After saying that, she seemed to have exhausted all her strength. Grabbing Sora's hand tightly, she walked away without looking back.
Naruto and Sasuke stood frozen in place.
Sora stumbled from her pull but smiled with satisfaction.
Not bad.
She already knew how to actively avoid trouble.
The two returned to the apartment entrance.
Karin was still panting, her small chest heaving dramatically, a flush of defiance and lingering fear on her face.
Peaceful days always flew by quickly.
For Akashi Sora, life was clearly divided into two distinct parts.
By day, he was Captain Akashi of the Anbu squad.
On the training grounds, Konoha's geniuses sweated profusely.
Boom!
Dozens of thick trees erupted from the ground, weaving into a massive net that bore down on Uchiha Itachi.
"Senior Yamato, your Wood Release range is as impressive as ever!"
Sora stood aside, beaming energetically, his praise genuine.
Yamato didn't respond, fully focused on controlling the Wood Release to completely seal off the swiftly moving Uchiha genius among the pillars.
Crude.
That was Sora's assessment.
Though Yamato tried his best to emulate the First Hokage, his Wood Release was ultimately transplanted power. Lacking the Senju clan's Sage Body foundation, it was mere shape transformation—form without spirit.
Unlike his own.
The Wood Release gained through "devouring" was a conceptual replication from the source. A single thought, and all things grew.
Of course, such theoretical superiority was meaningless.
Only real combat experience turned theory into power.
And the Yamato and Itachi before him were his best sparring partners.
On the other side, Itachi flickered, evading the Wood Release encirclement.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
A massive fireball erupted, instantly igniting the incoming wooden net.
"Itachi, your fire release is as beautiful as ever!"
Sora timely cheered again, like the ultimate hype man.
Itachi's chakra carried the Uchiha clan's characteristic chill and mental energy.
But beneath that chill lurked a purer, more powerful ocular force.
The seed of the Mangekyo was already planted.
It needed only the right trigger to sprout.
Sora mentally scored Itachi's potential highly, then clapped his hands.
"Alright, alright—that's enough for today!"
He announced the end with a grin.
"Captain, no more?" Yamato retracted his Wood Release, somewhat reluctant.
"Nope." Sora waved dismissively, excuse impeccable. "I have to pick up my little sister from school."
Little sister.
The word made Yamato and the nearby Itachi pause briefly.
These days, they'd grown used to their cheerful captain vanishing precisely at this time each day—only to return the next with a goofy "my sister's growing up" grin.
Itachi said nothing, silently wiping his kunai.
Yamato hesitated to speak, ultimately sighing.
Fine—as long as the captain was happy.
...
Ninja Academy entrance.
The dismissal bell had just rung; children poured out like freed birds, chattering excitedly.
Sora leaned against a large tree by the gate, spotting that familiar flame-red immediately in the crowd.
But the scene wasn't quite as he'd imagined.
Karin wasn't quietly waiting at the gate as usual.
She stood with hands on hips, face flushed, arguing heatedly with two brats.
One blond, one black-haired.
Uzumaki Naruto, Uchiha Sasuke.
"I didn't lose!" Karin's voice was crisp, defiant. "If my chakra wasn't still too low, I could've dodged your fireball!"
Uchiha Sasuke stood with hands in pockets, arrogantly.
"You lost. Weaklings make excuses."
"What did you say?!"
"Sasuke, you jerk—don't talk to Karin like that!" Naruto jumped in, shielding her and shaking a fist at Sasuke.
"Dead-last, get out of the way." Sasuke barely glanced at him.
Sora watched from afar, his smile widening.
Not bad.
Very not bad.
In just days, she was already bantering back and forth with the future protagonists.
He stopped spectating and approached.
"Yo, what's the lively chat about?"
His signature cheerful voice cut through the tension like sunlight.
"Brother Sora!"
Karin's eyes lit up; her previously puffed-up face gained a touch of grievance.
Naruto scratched his head, grinning foolishly: "Big Bro Sora!"
Only Sasuke, upon seeing Sora, pouted and turned coolly, leaving them his back.
"Going."
He tossed out two words and vanished into the crowd.
