Kaito Akaden (Kaito)

Kaito Chapter 21: Progression

At present, they find themselves on a training ground situated near the outskirts of the Hidden Leaf village. Within this setting, a pair of youngsters engage in a spirited sparring session. The first child, known as Kaito Uzumaki, possesses striking features - his hair a vibrant shade of red, complemented by piercing blue eyes and a lightly bronzed complexion. He is attired in a white t-shirt adorned with the emblem of the Uzumaki clan emblazoned on the front, paired with black pants.

His sparring partner, none other than Itachi Uchiha, bears a distinct appearance. With jet-black hair and a complexion that leans toward paleness, he dons a blue t-shirt featuring a high collar. On the back of this garment proudly rests the emblem of the Uchiha clan.

At this moment, they are engrossed in their customary weekly taijutsu-only sparring match. This tradition began several months ago after their initial encounter, and since then, they have faithfully engaged in these bouts week after week. Over time, the intensity of their sparring sessions has steadily escalated, each encounter pushing their limits further.

Kaito and Itachi clashed fiercely in the middle of the training ground. Kaito's initial push was met with a deft parry from Itachi, who swiftly countered with a powerful roundhouse kick. Though Kaito managed to block the attack, he was still pushed back a few steps.

As the exchange continued, Itachi leaped into the air, attempting a kick that Kaito skillfully evaded. Itachi followed up with a punch that Kaito deftly blocked, launching a retaliatory strike that Itachi narrowly dodged. Their blows and kicks continued to trade back and forth.

In a swift move, Kaito swept Itachi's legs, aiming for an airborne ax kick. However, Itachi's quick reflexes allowed him to roll out of harm's way, leaving Kaito's kick to meet the ground instead. Seizing the opportunity, Itachi struck Kaito's face with a sharp right-hand blow, forcing him back.

Undeterred, Kaito evaded Itachi's subsequent jumping kick, creating some distance between them. The two combatants charged at each other once more, exchanging a flurry of kicks and punches. When Itachi attempted another flying kick, Kaito was ready, catching Itachi's leg and sending him crashing to the ground. Kaito then followed up with a swift kick to Itachi's stomach before executing a successful ax kick.

Itachi, recovering, spat out some saliva and retaliated with a left-footed kick that sent Kaito sprawling. Despite his efforts to regain composure, Kaito pressed on, delivering a relentless series of blows to Itachi's body. The final, powerful kick sent Itachi hurtling backward, landing him on the ground.

As Itachi struggled to rise, Kaito's voice echoed behind him, declaring victory, "I win this round, Itachi." His hand rested near the back of Itachi's neck. Acknowledging his defeat, Itachi nodded, determination in his eyes, "I'll win in the next spar."

With that final exchange, the match came to a close. Both Kaito and Itachi, showing mutual respect, bowed to each other and sealed the moment with a gesture of reconciliation.

After the sparring match, Itachi and Kaito bid their farewells and headed in opposite directions.

Kaito ascended the Hokage monument, gazing down at the sprawling village below. This ritual had become a familiar sanctuary for him since that initial visit with Itachi many months ago. Whenever he sought solace or needed a moment of contemplation, Kaito found himself drawn to this elevated vantage point.

As Kaito peered down at the village below, his thoughts couldn't help but drift back to the events of the past few months. He had just celebrated his fifth birthday a few days ago, and August was drawing to a close.

One significant aspect of these times was the impending arrival of a new member of the Uzumaki clan. His mother, Kushina, was in the final stages of her pregnancy, and everything had progressed smoothly so far.

Kakashi, who had become an anbu under Minato, had been assigned to watch over Kushina, just as he had in the canon timeline. Kaito had sensed Kakashi's presence numerous times during these days, providing him with a sense of reassurance.

However, there was another presence that Kaito had occasionally detected, especially during the times when Kakashi was on watch duty. Try as he might, Kaito couldn't quite pinpoint the identity of this mysterious presence, for it would vanish as soon as he sensed it, leaving him with a lingering sense of curiosity and unease.

Kaito had a hunch about the possible identity of the elusive presence. It seemed likely that either Obito or Zetsu was keeping tabs on Kakashi. As he recalled, Obito had a tendency to spy on Kakashi during this specific period.

In fact, it was through this very means that Obito had discovered the news of Kushina's pregnancy. Recognizing the gravity of the situation, Kaito promptly informed Minato, who assured him that he would be extra vigilant and on guard against any potential threat.

Over the past few months, Kaito had significantly intensified his training in anticipation of Naruto's birth. With Minato assuming the role of the Fourth Hokage, his availability for personal training sessions had diminished. Still, Minato managed to allocate some time each week to spar with Kaito, offering invaluable guidance and insights on areas that required focus.

In the absence of Minato, Kaito dedicated himself to rigorous solo training sessions, occasionally teaming up with Itachi. This arrangement had its merits; while Kaito regretted losing Minato as a primary instructor, he was able to push himself harder without interruptions.

Thanks to his Uzumaki lineage, Kaito experienced swift recoveries after strenuous exercises. Additionally, having Itachi as a regular sparring partner of the same age presented a valuable opportunity for growth. Their ongoing spar record stood at a close 12 to 13, with Kaito recently taking the lead.

Under Minato's tutelage, Kaito delved into ninjutsu basics from the academy curriculum: the Clone Jutsu, Transformation Jutsu, and Substitution Jutsu. With diligent practice, he honed these techniques to the point where he could execute them effortlessly, requiring minimal chakra expenditure and omitting the need for hand signs.

Eager to refine his skills further, Kaito set a personal goal of performing all his jutsu without the need for hand signs, a feat facilitated by his exceptional chakra control.

In his pursuit of excellence, Kaito endeavored to master the Shunshin no Jutsu. It took some persistent effort, including a few days of impressing Minato with his mastery of the academy techniques, before Kaito could confidently employ the body flicker technique. His ambition extended beyond mere proficiency; Kaito sought to integrate the Shunshin no Jutsu seamlessly into his combat style, inspired by the adept utilization of this technique by Minato and Shisui.

Though Kaito did eventually grasp the fundamentals of the Shunshin no Jutsu, achieving a high level of proficiency demanded over a month of relentless practice and dedication.

Despite his dedication, Kaito found that he still required a one-handed seal to perform the Shunshin no Jutsu.

In addition to this, Kaito had achieved a significant milestone by mastering the Smokeless Shunshin no Jutsu. This feat had taken him several months of persistent practice.

Kaito's progress in fuinjutsu had been remarkable. Although he had to temper his training due to Kushina's pregnancy, he had made significant headway. He demonstrated proficiency in crafting high-quality explosion seals, paralysis seals, chakra suppression seals, as well as food storage seals, among others.

As Kaito gazed at the sun's position, he realized it was time to head back home for lunch. He didn't want to keep his mother waiting for him.

With purpose, he stood up and made his way down from the top of the Hokage mountain, heading back to his home.

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