Chakra Wizard
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Chapter 047: All is Not Well in the Family
As the sun set on the first night of the finalists’ month-long hiatus, yet another prominent clan was celebrating the victory of one of their own, in a large estate that rested near the center of the Leaf village. This was the home of the Sarutobi clan, particularly that of their family head Suzaku, who led them in the dutiful absence of their patriarch, the Seventh Hokage. The four of them had gathered themselves in the sitting room after a filling supper prepared by both Suzaku and his pregnant wife Ayumi, the aforementioned Hokage and his wife Moegi also in attendance as they all partook in lighthearted conversation. Suzaku was perched on the smallest of their three sofas with Ayumi nestled beneath his arm, Konohamaru on the largest with Moegi to his right and Raiden to his left, while Minto sat alone in the large chair positioned beside his parents, all of them wearing predominantly cheerful expressions with one obvious exception.
Konohamaru: Huhhh boy. I remember when we took our exams, right, Moegi?
Moegi: (She smiled and nodded in agreement.) They were quite the hardy group that year, as I recall. Not nearly as tough as you young ones are now, though, I’m sure.
Suzaku: (Having picked up a few negative traits from his sensei Naruto, he was quick to tease the two about their age.) Father, I’m pretty certain that the footprints you left on the arena floors don’t remember your exams.
Konohamaru: (While he’d matured much greater than his rival and secondary teacher over the years, he still wasn’t above giving a good comeback and smirked at his son’s joke.) No, but they certainly remember the imprints of your face left by Itachi during your exams. …Heheheheh, your first attempt at them, I should say.
Ayumi: (Sensing her husband’s aggravation without looking up, she giggled softly and rubbed her hand on his chest to calm him down.) Hmhmhm, careful now, both of you. We don’t need our baby hearing all this bickering now, do we?
Upon hearing this, the two immediately put any impending jokes out of their minds as everyone in the room gazed over at Ayumi’s chest, which both she and Suzaku were gently caressing with their hands. Having been pregnant for roughly five months now, her womb had already grown considerably in size, to the point where none of them would be surprised if she went into labor before the month was out. For Konohamaru and Moegi, the tension was almost too much to bear, even despite having gone through this process twice before.
Moegi: Did you two ever decide on a name? You need one for a boy and a girl, you know.
Suzaku: (Having heard this type of insistence countless times before, he smirked and shook his head in nostalgic annoyance.) We’ll get to it, Mom, don’t worry. …Believe me, we put a lot more thought into our children’s names than you guys did.
Konohamaru: And just what is wrong with Suzaku? That’s a great name.
Suzaku: Yeah, and exactly what about me or what I do screams “crimson” or “sparrow”? You probably just picked it cause it sounded cool.
Konohamaru: (Now filled with memories of his younger and more childish self, he chuckled softly at the notion.) Hmhmhmhm, maybe at such a time, but now I think it suits you rather well. The “crimson” symbolizes the Will of Fire and how strong yours is, which you know is true. Meanwhile, the “sparrow” indicates how you’ve lived your life freely and without restraint, never letting even your young age get in the way of the love you felt for your future wife.
At this, the two expectant parents looked at each other, smiling as they locked eyes.
Ayumi: Hmhm, now that is true.
Suzaku: Hmhmhm…it certainly is.
Their hands, which had still been caressing Ayumi’s chest up until this point, slowly made their way over to one another, where they intertwined fingers in a loving embrace. Everyone watching could tell that a kiss between the two was now imminent, something their younger son wouldn’t stand for.
Raiden: If you two are gonna start that, I’m leaving the room.
Konohamaru: (He smiled in amusement as he patted him on the back.) Now now, Raiden, no need for all that. Tonight’s a time for celebration, after all!
Raiden: (He merely shrugged this off as he stared off into the corner of the room, his cheek rested against his partially closed fist.) Celebration for what? I didn’t get through to the finals.
Konohamaru: True, but you put in your best efforts, which is worth a celebration in it of itself. And let’s not forget Minto, either.
Raiden: (Upon hearing the latter statement, his fist proceeded to close all the way as his gaze shifted towards his older brother.) Why wouldn’t we? …He’s not really a shinobi, after all.
Though hurt by the notion, Minto still found it hard to believe that Raiden was still spouting these tactless remarks, scoffing at him as he rose up out of his chair.
Minto: That’s tough talk, little brother, …considering you lost to this non-shinobi.
