The morning sun cast a pale golden hue over the rooftops of Konoha, its warm light creeping through the narrow alleys and bustling training fields. The village was calm, yet awake—shinobi moved with purpose, merchants opened their stalls, and children laughed as they darted between buildings. From the Hokage's office, reports flowed in like clockwork, and from the training grounds, the sounds of jutsu and wooden clacks filled the air. It was another typical day in the Hidden Leaf, but for a newly promoted Chūnin named Inuzuka Arashi, it was the beginning of something far from ordinary.
Born into the beastly clan of konoha, although not as grand as the Senju nor as spontaneous as the Uchiha, the Inuzuka clan held its ground as one of the founding clans of the village. They may not be a clan with the unique kekkei genkai, but they earned their place through their unique technique passed down from generations culturally and through training. Born with an affinity with not the regular elements of the world but rather with ninja dogs. Their enhanced senses and fighting style may seem hereditary, but they are more about clan tradition and specialized techniques rather than genetic mutation or chakra nature combination. Their unique fighting style involving close coordination with ninkens has earned them a place in the shinobi world as one of the most feared sensory based and beastly fighting shinobis just like the Aburame Clan.
His heritage could be said to be unique, having the blood from an Inuzuka father and a mother from the legendary fuinjutsu clan—the uzumaki. He has grown to feel different amongst his clan mate as well as his peers. His father, Inuzuka Renga, a veteran Jōnin Inuzuka, who made noticeable merits during the 1st Shinobi world war through his wild combat and sensory skills with his trusted companion and his recently deceased mother, Uzumaki Sayo, renowned for her grand master class skills in barrier seals and medical fuinjutsu— having been trained for years under Uzumaki Mito, the reigning kyubi Jinchuruki during her years of service under her, it was during an espionage mission that the two met and fell in love, and with blessing of Uzumaki Mito and the begrudging Inuzuka clan, they both settled and retired from their duties— with Renga becoming an elder of the Inuzuka clan and Sayo a full time housewife.
With their son, Inuzuka Arashi born, their home felt safer and more harmonious until his teenage years when he recently graduated from the ninja academy, Uzumaki Sayo fell seriously ill. As her sensei, Uzumaki Mito took her effort to save her but to no avail. Coming to peace with her condition, Uzumaki Sayo gave up the ghost after giving her all to lay a great foundation for Arashi in fuinjutsu as well as every motherly love she could muster during her time. Since then it was never the same, their house feeling hollow, empty since her death, both father and son struggled to bring up that blissful atmosphere once more. None blamed each other but they knew Uzumaki Sayo was like a bridge between them.
For Inuzuka Renga, he took his mind off through his duties as an elder and Arashi did his with missions and as well the clan's training rites. Before he was fully recommended to the Hokage for a direct Chūnin promotion by the Clan— a special privilege given to all Noble Clans of Konoha, Arashi was to undergo the final passage of rite— a two year survival training in the Sacred Fangwood, Tsuga no Mori. The mysterious beast sage of Fangwood had made a contract with the clansmen of Inuzuka when they permanently settled—as long as they kept the forest and their inhabitants safe, they can use it however they can.
In the two years, Arashi learned. The ways of beasts and man, to control his instincts and to follow the patterns. He fought ninja beasts. When he got hungry, he searched for them. Surviving was the process, but honing his skills was the priority. He had won, he had lost, he had gotten injured and he had almost died. Every experience he had, it was a lesson of what 'the strong is law and the weak are criminals'. There were times where he went hungry and fought with wild animals for the carcass of another. Sometimes, he shared because that was the only way to scale through. A certain time, he could only lie in wait in his injured state for a wild lion to feast to it's satisfaction leaving behind just bones and little meat here and there for him to take and roast. Another time, he contended with same lion over a prey coming out victorious with only few injuries and the lion—an added feast to his food supply.
Now, with what he has learned, he stands before the an high official of the Hokage's office, waiting to receive his promotion scroll.
"Inuzuka Arashi?" The official calls out.
"That's me."
"Hmm. Good lad, congratulations. Your record has been updated. You're now a Chūnin of the Hidden leaf village. On behalf of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, we welcome. We believe you are capable to carry the will of the village, the fire that lights up the way for those who are lost, burns brightly to give hope to those hopeless, and consumes the enemy of the peace we fight for. The Hokage has high hopes for you, Inuzuka. As a congratulatory pack, you have been granted two months off from duties. Once it is up, report back immediately no delay. Or you will treated accordingly. Remember, you're no longer a kid to spoon fed, you're a warrior now, konoha's blade. So you must act like it"
Arashi could only nod as he stretches his hand to receive the promotion scroll. He had thought the Hokage himself will be the one to receive him, but it seemed otherwise. Turning away to leave the office, he hears loud voices coming from the office of the Hokage. He takes a pause to look back, entering his sight are the rising stars of their generation, The Senju Princess, Tsunade, The Toad lord, Jiraiya, The human Snake, Orochimaro— students of the Third Hokage.
They walk out wearing their own standard Chūnin uniforms, passing by him, they take a glance at Arashi, their eyes taking note of him—Wiry and athletic, built like a natural sprinter. Light bronze skin with faint freckles across the bridge of his nose—a gift from his Uzumaki heritage. His hair thick, unruly dark brown hair with crimson streaks running through the sides. Held steady with his Konoha headband. Sharp amber-red eyes with a tint of glowing crimson hue intense and perceptive. Traditional Inuzuka red fang marks, slightly longer than average—he extended them intentionally as a personal mark of pride. A faint birthmark in the shape of a spiral behind his left ear. His ears endowed with hanafuda earrings made from chakra-conductive silver alloy with the top half depicting the Uzumaki clan emblem and the bottom half intricate micro-fuinjutsu patterns engraved in burnished gold, gifted to him from his mother. Seeing him, an Inuzuka with Uzumaki emblems openly displayed, they immediately recognized him, the son of the Iron fang and the crimson lattice. Strong background deserved recognition and so while they passed by each other gave a nod, with the princess gaze more intense than usual, displaying interest and intrigue towards a fellow shinobi. Although it was within a second before she turned her focus back to her destination. Slowly they disappeared from Arashi's view.
With the momentary pause, Arashi follows behind, his mind wondering away. Stepping out of the building, with his eyes close, head tilted towards the sun, he takes a deep breath of fresh air picking up the scents of earth, sweat and delicacies. With a deep release of sigh, his eyes open, the harmonious and blissful scenery before him, he knows this new step will be the beginning of a legend he shall create with his own hands.
Fist clenched, he made a vow, they will recognize him—The Hokage, the Uzumaki clan, the Inuzuka clan, the village, the world. For every advantage he had earned from his bloodlines, his sweat, his experiences will be a tool to pave the way for a glorious end.
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