Night's Conculsion
The roofs were still smoldering as Jonin worked diligently to extinguish the fires ignited during Hisaro's attempt to reach the Hokage. She and her father observed from a nearby, undamaged roof. The flickering orange glow of the dying flames cast dancing shadows across their faces, accentuating the unspoken tension between them. They had been sitting in silence for what felt like an eternity, each lost in contemplation of the night’s tumultuous events.
Hisaro’s thoughts cycled relentlessly: What happens now? Should she have interfered with the heavenly sphere in the first place? Or, regardless of the consequences, would she have done it anyway? She briefly glanced up at the night sky, taking in the twinkle of countless stars. Who had decided it was her destiny to possess such power?
She also noticed that some of the Jonin battling the blaze were keeping a watchful eye on her. Some seemed slightly terrified, recalling the display of power they had witnessed; others remained alert, wary of her presence. She even caught a few glares, though they were fleeting. She hadn't noticed her father returning those glares with equal intensity when she wasn't looking.
The weight of the prolonged silence pressed down on Hisaro until she could no longer endure it. Hugging her knees tightly to her chest, she softly asked, "When did you get back?"
“Believe it or not, earlier today,” Kakashi confirmed, eliciting a raised eyebrow from Hisaro. He chuckled softly behind his mask. “Surprising, right? Other than the mission I was assigned, which was relatively quick, I had to get back for your examination day.”
Hisaro hugged her legs tighter. “Then…were you at the school when the exam was held?”
"No need to worry about that," Kakashi said, his tone shifting to the deceptively casual one he often adopted when discussing serious matters. "The exam wasn't exactly... fair to begin with." As Hisaro's head snapped toward him, he offered an eye-smile and a gentle pat on her head. "Ah, you know Mizuki-sensei, right?"
“What does Mizuki-sensei have to do with anything?” Hisaro was righteously skeptical, as everyone knew how kind and helpful Mizuki-sensei was in class. He even helped her, despite her chakra limitations, trying to help her push past her meager limits.
"Well, for starters, he tricked Naruto into stealing the sacred scroll of our village." Kakashi’s words hit Hisaro like a physical blow. Her mind raced with possibilities—would Naruto be banned from becoming a ninja? Imprisoned? Or worse? Her spiraling thoughts were interrupted by a gentle chop to her head. "Relax, it might turn out better for him than you realize. You can ask him later." Kakashi’s reassuring tone helped ease the knot of worry in her chest. "He was also the one who manipulated the exam order. You were meant to be last, but somehow, you got switched to the front."
Hisaro’s memories of how friendly Mizuki-sensei was now seemed like a cruel deception, tainting the memory. A wry, half-amused chuckle escaped her. “So… technically, whatever his whole plan was, it backfired? But if he wanted the scroll… why mess with me?”
“That is one of the questions we’ll be asking him while he is locked up,” Kakashi simply said, wanting to get her mind off it. “But like I said, if I heard correctly, it might be good for Naruto.”
Hisaro thought for a second, her glance falling on the device on her wrist. “So, despite what he did, it caused Naruto and me to end up finding our paths?”
“Naruto, maybe. However, I believe I can take the credit for you ending up with that device.” Kakashi reached over and poked the device on her wrist; it was still glowing red at the moment. He continued to explain, “While the whole Naruto situation was top priority, the Hokage still wanted someone to protect the heavenly sphere, which he asked me to do.”
"And because of how you usually are, you arrived late?" Hisaro managed a small smile, though she noticed the playful glare her father sent her way. The familiar banter felt like a lifeline in the chaos of the evening.
"Funny," Kakashi muttered, shaking his head. "I was there the whole time. I'd heard from other Jonin about your frequent visits to the sphere, how you’d linger nearby, watching it with such intensity. It was as if you were drawn to it somehow." He paused, pulling out his book with practiced casualness. "So I wanted to see what would happen. Besides," he added with a hint of mischief in his visible eye, "I’d just gotten to a good part in Make-Out Tactics."
Hisaro had been following along intently, but when Kakashi mentioned his book, her head flopped back in exasperated disbelief. At first, she hadn't believed him… but he wouldn't lie if Make-Out Tactics was involved. So, she ended up with this strange watch-like device, all because her father was curious… and engrossed in his reading.
Hisaro glanced at the device on her wrist, turning it over thoughtfully. What other secrets might it hold, besides the ability to transform her into… whatever that had been? "What do you think it is?" she asked, her voice laced with a mixture of awe and apprehension.
"No clue," Kakashi replied with characteristic nonchalance, eliciting a weary sigh from Hisaro. "All I know is you're stuck with it now. Though I suppose 'fire demon' has a nice ring to it, don't you think?"