Raiden: (This reminder of his earlier defeat infuriated him to no end, but he still managed to maintain his cocky persona as he walked up to Minto and stared up into his angry eyes.) Pffft, please. You won because you had the element of surprise. If I’d known you had that stupid whip stashed away beforehand, I never would’ve let myself get caught by it. …You think you’re hot stuff now, but just watch. You might come out alright against Chan. He doesn’t use a whole lot of jutsu, either, …but Airon is sure to put you in your proper place, which is even more humiliating considering he’s the one who made that thing for you in the first place.
The fact that he was trashing him was bad enough, but the idea of being discredited for his real accomplishments was more than Minto’s temper could handle. He raised his fist as though he was prepared to hit Raiden in the face, only to find it wrapped underneath the hand of his furious father hardly a second later.
Suzaku: Minto, that’s enough. …Raiden, go to your room.
Minto quickly retracted his hand and stared down at his brother, who proceeded to look around the room for some semblance of support. Finding only expressions of disappointment or sorrow in his wake, he scoffed at them all and proceeded to kick the base of Minto’s seat as he walked past him. Once he had left the room, Minto fell exhausted back into his chair while Suzaku sat back down beside Ayumi, a short period of silence passing before someone finally spoke again.
Suzaku: We love both of you equally, Minto. You know that’s true…and so does he.
Minto: (Though his guess was close, the expression he wore as he looked up let Suzaku know that he was thinking of something completely different.) …Do you support us equally, though?
The silence that followed was enough for Minto to shape his own answer, but Suzaku only proceeded to make it worse by saying it aloud.
Suzaku: You’re a special case, Minto, you know that. You were born without-
Minto: Yeah, and that’s a perfect excuse to treat me like royalty while Raiden’s the one with all the real talent!
A little surprised by his outburst, Suzaku leaned back a short ways and tightened his hold on Ayumi, who seemed as close to tears as Minto was at that point.
Minto: I already know how you feel about me, Dad. You’re also my instructor, for freakin’ sake. …I’m just tired of Raiden looking down on me after all the hard work I put in trying to get to his level without ninjutsu.
His head was tilted all the way down and his eyes fixated on the floor, so he didn’t notice when his mother stood up and walked up to him until her arms were already wrapped around him.
Ayumi: It’s just an act, baby. Every one of us already knows this. …He knows how strong his big brother is, but he’s just too proud of himself and his clan to admit it.
Minto: (He allowed his head sink into her shoulder as she said this, eventually hoisting his arms up and returning her hug.) …Yeah, …I know.
Suzaku: (He thought about this as he watched the two in their embrace, eventually looking away with an almost determined expression.) You know, son, there’ll come a point of time when Raiden’s all alone and he finds himself in serious danger. It’s rushing in from all angles and there’s nothing he can do to stop it, no matter how powerful he is by that point. …And when he’s forced to call out for someone else to save him, I can almost guarantee that someone will be you. …Like your mother said, you are his big brother, despite everything else. You’re supposed to be there for him when that time comes.
Minto looked up at his father as he said this, a feeling of near admiration washing over him. He was still hesitant to believe a word of it, given his history with Raiden, but he smiled at the prospect nonetheless, a sight which brought smiles to the faces of his grandparents, as well. Konohamaru gazed over at the clock on the opposite side of the room shortly after this, standing up and offering his hand to Moegi after finding that they had overstayed their welcome.
Konohamaru: It’s getting rather late. It’d probably be best if we all turn in for the night.
Moegi: (She smiled and placed her hand in his own.) I agree. I am getting rather tired.
After lifting herself off the couch with Konohamaru’s assistance, she walked over to Minto and Ayumi, rubbing the back of the former’s head and kissing his forehead before hugging the latter. In the meantime, Suzaku and Konohamaru embraced in a much more masculine fashion.
Moegi: We’ll come back over here sometime soon, alright?
Ayumi: (She smiled and tightened her hold on her.) We’ll look forward to it, Moegi.
Suzaku: (Still determined to test his father’s age, he squeezed his back even harder, waiting until he heard the faintest sound of a cracking vertebrae before releasing it.) Watch yourself on the way back. …You are getting old, whether you’re the Hokage or not.
Konohamaru: (Pulling away, he gave his son a confident smile and he patted him on the shoulder, meanwhile trying to hide the fact that he was rubbing the spot where he cracked his spine.) Hm, and until I surpass your great-grandfather’s age, I wager that neither of those facts will change.
Suzaku: (He couldn’t help but smirk at the old man’s confidence, but nonetheless found satisfaction in the notion himself.) Let’s both hope for it.
After the two dismissed themselves from the house, the three remaining members of the family quickly put out any remaining lights in the kitchen and sitting room before retreating to their bedrooms, Suzaku returning just moments later to blow out a candle they had forgotten near the hallway entrance.
Will Raiden ever acknowledge his brother’s strength!!?
