Becoming a Disciple

Senju Arashi was disappointed to hear that it would take three years, but since a master of Sealing Jutsu had said so, there was nothing she could do about it.

"Besides, this process has to be repeated many times. Once a month would be best. Would you rather stay here in the Land of Whirlpools, or come here once a month?" Uzumaki Ayako added.

Qiancao looked to Wuming for her opinion, and everyone followed his gaze.

Under their watchful eyes, Wuming said firmly, "As long as I'm with you, Qiancao, I don't care where I go."

Ayako and Seiichiro were surprised to hear this. They could sense the immense power within Wuming, while Qiancao's unsteady steps showed he was still a beginner.

It was rare in the shinobi world for the strong to attach themselves to the weak. The only example they could think of was the relationship between the daimyō and the shinobi in various lands.

Could Qiancao be rich? Ayako wondered.

Qiancao straightened up and said solemnly to Ayako, "Miss Uzumaki, may I ask you for something?"

Amused by his grown-up act, Ayako put away her smile and replied seriously, "Just ask. Arashi's friends are my friends."

"If it's within my power, I'll do my best to help."

Qiancao rose from his cushion, stood straight, then bowed at a ninety-degree angle. "Miss Uzumaki, please take me as your disciple!"

Ayako hadn't expected him to ask that and instinctively turned him down. "I've never taught a disciple before. Won't I hinder your growth?"

Senju Arashi came over and rested a hand on her aunt's shoulder, encouraging her. "As the saying goes, 'The first time is unfamiliar; the second time is easy.' You've never been a master before, but Qiancao's never been a disciple either!"

"Besides, weren't you always saying you were bored and wanted me to find you something to do?"

"Cough! Cough! Cough!" Ayako choked when Senju Arashi revealed the private letters they'd exchanged.

In front of others, she always seemed elegant, aloof, and composed. In truth, she envied the carefree way Senju Arashi lived.

So she only let her true nature show a little in private, around Senju Arashi, who was close to her in age. She hadn't expected the girl to show her so little consideration.

Knowing she'd let something slip, Senju Arashi didn't dwell on it. Instead, she told Ayako again about Qiancao and Wuming's tragic backgrounds, then added, "These two children have no family or home now. But if you took them in for no reason, I'm afraid they wouldn't be the type to accept such a great favor without giving anything in return."

"Why not take him as your disciple? Then he can repay you as your student. Wouldn't that be perfect?"

Ayako rolled her eyes when Senju Arashi called her an old woman, but the idea of taking a disciple had already won her over.

The Uzumaki Clan had few members, and most of them were old men and women. There were hardly any people her own age.

She had trained in Sealing Jutsu under the clan elders since childhood. After coming of age, she had become responsible for guarding the Uzumaki Clan's seals and had never left the Land of Whirlpools.

She hadn't made her first friend until Senju Arashi turned twelve.

After hearing the two Uchiha children's story, Ayako felt a desire to protect them rise from the depths of her heart.

Ayako slipped free of Senju Arashi, who had been massaging her shoulders, and walked up to Qiancao, who was still bowing. In a stern voice, she said, "My lessons are very strict. If you want me as your master, you'd better be prepared to endure hardship."

Lately, Qiancao had been pushed forward by one troubling event after another, and his desire to grow stronger had never been greater. Ayako's strict demands were exactly what he wanted.

He straightened up and smiled at her. "I won't let you down, Master!"

But when he tried to bow again, Ayako stopped him, placing her hands on his shoulders and making him look at her.

Up close, he was even more stunned by her exquisite beauty. Even the carefully edited photos from his previous life couldn't compare.

"I don't like all that ceremony." Ayako let go of Qiancao's shoulders and allowed him to stand straight. "Just don't defy me from now on."

Ayako looked at Qiancao. He was still young and a little skinny, but after a month of ups and downs, he already had a hint of maturity and handsomeness about him.

The more she looked at her first disciple, the more she liked him. Before she knew it, Ayako had taken out a pendant and handed it to Qiancao.

Senju Arashi let out a loud protest. "Hey, hey, hey! I've asked you for that pendant so many times!"

Ayako ignored her and spoke gently to Qiancao. "I have nothing else prepared for you on such short notice, so take this pendant."

Qiancao examined it in his hand. A translucent piece of jade hung from a fine cord. It was clearly worth a fortune.

"This is too valuable," Qiancao said, trying to refuse it. "We're already so happy that you've taken us in. We can't accept something so precious."

Ayako smiled. "The pendant itself isn't worth much, but it contains a clever ninjutsu mechanism. If you channel chakra into it, it'll resonate with the Resonance Stone here in the Land of Whirlpools. No matter how far apart they are, the two can be used to communicate."

"This was the first ninja tool I designed, back when I came of age. It means a lot to me, and I'd always planned to give it to my own disciple."

Senju Arashi encouraged him too. "That's right, take it. I was only joking earlier!"

Only then did Qiancao put the pendant around his neck. "In that case, thank you, Master!"

Ayako smiled in satisfaction and called for the attendants outside to prepare another round of dishes.

This time, the meal was even more lavish, with several bottles of fine liquor as well. Everyone ate and drank in the cabin, and they grew much closer.

Wuming watched Qiancao chatting and laughing with Ayako, Senju Arashi, and Seiichiro. She was happy for him, yet somehow felt a little sad too.

Seiichiro looked burly, but he had the weakest tolerance for alcohol of them all. After just one cup, he collapsed onto the table and passed out.

Ayako, seated at the head of the table, mocked him. "He still goes down just as easily. Someone, take him away!"

She looked every bit the old drunkard, and Qiancao couldn't help feeling a little worried about what his own future might hold.

Senju Arashi and Ayako both insisted that the children not drink. The two of them kept raising their cups to each other until they both drank too much, slumped over in their seats, and fell asleep.

Only then did Qiancao realize that Wuming had slipped out of the cabin at some point.

Qiancao went out onto the deck to look for her. He circled around to the other side of the ship and found her standing by the railing, lost in thought.

His heart stirred. He came up behind Wuming and hugged her, asking, "What's wrong? You've seemed unhappy for a while now."