The weeks leading up to the intensified Chunin Exam training were a blur of dread for Ryuu.
Genma was true to his word.
Their training sessions became exercises in pushing boundaries, demanding flawless execution and instantaneous adaptation. He was learning to fight with them, not just alongside them.
Evenings with Kasumi were no less intense. Her training had gone up a notch, which only strained him further.
It was during this period of grueling preparation that Ryuu began to notice a subtle shift in Kasumi's routine. She had always been reclusive, her interactions outside their apartment limited to necessary errands or Genma's summons.
But now, on rare afternoons when Team Twelve was granted a brief respite, she would sometimes leave, dressed in simple civilian clothes, a small, almost hesitant smile on her face.
She offered no explanation, and Ryuu, respecting her need for her own space and wary of inviting more scrutiny, didn't ask.
He assumed it was related to Minato's directives for her "continued cooperation," perhaps quiet intelligence gathering among the civilian populace, or liaising with other former assets.
The thought that Konoha was using her, even for seemingly benign tasks, left a bitter taste in his mouth.
One late afternoon, Ryuu returned from a particularly brutal session with Genma to find their small apartment… different.
The usual quiet, almost sterile atmosphere was replaced by a low murmur of conversation, the scent of unfamiliar, pleasant-smelling tea, and… laughter?
He paused at the door, every shinobi instinct screaming caution.
He extended his senses.
Kasumi's chakra was there, calmer, more relaxed than he'd felt it in months. But there were other signatures, powerful and distinct. One was a fiery, almost overwhelmingly vibrant energy, warm and boisterous.
The other was a more composed, controlled, but imbued with a surprising gentleness. And two much smaller, signatures – one a chaotic spark of barely contained energy, the other a quieter, more intense thrum.
He slid the door open cautiously.
The sight that greeted him made him stop dead in his tracks, his mind struggling to reconcile it with the harsh realities he had grown accustomed to.
Kasumi was sitting at their low table, a genuine, relaxed smile gracing her features – a smile Ryuu hadn't seen since before their flight from Kiri.
Opposite her, gesturing enthusiastically as she recounted a story, was Kushina Uzumaki. Beside Kushina, Mikoto Uchiha sat with quiet poise, a gentle smile on her face, occasionally adding a soft-spoken comment.
And on the floor, engaged in a rather loud and energetic tussle over a slightly battered wooden kunai, were Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha.
Naruto, now nearly seven, was a whirlwind of blond hair and infectious, goofy energy, yelling "Dattebayo!" as he tried to wrestle the toy from Sasuke.
Sasuke, equally young, scowled in concentration, his small hands surprisingly strong as he held onto his prize.
Ryuu simply stared, utterly bewildered. Kasumi… friends with the Hokage's wife and the Uchiha Matriarch? And their sons… his apartment had just been invaded by the two most pivotal figures of the next generation.
Kushina was the first to spot him, her bright violet eyes crinkling at the corners.
"Oi! Kasumi-chan, your little boy is home, 'ttebane!" She beamed at Ryuu.
"You must be Ryuu-kun! Come in, come in! Don't mind these two terrors!" She gestured towards Naruto and Sasuke, who had momentarily paused their squabble to stare at the newcomer.
Naruto, ever friendly, scrambled to his feet, the toy kunai forgotten. "Wow! You're Ryuu-kun, right? Izumi-neechan's teammate! Are you super strong? Did you beat up bad guys?" His blue eyes were wide with childish awe.
Sasuke, more reserved, simply observed Ryuu with an unnervingly intense gaze, already sizing him up, the faint spark of rivalry evident even at this young age.
Kasumi actually flushed, a faint pink tinge coloring her pale cheeks. "Kushina-sama, Mikoto-sama, this is my son, Ryuu. Ryuu, these are… friends." The word sounded almost foreign on her lips, yet undeniably genuine.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Ryuu-kun," Mikoto said, her voice soft and kind. "Kasumi-san has told us a little about you."
Ryuu managed a polite, if somewhat stiff, bow.
His mind was still reeling.
The Allied Mothers' Force. Kasumi hadn't mentioned it directly, but he'd overheard whispers among the civilian women in the market, hushed, respectful tones referring to an age-old Konoha organization of mothers who supported each other, protected the village's non-combatants during wartime, and generally formed a powerful, if often unseen, social network.