The End
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Chapter 047: All is Not Well in the Family
As the sun set on the first night of the finalists’ month-long hiatus, yet another prominent clan was celebrating the victory of one of their own, in a large estate that rested near the center of the Leaf village. This was the home of the Sarutobi clan, particularly that of their family head Suzaku, who led them in the dutiful absence of their patriarch, the Seventh Hokage. The four of them had gathered themselves in the sitting room after a filling supper prepared by both Suzaku and his pregnant wife Ayumi, the aforementioned Hokage and his wife Moegi also in attendance as they all partook in lighthearted conversation. Suzaku was perched on the smallest of their three sofas with Ayumi nestled beneath his arm, Konohamaru on the largest with Moegi to his right and Raiden to his left, while Minto sat alone in the large chair positioned beside his parents, all of them wearing predominantly cheerful expressions with one obvious exception.
Konohamaru: Huhhh boy. I remember when we took our exams, right, Moegi?
Moegi: (She smiled and nodded in agreement.) They were quite the hardy group that year, as I recall. Not nearly as tough as you young ones are now, though, I’m sure.
Suzaku: (Having picked up a few negative traits from his sensei Naruto, he was quick to tease the two about their age.) Father, I’m pretty certain that the footprints you left on the arena floors don’t remember your exams.
Konohamaru: (While he’d matured much greater than his rival and secondary teacher over the years, he still wasn’t above giving a good comeback and smirked at his son’s joke.) No, but they certainly remember the imprints of your face left by Itachi during your exams. …Heheheheh, your first attempt at them, I should say.
Ayumi: (Sensing her husband’s aggravation without looking up, she giggled softly and rubbed her hand on his chest to calm him down.) Hmhmhm, careful now, both of you. We don’t need our baby hearing all this bickering now, do we?
Upon hearing this, the two immediately put any impending jokes out of their minds as everyone in the room gazed over at Ayumi’s chest, which both she and Suzaku were gently caressing with their hands. Having been pregnant for roughly five months now, her womb had already grown considerably in size, to the point where none of them would be surprised if she went into labor before the month was out. For Konohamaru and Moegi, the tension was almost too much to bear, even despite having gone through this process twice before.
Moegi: Did you two ever decide on a name? You need one for a boy and a girl, you know.
Suzaku: (Having heard this type of insistence countless times before, he smirked and shook his head in nostalgic annoyance.) We’ll get to it, Mom, don’t worry. …Believe me, we put a lot more thought into our children’s names than you guys did.
Konohamaru: And just what is wrong with Suzaku? That’s a great name.
Suzaku: Yeah, and exactly what about me or what I do screams “crimson” or “sparrow”? You probably just picked it cause it sounded cool.
Konohamaru: (Now filled with memories of his younger and more childish self, he chuckled softly at the notion.) Hmhmhmhm, maybe at such a time, but now I think it suits you rather well. The “crimson” symbolizes the Will of Fire and how strong yours is, which you know is true. Meanwhile, the “sparrow” indicates how you’ve lived your life freely and without restraint, never letting even your young age get in the way of the love you felt for your future wife.
At this, the two expectant parents looked at each other, smiling as they locked eyes.
Ayumi: Hmhm, now that is true.
Suzaku: Hmhmhm…it certainly is.
Their hands, which had still been caressing Ayumi’s chest up until this point, slowly made their way over to one another, where they intertwined fingers in a loving embrace. Everyone watching could tell that a kiss between the two was now imminent, something their younger son wouldn’t stand for.
Raiden: If you two are gonna start that, I’m leaving the room.
Konohamaru: (He smiled in amusement as he patted him on the back.) Now now, Raiden, no need for all that. Tonight’s a time for celebration, after all!
Raiden: (He merely shrugged this off as he stared off into the corner of the room, his cheek rested against his partially closed fist.) Celebration for what? I didn’t get through to the finals.
Konohamaru: True, but you put in your best efforts, which is worth a celebration in it of itself. And let’s not forget Minto, either.
Raiden: (Upon hearing the latter statement, his fist proceeded to close all the way as his gaze shifted towards his older brother.) Why wouldn’t we? …He’s not really a shinobi, after all.
Though hurt by the notion, Minto still found it hard to believe that Raiden was still spouting these tactless remarks, scoffing at him as he rose up out of his chair.
Minto: That’s tough talk, little brother, …considering you lost to this non-shinobi.
