Under the morning light, a pair sparred inside the inner courtyard of the Uzumaki Compound, their long red hair waving with every movement, and the constant thuds to their clash boomed around them.
Karin was not going easy even if it was just a spar, but it seemed that no matter what she tried, she failed to get past her brother's defence.
Things changed, however, and they changed in her favour.
Suddenly, a smirk crossed her lips as she changed her movements, catching Enma by surprise. Her stance became a little feral, and she slashed him with a claw after sweeping her leg in a low lick.
When he grabbed her hand, she bent her elbow, and jumped up, targeting his head with her knee, and when he blocked it, she shifted her weight mid-air and flung him over her.
Enma landed on his feet and stabilised himself after somersaulting, just in time for her new assault, and he could hear Hiyori and Arashi cheering for their older sister.
The Uzumaki Heir was again caught off guard when she displayed another feral Taijutsu move. He noticed that she was much lighter on her feet compared to what he remembered her to be, and she was fast, very fast now that she had removed her weight seals.
At one point, she managed to catch him off-guard by grabbing his hand, but instead of flinging him, she pulled him to her and then embedded her knee into his abdomen, knocking the breath out of his lungs.
"Not bad." He chuckled as he straightened his back and ate the pain, but she quickly bowed to him, refusing to continue, and rushed to her little siblings to celebrate her victory.
His brow twitched at her behaviour, but then he just sighed and accepted his loss, which pleased her a lot.
The four of them quickly freshened up and gathered around the chabudai before their mother could come looking for them.
They happily ate their breakfast and then gave Himari a hug before they rushed to their rooms to get ready for the day.
Karin had to rendezvous with her Team, and Enma had promised Hiyori that he would drop her and Arashi off at the Academy today.
His little siblings were in no rush as they enjoyed the tweeting of the birds in the forest, and then stopped for a while on the bridge to look at the red fish that was flowing through the river.
Even with their leisure walk, they managed to reach their destination in time, and Hanabi and Hinoko were waiting for the little Uzumaki Princess at the gate. Yurito too was standing there, waiting for Arashi, and only a minute later, Akita and Chanmaru came rushing towards them, and she politely bowed to Enma.
The Uzumaki Heir patted her head and gave her pup some love too, and then waved the kids goodbye as they rushed in to get to their classes.
When Enma sensed them take their seats, he used the Lightning Flicker Technique and disappeared, leaving behind a bolt, and appeared right behind Anko, who was talking to her Team.
"Well, well, look who's here. My estranged student." She playfully said and wrapped her around around his neck, holding him under her shoulder as she grinned.
"I am still your student, Anko-sensei..."
"Sensei? It's Senpai now, Gaki." She tightened her arm, nearly suffocating him.
"Yes, yes, Anko-senpai."
"Good." She let him go and ruffled his hair, and their interaction made Mito laugh.
"What are your plans for the day?" He curiously asked them, and Anko pouted.
"You should have asked that yesterday. Hokage-sama gave us a mission, and I am leaving with Karin, Shizuka, Ino, and Shikamaru for Suna in an hour."
"What?" The Senju was shocked. "Why not me?!"
"Because you are a Genin, and the Five of us are heading there to discuss the arrangements for the Second Stage of the Chunin Exams that will be held in Suna. You cannot know the details of the Exams before they start," The Hebi-sensei informed her, much to her indignation.
"What am I supposed to do then?" She pouted.
"Do whatever you want." Anko shrugged and then glanced to the right, where Shikamaru and Ino were coming from.
The Yamanaka immediately rushed up and jumped in Enma's arms, giving him a kiss on his cheek, and then she greeted her friends.
"You are coming with us?" Shikamaru asked him when they shared a hug.
"No. I am on a break." He shook his head, and Ino pouted at his words.
"Where's Choji?" Mito asked, and the Nara shrugged.
"Asuma-sensei took him out of the village to train him. I don't know where they have gone."
"This is not fair..." she complained, but then her eyes glinted as she grinned. "Good! You will train me until they return!" She said to Enma, but the Uzumaki shook his head.
"Hokage-sama gave me a break."
"Come on!"
"Nope."
"Hmph! I am going to talk to Mama and make her order you to train me." She vowed and quickly rushed towards the Hokage Tower.
"Enjoy your time, Gaki," Anko smirked at his misfortune, and he sighed as he knew that Mito was going to pester the life out of him these days.
He went to see them off at the gate and then walked towards the land that had been given to the Tsuchigumo Clan.
The constructions of their district were already underway, and the Chunins in charge of the projects bowed to him when he came over and gave him a brief report.
Enma then headed towards the Konoha Hospital, and even though he was not planning on doing it, Shizune dragged him with her to the class where a few aspiring Medical-Nin were present, including Sakura and Hana, who were surprised to see him there.
Other than the two, there was Uchiha Tajima in the class, who was Neji's classmate from the Academy, and now a member of the Konoha Police Force. And surprisingly, Neji and Hinata were in the class as well, and so was Tokuma.
"They possess very good Chakra Control and passed the initial test early in the morning," Shizune guessed his thoughts and informed him.
