The First Elemental

Adrik woke up breathing heavily, his eyes as wide as dinner plates. He looked around his darkened bedroom and calmed down as he saw nothing was there. Looking over at his new alarm clock, he saw it was only an hour past midnight. He took one more deep breath before getting up and grabbing a change of clothes.

X

Adrik stepped out of his apartment in his usual attire, wrappings and all. He walked down the streets of the Hidden Leaf Village with a lot on his mind. He would occasionally catch glimpses of black shadows moving across the rooftops, which only served to make him more anxious.

His head ached as he felt things that he never had before. The chirping of crickets grated his ears and the smell of smoke clouded his nostrils. He tasted ash and strained his eyes to see in the dark without the help of streetlights. He made his way into an alley behind a random building before he had to sit down against the wall. The pain in his head grew worse as a pressure weighed him down. He shivered as he rested his head in his right hand and crossed his left leg.

"Hey, kid."

Adrik flinched back violently, his eyes snapping wide open. He held out his right hand that was engulfed in a black, smokey, ember-filled mass.

"Woah, hey, hey, hey, I'm not gonna hurt you."

Adrik's eyes refocused as he blinked away the false images that crossed his mind. His eyes adjusted and he made out the features of someone who was presumably a Leaf Ninja. She had purple hair put up in a ponytail that was somewhat similar to Shikamaru's. She wore a tan trench coat and an orange mini skirt with nothing but a fishnet shirt underneath.

Adrik got to his feet quickly and he took a step back. He put his hand down, the ashen substance dissipating in a matter of moments.

"What're you out this late for?"

Adrik took another second to calm himself before speaking as he noticed he was breathing hard.

"I... It was just a nightmare..."

The woman nodded.

"Yeah, I can get that. Everyone has them from time to time, sometimes more often than that. Say, you wouldn't happen to be that new genin, would you? Adrik, right?"

Adrik nodded slightly.

"Well, I'm Anko Mitarashi. Need me to take you back home? The streets can be a little confusing at night."

Adrik shook his head silently.

"Well, too bad. Where's your house? I'm not letting a kid walk out here alone. Especially a kid in the state you're in."

Adrik looked down at himself to see almost unnoticeable wisps of black smoke drifting off of him. He sighed as he simply walked out of the alley. The woman, Anko, took it as her cue to follow along.

"So, what's with that weird smoke stuff?"

Adrik put his hands in his pockets. Anko looked at him, waiting for an answer, but never got one.

"I was off duty when I heard about your case. How are things going for you here in the Leaf?"

"Better."

"Well, that's good. I know our interrogation team can be pretty rough. You wouldn't believe how intense the job interview is."

Adrik shrugged. Anko raised an eyebrow, growing somewhat irritated at the teen's lack of a response.

"You're not too great at talking, huh?"

Adrik simply nodded, making Anko sigh.

"You're no fun."

X

"This the place?"

Anko looked at the building in confusion. She continued after seeing Adrik nod.

"This place doesn't even have a landlord, last I checked. And I could've sworn there was a lot more graffiti on the walls... Or maybe it's just the light..."

"The Hokage is letting me live here. I wanted to clean it since it's where I'm staying."

"Wait, you're cleaning this place?"

Adrik nodded.

"Well, keep working at it, I guess. It doesn't look half bad... I think... I can't really tell, these street lights aren't great. Oh, well. Stay safe, kid."

Anko turned back around and began walking off while waving over her shoulder. Adrik gave a small wave back and turned to head up to his apartment.

His headache from earlier had mostly vanished, allowing him to think much more clearly. He took note all of the different things he was feeling now. The only way he could describe it to himself was like sensing hundreds of signals that were scattered in every direction.

He got into his room and laid down on his bed. He closed his eyes and began focusing on one of these signals he felt. It was in the apartment right next to his. This confirmed his suspicion that these signals he sensed were actually people, as he was completely sure that it was Naruto he was sensing. The only strange thing is that the signal seems to have another one attached to it.

X

"Signals, you say?"

Adrik nodded to the Hokage. The old man leaned back in his chair as he thought. He had allowed the teen into his office, even though it was early enough that the sun had only just started coming up.

