In the Takime clan head’s building, Suiren sat quietly next to an excited Maki, who was recounting something with wild gestures and an enthusiastic tone. Suiren listened intently, her gaze betraying a mix of pride, regret, and awe. She couldn’t help but be happy at how far her granddaughter had come, even as a part of her felt a deep pang of loss.

Their conversation was interrupted by a knock at the door. “Come in,” Suiren called out.

The door opened to reveal Kaoru, his face lighting up as he spotted Maki. He could not find her last night and this morning he overslept, so this was the sibling’s reunion after Kaorus first first-ever mission. “I missed you, Maki,” he said, rushing to hug his sister. Maki returned the hug instantly, ruffling his hair with a grin.

“Didn’t you miss Grandma too?” she teased.

Kaoru grinned mischievously. “I was going to hug her next. I hugged you first only because you’d be pouting otherwise.”

“Serves you right!” she retorted, pinching his cheek. Both siblings laughed.

“Grandma, I’ve got a request—” Kaoru began, but Suiren cut him off with a knowing look.

“If you’re talking about that orphaned girl, I’ve already handled it. She’ll be adopted by Siba’s family. They came by early this morning, telling me you left her with them last night. They’d love to keep her, so I gave them my blessing.”

Kaoru’s shoulders relaxed, relief washing over him. “I’m glad. Siba has a good family,” he said, smiling. “Even if he’s always teasing me about pie, he’s a great dad. His kids adore him.”

Maki grinned mischievously. “Ru, Shin is very strong, isn’t he? I thought you’d underestimate him, but I was right, wasn’t I?”

Kaoru’s eyes brightened as he nodded enthusiastically. “You weren’t kidding. He’s incredible.”

Maki’s smile shifted into a smug grin. “Of course he’s strong; he’s a jonin, maybe even an elite jonin,” she said with a curious tone of pride. Suiren, watching her granddaughter closely, caught the subtle shift in Maki’s expression and chuckled quietly to herself. Kaoru, oblivious to the nuance, looked between them, confused.

Suddenly, Maki’s grin widened. “Ru, I’ve developed a new technique. Want to see it?”

Kaoru’s face lit up. “Of course! Can we go right now?”

Maki was already standing. “Let’s go! Oh, and there’s someone I want to introduce you to. Grandma, could you let Akura know to find us at Training Ground One when he shows up? Tell him it’s about Maru’s request, and he won’t dare be lazy.”

As they dashed out of the room, Suiren watched them go, her smile lingering for a moment before fading. Slowly, her expression darkened, a shadow of sadness crossing her face.

[So, you’ve given up on the Suijingan, Maki…] Suiren thought, her heart heavy. She had always known this day would come, but that knowledge didn’t make it any easier. She sighed, returning her focus to the quiet room, the sound of their laughter still faintly echoing in her ears.

<<<>>>

Maki stood in front of Kaoru with a mischievous grin plastered across her face.

“Ru, I’ve been working on this technique for a long time,” she said, her voice brimming with excitement. Her eyes began to glow cyan—not as vividly as Kaoru’s Suijingan, but undeniably the same. Kaoru braced himself, expecting her to manipulate water, but then her eyes started to morph. The glow twisted, narrowing into fierce, vertical slits that gleamed like a predator’s in the dark, their sharpness exuding an almost primal intensity.

Kaoru watched, wide-eyed, as her chakra flared, erupting violently. It wasn’t like her usual calm and controlled energy; this was wild, surging through her body like an untamed storm. He could see it wrapping around her in a thick, volatile shroud.

Maki’s grin widened. “I call this Predator’s Pact. I sacrifice the Suijingan for it. Every effect of our clan’s kekkei genkai shuts down, but the eyes remain active. The immense chakra it normally draws and consumes gets redistributed throughout my body, pushing it to the limit. My strength, speed, and reflexes skyrocket—and that’s not all. My senses - smell, hearing, and sight, are insanely sharp. It’s like my whole brain operates on a higher level. Wanna spar, Ru?” she asked with a sly grin, practically bouncing with anticipation.

Kaoru didn’t answer. He activated his Suijingan, scanning her. What he saw left him stunned. Unlike her usual harmonious chakra flow, the energy within her now was chaotic, violent, and completely unpredictable.