Sora took Karin's hand, waving to Naruto.
"We're heading home first, Naruto."
"Bye, Big Bro Sora! Bye, Karin!"
On the way home, Karin pouted, sulking.
"What's wrong?" Sora asked knowingly. "Bullied by that Uchiha brat?"
"I wasn't bullied!" Karin retorted immediately, then deflated. "I just... lost to him."
Her small face was full of unwillingness.
"Today's class had practical sparring... we were paired."
"His Great Fireball was so strong—I couldn't dodge."
"I could feel how his chakra moved, but my body couldn't keep up..."
Her voice grew quieter, full of frustration.
Good.
Defeat was the best catalyst for the desire to grow stronger.
"Hm, the Uchiha clan is indeed skilled with fire release." Sora said flatly. "Losing to them isn't shameful."
"But I don't want to lose!"
Karin stopped abruptly, looking up—small flames burning in her red eyes.
"Especially not to that arrogant jerk!"
Sora looked at her.
At the unyielding flame in those eyes—the Uzumaki clan's fire.
He smiled.
Back at the apartment.
As usual, Sora put away the groceries in the kitchen.
But unusually, Karin didn't watch TV or review lessons.
She stood in the living room center, fists clenched tightly, as if making a major decision.
When Sora emerged from the kitchen, she took a deep breath and bowed deeply ninety degrees.
"Brother Sora!"
Her voice was loud and firm.
"Hm?" Sora dried his hands leisurely.
"Please teach me to train!"
"I want to get stronger!"
Karin looked up—her young face unprecedentedly serious and resolute.
"I don't want to lose to Uchiha Sasuke again!"
"I want him to know the Uzumaki clan isn't weak!"
The flame of revenge had ignited.
More effective than any lecture.
The usual gentle mask faded from his smiling amber eyes, revealing bottomless calm.
He stepped slowly toward her.
Karin tensed under the sudden shift in aura but didn't back down, meeting his gaze stubbornly.
"Alright."
He said two words.
"But Karin."
His hand gently rested on her head—her fiery red short hair felt nice.
"My training isn't the academy's playtime."
His voice was soft but chillingly oppressive.
"It'll be grueling, painful—even make you wish for death."
"Even so, do you want it?"
Karin trembled involuntarily.
She recalled the biting pain in the Land of Grass—bone-deep agony.
Anything worse?
Gritting her teeth, she nodded forcefully.
"I'm... not afraid!"
Sora smiled.
A different smile—full of approval and expectation.
"Good."
Then—after school tomorrow, training ground.
He left those words and returned to the kitchen, saying no more.
The next day, training ground.
Evening sunlight edged the forest in gold-red.
Karin stood nervously in the clearing center with her backpack—arriving half an hour early.
Akashi Sora had shed his Anbu uniform for simple black casuals; his usual energetic smile gone, replaced by near-indifferent calm.
Karin instinctively started: "Brother So—"
"From now on, here—you call me Teacher Sora."
He interrupted.
His emotionless, straightforward words sank her heart.
Teacher?
The boy before her was only a few years older.
"First rule." He continued without pause. "Here, no favoritism, no brother-sister. Only training, obedience, results."
He stopped before her, amber eyes calmly fixed.
"My time is precious; your potential too. I won't waste it on meaningless talk."
Karin was overwhelmed by this unfamiliar aura, nodding dazedly.
"Good."
Sora seemed satisfied.
"Your training plan: three steps."
"First: foundation. I'll build everything a shinobi needs in the shortest time. Chakra sensing, control, basic taijutsu."
He raised one finger.
"Uzumaki physique gives you vast chakra and strong sensing innately—but it's scattered sand now. You'll learn to mold it into solid stone."
"Specifics: tree climbing and water walking. No ninjutsu until mastered."
Karin listened half-understanding—these were terms Iruka had mentioned.
"Second: core skills." Second finger. "Once control qualifies, three things."
"Shadow Clone Technique, Mind's Eye of the Kagura, basics of medical ninjutsu and Adamantine Sealing Chains."
"Shadow clones multiply training efficiency. Mind's Eye is your innate gift—I'll guide usage. Medical ninjutsu and chains are your foundation for survival."
