StarWaves
patreon
Thunder and Black Wings 24
🕑 Added 2025-04-29 01:07:40 +0000 UTCChapter 24:
– Blake –
I sat back in a chair in my girlfriend–the Hokage’s–private office, trying to keep my hands from fidgeting.
Across from me, Tsunade was finishing up her exam, her glowing hands slowly running over my arms and chest, checking for any lingering damage from my latest adventure.
Shizune stood nearby, arms crossed and looking both relieved and exasperated. Shuri was there too—her ANBU mask was off, and she sat quietly against the wall, trying (and failing) not to look worried.
Apparently, Konan was also on her way.
“The ANBU are still sweeping the Forest of Death,” Tsunade muttered as she finished her scan. “But no trace of Orochimaru. Slippery bastard!”
“Shocking…” I said sarcastically, rubbing the back of my neck.
“Could you please stay out of trouble for one day?” Shizune said, half-scolding, half-pleading. She walked over, grabbed my face between her hands, and started fussing over me like she was checking if I had a fever. “One day, Blake! Just one!”
I laughed awkwardly and tried to gently peel her off me, but she wasn’t having it.
Shuri let out a long sigh, finally speaking up. “It’s not his fault.” She looked at me, giving a small, sheepish smile. “It’s probably just… his fallen angel blood. Trouble tends to follow his kind. His… father…” She hesitated, her expression flickering. “He was the same way.”
I caught the reluctance in her voice. She hated talking about him—Baraqiel. I had learned that pretty quickly since reuniting with her.
Honestly, I wasn’t sure how I felt about the guy either after all these years. It was hard to summon emotions for a man who never even tried to look for me. I gave Shuri a small nod. I wasn’t mad. At least she was trying.
“How the did Blake survive Orochimaru’s curse mark?” Shizune asked Tsunade.
Tsunade leaned against her desk and crossed her arms under her large chest. “Honestly?” She smirked a little. “I have no idea. Our awesome boyfriend somehow managed to beat it.” She winked at me teasingly. “Not only beat it… but he absorbed some of Orochimaru’s chakra and power instead.”
“What!?” Shizune yelped, whipping her head toward me.
I blinked. “Wait, wait, wait… I what?”
Tsunade’s grin widened. “Yep. Your chakra network, which was practically nonexistent before, is now as big as a chunin’s.” She held up a finger, emphasizing her point. “And you’re not even close to being done growing.”
My jaw dropped. “Holy shit! Does that mean I can actually start learning real jutsu now?”
Tsunade chuckled and nodded. “You could. But you’ll have to learn to control all that chakra first, or you’re gonna blow yourself up the first time you try something serious.” She tapped her chin thoughtfully. “Maybe I’ll dig up a few basic jutsu scrolls for you to practice with.”
I brightened immediately. “Actually—!” I dug into my pocket and pulled out a slightly crumpled scroll. “Anko gave me this.”
Tsunade raised an eyebrow, while Shizune looked like she wanted to snatch it out of my hands and set it on fire on principle alone since it came from Anko.
They both leaned in as I unrolled the scroll on the desk between us.
There was a moment of silence as they read the jutsu instructions inside.
Then Shizune’s entire face turned scarlet so fast it was almost impressive. She slapped a hand over her mouth like she was going to squeak, or faint, or both.
Tsunade? She just started grinning. “You will learn this jutsu as soon as possible, Blake!” Tsunade declared shamelessly, slamming her palm down on the desk for emphasis.
Shuri just glared at her for that comment.
—
A few minutes later, a gentle knock echoed on the door, interrupting the awkward silence. Tsunade glanced over, her expression softening a bit. “Come in.”
The door swung open smoothly, and Konan stepped inside quietly. Her eyes met mine immediately, and they narrowed slightly as she studied me carefully from head to toe, as if expecting me to be missing a limb or something equally dramatic.
“Blake–Sama,” she said softly, moving straight to me without hesitation. Her voice was calm, yet filled with concern. “I heard what happened.”
Before I could get out a reply, Konan had already closed the distance. Her delicate fingers carefully brushed my cheek, her eyes checking for injuries, even though Tsunade had already done a thorough job of patching me up. I felt a flush of heat rise on my face—having yet another woman fuss over me like this was definitely embarrassing.
But at the same time, it felt comforting, even if I wasn't about to admit it out loud.
"I'm okay, Konan," I mumbled awkwardly, trying to gently reassure her without pulling away. "Really, it's—"
She placed her hand gently against my chest, directly over my heart, as though reassuring herself of its steady rhythm. "I'll be killing Orochimaru myself when I find him..."
There was no anger in her voice—just a cold, unshakable certainty.
Wow…
“You’ll have to get in line behind me,” Shizune said fiercely, arms crossed. She was still flushed from earlier, but the steely glint in her eyes showed she was entirely serious. Tsunade gave a nod of agreement, her usually playful expression hardening into something much darker.
“He won’t be breathing for much longer if I get my hands on him,” Tsunade said sharply, her voice dangerous.
“I wasn’t ready with him or Jiraiya, but from now on I won’t be holding back with the nastier talismans I can make from now on,” Shuri added.
