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It had been a week since the war with Kumogakure had ended.
Takimura was no longer just celebrating peace - it was celebrating its heroes. The ones who ended the war, and in doing so, transformed the village's future. Not only was the conflict with Kumo over, but Takimura's strength had grown in its aftermath.
Ao's force's families had already settled in the village. They were registered as civilians, so none of the clans would be growing their influence because of them. Even more change was on the horizon, with the Shegachi clan set to arrive soon. Luna Shegachi had publicly announced her clan's departure from the Mist and declared they would be joining Takimura.
There was hesitation at first, some members of the Takimura council were unsure whether they should accept the Shegachi, given their history and wealth. But in the end, it was Ao who personally vouched for them, and that was enough.
Beyond Shegachi and Ao's forces, Takimura was fast becoming a refuge for families unhappy with Kiri's leadership or simply those seeking a fresh start. The village was still in its early stages of growth, but for those with vision, it was a land of opportunity. A place to invest early and build something lasting.
'It's even bigger than before,' Kaoru murmured as he enjoyed the village's expansion.
The old village wall had been partially dismantled, and new construction was underway. The original borders could no longer contain what Takimura was becoming. With the influx of new residents, especially smaller clans, new compounds were needed. But none were more urgent or more ambitious than the one being built for the Shegachi, as it had to accommodate more than 500 people.
Despite their large numbers, the Shegachi were not known for raw combat power. Their true strength lay in commerce. Merchants through and through, they had once controlled over a third of Kirigakure's economy. But that influence had come at a price.
When Luna Shegachi announced her departure, the Mizukage responded with a brutal condition: if she wished to leave peacefully, she would have to surrender 70% of the clan's businesses and assets within the Mist. It was a demand designed not for negotiation, but for deterrence.
But Luna agreed without hesitation.
She sold off the remaining 30% to independent merchants, severing every financial tie her clan had to Kirigakure. Now, for the first time in generations, the Shegachi stood completely on their own and fully free of Kirigakure's influence.
…
"They've arrived, hurry!"
"Our heroes are back!"
"Did you hear? We're electing a Kage soon!"
"What? When?"
"How should I know?!"
Takimura's entrance was flooded with eager voices and rushing footsteps. Residents gathered in droves, crowding near the gates as the returning shinobi marched through. At the front of the column stood Maki, Kaoru, Ao, and Mei - the ones with the most authority.
The army moved slowly, heads held high. This had been Takimura's first war… and they had earned this moment.
Some villagers cheered as they spotted loved ones, their chests swelling with pride. Others wept quietly, those who had come hoping for a glimpse of someone who never returned. Unlike the brutal conflict with Kirigakure, this war had one defining moment: Maki's battle against the Raikage.
But for her, it wasn't a moment of pride. That victory had come at the cost of Meruem and Tenma.
"Ru, go find Akura. You need to catch up on clan matters," Maki said in a low voice.
Kaoru nodded and stepped away from the group, heading toward the Takime clan compound.
As clan head, he was no longer allowed to stay in his old home. His new residence was at the heart of the compound, a place he deeply disliked. It was always crowded, full of watchful eyes and endless interruptions. There was no space for peace. No silence.
Still, even he had to admit that it was beautiful.
The Takime compound overflowed with flowing water and towering trees. Narrow streams ran like veins between buildings, replacing traditional fences with glimmering channels. Small wooden bridges crossed the water, connecting walkways and gardens. Ponds dotted the area, filled with koi and ducks that swam lazily beneath tall, swaying trees. Everything, every stone, every path, every detail, reflected their bond with the water element.
'Even if someone had never heard of us, they'd figure it out just by walking in,' Kaoru thought as he crossed the main bridge leading to the clan head's residence.
'I just wanted to rest,' he groaned inwardly, pushing open the door.
Inside, Akura, Beno, and Tereno were already waiting.
'These old geezers already knew that I was coming,' Kaoru thought with a silent chuckle as he bowed politely.
Then he glanced down at his clothes and scanned the room, half-expecting Orihime to scold him for showing up in his dusty casual clothes instead of traditional robes, but she wasn't there. Too tired from the long journey, she'd opted to rest. And besides, Orihime rarely attended these formal meetings.
"Clan Head," all three elders greeted in unison, standing as he entered.
Kaoru sighed.
"Can we not do this?" he muttered, feeling weird to be greeted that way.
"No, we can't," Tereno replied immediately. Though usually the most lenient when it came to Kaoru's behavior, even he wasn't willing to ignore clan customs.
"You're the head of the clan. Your age doesn't change that and we will show you the respect the position deserves," he added, settling back into his seat.
Kaoru said nothing, but a faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
'Despite how annoying these geezers can be, I'm lucky to be surrounded by people like this.' His thoughts drifted for a moment. 'Naruto had to defeat Pain just to earn the respect of his village…'
The irony wasn't lost on him. 'At least now, with Jiraiya as Hokage, things should be different. He'll grow up happier.' Even though Kaoru didn't know Naruto personally, he still remembered the kind, selfless boy he'd watched him to be - the boy burdened by the consequences of Hiruzen's decisions.
'I'm glad he'll have a better childhood in this version of the world… but I need to stay focused. There's something important I've been meaning to bring up.'
Kaoru had been planning to implement a major change within the Takime clan, and now that he was officially its head, the opportunity was finally his.
"I heard you nearly got yourself killed," Tereno said flatly, cutting through Kaoru's thoughts. "And that afterward, you tried to sneak out and attack the hideout with just Mizuki."