She then introduced the rest of the students to him, who were Oyone, Sukui, and Hakui. The three of them were from civilian backgrounds, and they were three of the finest students at the Konoha Hospital right now. All three were aspiring Medical-Nin, and they were determined to prove themselves.
Shizune informed him that he did not have much to do.
He only needed to keep a check on the flow of their Chakras and tell them what they were doing wrong, and she was the one who was going to do all the teaching.
It was simple enough, and he agreed, which she was very grateful for.
Shizune gave all the students different tasks, depending on their medical knowledge and skills, and then started guiding them through the processes.
Enma smiled when he sensed how diligent she was when she took responsibility as a teacher, and he did help her out and guided the students whilst she was busy with the others.
Seeing how focused and how well everyone was performing, she delayed the lunch break, and the class ended when the clock hit 3 pm.
All of the students, old and new, learned a lot today, and with Enma's help, who kept telling them about what they were doing wrong with their Chakra Flow, they understood the key details of the techniques very quickly.
Shizune then dismissed the class and happily locked her arm around his as she took him to the cafeteria to treat him to lunch.
"With your help, we can cut their Training Time in half. Should I talk to Tsunade-sama to give you a permanent job at the hospital?" She grinned.
"You know I am not your traditional Medical-Nin. I am only an expert in my Clan's Healing Techniques and Jutsus..."
"Don't lie to me." She smiled when she heard him sigh. "Fine. I won't push the matter, but if you have some free days, please come and help me out here."
"Okay."
She was very happy when he agreed to it, and then instead of leading him to the cafeteria, she took him out to a restaurant.
Enma did not make her spend a lot, just a decent and sumptuous lunch, and then he accompanied her to the Hokage Tower, where she had to give her Master the report of today's class.
He did not go inside with her, and when he was about to leave, he sighed and stopped.
"Yes, Uma?" He asked the Anbu who had appearing behind him.
"Hokage-sama has called for you, Enma-san."
"I see." He turned around and walked into the Hokage Tower, and then took the stairs to get to her office.
"Come in." He heard her voice when he knocked once, and then entered the room and bowed to her.
Tsunade kept listening to Shizune's report, and the third lady in the room, who was Mito, was grinning at him as she leaned against the wall on the side.
"Enma."
"Yes, Hokage-sama?"
"You will be training and accompanying my daughter until Team 5 returns to the Village from their mission in Suna."
He sighed.
"I would much rather take a permanent job at the Konoha Hospital, Hokage-sama."
Her lips twitched at his words, and Shizune too held back her giggle.
Mito, however, narrowed her eyes at him, but surprisingly, she kept quiet.
"It's an order."
He sighed again and nodded his head.
"Yes, Hokage-sama." He accepted the task.
"Good. And you will give me an honest report about her behaviour before she is allowed to rejoin Team 5."
"Yes." He nodded and in his mind, he was very curious about the deal Tsunade had made with her daughter to make her behave so obediently.
"Also, you will take her daily to the Konoha Hospital, and both of you will be helping Shizune out in the class for the next one week."
"My break?" He frowned.
"It's over." She straightforwardly said, and Mito proudly smirked at those words.
"I would like to submit a sick leave, Hokage-sama. Lately, I have been feeling...."
"Rejected."
He took a deep breath and exhaled.
"Fine."
Tsunade nodded her head and then smiled.
"She will follow your schedule, and your plans. Not the other way round, but you must focus on her Training and not forget about your job at the Konoha Hospital for the next week."
"Understood."
"Go."
Enma bowed to her and then nodded to Mito before leaving the office.
When they came out of the Hokage Tower, she was happily skipping by his side.
"Why do you hate me?" She asked, and he chuckled.
"I don't hate you."
"Why do you dislike me?"
"I don't dislike you."
"Why do you want to ignore me?" She asked again, and he sighed.
"You are annoying," He straightforwardly answered.
"So, you don't care about me?"
"I do."
"Oh. Why?" She asked, brightly smiling at him.
"Because I think of you as my sister." He said, and then grabbed her nose and pinched it. "An annoying little sister."
"I am older than you."
"No. You are a month younger than me."
"We are the same age then."
"No. I am older."
"You are annoying."
"No, you are annoying..."
The people on the street watched the two of them bicker, but neither paid attention to anyone.
"Where are we going?" She asked, but they soon came to a stop outside the Academy.
Hiyori and her friends were waiting for him, and his little sister jumped right into his arms and gave him a kiss on his cheek.
"Arashi left early with Yurito and Akita," she informed him, and he nodded to her. "Mito!" He little Princess cheerfully greeted the Senju and then made her pick her up in her arms.
After they dropped Hanabi and Hinoko at their compounds, they walked towards the Uzumaki District.
Mito was very upset with him when he led her to his compound but then entered his room and went straight to bed.
She, however, was soon playing around with Hiyori, and the little Princess took her out to explore the District in the evening.
When they returned, she enjoyed the delicious meal Himari had prepared for them, and then happily settled into the room that the Uzumaki Lady gave her.