Naruto: Reborn with Kaguya Powers-Chapter 54: Choosing a Name.

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A/N:

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LET THE Chapter BEGIN.

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Aki hadn't put on his skull mask yet. He tucked it into a storage scroll for now. Once he got a better handle on the sword, he'd wear it again. No sense in looking cool if you couldn't swing the blade right.

"Transformation Jutsu."

He activated it as a warm-up and kept moving. His next stop? Either the Land of Sound or the Land of Rice Paddies—same place, different names. Maybe they thought "Sound" sounded cooler.

He hadn't walked far when he found a decent clearing surrounded by trees. He nodded to himself. "Guess the Land of Fire really does rub elbows with the Land of Hot Springs."

He unsheathed both swords.

"Alright. Max power test. Everything I know, channeled into the blades."

He dropped into a stance for a wide horizontal slash. Lightning Chakra Mode flared to life as he infused the blade with his lightning chakra nature, layering on his strongest wind enhancement.

He thought about adding Rasengan for that extra *oomph*, but decided not to blow himself up today. Baby steps.

Aki lunged forward and swung the right sword in a wide arc. In one smooth motion, he twisted and followed up with a diagonal slash from the left. The strikes connected like a practiced combo.

SLASH. SLASH.

Shockwaves burst out. The first swing tore through tree trunks, carving a jagged path. The second, more chaotic, followed right after—shredding the rest with wild, untamed force.

Some trunks exploded on impact, their tops bursting into splinters and chunks. Others didn't even stand a chance, ripped from the ground and thrown like twigs.

Aki stood still, breathing a little harder. He looked around at the destruction.

"What the actual fuck... I'm still at beginner level."

He stared at the wreckage, trying to process the sheer scale of what he'd just done. "Steel's not gonna be a challenge. At this rate, I'm basically anime Jesus."

He rubbed the back of his neck. "Alright, alright, ego check. Time to vanish before some random jonin shows up and wants to spar."

He flickered out of the clearing with Lightning Chakra Mode and Body Flicker, gone before the dust settled.

A few seconds later, he landed on the road toward the Land of Sound. He activated his Byakugan.

"Good call, me," he muttered. "One, two, three... twelve shinobi headed for the fireworks show I left behind. I'm in stealth mode now."

He jogged along, eventually spotting the rice paddies and rugged cliffs that marked the border. The place looked peaceful. Picturesque, even.

Right before he crossed over, something caught his eye. A small child dangled from a log, clearly struggling. Two men carried it, while several more thugs walked nearby.

Aki stopped.

"Goddamn it. I really need to work on my sensory range..."

He vanished again.

He reappeared behind the biggest bandit—the one with the huge, chipped sword—and took his head clean off with a brutal swing. No hesitation. Just one stroke.

"Nativity of a God Tree."

Roots burst from the ground like living spears, twisting toward the remaining men. Aki moved quickly, kicking one bandit square in the chest and elbowing another before they even saw him coming.

The roots did the rest.

One shot through a thug's back and burst out of his chest. Others wrapped around legs, arms, torsos—squeezing until bones snapped. The unconscious ones vanished beneath the earth, their muffled screams swallowed by dirt.

Then, a sharp root whipped toward the child.

Aki's eyes narrowed. He dashed forward and yanked the boy free. "He's with me! Stop!"

The root ignored him. Four more shot up around his feet.

He vanished again, reappearing on a nearby hill. His chest rose and fell fast. The roots paused, confused, then slithered back underground.

Aki sat down with a sigh. "Why the hell did it have to be *this* jutsu first? Of all things... It's like giving a toddler a grenade launcher."

He stood, kid still unconscious in his arms, and started walking toward the Land of Hot Springs.

"I need to get control over this thing... Alright. Every fight, I use Nativity—except in hostage situations. Mental note. Got it."

He found a cheap inn and leaned against the wall in a dim, quiet room.

"Alright, let's think of a name for this kid before he wakes up."

He stared at the ceiling. "Kai? Ginga? Ash? Nah, too generic."

He snorted. "Goku, maybe?"

Then shook his head. "Nah. A skull-masked swordsman named Goku sounds like a rejected fanfic."

He tapped his forehead. "Kirito? Dual swords, makes sense."

"Nope. I refuse to name myself after an MC."

"Zoro?" He grimaced. "Not dealing with Zoro jokes for the rest of my life. Hard pass."

He sighed. "Alright, I'll come up with something original."