He had dismissed it as something irrelevant to their precarious, isolated existence. He had been wrong.
"Kaa-san," he began, still trying to process the scene, "you…?"
Kasumi offered a small, almost shy smile.
"Kushina-sama and Mikoto-sama were kind enough to… invite me to join their group. We share… experiences."
The unspoken words hung in the air. The experience of raising children in a dangerous world, the experience of being wives and mothers of powerful shinobi, the experience of carrying heavy burdens.
"It's been a godsend, 'ttebane!" Kushina declared, already pouring Ryuu a cup of tea.
"Someone who actually understands what it's like to worry about more than just whether the dango is fresh! Though," she winked at Mikoto, "Mikoto-san's onigiri are a force to be reckoned with too."
Naruto, apparently having decided Ryuu was now part of the scenery, had already re-engaged Sasuke in their mock battle, their shouts filling the small apartment.
Ryuu watched them, these two boys whose destinies were so intertwined with the fate of the world, currently just… being kids. Goofy, energetic, competitive Naruto. Intense, focused, scowling Sasuke.
It was a stark, almost painful contrast to his own burdened, accelerated childhood.
He was four years their senior, a Genin who had already faced death, who carried secrets. Yet, in this moment, surrounded by the unexpected warmth of his mother's newfound friendships, listening to the ordinary, chaotic sounds of children playing, he felt a strange, almost forgotten sensation.
A sliver of normalcy.
It was terrifying. It was disorienting. And it was, in a way he couldn't quite articulate, a profound relief.
Ryuu accepted the cup of tea Kushina offered, his mind still trying to process the sheer improbability of the scene. He was used to analyzing threats, calculating risks, maintaining a constant state of vigilance. This… this was something else entirely. It was disarmingly… normal.
Naruto, having momentarily gained possession of the wooden kunai, noticed Ryuu watching them. He immediately puffed out his chest, brandishing the toy.
"Hey, Ryuu-niichan!" he yelled, his blue eyes bright with excitement. "Wanna see my super awesome Shuriken Strike? I've been practicing with Dad! I can hit the tree in our yard almost every time now, 'ttebayo!" He made a series of enthusiastic, if rather clumsy, throwing motions that nearly sent the toy kunai flying into Kushina's teacup.
"Naruto! Careful!" Kushina chided, her voice was laced with affection, though the hair flying around her said otherwise. "You'll take someone's eye out before you even make Genin!"
Ryuu couldn't help but gulp at the sight, back off slightly.
Sasuke, never one to be outdone, snatched the kunai back. "Hmph. My brother says throwing is about precision, not just waving your arms around like a loudmouth."
He then proceeded to adopt an impressively focused stance, aiming the toy kunai at an imaginary target on the far wall. His form, even at this young age, already hinted at his natural aptitude.
Ryuu watched them, a faint, almost imperceptible smile playing on his lips. These were the future powerhouses of their generation, the inheritors of immense legacies, currently squabbling over a wooden toy.
He found it almost absurd, yet the childish sincerity was… endearing, in a way he hadn't anticipated. He was used to viewing children as variables, as potential weaknesses or targets. He wasn't used to seeing them as… just children.
"Your father is teaching you well, Naruto-kun," Ryuu said, his voice quiet but carrying easily over their playful shouts. "And your brother is a skilled shinobi, Sasuke-kun. Precision and power are both important."
Both boys looked at him, surprised by his direct address. Naruto, ever eager for acknowledgment from an older "cool" Genin, beamed. Sasuke's expression remained more guarded, but there was a flicker of interest in his dark eyes.
"So, Ryuu-niichan," Naruto pressed, "are you super strong? Izumi-neechan said your team fought some really bad Uchiha guys and you helped Shisui-niichan!"
Ryuu hesitated. He couldn't speak of the mission, not really. And "strong" was a relative term. Compared to these six-year-olds, yes. Compared to the true monsters of this world, he was pathetically weak.
"We… completed our mission," he said evasively. "Genma-sensei is a very skilled leader."
"But did you use any cool jutsu?" Naruto persisted, his eyes sparkling. "Like, BAM! And then, WHOOSH! My Dad can do this super awesome yellow flash thing, it's so cool, 'ttebayo!"
