The dust in Training Ground 7 was taking its time to settle. There was no silence, only the harsh sound of four people trying to recover the oxygen their lungs were screaming for.
Naruto was lying on the ground, starfished, looking up at the sky that was starting to darken. His chest rose and fell violently.
"Did anyone see who ran me over?" Naruto asked, without lifting his head.
Sakura, sitting a few meters away and leaning against a tree trunk, let out a dry laugh that ended in a cough. She wiped a smudge of soot from her cheek with the back of her new glove.
"It was you, idiot. You and that last suicide clone combination."
Ino was resting on her knees, her usually impeccable blonde hair stuck to her forehead with sweat.
"I hate you," Ino gasped, pointing a shaking finger at Naruto. "I hate admitting it, but Sakura is right. Your stamina is disgusting. How can you still be talking?"
Hinata was sitting more gracefully on a flat rock, though her hands trembled slightly as she unscrewed her water bottle. She took a long drink before offering it to the blonde.
"Here, Naruto-kun. You'll get dehydrated."
Naruto sat up abruptly, ignoring the muscle pain, and took the bottle with a bright smile.
"Thanks, Hinata! You're the only one who treats me right. The other two are witches."
"Say that again and I'll break your other rib!" Sakura threatened, though she didn't have the energy to get up and follow through.
About ten meters away, the dry sound of metal against wood caught everyone's attention. Tenten was standing in front of the trees, yanking her weapons out of the trunks.
Sakura lowered her voice, watching the weapons mistress.
"She's been at it for an hour. She hasn't stopped."
Naruto followed Sakura's gaze. He saw Tenten struggle with a shuriken deeply embedded in the hard bark of an old oak.
"Tenten," Naruto called out, standing up and dusting the dirt off his orange pants. "Are you going to leave some forest for tomorrow or do you plan to log it all today?"
Tenten finally pulled the shuriken out with a sharp tug and turned around. She had scratches on her arms and her clothes were dirty, but her eyes were wide, fixed on the group with feverish intensity.
"You guys..." Tenten shook her head, letting out a sigh that seemed to drain all her frustration. "You guys are out of your minds. Completely crazy."
Naruto walked toward her, hands in his pockets, closely followed by the girls.
"Crazy? I prefer the term 'enthusiastic'."
"I'm serious, Naruto," Tenten let her arms drop to her sides, weapons clinking in her pouches. "I've seen Neji train. I've seen Lee break bones hitting logs. But this... the way you three move together is instinctive."
She crouched down to pick up a kunai from the ground, wiping it absently on her pants.
"Sakura hits like a truck. Hinata sees everything before it happens. And you..." Tenten pointed at Naruto with the kunai. "You're an inexhaustible battery."
"Hey, don't give me all the credit, you'll make me blush," Naruto joked, scratching the back of his neck. But noticing the shadow of defeat in her expression, his tone changed. "What's wrong?"
Tenten let out a humorless laugh.
"What's wrong is that I realize where I stand. The finals are tomorrow. Neji says destiny is already written, and seeing what you guys can do... I'm starting to believe my 'destiny' is being the girl who throws things and prays she doesn't get hit."
Ino stepped forward, frowning.
"Don't say that. Your accuracy is ridiculous. I've never seen anyone curve two shuriken by crashing them together in mid-air."
"Circus tricks, Ino," Tenten cut in bitterly. "Against someone like Neji, my tricks are useless. I run out of weapons and chakra long before I can leave a scratch. I'm technical, but technique has a limit when you're facing monsters."
Silence fell over the group. Naruto wiped the smile off his face. He took two steps until he was right in front of her, invading her personal space just enough to force her to look him in the eye.
"Tenten, listen to me," Naruto said, with unusual seriousness. "Neji is an idiot with weird eyes. And Lee is a good guy, but he thinks everything is solved by yelling and hitting harder. You are the only one on that team who actually thinks before acting."
"Thinking doesn't stop an absolute defense, Naruto."
