnel and poor economy, the village can't afford to build a shinobi academy so the village relies on the sole noble family, the Mumashiki clan, and the current Yoko ninjas to train the next generation of the village.

For Reiki, as a member of the Mumashiki clan, he is guaranteed to be a ninja of the village but for Osamu whose parents are a civilian, he needed this opportunity as much as Asahi to become an official Yoko ninja.

"Sigh, this is not a child's game, children, I warn you it's a very dangerous mission" Keiki warned as he was worried the children won't take the mission seriously.

"The shinobi life is dangerous in itself Lord Yokokage, we accept the mission," Asahi answered with burning determination, bowing to Keiki as the others copied him.

'The shinobi life is dangerous in itself, huh, Haha I like that' Keiki chuckled to himself as he wrote the quote to his non-existent book to say for his meetings with the village's officials.

"Good, I will assign you three to a very secret mission and you must not tell about the mission to anyone, A Yoko ninja will assist you and act as your team leader so make sure to follow his commands."

"YES LORD YOKOKAGE!"

"Good, you're all dismissed, it's the middle of the night already!"

"YES LORD YOKOKAGE!"

The children then went on their way down the cliff with a smiles on their faces, unable to hide the excitement in their chests.

Keiki stood and watched the three children leave with a smile on his face.

"Well it looks like I found my successor, don't you think so Aoe?" Keiki spoke as a ninja wearing a cloak covering his entire body and a mask to hide his face, suddenly appeared beside him.

The reason Keiki visits the group is because of Reiki, few people in the Mamushiki clan are able to use the smoke release jutsu so Keiki is curious as Reiki tells him that Asahi is the one who 'teaches' him and even shows him the scroll that Asahi gave. 

Even he was impressed at the thorough detail written in the scroll and when he heard Asahi screaming at the top of the cliff, he was intrigued and wanted to test Asahi's strength due to impulse.

"Is that boy really just 10 years old?!" Aoe, the masked ninja was bewildered as he watched the fight from afar.

Looking at the light burns in his palm, Keiki didn't reply as he gave a wry smile.

If Asahi had stayed for a little longer, he might have seen the two blue panels appearing in front of the masked ninja and the Second Yokokage.