White Dragon Hidden in The Leaves

After we returned, we had to report to the Hokage's office about the ninjas we had encountered and defeated. As Izumi was describing what had happened, I couldn't help but notice the piles of unfinished paperwork in the room. It was evident that the Hokage was overworked, and the other leaders of the village didn't seem to be doing much to assist.

You would think they would have some type of help but there was none. and the fact he had to listen to our report made it worse. This was something anyone else could handle. yeah, I didn't want to become Hokage it seemed like more of a pain than anything else. After finishing our report we had received our pay and had gone our separate ways for the night.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm, orange glow over the village, the silver crescent of the moon had already begun its ascent into the darkening sky. The village, shrouded in the gentle embrace of twilight, was starting to quiet down. Shopkeepers were shuttering their stores, leaving only a few dimly lit stalls open. Despite the dwindling light, I managed to resupply my ninja tools and even bought some bat-shaped ninja throwing stars. Maybe I should consider buying myself a weapon, something that could help me become more dangerous.

As I strolled through the village, I couldn't help but notice the soft and warm glow of paper lanterns suspended overhead. The streets were bustling with the sounds of villagers going about their daily activities. Suddenly, my stomach growled, drawing unwanted attention from passersby. Feeling embarrassed, I decided to head to Ichi Ramen for a few bowls of their hearty ramen. I could truly understand why Naruto and Itachi liked the place so much, the food was really good.

The next Day.

The Hidden Leaf village was bathed in the warm rays of the rising sun, signaling the start of a new day. I had been waiting for Izumi outside the mission assignment office, snacking on an apple, when she finally arrived.

"Are you ready for our next set of missions?" asked Izumi in her calm and gentle voice.

"Yes," I replied with a smile, taking the last bite of my apple.

As we stepped into the office, I noticed a stern Chunin sitting at the desk, who looked up from his paperwork with a furrowed brow. He appeared extremely tired, and without any words of encouragement or explanation, he handed over a stack of E-rank mission scrolls to us.

"Thank you," Izumi politely acknowledged as she received the scrolls.

As I glanced over the scrolls, a grimace formed on my face. E-rank missions were typically low-priority and straightforward tasks - not exactly the kind of work I enjoyed doing. However, I didn't have the option to choose my assignments, and I understood that completing these missions would only increase my chances of receiving a higher recommendation for the chunin exams.

"Let's get started, then," I said, trying to conceal my disappointment. I took a deep breath and prepared myself for the day ahead. As we walked, an idea came to mind.

"Hey, Izumi," I said, struck by an ambitious idea. "Why don't we use my shadow clones to complete all these missions at the same time? This way, we can save time and help more villagers."

Izumi smiled in agreement. "That sounds like a fantastic plan, Ayumi! It's a good way of thinking outside the box," she said, filling me with warmth and reassurance.

"Alright, let's do it!" With renewed vigor, I focused my chakra, feeling it pulsate through my veins, preparing to summon my shadow clones. I brought two of my fingers together and shouted, "Shadow clone jutsu!"

In an instant, 7 identical versions of myself appeared before us in a puff of smoke. I handed each clone a scroll and watched as their eyes scanned the contents, nodding in understanding. With a shared grin, we set off in different directions, determined to prove ourselves and make the most of this day.

The morning sun shone warmly upon us as I turned to Izumi, my heart pounding with excitement. "Okay, let's split up and meet back here when we're done. You take the east side of the village, and I'll cover the west," I said.

"Got it," Izumi replied with a glint in her eye. With a quick nod, we parted ways, each eager to see our plan come to fruition.

As I sprinted through the bustling streets, the scent of fresh produce and savory street food filled my nostrils. Villagers bustled about their daily tasks, barely taking notice of me as I jumped from rooftop to rooftop. I was using my flicker step all the while, trying to improve it more.

The first clone arrived at its destination, an elderly couple's home that was in need of some repairs. Although the clone was a bit annoyed, she was determined to complete the mission. The old man greeted her skeptically, raising his eyebrows at the sight of a young female ninja. However, she simply smiled, rolled up her sleeves, and got to work.

