Interlude One (Patreon)

Hyuga Hironori wasn’t sure what to make of his daughter’s friend. On the one hand, Hua Jing was a clanless orphan, utterly unable to assist the Hyuga’s goal of becoming the Fourth Pillar of Konoha (joining the Hokage, Senju, and Uchiha). On the other hand, Hua Jing had immense potential. Her chakra reserves were only just above average for civilian-born children. Compared to those with a Clan legacy, her reserves were small. Despite this disadvantage, Hua Jing kept pace with Haruko. Her chakra seemed to naturally enhance her body, allowing Hua Jing to use the Searing Lightning style with its characteristic speed despite having only just turned six.

And then there was her Ninjutsu. Her chakra was unlocked, and likely had been for some time. With his Byakugan active, Hironori could see it flow through her pathways without the natural obstruction of a true beginner. Even more impressive than the young orphan’s pathways was her Lightning Affinity. That was not unheard of in Konoha, a result of the historical conflicts between the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning. But Hua Jing’s affinity went well beyond even the likes of Hatake Sakumo. Her Lightning Release resulted in pure, unadulterated electricity. Without hand seals she could call down lightning from the skies, using her nascent Sensing abilities to track targets within her range.

And then there was what she was trying now. The entire reason Hyuga Hironori was not alone in watching her.

“Raiton,” Hua Jing began, both hands shifting rapidly. Lightning-Boar-Horse-Snake.  “Lightning Grenade!” Her hands came apart, a glowing ball of electricity between them. It flickered, sparks and little lines of lightning surging towards Hua Jing. Then she threw the ball. It soared through the air with impressive speed. The ball landed amidst a crowd of training dummies, some sixty meters away. There was a flash, white light spreading across the area. Then came sound, a BOOM that rattled Hironori’s teeth. Yet through the Byakugan he never lost sight. Hironori watched as Lightning chakra flew from the ball, striking out at the dummies. One, two, six, twelve, twenty blasts flew from the ball. Each struck a dummy, charring their wooden skin so quickly there was no time for a fire to erupt.

Not enough to kill a Jonin, Hironori thought. Maybe not even a Chunin, given the speed of the throw. But a pack of Genin? A small group of Chunin caught unaware? Both would be devastated by the attack.

Next to him, his brother hummed. Hironori turned to face him.

“I approve,” the Clan Head of the Hyuga said. “She is worth the investment.”

Hironori bowed. “I will ensure she does not disappoint.”

“I know you will,” his brother said. He looked back at the training field, where Haruko was celebrating with Hua Jing. “Keep them close. That kind of camaraderie is worth more than gold.”

*

Senju Kiho was not an ordinary teacher. Her last name alone gave evidence for that. A cousin of the First and Second Hokage, Kiho had once been a tutor for the Senju Clan. When Hashirama opened the Academy, Kiho had been one of the first to apply as a teacher. As it turned out, she would be one of the only teachers from a Clan. Most–even most Senju–preferred teaching the known quantities that were Clan scions. Clan children were much alike. With few exceptions they had the same affinities as their forefathers, a chakra capacity that was slightly larger than their parents’ at the same age, a physicality honed by the Clan’s training courses, and an interest in mastering the same techniques as their ancestors. Even the Clan prodigies were no exception, simply faster.

Kiho preferred the Academy. Filled with the children of a dozen clans and countless smaller families, no two students were alike. Though most had a Fire affinity, they expressed it in different ways. The searing blaze used by the Uchiha was there, as was the warm hearth of the Akimichi. But Kiho had seen the constructive heat of the furnace and kiln, the wildfires started by lightning, and the solemn and sacred flames of a cremation used by her students as well. The other affinities, though less numerous than Fire, were no less diverse, as were the students’ abilities. Some excelled at Taijutsu, others at Genjutsu or Ninjutsu. Some excelled at academics, or in particular classes. Some preferred the practical side of things.

Very rarely there was a student who excelled at all of it. Truly excelled, going far beyond their class’ curriculum. Normally there was one every few years. This year there were two, both sharing a class as second-year students.