Hisaro elbowed her father in the ribs, cheeks flushing with a mixture of embarrassment from his teasing and the memory of her frantic attempts to remove the device back at the shrine.
"Not a fan?" His visible eye crinkled with amusement. "Well, you'll have plenty of time to think of something better. Who knows? Maybe there are other forms hidden in there." He observed the device with a flicker of genuine curiosity as it shifted back from a pulsating red to a steady green. He’d been mentally timing the transformation; ten minutes was the limit before it reverted. Perhaps the same time constraint applied to any other potential forms, unless… a thought struck him, his expression turning serious. "It might be best to keep this between us and the village for now."
"Hah... you don't need to worry about that," Hisaro chuckled dryly, her voice low. "I failed the exam, remember?"
"The exam that was rigged," Kakashi reminded her, then muttered something indistinct behind his mask. A moment later, his expression softened. "Close your eyes."
Hisaro hesitated briefly before complying, feeling a sense of security in her father's presence that allowed her to trust him implicitly. She heard the rustle of fabric, felt gentle hands adjusting her hair, and then something cool and metallic being placed against her forehead. A familiar pat followed. "Now open them."
When she opened her eyes, she found herself staring at a sight she'd only witnessed within the privacy of their home – both of her father's eyes, exposed to the night air. But this was different. He wasn't just showing her his face; his forehead was bare. Reaching up, her fingers brushed against the cool metal of a Konoha headband, and realization dawned.
"Congratulations," Kakashi said softly, a genuine smile visible even through his mask. "You've graduated to Genin."
The words hung in the air for a moment before their full impact resonated within Hisaro. Her vision blurred with tears, and without a moment's hesitation, she threw her arms around her father, embracing him tightly. Somewhere far off, a similar graduation was taking place, filled with its own unique blend of emotions. The hug lingered, a silent acknowledgment of the bond between them, before Kakashi gently pulled back, helping her to stand.
“Now, before anything, I want you to try something,” Kakashi began, briefly glancing at the persistent fire. The Jonin were struggling to extinguish it; any water they used seemed to evaporate before it could reach the flames. The heat radiating from the blaze was intense. “I want you to focus solely on me, don’t get distracted by anyone else. I want you to change into that form again.” Hisaro opened her mouth to protest, but Kakashi held up a hand. “You will have to get used to the stares no matter what, but trust me.”
Trusting him implicitly, Hisaro sighed and fiddled with the device once more, recalling the sequence to activate it. The faceplate in the center sprang up, still displaying the same symbol. With a decisive press, she transformed back into the ‘fire demon’ form, facing her father. “Why did you want me to transform into it again?”
“Hmm, I wasn’t close enough to hear you clearly before,” Kakashi observed, tilting his head slightly. “But I see your voice does sound a little different now. And that’s not all.” He debated mentioning the other subtle change he’d noticed, but decided to let Hisaro discover it on her own. He stepped closer, unconcerned by the intense heat radiating from her form. “We can safely assume this form is primarily focused on fire manipulation. Perhaps you could try replicating some fire jutsu, creating the illusion that you need this form to perform them. But that's something to explore later.” He placed a hand briefly on her shoulder, his expression unreadable, and turned her to face the lingering flames on the damaged roofs. “What I’m curious about is, if you can create fire, can you also… reclaim it?”
Hisaro understood immediately. He wanted to know if this form could absorb fire as well as generate it. Closing her eyes, she focused on her chakra, just as she always did. Despite the transformation, she could still sense her chakra flowing within her. But now, there was something else… a different kind of energy, a power thrumming in her hands. Opening her eyes, she saw the flames on the roofs begin to diminish, the flickering embers lifting into the air as if drawn by an invisible force, spiraling towards her outstretched hands. The heat intensified, building within her until she felt compelled to release it, sending a searing pillar of fire blasting skyward. As the flames dissipated, a single word echoed in her mind: “Heatblast.”
“Hmm, what was that?” Kakashi asked, a hint of pride in his voice, though he imagined a few villagers had been startled awake by the sudden burst of light. He hid a smile behind his mask. He had heard her clearly, but wanted her to say it with more conviction.
“The name for this form,” Hisaro declared, her voice stronger now, a bright smile illuminating her already glowing features. “It's Heatblast!”
After the tumultuous events of the day and night, Hisaro was grateful for the chance to rest. Kakashi had simply taken her home, and she'd fallen asleep the moment her head hit the pillow. Dreams of the device and her transformation into Heatblast danced in her mind. She hadn't expected to wake up so early, her body buzzing with a restless energy and excitement.
