=Ashira's POV=
Standing in front of a five-meter-deep circular pit, filled about a fifth with water, I took a deep breath to calm myself. Despite having done this four times already, I still felt the nervous jitters that came before every ritual fight.
I checked everything—my chakra tank was full, my kunai and shuriken were sharpened and poison-coated. Nodding to myself, I muttered, "Good, everything is in order. Let's get this over with. Salt and Pepper, you guys take the 2 and 10 o'clock positions respectively. Kermit, you stay up here and support us. Pull any of us out if we're about to get hit. I'm not losing any shikigami before I even become a genin. Got it?"
My question got two howls from the divine dogs and an assured ribbit from Kermit the toad in response. Nodding, I turned around, and said. "Nue, go high and start charging. And you, Mr. Buttercup, my adorable but vicious little friend, you're our last resort—our abort button. If I give the signal, initiate Operation Infinite Kamikaze."
Nue flapped her wings and took flight in agreement, while the perpetually stoic Mr. Buttercup gave a nod and retreated into the surrounding foliage, silently and patiently waiting for his chance for battle and bloodshed.
With everything prepped and ready, I stepped forward and fell into the pit, landing just above the water's surface. A thin membrane of chakra coated my feet as I stood atop the one-meter-deep water. Looking toward my 2 and 10 o'clock positions, I saw Salt and Pepper doing the same.
One neat trick I've learned—or at least, my tamed shikigami have—is that if I learn a new way to manipulate typeless chakra, like neutral chakra flow or chakra reinforcement, they can do the same.
Hanabei and I theorize that my shikigami can also learn elemental chakra techniques, but only if they have the right affinity, no jutsu though since they simply don't have the digits for handsigns. Too bad the only one I can test that theory on right now is a lightning-type Nue, and I don't have lightning affinity. The downside of all this is that my chakra drains even faster when they use such techniques. Having the Ten Shadows is like managing a real-time strategy game—you have to budget your resources. Thankfully, chakra can grow in quantity with time and training. That plus my Uzumaki blood helps a lot with this chakra-intensive kekkei genkai.
Snapping out of my thoughts, I formed the hand sign to begin today's ritual. Liquid shadow pooled from beneath me, taking the shape of a massive, two-horned bull, over three meters tall, with an X-shaped mark on its forehead.
Gulping at its intimidating form, I reached into my shadow and pulled out a kunai dripping with a clear liquid—poison. The bull pawed the ground, its right leg springing back before slamming into the earth like a drawn arrow. Mud and water exploded behind it as it launched itself at me with unnatural speed for one with such massive size.
I waited—calculated—and just as the horns were inches from goring me, I flooded my legs with chakra and jumped.
The force of my chakra-enhanced leap sent me soaring upward, aligning perfectly with the bull's spine. Seeing the dense muscles and rippling veins on its back, I almost mistook it for a real chakra beast. Shaking off the thought, I brought the kunai down toward its shoulder blade.
Snap.
The finely crafted, solid steel kunai snapped in half without drawing a drop of blood.
A deafening thump shook the pit as the bull crashed into the circular wall behind me, sending water and shockwaves rippling across the tight, man-made pit.
Ears ringing from the amplified shockwave within such a tight space, I landed unsteadily on the water's surface just as Salt and Pepper sprang past me. They clawed and bit at the bull's back. Ink-black blood finally spurted from its hide—barely doing anything but superficial, skin-deep damage.
That's insane! Salt and Pepper can carve stone with their claws, and they're barely scratching this thing! I thought, and just as the bull was about to turn around, a pinkish tongue lashed around its neck, buying us time.
"Salt, Pepper! Stop walking on water—go for its belly!" I ordered telepathically, as an idea came to my mind. The dogs cut their chakra flow and sank beneath the surface, claws and fangs tearing at the beast's underbelly. Ink-like blood spreading rapidly in the water is the only proof of the greater damage.
I teleported through Salt's shadow, coming out right next to the bull and formed a snake hand sign with my left hand, while I pummeled the bull's head with chakra-infused punches from my right hand.
Ruyi—a giant snake shikigami—erupted from the shadow beneath the water and bit into the bull's stomach. Her powerful paralytic venom slowed the beast, letting Kermit hold it in place. Still, the beast continued struggling, probably from its tough chest muscles protecting its vitals .