Concise, no waste.
"Third: combat." Third and final finger. "Master all, then real fights. On the edge of life and death—fuse everything into your own."
"Understood?"
"Y-Yes... Teacher Sora." Karin forced out.
"Then begin."
He stepped back, distancing.
"First lesson: chakra sensing."
"Close your eyes."
Karin obeyed.
"Forget sight, sound, smell. Feel the world with your body. Wind's flow, leaves' breath, underground insects' crawl."
Karin tried.
Soon, chaotic information flooded her mind.
Wind, birdsong, distant street noise, worms turning soil, tree roots pulsing with water...
Too much.
Too chaotic.
Her head buzzed; dizziness nearly toppled her.
"Too noisy..." She groaned painfully.
"Filter it." Sora's voice held no mercy. "Useless noise. Now—find me in it."
"Find my chakra."
Find him?
Enduring the headache, Karin searched the mental chaos for Sora's ripple.
But his chakra was a drop in the ocean.
No—not a drop.
He was the ocean.
Touching it, she realized in terror: no human should have such volume. Vast as stars, perfectly converged with nature.
Her meager sensing shattered against invisible pressure.
Thud.
Karin collapsed, gasping, forehead slick with cold sweat.
"Failure." Sora said flatly. "Strong sensing, no method—like a baby wielding a divine blade, flailing wildly."
"Stand. Continue."
No comfort, no encouragement.
Only cold command.
Karin gritted teeth, rose, closed eyes again.
Once, twice, ten times...
Overwhelmed repeatedly, yet reforming under his orders.
Her face paled, body swayed.
"Enough sensing for now." Sora finally stopped.
He marked a line high on a tree trunk.
"Rest. Next: chakra control."
"Gather chakra in soles, walk to that line."
"Iruka taught the principle."
Karin eyed the tall tree, her scraped hands, swallowed.
Deep breath—she gathered chakra as taught, stepped onto trunk.
Bang!
Massive rebound flung her back, crashing painfully.
"Over-output." Sora said emotionlessly. "Treated tree as enemy—body rejected instinctively."
Karin rubbed her sore rear, charged again.
Bang!
Less chakra this time.
Slipped immediately.
"Under-output."
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The small figure charged repeatedly, crashing repeatedly.
Knees, elbows soon bruised; new clothes dirtied.
Sora watched silently.
Like the strictest examiner—noting failures, never helping.
Assets needed pressure to polish.
Greenhouse flowers, however pretty, worthless.
Uzumaki Sage Body showed recovery—scrapes and bruises healing visibly.
But pain remained.
Finally, after countless falls, Karin lay prone, unable to rise.
Tears mixed sweat and dirt down her flushed face.
Too painful.
Too hard.
She looked pleadingly, voice cracking, at the distant boy.
"Te-Teacher Sora... I..."
But Sora gazed calmly.
"Want to quit?"
"Quit—back to school tomorrow, play sparring games with classmates."
"Keep losing to Uchiha Sasuke."
"Once, twice, forever."
"Always trailing his back—complaining your body can't keep up, why you're so weak."
Uchiha Sasuke.
The name stabbed like a needle.
She recalled his arrogant face yesterday.
Classmates' gawking as the fireball knocked her down.
No.
I won't lose!
Anger surged from her core, evaporating tears.
She scrambled up, wiping face fiercely with sleeve.
Ignoring Sora, she glared at the mocking tree.
Charged again.
This time—less hesitation, more resolve.
Foot stuck firmly.
One step.
Two.
Three.
Body wobbling, each agonizing—sweat dripping.
But she didn't fall.
Sora watched the red figure struggling up the trunk; faint ripple in his calm amber eyes.
Good.
Hatred truly the best motivator.
Night fully fell.
Karin never reached the line—exhausting chakra halfway, falling.
This time, no tears.
She lay gasping, feeling aching limbs—everywhere hurt.
But her heart felt unprecedented fulfillment.
Sora approached, looking down.
"That's it for today."
He pulled a scroll from his pouch, tossing it beside her.
Karin turned weakly.
"This is..."
"Shadow Clone Technique."