A high waterfall cascaded down like a silver stream.
The sky of the Land of Rain was shrouded in mist. A fine rain drifted through the waterfall, turning into droplets that swayed in the air.
The roaring sound of the water drowned out all other noise.
Konan carefully held the blue egg, ripples spreading across the water's surface beneath her feet.
She looked up at Shiroishi, who stood before her, her eyes filled with both unease and a hint of anticipation.
"What... what should I do next?" she asked softly, her voice nearly drowned out by the waterfall.
Shiroishi stood before her, enveloped by the damp mist. His glasses were covered in fine water droplets, yet his smile remained gentle.
"Place the egg in the center," he said, his tone soft, as if guiding a student. "Then, let go of all distracting thoughts and focus on your breathing."
Konan paused for a moment, then looked down at the egg in her arms. Its blue patterns shimmered faintly in the light, resembling a tranquil lake.
She gently placed it in the center of the shallow pool where the waterfall converged, sat on the water's surface, and clasped her hands in front of her knees. The current washed over her ankles, bringing a cool sensation.
Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath.
Under the guidance of Shiroishi's steady voice, her mind gradually calmed, and the restless thoughts in her head slowly dissipated.
Yahiko and Nagato stood on the shore, watching her. The waterfall's mist blurred their vision, but they could feel the gentle Chakra Wave emanating from Konan slowly changing.
"Can she do it?" Yahiko asked in a low voice.
"Don't worry," Shiroishi's voice came from the other side. "Her Chakra Attribute is a perfect match for this egg. Right now, she just needs to balance her breathing and let her heart merge with the water."
With that, he raised his right hand.
Chakra flowed slowly in his palm, transforming into a pale blue light that spread along his arm.
With a gentle push of his hand, the current at the base of the waterfall strangely slowed. He used his chakra to control the once-rushing stream, forming a stable eddy that supported Konan and the egg in the center, preventing them from being washed away.
Seeing this, Yahiko also took a deep breath.
"Nagato, let's help too."
Yahiko and Nagato stepped onto the water's surface simultaneously, the chakra beneath their feet spreading like ripples, steadily supporting their bodies.
One on the left and one on the right, they formed a stable triangular formation with Shiroishi at the base of the waterfall.
The three streams of chakra converged and circulated on the water's surface, pulling on each other and enveloping the entire area in a gentle force.
The originally fierce impact of the waterfall was miraculously weakened by this power. The rushing water gradually calmed, and the loud crashing against the rock walls faded away.
In its place was a rare tranquility.
A light mist rose, and tiny points of light floated in the air.
Konan looked up at the three figures around her. They stood guard in silent unison, shielding her from all disturbances.
At that moment, a warmth spread through Konan's heart, and a determined look appeared in her eyes. She took a deep breath, lowered her gaze once more, and focused more earnestly than ever before.
Konan's breathing gradually stabilized. With each rise and fall of her chest, the flow of her chakra became gentler. She heard the whisper of the water, as if every single droplet was calling out to her softly.
The eggshell began to vibrate slightly.
Rings of blue light spread out, merging with the surrounding water.
At that moment, the waterfall itself seemed to respond. The mist transformed into countless points of light, floating in the air.
"Look!"
Fine cracks appeared on the surface of the blue egg. Then, with a soft crack, the fissures spread rapidly.
Amidst a gentle aquatic light, a small shadow squeezed out from the cracks.
It was a small, blue turtle.
Its body was round, its shell smooth, and the shell on its back shimmered like an emerald wave.
It blinked its large eyes, looking around in a daze, then raised its head to look at Konan.
"Squirtle!"
A tender and cheerful cry echoed through the waterfall.
Konan was stunned for a moment, then a smile blossomed on her face.
"Hello... there."
The little turtle tilted its head, studying her curiously, then plunged into her embrace without hesitation. Its small tail wagged nimbly, and it even playfully flicked a few drops of water onto her face.
"Haha, stop that."
Konan laughed, wiping the water from her face, her eyes filled with tenderness.
Shiroishi stood to the side, a glint in his eyes behind his lenses.
In his field of vision, a transparent system message appeared.
[Host Compatibility Confirmed — Konan (Squirtle)]
[Inherited Skill Activated: Life Dew]
As I thought, these three can actually hatch the Kanto Starters...
Is this its innate skill?
The little Squirtle raised its claws, and a ball of clear water gathered in its palms. The water droplet floated in the air, spinning slowly and emitting a gentle light.
"Squirtle!"
With a soft cry, the droplet suddenly split apart, turning into a fine, misty rain. The mist contained a gentle, life-giving chakra and sprinkled lightly onto Konan.
She felt a warm current flow through her entire body. The fatigue from her earlier training instantly vanished, and even her breathing became lighter.
"This feels so good..." she whispered in surprise.
"I can sense it..."
"This technique is called Life Dew. It can convert its own chakra into life energy to heal its allies' injuries."
The waterfall's mist swirled as Konan looked down at the Squirtle in her arms. The little creature was grinning, revealing an innocent smile, its small claws resting gently on the back of her hand.
"Thank you," she murmured, her gaze full of tenderness.
Then, she closed her eyes slightly, trying to imitate the rhythm Squirtle had used when it performed the technique.
Chakra circulated within her body, slowly resonating with the surrounding water. The once-turbulent mist in the air began to condense, forming a softly glowing sphere of water in her palm. The power wasn't intense, but it felt like a spring breeze, carrying a reassuring aura.
With a gentle wave of her hand, Konan sent the sphere of water scattering into countless tiny droplets that drifted around the three of them.
The moment the mist dispersed, Yahiko, Nagato, and Shiroishi all felt a warm wave envelop them. The fatigue, tension, and minor aches in their bodies were unknowingly soothed away.
Shiroishi was slightly taken aback as he watched the scene unfold. He hadn't expected Konan's Life Dew to include him as well.
He glanced up at Konan, who was still earnestly learning to master the technique, as if what she was doing was the most natural thing in the world.
This made Shiroishi push up his glasses, his mind lost in thought.
Squirtle was still wagging its tail gently, its smile pure and bright.
A moment later, Konan looked up. "Thank you, Mr. Shiroishi."
Shiroishi shook his head, his tone calm. "There's no need to thank me. It was your heart that it responded to, not me who awakened it."
He looked up toward the top of the waterfall.
At that moment, the sun finally broke through the thick clouds, shining on the rushing water and refracting a faint rainbow.
The potential of Yahiko and the other two was truly immense. They could hatch the Kanto Starters right from the beginning and even master their Inherited Skills.
They were truly worthy of being Jiraiya's prized students.