Kiho flipped through the folder for Hyuga Hakura. By all appearances she was a fairly typical Clan prodigy. She was swiftly working to master the mainstays of the Hyuga Clan, their Byakugan and Gentle Fist Taijutsu. Her academics were less able than her practicals, though both were far improved from the second-year average. On her own, Kiho would say Hyuga Hakura was at a fourth-year level, with a chance to graduate the next year if she really buckled down.

Then there was Hua Jing. A civilian orphan, and even more of a prodigy than Hyuga Hakura. She tore through the academic syllabus and, despite a lack of mentors, kept pace with the Hyuga in the practicals. Once the two became friends (and, Kiho suspected, the Hyuga let her into their library) Hua Jing had progressed even further. Though yet to defeat Hyuga Hakura in their Taijutsu spars, Hua Jing was far better at Genjutsu and Ninjutsu, learning the Academy Three by the half-year mark and mastering them by the end of the year. On her own, Kiho would say Hua Jing was ready to graduate.

But neither girl was on their own. They were together, and Kiho would like it to stay that way. She had seen what happened to prodigies who moved alone. They burned out, their admittedly impressive abilities gaining them only further duties and expectations. Perhaps, Kiho hoped, a pair of prodigies might care for each other better than a single prodigy could care for themselves.

Kiho dipped her pen in the ink and waited for the excess to trickle out. Then she began to write, ordering that Hua Jing and Hyuga Hakura be brought into the fifth (and final) year class at the start of the new school term.

*

Hatake Sakumo watched as the children sparred. And that’s what they were, regardless of how the Hokage and Shimura might like to dress it up. Ten years old was still very much a child, no matter how many men they had killed. Eight years old was even worse. Were it up to him, Sakumo would have kept them in Konoha until at least twelve, maybe older. Surely fully-trained soldiers would be better than simply throwing their youth into the grinding teeth of the front.

Alas, such decisions were not up to Hatake Sakumo. That was the province of Lord Third. And no matter how much Sakumo might disagree with the man, he would never betray his village or his comrades by refusing to fight. Whatever the cost, he would protect them both.

Watching the last fight, Sakumo could see two of his new students. Even before the grades were finished, Sakumo knew who he would be teaching. Uchiha Fugaku was the heir of the Uchiha clan and, until recently, the top of his class. He was skilled in the use of his Kekkei Genkai, the Sharingan, and the Fire Release. His shurikens were good as well, but Fugaku struggled with Taijutsu and Genjutsu. Neither were poor for a Genin, merely poor by the standards of his other skills.

Joining Uchiha Fugaku in Sakumo’s team would be the pair of prodigies, Hyuga Haruko and Hua Jing. While Hyuga Haruko was fair predictable as a Hyuga prodigy (excelling in Taijutsu, Chakra Control, and the use of her Byakugan) it was Hua Jing who had torn Uchiha Fugaku from his position as top of the class. Hua Jing was not as good at Taijutsu as Hyuga Haruko, but could fight her on close to even terms, and was able to beat Uchiha Fugaku more often than not. She was not as good at Sensing as either Hyuga Haruko or Uchiha Fugaku, but held an impressive range of two hundred meters and was able to pierce through most Chunin-level deceptions. She was better than both of them at the Academy Three. But where Hua Jing truly excelled was the Lightning Release. Even limited by her orphan background and the Hyuga’s lack of Lightning jutsu scrolls, Hua Jing was shaping up to be a terrifying prospect on the battlefield. Without seals she could call lightning down from the skies, accurately hitting anyone she could see or Sense. She could coat her fists and weapons in lightning, allowing for the use of Raiton: Lariat and could send lightning bolts from her palm and each of her fingers, a good start towards Raiton: Electromagnetic Murder.

In peacetime, Sakumo would not have received such a team. The Genin teams were meant to be balanced, to give everyone who managed to get a Jonin-sensei a chance while teaching those who naturally excelled to help those who didn’t. Alas, this was not a time of peace. Sakumo, the best of the Jonin available and willing to take a team, received the best of the graduating class. He was expected to teach them while fighting on the front lines. Even using his influence as a Clan Head, Sakumo had only managed to get a few months to teach his future Genin. He would have to hope that was enough.

