Naruto Karyuden

Chapter 4: Little Bird III

LITTLE BIRD III

The Kusatsu orphanage was uncharacteristically quiet. Nowhere was the sound of children playing and bickering, or of matrons trying to calm them, or of game rules being explained for the tenth time. After formulating a plan, it was decided for the orphanage to be evacuated under the guise of a field trip. The same was done to select buildings on the edge of town. The orphanage was the most dangerous place right now and Shina didn't want the kids anywhere close. A part of her wanted to go with them but her colleagues love the kids as much as she did and she wanted to be here for Kotori. She was more at ease when Naruto had a copy of himself go with them.

Presently, Kotori is sitting on the porch opposite of Naruto and Hinata. Next to them is Shina looking worried. Another Naruto is quietly sitting cross legged on the roof, orange markings around his eyes. Takeo is dressed in his guard uniform with his spear out. Mayor Taseki is fidgeting by the porch despite being told to stop multiple times by Shina. Two more Shadow Clones were sent out to lookouts outside of town.

Hinata instructs Kotori to form a seal and taps at specific points in her body. "I can help you release a bit more chakra. Can you feel how it moves through your body when you form the seal? Each seal molds your chakra differently and different combinations lead to different jutsu. Make another seal." Kotori does as told and Hinata releases the chakra points where the chakra is now flowing, allowing the girl to better feel what effects it has. "Most shinobi start training the basics at an early age. Your feathers aren't doing much because you don't know how to properly mold your chakra. But it should be easier to figure out now, right?"

An odd time for a lesson in chakra control but it seemed to put Kotori at ease. It served a double purpose of getting her mind off the people literally trying to kidnap her and also teaches her for her future as a shinobi.

Kotori is beaming, unable to contain her joy. "Yeah! I can feel it! So this is... chakra..." She forms another seal and Hinata once again guides her through the flow of chakra.

Naruto chimes in. "I told you Hinata's a good teacher! I mostly brute force it until I do it. But knowing the basics is the first step! From there on, you can train in a whole bunch of different ways to learn how to use your feathers."

Kotori nods. She forms the Bird seal. It seems to be what makes the feathers appear. She focuses as usual and before Hinata can intervene, one appears. Brown in colour with some black at the very tip. But instead of falling as usual, this one is flying in the air. "Ah! It's not falling! It's not falling!" She hops to her feet in excitement causing her to lose focus for just a moment. The feather falls limp. Kotori grumbles and tries again. The new feather falls.

"It's alright! You just gotta keep at it until you can do it every time! There's no shortcuts here. Only way to do it is through hard work and determination. Me and Hinata had to work a lot to get where we are so I know you can do it, too!" Naruto gives a thumbs up.

The mood is interrupted by whining. "How can you just sit there and play ninja while violent criminals are plotting who knows what?! We need to do something about them!"

Shina gives him a death glare. "And whose fault is it that violent criminals are a threat?" Taseki gulps.

"We're safe for now." Porch-Naruto points up. "The original me is keeping an eye for any chakra signatures that get near and the other Clones are doing the same. We'll know in advance when they come."

As if on cue, Rooftop-Naruto Flickers down. "They're here. West side."

"Is there any chance that's our reinforcements?" Hinata asks hopefully.