Wildflower Book 1 | Naruto Fanfiction

Chapter19: Stronger

Sasuke got home from the mission at just about the same time as Tama arrived from the market.

He followed her into the house, but was shocked to be met with the sight of three Tama(s) waiting for him. Each held a weapon in their hand.

"Take your pick. Any weapon.", ordered one of the clones. This was a first. Tama had always let him know when they would have training. Today, she seemed different, like she wanted to show him something that she had never shown him before, and he couldn't help the excitement.

He took a kunai from one of the clones, it was the only thing there that he knew how to use, other than the shuriken.

Two of the clones disappeared with a gust of wind, leaving behind clouds of rising dust.

The two then headed to the clan training grounds, where she usually trained him.

Tama was empty handed, and held no emotion of her face as she looked at the boy. He couldn't help but feel a bit uneasy.

"Take your stance.", she ordered. Sasuke did as he was told. Tama took up her stance as well, one he had never seen before.

"Hajime!", she called, seeing that he was ready to fight. Then, everything was a blur.

Sasuke didn't know a person could land so many strikes in such little time. He didn't even understand how he was still standing, he didn't know why he couldn't match Tama's pace. Let alone how. His newly aqcuired Sharingan was useless against her, and she hadn't even made use of her own. Just what was she?

"Fire style: Fire Ball justsu!", Sasuke shouted. He placed his hope in this jutsu. He had long since lost all his weapons, and it was impossible to defend himself. This was the last resort.

Sasuke took in a deep breath, the deepest he could take. He blew, hard and long, and soon the heat from his own jutsu felt like it was burning him as well.

Orange flames engulfed the older girl. He kept blowing, until he was out of breath. Then, he stopped, gasping for air as he watched the large flames dance in the wind.

When the flames died down, Sasuke was barely standing. Sweat dripped like running water down his forehead, and his clothes clung onto his body from all the moisture. He looked up from under heavy eyelids, breaths shallow, to be met with an impossible sight.

Tama didn't dodge or counter his jutsu, she just stood there, letting it all come to her. In her bare, right hand, she held a blazing, orange flame. His flame.

"No way...", Sasuke trailed off as he took a step back.

Her clothes were charred from the jutsu, but not completely burnt. However, besides the bit of soot, she was completely unscathed. She bore a wild grin on her face that Sasuke had never seen before and, for the first time in a while, he was scared to fight her.

Tama leapt before the boy and chuckled, a sweet sound he never thought he would ever hear coming from her. It sounded surreal and, in the next moment, he felt safe and happy. She reached out to him, and he reluctantly took her hand.

This was when everything went wrong. It seemed the fight had only just begun.

...

Kakashi stood before the Hokage, hands folded over his chest as they conversed.

"I don't think it's so bad anymore. I mean, the way they handled this mission really proved that they know they need each other. I've never seen them so close before this.", the Jōnin said.

"So you're not going to take them out of the Chūnin exams?", Asuma asked, mildly intrigued by Kakashi's train of thought. Kakashi shook his head, he had made his decision. His team was ready.