"The first thing that comes to mind is that you have somehow gained the ability to sense chakra. But being able to sense someone across the better half of the village when the previous day you had no such ability, it is unheard of. Can you try to describe it further? How does each signal feel?"

Adrik closed his eyes as he tried to think.

"The signals feel like... like orbs of fire. But there's no heat to them... Everyone has a different sized fire. Your fire is bigger than the other fours'."

The Hokage raised an eyebrow.

"Other four?"

Adrik nodded. The Hokage's eyes widened for a second before they narrowed.

"Are those other four in this room?"

The old man continued after Adrik nodded.

"Can you point them out?"

Adrik nodded again. He pointed to the edge of the giant window behind the old man, to his right. He pointed to a bookshelf on the left wall. He pointed to the ceiling towards the back right corner of the room. He pointed to just above the door to the office. The Hokage's eyes grew wider with each location Adrik pointed at.

"Young man..."

Adrik looked back at the old man and grew somewhat nervous at his expression.

"You have just done something many of my best jonin have a hard time accomplishing. Even most of the Hyuga Clan struggle to do that with their Byakugan activated."

Adrik looked down at the ground and the old man steadied himself.

"Ah, I apologize. It is just incredibly surprising. You see, those four signals you felt are the signals of my Anbu guards. They are a special unit selectively trained to perform in the harshest of conditions, both mentally and physically. No mere genin would even hear of their existence, normally. That sensory ability you seemed to have developed is in a class of its own, my boy."

X

Kurenai entered the Hokage's office as she didn't see Adrik in the waiting room. She was surprised when the Hokage walked up to her and gave her a small slip of paper.

"I apologize for putting this on to you, Kurenai, but I believe this happened at the perfect time. Early this morning, Adrik had awoken something that provides an incredible ability to sense chakra. I even have evidence that he can sense through genjutsu, as he was able to sense my Anbu guards."

Kurenai felt as if her eyes couldn't grow any wider.

"I understand this is a lot to take in, but I believe you and your team would be perfect to help him hone this skill."

Kurenai tried to speak but stuttered. She glanced over the Hokage's shoulder at the teen who was sitting in a chair in front of the Hokage's desk.

"I... I guess... I will try my best, Lord Hokage."

The old man nodded to the jonin.

"Good. That paper contains everything I have uncovered based on what the young man has shared."

Kurenai nodded and moved to stand next to Adrik. The teen stood up from his chair.

"Well, are you ready to go?"

The teen nodded and Kurenai put a hand on his shoulder. In an instant, the two disappeared from the office, leaving the Hokage on his own, in a way. He sighed as now he had no excuse to get him out of doing more paperwork.

X

Adrik stumbled and put his hand on his head.

"Ah, I'm sorry. That must have been quite a shock to your system. We can just walk next time if you would prefer that."

Adrik nodded and put his hand back down. He looked around to see they were in another training ground, this one having a small pond at one end of the clearing.

"Good morning, Sensei."

Kurenai turned to her three approaching genin with a small grin.

"Good morning to you three as well. Now, I believe you have all met Adrik, correct?"

The girl with pale eyes shook her head. Kiba nodded along with a toothy smile and the other teen with the small sunglasses and a high collar coat shrugged slightly.

"H-Hello, I'm H-Hinata Hyuga. I-It is a p-pleasure to m-meet you, Adrik."

The girl, Hinata, bowed politely, getting an awkward bow in return as Adrik tried to match her. The other teen held out a hand that Adrik shook.

"Shino Aburame."

The teen, Shino, stepped back to stand a little behind his other two teammates.

"Well, then. Let's get started with today's exercise. Hinata has already learned how to do this, so she will be helping the two of you."

Kurenai nodded to Kiba and Shino.

"It's a chakra control exercise called tree walking, or wall walking. The basic idea is that you channel chakra in your feet and try to maintain a steady flow with each step you take up the surface. Hinata, you can help them, right?"

Hinata nodded with a look of slight surprise.

"O-Of course."

Kurenai nodded.

"Alright, then. You three get to it and I'll check on your progress some time soon."

Kiba gestured towards Adrik.

"What about him?"

"He will join you later. There are some things I need to test him on first."