"No. But power does," Naruto lowered his voice, looking around as if expecting spies in the bushes. "You have the mind. You have the aim. The only thing you're missing is... Strength."
Tenten arched an eyebrow, skeptical.
"What are you talking about?"
Naruto looked at Sakura and then at Hinata. They nodded slightly.
"Tenten, do you think we got this strong just by eating ramen and doing push-ups?"
"I assumed it was that secret training you talk so much about."
"It is. But there's an extra ingredient. It's called Falna."
Tenten blinked. "Falna? Is it a soldier pill? Because those things taste like dirt and give you tachycardia."
"It's not a pill. It's... let's say it's a gift," Naruto thumped his chest with his fist. "It turns your history and your effort into pure power. It raises your stats, makes you faster, stronger, and sometimes, gives you abilities that break the rules."
Tenten looked at the other girls. Sakura flexed her hand, her glove creaking under the pressure.
"It's real, Tenten," Sakura assured her. "The reason I can hit like that, or why Ino can hold her jutsu for so long, is thanks to Naruto and the Falna."
"It makes us family," Ino added, putting a hand on Tenten's shoulder. "We share the strength."
Tenten looked at Naruto again, this time with a mix of curiosity and distrust.
"Sounds too good to be true. What's the catch? Do I have to sell you my soul? Join a cult?"
Naruto let out a nervous laugh.
"None of that! Well, there is a technical condition. The system... is a little special."
"Special how?"
"It only works on girls," Naruto blurted out quickly.
Tenten went quiet for a second, processing it. Then she narrowed her eyes.
"Is this a perverted joke? Because if it's an excuse to..."
"No! I swear!" Naruto raised his hands in defense, backing away. "It's the system, not me! If I could give it to Shikamaru or Lee, I would. Imagine Lee with this! He'd destroy the village by accident. But the system rejects me if I try to use it on men."
Hinata took a step forward, her voice soft but firm.
"It's true, Tenten-san. Naruto-kun isn't lying. He... he just wants you to have the chance to fight on the same level."
Tenten looked at the serious faces of her peers. She felt a lump in her throat. The frustration of always being the "normal teammate" in a squad of geniuses was a heavy burden she had been carrying for too long.
"Why me?" she asked, lowering her voice. "I'm not on your team. I'm competition for the exam."
"Because you're amazing," Naruto said with a simplicity that disarmed her. "I really believe it. You have perfect aim, Tenten. That is pure talent. If I give you the power to back up that talent... I think you could leave everyone with their mouths open. Including Neji."
The idea of seeing her teammate's stoic face crack in surprise was too tempting.
"Are you saying I can be more than just support?"
"I'm saying you can be the heavy artillery," Naruto corrected with a foxy grin. "I'm inviting you to my family, Tenten. You don't have to leave your team, but I want to know that if things get ugly tomorrow, you have the means to defend yourself."
Tenten took a deep breath, closing her eyes for a moment. When she opened them, there was fire in them.
"Fine. I accept. If this helps me stop feeling useless next to those two, I'll do whatever it takes."
"That's the spirit!" Naruto shouted. "Let's go to my place!"
"Your place?" Tenten raised an eyebrow.
"It's where we do the ritual. It's safe. Plus, I have potato chips."
The walk to Naruto's apartment was quick. The village was in that state of tense calm before the final exam. There were more patrols than usual and tourists filled the main streets. The group moved through alleyways and less traveled routes.
"Are you sure about this?" Ino whispered to Tenten as they hopped over a low fence.
"If it helps me win, yes. Besides, if Naruto tries anything weird, I have three kunai hidden where he wouldn't like to find them."
Ino laughed. "Welcome to the club. But relax, Naruto is harmless. He's like a hyperactive puppy with superpowers."
They arrived at the apartment complex. Naruto opened the door after the usual struggle with the old lock.
"Welcome to the Uzumaki Mansion! Sorry about the mess, although my clones should have..."