But with Salt, Pepper, Kermit, and Ruyi working together, and me hammering away at its skull, we bought enough time for Nue to finish charging her lightning.
Feeling the ping from Nue, I dismissed all but my last two shikigami and jumped to the pit wall, sticking to its side. Then a lightning bolt, as thick as a tree trunk, rained down from the heaven, striking the bull's head dead-on. With the ionized water further amplifying the blast, steam blasted forth, covering my sight. For a full minute, Nue's lightning cooked the beast from the inside out, as agonized scream echoed out.
When it was over, and all the steam slowly cleared away, all that remained was boiling water and a lump of black coal where the bull had been.
A familiar feeling bloomed in my mind as the new connection formed. Knowledge of the Piercing Ox flooded my brain. I leapt out of the pit and collapsed on my back from the exhaustion hitting me.
With nearly all my shikigami using active chakra reinforcement and Nue draining me dry from her full charge, I had just over a third of my chakra left. That's not even counting for the 60+ Buttercup clones that consumed over another third of my chakra that I regenerated before the fight.
Feeling satisfied, I dismissed Nue and Buttercup, then yelled toward the trees. "Oy, old man! I know you're out there. You can come out now."
"I am your old man, technically, but being called old kinda hurts" said a different, yet familiar voice, as a man with blood-red hair emerged from the woods.
"FATHER!!!" I yelled, as I stood up, and ran toward him, before asking. "You're back from your mission? How was it? Did you kick any butts? Take any names?"
"Haha, I wish… No, all I did was escorting an important man back to his home. The most exciting things that happened were a few bandits here and there." Said father smiling fondly at me.
"Umu, also where's Hanabei? He was just here when I started the ritual." I asked since Hanabei made it his business to be present at all my shikigami rituals so far, even ones where we ran tests on.
"Oh, the old geezer left when I just got here. That's when your… uh Nue was it?" Dad asked with a crooked grin, as I nodded before he continued "Yes, he left when Nue unleashed that near A ranked lightning attack on the Piercing Ox."
"That's odd… he never left any of my rituals before it's finished. I wonder what's so urgent for that old man to break his routine." I questioned, since Hanabei is a creature of habit from what I've observed. Always on time, always following traditions, and if a hair is out of place, or if I did something remotely different from how it's supposed to be, I'd be beaten black and blue.
"Heh, don't worry about that old geezer." Said my father, a sheen of sweat on his forehead before he changed topic. "Anyway we have to meet someone later, and you reeked of sweat. Let's go home and clean up. And if you're good, I'll even show you a fire jutsu or two."
"Really?!? Let's go then!!! I'll race ya old man." I said excitedly as I flashed away in a shunshin leaving my exasperated father behind.
~Scene Skip~
=Ashira's POV=
"So… who are we meeting?" I said checking out my fancy kimono as we walked out the door.
"Someone important, you'll find out later. Anyway, how's class?" Father said, putting on his sandals as we both started walking out the house onto the street.
"Nothing new really, I bested some Uchiha kid with an awakened sharingan, made a new friend who's an Uzumaki, then handed Inoichi, Shika, Choza, and Tsume's asses to them in a 4v1 spar all in the span of one day, last friday." I said, shrugging my shoulders while following my father.
"Ah yes so I've heard. Quite the uproar you have made you know? Konoha's rumor mills are going crazy about you, at least the village's jonin population is. Some are even asking me to be your jonin sensei when you graduate." Father said, a proud smile on his face
Confusion rose in my mind as I asked. "Wait, why are they asking you that? Aren't you going to be my jonin sensei?"
Shaking his head, Father said. "Not after that stunt you pulled, no I can't. Usually if you're just a regular genin, no one would bat an eye if a little bit of nepotism was introduced into the mix. But you bested an Uchiha prodigy with an awakened sharingan, the optics wouldn't look good if you got put under an A ranked jonin who also happened to be your father." Before he paused, a sad smile donned his face as he continued. "You have quite a decent amount of eyes on you, Ashira. Whether it be from the shinobi's force, or from the higher ups, people always pay attention to promising geniuses."
"Damn… Maybe I should have lost on purpose then. Or not accept a full on spar with Fugaku back then." I said, regret apparent in my voice.