Kasumi, sensing Ryuu's discomfort, gently intervened. "Now, Naruto-kun, Ryuu-kun is still recovering. Perhaps another time."
But Kushina, ready to instigate, grinned. "Oh, come on, Kasumi-chan! A little demonstration won't hurt! These two are always pestering Minato and Fugaku-kun for jutsu. Show 'em something a Genin can actually do, Ryuu-kun! Nothing too dangerous, of course!"
Ryuu looked at Kasumi, who gave a tiny, almost imperceptible nod. A small, controlled display.
Harmless.
Perhaps even beneficial, to further normalize his presence, to show he wasn't a threat. And honestly, a small part of him, the part that was still a ten-year-old boy, was intrigued by the idea of impressing these two legendary children.
He took a deep breath. He wouldn't use the mirrors, or the senbon. Too overtly aggressive, too revealing. But something else… a subtle manipulation of his Kekkei Genkai, combined with Kasumi's control exercises.
He held out his hand, palm up. He focused, drawing on a small, precisely controlled amount of chakra, imbued with that familiar, biting chill. He wasn't aiming for power, but for delicacy, for artistry.
Moisture in the warm, tea-scented air began to condense around his fingertips. Slowly, with infinite care, tiny, impossibly intricate ice crystals began to form, not as weapons, but as… flowers.
One by one, delicate, six-petaled ice blossoms, no bigger than his thumbnail, bloomed in his palm. They shimmered in the fading afternoon light, their facets catching the orange glow, sparkling like tiny diamonds. He created five of them, each one perfectly formed.
Naruto and Sasuke, who had been watching with rapt attention, gasped. Even Kushina and Mikoto leaned forward, their expressions surprised and delighted.
"Wow…" Naruto breathed, his earlier boisterousness forgotten. "They're… pretty, 'ttebayo."
Sasuke, though his face remained carefully neutral, couldn't hide the flicker of awe in his eyes. He had never seen anything like it.
Ryuu then gently blew on his palm. The ice flowers, disturbed by his warm breath, detached and floated upwards, swirling in a miniature, glittering vortex before slowly, silently, melting into tiny, invisible droplets of water, leaving no trace behind.
"That," Kushina said, her voice hushed with genuine admiration, "was beautiful, Ryuu-kun. Your chakra control is… remarkable."
Mikoto nodded in agreement. "Indeed. Such precision. It reminds me of… well, it's unique, isn't it, Kasumi-san?" She looked at Kasumi, a smile on her lips.
Kasumi managed a small, proud smile, though her eyes still held that familiar worry. "Ryuu has been… diligent in his control exercises."
Naruto, his enthusiasm rekindled, was practically bouncing. "Do it again, Ryuu-niichan! Can you make a an ice frog? Or an ice shuriken? That would be SO COOL!"
Sasuke, though he said nothing, was also looking at Ryuu with a new intensity, the thirst for power and unique abilities already stirring within him.
Ryuu shook his head gently. "That takes… a lot of focus, Naruto-kun. And chakra. Perhaps another time." He knew he couldn't sustain such delicate control for long, and he didn't want to reveal the true extent of his reserves or his capabilities.
The ice flowers were a calculated display. Impressive, beautiful, non-threatening, and utterly temporary, leaving no evidence.
The atmosphere in the small apartment had shifted. The initial awe from Naruto and Sasuke was slowly morphing into a barrage of questions about Ryuu's training, his team, the "bad guys" he fought.
Kushina and Mikoto, seeing Kasumi genuinely relax and smile, seemed content to let the children interact, their own conversation turning to village matters, to the upcoming Academy festival, to the challenges of raising shinobi children in a world that always seemed to be teetering on the brink of conflict.
Ryuu found himself answering Naruto's enthusiastic, often nonsensical, questions with a patience he didn't know he possessed. He even found himself engaging in a brief, surprisingly technical discussion with Sasuke about the best angle to throw a kunai for maximum penetration.
It was… strange.
He was still an outsider, still burdened by secrets that would horrify these people if they knew. But for this brief, unexpected afternoon, surrounded by the chaotic warmth of his mother's new friends and their legendary children, he felt a flicker of something he hadn't allowed himself to feel since his arrival in this world.
A connection.
It wasn't something that this cold world allowed him to have with his weak strength.