Ethan didn't question the dream.
It had felt real...but nothing about it struck him as impossible.
Far away, deep within the Land of Fire...
Inside a quiet residence...
"Ah...!"
A blonde woman in her early twenties suddenly shot upright in bed.
Her long, pale-gold hair fell over her shoulders, and the diamond-shaped mark on her forehead faintly caught the light.
Her hands instinctively clutched her chest, as if bracing against an unseen threat.
Her amber-brown eyes scanned the room sharply.
"Tsunade sama? What's wrong?"
The door opened, and a teenage girl stepped in quickly, concern written all over her face.
Shizune glanced around, checking for danger.
Finding nothing...
She turned back to Tsunade.
"I'm fine…"
Tsunade exhaled slowly.
"Just… a bad dream."
She waved her off.
Once Shizune left...
Tsunade immediately got out of bed.
Barefoot, she moved through the room, checking every window.
Every latch.
Every possible entry point.
Nothing.
No signs of intrusion.
She returned to the bed, pulling the blanket over herself.
There was a brief pause...
Subtle movement beneath the covers, as if confirming something.
Then suddenly...
She threw the blanket aside.
Relief washed over her face.
"…Just a dream."
"No signs of intrusion… no trace of genjutsu…"
"And nothing… physically wrong."
But her expression tightened again.
"…Then why did it feel so real?"
Fragments of the dream replayed in her mind...
Too vivid.
Too detailed.
"…And who is 'Rasa'?"
Her brow furrowed.
"I've never heard that name before…"
"So why did it appear so clearly in my head?"
"And why…"
Her voice dropped slightly.
"…would I call him… my 'adopted son'?"
She clenched her fists.
Something about it didn't add up.
As one of the greatest medical shinobi alive...
She knew exactly how dreams worked.
You don't wake up remembering everything.
Not like that.
At most...
Fragments.
Blurry impressions.
But this...
This was different.
It was as clear as reality.
That wasn't normal.
Her breathing tightened slightly.
She instinctively crossed her arms over herself again, as if trying to steady her body.
Fear.
Anger.
Confusion.
All tangled together.
She sat there for several minutes, forcing herself to calm down.
But one thing became clear.
This wasn't something she could dismiss.
There was no such thing as a coincidence this precise.
Even without evidence...
She wouldn't ignore it.
"…Shizune!"
Her voice rang out sharply.
Outside, Shizune...who had been waiting just in case...stiffened.
"Yes, Tsunade sama!"
"Find out if there's anyone in the shinobi world named Rasa."
"…Understood!"
.
.
.
.
Back in the Sunagakure...
Aoki stood outside his house, smiling broadly at the growing crowd.
He gestured casually, addressing the gathered shinobi.
"What's all this? It's barely morning, and you're already assembled like something major happened."
A middle aged Jonin stepped forward, grinning.
"Word got around that you'll be sparring Rasa today."
"We wouldn't miss seeing you in action."
The flattery wasn't particularly refined...
But in a place like Sunagakure, it was more than enough.
Aoki's smile widened.
These weren't elites.
Most were mid level shinobi who had climbed the ranks slowly.
But for now...
They were useful.
He ran a hand over his carefully groomed beard.
"You've got good instincts."
"Stick with me, and you won't regret it."
With that, he stepped forward.
The crowd parted instantly.
Meanwhile...
Ethan stepped out of his house...
And paused.
Several women stood waiting outside.
Each one is distinct.
Each one striking.
"Finally awake."
Pakura spoke first, eyes lighting up slightly.
"I was about to climb in through your window if you took any longer."
Ethan blinked.
"…Let's not do that."
"Did you sleep well?"
Yashalei asked, her tone softer.
Ethan smiled lightly.
"Yeah. Better than expected."
Before Yashalei could respond...
Another voice cut in.
Karura stepped forward, her expression warm but focused.
"That's good."
"Have you eaten yet?"
Ethan hesitated.
"…I was planning to eat after the match."
Karura's expression shifted immediately.
"That's not happening."
She stepped closer and held out a basket.
"I made breakfast. You need to eat."
Her tone was gentle...
But firm.
Pakura crossed her arms, watching.
"She's right."
"You're not winning anything on an empty stomach."
Ethan glanced around.
Every single one of them was clearly expecting the same answer.
"…Alright."
Reluctantly, he nodded.
"Good."
Karura's smile softened.
"Then sit."
"I can feed myself..."
"Oh?"
Pakura smirked slightly.
"You're turning that down?"
Ethan paused.
"…Fine."
"Go ahead."
Half an hour later...
Outside the village gates...
Aoki stood waiting.
And waiting.
And waiting.
His patience was wearing thin.
"Late already…"
He muttered under his breath.
Just as irritation started to settle in...
He looked up.
Ethan was approaching.
Calm.
Steady.
With several women following behind him.
Aoki frowned slightly.
Since when did he have that kind of company?
But the thought passed quickly.
Ethan stopped in front of him.
Glanced briefly at the gathered shinobi.
Then extended his hand.
"Sorry. Got held up."
Aoki clasped it firmly, his grin returning.
"No problem."
"So...where are we doing this?"
Ethan gestured toward the desert beyond.
"About forty kilometers out."
"There's a dune field out there...stable ground, far enough from the village."
"In case things get… intense."
The air shifted slightly.
The match was about to begin.
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