"No you shouldn't have Ashira. I have known you since you were a babe, son. I know you enjoy training, enjoy testing yourself against powerful opponents even if you yourself do not admit it. Neither I nor your mother would begrudge you for standing out as long as you keep "that" a secret. We made peace with it a long time ago. Besides, you'll still most likely be taken under a Nara jonin, if your uncle has anything to say about it, and I'll still be able to take you on as my apprentice later on." Father said looking forlornly into the distance.
"Apprentice? Isn't that more nepotism?" I asked after a silent pause.
"No, not really, apprenticeship is genuinely different from taking on genin students. Usually a shinobi or kunoichi will only take on 1 to 2 apprentices in his or her entire career, and more often than not, said apprentices are close relatives to the ninja. Unlike how jonin senseis only teach their students the basics of a ninja's lifestyle, a shinobi or kunoichi usually leave their whole legacy, from self made jutsus, to unique kenjutsu or taijutsu, sometimes even kinjutsus to their apprentice."
Nodding my head in understanding I said "then I can't wait to be your apprentice!!! Just hope that my Nara jonin sensei is not too lazy."
Father broke out in laughter before he said. "Then you better hope for a female sensei since most male Nara are slackers. Speaking of the clan, how did they react to your duel? I haven't been back for long so your mother wasn't able to tell me much."
"Heh, uncle was amused more than anything, same with elder Atatsu. He was glad that I finally put the arrogant Uchiha in the dirt. Masayoshi, and Aihori were more nervous, and reprimanded me a little. The old geezer though, was stoic throughout it all, but I think I saw a smug smile once during the briefing." I said, recalling that troublesome meeting I had after the whole debacle. Though the fact that Shikaku also got dragged into did make it more amusing for me.
"Hanabei being proud of someone?" Father said, shivers ran down his spine before shaking his head. "No, no, no you must be imagining it. That old coot will stay angry and bitter till the end of time."
I laughed a little, and said "Aye maybe you're right."
Conversations flowed from there as we changed to lighter topics like how mother was doing, to how hard was school, and how my training went. And before long, a large compound surrounded by thick wooden walls came into view. Hanging on the top of the open gate of the compound, is a sign with a 2 headed fork carved into it with a line running down the middle, the symbol of the famous Senju clan.
Stepping into the gate of the compound with father after he greeted two of the guards, I marvelled at the sudden change in both scenery and atmosphere. What stood before me was a thick forest, with thick trees standing in two rolls, like silent guardians, watching over a lone stone path cutting through the dense foliage. The air, more fresh and vibrant, invigorated both my mind and my body, as I followed my father deeper into the "compound".
"It's like a jungle in here." I said as I spotted the occasional wildlife hidden deep inside the dense vegetation.
Nodding his head gently, my father said. "You'll get used to it, all these trees are "planted" by Hashirama sama himself."
Spotting the deep reverence, but also a hint of bitterness in his tone, I said. "He must have been something, to make all of this. I know he planted most of the trees in Konoha, but to finally be able to see a fraction of the scale of his power, you gotta wonder what it's like, living with monsters like him and Madara back then."
Nodding his head in agreement, he said. "Aye, Hashirama sama was quite a man. He was too good for his time." Before pausing and continuing "Anyway, we're here."
What appeared in front of me after stepping past my father's is a large open area with dozens of traditional Japanese style buildings made from wood, all surrounding a large wooden estate. Before I could say anything, a blonde blur flashed past me before colliding with my father.
Fast, I thought, right hand reaching to my shadow, before I stopped as a feminine squeal rang out. "Shira-nii!!!!! You finally came. I miss you so much." What greeted me after the squeal was the form of a voluptuous woman rubbing herself all over my father. At that moment, all I could think of was that this son of a b*tch cheated on mom!!!
AN: Sup, I'm back with another chap, hope you guys enjoy it. Y'all prolly guess who's the blonde baddie is, but next chap is the meeting, then we're very close to finishing the academy arc. After that is the war arc, and the one most of y'all are prolly here for. To see the 10 shadows against actual ninjas. Finger-crossed that I don't fuck it up. Anyway enjoy, and see yall on either friday, or monday next week since I'll be busy saturday, and sunday.