"What's that?" Kajirama asked the shopkeeper.
The object Kajirama was pointing at was a katana, however, it was much smaller in length than one. It was around fifty-five cm long, a black tsuka[handle], it's tsuba[guard] was a small circular gray material that made it look sleek, it has a golden habaki[blade collar] and the blade was shining with a metallic sheen whenever brightness was upon it. Lastly, the saya[scabbard] was made of wood that was painted with a brownish-black gloss.
"Oh this, this is something that I bought with me when I traveled from Tetsu no Kuni[Land of Iron] to resupply. This is a Katana, called the ō-wakizashi. It is the go-to weapon for shinobis that fancy the art of Kenjutsu[Sword technique]. The wakizashis I bought from that place are top-notch, after all, Tetsu no Kuni were famous for their blacksmith's forging capabilities. Additionally, like their blacksmiths, the products I got from them are also made from their signature material - chakra metal."
"Chakra metal?" Kajirama asked, he found it familiar, but not quite remembering what it was.
"It is a metal that allows chakra to run through it, so that it makes the movement with the weapon enhanced by some degree, or mainly stronger than just using it normally." Hiruzen informed from the side, as Kajirama and Asuma marveled at it. "With your age, it is also the best time for you to begin training on the art. A wakizashi are normally paired with a katana, as you grow older and taller, you can still use the wakizashi while practicing the katana or some other weapon to pair it with, like a bo-staff, a whip or a throwing weapon, like senbon and kunai."
Bingo!
That got Kajirama interested almost immediately. He took the ō-wakizashi in his left hand, he held it and swung it through the air a little with difficulty since it was very heavy. He looked it over and had to admit it was a beautiful weapon and from what he had read, Kenjutsu was a major area of being a shinobi.
"I want this weapon, Ojī-san." Kajirama said in absolute conviction.
"Are you sure Kajirama-kun?" Hiruzen asked, nevertheless, he nodded approvingly at the choice of weapon he decided.
"Yeah, I want it." Kajirama nodded his head.
"If you are sure, then give me that ō-wakizashi, shopkeeper. Both of you, stay here while I sort out the payment."
"Right this way, Hokage-sama."
Kajirama and Asuma nodded their heads, and then began playing with their own respective new toy.
...
-A few days later-
This time, Kajirama wasn't training in their backyard, but at the training ground that was within their clan compound. Asuma wasn't around him since the Sarutobi child had run off towards the forest to train by himself.
"How is the chakra control exercise going along, Kaji-chan?" Biwako asked from her seat as she looked over the white-haired grandson of his, who was sitting on the ground.
Kajirama had five leaves on his hand, currently trying to balance the leaves on the end of his every fingertips by only using his chakra. They were once again amazed at his resourcefulness, she and Hiruzen were startled when both of them saw their grandson training this method, even though it was a common thing to learn as it would be taught in the academy, they didn't expect the child to take the initiative on independently learning it on his own.
"It's coming along okay Obā-chan. I think I almost got it." He said from his place on the ground as he shakily balanced the five leaves on the tip of his fingers.
Biwako leaned in to take a good look and a small look on her face that showed she was impressed. She couldn't help but feel a little amazed that despite how young he was and how considerable his chakra was at his age, Kajirama had surprisingly good chakra control and learned at a very quick pace.
He was eager to learn and loved anything that was shinobi related. Plus he was always full of questions which Biwako knew to be a good quality since the best way to learn was to ask questions and ask for help which Kajirama and her son, Asuma, had no problem in doing.
She had been teaching them for almost a half a month and had mainly taught him bits of history on the leaf along with its clans, taught him more about chakra and over the past few days added on basic kenjutsu katas along with his taijutsu katas, Kajirama now had a the basic understanding of it, splendid for a five-year old.
"That's very good Kaji-chan. Your control is very good. Your parents would be very proud." She said, but once she finished, she instantly regretted it. They didn't keep his parents' identity a secret from Kajirama, besides, it isn't much of a secret anyways as the people in Konoha had already known of it. The problem was, he hadn't met both of them, since the mother was dead and the other was busy on a mission.