"Please hand me that hammer," she politely requested, reaching for the tool as she began mending the broken fence. The old woman watched as the clone hammered each nail, her movements quick. After an hour, the once-dilapidated fence stood tall and sturdy.

"Thank you so much, dear," the old woman said, her voice filled with gratitude. "We never expected someone so...efficient."

"Of course," my clone replied with a grin, satisfied with her handiwork. "I'm happy to help."

Meanwhile, another of my clones found herself at the village marketplace, assisting a local vendor with organizing his produce. As she carefully arranged the fruits and vegetables, her keen eyes spotted the tiniest imperfections, ensuring only the best quality products were displayed. Still, some of the villagers looked at her with dislike still believing her to be the daughter of that snake traitor Orochimaru.

"Your work is exceptional," the vendor marveled, unable to hide his admiration. "I've never seen anyone handle my merchandise with such precision before." Given she had helped her mother in her life on earth when they used to live in Japan this much wasn't all that hard to do.

"Thank you," my clone replied, cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "Just doing my best to help the village."

In another part of the village, a third clone was hard at work cleaning the buildings, diligently scrubbing every inch until it sparkled like new. The gathered villagers watched in awe as she worked tirelessly, her movements fluid and efficient. They whispered amongst themselves, their expressions of surprise.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm orange glow over the village, I felt a familiar tug at the edge of my consciousness. My clones were regrouping. With a deep breath, I used my flicker step to reach them.

"Alright, everyone," I addressed them as I landed. Their faces looked annoyed. "Let's discuss our progress."

My first clone spoke up, her voice eager. "I finished cleaning the vendor's shop and rearranging his merchandise. He was extremely grateful and said he had never seen anyone handle his products so carefully before."

"Good job," I praised her, feeling the warmth spread through my chest. "What about you?" I asked, turning to my second clone.

"I helped the elderly woman with her garden," she replied, dirt still clinging to her hands. "She was hesitant at first but eventually warmed up to me. She even invited me inside for some tea once we were done."

"Excellent," I nodded. My third clone cleared her throat, drawing my attention.

"The Police station is now spotless, Ayumi," she reported, her clothes slightly damp from the task. "The villagers were amazed at how quickly I worked and how much care I put into it."

"Fantastic," I beamed, clapping my hands together. "You've all done an incredible job."

As I canceled the jutsu, they vanished, and I absorbed their experiences like a tidal wave. I could sense the gratitude of the villagers. I decided to make more use of their experiences from then on and train them to learn new jutsus.

"See, Ayumi?" Izumi's voice interrupted my thoughts, her hand resting gently on my shoulder, which startled me as I had not noticed her arrival. "You don't always need high-ranked missions to make a difference. Sometimes, it's the small gestures that have the greatest impact."

"Even if that's the case, it's still something that students could have done." After that, we started making our way back to turn in our missions. Thankfully the sun was still in the sky.

"Here goes nothing," I muttered, pushing open the door to reveal the stern-faced Chunin sitting behind his desk. He looked up from a scroll, eyebrows raised in surprise.

"Back so soon?" he asked, eyeing us both with suspicion. I felt a flash of annoyance at his doubt.

"Indeed," I replied, trying to keep the pride out of my voice. "We've completed all the E-rank missions you assigned us."

"Really?" He sounded incredulous, but there was also a flicker of interest in his eyes. I placed the stack of completed mission scrolls on his desk, each one neatly tied with a red string.

"See for yourself," I said, suppressing a grin.

The Chunin carefully examined each scroll, his expression growing more and more astonished as he read through them. Finally, he looked up at us, genuine admiration shining in his eyes.

"Remarkable," he admitted, a hint of awe in his voice. "I would never have imagined that anyone could complete so many tasks in such a short time."

"Thanks to Ayumi's shadow clone jutsu, we were able to divide and conquer," Izumi chimed in, casting a proud smile my way. I couldn't help but bask in her praise, feeling a warmth spread through me.

"Your innovative approach to these missions is commendable, Ayumi," the Chunin acknowledged.

"Thank you, sir," I responded, my cheeks flushed with a mixture of happiness and humility.

"Mission success is as much about the approach as it is about the outcome," he said, nodding in agreement. "You've proven that today. As a reward for your hard work and ingenuity, I'm authorizing an additional payment for your services."