Without hesitation, Kaoru attacked. “Lingering Death,” he manipulated water into orbs in her blind spot. This time, he didn’t sharpen the water or increase its density; he didn’t want to risk injuring her. But before the water projectiles could connect, Maki tilted her head to the side, evading them effortlessly—without even looking.

Kaoru froze, his jaw dropping in disbelief.

Maki smirked smugly. “I don’t need to see incoming attacks. I sense everything around me. Now it’s my turn.”

Before Kaoru could react, she vanished, reappearing beside him in an instant.

“Ru, you’ve gotta be more careful,” she teased, flicking his forehead.

The seemingly gentle tap sent Kaoru flying. He tumbled across the ground, stunned by the force. [What the hell? That wasn’t a body flicker—she just moved. Is that her normal speed now? And my forehead is burning!]

Massaging his forehead, Kaoru scrambled to his feet. He tried to trap Maki in water, but before the tendrils could even take shape, she was already in front of him again, grinning from ear to ear.

“Aren’t I awesome?” she asked, her voice full of playful pride.

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Kaoru clenched his fists, frustrated. “Maki, I don’t think I can even touch you unless I trick you somehow. You’re just…too fast.” His voice wavered, his confidence from earlier in the day shattered.

Maki’s grin softened, and she patted his shoulder. “Don’t worry, Ru. You’ll get stronger in time. You’ve already come so far. For now, let me show you a few of my new moves.”

Without waiting for a response, Maki leaped back, her chakra flaring again as she swung her hand - one, two, three… - her movements were so fast that they left afterimages. Each swing unleashed slicing shockwaves, resembling claws or fangs that ripped through the air, leaving cuts in the earth below. Her strikes were feral, precise, and devastating.

Finally, she stopped and deactivated Predator’s Pact, her chakra settling as the glow in her eyes dimmed. “What do you think?” she asked, grinning.

Kaoru exhaled, his frustration fading into admiration. “Maki, that’s incredible. I think you might be the strongest in Takimura now.”

Her grin turned thoughtful. “Maybe. But I still need to test this against someone strong. I can already think of ways to improve it. Still, I think this is it. This is the technique that defines my fighting style—my signature.”

Kaoru smiled, his genuine admiration for Maki's accomplishment still shining through. “It suits you, Maki. It really does.”

Then his smile turned sly. “Sooo, when are you gonna teach me how to use it?”

Maki’s jaw dropped. Her baby brother was already trying to claim her signature move, even before she’d had a chance to announce it to the world. She burst into laughter. [That’s Kaoru, alright,] she thought.

Still laughing, she ruffled his hair. “No one but me can use this technique,” she said, a proud glint in her eye. “My Suijingan is defective—but that’s what makes it unique. I can channel its power directly into my body because of that quirk. Ru, your Suijingan is better than mine. Heck, it’s better than Grandma’s. Better than Dad’s.”

Maki’s playful smile faltered for a moment as she clenched her fists, her lips pressing into a thin line. Memories of their father, faint but powerful, flickered in her mind. She barely remembered him, but she knew his strength. He was an S-rank shinobi, a warrior whose name carried weight across all of Kirigakure—a legend of the Takime clan.

“What I’m saying is, don’t look for shortcuts, Ru. Keep developing your Suijingan, and one day… one day, you’ll be a living calamity,” she finished with a warm smile, flicking his forehead again—but this time, the touch was gentle, affectionate.

“So, you can be warm and kind to Kaoru, huh? Why don’t you try being even half that humane with this old man?” Akura’s voice carried through the training ground as he approached, grinning. “Suiren told me you were here. Looks like you’ve finally got that technique under control. What was the name again? Predator’s Vow, right?” He chuckled, his mood unusually light. Seeing Maki despair and struggle for months had been hard on him, and watching her emerge stronger filled him with relief.

Maki shot him a look—a calculated, ominous one. Akura’s grin faltered. [She’s plotting something again. That girl never lets me off easy,] he thought with a shiver.

“Let’s just go summon that despicable bird,” Akura muttered, his good mood evaporating as quickly as it came.

“Oh, Ru, I forgot to mention,” Maki said with a smirk, ignoring Akura’s complaints. “Akura’s summon wants to meet you. He’s a massive eagle who loves flying and flattery. If you want him to like you, shower him with compliments. First impressions matter, got it?” She chuckled.

