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A/N - Thank you, SATIONAS for becoming Azure Awakening Patreón!
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"Now that you're head of the clan, you must give us heirs. And a house that small… just won't do," Tereno said calmly, causing Kaoru to choke on his tea, spraying it across the table in a sharp cough that turned into an involuntary shower for the elders.
"What?! I'm twelve!" he shouted, cheeks flushed in horror.
"I'm not saying you have to do it right now," Tereno replied, wiping his face with a napkin, unfazed. "But you could definitely start thinking about marriage soon."
"Stop it, old man, or he'll start resenting us 'wise elders,'" Beno chuckled, trying to rein in the conversation before Kaoru bolted out of the room.
"Haha! Who would've thought our clan head was so gullible?" Tereno laughed, surprisingly light-hearted. Akura and Beno exchanged a look, neither had seen Tereno joke like that in years.
"You can go now," Akura said, offering Kaoru a dignified exit. "You must be tired."
"Yes, yes, you should be resting," Tereno added with a grin. "Or better yet, start looking for a bride."
"So bowing is mandatory," Kaoru muttered under his breath, just loud enough for them to hear, "but teasing the clan head isn't considered disrespectful?"
The elders' smiles froze. The room went silent for a beat.
Kaoru smirked, savoring the moment.
"I'm just messing with you, elders," he said with a chuckle, rising to his feet. He gave them a proper bow before turning toward the door. "Besides, who knows how many laughs people your age have left? I'd hate to take away those rare moments."
With that, he slipped out the door, leaving behind three stunned old men.
"…What did he just say?" Beno asked, blinking.
"Hehe… he's as cheeky as Maki was at his age," Akura said with a fond smile as he rose to his feet. He still had a meeting with Uzumaki Yko, and afterward, a particularly important guest Takimura was expecting later that day.
"I'll be heading out first. See you at the council meeting," he added, straightening his robe with a sigh. "It's going to be a very long day."
…
"Do we have any updates?" Akura asked as he stepped into the cluttered room, filled with scrolls, ink seals, and all manner of strange things.
"Yes and it's a good one," Yko replied, springing to his feet. In his excitement, he tossed a still-lit cigarette onto the table, which promptly landed on a highly flammable scroll.
The parchment burst into flame instantly.
"Fuuuuuuuuck… not again!" Yko groaned, dousing the fire with a nearby glass of water. He shoved the charred remains into a trash can already overflowing with half-burned scrolls.
Akura watched it all unfold with a patient, unamused expression.
"You may want to consider a new system," he said calmly as the fuinjutsu master scrambled around, checking to make sure nothing else had caught fire.
"It's fine, it's fine," Yko grinned, brushing soot off his hands. With renewed energy, he rolled a large stone slab forward on a wheeled platform and stopped in front of Akura. "This is what I've been working on," he said proudly.
Akura's expression didn't change as the intricate seals carved across the stone meant absolutely nothing to him.
"This is the Receiver," Yko continued, undeterred. "I studied the failed prototypes I recovered from that strange village, and I realized that if I could make a receiver strong enough, it would be able to pick up chakra signatures sent from a linked source."
He was speaking so fast that Akura had to struggle to keep up.
"The source?" Akura interrupted, halting the flood of technical rambling.
"Ah, right… this," Yko said, grabbing a small ring from the table. It was made of a pale silvery metal with a thick, reinforced band and a polished jet black stone embedded at the center. Tiny, intricate symbols shimmered faintly across its surface.
"The wearer channels chakra into the ring, speaks, and the message is instantly transmitted to the Receiver. The seals connect the two directly."
His tone dipped a little as he reached the downside.
"The problem is, the Receiver can only play the message in real time. I haven't figured out how to store it. It activates as soon as a signal comes in. Worse, it needs a constant source of chakra or we risk missing the transmission entirely."