"I guess." Kajirama responded with a half-smile that was not full of the usual cheeriness that he usually carried. One that Biwako had recognized. She revealed a sad look as she knew of the child's longing for his parents.
"Do you think... Otō-san would come back on my birthday, Obā-chan?" Kajirama flashed a casual smile, but she perceived more than that, as she saw the bitterness and yearning in his pupils.
She didn't know how to reply as even she has no clue on when Jiraiya might come back in the village. She should ask her husband about it later, but for now, she answered her grandchild in uncertainty. "I don't know, Kaji-chan... Your Otō-san's busy, but he might..."
"I see..." Kajirama simply responded, once again focusing on his training.
Which made Biwako frown, deciding on making it up to him since it was her words that started it, she said:
"Let's take a break Kaji-chan. You have done very well today, it wouldn't take long before you would get that D-rank jutsu your Ojī-san promised you over a week ago. I think you have earned yourself a little treat for today."
Kajirama's face seemed to brighten at the word treat and let the leaves drop from his fingers tip and float to the ground.
"We will wait for Asuma to return first and then how about we all get some ice cream since it is quite warm today. Does that sound good?" She asked as Kajirama quickly nodded his head in agreement. They waited for a couple of minutes before Asuma eventually returned with dirt and sweat all over him, and he stinks, which earned him a raised brow from Biwako.
"What happened to you, little Ojiī-san?" Kajirama asked curiously.
"I don't wanna talk about it."
"C'mon, tell me."
"I said it, no."
"Awwwww, come on!"
"Alright you two, let's return for a quick shower first before going to buy ice cream."
"Yay!" Both Kajirama and Asuma cheered.
...
She took their hand in hers and together walked towards their house.
They talked a little as they made their way towards their home with Kajirama and Asuma once again asking questions about Biwako's past as a shinobi. Ever since Hiruzen commented on how she used to be a strong kunoichi, they had asked many questions over time about why she retired and what kind of abilities and her specialties were.
She answered every single question they had with a reminiscing smile, although she left out the darkest parts of a shinobi life.
'I want to make sure both these children are prepared for the life of a shinobi as best as I can, to prevent some situation which they would eventually experience.'
Some of the civilians and shinobi they passed gave a small wave to the three and greeted them warmly since the village had all but loved Kajirama and Asuma the moment they were brought into the world.
As they approached their household, they saw Kashin just exiting the door.
"Hi Onii-san/big Ojiī-san." Both the children called with a bright look on their faces and walked up to him as the older child looked at their approaching figures giving them a brotherly smile.
"Hello both of you. How was your training with Okā-chan?" He asked as he checked his backpack that was strapped on his shoulder, if he had everything he needed for his own training for today.
"It's going great. I can balance five leaves on my fingers now."
"Mine too! My rock throws are getting better."
"That's great, keep it up, okay? Don't make Okā-san worry and stay out of trouble." He reminded the two as he ruffled their hair.
"Stop that!"
"Oy!"
The two let out an annoyed response which Kashin merely chuckled at them.
"So where are you going?" Biwako asked as she noticed how her son was all geared up with his pair of kunai and shuriken pouches, which she guessed was filled.
"I'm taking some training with my friends at the academy." Kashin informed.
"You should go now then, you shouldn't let them wait."
"I won't, Obā-chan." He then departed after a quick goodbye to his nephew, brother and mother.
After getting themselves clean, Kajirama and Asuma clutched each of Biwako's hands as they walked into the center of the village to get some ice cream.
Twenty minutes later the two walked out of the ice cream shop with Biwako licking a mint chocolate chip ice cone while Kajirama and Asuma had white chocolate and soba flavor respectively. He was devouring it rather quickly.
"Slow down Kaji-chan or you will give yourself a brain freeze." She chided a little though tried not to laugh when she saw Asuma had got ice cream on the tip of his nose.
Biwako looked over to Kajirama, the boy wasn't eating his ice cream, when she was about to ask, she noticed his gaze was focused on a family of a father, mother along with their son, having ice cream like they had. She frowned in sympathy once again as she understood what Kajirama was feeling.
...
