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Naruto: Avatar of Balance
Chapter 3: Tides of Instinct
The forest path to the Land of Waves was quiet, save for Naruto's complaints. "This mission's boring, dattebayo! Escorting some old drunk? Where's the action?" He kicked a pebble, glaring at Tazuna, the bridge-builder trudging ahead with a sake bottle in hand.
Suzuki walked at the back of Team 7, his patched tunic damp from the morning dew. His hands twitched, still buzzing from the wind he'd summoned during Kakashi's survival test. The spiritual world's voice—calling him an "Avatar"—echoed in his mind, but he pushed it down. Right now, he just wanted to keep up with his team.
Sasuke, ahead, scanned the trees with sharp eyes. Sakura hovered near him, fussing over Tazuna's safety. Kakashi, leading the group, seemed relaxed, but Suzuki noticed his hand resting near his kunai pouch. Something felt off.
"Quiet, Naruto," Kakashi said, his voice lazy but firm. "A ninja stays alert, even on C-rank missions."
Suzuki's pulse stirred—that strange heartbeat from the alley and the spiritual world. He glanced at a puddle on the path, odd under the clear sky. His instincts screamed. "Kakashi-sensei," he whispered, "that puddle—"
Before he could finish, chains erupted from the water, wrapping around Kakashi. Two rogue ninja, the Demon Brothers, lunged from the trees, their clawed gauntlets gleaming. Kakashi vanished in a puff of smoke—a shadow clone.
Naruto froze, eyes wide. Sasuke drew a kunai, stepping in front of Tazuna. Sakura yelped, pulling the bridge-builder back. Suzuki's heart raced, but the pulse surged, urging him to move. He didn't know why, but the nearby stream called to him, its surface rippling as if alive.
One Demon Brother charged at Naruto, claws raised. Suzuki acted on instinct, thrusting his hands toward the stream. Water surged upward, forming a whip that lashed out, knocking the ninja's gauntlet aside. The water splashed back to the ground, leaving Suzuki stunned.
"Whoa!" Naruto shouted, dodging another swipe. "Suzuki, that was awesome!"
"Focus, idiot!" Sasuke snapped, hurling a shuriken to pin the second brother's chain to a tree. Kakashi reappeared, dispatching both ninja with swift precision, tying them up in seconds.
Tazuna panted, wide-eyed. "What kind of kids are you?"
Kakashi's eye crinkled. "Good question. Suzuki, care to explain that water trick?"
Suzuki's face burned. "I… don't know. It just happened." His hands trembled, the pulse fading. He'd felt the water move with him, like the wind in the alley, but it was clumsy, uncontrolled.
Kakashi studied him, then turned to Tazuna. "You've got some explaining to do, too. This was no C-rank mission."
As Tazuna stammered about bandits and poverty, Suzuki's mind raced. *Water. I bent water.* The spiritual world's voice had mentioned other elements—fire, earth, air. Was this what it meant?
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That night, Team 7 camped by a river in the Land of Waves. The air was thick with mist, and the distant crash of waves set Suzuki on edge. Naruto was scarfing down ramen, Sakura was scolding him, and Sasuke sat apart, sharpening a kunai. Kakashi watched the group, his book open but his attention sharp.
Suzuki slipped away to the riverbank, needing space to think. The water's surface glimmered under the moonlight, and he knelt, staring at his reflection. The pulse in his chest stirred, softer now, like a whisper. He closed his eyes, willing himself back to that misty spiritual world.
The world shifted, and he stood on the same floating island, surrounded by clouds and glowing elemental symbols. The figure—half-Sage, half-spirit—appeared, its form rippling like water. *"You've awakened water,"* it said, voice calm but proud. *"The element of flow, of healing. It responds to your heart's intent."*
Suzuki clenched his fists. "I didn't mean to. It just… came out. I can't control it, like with the wind. What am I supposed to do?"
*"Trust your instincts,"* the figure said. *"Water flows with emotion, not force. Feel it, don't fight it. Your team will guide you, as you guide them."*
A vision flashed: a swordsman cloaked in mist, wielding a massive blade. Naruto charged, Rasengan in hand, while Suzuki shaped water into a shield. The figure's voice echoed: *"Danger approaches. Balance your power with their strength."*
Suzuki snapped back to the riverbank, gasping. His hands were wet, and a small orb of water hovered above his palm, trembling before splashing down. He stared, heart pounding. *Waterbending. Chakra. It's real.*
"Sneaking off, huh?" Naruto's voice broke the silence. He plopped down beside Suzuki, grinning. "That water thing was cool! You gotta teach me that!"
Suzuki flinched, letting the water drop. "It's not a trick. I don't even know how I did it."
Naruto tilted his head. "You're weird, Ghost Boy. But weird's good! I'm gonna be Hokage, so I need strong teammates like you, dattebayo!"
Suzuki blinked, a warmth spreading in his chest. No one had ever called him strong. "Thanks," he mumbled, looking away.
Naruto nudged him. "So, what's with the water? You got some secret clan or something?"
"No clan. Just… me." Suzuki hesitated, then added, "I think it's chakra, but different. Like it's tied to something bigger."
Naruto's eyes sparkled. "Bigger, huh? Like my dream to be Hokage! Stick with me, and we'll figure it out!"
Suzuki managed a small smile. Maybe the voice was right—his team was part of this.
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The next morning, Team 7 reached the Land of Waves, the mist growing thicker with every step. Tazuna led them to a rickety boat, and a silent boatman rowed them through the fog. Suzuki's pulse thrummed, the water beneath the boat tugging at his senses. He gripped the edge, trying to stay calm.
Kakashi's voice was low. "Stay sharp. We're not alone."
The mist parted, revealing a massive sword embedded in a tree. A figure stood atop it—Zabuza Momochi, the Demon of the Hidden Mist. His killing intent choked the air, and Suzuki's pulse surged, stronger than ever.
"Well, well," Zabuza said, voice dripping with menace. "Kakashi of the Sharingan… and a bunch of brats. This'll be fun."
Naruto charged forward, yelling, but Kakashi pulled him back. "Stay in formation! Protect Tazuna!"
Sasuke drew a kunai, Sakura shielded Tazuna, and Suzuki stood frozen, the river's pull overwhelming. Zabuza vanished into the mist, and clones appeared, surrounding them. Suzuki's heart raced—the vision from the spiritual world was happening.
"Water Style: Water Clone Jutsu!" Zabuza's voice echoed, and watery figures lunged. Sasuke slashed one, but it reformed. Naruto's shadow clones were swatted aside. Suzuki's pulse roared, and he acted without thinking.
He thrust his hands toward the river, and water surged upward, forming a clumsy wall that blocked a clone's attack. It wasn't perfect—half the water splashed back—but it gave Sasuke an opening to strike. The clone dissolved, and Zabuza's laugh echoed.
"Interesting," Zabuza said, emerging from the mist. "A kid with Water Release? You're full of surprises."
Kakashi stepped forward, Sharingan spinning. "Suzuki, stay with the team. We'll handle this."
Suzuki nodded, but his hands shook. The water had moved with him, but it was wild, like his wind. He glanced at Naruto, who grinned despite the danger. "We got this, Ghost Boy!"
Suzuki's pulse steadied. The spiritual world's words rang clear: *Balance your power with their strength.* He didn't know how to fight a Jonin, but he could try. He raised his hands, feeling the river's flow, ready to bend it again.
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To Be Continued…
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