Raiden: (This reminder of his earlier defeat infuriated him to no end, but he still managed to maintain his cocky persona as he walked up to Minto and stared up into his angry eyes.) Pffft, please. You won because you had the element of surprise. If I’d known you had that stupid whip stashed away beforehand, I never would’ve let myself get caught by it. …You think you’re hot stuff now, but just watch. You might come out alright against Chan. He doesn’t use a whole lot of jutsu, either, …but Airon is sure to put you in your proper place, which is even more humiliating considering he’s the one who made that thing for you in the first place.
The fact that he was trashing him was bad enough, but the idea of being discredited for his real accomplishments was more than Minto’s temper could handle. He raised his fist as though he was prepared to hit Raiden in the face, only to find it wrapped underneath the hand of his furious father hardly a second later.
Suzaku: Minto, that’s enough. …Raiden, go to your room.
Minto quickly retracted his hand and stared down at his brother, who proceeded to look around the room for some semblance of support. Finding only expressions of disappointment or sorrow in his wake, he scoffed at them all and proceeded to kick the base of Minto’s seat as he walked past him. Once he had left the room, Minto fell exhausted back into his chair while Suzaku sat back down beside Ayumi, a short period of silence passing before someone finally spoke again.
Suzaku: We love both of you equally, Minto. You know that’s true…and so does he.
Minto: (Though his guess was close, the expression he wore as he looked up let Suzaku know that he was thinking of something completely different.) …Do you support us equally, though?
The silence that followed was enough for Minto to shape his own answer, but Suzaku only proceeded to make it worse by saying it aloud.
Suzaku: You’re a special case, Minto, you know that. You were born without-
Minto: Yeah, and that’s a perfect excuse to treat me like royalty while Raiden’s the one with all the real talent!
A little surprised by his outburst, Suzaku leaned back a short ways and tightened his hold on Ayumi, who seemed as close to tears as Minto was at that point.
Minto: I already know how you feel about me, Dad. You’re also my instructor, for freakin’ sake. …I’m just tired of Raiden looking down on me after all the hard work I put in trying to get to his level without ninjutsu.
His head was tilted all the way down and his eyes fixated on the floor, so he didn’t notice when his mother stood up and walked up to him until her arms were already wrapped around him.
Ayumi: It’s just an act, baby. Every one of us already knows this. …He knows how strong his big brother is, but he’s just too proud of himself and his clan to admit it.
Minto: (He allowed his head sink into her shoulder as she said this, eventually hoisting his arms up and returning her hug.) …Yeah, …I know.
Suzaku: (He thought about this as he watched the two in their embrace, eventually looking away with an almost determined expression.) You know, son, there’ll come a point of time when Raiden’s all alone and he finds himself in serious danger. It’s rushing in from all angles and there’s nothing he can do to stop it, no matter how powerful he is by that point. …And when he’s forced to call out for someone else to save him, I can almost guarantee that someone will be you. …Like your mother said, you are his big brother, despite everything else. You’re supposed to be there for him when that time comes.
Minto looked up at his father as he said this, a feeling of near admiration washing over him. He was still hesitant to believe a word of it, given his history with Raiden, but he smiled at the prospect nonetheless, a sight which brought smiles to the faces of his grandparents, as well. Konohamaru gazed over at the clock on the opposite side of the room shortly after this, standing up and offering his hand to Moegi after finding that they had overstayed their welcome.
Konohamaru: It’s getting rather late. It’d probably be best if we all turn in for the night.
Moegi: (She smiled and placed her hand in his own.) I agree. I am getting rather tired.
After lifting herself off the couch with Konohamaru’s assistance, she walked over to Minto and Ayumi, rubbing the back of the former’s head and kissing his forehead before hugging the latter. In the meantime, Suzaku and Konohamaru embraced in a much more masculine fashion.
Moegi: We’ll come back over here sometime soon, alright?
Ayumi: (She smiled and tightened her hold on her.) We’ll look forward to it, Moegi.
Suzaku: (Still determined to test his father’s age, he squeezed his back even harder, waiting until he heard the faintest sound of a cracking vertebrae before releasing it.) Watch yourself on the way back. …You are getting old, whether you’re the Hokage or not.
Konohamaru: (Pulling away, he gave his son a confident smile and he patted him on the shoulder, meanwhile trying to hide the fact that he was rubbing the spot where he cracked his spine.) Hm, and until I surpass your great-grandfather’s age, I wager that neither of those facts will change.
Suzaku: (He couldn’t help but smirk at the old man’s confidence, but nonetheless found satisfaction in the notion himself.) Let’s both hope for it.
After the two dismissed themselves from the house, the three remaining members of the family quickly put out any remaining lights in the kitchen and sitting room before retreating to their bedrooms, Suzaku returning just moments later to blow out a candle they had forgotten near the hallway entrance.
Will Raiden ever acknowledge his brother’s strength!!?
The End
lol