-The next morning-
Standing on the same training ground, Kajirama and Biwako stood against each other.
Biwako was still guilt stricken on making Kajirama downcast yesterday, so she decided that today would be the day she would begin teaching him the D-rank jutsu Hiruzen had promised some time ago.
"Before I teach you a jutsu, Kaji-chan. I gotta test something from you first before I decide which jutsu would be appropriate to show you."
Biwako eyed Kajirama critically once, before pulling out a piece of paper from one of her pouches. She beckoned him closer and showed it to Kajirama. Kajirama studied the piece of paper in her hand and a small smile crept across her face. It was just a small slip of paper that was completely blank on both sides.
"Kajirama-kun, this is called chakra paper. Do you know what it does?" She asked.
Kajirama nodded indicating that he knew exactly what it was. "It identifies the elemental affinity one has in an individual's chakra. If it turns to dust then I will have earth affinity, if it becomes soggy it will indicate water affinity. Likewise, it will crinkle for lightning, burn to ashes for fire and split into two for wind."
"I see that you have been learning about it." Biwako spoke with a smile, her voice carrying a mild tone of praise causing Kajirama to rub the back of his head with a blush.
"Then, inject your chakra. Let's see what your affinity is." Biwako said presenting the paper to her grandchild.
He carefully injected his chakra into the slip of paper, Kajirama watched in fascination as they got their answer; On one half, the slip of paper set alight, while on the other half it was cut into two smaller pieces.
So, fire and wind then. Kajirama exhaled the breath he had been holding in for a long time and looked at Biwako in anticipation. She eyed him for a while and let out a chuckle shaking her head in exasperation.
"Two affinities, huh? The fire release was sort of what I expected, coming from Anzu-chan being a Sarutobi and Jiraya's fire affinity." Biwako said with a fond smile on his face. "I wasn't expecting the wind release, however. Truly unexpected."
Kajirama got jumpy on the ground he stood. Hearing his grandmother's words, he wasn't sure what to feel. Should he be happy or disappointed?
Fortunately, Biwako's next words got him out of his small agitated turmoil.
"Listen well Kaji-chan. Fire Release is almost always used offensively, typically by kneading chakra in the body into flames that the user breathes from the mouth, and the element is commonly affiliated with the Tiger Hand Seal. Fire can be shaped or otherwise manipulated, but exerting such control requires careful skill, which is where chakra control comes to play. It can also be combined with your wind release affinity to augment the damage it causes." Biwako paused before continuing. "Which means, you are more inclined to become a combat-oriented shinobi."
Kajirama mull over it for a moment, from what his grandmother's words contain, he could only understand that it was an amazing thing. So he flashed an elated grin. "Fire and Wind. I'll get so strong if I master them one day, aren't I right Obā-chan?"
"Of course." Biwako smiled, before she cleared her throat and proceeded to the teaching part.
"Well, I am primarily a fire release user like the majority of our clan, even though we aren't as much of a pyromaniac as the Uchiha Clan, we are still nearly as skilled." She said in a light tone. "So I do know a 'few' fire release techniques."
Kajirama's eyes visibly brightened at that.
"But, you are not yet ready to learn them, unfortunately. As per your agreement with your Ojī-san, either he or I will teach you one D-rank jutsu. However, since I don't know of any D-rank fire releases... How about I teach you a C-rank ninjutsu instead."
When she finished saying her words, she looked over her grandchild's face, only to see it slowly morphing into one of disbelief and exhilaration.
"Really, Obā-chan!?!"
"Yup."
As soon as she confirmed it, and as soon as her words left her mouth, Kajirama tackled her into a bear hug.
"You're the best, Obā-chan! I love you!" Kajirama exclaimed happily as he reached over and kissed Biwako on the cheeks fervently.
Biwako chuckled softly as he ruffled Kajirama's white hair. "Yes, I am and you better remember that, Kajirama-chan."
"Now then, let's get started. The ninjutsu I'll be teaching you will be..."
------
| It seemed like many of you expected Kajirama to choose a bo-staff to pursue on the art of Bōjutsu. I apologize for those expectations I let down. |