Yukari Uchiha (English)

Chapter 17

After the academy ended for the day, I wandered through the village, lost in thought. The events of the day and the challenges ahead swirled in my mind when a familiar voice pulled me out of my thoughts.

"Academy over for the day, Yukari?" I turned around to see Itachi together with Izumi. Itachi's presence, as always, was calming, and I nodded in response. "Good day, Itachi. It's nice to see you again, Izumi."

Izumi smiled warmly at me, her eyes shining as they always did when she was near Itachi. "How are you liking the academy?" she asked, her voice full of interest as she kept glancing shyly at Itachi.

"It's a bit too easy for me at the academy, thanks to Shisui and Itachi, but it's still interesting," I replied honestly. "Today we had a kunai-throwing competition, and I almost beat Itachi's time." The pride in my voice was unmistakable, and I noticed Izumi giving Itachi an admiring look.

I studied Izumi and noticed her smile, which was full of affection for Itachi. A smile crept onto my lips, and I could barely suppress a grin. The affection between the two was obvious, and it made me happy to see them together.

"I need to go train now," I finally said. "The academy competition is in a few weeks, and I want to be prepared. I wish you both a lot of fun."

"Good luck with your training," Itachi said, his voice warm and loving as always. Izumi gave me a grateful smile, as if she was glad to have more time alone with Itachi.

As I bid them farewell, I felt the tension of the upcoming training rise within me. My path led me out of the village, to my familiar training spot. Kitsune and Yako were already waiting for me there, their animal forms a comforting sight that gave me a sense of security.

"Are you ready?" I asked them as I sharpened my focus.

"Always, Princess," Kitsune replied, and I could sense the anticipation in her voice. Yako nodded as well, his eyes gleaming with determination.

I gave the two of them some chakra, and their forms began to change. They took on human shapes, though they still retained the grace and strength of their true natures. Kitsune was elegant and powerful, while Yako exuded a wilder, more unpredictable energy.

I took my fighting stance, my hand firmly gripping the hilt of my swords. Kitsune and Yako had also readied themselves, their human forms radiating determination. The game began.

Without hesitation, I charged at Kitsune. She deftly dodged my first strike, her movements quick and graceful, almost like a dance. I spun around swiftly, drew a kunai, and hurled it at Yako, who was positioning himself to attack me from the side. But he was fast—too fast. He leaped into the air and landed behind me, ready to deliver a heavy blow. I blocked it with my sword, feeling the force of his attack vibrate through my body.

"Not bad, Yako," I thought as I retreated and devised a new strategy.

I quickly formed a hand sign and called out, "Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu!" A massive fireball shot from my mouth, rolling toward Yako. Instead of dodging directly, he sidestepped and threw several shuriken at me. I drew my swords and deflected the shuriken in midair before they could reach me.

"Now!" I heard Kitsune's voice in my head, and I knew what was coming. She lunged at me, her movements barely visible as she attacked. But this time, I was prepared. I clicked my swords together, and they formed into a bladed staff, which I swung in a wide arc around me. Kitsune was forced to retreat, her eyes sparkling with admiration.

"Not bad, Yukari," she said, pausing for a brief moment to plan her next move. But I didn't give her the chance. I surged forward, spinning the bladed staff, forcing her onto the defensive. Yako rejoined the fight, his fists meeting my staff, but I held firm against his attacks.

I knew now was the perfect time for my next move. My breathing was heavy, but I felt ready to take my technique to the next level. My fingers moved in a fluid rhythm through the signs: Horse (Uma), Ox (Ushi), Sheep (Hitsuji), and finally Snake (Mi). "Raimei Tenshōha!" I called out as I concentrated my energy and unleashed the technique I had worked so hard to master.

Lightning chakra pulsed through my body, combining with the shockwave that radiated in all directions.

The electrical energy surged through the ground, shot through the air, and created a massive shockwave that expanded in a 360-degree radius around me. Kitsune and Yako had barely any time to react. While Yako managed to jump back just in time, Kitsune was caught by the wave. For a moment, the air hummed with tension, and I saw Kitsune briefly lose control before she came to a gentle stop, her body twitching slightly from the residual energy.

I took the opportunity, twirling the bladed staff through the air and stopping it just inches from Kitsune's face. "Yield," she said with an appreciative smile, one that conveyed both pride and respect.

I took a deep breath, feeling the electric energy slowly drain from my body as calm returned to the training ground. "That was close," I said as I turned to Yako, who also smiled as he returned to his place. The fight had been intense, and I could feel the exhaustion in my limbs, but I knew that I had learned something valuable again. Each strike, each maneuver brought me one step closer to my goal of becoming strong enough to protect everyone I cared about.

I let the bladed staff revert back to its sword form and sheathed the blades. Kitsune and Yako dissolved their human forms and returned to their familiar shapes. We stood together in the quiet twilight, and I felt the deep bond between us, strengthened even further by this intense battle.

I made my way home. Shisui was probably already waiting for me; over the past few months, he'd slowly gotten used to me returning later in the evening after my training.

I opened our front door. "Brother, I'm back."

"Ah, Yukari, how was your training?"

"Very good. Today, I managed to make Kitsune yield for the first time, and my Raimei Tenshōha worked perfectly."

"I don't even know the first form of your jutsu, and now you're already combining it with lightning chakra? Yukari, that's really impressive!" Shisui's voice was full of pride, and I could see deep admiration in his eyes. His words hit me right in the heart, and I felt a wave of joy and satisfaction wash over me. That Shisui, my beloved brother and mentor, spoke so highly of my progress filled me with an indescribable warmth. It was as if all the effort and tireless training had paid off in this moment.

"Go freshen up; I'll make dinner in the meantime," he added, his voice soft and full of care. This simple offer, as ordinary as it might seem, felt like a promise that he would always be by my side. I nodded and headed to the bathroom, but inside, I was still burning with the fire of his praise.

As I let the hot bathwater fill the tub, I felt the tension of the day slowly melt away. The water enveloped me like a protective shield, and as I immersed myself, I let the events of the last few hours replay in my mind. Every muscle that had been tense with exhaustion began to relax, and I enjoyed the soothing warmth that spread through my body. It was this moment of peace where I allowed myself to let go of all worries and duties, even if only for a brief time.

In the bath, I could already smell the delicious dinner Shisui was preparing. The familiar aroma filled the room and brought back memories of all the evenings we had spent together. Moments that might seem mundane to most were of inestimable value to me. Every shared meal, every conversation, every laugh—they were all like little, precious pearls in the string of our time together.

After I dried off and changed, I joined Shisui at the table. His smile greeted me, and in that moment, I knew there was nothing more important than these moments of closeness. When Shisui was away on missions, the house often felt empty and quiet, even with Kitsune and Yako by my side. But now, in this moment, we were together, and that was all that mattered. We enjoyed the meal together, and the familiar conversations and laughter filled the room with a warmth that made my heart overflow with happiness.