Shadow Release

"Maple, stay here and don't wander off. I'll come back for you in a while!"

"Yes, Teacher Ootani."

Knowing how important this was, Ootani Yuuto first reassured Hanakei Kaede, then immediately notified the Anbu stationed at the Academy. Through them, he relayed the news that Hanakei Kaede had a very high chance of possessing a Kekkei Genkai to the Third Hokage.

After a long while.

The Third Hokage arrived in a hurry and, led by Ootani Yuuto, met Hanakei Kaede.

"L-Lord Hokage!"

Seeing Hiruzen Sarutobi himself, dressed in the Hokage's Ceremonial Robes, come to see her, Hanakei Kaede was both surprised and uneasy. After all, that "black substance" she had controlled earlier did not actually belong to her...

"I heard from Teacher Ootani that you seem to have awakened a Kekkei Genkai?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi got straight to the point. Anything involving a Kekkei Genkai was no trivial matter, especially when Hanakei Kaede might have awakened one the Shinobi World had never seen before.

"Lord Hokage, I... I don't know..."

Faced with a question from the strongest shinobi in the village, Hanakei Kaede was clearly flustered. Fear filled her eyes, and even her voice trembled slightly.

"Maple, show Lord Hokage the ability you displayed earlier."

Seeing Hanakei Kaede's unease, Ootani spoke gently from the side. Hiruzen Sarutobi's stern expression also gradually softened. After all, the girl before him was merely a civilian child with the aptitude to become a shinobi...

"Mm..."

Hanakei Kaede obediently nodded, then condensed a pitch-black, irregular sphere in her palm. It wriggled about like a living creature.

"A Yin Release Kekkei Genkai..."

Worthy of being called the Professor of Ninjutsu, Hiruzen Sarutobi identified its primary attribute merely by looking at the object in Hanakei Kaede's palm.

"Maple, do you know how to control and use it?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi asked Hanakei Kaede. He had never seen anything as strange as this shadow-like substance before. Since he did not understand this Kekkei Genkai's abilities, he naturally did not dare test it himself.

"Lord Hokage, I can."

Hanakei Kaede nodded. The pitch-black sphere in her palm first transformed into a lifelike black lotus, then into an inky black rose.

"Maple, I mean, what exactly can it do? For example, how would you use it against an enemy?"

Realizing Hanakei Kaede had misunderstood him, Hiruzen Sarutobi clarified.

"Maybe like this..."

Hanakei Kaede understood Hiruzen Sarutobi's meaning. Following her instincts, she controlled the pitch-black sphere in her palm. Under Hiruzen Sarutobi and Ootani Yuuto's watchful eyes, it slowly flowed down from her palm like water, then merged with the shadow beneath her feet, making it noticeably darker.

Seeing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately thought of the Nara Clan's Shadow Secret Technique, though the two seemed vastly different.

"Lord Hokage, I feel like I can use it to control shadows too, like this..."

As Hanakei Kaede spoke, the black shadow beneath her feet slowly rose from the ground. Like flowing water, it gradually gathered into a humanoid figure standing beside her. It was the same size as Hanakei Kaede, but it had no facial features or distinct bodily characteristics.

After appearing, the shadow figure moved under Hanakei Kaede's control, though its movements were somewhat clumsy. Before long, however, fine beads of sweat covered Hanakei Kaede's forehead and face, and exhaustion filled her expression. Then, the shadow figure turned back into a shadow and lay at her feet...

"Lord Hokage, Teacher Ootani, my head... feels so dizzy..."

Hanakei Kaede's vision swam. She managed to say that before collapsing, but Ootani Yuuto caught her in time, preventing her from falling to the ground.

"Lord Hokage, Maple, she..."

Ootani Yuuto looked worriedly at Hanakei Kaede in his arms, then turned to Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Don't worry. Maple merely overexerted herself using her Kekkei Genkai. She'll be fine after resting for a while."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's words put Ootani Yuuto at ease.

"Mm."

Only then did Ootani Yuuto relax.

"Maple's Kekkei Genkai is somewhat similar to the Nara Clan's Shadow Secret Technique. Let us call it Shadow Release for now."

Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke to Ootani Yuuto.

"Yes."

Ootani Yuuto nodded.

"Maple is still too young to use Shadow Release continuously. Otherwise, it will place an enormous burden on her body... From now on, keep a close eye on her. Do not allow her to overuse Shadow Release, lest it leave lasting problems..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi continued instructing Ootani Yuuto. She was a promising talent of the village. He had to make sure she grew properly and never died young.

"Lord Hokage, I understand."

Ootani Yuuto responded. Even without Hiruzen Sarutobi's instruction, he would have done everything in his power to watch over and care for Hanakei Kaede. It was not only because she had awakened Shadow Release, but because she was also his favorite student...

"...Then I'll be leaving. Oh, and... don't let word of this spread for now."

After giving a few more instructions, Hiruzen Sarutobi finally left.

Once Hiruzen Sarutobi had gone, Ootani Yuuto placed the unconscious Hanakei Kaede on his lounge chair for midday breaks and thoughtfully covered her with a thin blanket.

"No wonder this child seemed off today. So it was because she awakened Shadow Release..."

Ootani Yuuto carefully wiped the fine sweat from Hanakei Kaede's face and forehead, then muttered to himself.

"Perhaps with Shadow Release, you might be able to catch up to Akeshi and Yuzuru someday..."

A dull day of classes at the Academy finally came to an end. What surprised Akeshi, however, was that Hanakei Kaede had not returned since going to Ootani Yuuto's homeroom office. She had skipped class all the way until school was over...

"Hey, aren't you worried about Hanakei Kaede?"

Akeshi nudged Yuzuru with her elbow and asked with a frown. Although quite a few girls in class were attracted by Yuzuru's mysterious aura, only Hanakei Kaede had bravely taken that step and formed an indescribable bond with him.

"She's in good condition right now."

Yuzuru glanced at Akeshi, then smiled. It was the first time he had smiled in front of her, leaving her momentarily stunned. His smile seemed strangely infectious, like spring sunlight. It made one feel warm and instinctively want to draw closer to him...

"Did you use genjutsu on me just now?"

Akeshi suddenly snapped back to her senses and instantly moved away from Yuzuru, her face full of confusion. The thought she had just had was far too embarrassing!

"Idiot."

In response to Akeshi's suspicion, Yuzuru immediately withdrew his smile and returned to his usual indifferent expression. His simple reply shattered Akeshi's composure once again.

"Go die, you bastard!"