My eyes widened in surprise, but before I could stammer out my gratitude, he continued.

"Thank you so much," I whispered, feeling both humbled and elated.

"Keep up the good work, both of you," he encouraged us before returning to his scrolls, signaling the end of the conversation.

The dusky sky painted a soft canvas of pinks and oranges above us as we made our way through the village, leaving the mission assignment office behind. The cool evening air brushed against my skin, a welcome respite from the heat of the day.

"Today was really something, wasn't it?" Izumi mused, breaking the comfortable silence that had settled between us. She looked at me with a warm smile, her eyes reflecting the fading light.

"Definitely," I replied, my voice filled with pride. "Seeing the villagers' reactions to our work... It felt good knowing we made a difference. even if it was extremely boring"

Izumi agreed with a nod. "Sometimes, it's the small tasks that have the biggest impact. Your innovative use of shadow clones helped us serve many people today."

"Thank you," I replied, feeling a warm flush of happiness from the compliment.

Izumi chuckled softly, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "We work together as a team and bring out the best in each other. Speaking of which, your shadow clone jutsu has improved significantly. It's incredible how much progress you've made in such a short time."

"I owe it all to my own stubbornness, I guess," I confessed, my cheeks reddening slightly.

The warm glow of lanterns illuminated the village streets as we walked, casting a golden hue over the cobblestone beneath our feet. A pleasant buzz of conversation and laughter filled the air, and I couldn't help but notice the appreciative glances cast our way by some of the villagers I had helped as we passed. It seemed that today's efforts had not gone unnoticed.

"Speaking of my shadow clone jutsu," I began hesitantly, "do you think there are other ways I can utilize it for more complex missions? I mean, today was great, but I want to keep pushing my limits."

Izumi's expression turned thoughtful as we continued walking side by side. "I believe there's great potential in your shadow clone jutsu, Ayumi. With more practice and experimentation, I'm sure you'll discover new ways to apply it in various situations."

"Like what?" I pressed, eager for ideas.

"Perhaps you could use your clones for reconnaissance, gathering information from multiple sources simultaneously," Izumi suggested. "Or even during combat, to create confusion among enemy ranks and overwhelm them with sheer numbers."

My mind raced with possibilities, each idea more thrilling than the last. I mean Naruto used to use them to overwhelm many of his enemies while using it. And if I could get to the point that I could use just as many, given my family abilities it would become jump no jutsu.

"Thank you, Izumi," I said sincerely. Izumi smiled, her eyes filled with warmth and confidence in me. As we walked on through the bustling streets.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in a breathtaking array of fiery reds and oranges, Izumi and I found ourselves perched on a rooftop, our legs dangling over the edge as we gazed out at the village below. The day's events played like a montage in my mind, filling me with a quiet sense of pride and accomplishment.

"Today was quite something, wasn't it?" Izumi mused, her voice tinged with admiration. "You've managed to accomplish what would have taken most other solo ninja days to complete, all in one afternoon. Your shadow clones proved to be invaluable."

"Thanks," I replied, cheeks warming under her praise. I hesitated for a moment before adding, "And you know, it's funny... I used to think that my shadow clone jutsu was nothing special."

"Many shinobi would kill to have a fraction of your talent with shadow clones," Izumi said softly, her eyes reflecting the colors of the setting sun. "In fact, there's only one other person I've seen who can use them as effectively as you do." She paused, and I could sense the weight of her words as she continued, "That someone is Itachi."

When I heard his name, I hesitated. Itachi was a prodigy who had a profound impact on everyone he met. Being compared to him, even in this small sense, was both humbling and daunting. However, she was referring to her ex, who was also a kin slayer, which made the situation even more complicated.

"Really?" I wasn't sure how to feel about it.

"Your potential is limitless, Ayumi," Izumi affirmed, placing a gentle hand on my shoulder. "But remember, with great power comes great responsibility. Harness your abilities for the greater good of the village, and stay true to yourself."

I nodded and if I didn't know there were no comics here I would have thought she was a fan of Spiderman. 

As we sat there, side by side, watching the last rays of sunlight fade away, it was nice to spend time with my sister.