Sleep didn't come easy that night, even when I laid down My mind kept playing the day's events like a broken genjutsu loop. So I did what any troubled shinobi would do I headed to the training grounds.
The night air was cold, but the warmth of my chakra pushing through my body kept me from feeling it. I started running through the Fire jutsu Dad had hammered into me since childhood.
I started off light With a deep breath, I formed the seal tiger, then dragon. Chakra surged through as I exhaled sharply. A narrow stream of fire roared out, fast, focused. It surged forward as it reached it's mark, engulfing the dummy in a burning torrent.
"Fire Release: Dragon Flame Bullet!"
Then I moved Tiger, Horse, Ram, Snake, Rat.
The air around me cracked with chakra as I hands completed the final seal. I stomped the ground, and the sky above shimmered with heat.
"Fire Release: Flaming Hail!"
In an instant, glowing embers shot into the skybthen rained down like a storm of burning coals. Each ember struck with explosive force, pummeling the wooden dummy ahead. The first hit cracked its shoulder. The second blew apart its chest. By the time the last ember fell, only smoldering splinters remained.
I exhaled a little smiling then I went in full
"Fire Release: Great Flame Flower."
"Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique."
"Fire Release: Hiding in Ash and Dust Technique."
Even when they where only C-B Ranked technique by the time I finish I was already on the ground collapsed and gasping for air on the grass, I hadn't even completed half the list.
My chakra reserves are large and the Sarutobi blood runs deep but I still have my limits, My body ached, My lungs burned, But I wasn't done yet.
There were more...
"Fire Release: Great Blaze Ball."
"Fire Release: Great Fire Whirlwind."
"Fire Release: Great Flame Technique."
"Fire Release: Great Fire Destruction."
These ones where all A-S Ranked Jutus and I still didn't have full control over. They were too wild and Too dangerous for combat until I refined them more.
While I laid there, chest rising and falling like a dying forge, I heard footsteps. Which was strange I barely lifted my head as I muttered, "Aniki good evening."
He didn't say anything at first, just stood over me, arms crossed like always.
Then, "Mom's worried about you."
Of course she is, Somehow, mothers always know. Even without chakra sensory abilities.
I sat up, slowly, and told him everything. About the mission. The meaningless deaths. The weight of watching friends bleed out. The way Sensei's quiet grief shook me more than anything else.
Crow didn't interrupt. He Just listened, like a big brother should. When I was done, he looked at me and asked something I didn't expect:
"Do you want to stop? Leave the shinobi life behind? Mom and Dad will support you no matter what you choose."
I believed him, I knew they would But that wasn't the problem, When Pain comes when the Fourth Great Ninja War begins I won't be a child hiding behind recon assignments, I'll be on the frontlines, I'll have to be.
"I can't," I whispered. "I don't know if there will be worst things so I want to be ready when that time comes."
Crow nodded.
"Then I'll train you, From tomorrow, I'll teach you the advanced forms of the Iron Fist"
Dad was always the ninjutsu master. But Crow? Crow is a taijutsu demon. Not Guy or Duy level but still crazy good. And I know one thing for sure. If I'm going to survive the storm that's coming
I need to learn and absorb everything that comes my way