The three genin nodded and walked over to the edge of the clearing to begin their exercise. Kurenai turned back towards Adrik.

"Now, I was informed by the Hokage that you may be able to see through genjutsu."

Upon seeing Adrik's confusion, she explained.

"Genjutsu is what we call illusionary techniques. They tamper with a target's perception of reality. I happen to be a specialist, so I wanted to see for myself if what the Hokage said was true."

Adrik nodded along.

"I will start with a basic genjutsu that affects what you see. Are you ready?"

Adrik nodded and watched as Kurenai put her hands in a seal. He sensed the signal of the jonin waver slightly, but otherwise couldn't tell if something changed. He blinked once before raising an eyebrow in confusion. Kurenai put her hands down upon seeing his expression.

"Hm... Well, that is to be expected. We'll go through genjutsu for each of the five senses. Are you ready?"

Adrik gave a small nod in response.

X

"What do you think they're doing?"

Kiba looked across the clearing in confusion.

"I-I believe K-Kurenai Sensei is t-testing Adrik's ability t-to withstand genjutsu. Th-They do not a-appear to be a-affecting him, however."

"Really? Can you check with your Byakugan?"

Hinata nodded nervously before putting her hands into a seal. Seconds later, veins bulged around her eyes as they grew a shade more white. She gasped slightly as she stared at the teen next to the jonin.

"H-He doesn't have any chakra..."

Kiba raised his eyebrows in confusion.

"Wait, what?"

"I-I can't see any chakra in him. Th-There is nothing there. S-Sensei's chakra d-disappears the moment it e-enters his body."

Shino hopped down from the branch he sat on, landing next to his two teammates.

"I believe we should inform Kurenai Sensei."

Kiba nodded, still surprised by the revelation.

X

"K-Kurenai Sensei, s-something is wrong!"

Kurenai looked over at her three approaching students with concern. She came to a realization upon seeing the veins around Hinata's eyes.

"If you mean that Adrik lacks chakra, I am well aware."

Shino adjusted his sunglasses.

"I believe Hinata has also discovered that your chakra cannot affect Adrik. It 'disappears' upon coming into contact with him."

Kurenai's eyes widened slightly. She looked at Hinata only to get a nod in return.

"Well, I appreciate you informing me. I believe I know something that will work now."

Kurenai put her hands into another seal. After muttering the word 'Transform', she became engulfed in a cloud of white smoke. The smoke cleared to reveal an indistinct civilian standing in Kurenai's place. Adrik raised an eyebrow at the civilian before closing his eyes. He reopened them after a second of focusing.

"You're still Kurenai."

The civilian went up in a puff of smoke as they detransformed back into Kurenai. The jonin nodded.

"So genjutsu can still affect your perception, but only ones that aren't applied directly onto you. That ability of yours is what allowed you to tell the difference, right?"

Adrik nodded.

"And it seems to be growing stronger since you could tell who I was based solely off of my 'signal' as you have grown accustomed to it."

Adrik nodded again.

"I think we are done with the tests for now. Let's move on to tree walking."

"But he can't do it, Kurenai Sensei. He doesn't have any chakra."

Kurenai nodded to Kiba.

"Yes, but he has his own power that I believe would supplement it. Are you able to use it?"

Kurenai turned back towards Adrik as she asked her question. The teen thought for a second before closing his eyes again to focus. Seconds passed and nothing seemed to happen. The teen reopened his eyes and shook his head with a slightly disappointed glint in his eyes.

"Well, then, consider this a crash course on using your power. You four will go over to the trees and try to walk up them. Adrik, I want you to try and match their progress."

Kurenai noticed the teen grew a little nervous.

"You're still worried about being able to use your power?"

Adrik nodded and looked down at the ground.

"Well, don't be. Your worries will only come true if you let them. Think back to the previous time you used your power. What were you thinking when you used it? What were you feeling? Try to recreate those emotions. Your power should respond the same as it did then."

Kurenai gave Adrik a small pat on the shoulder. The teen looked up from the ground with a spark of determination in his gaze.

"Now, follow along with the three of them. I'll be watching to make sure you're all making progress."

Adrik nodded and followed behind the three genin over to the tree line.