"That's manageable," Akura said, already formulating a solution. "We can schedule fixed times for communication in advance. That way, the Receiver will always be active when needed. What's the delay like? If someone used the ring in Kirigakure right now, when would the Receiver pick it up?"
Yko blinked, impressed.
"That... actually solves most of the issue," he admitted. "The delay should be under fifteen minutes. We haven't tested it at full range, though, so I can't say for sure."
He opened a drawer and carefully took out another ring, this one far more refined. The design was elegant, with smoother metalwork and polished edges. "This one is the version you requested. Lord Brok forged the base specifically for Lord Kaoru. He used some kind of rare metal... uh…"
Yko massaged his temples, trying to remember. "Sorry, I tuned him out. I had this brilliant idea while he was talking, and well…" He laughed awkwardly, handing the ring over.
"I'll ask him later," Akura said, taking the ring and turning toward the exit. He paused at the doorway, a faint smile forming on his lips.
"Oh, almost forgot. Did you finish inscribing the cloak?"
Yko raised an eyebrow in confusion until he realized what Akura meant..
"Oh! Right, right… just a second!"
He darted toward the smaller room tucked behind the shelves and reemerged a moment later, carrying a large object draped in thick cloth. As he stepped over one of the many stones scattered across the floor, he nearly lost his balance, stumbling forward and almost planting his face into the floor.
Akura stepped in just in time, grabbing his arm to steady him.
"I almost finished it," Yko muttered, sheepishly placing the bundle down with exaggerated care and completely ignoring how Akura had to save him. He brushed his now long, crimson hair out of his face, far longer than it had been when he first arrived in Takimura.
"This might be my best work yet," he said, practically bouncing on his heels with excitement. "I made a few adjustments, small details, but if it's alright with you, I'd rather show it once it's completely finished."
His voice was brimming with pride, like a child eager to show off a new toy.
Still, unable to resist, Yko slowly peeled back the cloth, just enough to give Akura a glimpse.
<<<>>>
Kaoru stepped out of the bath, steam still rising from his hair and skin gleaming like polished crystal. The hot soak had done more than clean him, it had stripped away the lingering weight of war, of exhaustion, of blood and dust. He felt light. Renewed. Almost like a better version of himself had emerged from the water.
He was in such a good mood that he didn't even complain about the Takime clan robes he'd thrown on, the same ones he usually avoided like the plague. Somehow, they didn't feel as stiff or ceremonial today.
"Alright," he said with a grin, stretching his arms overhead. "Let's go find something delicious."
As he stepped into the streets of Takimura, the transformation was impossible to ignore.
Where once stood a barren outpost with little more than wooden houses and half-finished buildings, now a vibrant, living village had taken shape. Shops lined the stone paths, their signs colorful and varied. Wooden stalls stretched down the main road, releasing clouds of steam and spice into the air. The smell of grilled fish, roasted chestnuts, miso broth, and sweetened mochi drifted together in a mouthwatering haze.
Kaoru paused, smiling to himself.
'Hard to believe this used to be nothing but a tiny outpost and vast, empty land. Now look at it… It's a real village.'
He wandered slowly, eyes darting across the street. The variety of food stalls was overwhelming, and part of him was tempted to try something new.
'Maybe I'll end up finding my favorite dish tonight.'
He rounded a corner and spotted a familiar figure ahead, Yuji. He was walking beside a girl Kaoru didn't recognize. The two looked unusually close.
"Hey, Yuji," Kaoru called, smirking. "Did not know you had other friends than me."
Yuji flinched and glanced over his shoulder, clearly caught off guard. "Kaoru! I-uh-this is just…"
Kaoru waved a hand dismissively, his grin widening. "Say no more. Enjoy your walk."
The girl giggled, and Yuji turned red. They continued on, and Kaoru chuckled to himself as he turned into a smaller alleyway, drawn by a stall tucked between two buildings.