Kaoru raised an eyebrow, “Why does he want to see me? I don’t remember ever meeting him.”

“I don’t know,” Maki shrugged. “But he said we’d both be grateful and happy once we heard him out. Anyway, let’s go. You’ll see for yourself soon enough.”

With that, the trio made their way to the waterfall, just as they’d promised Maru. The sound of rushing water grew louder as they approached, its roar echoing through the secluded area.

Once they arrived, Akura bit his finger to draw blood and smeared it across the tattoo on his wrist. In a puff of smoke, the massive eagle appeared, his golden eyes surveying the humans below. Maru’s wings stretched wide, casting a shadow over the group as he tilted his head imperiously.

“I knew you’d force him to keep his word. You’re a good girl, Maki,” Maru said, his tone more like he was praising a pet than offering a compliment.

Maki ignored the condescending undertone and smiled brightly. “A promise is a promise, Maru,” she said, then gestured toward Kaoru. “By the way, this is my little brother, Kaoru.”

Akura’s lips twitched in amusement. He fully expected Maru to say something obnoxious, given Kaoru’s small stature. But to his surprise, the kid was ready.

“Woow, Maki, you weren’t exaggerating!” Kaoru said, his expression one of exaggerated awe. “Uncle Maru is so magnificent and glorious. Honestly, if he could stay here, the other clans would be so jealous!”

Akura’s jaw dropped. [Like sister, like brother…] he thought. But unlike Akura, Maru was utterly pleased. The eagle straightened, puffing out his chest and flapping his enormous wings gently, showing off his sheer magnificence.

“Hello, Kaoru,” Maru said. “I see you already know my name, but I actually know quite a lot about you as well.” The eagle’s voice took on a mysterious air, clearly enjoying the attention.

“Kaoru, could you do me a favor and activate your Suijingan?” Maru asked so politely that Maki and Akura nearly choked.

Kaoru nodded. “Sure, Uncle Maru.” He activated his Suijingan, and his eyes began to glow like brilliant cyan gems.

Maru extended his right wing and said, “Look at my wing and tell me what you see.”

Kaoru focused his gaze. At first, he saw the usual chakra flow, but as he concentrated, the chakra in Maru’s wing began to take shape. Soon, Kaoru could make out distinct characters etched in glowing chakra.

“It says ‘invitation,’ Uncle Maru. That’s so cool! How did you do that? Can you shape chakra however you want?” Kaoru’s excitement bubbled over.

Maru clicked his beak in satisfaction, his chest swelling with pride. “I’m glad the Takime clan has a youngster with your manners, Kaoru,” he said, his tone grandiose. “As for your question, I can shape chakra any way I want—in my wings, that is.” It was Maru’s way of avoiding the truth that his ability was thanks to his feathers, not some innate power. His version sounded far more impressive.

Maki, however, wasn’t as captivated. She crossed her arms and interrupted, her voice sharp. “Maru, what about the invitation?”

Maru shot her a displeased look but relented. “It was a test to confirm whether your brother’s Suijingan is in its true form. Since he could read the chakra characters, it means he was born with the gift,” Maru explained. He then ruffled his feathers, taking his time before continuing. “Now, as for the word itself—‘invitation’—it’s exactly that. My friend is inviting Kaoru to his tribe as a guest. In fact, he’s the one who taught me how to test Kaoru’s eyes.”

Everyone froze. Kaoru’s excitement was palpable as he stood there, practically vibrating with anticipation.

Maki ignored her brother’s barely contained joy and turned to Maru, her expression serious and nearly threatening. “Who is this friend?” she asked.

**

A/N -

What kind of creature do you think invited Kaoru? Or better yet, what kind of creature do you WANT it to be?

I spent the whole day brainstorming Maki’s new technique, and honestly, I’m really happy with the result. It feels unique, powerful, and full of potential. Plus, it gave me a chance to reveal a bit more about Suijingan. Slowly but surely, I’m building up a reserve of chapters for p@treon access. I’m not quite at my target yet, but hey, progress is progress!

Character Notes:

Maru - Gullible - “Kaoru is such a pleasant kid, just like his sister.”

Akura - Frustrated - “These kids are too shameless”

**