*

The following rolls happen during the Interlude

Minor Skill Roll (first place in her year at the Academy; before first interlude)

Intermediate Management (chosen)

You are fairly skilled at management tasks, you can split your attention adequately between tasks, distribute tasks, structure things, manage groups, etc. You would make a fine secretary or a small business owner.

Intermediate Pole Arm Mastery (not chosen)

You are fairly skilled in handling bladed instruments and weapons such as spears, halbers and sickles. You know how to effectively move your body and weapon to make good use of it, being able to match most practitioners in skill and finesse.

Medium Spiritual Roll (Create your own Jutsu, C-A rank. Unlocks Quest: Create 10 Jutsus (D-A rank) and Quest: Create your own Jutsu (S-Rank). Both generate Major Spiritual Blessings. Occurs during first interlude)

Elemental Sublimation (chosen)

Allows the user to turn their body into any basic element of their choosing while still retaining control over their body. Like turning into fire to burn someone, turning into lightning to travel through cables, wind to fly, etc. If any part of your mass is destroyed while in elemental form, the damage will be reflected back to you.

Note: Strength and adaptability vary by elemental proficiency

Fire Absorption (not chosen)

Allows you to absorb fire into your body, either storing it to release it later as your own flames or converting it into energy for your own use. But strong enough flames might be impossible or painful to absorb. Absorbing too much fire without release can cause internal burning.

Minor Skill Roll (first place in her year at the Academy; before second interlude)

Taekwondo (not chosen)

You are an apprentice in Taekwondo, a dynamic Korean martial art specializing in speed, agility, and powerful kicking techniques. It combines high, spinning, and jumping kicks with fast footwork and precise strikes to deliver devastating blows. With sufficient mastery, you can enhance your strikes with your internal energy

Note: In this world, Taekwondo functions as a new Taijutsu style

Intermediate Savoir Faire (chosen; she already has a Taijutsu style she likes)

You know how to move with grace and finesse. You are light on your feet and you can definitely tear up the dance floor. You rarely lose your balance and can perform parkour. You can also perform flips and manoeuvres with decent grace.

Minor Mental Roll (advance a year or more in the Academy; after second interlude)

Adept Discipline (chosen)

Your dedication and focus are admirable. You are very disciplined, being able to focus on tasks without falling to distractions, you are able to grit your teeth and get it done, even when in pain you can push on. You are able to push through discomfort, annoyance, and pain to get whatever job you need to get done. It is hard to use mental abilities on you.

Tinker (not chosen)

Allows you to build technological constructs or contraptions related to construction such as super cement, reinforced steel structures, and incredibly efficient building schematics.

Minor Skill Roll (graduate the academy at the top of your class; after third interlude)

Expert Cooking (chosen)

You are an expert in the culinary arts, you are better than most chefs will ever be. You can cook almost any meal if given ingredients and it will almost certainly taste great. At the very least, no one leaves your dining table unsatisfied. Still not quite at foodgasm levels but you are close.

Muay Thai (not chosen)

You are an apprentice of Muay Thai, a powerful Thai martial art known as the "Art of Eight Limbs," utilizing punches, kicks, elbows, and knee strikes for devastating close and mid-range combat. It emphasizes powerful strikes, clinch fighting, and relentless conditioning to build endurance and toughness. With sufficient mastery, you can enhance your strikes with your internal energy.

Note: In this world, Muay Thai functions as a new Taijutsu style

Medium Mental Roll (graduate the academy [baseline negligible, increases by one rank for each year of early graduation]; after third interlude)

Expert Charisma (not chosen)

You have an aura of charisma around you, it is less of a skill and more of something about your presence. People of note feel themselves more attracted to your presence, you are more intimidating when you want to be, you are more persuasive when you try to be.

Exact (chosen)

You are incredibly precise with your control over both your abilities and spells to the point that other people would struggle to match them.