Naruto stopped. The apartment was spotless. There were no dirty clothes or empty milk cartons. The floor shone.
"Wow," Sakura whistled, walking in and taking off her sandals. "Your clones really work hard when they're afraid Ino will scold them."
"Hey, I'm very tidy," Ino defended herself.
Tenten entered cautiously, observing the place. It was small, but cozy. There were photos of Team 7, plants that were clearly the work of Sakura or Ino, and a faint smell of lemon.
"Sit there, Tenten," Naruto indicated, pointing to a wooden chair in the center of the small living room. His tone changed, becoming more focused. "We need to do this fast. The exam is tomorrow and your body will need a few minutes to adapt."
Tenten sat down, feeling suddenly nervous.
"What do I have to do?"
"Just relax," Hinata said, standing beside her. "It feels... warm. Like getting into a hot bath after training in winter."
"And I need you to uncover your back," Naruto added, looking at the wall with an awkward cough. "Direct skin contact. It's like a chakra tattoo."
Tenten looked at the girls. Seeing them nod naturally as Sakura prepared a notebook and pen, she sighed.
"Alright," Tenten said. With quick movements, she took off her Chinese-style jacket and lowered the mesh netting to her waist, leaving her back exposed. "Do it before I regret it."
"Trust me."
He approached from behind. Tenten felt the heat radiating from Naruto's body. She tensed when he pricked his finger.
"Here we go."
Naruto's hand touched her back.
Tenten expected pain. What she felt was a massive surge of energy, as if liquid adrenaline had been injected directly into her spine. Her muscles contracted involuntarily and she gasped.
"Breathe," Sakura instructed. "Let it flow."
A bluish glow illuminated the room, casting long shadows on the walls. Naruto moved his hand with skill, tracing invisible lines that engraved themselves into Tenten's skin.
"Done!" Naruto announced, withdrawing his hand abruptly.
Tenten slumped forward, resting her hands on her knees, breathing heavily. Her skin tingled and her senses were spiking; she could hear the dripping tap in the kitchen and the beat of her own heart thumping in her ears.
"What... what was that?" she asked, looking at her hands. They looked the same, but they felt different.
"That was the Falna awakening," Naruto said. He already had the paper in hand and was copying the glowing hieroglyphs at breakneck speed. "Wow! Tenten, this is insane!"
"What? What does it say?" Tenten tried to turn her head while Ino helped her pull her clothes back up.
"Look at this!" Naruto shoved the sheet in front of her face, trembling with excitement.
[STATUS UPDATE] SUBJECT: TENTEN HIGURASHI LEVEL: 1 STATS: STRENGTH: I-20 ➔ H-180 (+160) ENDURANCE: I-30 ➔ H-195 (+165) DEXTERITY: H-150 ➔ E-480 (+330) AGILITY: I-80 ➔ F-350 (+270) CHAKRA POTENTIAL: I-40 ➔ G-290 (+250) [DEVELOPMENT ABILITY]:
[VOID ARSENAL] Type: Passive / Space-Time Description: Access to a personal unlimited pocket dimension. Eliminates the need for physical scrolls. Weapons materialize directly or are launched from the "void" with a thought. Allows automatic ammunition recovery. [SKILL]: [PERFECT TRAJECTORY] Type: Active Description: Allows user to imbue chakra into projectiles to alter their course in mid-air. Converts any thrown object into a basic homing projectile.
Tenten read the numbers, confused.
"It's super high for a starter!" Naruto shouted, gesturing exaggeratedly. "The system took all your weapons training and multiplied it! You're basically a human precision machine!"
Tenten clenched and unclenched her fists. She felt... fast.
"And this 'Void Arsenal' thing?" she asked, reading the description. "Pocket dimension?"
Naruto smiled, that smile that promised trouble.
"That's the best part. Tenten, what's your biggest problem in a long fight?"
"I run out of weapons. Or I waste time unrolling scrolls," she answered without hesitation.
"Exactly. Now, try to imagine a kunai in your hand. Don't think about taking it out of your pouch. Just... want it there. Imagine the air giving it to you."