She wondered if Naruto was experiencing similar thoughts. Quickly dressing, she left the house, unsurprised to find her father seemingly asleep in his bed. Or so she thought. A subtle smile played on Kakashi's lips as he heard her leave, correctly guessing her destination: their usual meeting spot with Naruto.
Hisaro wasn't sure when it had become their tradition, but whenever they wanted to meet, they invariably found themselves converging on the small clearing just behind the Hokage Monument. It was a place they sometimes used for training, though neither of them could say who had won more of their sparring matches. They'd lost count long ago.
On her way, she took a short detour past the damaged rooftops. The devastation was even more apparent in the daylight, and she cringed. She needed to master Heatblast quickly to avoid causing any more unintentional damage to the village. She also passed by the shrine, pausing in surprise. The fence was gone, leaving the heavenly sphere open for public viewing. It made sense, she supposed, now that the true treasure was attached to her wrist.
It took her about twenty minutes to reach the clearing. She was slightly surprised to see Naruto already there, looking a bit battered and bruised. Perhaps he hadn't gone home at all after his encounter with Mizuki. She waved as she approached. “Naruto!”
“Hisaro!” Naruto called out, grinning as he jumped down from the boulder he’d been perched on. As if by instinct, they met in the middle and high-fived.
“I’ve got something to show you!” They both exclaimed simultaneously.
They both laughed at the ridiculousness of their shared response before Hisaro beat him to the following line, “How about you go first, since you were here first.”
“You know you don’t have to! But if you insist,” Naruto grinned, rubbing his hair with his hand. “You remember how I’m terrible at the clone jutsu?”
Hisaro’s eyes widened, a smile spreading across her face as she realized what he was hinting at. “Did you master it?”
“Oh, did I! But get this! It’s not just any clone jutsu!” Naruto exclaimed, his hands moving together to form the seals for a jutsu Hisaro hadn’t seen before. “Shadow Clone Jutsu!”
A massive puff of smoke erupted, so thick that Hisaro had to cover her mouth and squeeze her eyes shut for a moment. When the smoke cleared, and she could see again, the sight that greeted her was beyond anything she'd expected. She’d anticipated maybe one or two clones, but instead, dozens of Narutos stood before her. And these weren't mere illusions. She cautiously reached out and poked one, and it giggled, recoiling slightly as if she'd tickled it.
“Ah, Hisaro, stop that!” The clone laughed, backing away from her hand. A devilish grin spread across its face as it held up both hands. “Or we might have to return the favor, right?”
“Right!” A chorus of identical grins echoed the sentiment from the other clones.
Hisaro gulped, a nervous flutter in her stomach. She was extremely ticklish, and while she could usually defend herself against Naruto's attempts to tickle her, this might be too much to handle. Thinking fast, she held up her wrist, displaying the device prominently. Several of the clones paused, their playful expressions faltering. “If you dare, I won’t tell you anything about this,” Hisaro threatened playfully. The clones, along with the original Naruto, backed off a bit, chuckling nervously. “Better.”
“So, what is it, then?” The original Naruto—she could tell by the way he moved—stepped closer, not reaching for the device, but observing it with a respectful curiosity. “It looks odd, but also cool at the same time. What’s it do?”
“Well, firstly, I have no idea what it is, but it was found within the heavenly sphere,” Hisaro explained, a note of excitement in her voice. Naruto listened intently, his gaze fixed on the device as Hisaro activated it, preparing to press the faceplate. “As for what it does… like a demonstration?”
“You better believe it!” Naruto shouted gleefully.
“Then get ready to meet,” Hisaro declared, slamming down the faceplate with a triumphant grin. A flash of green light filled the clearing, causing Naruto and his clones to shield their eyes. “Heatblastttt… This isn’t Heatblast…” A high-pitched voice sounded out. Naruto blinked, lowering his hands and staring in bewildered confusion. “This is not who I wanted you to meet…”
Standing before Naruto and his clones was a small, white figure clad in a green outfit and a greenish-black helmet. Bright green eyes peered out from the helmet, and small green spots dotted its arms. The figure seemed to be examining itself with curious fascination. Naruto crouched down and poked it lightly on the head, earning himself a swift swat on the hand. “Hisaro?”
“Yep! Just not this one…” the small figure admitted, rubbing its head where Naruto had poked it. “The one I wanted you to show you was all covered in fire and stuff, like… I can even shoot fire!”
“That sounds awesome!” Naruto’s eyes sparkled with excitement at the prospect of seeing Hisaro’s other form. One of his clones, however, simply poked the small figure again. “Then what does this one do?”
Hisaro just grinned. “Let’s find out!”