The protectiveness radiating from them was almost overwhelming. I rubbed my arm awkwardly.
It wasn’t something I was used to—so many people willing to go to war for me. I just used to be some random foster kid after all. At least, before I got my memories back.
Tsunade hesitated for a moment, her gaze dropping briefly to her desk as if struggling with what she was about to say next. When she looked back up, I could tell she'd made up her mind, even though the decision clearly bothered her.
“Listen,” she said, the edge of hesitation still lingering in her voice. “We can't assume Orochimaru left the area completely. Knowing him, he's still nearby, watching. Spying. He probably has shinobi within our ranks. Traitors that I’m definitely looking forward to rooting out.” Her eyes hardened at that last statement, a fierce promise glinting behind them. “But until then… Blake, I need you to leave the village.”
I blinked in surprise. “Leave?”
Tsunade nodded, her expression serious. “Yes. Leave the village temporarily, along with your mother and Konan. I’ll stay here and deal with rooting out Orochimaru’s spies and securing our defenses. But you need to get far away, at least for a while.”
My heart sank, and my chest tightened painfully. The thought of being away from Tsunade and Shizune for any length of time was hard to accept. A part of me—one I hated admitting was there—felt something close to panic rising at the idea of separation.
Shizune’s face fell immediately. She glanced at me sadly, her dark eyes filled with silent protest. She clearly didn’t like this plan at all, but she respected Tsunade too much to openly argue.
Noticing her obvious distress, I walked over to Shizune without thinking, gently taking her face between my hands. She was warm, and I felt a tight ache deep in my chest just seeing the worry in her eyes. “Hey,” I whispered softly, leaning down and gently kissing her cheek. “It's only for a little while, right?”
She nodded quietly, leaning into my touch. But I could see the lingering sadness in her eyes. “I know. But I don’t want you gone.”
Tsunade sighed quietly, crossing the room to join us. She rested a comforting hand on Shizune’s shoulder, giving me a serious look. “It's safer, Blake. Orochimaru thinks you're still marked, so he won’t make any reckless moves to try and come after you so soon again. This gives us a chance to set a trap for him.”
I swallowed thickly, nodding slowly. I understood her logic. I trusted her judgement completely. But logic didn’t help me deal with the gnawing ache at the thought of leaving her and Shizune behind.
“How long?” I asked quietly.
Tsunade hesitated only a second before answering, “A month. You’ll be safe, hidden away with Konan and Shuri. And during that time, you’ll train—properly. Not just jutsus,” she added with a teasing wink, clearly trying to lighten the mood. “I want you to learn to channel chakra into your body itself, Blake. To enhance your strength, reflexes, and speed. You've got the potential for it now.”
The idea of becoming stronger was exciting, especially with proper teachers. Konan was incredibly powerful. And mom was no slouch either after living in this world all these years.
Training with them sounded like exactly what I needed, something that could finally turn me into more than just dead weight. I wanted that, badly.
Yet the thought of leaving Tsunade and Shizune, even for just a month, was almost physically painful. My entire body protested, emotions I’d fought to bury threatening to resurface. I'd never been good at handling being alone, even before I understood why. After the childhood I had—moving constantly, feeling unwanted—I finally had something good, something solid here in the Leaf Village. Losing that, even briefly, felt terrifying.
Shizune gently rested her hand over mine, giving it a squeeze. Her dark eyes were soft and understanding, her sadness mirroring mine. “We’ll be waiting here, Blake. You better come back stronger. Understand?”
Tsunade smiled at me warmly, joining Shizune in a reassuring touch. “We’ll be fine here. Trust me—I’m not letting that bastard catch me off guard again!”
Konan stepped closer. “I’ll make sure he’s safe,” she promised quietly. Her voice carried a quiet, steady confidence. “Nothing will harm him while I'm with him. You have my word. My angel will be protected.”
Slowly, I exhaled a long, shaky breath, forcing myself to calm down. It wasn’t forever. It was just a month. I would come back stronger, able to stand alongside Tsunade, Shizune, and the others rather than needing constant protection. They had already changed my life in ways I couldn't have imagined, made it so much better.
I turned to Konan and nodded firmly, pushing down my anxiety and doubt. “Alright. Let's do this.”
Even though the separation was going to hurt, it would be worth it. If it meant finally being strong enough to protect the women I loved, and my new family, I would endure it—no matter how hard it might feel right now.
—
Training started almost immediately once we were clear of the village. The three of us left Konoha quietly, slipping unnoticed through a hidden side gate used mostly by scouts and ANBU, where a quiet pair of sentries nodded respectfully at Shuri before letting us through.
It felt weird stepping out into the shadowy woods around the village knowing I wouldn't see Tsunade or Shizune again for an entire month.
I tried not to dwell on that too much. It wouldn’t help anything.
Konan set the pace through the thick forest, effortlessly leaping from tree branch to tree branch without making the slightest sound. Shuri was right alongside her, just as agile and quiet.
Watching them move made me realize immediately how far behind I actually was.