It wasn't flashy, but the scent was impossible to ignore. The stand was built from polished wood, with a small counter and just three stools. Behind it, an older man with a broad smile and a thin headband worked with swift, practiced movements.
Kaoru sat down, folding his hands in anticipation.
"What'll it be?" the chef asked.
"Sushi," Kaoru said. "Give me your best." He decided to look for a new favorite dish some other time because the smell of sushi from this stall was simply impossible to resist.
A few minutes later, the plate arrived. A perfectly rolled maki, glistening nigiri, and a small cup of clear, fragrant soup.
Kaoru took one bite and nearly melted into the seat.
"This is insane," he mumbled around a mouthful of fresh tuna. "I think I fell in love with sushi again."
Each piece was delicate but rich with flavor. The rice was seasoned just right, and the fish melted on his tongue.
He leaned back, letting the taste linger.
'Back when this was just a dusty outpost, dinner was rice, dry meat, pickled vegetables, or whatever we could afford. Now…'
He looked around, the dying light of the sun illuminating Takimura reflecting in his eyes.
'Now we have this. All of this. We built something real.'
He reached for another piece, smiling like someone who had found something worth protecting.
"This is my home!" he muttered and nearly sang as he ate one more sushi.
…
The sun was nearly gone, dipping low behind the rooftops as Kaoru made his way toward the village council hall. He had no choice in the matter - being the head of the Takime clan meant his presence was mandatory.
'The war's over. Can't I get just one day of peace?' he groaned inwardly, dragging his feet slightly as he passed a massive dog rolling in the grass with a giggling child.
He turned the corner that led toward the council hall when a voice called out behind him.
"Lord Kaoru!"
Kaoru paused, turning to find a stranger approaching. He was dressed in black traditional robes, outlined with intricate crimson lines. His posture was straight, his movements calm, but what caught Kaoru's eye was the symbol on his chest.
'Isn't that Noda clan's symbol?'
He didn't recognize the face, but the Noda were one of Takimura's larger clans. Whoever this was, Kaoru needed to act with some respect.
"Hello," Kaoru said, giving a polite nod and stepping forward. "How can I help you?"
"I'm Ssenzui Noda," the boy said, bowing slightly. "Heir of the Noda clan."
Kaoru gave a faint smile, prepared to exchange a few pleasantries and continue on his way, but then the guy raised his voice.
"Lord Kaoru, let'sss sspar!"
Kaoru blinked. Hard.
The sudden announcement, combined with the snake-like hiss at the end of the word, echoed across the street. Several villagers stopped in their tracks, turning toward the scene with wide eyes. Conversation halted.
'What the hell…?'
Kaoru tried desperately not to react, but Senzui's overly sharp pronunciation of every "s" rattled him. It took all his willpower to keep his face neutral.
'He did that on purpose, didn't he? And now that half the district heard him, I can't just reject him outright…'
"I'm sorry, but I have to attend a council meeting," Kaoru said quickly, already turning away in hopes of escaping the situation.
"Oh! I meant after the meeting, Lord Kaoru!" Senzui called, not missing a beat. "I have to attend too. It'sss a boring one, right? Jusssst a bunch of talking…"
He waved his hands around animatedly.
"Ssso we have a deal? Will you ssspar with me?"
**
A/N -
Okay, so Konoha has the Hokage, Suna has the Kazekage, Iwa has the Tsuchikage… What should the title of Takimura's Kage be?
Should it reflect the water element? Something poetic like Wave Shadow? Or go full Takimura-original and come up with a name that breaks tradition entirely? Let me know if you have any suggestions.
Character Notes:
Kaoru – Clan head, reluctant sparring partner – "I survived a war, found inner peace over sushi… and now I'm getting hissed into a public duel."
Yko – Resident hazard – "Science is 10% genius, 90% setting important things on fire."
Senzui Noda – Parseltongue in wrong world – "I ssseek a sspar, Lord Kaoru."
Reminder - Break Tomorrow
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The link is also in the synopsis