Tenten looked at him skeptically. She extended her right hand, palm up.
A kunai, she thought. I want a kunai.
Nothing happened.
"Don't overthink it," Ino suggested. "It's like moving a finger. You don't think 'I'm going to move my finger', you just do it."
Tenten closed her eyes. She visualized the weight of the cold metal, the leather grip on the handle. Give me a weapon.
Clack.
The sound was dry and metallic. Tenten opened her eyes. In her hand, out of nowhere, was a standard kunai. No summoning smoke, no seals, no scrolls.
"No way!" Tenten yelled, almost dropping the weapon in shock. Then she started laughing, a nervous laugh that rose in pitch. "It's incredible! Can I do this with everything?!"
"Yes! It's your own warehouse," Naruto said, bouncing on his toes. "And look at the other skill. 'Perfect Trajectory'. Let's test it."
Naruto ran to the kitchen and came back with an apple.
"Throw the kunai at the apple," Naruto said, holding the fruit.
"Naruto, I'm going to cut your hand off," Tenten warned.
"Trust your skill. Do it!"
Tenten hesitated, but the power in her veins begged her to act. She threw the kunai.
Just as the weapon left her hand, Naruto tossed the apple into the air to the left, far from the kunai's path.
"You missed!" Naruto shouted.
"No," Tenten whispered. She felt a tug on her chakra, an invisible connection to the flying metal. Turn.
The kunai, in mid-flight, ignored inertia. It turned sharply ninety degrees to the left, as if an invisible hand had pushed it, and embedded itself with a thud into the apple as it fell.
The impaled fruit hit the floor and rolled to Hinata's feet.
The room went absolutely silent.
"That..." Sakura swallowed hard. "That defies the laws of physics."
"Hahaha! Did you see that!" Naruto clapped, breaking the tension. "Neji won't even know what hit him! He can spin, but if the weapon follows him, he's in trouble."
Tenten looked at her empty hand, then at the kunai in the apple. She closed her fist and, for the first time in months, the anxiety she felt in her stomach disappeared.
"Naruto..." Tenten looked up, her eyes shining. "This is... thank you. Really. You have no idea what this means to me."
"Don't thank me yet," Naruto said, winking at her and sitting on the floor. "Tomorrow we have to survive. But with this, the stakes just changed."
Ino sat on the sofa, crossing her legs.
"Right, enough celebrating. We need strategy. Tenten is our new trump card. How do we use her?"
They spent the next hour discussing formations and contingencies. Tenten marveled at how easy it was to talk to them. There were no clashing egos: Naruto threw out crazy ideas, Sakura filtered them with logic, Ino provided the psychological perspective, and Hinata covered the blind spots.
It was a team. And she was part of it.
When the clock struck ten, Sakura stood up.
"We should go. Tomorrow is the big day and we need to sleep."
"True," Naruto stretched, his bones cracking. "Tomorrow we kick the ass of anyone who stands in front of us."
The girls headed for the door. Tenten stayed back for a moment, letting the others go out into the hallway.
"Naruto," she said, turning in the doorway.
He, who was picking up the apple from the floor, looked at her.
"Yeah?"
"I always wanted to be like the other Kunoichi. Strong, fast... unstoppable. I thought that since I didn't have brute strength or a Kekkei Genkai, I was destined to be average."
Naruto shook his head, smiling softly.
"You decide if someone gets close or not, Tenten. That is a kind of strength that neither Neji nor Lee have. And now, you have the tools to prove it."
Tenten smiled, a genuine and dangerous smile.
"Thanks, Naruto. Tomorrow you'll see a show."
"I'm counting on it."
Tenten went out into the hallway, feeling lighter than ever.
Naruto closed the door and locked it. He let out a long sigh, resting his forehead against the cold wood. Giving Falna always left him exhausted.
"Tomorrow," he muttered to himself, turning off the light. "Tomorrow everything changes."
*******
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