I’ve been to the Hozuki compound a number of times before and after becoming Mizukage, each time for a different purpose. I let my mind shut off and my feet follow Rina at her limped pace until the route we took began to look new and extra watery.

She’d guided me into the Hozuki’s private training grounds or rather, waters, as the entirety of the location was a mass of water sprinkled with long thin trees or oddly placed mounds of rock and sand.

My first thought was that it’d be a bit hard for Rina to navigate but it’s quickly dashed away when I unconsciously walk on the water, I realize she picked this training location because of its abundance of water. She was intent on getting me to help with her Ninjutsu and like most Kiri shinobi, her chakra affinity was best aligned with water.

In that case the training grounds oddly placed trees, boulders and mounds of sand would make for good target practice. I walked over to a mound of sand and sat crossed legged on it; I’d taken a walk from Intel and Comm’s and then Rina brought me to the clan compounds from the Tower, my legs weren’t exhausted but I’d much rather put my feet up.

It was then I noticed her staring at me, she has abandoned her crutch and stood gingerly on the water surface, waiting for me to impart some Kage-level knowledge judging by that eager gaze.

I hadn’t thought about much else but politics and what I’d have for dinner on our way here, it also didn’t help that she didn’t say a thing either. So now I suddenly have to train this Chuunin in Ninjustu and I hadn’t even given myself a minute to prepare.

What can I teach her? What should I teach her? There was a lot of knowledge locked behind Yagura’s spectre, knowledge I wasn’t completely privy to myself unless I channelled enough of his personality to reach it. What I did have up my sleeve was little more than residuals from times I’d channelled Yagura enough that I could mimic his behaviour and relationship with chakra and his body in general.

A lot of that ended up being high level jutsu or jutsu applications. Like Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet or the versatile Water Release: Water Prison I’ve almost mastered. There were the Wind Release techniques and Yagura’s Hiden but none of that fell under the scope of Rina’s abilities…I think.

I blinked, cleared my throat and addressed her before she could grow impatient, “Rina, we’ve only had a couple of spars but not enough all-out sessions including Ninjutsu. What kind of Ninjutsu are you proficient with that I haven’t seen? What do you want to improve? What do you need help with?”

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She hobbled side to side, trying not to limp as her eyes took the skies as she gave the query thought. The waters bobbed and a wind blew at me through strands of her faded violet hair. She had a fine scent that I held onto, trying to savour and place before it was lost in the breeze. I couldn’t place it but I liked it.

“I want to become a master. I want to master Water Release, enough to make a new jutsu on my own or a lake…” She said at last, a couple steps closer than before but she didn’t seem as determined in that declaration as any of the others she’s made.

“Mastery…mastery of any skill will be demanding and it will take more than you belief it will, are you sure?” Yagura had to ask, it was important to acknowledge one’s limits, not everyone was a prodigy and not everyone was destined a long life. “I won’t be able to train you each session, this will be your journey, you understand, yes?”

She frowned a bit and I felt that was from feeling insulted rather than anything else, still, she nodded earnestly and said, “I know it won’t be easy but I’ve faced ordeals before now and I will face more. Being stronger in a way I know how will only help me tackle my future…enemies.”

Ahh, that. “Very well then, but you should dash out all comparison to your father or myself. People are different. You are different.” She seemed to accept this much at least and so I stretched out my calves before hopping to my feet, “Alright, what’s your toughest jutsu right now?

“Water Clone.” She said without the slightest hesitation, her brows furrowed as she described, “Sometimes it works, sometimes the clone explodes in my face. Sometimes it works but then the clone explodes after like three steps. I got it to cast Hidden in the Mist once, but it was dumb and used the water it was composed of to do that.”

Yagura laughed out loud and hard. I could barely contain myself as the sound of his— my— laugh caught me off guard. Rina blushed and groaned after some time of my loud mockery.

“What’s so funny?” the voice I heard could pass as Rina’s…in the far future perhaps. I flicked my tears away and turned to face the bright smile on Lady Megumi as she observed Rina and I.

“Lady Megumi, what are you…” It was then I noticed the small child trailing after her skirt. He was the same each time I saw him, shorter than me but far more stoic. “Mangetsu-kun, it’s been a moment.”

He quickly took to his knee as I addressed him, “Mizukage-sama, pardon our interruption.”

“Yes, do.” Lady Megumi said with a smirk as her gaze flitted between Rina and I. I didn’t like the gears of thought turning behind those aged eyes. “Mangetsu-kun and I heard Rina was training over here and I thought…why, he’s a brand new Chunnin who could get some use out of shadowing an experienced one like Rina-chan.”

Rina hobbled a bit before bowing to her Clan Matriarch, “Megumi-sama, Mangetsu would be welcome to train with me.”

Lady Megumi threw her gaze on me and hummed, “And you train with Lord Fourth, what an honour…I wonder, would it extend to the newest Hozuki prodigy? Mangetsu is a genius, learning directly from his Kage would ensure a strong Kiri shinobi is born.”

My lips parted to speak but Yagura clamped them shut as an idea crossed our mind. I gave my dear councillor a terse smile and said, “Perhaps, I will permit he join for a single session and then…how about some tea?”

Lady Megumi’s smile grew and her shrewd gaze narrowed in understanding, “Tea would be wonderful.”