“You won't be allowed to let your wings out, Blake–Sama,” Konan said suddenly, her voice gentle but firm as she glanced back over her shoulder at me. Her hair shifted gently in the wind as she moved. “For the next month, we'll only focus on your chakra control.”
“Exactly,” Shuri added smoothly, hopping to a higher branch and turning slightly toward me. “Your wings are far too distinctive. Anyone who spots them could report back to Orochimaru or his spies. And besides, this is about mastering your chakra—not your fallen angel powers.”
“I get it,” I said with a grunt, already feeling my breath shorten as I leapt from branch to branch to keep up. “No wings. Chakra only.”
I reached inward, trying to feel out that new surge of chakra Tsunade mentioned I'd absorbed from Orochimaru. It was right there, warm and abundant in my core.
I tried coaxing it up through my legs, willing it to enhance my leaps. And it worked—sort of.
The branch beneath my feet exploded into splinters as I jumped, showering the forest below with bark fragments. I yelped in surprise, barely managing to land somewhat gracelessly on the next tree limb, arms flailing outwards.
Up ahead, I heard Konan softly chuckle.
Shuri shook her head. “Not so much at once!” Shuri called back. “If you keep using chakra that wastefully, you’ll be unconscious before we even make camp!”
“Yeah, easier said than done!” I shouted, gritting my teeth as I made another overly energetic jump, shattering another branch behind me. “This stuff feels like trying to gently sip from a fire hose!”
Konan slowed a little, allowing herself to come alongside me. “Concentrate, Blake–Sama,” she instructed patiently. “You're pushing chakra into your legs indiscriminately. Instead, visualize it flowing evenly, calmly. Less is more.”
I grimaced, slowing slightly to focus. I imagined a steady current of chakra moving through my limbs, trying my hardest to be precise. My next jump was better—not perfect—but at least the branch didn’t explode this time. It only cracked and bent alarmingly beneath my foot.
“Good, better,” Konan encouraged gently. “Keep practicing that feeling. You have enough chakra now to spare, but control is the real challenge.”
“You really think I can actually learn this stuff?” I asked breathlessly as we moved swiftly onward through the dense canopy. My shirt was already sticking uncomfortably to my back with sweat, and I was breathing heavier than I wanted to admit.
“I know you can,” Konan replied, absolutely sure. “You have enormous potential. You only lack practice.”
“And discipline,” Shuri added dryly from ahead, effortlessly leaping over a wide gap without even looking down. “We'll take care of that too.”
“Gee, thanks Mom,” I said sarcastically, forcing my tired legs to keep pace.
We moved in silence for a bit longer, and my mind began to wander to what Tsunade had told me about our destination.
“So… where exactly are we heading?” I finally asked, breathing harder with each leap. I was definitely feeling my chakra reserves burn away fast, my limbs already starting to tremble slightly from exhaustion.
“Honestly, we're not completely sure yet,” Shuri admitted, glancing back. “Maybe the Fire Capital or one of the smaller towns nearby. Somewhere we can blend in easily.”
“The capital itself is impressive,” Konan explained calmly. “Bigger and more modern than Konoha. Crowded enough to keep our presence unnoticed.”
“More modern?” I echoed, a bit surprised. “Really?”
Shuri nodded, a small smile touching her lips. “Much more. They have electricity throughout the city, trains, and taller buildings. Even televisions.”
“Damn,” I muttered, genuinely surprised. “Sounds almost normal. Like back home.”
Konan looked back again, a gentle curiosity in her eyes. “Does it make you miss your old world, Blake–Sama?”
I paused briefly, considering that.
“Sometimes,” I admitted softly. “But honestly, my life there was pretty sad. The only thing I miss from back there is the technology. And even that's not a huge loss.” I looked around at the lush green forest, then at Konan and Shuri moving effortlessly ahead of me. “I've got more here than I ever did back there. I guess I miss my best friend Peter though…” I added. “And Akeno…” I finished with a whisper.
And maybe even Emma and Jean, although I never really got to know them…
A warm, pleased look crossed Konan's face before she turned away. “We'll help you master your strength,” she promised gently. “I will make sure you're strong enough to stand beside us without fear!”
The reassurance made my heart feel lighter, despite the burn in my muscles.
Shuri chuckled suddenly, cutting into our quiet conversation. “...Besides, the capital is safe. Shinobi from any village know better than to cause trouble there,” she explained. “The Daimyos and their advisors made that very clear decades ago. Any hidden village stupid enough to disturb the peace there would face crippling economic sanctions from all five major nations simultaneously.”
I winced slightly at the idea. “That's… terrifying,” I said with a breathless chuckle. “But at least we’ll have a peaceful place to train for the next few weeks…”
XXX
Yes… Blake will have a very peaceful time in the capital before he returns for the end of the chunin exams.
Comments
Andrew Stewart
Shouldn't him gaining chakra have been enough to gain six wings just the added energy from chuunin level chakra reserves should have been enough much less the physical improvment just have a largeish amount of chakra in the body would bring.
Ototsu_Yume
Sure, ninjas affiliated with the villages might behave, rhonins, missing-nin, future missing-nin and even worse; the nobles will not, and MC is prime meat to a wandering noble with a taste for pretty boys.