"It's not too bad. Hinata's been a real help. I'm sure she'll figure out something for you, too."

Kiba gave Adrik a grin, which got a nod in return.

"W-Well I'm not s-sure of how much h-help I can provide as you d-don't have chakra, but I w-will try my b-best."

Adrik nodded.

X

Adrik watched as Kiba ran up the tree again, managing to get halfway to the top before falling off. He landed back on the ground safely next to Akamaru who he let out of his jacket. The puppy barked at him as he stood up straight again.

"Yeah, yeah, I know. Take it slow. I'm trying my best, buddy."

Akamaru let out a small growl.

"Hey, hey, what's with the growling? I told you I'm doing my best over here."

Akamaru barked again before sitting back down. Kiba sighed as he turned back towards the tree. Adrik had been watching the three genin go up the trees intently while focusing on their signals. They would occasionally catch glimpses of black smoke trailing from his form as he focused.

What the teen had figured out was that the three genin were constantly sending their chakra to their feet and it was letting them stick to the tree. He knew that his power, even if he could use it, wouldn't function the same way. Even so, he would try his best.

Kiba fell to the ground once again, this time smiling as he made it a few steps further than his previous attempts. Shino and Hinata both watched from the branches they sat on as Adrik stepped up to a tree of his own.

The teen closed his eyes as he tried to recall how his power appeared previously. Each use of it came from a desire. When he needed it, his power would always respond. He needed it now if he ever wanted to match the genin.

Adrik slowly opened his eyes and looked down to see his feet were shrouded by black, embery smoke. He wasted no time in stepping over to the tree and putting his foot on the trunk. He focused for a second before carefully setting his other foot onto the tree. He struggled to maintain his balance as gravity threatened to drag him back down to the ground. He grit his teeth as he stayed perfectly level, even managing to take another step up the tree, much to the amazement of the three genin and their jonin sensei.

Adrik brought his other foot up carefully and tried to take another step. His eyes widened as he lost his concentration and fell to the ground flat on his back.

Kurenai walked over to check on him but stopped herself before she could even get a word out. Adrik stood up with a fierce determination and stepped back onto the trunk of the tree. Everyone was impressed when he managed to make it two steps further than before. The entire time, Adrik was gritting his teeth with his eyes narrowed and staring down at every step he took.

X

"So, his power is much more different from chakra than we first thought."

The Hokage nodded along with Kurenai's point.

"I already knew he was a strong kid, but supporting yourself while walking up a vertical surface without the help of chakra is pretty difficult. Talk about core strength."

Everyone in the room nodded in agreement with Asuma's words.

"The only problem came when we got our mission."

The Hokage nodded as he looked down at a sheet of paper.

"Lack of communication, lack of teamwork, everything that Asuma's team had trouble with. It was even the same mission to catch Tora."

Kurenai nodded and sighed in disappointment. The Hokage set the paper down and crossed his fingers.

"While it is clear that this is a major problem, I suppose I cannot blame the boy."

Kakashi looked up from his book.

"Lord Hokage, what exactly did he go through? From the sound of it, even I wasn't nearly as bad as he is."

The Hokage closed his eyes for a second. He leaned back in his chair and tilted his head up at the ceiling, resting his hands on his stomach. He opened his eyes as he spoke.

"I haven't asked Inoichi to document his findings. I was the only one who he told what happened to. When he did his memory dive, it didn't take long for him to come back out looking as pale as a ghost. I won't go into detail, but what Inoichi saw in that young man's memory can only be described by one word. Torture."

The three jonin's eyes narrowed as they listened, their concern growing.

"That child has gone through things that would make even someone like Orochimaru recoil in disgust. It is a wonder he even remains sane..."

The Hokage looked over to Kakashi.

"He is assigned to your team tomorrow, Kakashi. Keep an eye on him."

Kakashi nodded.

"I'll do my best, Lord Hokage."

The Hokage nodded and gestured towards the three jonin in the room.

"You are dismissed, then. After tomorrow, Adrik will rotate between each of your teams in the same order as now."

They nodded before bowing and leaving the room. The Hokage sighed as he rotated his chair and looked out the window at the setting sun. He frowned as he had a bad feeling about tomorrow.