A soft groan broke his thoughts. The boy stirred, eyes fluttering open.

"Hey, you're awake," Aki said casually.

"W-who are you?" the boy asked, still dazed.

Aki smirked. "Name's Seiken Katsuki. Wandering shinobi."

He crossed his arms. "Where's your home? I'll drop you off before I head out."

The kid blinked. "W-where am I?"

"Safe," Aki replied, sitting back. "Bandits grabbed you. I took care of them and brought you here."

The kid looked around the dim room. "Thanks... I live in a village near the Land of Hot Springs."

"Oh than we're near, Got a name?"

"Riku. My dad's a blacksmith. We have a forge near the village gate."

Aki raised an eyebrow. 'A blacksmith, huh? Lucky.' He grabbed his swords. "Alright. Let's get you home."

Riku refused to be carried by someone just a couple of years older. Something about pride. So, he walked beside Aki, even though his legs weren't quite up to the task.

The pace slowed to a crawl.

Aki passed the time by practicing sword swings as they walked. Riku stared, fascinated.

"Can you teach me?"

"Sure. But only if your dad says yes," Aki replied with the nicest smile he could manage.

"Forget it. He won't," Riku muttered.

He stayed silent after that, walking with a pout. It made the journey weirdly boring, like walking next to a muted NPC who ran out of dialogue lines.

The sun dipped low as they arrived at the village. Long shadows stretched over the dirt path.

Aki and Riku passed the gates. A few villagers noticed and dropped what they were doing. An older woman gasped and dropped her basket.

"Riku! You're safe!" she cried, running toward him.

More villagers gathered, concern quickly replacing their surprise.

The old woman squinted at Aki. Her sharp eyes swept over his scuffed-up gear and lingering chakra.

"And you are? You look like you lost a fight with a bear."

Aki brushed dirt off his sleeve. "Found him strung up by bandits. Thought I'd lend a hand."

Her gaze softened slightly. "Still, you're just a kid. Shouldn't be fighting bandits alone."

Before Aki could reply, she turned to Riku. "And you! What were you thinking, letting yourself get caught?"

"I didn't mean to, Granny!" Riku said quickly. "They got me before I knew what was happening!"

She huffed and turned to the crowd. "Well? Don't just stand there! Someone get his father!"

Several men scattered like startled birds.

The old woman turned back to Aki. "You're not from around here. Where'd you learn to carry yourself like that?"

"Long story," Aki replied coolly.

Heavy boots thudded down the street. A large man appeared, face streaked with soot, arms marked with old burns.

He spotted Riku and ran forward. "Riku!"

He dropped to one knee and crushed the boy in a hug, his massive hands patting him down.

"What happened? Are you hurt?"

Riku pointed at Aki. "He saved me, Dad. Took them all down."

The blacksmith looked up, eyes locking on Aki. He stood and stepped forward, towering over him.

"Thank you," he said, offering a calloused hand. "If you need anything, the forge is open."

'Should I shamelessly request forging of new swords? I will pay of course.'

Aki nodded. "Just passing through."

Villagers murmured thanks. Some offered food or a place to sleep, but Aki politely declined. He already felt out of place surrounded by this much... sincerity.

The blacksmith kept glancing at Aki's swords.

The old woman elbowed him. "You're staring at that boy like he's made of solid ryo."

The blacksmith folded his arms. "He stands like someone who's lived with a blade. Not just some tourist."

She squinted at Aki. "That skinny kid?"

He chuckled. "We'll find out soon."

Aki spotted a quiet open area nearby and made a note of it.

*Good spot. I'll practice there. If the blacksmith's any good, he'll come to me.*

As he turned, the old woman blocked his way and poked his arm.

"You really brought that boy back on your own?"

Aki nodded with a steady gaze.

"You've got guts," she muttered. "Where you from?"

He shrugged. "Just wandering."

She scoffed. "Kids these days..."

Then spun on the rest of the villagers. "And the lot of you? Just standing around while a boy does your job? Shameful!"

A few men scratched their heads, muttering apologies. Aki slipped past with a small smirk.

As he passed, the blacksmith stepped forward. "Hey, kid." Aki turned halfway, curious. "Let me see your swords."

Aki frowned. "Why?"

The blacksmith tapped his bicep. "You move like someone who knows how to fight. I just want to see what kind of shape your gear's in. Nothing more."

Aki hesitated. He already knew the blades were probably wrecked. But maybe it was time to face the music.

He slowly pulled one blade from its sheath.