It wasn't a question, it was a deliberate scolding. And he purposefully avoided using Kaoru's name, because addressing him properly would have meant calling him 'Lord,' which would've softened the reprimand.
"Yes," Kaoru said simply, brushing past the tone. "But I'll be more careful next time."
He wasn't interested in revisiting the incident.
"There's something I actually wanted to discuss with all of you," he continued, shifting the focus.
He sat now at the head of the table, the place Suiren once occupied. It felt strange. The weight of it. Even the chair felt foreign beneath him. He tested it a few times, half expecting it to creak under him as if he weren't yet worthy of filling that space.
"Back when I visited the Terumi clan, I discovered a scroll detailing a unique chakra rotation method and a corresponding sword style. Though calling it a sword style is selling it short. It can be adapted to almost any weapon."
Kaoru paused. He hadn't even begun training in the weapon technique himself. The scroll explicitly stated that before anything else, the practitioner had to master the chakra rotation method.
"This scroll is unique. It's not something an adult can master," he continued. "It requires forming new chakra pathways, something only possible if training begins during childhood."
He pulled the scroll from his storage seal and laid it on the table. Akura, Beno, and Tereno watched it with faint skepticism. Despite Kaoru's confident tone, they showed no visible reaction. Their eyes were calm, doubt creeping in.
'They think if it were truly valuable, the Terumi wouldn't have discarded it,' Kaoru thought, reading them easily. A smirk tugged at his lips.
"You've seen Akane's technique, haven't you? The one she's still refining?" He glanced up, watching as their eyes finally widened. "It's based on this method."
That got their attention.
"But if the scroll came from the Terumi clan's library," Beno asked carefully, "doesn't it technically belong to them?"
Tereno shot him a cold look, already trying to work out how to justify the Takime clan's claim over it. But Kaoru's response eased both their concerns.
"Akane said since I was the one who found it, it was completely discarded, by the way, it's mine. I promised her I'd share it with all the clans in Takimura."
The room got quiet. The excitement in the elders' eyes dulled slightly. If everyone would gain access, the technique couldn't be hoarded as a Takime-exclusive secret. Worse, the more it spread, the greater the risk of it leaking outside the village.
"I don't plan to distribute it carelessly," Kaoru said, sensing their concern. "No copies will be made. The original scroll stays with me. Only a handful of trusted elites will learn the method, and they'll pass it down carefully - teaching children step by step. The advanced forms will only be taught to those strong enough and loyal enough to be trusted with it."
He paused, remembering what else he wanted to mention.
"The chakra rotation method is the first step. It's powerful, but it won't turn anyone into a master jonin overnight. It's just one piece of the path. I've already discussed this with Shin, Maki, Mei, and Ao. We all agreed this is the best way forward."
The elders exchanged glances, smiles forming between them. The technique itself was valuable, yes. But what impressed them more, what truly moved them, was Kaoru. He was thinking beyond himself - about the village, about the future of the clan. And to them, that meant he was already becoming the kind of leader they could believe in.
"I also wanted to bring up my departure," Kaoru said suddenly, wiping those smiles from their faces in an instant. "I want to leave with Maru. I'm turning twelve in a few days, and my chakra reserves are already solid. I don't think there'll be a problem."
He glanced at Akura. Maru was, after all, his contracted summon.
"Have you spoken to Maki about this?" Akura asked after a brief pause.
"Yes. She insisted I wait until my birthday," Kaoru replied with a short laugh, placing the scroll back into his storage seal.
"Alright then," Akura said, nodding. "We'll summon Maru tomorrow. If he agrees you're ready, he'll need to fly here himself to take you after your birthday. You know the summoning can't last long enough for a journey like that."
He'd been considering asking Kaoru to let him study the scroll more closely, but decided against it. The boy had earned his space.
"Perfect," Kaoru beamed. He'd been planning to ask Akura to summon Maru today, but waiting one more night felt alright. "Also… can we remodel the house I'm supposed to live in now? It doesn't have a training ground or anywhere I can just relax. And you won't let me stay in my old home."
He sighed, recalling the house Suiren had lived in. It was small, outdated, and far from suited to a growing shinobi, let alone the clan head.
"It's your house now, Lord Kaoru," Tereno said patiently, his voice calm. "And if you wish to change it, of course, we'll do our best to redesign it however you like."
"Thanks. It's just... really small. And I don't like it," Kaoru said, scratching the back of his head with an awkward smile. It felt strange, asking to rebuild the home of his grandmother, especially on the very day he returned. But there was no point in pretending he was comfortable with it. It didn't feel like his place, not yet.
"Hmm, that makes sense," Tereno said with a soft nod, adjusting the glasses resting on his nose bridge. He shot a glance at Kaoru, who was sipping his favorite tea from a small cup.
"Now that you're head of the clan," he added with a knowing glance, "you must give us heirs. And a house that small… just won't do."
**
A/N -
I know this chapter was relatively slow-paced, but it's a transition from one arc to the next, so I kinda had to xD
Character Notes:
Kaoru – Reluctant royalty – "I'm twelve, traumatized, and now expected to produce heirs. Can I get a moment to breathe?"
Tereno - Strategic grandpa - "Your chakra path plan is great, but let's circle back to grandkids."
Akura - Summon manager - "Fine, we'll ask the flying pooping machine if you can go on a field trip."
Reminder - Break Tomorrow
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The link is also in the synopsis